Ethan

Nothing too exciting today with babysitting. Since it was kind of a dreary day outside, I took Ethan to the mall to play in the kids area. it was interesting to hang out with all of the moms asking me questions, like how old is he and when did he start to walk. I quickly learned that you answer the age questions in months, year and a half is not a sufficient answer.

Later on, we went to the Botanical Gardens again. We went to feed the Koi. Ethan was doing a good job tossing the food in while sitting at the edge of the pond. That was until the fish fought a little and caused a big splash. He cried and climbed all over me as I tried to stand up and not fall into the water. He was done feeding the Koi.

As we were leaving, he waved at all the people again and offered them the stick he had found.

Goodies from Strangefolk

So I wanted to show off the beautiful things I got at Strangefolk. The Etsy t-shirt was made by Ginger of Serendipity. http://www.serendipity06.etsy.com/ She screen printed it and added sewn on leaves to the trees. Too cute! And I wore it all day. She also has beautiful unique necklaces with so much detail. I picked out a pretty blue and gold one and I am so in love with it.
During the show, I chatted with Denise, my neighbor behind me. http://www.deniselombardozzi.etsy.com/ Like I said in my last blog, her booth was so cute with paper chain garlands draped over it. I couldn't stop looking at it. I wish I had taken a picture of it. She had brooches clothespinned on a line in front of an old window pane. So creative! I knew I wanted one but couldn't pick out which one. Plus she had these felted cuffs with vintage buttons sewn on them and I couldn't decide which one I liked the best. I finally picked out one of each and I am so happy with them. They are so adorable!
It's a good thing I didn't have a chance to really walk around teh whole festival. I probably would have spent everything I made.

Blogs about blogs

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Strangefolk!!!!

Strangefolk was yesterday and it was just as much fun as I had anticipated it would be! First of all, I was up until 2:30 am the night before finishing up purses! So I got 3 whole hours of sleep. But I sold every single one of the purses that I was working on so it was worth it! In fact, I sold a little of over half of my inventory! I think that is absolutely amazing! Okay I will stop using exclamation points, you get the excitement.

I lucked out with my spot because I was on the end as was able to set up a second table for all of my Scrapopolis merchandise and sneak in a rolling rack of http://www.dezigns.etsy.com/ merchandise. Plus the fortress style made a make shift dressing room for one person to try on the painty pants. And I was next to Ginger, of http://www.serendipity06.etsy.com/. She had been my support for the preparation of this show. Her emails everyday helped me be super prepared and keep my sanity. Plus, we agreed to trade stuff! So I got an awesome I love Etsy shirt to wear during the show and a beautiful necklace. I love it. And her table was so ultra cute and clean looking with little white tree stands holding her necklaces. Beautiful!

Plus I ended up swapping goodies with my other neighbor, Denise of http://www.deniselombardozzi.etsy.com/. I've said it a million times before, but I think one of the most rewarding things about Pretty Fun is the opportunity I get to meet so many other wonderful artists. And Denise is one of them. She is so nice and her work is so beautiful. Her table was set up so cute with paper ring garland made from recycled paper drapped all around and a vintage ironing board to hold some of her work. She is a mixed media collage artist and had a little of everything, cards, brooches, felted bracelets, all so pretty. I traded with her for a beautiful brooch and a felted bracelet embellished with beautiful vintage buttons. Another bonus about meeting Denise, was that she works at a specialty paper store called Rock, Paper, Scissors on Main St in St. Charles. Besides having awesome paper, they hold workshops that I am definitely going to be participate in. I can't wait!

Anyhoo, back to Strangefolk. It was so much fun and such and exciting experience. There were a steady amount of people through out the whole day. There were times at my table where it was difficult o take care of everybody. I had a line for people to pay! Like I said earlier, I sold all of my new purses and my origami gift boxes were a huge hit!

I didn't get to wonder around the whole festival because I was busy but I know there was a raffle and a couple of different workshops, and there was a presentation on making yarn out of Alpaca fur with actual Aplacas on dipslay. They were so cute with their mewing sounds they made. Etsy was there handing out free stuff and a wondering plastic alien that wore one of my purses as we posed for a picture together. I wish I myself had taken more pictures, but I get so wrapped up in all of the excitement, I forget to take a lot of pictures.

So if you did not make it this year, I definitely reccommend it for next year. Plus, next year it may be two days long! Whew!

Thanks to Dad and Kareen for stopping by and getting me lunch, who knows when I could have gotten it myself. My brother and Sister-in-law, Austin and Anna stopped by with a much needed caffiene fix in the form of a Coke. And Yay! for Jana and Kris stopping by and buying some stuff. Plus, I saw an old friend of mine, Kathy who is going to give me the hook ups on pakaging for mailing.

Now, I need to start getting ready for the Rock and Roll Craft Show http://www.rocknrollcraftshow.com/ that I wasn't sure I was going to participate in but after Strangefolk, I have changed my mind. I even had one customer scold me for even hesitating in participating in it. RRCS is two days long and the first week of December, so I need to start getting ready for that.

Babysitting Ethan

Second week of babysitting and this time we went to the Missouri Botanical Gardens. I have lucked out both times babysitting. Last week at the zoo, I found out the Children's Zoo is free from 9am to 10 am and this week I found out that the Gardens are free to St Louis residents. Wahoo!

We started the morning with a quick stop at World's Fair Donuts. Best donuts I have ever had. I would swear on my life they are the best cake donuts in the world. And one of the cheapest places to get donuts. I got two donuts, a coffe, and an orange juice for $2.60! It's just a little shop about a block away from the Botanical Gardens. A lady runs the counter as (I'm assuming,) her husband makes the donuts on a counter behind her. Now usually when I have been there, the lady at the counter is kind of grouchy. You had better know what you want before you get in there. You will not get greeted with a smile if you hem and haw for a milisecond over what kind of donut you want. But today, with a cute baby in my arms, she was all smiles. I will be sure to have Ethan when I go back there.

We lucked out with another beautiful day. We started in the Children's Garden. Ethan loved climbing the robe bridge. I had to hang onto his hands as we climbed down this wobbly, steep, swaying bridge. I thought for sure I was going over the side. And then he wanted to climb back up it, and then back down it. We climbed it for a while. Then we checked out some water funtains and a stream and a waterfall. Ethan loves anything to do with water. He would gleefully run to the edge of ponds and streams while my heart skipped a beat that I was going to have to fish him out. Then we rode down the slide. We stopped at the bottom and I said "wasn't that fun?!" I was answered with a wailing sob. Okay, no more slides.

We climbed some more steps and the bridge a little a few more times and then tried to move on when he discovered a carved wooden boat. We watched as about 5 or 6 girls piled into it and began to pretend to row the boat with their arms. They climbed out then Ethan climbed in and loved it. He wouldn't get out for 20 minutes. Even as many other kids climbed in and out of it, he just sat and watched from his end of the boat. And it was super adorable when I sat with him in it and sang "Row, row, row, Your Boat," he would make rowing motions with his arms like he had seen the girls do and mumble his way through the song. So cute! We finished the boat experience by jumping off the front edge of the boat becasue he had seen an older kid do it earlier.

Then he discovered one of the Champungu sculptures that lookes like little hens. I love the pictures because they look like they are all looking at him. He kept running up and petting them.

We walked around the Gardens to make our way to the Japanese Gardens. Ethan waved at every single person we walked past. We stopped to feed the fish but they seemed to be full because not a lot of them came up as we tried to feed them.

We then started to make our way back to the front of the Gardens because it was close to nap time. We stopped at the fountains in the rose gardens where we watched two kids playing in the water. Ethan would start to run into the fountain but would stop just short of hitting the water and make a quick u-turn. Then the kids started running the U shape of the fountain so Ethan joined in, only a couple feet outside of the water. It was pretty funny.

Ended the day again at the Disney Store. Ethan would not take a nap all day, so I am sure I returned a really grouchy baby to Dad at 4 o clock.

First Day of Babysitting

I have the awesome task of babysitting my nephew, Ethan, every Wednesday from now until the end of October (at least). Last Wednesday was my first day and it was so beautiful that I wnated to take him to the zoo. The day started off with me picking him up from his mom's work. There was a brief moment when he was in his car seat and he realized mom was not going with us and his bottom lip curled up and tears started rolling down his face. No screaming, no sobbing. Just heartbreaking tears falling down his cheeks. Now I don't know about you but I know when I cry like that it's a cry that hurts my heart. Now imagine having that feeling everyday when you are left with a babysitter because you just aren't old enough to realize that it's not forever. Okay, it's going to make me cry just thinking about it.

And it didn't last that long anyway. Mom gave him a bowl full of apples, he was set and we were on our way to the zoo. He even excitedly pointed out every car, truck and tree along the way.

So then we get to the zoo, I successfully open up the stroller and get Ethan loaded in. I push him though the front door and head towards the gate we have to pass through to get in. Holding open the gate is a 3 or 4 year old boy. His mom passes through. I wait for him to let it close but he is still holding it open. We make eye contact and I start to push Ethan through. Just as Ethan's feet are millimeters away BAM!!! the kid throws the gate shut. I couldn't believe it! That little brat was trying to cause bodily harm on my little nephew. I came this close of picking up this demon child and throwing him into the lion's pit. I'm sure mom would not have noticed because she was completely oblivious to what her little tyrant just did.

Okay, deep breath and move on. I find out the children's zoo is free from 9 to 10. Awesome! We go check out the meer kats, bunnies and naked mole rats. At one point, Ethan is running around looking at everything and ends up right behind and adults legs just as he is turning around. Of course he gets bulldozed and knocks his little noggin on the concrete floor. So much for my goal of sending him back home with no scratches or bruises. He cried for a second and then started pointing out the bunnies again.

We cruised around the zoo again. He seemed to like the elephants a lot, yelling and waving his arms during the elephant walk. He also yelled at the giraffes for a while. Then we went to bird cage where I showed him what button to push to open the handicap door. So we ended up doing that for a while.

Luch and naptime passed and then we only had about an hour left before I had to drop him off with dad so we stopped by the Disney store. He threw some balls around and danced to Hannah Montana with Mary and Courtney and then it was already time to go. The day went by so fast but that night I was so exhausted. But it was a good exhausted. I can't wait until next Wednesday

Yay for Bloggers!

One of my customers let me know that she found me on someone else's blog Yay! Many thanks to http://anothershadeofgrey.blogspot.com/ for featuring my Paper Scrap Necklace. I sold both of them that I posted and will be making more. Here is a link to the blog post:

http://anothershadeofgrey.blogspot.com/2007/09/paper-scrap-necklace.html

And another many thanks to peacekit1970 for letting me know about it.

I will be posting more, but if you would like one just convo me in my store. http://www.scrapopolis.etsy.com/

A few Random Things

*First off, my Grandad gave me this painting of my mom as a graduation present a few years ago. I found out this past summer the little story about it when my brother, husband and I went to visit Grandad in Oklahoma this past summer. My grandad told me that one of their neighbors in South Dakota painted it. There was supposed to be another painting done when she turned sixteen, but the artist died before then. I think it was a great gift.

*Tomorrow, I am babysitting my nephew Ethan. Yay! It is supposed to be beautiful outside so we will probably go to the zoo. I'm a little nervous, which is funny because I used to babysit all the time when I was like twelve and thirteen. We should have a lot of fun though. Plus, I am goign to be able to babysit him every Wednesday through the end of October.

*Last, I bought a new laptop last night! yay! I reached my goal in sales and went ahead and did it. Plus, I bought a refurbished one and it was already red. So I got a deal and I didn't have to pay for the extra fee for it to be red. And I bought a pink wireless mouse to go with it. Isn't that silly?! I am hoping to get it before the Strangefolk Festival so that I can take debit and credit cards. I can take advantage of impulse buyers or people who ahve just plain run outof cash. Yes!

That's it.

Hello, ladies!

I found these pin up pictures that I had photcopied with an origami paper behind it in my pile of papers I have saved over the years. So I cut 'em up and stitched them onto cards. What a fun way to say hello to someone! A guaranteed smile when opened.Find them at

www.scrapopolis.etsy.com

I admit I am a pack rat

So I was digging through an old box of cards that I have had forever. I don't even remeber what I was looking for. But in the box I found a box of stickers. When I was younger, I was a sticker collector. I had albums of them. Traded them with friends and just horded them. I don't know what happened the albums, but in this box were a lot of stickers from back then. In fact I found the cutest stickers ever in this box and made cards out of them. The sickers are from 1985! But they made these little cards so cute. I love using up stuff but I will be sad to see these go.

You can find these cards at http://www.scrapopolis.etsy.com

New cards

I found yet another use for my fabric scraps. Sew them to a notecard! They turned out pretty cute. Now I just need to make one to send with a note to my mother-in-law to call myself truly productive.

http://www.scrapopolis.etsy.com/

So flippin' cute!

I found this Michael Miller fabric yesterday when I wasn't supposed to be buying fabric. I don't even know what I am going to do with it yet, I just couldn't pass it up.