What's Happening at Shabby Boutique

Well.....It's Finally Out!!!!! Romantic Homes Holiday Edition for 2011

2011-10-20T16:52:00.003-05:00

So "What's the Big Deal" with this issue of Romantic Homes, you ask?!?! Well, in this issue you will find my Vintage Style Tulle Wreaths and Trees featured in it. That's what the big deal is!!! :) My Tulle Wreaths and Trees are one of my big sellers for the Holidays and they finally got their spot in the limelight. I have been making these for years and years now and their Beauty and Romance still takes my breathe away. I used to create tulle trees when I was younger. You know the ones where you take the different widths of tulle and gather them in circles around a wooden dowel and then layer them from largest to smallest and then decorate them with little tiny ornaments and mercury glass balls? And as much as I loved making them, I could do what I wanted to do to them as they had no substance to them. So I put my twist on them. So I can fill them with all sorts of Vintage Goodies and Trinkets and Glitters and Mica Flakes and.... I think you get the picture.

I have always been passionate about crafting, creating, painting, sewing, cooking or anything that takes a keen eye or an imagination. For the biggest reason is not only my Love Love Love (did I say Love?) of creating, but for the fact that I can bring Joy and Happiness to others through my Creations. It's my outlet when I'm stressed or down. It's a way to bring Beauty to our sometimes mundane world. It's how I express myself and who I am. And through all of that, it is also another way that I have tried to show someone how much I care or bring a smile to ones face. I feel that I have truly been Blessed with my ability to create Beauty from nothing or something that someone else would see as junk or through it away. I can say though that one of the not so pleasant sides to it is that my mind has a hard time shutting down. I see Beauty in so many places you wouldn't expect to find it or see something and want to change it and make it into something else. Another part to the curse is the sometimes sleepless nights because my mind is thinking of my next project. Or even waking up in the middle of the night with an idea and having to down to my studio and start on it right away. Some people call me crazy, I just think I'm me! :)

For my Vintage Style Tulle Wreaths, those are inspired by a wreath that my grandmother made when I was a little girl. She had made it out of clear dry cleaner bags cut into strips. They had yellow writing on them so the wreath had touches of yellow here and there, but mostly looked white. I don't know what it was about that wreath that when I ran up to her door to knock and saw it, it would just make my heart skip a beat. If she had the door open I would just sit in the living room and just literally stare at it for hours. And that is why I love recreating the past with a Romantic Flair of my own. It's not just the nostalgia, but the invokation of the heart. The way those items made me feel when I was a child. Shaking that snow globe for hours to watch the snow fall. Watching the twinkling of the lights on the tree reflecting off of the icicles and ornaments. Giggling at the bubbles as they would float up to the top of those faux candle ornaments. So I take my time and create heirlooms for the future from memories of my past. :)

So, take a peek at my little pieces of Romance in the Romantic Homes mag. I do feel so Honored and Blessed to be asked to do some of them for their Holiday Guide....Blessings to All this Holiday Season and Beyond!!!....Big Hugs as Always...Jewel ;o)

My Aqua Wreath on the edge of the editorial page. Jacqueline was a Doll to work with. She's the one that contacted me to create some for their photo shoot. I had only a couple of days to get them done and mailed to them, talk about crafting through the night, as they each take a full day if not more to make. I at first thought it was a scam when she contacted me so I contacted my friend at Romantic Homes and asked her if it was real and she let me know that "Yes" it was real. But you have to be careful these days. There are so many out there that try to take advantage of people.

Again on the edge of the next page. Doesn't the little bird look so adorable sitting in her little pink nest? She looks so debonair. She just knows she's a star. LOL :)

Here are the two Vintage Style Tulle Wreaths I made and sent in. I think they look so good in the magazine. I wish I could take good pictures of my items like they do. I'm just not a photographer. I do have to say that my hubby is pretty good, so I try to get him to take as many pictures as I can. One of the things I wished I was good at. :)

And the info page about them. They did a great job on the descriptions and quotes. I know they couldn't add in all I had to say about them. When one is passionate what they do they tend to get a little wordy. And I'm definitely not an exception to that. LOL

And then I got a full page for my Vintage Style Tulle Trees!!! That was the most exciting. Jacqueline wouldn't let me see what they were up to, so I had to wait like everyone else to see what it was all going to look like. I am so pleased with it all. And the photos and descriptions really captured my essence and as well as the feel of them probably better than I could. So Thank You Thank You Miss Jacqueline. You are truly a Sweetheart!! :)

New for Halloween 2011 Vintage Style Candy Box Ornaments

2011-09-22T19:05:00.004-05:00

I have always loved Vintage Candy Boxes. I love the details, the graphics and the love that went into making them. So over the years I have been designing Ornaments and Displays for various holidays that are inspired by them. I guess you can say it's my twist on them. This year I have some new ones listed for Halloween. I absolutely love creating these. The ones I have made in the past have been huge sellers so if you want to get in on the fun better get them while you can.

As usual I put a lot of detail into them with Vintage German Glass Glitters, Handmade Banners, Vintage Seam Binding, Vintage Style Tinsel and Chenille. The images come from Vintage & Antique Postcards and other ephemera that I have collected over the years. So take a peek and tell me what you think. If you would like some custom ones made for any occasion or theme I would love to make some for you.

Here is a Ghost carrying a Jack-O-Lantern on a stick in front of a Giant Moon

Two Adorable Children hiding behind a huge Jack-O-Lantern

Look at the Owl on the Jack-O-Lantern

Check out the Black Cat sitting in front of a big Orange Moon

Give A Way again at my friend Rebecca's

2011-05-10T14:20:00.005-05:00

My friend Rebecca over at A Gathering Place is having another Amazing Give A Way. Head on over and just check it out. :)

French Lavender How I Love Thee

2011-03-07T09:37:00.003-06:00

What do I do when I get stressed you ask? Well I reach for one of my French Lavender Sachet Pillows I have around my house, stick my nose up to it and breathe in deep. That always calms me down and helps me destress. I have to admit that when I first found lavender that I wasn't too thrilled with the smell of it. It smelled soapy to me. But not too long after I started working with it I sooo fell in love with it. Of course it took going through a few varieties to find the one that really made me say "Aaaahhh! Now that's more like it!". LOL I have been using imported French Lavender, from France of course, for many many years now. I have made Sachet Pillows, Envelope Sachets, Sachet Pouches, put it in bowls and vases, put it in and on candles (yes you heard me correct, on candles. Dip a candle in wax, or glue if you aren't going to burn it, and then immediately dip it in Lavender. A pretty way to get the aroma and decorate.) and the list goes on. Not only does the French Lavender smell the best (of course it's a little more expensive than the normal lavender), keep a prettier color, the most fragrant but, it lasts the longest as well. I have many sachets around my house that I made well over 10 years ago and they still smell like the day I made them. If I feel the smell is dissipating, then I just give the sachet a gentle squeeze or two to crush the buds a little and it releases some more of the essential oils that make it smell so heavenly.

Lavender has been used used for centuries for many things. Not only do people use it as a stress reliever, but it is used in culinary delights and as teas or in teas. It is a natural moth and bug repellent. It has also been used as a natural preservative. In Victorian times it was common to pack your wedding dress or other linens in lavender to preserve and protect them. It has also been speculated that it has healing properties as well.

Here are a few French Lavender Sachets that I have made over the years. Of course these are just a few of the thousands I have made, but I just thought I would give you an example of how you could use French Lavender to decorate in your own home. :)

I Hope you enjoyed some of my French Lavender Creations. Now Show me Yours! :)

More Vintage Style Christmas Delights!

2010-11-20T13:28:00.003-06:00

I have been busy trying to get things done between custom orders and getting orders shipped. But I am determined to get some Christmas Goodies done besides the my custom ordered Christmas Goodies. LOL I make more in custom orders than I do to sell in my shoppes. LOL At least I get to make some pretty Christmas stuff. It is my favorite holiday to decorate and craft for. Valentines is my second favorite. :) Anyway, check out my new Goodies and let me know what you think. Feedback is very important to me as I create what I think you all want. So if I'm not making what you want, then I need to know. :) Have a Gorgeous Holiday Season to All! Enjoy!

New for Christmas 2010

2010-11-17T12:31:00.009-06:00

I know I don't get a chance to blog that often, and most certainly not as often as I would like, but with family and orders and everything else that happens in life sometimes you just have to take cuts in other places. I have been busy working on new Christmas items for this season, although a little late in the game probably, but better than never. :) Check out my Vintage Style Christmas Trees and Christmas Gazebo Displays. I think they turned out so adorable. I also added a few wall hangings that would look Lovely even hanging from a door or drawer knobs. They all have lots of Vintage Goodies that I used to decorate them with. So check them out and let me know what you think. If you like what you see then visit my Etsy Shoppe TheShabbyBoutique to check out more Cottage and Vintage Style Christmas and Home Decor items!

Hugs and Blessings to All!

Featured on a Blog!

2010-10-21T20:29:00.003-05:00

I want to say Thank You ever so much to Eaindar from Crafty Dream for Featuring one of my items on her blog. She featured my Pink Roses Wire Basket in a collage of Cottage Roses items. If you get a chance stop by her blog, tell her I sent you and give her a big "Hello!". She has a Gorgeous blog that I'm sure you will love to peruse through. You can find my Cathrine Klein Pink Roses Wire Basket here!

Enjoy

Hugs!

Jewel

A Gathering of Thoughts is having another Give-A-Way!

2010-08-09T15:32:00.003-05:00

My dear Sweet Friend Rebecca over at A Gathering of Thoughts is having another Sweet Give-A-Way! She's giving away a Gorgeous Pillow and some Hand Painted Roses Ornaments. So head on over to her Blog and sign up. It ends on August 12th, 2010 so you better hurry! :)

So Sweet Handpainted Ornies

So Sweet Pillow

My new friend is having a Give-a-way!

2010-06-09T13:12:00.002-05:00

Hello My Lovely Followers! I just wanted to pop in and let you all know that my new friend Rebbecca over at A Gathering Place is having a Give-a-way to celebrate the re-oping of her website A Gathering Place. She is giving away a Lovely old Hand Painted (with what you say? Pink Roses of course!) Sewing Table Drawer and a Lovely Sachet Pillow. So go check out her blog A Gathering of Thoughts and sign up for her Grand Re-opening Give-a-way!

Hugs to you All!
Jewel ;o)

Paper Dolls Garland Craft Kit is Here!

2010-06-03T18:47:00.005-05:00

You have patiently been waiting and I know it had been killing you! But they have arrived! Get your Paper Dolls Garland Craft Kit Here TODAY! I have them listed in my Crafting Confections Etsy Shoppe, but if you purchase on the Pre-Order button on my last Blog Post, you will get yours for $5 off. I will only be making a limited number of these Craft Kits and most of them will be saved back for a show I'm doing this fall. But these are Great Fun to do with your kids this summer or to give as gifts to your favorite crafter or do yourself. And How Cute Are They? Aren't they Adorable? Of course yours will be different than mine or anyone elses, but just the dresses without any embellishments are just so darn Cute themselves. :) Take a Peek at the one I created.

And look at all of the Gorgeous Vintage and New Embellishments that you get with your Craft Kit. I had lots of stuff left over when I got finished with my Paper Dolls Garland, so I'm sure you will have everything you need to decorate them. Of course you can add your own embellishments too to make them unique and all your own. :)

You get all sorts of Goodies with you Paper Dolls Garland Kit:
* 6 Paper Doll Dresss
* Vintage Seam Binding Ribbon
* Ric Rac Trim
* Mini Pom Pom Fringe
* Vintage Silver German Glass Glitter
* Vintage Style Forget Me Nots
* Velvet Ribbon
* Vintage Lace

More Crafting Confections "Sweet As Pie" Craft Kits Coming Soon! So Keep Watching! :)

Be On The L@@kout For My Latest Craft Kit!!!!

2010-05-29T11:44:00.011-05:00

I have been busy in my Studio recently putting together some fun Craft Kits that are so Adorable! I will be adding them shortly to my Crafting Confections Etsy Shoppe. But for now here is a sneak peek!...Hugs...Jewel ;o)

I will only be making a limited number of these Paper Doll Garland Craft Kits. So if you would like to pre-order yours today to make sure you get your kit when I get them all finished up, then click below to purchase your Kit Now.

This particular kit will include the following embellishments and more:

* Vintage Silky Rayon Seam Binding Ribbon
* Ric Rac Trim
* Mini Pom Pom Fringe
* Vintage German Glass Glitter
* Vintage Style Velvet/Flocked Forget Me Nots
* Velvet Ribbon
* Vintage Lace

What to do for your Wedding Registry if you want your Gifts from the Handmade Community

2010-05-28T10:13:00.007-05:00

As we approach June, the season for weddings, we all know someone who is getting married or getting married ourselves. Me, I'm fortunate to already be married to the most Amazing man on this planet and have a Wonderful family. But to those getting married it is so frustrating trying to get registered somewhere. Where do I register? Do they really have all that I want? Is it really what I want? And for those of us who already have a household and don't really need anything per say, but would maybe just like some things to blend in with our already decorated home or perhaps have that room you would like to re-do, but don't really have the money to do it. With the Go Green or Buy Handmade attitude that we are getting today, maybe we want to help save the environment or help support an artisan with Vintage, Handmade, Repurposed or Upcycled gifts of our choosing.

My answer is simple. Find a site such as Etsy where you can find Quality Handmade, Vintage, Upcycled or Repurposed items that you Love. Create an account there and add all of the items that you want to your Favorites. Then in with your invitations, in emails to your quests or you can even make up business cards to hand out with the URL of your Account on them. Tell your guests to go there and pick from your Favorites for your gifts. Then you know you will be getting exactly what you really want, so you won't have to return 10 toasters. LOL They will be One of a Kind, Unique and Truly You....Hugs...Jewel ;o)

These would be my picks! :)

To see this registry and view and the items in it listed for sale, go Here!

Marie Antionette LET THEM EAT CAKE Place Settings / Chair Hangers

2010-05-03T12:24:00.004-05:00

I got an email from one of my clients a couple of weeks ago. She had purchased my Marie Antoinette "Let Them Eat Cake" Note Cards to use for her little girls' Birthday Party Invitations. She asked me if I could make some sort of Place Setting Cards/Chair Hangers for all of the little girls at the party and I took the challenge. This is what I came up with. These turned out so Adorable I decided to add them to my Romantic Inspirations Etsy Shoppe.

They are 5"x7" and are created from the imagery I used to make the note cards. I printed them on heavy cardstock and then I hand glittered each one with Vintage Silver German Glass Glitter. This one pictured was the one for the Birthday Girl, the others just had their name without Princess so the Birthday Girl was a little more special. :) I then added some Vintage Seam Binding Ribbon Bows in two different shades of pink and extra for hanging on the back of the chairs. I topped it all off with Vintage Style Millinery Forget Me Nots. Aren't they so Sweet?

I can do them in any theme or from imagery from any of my existing note cards or gift tags in my shoppe. I can also do party hats, cupcake toppers and much more to give your party an overall theme.

These would be great for Bridal Showers, Dinner Parties, Luncheonettes, Baby Showers, Parties, Masquerades and more. Order yours today here! :)

Featured on Another New Blogland Friends Blog

2010-04-15T13:57:00.003-05:00

I want to Thank another gal blogger for featuring one of my Shabby Vintage Wares on her blog. She included my Sweet Cottage Vintage Chippy Wire Basket along some other fellow artisans in her piece on "Beautiful Shabby Chic Style Home Decor". Here is a link to view her blog, you can tell her Jewel send you there. :) If you don't want to follow the link, here is the basket she used which is available, for now, in my Etsy Shoppe TheShabbyBoutique.

I have been working hard on getting all of my Etsy Shoppes organized and straightened out, as well as get back to the roots of what Shabby Boutique is about. And that is Romantic Home Decor. The past few years I have been concentrating on web design, graphic design, stationary and gift tags as well as new and vintage craft supplies. I had taken a break from the Home Decor end of things after I closed down my brick and mortar shop due to too many issues with trying to take care of my grandmother after she fell and broke her hip. It was just too much to run a shoppe, take care of her and take care of my own family. My shoppe was my Dream, but just not the right time. My family comes first. I will do it again, but later when the kids and family don't need me so much. :) My craft supplies have been packed up in the garage, but I have finally felt like getting back in the home decor chair and bring you all some lovely home decor items. I will still be doing the stationary, craft supplies, web design, etc,. as it is all part of what I do and Love doing, just refocusing again. So be on the look out for new items coming soon! I have also been digging some of my items out that I had made several years ago for the shoppe and already have a few of those items listed.

If you are interested in my craft supplies line you can go to CraftingConfections on Etsy and for my stationary and gift tags you can go to RomanticInspirations. I will be moving my graphic design, business card, banners, and digital collage sheets over to a new shoppe soon as well. But I still don't have a name for it and I want to get the shoppes that I already have squared away first. I am also wanting to start doing jewelry again as well and I'm not sure if I want to open a new store for that, or combine it with RomanticInspiration or TheShabbyBoutique. I really need to get my website back up and going again so I can have everything under one roof again, but I just don't have the time right now. And I do Love Etsy and I do enjoy selling from there. It has been such a pleasurable experience over the last two years and I have met so many wonderful people there. Which is probably why I haven't been in too big of a hurry to get my own website going again.

I am leaving eBay though. I will leave a few templates listed for a while, but I will be closing my eBay store. Their fees have just gone outrageous and then to pay for a store and have to pay an exuberant amount of listing fees as well and then have like 12% of the final value fees also go to them. Then they own PayPal and they take fees out there as well. No Thank You! They are trying to become something that they are not as well as something that they weren't started or meant to be. It's no fun anymore and the policies that they keep putting in place to overpower the buyer and tip the scales in their favor instead of having an even playing field. I don't think anyone is really happy there anymore unless you are a drop shipper or large company selling tons of items a month. As for the small businesses or the little guy, it just not worth it anymore. I'm not sure why companies don't understand the principal of, "If it's not broke, don't fix it".

I will still be here though, I'm not going anywhere, just down a different path. So to the thousands of you that bought eBay templates, storefronts, etc,. from me in the past, present or future, I am still here to help or answer questions or support those templates and eBay stores. Don't worry about that. And I will still do custom graphics for eBay for you as well. I do what I Love and I Love what I do! :)

Well, I guess that's it for now! I will chat with you all later! Hugs and Blessings to you All!

Jewel ;o)

My New Blogger Friend Posted One of My Pics.

2010-03-14T10:36:00.007-05:00

I have made a Wonderful new friend in the blogger world. Here name is Torie Jayne and she used one of my pics of my childrens Easter eggs from my Flick'r pool on her blog for her Sunday Faves. Go Check Her Out! :)

You can visit Torie Jayne Here!

The Cottage Arts Swap Group

2010-02-16T18:22:00.002-06:00

Wow! It has been a while hasn't it? :( This year has already been so busy it's been hard to keep up with everything, so a few things have to be put on the back burner. I guess my blog is one of those things.

I did want to let you all know that I have started a Cottage Arts Swap Group. It will only be open to 50 members at this time to keep it small and personal so that you can get to know the other members. We will also hold our members to high standards when it comes to the swaps, as well as their conduct. We will be doing this because, how many times have you been in a swap and put your heart and soul into it and listened to what your swap partner wanted and then been utterly disappointed in what you received from your partner? We have all been there. I myself have been in over 20 swaps and have only been really proud of what I received a handful of times. It's not that I don't appreciate what I got. That's not it. I just felt that either my partner didn't listen to my likes and dislikes, didn't put into it what I did or just sent a bunch of stuff bought at the store or found around the house.

So, I decided to start a group for those of us who believe in putting our heart and soul into swaps and sending things that are vintage or handmade or supplies or things that we really want. Not that it's not great to receive something that is different from what you normally would like, think outside of the box, but it's just nice to have someone listen to you as well.

So, if you would like to join the group, then sign up. You will need to send up pics of things you have sent in swaps or send us a link to pics of items you sent to be allowed in the group. But wouldn't you rather be wowed by your swap partner than disappointed?

New Years Eve!

2009-12-31T09:45:00.003-06:00

Well, it is New Year's Eve already! Where has the time gone this year? Or the last year? Or the year before that? Time just keeps flying by us and I sometimes feel like I'm standing still. Honestly, I'm not ready to let this year go. This has been a Wonderful year just like the years past. But, on the same token, I'm so ready to see what the New Year will bring. In between being in and out of town the past few weeks, I have been designing some new items for Shabby Boutique and creating a few new things for Crafting Confections. As a matter of fact, I just woke up a little bit ago with an idea for Valentines in my head. And not being home is sad because I can't run downstairs in my studio and play with the ideas. I know some of you may not believe me, but I know a lot of you creative people will know exactly what I'm talking about ;), but I get a lot of my best ideas in dreams or thinking when not being able to sleep. I do think that it is sort of a curse for the creative mind, as I do not sleep much because my mind continues to go on and on even in dreams. It is so hard to turn it off.

I do really and truly want to Thank everyone that I have met this year for making it an extraordinary year. Whether I created a website for you, crafted something pretty just for you, answered your questions or just chatted away with you. Every experience one has makes them who they are and what they will become. It doesn't matter if it's a bad experience or a good one, your experiences still mold you. Hopefully you learn from the bad ones though and that makes you stronger. I know I have seen many challenges and had many experiences in my life that weren't good ones, but I think that is why I am so strong today. But they have also made me more caring, sharing, loving, honest and true. I learned from my grandparents when I was young to treat others how you want to be treated, and I truly take that to heart. And trust me, I have a big one. LOL What has always brought me joy over the years is making others happy and it always will be. I will do the silliest of things just to make someone laugh and I don't care if they are laughing with me or at me. As long as they are laughing and I put that smile on their face. And when things were rough throughout my life, which I have had my share for sure, laughter has always gotten me through. So, I hope to those that may read this, will realize that those rough times don't have to always be so sad and glum. And I know from experience that everything does happen for a reason and you should use that negative energy and turn it around and create new positive energy from it. Your life will be so much happier and full of joy, whether you realize it or not.

I don't know why I even went on about that, I guess reflection and maybe a voice of reason for those that may need it. Once again, everything happens for a reason. Maybe those words will help inspire someone out there. All I know is that I am looking forward to the New Year and what it will bring. So, to all of my friends, family and clients.....A Huge, from the bottom of my heart, Thank You & Happy New Year!

Jewel ;o)

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Shabby Boutique

2009-12-25T00:21:00.003-06:00

My husband made this Gorgeous Video for me last year actually, but he didn't get it edited until too late. So, I decided to show it this year. My Christmas Tree is the same anyway. LOL

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Many Blessings to You All! Thank You for making 2009 a Wonderful Year for me! I look forward to the Journey of 2010 and Hope to see you all again soon!

Shabby Boutique Holidays 2008 from SixFootGeek on Vimeo.

More Christmas Creations Available for Sale!

2009-12-13T19:20:00.003-06:00

Here are more Christmas Goodies! I've been busy! :)

Well, I had my big Christmas Show and it was very successful! I don't have much left, so get the Christmas Lovelies while you still can! :)

My Vintage Style Wallpaper Ornies/Door Hangers are back again this year! Never fails these are always a huge hit. They are so much prettier in person and I keep several hanging around on knobs and drawer pulls all over the house all year round.

I have carried the Faux Truffle/Bon Bon Ornies/Door Hangers for several years now. And I finally got around to actually posting the magnets that I also sell at shows. They look so real you can almost taste them. YUM!

The LOVE Letters that I created a while back and never got posted. LOL I had put them up and just recently found them again when I was looking for something else. I figured it was time they deserved a Loving Home! :)

Another OOAK Vintage Style Waterless Snowglobe. This is the last one I have left for this year. I Love making these, they are just very time consuming so I don't make many of them for each season. So, if you would like some you can contact me and I will custom order you some.

This is a New Item for Christmas 2009. I do have a couple more that I will be listing as well in the next few days. I have two pink ones and an aqua one that I am currently working on! I just love these with all of the Vintage & Antique Buttons, Vintage Mica Flakes and the way they remind me of the spun cotton ornaments and decorations of the past. I will be making these throughout the year for various seasons and themes, but if you have something in mind, don't hesitate to contact me about a custom order. These are so much prettier than what I could capture.

These Jingle Bell and Stocking Lavender Sachets are perfect for hanging on your tree or on a door/cabinet knob or drawer pull during the Christmas Season. But during the off season you can put them in your drawer or closet to add a relaxing scent to your clothes or lingerie. I only use imported French Lavender that is the longest lasting and most fragrant you can buy. The lavender scent will last for years to come. When the smell dissipates, just give it a little squeeze to release more oils from the buds and it comes right back. I have a few sachets that I made 10 years ago, when I found this wonderful Lavender, and they still smell just as fresh as the day I made them. Very worth the money for sure. :)

My Sugared/Vintage German Glass Glittered Ornies were a huge hit as well this year. Once again, I don't have many left so get them while you can.

Another French Inspired paperweight. I just love using vintage Rhinestone Jewelry bits in my work and I thought this Vintage Fleur de Lis Jewelry part fit in perfect with the theme of the paperweight. So much more romantic than a plain paperweight. :)

I only have one set of these adorable Snowman Gift Tags left. They were created using some of my original artwork. It is some of my colored pencil work. I love doing colored pencil art, the way you can blend the colors gives such a soft and romantic feel.

Yes, I did more Vintage Style Tulle Wreaths and Trees this year. All sold out except for two wreaths. I love making the trees and the wreaths, but once again, they are extremely time consuming. It takes a couple of hours just to cut all of the tulle to create them, let alone tying them all on. So, I usually only get a few done a season.

This Altered Art project turned out so adorable. I absolutely love it. I Adore Pink & Aqua and then to add in a little aged or sepia tones makes it even more special. This has lots of details and little surprises. That is one thing I like to do with my work. I always add lots of details that you won't see right away. That way every time you look at it you see something new that you didn't notice or see before. It makes it new all over again. :)

I am the originator of these Faux Gingerbread Birdhouse Cottages and have been making them for over 10 years now. They are always a big hit and I find that they are too pretty to put away. So, I keep mine out all year long. :) Unfortunately they all sold out at the show. If you would like some made I can custom order them for you, but I won't have time to make any for this Christmas season. But I make them for Valentine Day, Easter and other Holidays as well, or just a basic one without a seasonal theme and in other colorways. And once again they are a true labor of love. I spend days creating each one. I add every bead, bauble and detail by hand. But they turn out to Scrumptious that I just can't resist making them. :)

I only have two Christmas Tree Skirts left this year and no stockings at all. So make sure you ge the skirts before they are gone.

My Sand Dollare Ornie/Door Hangers are back again this year. I have been selling these for over 6 years now and they still do well at the shows as well as on my site. You really do have to see them in person to see how Pretty they really are. They look like they are made from porcelain with the Pink Bavarian Roses on them.

Although I sold out of all of my Vintage Style Tulle Trees this year, I do have one Rose Petal & Feather Tree left. I made 10 of them and the rest all sold out. Now once again, just as with my pillows, totes, gingerbread houses, tulle wreaths & trees, etc,. each one is OOAK. Each one of them are at least slightly different, so no two are alike.

Much more in store for you in my shoppe. I still have not been able to get my website redone, so my shopping cart is still broke. But, you can still purchase my items in my Etsy Shoppe and My eBay Store. I am hoping that I will be able to get my website back up again after the Holidays.

Warm Wishes & Blessings This Holiday Season!
Hugs to All!
Jewel ;o)

The Love & Hope for Our Little Angels Altered Book Charity Auction Event for NCCS is Underway!!!

2009-11-15T20:07:00.002-06:00

Well, I finally got it all together and got everything listed. Please go check it out! There are some Lovely Items from some Amazing Artists, as well as the Two Altered Art Books.

I'm wore out so I'm off to go relax for a while before bed! Thank You to all who donated and to my Amazing hubby for not only creating the two videos of the books with the pages turning, but he also created the custom music for them as well. I think he did an awesome job. I know they are a bit dark, it was rainy and cloudy all day, as it has been for the last two months. LOL But I still think they came out Gorgeous!

Hugs to All!

Jewel ;o)

"Love & Hope for Our Little Angels" Altered Art Book Auction Event to Support NCCS Nov. 15-22, 2009

2009-11-03T15:37:00.005-06:00

Some creations are inspired by the colors of a sunset or the shape of an egg nestled in the palm of a hand, others by a piece of music or the sound of the wind high in the trees. And while these are pretty and look nice on a side table or around a wrist, it’s art that comes from a deeper place and tells a story that is the most widely appreciated. Although the Etsy Cottage Style group is home to many with their own home-based or brick & mortar businesses, more than that it is a place where amazing artists and crafters can meet up, share ideas, and support one another. And what better way to come together as a group that looks beyond the “bottom line” than to band together to create something that will give back to the greater community?

Just a couple of months ago, the call went out: “How about we do a pass-around altered book?” Jewel from Shabby Boutique asked. And since then, the idea has grown from a basic craft to an international project that will be auctioned to raise money for a cause close to this woman’s heart: children with cancer.

The “swap” is still gearing up and getting organized, but we asked Jewel some questions to find out more about how it will work and the inspiration behind it.

What inspired the idea of a pass-around altered book?

J: I was looking at the vintage books at the thrift store; I always try to find books that I had as a kid so that I can get them for my children. I picked one up and thought, “What if I could get some others to do a pass-around altered book with me?” I’ve wanted to do one ever since I saw it on the Carol Duvall Show. But then I wondered who gets to keep it? It would be selfish of me to say that I would keep it since I started it. So, then it hit me—why not do it and then auction it off for the NCCS (National Children’s Cancer Society)? I thought that auctioning on eBay would be an issue since we are mainly an Etsy group, but when I posted the thought in our group, no one seemed to mind. I figured we just might be on to something here! LOL!

Tell us about your personal story and your connection to the NCCS.

J: Well, my story is a long one. But what it boils down to is this: I was in an awful marriage with a man who turned to drugs. Things went from bad to worse financially, and then got very ugly when he started becoming increasingly violent and verbally abusive. One day he just snapped and hit me. That is when I said, enough is enough. That was the Saturday before Mothers Day, and on Monday I got a restraining order to get him out.

Two weeks later on June 1st, 1999, I took my three-year-old son Cody to the doctor. He’d been vomiting on and off for a few days in between playing—you know how little kids can be. But that morning he was just very lethargic and could barely speak. It looked like he was gasping for air, he had no color to his lips, and his eyes were sunken. After calling the doctor’s office and trying to get in immediately, I was given an appointment for 30 minutes later. Even though the office was 20 minutes away, I said, “Whatever it takes, I’ll have him there.”

At first the doctor said that he could see nothing wrong with Cody. But he took a blood sample and soon returned to say that I needed to sit down. He told me it was acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and I remember sort of laughing but with an edge of panic, saying “Is that serious?” I just dropped to my knees and thought to myself, Now what? I thought that things were going to get better with my ex-husband gone. I was, for once, enjoying life, truly happy and had an inner peace that I have never had before in my tumultuous life.

The doctor immediately sent us to St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Cody was put in PICU right away to have his blood filtered. I found out that he very likely would’ve suffocated in his sleep that night if I hadn’t taken him to the doctor. He had virtually no red blood cells left. I found out several months later that the doctor had already scheduled Cody for a bone-marrow transplant but did not think that he would make it past his first night. Miraculously he pulled through, and we spent almost a year in the hospital.

During that hospitalization I couldn’t work because there was no way that I was leaving him at the hospital alone. I saw way too many kids just dropped off for days, weeks, and months at a time with no visitors or phone calls. So I had the children come to our room, and we watched movies, played games, and did whatever fun stuff we could to pass the time. I missed my other son miserably, but the hospital was nice enough to let Dillon come and stay with us sometimes. I still feel guilty that he lost his father, his mother, and his brother all within a few short weeks and was sent to stay with great grandma and grandpa. But I had to do what I had to do. I just hope that he forgives me for the choice I made.

Everyone kept saying to me that I was amazing and asked how I did it. I’m not amazing. I just did what I had to do and didn’t think twice about it. You just go with the flow, but the real key is laughter. It has always gotten me through the rough times in my life. Even the psychologist said in the hospital, “I don’t understand how you do it. I keep expecting you to crack, but you don’t. You just keep on smiling and laughing and going on.” I just learned a long time ago that if you can’t change it then don’t worry about it. Just laugh and go on.

It was a long battle. I couldn’t work and had no child support, so the NCCS (National Children’s Cancer Society) helped me with my house payments, utilities, gas money, food, you name it. But they also helped emotionally and spiritually, too. I owe the NCCS—and other organizations like it—more than I could ever repay. So I take every opportunity to help them or give back. I don’t think people ever realize how much these charities need our support to help others in time of need until you have been in that situation. I know that I used to sort of frown on the people standing outside of the stores wanting you to donate. I was more worried about how we were going to get food on our table or clothes on our back. But since this happened, I will now be the first one in line to donate. I do as much as I can to help others in my community as well as other communities.

What is the theme for the pass-around altered book?

J: The theme is “Love & Hope for Our Little Angels.”

How will the swap work? That is, who will start it, how will it travel, how many people will be involved, where will it end up, and how will it be auctioned? Also, what about page size and photographs of the work in progress?

J: Everyone who was interested has sent me pages based on dimensions that I gave them earlier. I then made the covers and put them together. There are two books; one with 15 pages and one with 16 pages. Each person made one or two pages and decorated them however he/she liked, using whatever medium he/she liked. I wanted everyone to put his/her heart and soul into it so that love just oozes from the pages.

I would love to have as many people as possible involved with this, and I would like to be able to auction the book off around Christmas time. I think it would be a great time to make the donation as every kid and family needs a little extra then, and it would make a great gift for someone. Since the books are already finished, we are looking for others to donate items to be auctioned off alongside the books to help bring in more money, awareness and to help advertise the books. All who would like to donate items to be auctioned off will keep the items they donate and just send me pictures, your business name/user ID (let me know if it’s Etsy or eBay, etc.), if you will donate shipping or how much you want for shipping, items details, your zip code or area so that I know what to put in the shipping calculator, etc,. The rest will be announced in the group and on the blog. You do not have to be part of ECS to donate items for this event. Anyone willing to help out for this cause is not only encouraged, but appreciated. Anyone that would like to donate anything for this Charity Auction Event may contact me via email with "Love & Hope" written in the message line.

I have been involved with many charity auctions via a group on eBay called P.E.P. (Painting eBay Pretty). I was a group moderator until a few years ago, when opening my own shop meant that I had little extra time. But I have helped with and been in charge of several charity auctions. As a matter of fact, we do one for the Susan G. Komen Foundation every year.

Tell us more about the theme. How do you envision the swap members using that idea? Do you want them to make multi-media art pages? Write stories? Both?

J: I told my story to a couple of ladies, which, without my knowing so, helped them make some tough decisions. Later when they told me how I gave them a spark of hope and courage, it made me feel good that they were inspired by my story. But, really, they found the courage within themselves to do what was right. I love helping others though, that is where I have always gotten my true joy from life. So, if by sharing my stories I can help others, then I will talk, chat, or email away. LOL!

I envision pages just oozing with Love & Hope for our little ones. Everyone has her own idea of what Love & Hope is, and that is what I envision for this book.—everyone’s ideas and hearts coming together. They can write poems, paint on the pages, write stories, or share their own family photos—just whatever comes to mind when they think of Love & Hope. I want the members to use their hearts and creativity.

As written by Tiffani aka Ric Rac Sally

Cody when we first got to the hospital before they started treatment on June 2nd 1999

His favorite thing to do was put lotion on his feet. It relaxed him, so he would do it several times a day. We should take a lesson from him and take time to pamper ourselves. :)

Cody after they started his chemo. He couldn't even feed himself because of all the tubes and wires in the way. I had to feed him.

After they started his chemo. We thought that he wasn't going to lose his hair because he kept it for about 2 weeks after chemo started. But then one day he woke up and hair everywhere. Through it all he stayed positive though.

The doctors and nurses dubbed this purple car "Cody's Car". One of the Doctors even put a license plate on it that said "Cody's Car". That car got a lot of mileage put on it by Cody. We would spend hours wheeling around his pole so he could just go in circles in that car. Then he figured out how to do it himself. That was a sight, pole in one hand and the steeing wheel in the other. LOL I wish I could find a pic of that.

This is cody today. He is 13, healthy and happy. I Thank God every day that he is still with us.

About NCCS

If you would like to know more about NCCS, please visit their website. Please spread the word and help this organization help those children and families in need. And please mark your calender and come back during the charity auction event to make sure that you help support NCCS. Thank You so much for your help, as it truly means a lot to us!

When will this event be held?

The "Love & Hope for Our Little Angels" Charity Auction Event will be held from November 15-22, 2009 on eBay, user ID etsy_cottage_style (etsy_cottage_style). At that time we will be auctioning off the two books, support banners and other creations from our Etsy Cottage Style members and others.

If You Would Like to Donate to This Amazing Charity Event

Here is how it will work and what information we will need if you would like to donate items for this amazing charity event:

If you would like to donate an item or items to this charity auction event you will send us the information that we need to post your item on eBay and then we will list said item. Once the auction is over and the item is paid for, we will notify you and give you the information you will need to ship the item to the person that won the auction. The cut off date for accepting donations will be November 8th, 2009 at 11:59pm CST. This will give us time to get the listings ready so that we can prelist them to all start on November 15th. We will not be able to accept items after the cut off time and date. If you would also like to run auctions on your own eBay user ID during this time for the charity auction you may do so. It would help also if you could point out that there are other items for auction under the Etsy_Cottage_Style user ID so that we get more traffic to help promote the books, which is the main items being auctioned off, and the other items being auctioned off..

The information we need for the items that you would like to add to this charity auction event will be:

1. Your eBay user name/ID, (if you have one) or your business name or name on Etsy Cottage Style, Etsy, website, etc,. We also need to know your real name, but if you would like us not to post that in the listing, or would just like your first name listed or any other special requests concerning the use of your real name, then please just tell us in your email. We will post the name of your eBay user name/ID (if you have one) and one other business name/user ID/name on the listing of your item/items.

2. Pictures of the item/s you are donating. Please make sure that you pictures are clear and lighted properly so that buyers are sure of what they are getting. Please make sure that if there are any flaws that you have clear pictures of them as well. Pictures should be around 400 pixels wide but no larger than 550 so that they are not too slow to load on dial-up computers. Also if you can compress your images without lessening the quality of the photo, then please do so. That will also help our dial-up users.

3. We will also need clear and concise details and descriptions of the item/s that you are donating so that the buyers know exactly what they are purchasing. Please know that the more information that you give, the better it is for the buyers. We will not be editing your descriptions though, we will only be cutting and pasting them into the listings, so please make sure that they are in proper format, spelling and paragraphs as well.

4. We will also need an email address to add to the listing so that if buyers have a question/s about the item that they may contact you. And so that we can contact you about your item/s and send you the information you will need to ship the items to the buyer once the sale ends.

5. Will need to know what zip code, country, etc,. you will be sending the item from so that we can put that in the listing as well. We will also need to know if you will be donating shipping as well or how much you will need for shipping for both International and US shipments. Please know that you will be insuring and tracking the packages as well for both International and US shipments because of this being for charity. So, please remember to include those extra costs in the shipping amount. You may also wish to put in shipping as a flat rate or a based on buyers address so please let us know that as well. If you are adding in an extra amount for insurance, tracking, etc,.on a "based on buyers address" it will be added in as a handling charge so we will need to know what that handling charge is so that we can add that as well. Also, if you could put all of this information in your description it will also help the buyers know what the shipping charges are. EBay will not allow for insurance to be optional on items sold on eBay anymore, so that is why the insurance now has to be added in to the shipping charge either as a handling charge or in the flat rate amount.

6. All auctions will start off at $9.99 and donations will be 90% of the sale price. The other 10% will go towards Paypal and eBay fees. Any amount left over after the fees are paid will go to NCCS through Mission Fish.

7. Please send all of your donation information here with "NCCS Donation" in the subject line so that we know that it is donation information. If you have other questions, concerns or comments please email us separately from your donation email so that we make sure and get back to you right away. Also, if you get an email from us concerning your donation, please respond to it as quickly as possible so that we can get your listings up as soon as possible. And be sure to check your spam/junk mail folders as well once you send us your donation information as well, just in case we contact you and it goes to your junk/spam mail folder.

Purchase a Support Banner for NCCS

We will also be selling Support Banners that you can purchase with the proceeds to also go to NCCS. Purchase as many as you wish for yourself or to give to friends, neighbors, relatives and even your favorite sellers. They are already for sale and will be on sale until November 23rd, 2009. You may place these banners on your blog, in your emails, in your eBay auctions/stores, on your website's or anywhere else that you would like to show your support for such a wonderful cause. You will be receiving these graphic banners in your email so once you purchase it/them remember to watch your email (the email address that is attached to your Paypal account) for them. Please not that we will only be sending one per purchase/email account. You may then send them on to the loved ones that you purchased them for if you purchased more than one. Below is what the banner looks like and if you click on it it will take you to the eBay listing for purchasing them.

Help Spread The Word

If you could please post the banner below and link on your blog or site to help us spread the word about this wonderful charity event, we would most appreciate it.

To be held November 15-22, 2009 on eBay under user ID etsy_cottage_style

Here is a Slide Show of some of the Pages that are in the Book! This is just a Sneak Peek!

Enjoy!

If you need any more information about this event or to send your information to us for your donations or for any questions you may have, please contact us. If you are sending us your information regarding your donation to this event, then please put "NCCS Donation" in the subject line so that we know to add those emails to our list of donaters. Thank You All so much for your help and support with this Charity Event. If you would also like to help with this event you may also contact us.

Thank You from the bottom of our Hearts!

New! Crafting Confections available at Shabby Boutique!

2008-12-17T16:50:00.008-06:00

New "Crafting Confections", "Craft Supplies Almost Good Enough to Eat!" available for sale at Shabby Boutique. These are just some of the items that are already are available for sale or will be available soon. "Crafting Confections" are either New or Vintage craft supplies that I promise to be Scrumptious.

Vintage and New Millinery

Vintage Silky Rayon Seam Binding Ribbon
If you have not already been introduced to Vintage Seam Binding Ribbon, you are in for a treat. It is sooooo addictive. It comes in so many shades and is so silky and soft and femine. Once you use some, you will be hooked. It is great for both crafting and sewing creations. From Gift Tags to Pillows and everything in between.

Champagne Fizz Trio

Blueberry Parfait Trio

Blueberry Confections

Beach Front View Trio

Banana Split Trio

Ocean Breeze Trio

Coconut Neapolitan Trio

Chocolate Petit Four Trio

Chocolate Covered Berries

Cherry Chocolate Chunk Trio

Strawberry Parfait Trio

Strawberry Confections Trio

Spumoni Ice Cream Trio

Pistachio Pudding Trio

Old Fashioned Cotton Candy

More Coming Soon!

Pink & Aqua Gingerbread Cottage in a Vintage Cloche Display

2008-12-09T20:32:00.004-06:00

Here is my latest creation! I actually did it for the Lollishops Gingerbread House Challenge, but it is available for sale on my website and Lollishops Shoppe. This is crafted after the Vintage Holiday Cloches that my grandmother had. I don't know what ever happened to them, but they were Gorgeous! Take a Peek Here if you are interested in purchasing it!

Happy Holidays!
Jewel ;o)

Snow Globes for Christmas

2008-11-19T19:06:00.005-06:00

I have such fond memories of crafting with my grandmother when I was very young. One of the things we used to make was Snow Globes for Christmas. We would use plastic flowers, beads and pearls, mica flakes and whatever else we could scrounge up from around the house. I miss those old snow globes, so I decided to do my own take on them and make a few. I had such fun making these two that I will be making more of them for sure. And of course even some for other holidays.

These are Waterless Snow Globes that I put together using some Vintage & Antique images from my vast postcard collection, Vintage Mica Flakes, Vintage Glitter, Beads & Pearls and other various items. I hope you like them as much as I enjoyed creating them. And Keep Peeking for more in the near future!

P.E.P Charity Auction Event!

2008-10-19T12:18:00.006-05:00

I am a part of sellers group on eBay and we are having our 3rd annual Susan G. Komen Charity Auction Event. Breast Cancer is a horrible thing and we need to ban together to do everything we can to find a cure for this cancer and all other cancers out there. Having several friends of mine pass away in their early 30's due to breast cancer and almost losing my middle son Cody to Leukemia I can tell you that it can and will affect everyone somehow or in some way. Whether it's your brother, sister, mother, aunt, uncle, grandmother, grandfather, neighbor, it doesn't matter. Someone you know eventually will be affected by either cancer itself or the pain of losing a loved one to it.

No one should fight cancer alone.

Annually P.E.P - Painting eBay Pretty holds the largest multi-seller charity auctions ever held on ebay Benefiting Komen for a Cure.

Breast cancer is no laughing matter. over 200,000 women and men will be diagnosed with this disease this year alone.

This year will be no different in our quest for a cure for this devastating disease but, No one should fight cancer alone.

Someone you know has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Being the most predominate cancer to women it will always be the most fought for cause

With this said.. the pain does not just walk away nor the person be forgotten. I pray today to our sweet Lord for a cure for all cancer. I pray today that if you are reading this you can feel in your heart to give to fight for a cure for cancer. We have chosen the cause and it is time to fight. Brenda lost her battle but can we all fight for a cure? She is looking over us now and it is time for us to all give back. Please I pray you will bid on the charity auctions and that with all our efforts put forth that your donation will be what helps us push to find a cure. No matter how big or how small it all counts.

We ask for all the sisters in the world to help us to help find a cure. The funding for Komen helps for early detection and helps people that may not be able to afford medicines or treatments that are so needed. It helps for breast exams and so many other things.

Today we stand up and we fight together.. because.. No one should fight cancer alone.

P.E.P - Painting eBay Pretty's Largest Multi-seller charity auctions benefiting Komen for a Cure October 19-25th, 2008 On the eBay Selling Id- Painting-e-bay-Pretty.

So, please click on the link below and help us find a cure!

SUGAR COOKIES! YUMMY!! : p

2008-10-17T09:28:00.004-05:00

I have never been a big fan of sugar cookies although they always look and smell so good. I guess I have sensitive taste buds because they always taste bitter to me because of the baking powder in them. But I finally found some where the bitter taste isn't overpowering and I can finally enjoy sugar cookies too. So me and the kids had some fun making some and putting icing and lots of sprinkles on them. I mean really, what is a sugar cookie without the delectable sprinkles? The glittery goodness and shimmer of the sugar. :) Here are some pics of our cookies. Don't they look good? We did these a couple of weeks ago, but now I think we are going to have to make some more.

Something you should try, just a little something I made up. I love to cook and I love coming up with new foods whether it's delectable (this is one of my 5yr. olds favorite words) desserts or scrumptious (this being his other favorite word) dinners.

Using a cookie sheet or baking pan put you cookie dough in to make bar cookies spreading the dough so it is about a half inch thick in the pan. Then cook until the middle is done. You may get some browning around the edges but that's ok because you can cut those off and snack on them later when no one is looking. :) After the giant cookie is done take it out and let it set for a few min. to cool slightly. You want your cookie bars to still be warm. Then cut into decent sized bars and top with vanilla ice cream, warm caramel sauce and hot fudge.

For more enticing flavor push white, peanut butter or chocolate chips and either almonds, macadamia nuts, pecans or walnuts into the dough before you bake it. This is one of the best desserts ever.

Busy, Busy, Busy, Busy! Did I mention Busy? : )

2008-09-18T19:57:00.012-05:00

For Sale, but not listed yet. If you are interested just email me. (I know the picture is awful, it was cloudy out when I took the pic, but it is so much prettier in person like the matching wreath)

Boy I tell you, I am always so busy I never have much time to do the things that I want to do lately. I don't get much "ME" time to do things I want to do. But then again, my life has always been about making others happy. And that's what makes me happy, so I guess I don't need a whole lot of "Me" time anyway, but it would be nice once in a while. The only thing that I have noticed though, when I go shopping for myself I always feel guilty for buying things for myself and always wind up getting things for everyone else or for my business. I very rarely ever get something that is truly for "Me". And when I do get some quiet time to myself, then I'm bored out of my mind because I don't know what to do with myself. Do any of you ever feel that way or am I just crazy? LOL

I'm getting ready to start listing some Christmas items. I have already had quite a few things sell, so my Seasonal shoppe is looking a little bare. I want to make more of my Vintage Style Tulle Wreaths, I sold out of all that I made last year, they were a big hit. And of course I made and sold lots of the matching Vintage Style Tulle Trees, My Shabby Gingerbread Cottages, Tree Skirts, Stockings, Stocking Sachets and Sugared Vintage Style Ornaments. Christmas is definitely my favorite Holiday, Easter is Second and Valentines is a close 3rd. Here are some of my Christmas items that I have made this year so far that I will be listing soon and some that I already I sold. Enjoy!

Jewel ;o)

Sold

Sold

Sold

Sold

Sold

Sold

Sold Out at the moment, but will do custom orders for more! These also come in round and oval.

Sold

Sold

Lots of these in stock, but get them while you can. These are big sellers so I always start on my wallpaper ornies early. They also come in other colors and prints. I know the pictures don't do them justice, you can't see all of the sparkle they have with the all the German Glass Glitter covering them. You can find them Here!

Sold

Available Here

Not listed yet, but available if interested, just contact me.

Sold

Sold

Sold

Available Here

Sold, but more like this in other colors coming soon!

Available Here!

Sold

These are available Here

Not listed yet, but available, just contact me if interested. I also have Sugared Ornaments that match this available and also not listed yet.

You can find these Here

Sold

These are available Here. These also come as magnets for your fridge in sets of 4 and are professionally packaged in a clear container in paper cups perfect for gift giving. These look so real you just want to eat them. :)

What Color Rose Am I?

2008-09-09T02:19:00.002-05:00

You Are a Light Pink Rose

You represent sweetness and grace.

Your vibe: Kind and gentle

Falling in love with you: is like falling in love with a best friend

What Color Rose Are You?

New Business & Thank You Card Designs in My Etsy Shop

2008-09-04T21:15:00.006-05:00

These Business Card Designs can be used as Thank You Cards, Gift Tags, Hang Tags or even Gift Certificates. Your Choice of Design or I can create custom ones just for you.

Look for more Business and Thank You Card Designs Coming Soon!

Has it Really Been a Month?

2008-08-28T18:11:00.005-05:00

I can hardly believe that it's been a month since I last posted on here. The time has flown by so quickly. The kids are now back in school. This year our youngest has joined the bus riding school kids. LOL He turned 5 in June and was so excited about being able to go to school this year. I can't believe he's in school already. I was sooo not wanting him to go this year, maybe wait a year. :) I was, nor am I still, just not ready to let him go. I dearly miss him coming to me in the middle of; a phone conversation, working on graphics, crafting, cooking or whatever it is that I'm doing during the day, and wanting lovin's. It is sooooo quiet around here that I have been hearing noises that I didn't even know existed. My hubby too has been working so much lately that I've been here by myself since school started. So, even though I have been getting a lot done, I'm lonely. LOL I miss my children. I miss not being able to hear the refrigerator and air conditioner running. :) I have even heard a ticking noise coming from the cable box as I sit by myself and eat lunch. Well, when I eat lunch. I know it is horribly bad for you to not eat regular meals, but I just really don't eat during the day. I have never been a big eater and eating breakfast has always made me feel ill in the mornings. And then I throw my self into whatever it is that I'm doing throughout the day that I really forget to eat. So, I eat dinner and popcorn maybe in the evening. Popcorn and movies are my only vice. LOL

Ok, let me stop rambling and fill you in on a few new things I listed on Etsy. I have actually had these gift tags made for quite some time just never had the time to get them listed. I had such a great time making these and I will be adding more as I get the pics done and uploaded. I will also be adding more gift tags soon as well as more collage and microscope slide sheets too.

DIY Gift Tag Kit comes with Vintage Seam Binding/Ribbon in 3 different colors (bubble gum pink, creme and baby blue), Vintage Buttons, Silver-lined Bugle Beads, Pink Satin Ribbon Roses, 6 Swarovski Crystals (two each of jonquil/soft yellow, vintage rose and aquamarine) all professionally packaged perfect for gift giving.

Gift Tag Set with images of Antique Pink Roses Postcards from my own personal collection. All hand cut with scalloped edge scissors, sprinkled with Vintage AB Fairy Dust, Adorned with Vintage Seam Binding and a Swarovski AB Crystal. All professionally packaged with an extra yard of Vintage Seam Binding perfect for gift giving.

Beach Cottage Gift Tag Set with images of a Lovely Lady from an Antique Postcard from my own personal collection. All hand cut with scalloped edge scissors, sprinkled with Vintage AB Fairy Dust, Adorned with Vintage Seam Binding and a Swarovski Aquamarine Crystal. All professionally packaged with an extra yard of Vintage Seam Binding perfect for gift giving.

Gift Tag Set with images of an Adorable Little Girl Dressed in Pink holding a Pink Rose from an Antique Postcard from my own personal collection. All hand cut with scalloped edge scissors, sprinkled with Vintage AB Fairy Dust, Adorned with Vintage Seam Binding and a Swarovski Vintage Rose Crystal. All professionally packaged with an extra yard of Vintage Seam Binding perfect for gift giving.

Vintage Baby Cards Digital Microscope Slide/Collage Sheet taken from Vintage Baby cards in my own personal collection

And last but not least 3 different Pink Roses and Other Florals Digital Microscope Slide/Collage Sheets with images from Antique Postcards in my own personal collection.

You can either click on the image to be taken to the Etsy listings or you can click here to visit my Etsy shop.

I hope you have enjoyed another preview of my newest items. If you have any comments, questions or suggestions, please feel free to leave a comment. Time to make dinner. Hope to see you again soon!...Jewel ;o)

My email account was hijacked!

2008-07-28T15:25:00.002-05:00

I just want to let everyone know that my email account was hijacked by someone claiming to be the CEO of Smith Textiles, Michael Smith. They somehow got into my email account and sent thousands of spam emails from it while I was on vacation this past week, so I did not realize what had happened until I got home almost a week later.

They were emails saying that Micheal Smith, CEO of Smith Textiles has job opportunities for people in the US to receive Money Orders from orders and cash them at their bank and then send 90% of the money via Western Union to him with details to be sent later.

I still have no idea how this person got into my email account, but the first thing that made me realize is that when I checked my email through Outlook Express when I returned home, I had not gotten any emails since Wednesday, (today is Monday) and that is very unusual being that it is my business email account therefor I get numerous emails daily from clients, friends and yes, spam. I then went directly to my email server account to find that there were no emails there either. So I called my email service provider and they looked into it for me. She came back and asked me who Michael Smith was. I do not know a Michael Smith I told her. She told me to look into my Compose Email folder where the information for who is sending the email, etc,. is stored. They had changed it to say from Michael Smith at Shabby Boutique. Then looking further into it found that they had also changed my forwarding address to send them to whoever this is at another email addres, instead of my Outlook inbox, and then delete all of my incoming emails.

This angered me as well. Any emails that I got from clients, orders taken, friends, family, anything, has been deleted. So besides trying to ruin my company name and business, they have deleted all of my email. The other sad part is that since I have rectified the email situation; ie., changed my email account password and settings, etc,. There have actually been people reply to this persons spam with their names, addresses and telephone numbers. Which also means that they opened the attachment from someone that they don't know. Do people still not understand that you never open an attachment from some one you don't know?

This saddens me that someone would do such a thing to someone. Whether it be hijacking someones email account, or sending out phishing emails, or even try to defraud others in any way. My heart breaks knowing all of this, and it breaks for those that do get taken by these (excuse my word) Jerks. What possesses others to take advantage of others. Don't people look into their hearts and realize that you should treat others how you want to be treated? Don't people have a conscious any more?

So, if anyone tried to email me last week until this afternoon, I have to apologize, but I did not receive your emails. The situation is now rectified and I am currently receiving my emails and no other of my accounts were compromised, ie,. Paypal, eBay, etc,. I just want to clear my name and my business of any of these spam emails and anything that may have happened from any of these emails. I have been in business since late 1999 and this is the first time anything like this has ever happened to me.

Thank you for your understanding,
Sincerely,
Jewel Simonson
Shabby Boutique

Here are some of My Favorite Things and Colors!

2008-07-17T18:18:00.004-05:00

I put together this compilation of of some of my favorite things and colors. My inspiration for the colors is an old Wilendur table cloth I bought years ago. It's pink and red roses with aqua leaves. I loved it so much I went and had paint matched to the aqua and painted my deck aqua and white with touches of the palest pink. I then loved it so much that I bought more of the same color paint to paint my kitchen and living room. I love aqua with pink roses and then a few hints of red here there for some pop.

More New Website Templates!

2008-07-17T18:06:00.004-05:00

I have added a Few More Website Templates to Shabby Boutique...go check them out! Remember I do Custom Orders as well. If you have a Vision...let me bring it to Life for You!

Elegant Cherubs Website Template

Retro Glam Website Template

Victorian Elegance Website Template

Visit Shabby Boutique for more Website Templates and Graphics!

New Website Templates Added to Shabby Boutique

2008-06-25T23:32:00.009-05:00

Good News! I have some NEW Website Templates listed on my website Shabby Boutique. I will be adding more as the days go on. If you are in need of a Website Template and have an idea for one, let me bring it to life for you. I love creating custom Graphics for my Friends and Clients. :)

Paris Glam Website Template

Sweet Cottage Roses Website Template

Victorian Delight Website Template

Victorian Roses Website Template

Romantic Postcards Website Template

New Supplies added to my Etsy Shop

2008-06-14T11:12:00.003-05:00

Good News! I have added some New Supplies to my Etsy Shop! Vintage Seam Binding and Hand Dyed Cotton Twine for starters. I have also added some Collage Sheets that were inspired by Marie Antoinette. I finally got to see the movie while I was on vacation. It was a Gorgeous movie and now I know why it has inspired so many swaps, and blogs, and decorating. All my fav colours of Pinks & Blues and Pink Roses too! :) I also have some backgrounds and other graphic images that you can purchase to print out for your Altered Art, Scrapbooking, etc,. So, go take a peek at my Etsy Shop to see what else is in store for you. I will be adding some Vintage Wallpaper & Supply Packs soon too! So don't miss out on them also!

My Fabulous Easter Finds

2008-05-28T13:59:00.006-05:00

I know, I know. It's way past Easter. But I finally found these pics I took of my Favorite Easter Finds and wanted to share them with my friends. My first find was this Adorable Vintage Light Up Blow Mold Aqua & Pink Easter Bunny. I got this Fabulous find from Miss Maddies Mercantile. They are the Sweetest Ladies and they always have such great items with "Can You Say Free Shipping?". Yes you heard me correctly Free Shipping!

I made the sweet little blue gingham ducky and had planned on making a pink one too, but didn't have the time. OH, well, maybe later he will get a sister. LOL I think he's 2 Cute though. :)

My other Favorite Easter Find was these Vintage So Sweet Egg Ornaments. I found 6 of them online and got them for a steal, but they are just soooo Cute I could not pass them up. They are real eggs that were cut in half, painted on the back and inside and then made into a Lovely work of art. They have all kinds of trims and millinery and paper cut outs and seashells and on and on and on. I am going to try and figure out how to do this for next Easter to sell on my website. Just not sure how to cut the egg open without cracking the shell to pieces.

I Was Tagged! LOL :)

2008-05-28T12:14:00.004-05:00

Well, I guess since I was tagged by Nancy of La Chambre Rose, that means I need to post 7 things about myself that others would not know. Although I feel that is a funny concept since I usually tell everyone I know everything there is about to know. I am like and open book and I love to talk. LOL I love to share my life and because for one, your experiences are why and who you are today, believe it or not. Also because I have had so much adversity, trials and tribulations in my life and my Love for helping others, I feel that if I can share my stories and they help others, then my life's mission has been fulfilled. So, without further ado, I will try to come up with 7 things you all might not know about me. LOL

1. I am a Leo, but bordering on the cusp of Cancer makes me a Leader and a Follower.

2. I have to admit that when it comes to crafty items and fabric, I buy way more than I could ever use in my lifetime and I can't stand to throw any of it out or give it away. I just know that one day I will need it. LOL

3. My husband and I have been together for over 7 years and we have never had an argument or fight. Believe it or not! I wish that everyone in the world could be as truly happy as we are.

4. I have been in the process of redecorating my kitchen and living room for over a year now. LOL I am always so busy making things and decorating for others that I never have time to work on my own things. LOL And because I love to do for others, that is where I find my truest joy in life, I always put my things on the back burner and I'm fine with that. :)

5. I love to read, but I just never have time! I love Steven King and Odd Thomas/Forever Odd by Dean Koontz. If you haven't read those books, you have to. I couldn't put them down. I also used to read V.C. Andrews when I was younger. I also like Patricia Cornwell. I like to read books that make you think about what is going on.

6. I love puzzle games. I love using my mind and actually having to think about things. I love Sudoku, I have many books and an electronic game.

7. Seventh thing, finally. What to write....what to write. Hmmm. I am very detail oriented. When I make a pillow, it will usually take me days not hours to complete. I will tear it apart and resew it if there is even one stitch out of place. I am like that when it comes to things I care about. When I cook, I always plate everyone's food and make it look pretty like they do in the fancy restaurants. I have made my children cakes for their birthdays that took me all day if not two days to make and ice and decorate. My husband always asks me why I do this. I say it is because of the love of what I do and for the love I have for those around me. I love to show others that I appreciate them and put a smile on their face. That is where my truest joy in life comes from. So to me it's nothing to show them that I care and I love them.

Ok, so here are the 7 things about me. Now I have to go and tag others. Hmmm. Who to tag. LOL Ok, I think I have it.

Natasha Burns- Because she is always true and is the sweetest and cutest lady that you could ever meet. Oh, and she's very talented and I'm definitely honored to be considered one of her friends.

Wendy of Berry Lane is also a Sweetie and has Gorgeous things.

And I can't forget my Spring Swap Partner Tiff of Ric Rac Sally. One of the most giving ladies I know. She is such a Doll.

Debbie of Starry Night Impressions. Another one of my fav ladies.

This is who I have so far. I will think of more and post them later on!

If you are tagged by me then you need to ad this to your blog and do the same as I did.

If you have been tagged, here is what is requested:

1. Link your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Jewel ;o)

What I got for the ECS Spring Swap!

2008-05-28T11:42:00.004-05:00

I promised you a peek at what I received from Tiff at Ric Rac Sally for the Etsy Cottage Style's Spring Swap, and here it is! She heard me say over and over again that I LOVE Pink and Aqua. Those are my two most favoritest colors in the whole wide world and they look Lovely together. Well, guess what? She sent me tons of Pink and Aqua stuff! I just LOVE it! Do you see the little Pitcher? Isn't it just adorable? And the tags are *2*Die*4*. I love the Flower Brooch from vintage fabric and lace doily. She even sent me some scraps to use on my own projects. The only problem is that when I get pretty stuff like that I don't ever want to use it because it's so pretty I just want to look at it. LOL Maybe I'll make a collage with some pretties I have that won't be permanent so that I won't ruin anything. :) Thank you so much Tiff....You are the best!

Gift tags, Vintage Scraps, Vintage Tea Towel with Southern Belle, Clothespin magnet for my frig, Adorable Plaque with Vintage images.

Look at all of those Goodies! I just love them All! It was like Christmas Opening up my package and the presents just kept coming! :)

Look at the adorable Pitcher in my Fav Aqua with Adorable Pink Roses, Perfection to say the least. Check out the Brooch too. It's so Sweet! I remember making those when I was a kid, brings back memories. She even sent me a bag of candies. Isn't that always a way to a woman's heart? LOL

2008-05-13T18:17:00.002-05:00

Here is something I did recently and will be adding to my eBay store, website and Etsy shop later on. I can do custom orders for letters if you like, you pic the theme and the color scheme and I will make letters for you. These in particulare are decoupaged bits of fabric, scrap booking papers and print outs from old postcards in my collection on wood letters. They have key holes in the back for hanging, or they are also free standing. Or if you like I can add ribbon hangers too. These took me 8 hours to complete and I was a sticky mess when I was done, but they were so much fun to make.

Etsy Cottage Style Vintage Spring Swap

2008-05-13T17:50:00.006-05:00

I was recently part of a swap for Etsy Cottage Style. We did a Vintage Spring Swap and it was sooo much fun. Here are some pics of the Goodies I sent to me Swap Partner Tiff, of Ric Rac Sally. My theme came from answers to questions that she answered, the book I found at a local Antique Mall (I had this book as a child and read it over and over and loved it) called "To Dream To Dance", and here in St. Louis we have an open air Theatre called The Muny. I always envision Swan Lake under the stars there. :) And you know it's Spring when you start hearing the commercials with the Jingle "Meet me at The Muny...The Muny at Forest Park".
Here is an overall view of the items I sent her; The book "To Dream to Dance", Some of my handcrafted cards along with a couple from Natasha Burns (I love her artwork, especially her pretty pink dresses) I decoupaged the hatbox and a letter T for Tiff, some vintage style clothes pins in Pink & Green, a mask I decoupaged and then added sequins & feathers & millinery, Some vintage tatted & embroidered hankies, some postcards that I printed on fabric for her to use as embelishments in other projects, and last but not least some vintage seam binding in aqua & baby blue & some pink, white and aqua sequins and some pink & aqua feathers on a card print out of a vintage set of Mermaid Buttons that I have in my collection.

I had this book when I was a little girl and I can't tell you how many times I read it. I Love this book. I should've read it before I sent it to her. LOL

I will be posting some of the pics of what she sent me shortly. I love what I got, it's like she has known me forever and gave me things with my favorite colors in mind. Pink and Aqua.

My Family

2008-05-02T11:55:00.012-05:00

Here is my family. We are extremely close and love to share and spend time together. We are always laughing and doing fun things. My children's friends have dubbed our house "The Fun House". LOL They love to hang out with us.

My oldest son and my baby brother

My middle son

My hubby and youngest son

My youngest son again

My stepdaugter, she's 2 months younger than my middle son.

My middle brother

And as for me, I'm the oldest and the one behind the camera. LOL And yes, I know. I got everything for easter except for the baskets. LOL It's always like me to forget something. So, my brother grabbed some bags. I know it's not very pretty, but at least they had fun, and that's what counts. Not how pretty your basket is, although in my opinion it always helps. ;p

It's late in the Game, but I wanted to Show Off! ;o)

2008-05-02T11:05:00.003-05:00

I know it's way past Easter, but I just had to show off the eggs that me, my children, my brothers and my husband made. I of course took the Pink & Aqua approach. My oldest son did the eyeball and eight ball. My middle son did the big daisy one and the one next to it with the daisy's, grass, sky and sun on top. My youngest son helped with the face ones. My stepdaughter did the polka dots and some plaid ones. My husband did the leopard, zebra, plaid and hieroglyph. My brother did the hard boiled egg and the football. I broke out the craft paint as well as the old food coloring standby. We always have fun making them. It's not just for kids, we all always get involved and see how creative we can be.

What to do on a Rainy Day!

2008-04-30T20:35:00.002-05:00

Anyone who knows me knows I Love, Love, Love, did I mention Love?, Cupcakes. I love anything to do with cupcakes: Graphics, making Cupcake Sachets, Faux Cupcakes, Painting them, Mosaicing them, whatever. But I Love making real ones and then getting out all sorts of goodies and decorating them with the kids. Even my 4 year old loves creating his one of a kind masterpieces. Just look at the fun Spring Cupcakes we made. Don't they look just Scrumptious???? YUM!!!

By George, I think I finally got it!

2008-04-30T19:55:00.002-05:00

I have been working on this all day to get it to the way I want it. It's not totally there, but at least it's posting worthy. LOL Now to find my camera cable so that I can upload some pics that I have been wanting to post on here for months now. LOL