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:: appreciating the simple joys in life ::
:: watching Baby J "write" in his notebook while saying, "...the B says Buh.." ::
:: admiring his focus ::
:: accompanying Big J on a field trip to the pumpkin patch ::
:: loving all the beautiful farms near our home ::
Thank you to everyone who placed a shoppe order last week. I cannot even begin to express how appreciative I am of your support! It just dawned on me that the shoppe will be celebrating its 6-month anniversary this week. What a fun ride it has been! To show my appreciation, please come back here this Thursday, 11.01.07, for an opportunity to win something special. Oh, and I also have some exciting-to-me-maybe-to-you-too news to share.
I spent the weekend packaging orders. This is one of my favorite things to do. Mid-way through packing the stationery + boxes I decided to change the baker's twine packaging. So now the twine is wrapped around small flat clothespins and topped off with an abc seal.
I enclosed a few holiday gift + stickers in each order. I'll be stocking the shoppe with holiday stationery and more stationery + boxes over the next few weeks.
I also spent some time rummaging through old computer files and found these custom reading, writing, arithmetic cards I designed for a client last year. I believe these were a gift for a elementary school teacher.
And these were a gift for a reading specialist.
And who still needs to get their children's Halloween costumes ready? [If you could see me, I'm raising my hand!] I'm a bit relieved October will be over with soon enough--this was a challenging month for me. But November is looking up! No business trips for Appah [I'm knocking on wood as I type this out] and who doesn't love Thanksgiving [yummy food, here I come!]? And I'm super excited that I'll be spending a whole 48 hours with Melissa in a few weeks. We're heading up north to relax, spend time with our wise friend and check out Daria's trunk show. I cannot wait!
:: the shoppe has been updated :: a bit earlier than expected :: last minute chaffeur duties are calling me ::
:: you'll find a big batch of pencil + cups ::
:: and fabric + cards ::
:: the new stationery + box :: alphabet inspired :: everyday + flats, gift + tags, gift + stickers and baker's twine ::
:: scalloped red + white polka dot tissue paper ::
:: wrapped up in twine with a gift + tag :: ready to give away ::
:: hope you find something you like over there :: we're off to pick up Appah at the airport :: can you believe we haven't seen him in 3 weeks!?! ::
update: I added more stationery + boxes to the shoppe since the first batch sold out this morning.
:: piecing together strips of fabric ::
:: making a batch of pencil + cups ::
:: using up tiny scraps of fabric ::
:: creating new fabric + cards ::
:: all these goodies will be in the shoppe on thursday ::
...so we can go to the park and play.
Thank you for all your kind words. Your support and prayers mean so much to me. I like to think of myself as an optimist, but also a realist and I know life involves joy and love right along with pain and suffering. The weather seems to be reflecting my mood these days--rainy here and there along with bursts of sunshine. I just found out yesterday that my uncle passed away. He had been ill for quite some time, but doctors were seeing an improvement. Fortunately my parents were able to spend time with him before his passing, which was a blessing since they don't have an opportunity to see one another very often since my uncle lived overseas.
Anyways, I'm finding comfort in the simple pleasures in life--quality time with family, baking muffins and cookies with Big J and Baby J, building forts in the family room and crafting here and there. I've been fiddling around with some new fabric + card designs. Some of these will be gifts [have you all started making your Christmas gift-giving lists yet?] and others will make their way into the shoppe next week.
And I've also been making linen push + pins for the batch of pin + pockets and wall + pockets that are headed down to LA for ReForm School's online shop. [Melissa gave me the apple tray, isn't it sweet?]
These little buttons are making me happy. See, bursts of sunshine, it comes in all different forms.
:: these boys :: and a no school day for big j ::
:: so we drove into the city for brunch ::
:: at byways cafe ::
:: french toast + omelettes :: yummy ::
:: this mat :: this treehouse :: this recipe cheat sheet :: this votive set :: this jacket :: and this jacket :: these handpainted stones [via Bloesem] :: this coat :: this collection :: this table + stools :: this quilt :: this poster [via d*s] :: the seasonal sets over here :: this deep fryer :: and french fry holder ::
:: spending time at the park ::
:: eating turkey dogs ::
:: watching the nutria eat his lunch ::
:: using branches as wings ::
:: and flying high ::
:: and higher ::
The shoppe is now stocked with new pin + pockets...
...a dozen to be exact...
...wall + pockets...
...button + magnets...
...push + pins...
...and paper + clips...
The shoppe will be updated with new goodies through the first week of December. I plan to restock patchwork + towels, pencil + cups, fabric + cards and a few other shoppe favorites. In November I will be introducing a small holiday stationery collection as well as some new gift + tags and everyday + flats. Beginning November 1 you will find a batch of wall + pockets and pin + pockets available at ReForm School's new online shop [isn't their new site spiffy?]. And as always, you can find shoppe announcements here or you can sign up for the mailing list [shimandsonstheshoppe AT gmail DOT com] or subscribe to the shoppe's feed. Phew! Ok, enough shoppe talk. Enjoy your day!!
