First Days...

Today was the first day of school for my teenagers and Tatiana. I almost cryed...but I didn't. The teenagers were calm, cool and collected. They showed no signs of being nervous {not even my freshman}. Tatiana was a bit nervous and scared, but she has a very kind, sweet teacher and I was able to sneak out of the classroom before she could panic.
I'm sad...the house is so quiet now. I'm also excited that I have so much more time to devote to my business now. This week I'm working on fall and halloween crafts. I know it's still summer, but now that school has started I can just feel the chill in the air. Can't you?

Summer Fun & a GIVEAWAY!!!

Hello again blogland!!!
It has been really super HOT in my neck of the woods. We've been celebrating graduations and accomplishments...Yasmine is a Junior in high school now, Adam graduated from 8th grade and Tatiana graduated from preschool.

We've been having some summer fun...

And I have finally put together that giveaway for you...
Vintage sewing pattern images, vintage pom pom trim, vintage laces, a mix of vintage and new fabric scraps and a REALLY vintage music booklet {1915} for you to create with!!!
All you have to do is leave a comment and say hi!!!
I will select a winner using Tara Frey's Random Number Generator.




Good Luck.....I will be picking the winner Wednesday evening, July 22!!!

Pretty as a Cupcake...

I hope everyone had a great mother's day yesterday...I did! Tatiana made me the cutest card that said "my mommy is as pretty as a cupcake" and Adam made me breakfast. I had fruity pebbles, a banana, warm chocolate milk, a cinnamon roll and a brownie...WOW! He also made me a homemade card where he wrote me this:
"I have missed you during the war.
The winters are harsh and summers nice,
but just know that if you are reading this
I am no longer a human
I am much more.
Don't be sad."
I LOVE IT! He has a great imagination! What can I say...he loves sci-fi {just like his mama}
I thought now would be a good time to introduce you to Yasmine, my beautiful 16 year old daughter {who by the way emerged from her room for the entire day yesterday to spend the day with me}
Yasmine loves to dance {she made the dance team at her high school last week!!!}, she is fun and creative. She's beautiful, a great student, a good friend and she will always tell it like it is. Yasmine is the best big sister and I couldn't imagine my life without her! Oh...and did I mention that she is beautiful!

On a more somber note...I read this article this morning and as disturbing as it is...we can't forget about people around the world who are in crisis. Maybe you can send light, love and prayers along with me to help end the humanitarian crisis.

My kind of fun...

We had a really fun weekend. Went to a birthday party where we saw lots of familia that we hadn't seen in a while. My cousin Estefany was down from Reno and we finally got to meet her husband and beautiful baby girl.

Tatiana is finally coming out of her shell. She actually hit the pinata!

Today I've been having fun making some grungy tags for the shop I made these by dipping them into some coffee. And since I couldn't wait for them to dry, I microwaved them for about a minute.
I made these the same way, but I added raspberry jello powder to the coffee to give them a rose tint.
I love making these...I think you'll be seeing a lot more of them at Pink Twilight!

Adam...

I'd like to introduce you to my son, Adam. He's handsome, funny, smart {I'm talkin honor student, computer whiz, beats every video game I buy him the same day, brainiac smart} and he's a great brother to both of his sisters. He's my movie buddy {he loves star wars just like mom} and he LOVES basketball. He still lets me kiss him goodnight {but never in front of his friends} and I couldn't imagine my life without him...

On a business note, I finally got the camera situation fixed and I guarantee new items in the shop tomorrow.

I'm Guilty...

I had a tooth pulled today {root canal gone bad} and I'm guilty of milking it. I have to admit that I was nervous, but it didn't really hurt at all. I just felt some pressure and it was out. After the numbness wore off I did feel some pain, but I'm milking it! I told my honey and kids that I was in terrible pain and I needed their help all day. I didn't cook, I didn't clean, I didn't do laundry. But I DID take a two hour nap, watched the Gilmore Girls on line {there was nothing good on tv}, had a conversation on the phone that lasted more than 5 minutes, and I got extra hugs and kisses from the kids. So I'm guilty of milking this tooth extraction, but I'm not feeling one bit guilty. But it's back to business tomorrow. My son, Adam {who I will be introducing you to tomorrow}, is competing in the NorCal Science Olympiad and I need to get up extra early to drive him there...good thing I got some extra sleep today ;)

Here are some pix of our Easter weekend. Tatiana had fun hunting for eggs with her cousins.
We went to my mother-in-law's. She lives near Yosemite and the kids always have a blast when we're there. Tatiana got to play with Grandma's new puppies!
Tatiana was a little bit scared of the woods on my mil's property. She thought a bear might attack us. I told her there was nothing to be afraid of because Sadie Love {our German Shepard} would protect us and fight off a bear so we could get away. Then there was a loud sound because my son threw a big stick across the creek
and the next thing I saw was Sadie taking off in the opposite direction. So much for our great protector...but we still love her!

Picnik and a Fashion Show...

I LOVE LOVE LOVE picnik! I've been experimenting with making my etsy pictures look better. I tried every single possibility and finally decided on the matte effect. It gives the pictures a soft white "glow" and really makes the item a focal point. And as promised...I will begin introducing my family to you...starting with my youngest bambino...Tatiana {please ignore the mess I have yet to unpack in the background;}

She LOVES clothes and anything that has to do with fashion. She also LOVES doing arts and crafts with mommy. Maybe she'll combine the two and be a fashion designer! She's in preschool now...she's such a good little student. Tatiana is sweet and kind {when she's not having a temper tantrum} and I couldn't imagine life without her!

I Heart San Francisco...

Or I should say I left my heart in San Francisco. Just being there is romantic and makes me feel more alive. I live in a small central valley town about 60 miles from San Francisco so it's always a treat to experience "city" life. We spent our Valentine's Day at Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf. We ate dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe...

Saw Alcatraz from afar...

Watched the sea lions do nothing...

Checked out all of the CUTE shops {chocolate heaven - need I say more?}...

And let the teenagers wander around and have great fun...

{my daughter Yasmine and her friend Emily with their Valentines}

I wish I could share some pictures of me, but my gorgeous husband just does not have a steady hand. EVERY single picture of me is blurry :(
I told him I'm going to have to hire a photographer to follow us around and take decent pictures of me. Or maybe it's time for a newer, better camera {hint, hint}

Welcome...

Thanx for stopping by my new blog. I do have an old blog where I focused on children's resale. Now I'm following my heart and doing what has always been a part of my life in one way or another...art...or more specifically...paper art! I am a proud mama of 2 teenagers {endless drama, but it makes life interesting} and 1 preschooler, and the happy wife of one gorgeous man! Stay tuned because I will be introducing everybody to you in the next few days {and I might just have a giveaway to celebrate my one year anniversary on Etsy}!