I love when the timing is right and you get more done than you think you will. Today and Sunday, STUFF is celebrating their “Wings of Hope”. I bundled up the kids and we took our 100 block field trip down to see them. It is also their holiday open house, you see where I am going with this. I got to see Sloane and Casey, www.pursuegoodstuff.com, Philip and Doug from www.KDog.com were there, I snuck in a few stocking stuffers (got a free ornament with purchase), kids ate all the snacks that they could fit into their hands and pockets, got some quick (not so quick - thanks Philip) photos taken, scanned my pincushions and doorstops (looking like great gift ideas) - and headed home again. Phew! What a great Saturday!

I love that movie - the subway girl, the wrong brother, happily ever after…well, while we were sleeping, Shane and Summer, at Chocolate Box were hard at work on some great extras for do drop studios. Bigger pic on the cover page, zoom ins on my products (very fancy) and added descriptions at the top of my product pages (I will get to those, but I now have the capability).

Thanks Shane and Summer, you always come to my rescue - as I am sure you would if I should happen to fall on the lite rail tracks in KC - oh yeah, we don’t have that…!

Did I mention, I love these guys? If you are looking to start a website - these guys are tops! www.chocolateboxdesigns.com!

What a great Saturday at Blue Valley Middle School - the weather was so cold, there was nothing better to do than shop.  Thanks to everyone for stopping by, Michelle with godson in tow (hope your new career with Juice + works out well for you), everfaithful Helen with crew in tow (hope that potty training works out well for you), and wonderful Michele with ever helpful Starbucks and two extra hands at the end of the day. What would I do without you all? Not nearly as much, I am sure of that!

Thanks to all my new customers! It is so much fun to meet you all face to face. Orders are printing as I speak and you will be getting calls for drop off, later in the week. I know I say it all the time, but I truly love and enjoy everything I create, so thanks…

I will be found in the Blue Valley Middle School Commons from 10-3. I will have all of my stationery samples to order from, a few aprons, some doorstops and some pin cushions. This is a great time to order for your teachers , babysitters, coaches, office mates…whomever else is on your list. I have note pads, note cards, gift labels and tags. I hope to see you there! A lot of vendors like Initial Design, www.initialdesignkc.com, has fun custom embroidery items! The Paper Puppy, www.paperpuppy.net, has great calendars and organizers. Ambiance, a unique boutique in downtown Stilwell, owned by sisters. There is a lot more, these are just the ones I really like.

I know this is a great weekend for making the Open House rounds, so put us on your list of stops!

Enjoy!

Today I had to hug my friend goodbye. I was relaying a gripey story while she sorted kids clothes and her husband was worrying about fish rocks and our kids ran around fighting with sticks and swords. We wanted it to be just another day. E and I have been friends longer than….lots of stuff. We have been through a lot of stuff. We have been into a lot of stuff. We even lost each other for an extreme amount of years and the day we saw each other again, it was as if not one day had gone by. She is that kind of friend. You are so lucky when you have one of those. I am not a collector of friends, I have only a few. I cherish those I do have and I treat them as well as I am capable of. E is one of those of those friends I would do anything on earth for and she would do the same for me. I will miss you E and Ed and Annabelle and Max. Keep in touch and we will take good care of Tommy Elise Gordon. We are honored by your trust in us. Enjoy your adventure!

try this one www.sitorsquat.com - I should be too old for this kind of humor! I got a chuckle out of it, maybe you will to!

I had a great time and thank you so much if you came by to see me, help me, feed me or meet me! First, Thanks Dad. Thanks Helen and E. I swear I would not still be standing without you all. Thanks Libby, Cassie and Molly from Molly Janes in Lee’s Summit - your unlimited advice was priceless, and the beers appreciated. Thanks Rachel, Phillip and Doug at KDog, www.kdog.com for being such great neighbors, you made this so much fun for me. Thanks Joan and Kathi for stopping and chatting and I wish you both much success, www.traybellakc.blogspot.com. I was lucky in meeting Tina from The Paper Garden, www.theholidaygarden.com,  Jennifer Henak - thanks for the custom order, www.jhenakphoto.com. www.annettestouchofclass.com - had the BEST tshirts (I am a total tshirt girl)! Thanks to all the people that had seen me in Country Living, and told me so or made me smile when you bought something I made with my own two hands. You have no idea how great that feels.

Come see me at JL Holiday Mart. It starts bright and early this morning for “special ones”, that will pay the “special prices” - but for everyone, the excitement starts at 11:00 am this morning! I am really excited and I cannot thank my dad (my hero), E and Helen (ever faithful) enough for guiding me through a tough day.

I am so lucky and I have a great neighbor, KDog (fab photographers, Rachel and Phillip) right across from me. I am on the 1100 block of this huge extravaganza. That is the polite way of saying, all the way in the back! There is a refreshment bar near, in case you happen to pick up an extra glass of wine My friends Libby and Molly are here with Molly Janes, in Lee’s Summit and Ambiance is here from Stilwell - I will take some pics and keep you posted of the cool stuff!

Hope to see you there! (Yes, there are prizes to be won)!

I really avoided this as long as I could, but I have been advised that I need to make price adjustments on my textile items. There is good news and bad news in this, I will give you the bad first (that’s the way I like it), My doorstops will change to $48 and my pincushions will change to $20, my aprons will be $28/$38/$48. Now, the good news! All inventory on my site currently will not change, only the new inventory that I will be entering next week will show the adjustment. I have to account for the increased shipping and materials costs that I am charged for supplies when I am ordering. Currently, I am not planning on changing the pricing on my papergoods. If there are aprons, doorstops and pincushions you like, order now and save!

I am sorry for having to do this and I hope you all will understand.