What's Up Wednesday

Today, for one day only, I'm taking a break from the crafty Christmas preparations.  While Halloween isn't one of my favorites, it sure is a favorite for my two boys (well, three if you include the Mister)!  Meet Wolfman/Guitar Hero and Tie-Dye Morphsuit guy.  Creative names, I know, but I'm running on empty with a bit of a sinus infection.  That's as good as it gets.

Each year we try to out do what we did last year as far as pumpkin carving goes.  We love seeing what new patterns Zombie Pumpkins has each year, and keeping with the theme of his costume, D chose a wolfish design.  J just loves the pirates, so while it isn't what he is dressed up as, he chose the Jolly Roger.  This year was a BIG step for me since no one wanted (or needed) my help beyond printing the pattern and making sure it was on straight on the pumpkin.

My husband is in charge of the gutting of the gourds since he enjoys roasting the seeds.  This year he went with his usual savory blend of garlic salt, Italian seasoning and Parmesan cheese, but he also tried a new recipe with honey, white and brown sugars and cinnamon.  Both batches are delicious!

Do you have any Halloween traditions?  We'd love to read about them in the comments below!  Tomorrow, it's back to crafty Christmas preparation!  Just 55 days until Christmas.

56 days!~ Miscellaneous Monday

Yes everyone, that title is a Christmas countdown!  We here at Embellished Living are definitely in Christmas mode.  We had Christmas items for sale at our craft show on Saturday and everyone seemed really excited about the upcoming holiday!  We are rolling out our new Christmas items at Simply Southern Marketplace this week in time for the town square's open house Holiday Celebration and our Etsy customers have already begun their holiday shopping as well.

I say every year that I am going to start Christmas shopping in January.  Strangely enough that never seems to actually happen.  I have had a couple of years where I start in August.  This, my friends, is not one of those years.  My kids are 8 and 12 which makes the idea of Christmas shopping much less appealing, because they don't want all of the fun toys anymore :(  I have no idea what I am going to get either one of them, let alone anyone else on my list.  I have to say, when I see that we only have 56 days left till the big day, I have a bit of an anxiety attack.  I think I am going to live in denial a little while longer and focus on helping other people cross names off their gift giving lists instead, that gives me less anxiety ;)
How about you...  Have you started your shopping yet?  I know one person at least that I would bet money is already done with her shopping.  Are you someone that waits till the last minute or are you done months in advance?  Are you like me and the whole thing gives you a bit of anxiety?

Happy 56 days till Christmas!

Unofficial Kickoff!

Tomorrow is the unofficial kick off to our busy season.  One year ago today,  we had no idea how crazy things were about to get.  If the past couple weeks are any indication, we'll be just as busy this year.  Either way, we're excited for the show tomorrow.   We always enjoy chatting with shoppers and other vendors, seeing other local artisans and crafters, and spending an entire day with each other!

If you're local, stop by and say hello.  We'll be at the Festival of Arts and will be giving a free magnet to any of you who stop by and tell us you follow our blog, facebook or twitter pages.

We'll be there 9-4, hope to see some of you!

What's Up Wednesday

Well, hello there!  I "mustache" you a couple of questions:  Have you entered the giveaway yet?  AND Are we going to see you this Saturday at The Festival of Arts and Crafts (First United Methodist Church in Murfreesboro from 9-4)?

This week has been all about mustaches at Chez Nous - that's 5 mustache wine glasses and a My Stache bank.  Somehow my two boys are under the impression that once a man  grows a mustache and beard, they can go to college.  Not sure how that relates, but they mention it every now and again.

 

Also, in filling out our stock at Simply Southern Marketplace, we realized that we had never made a Q or U Monogram Wreath!   So we took this opportunity to see what we could do!  I think they are so cute!

 

Hope you are having an excellent Hump Day, I really "mustache" and work on some more great creations for Saturday.  See you there!

 

Miscellaneous Monday ~ Friends

I am one of those rare people that has been lucky enough to have the same friend from when I was 1 year old till today at *cough* 32 *cough*.  As kids we were inseparable and now as adults and living 550 miles apart we still see each other once a year and talk on the phone as often as our busy schedules allow.  She is still one of my best friends and always will be in my life, she is my chosen sister.  I am well aware how rare this feat is, and trust me I do not take it for granted.

She married her high school sweetheart.  Seriously, they were 14 when they started dating.  He proposed at our senior prom.  Now it has been 13 years since their wedding and they have 3 fabulous boys.  They decided that 3 just wasn't enough and she is currently pregnant with baby number 4.  Being that this is their last, she wants to make it special and memorable for her whole family.  She was talking about photo ops and that got me to thinking about Embellished Living products ;)  So here is what I sent and how she used them...

She sent these photo's out on her big 20 week ultrasound day to all her friends and family as a teaser to let us all know the answer would be here soon.  She is a scrapbooker, and seriously, how cute will this page in the baby's album be?

After 3 boys, everyone is hoping that this time they will finally get the girl she has been dreaming of her entire life.  Drum roll please....

So happy for them!  Thank you Rachel for sharing your product photos!  We love seeing how our customers use our products in their lives.  If you have any photos of our products in action we would love to see your pics as well!  You can tag us on facebook or email them :)

Just for fun....
This is us at 2 years old.  I am the clown on the left, she is the clown on the right... fitting in hindsight ;)

This is us last summer at the NKOTB concert together just like we had been so many years earlier in 4th grade.  Don't laugh, it was a fabulous show!!  I again am the clown on the left and she is the clown on the right ;)  Do you have a friend that you've had your entire life?  I hope so, it rocks!

Buried in Yarn

Friday afternoon at 4 pm and I'm finally finding a minute to blog.  I spent a couple hours in my daughter's class this morning, but the rest of the day has been devoted to these...

Lots and lots of yarn balls.

I'm having trouble not putting them in apothecary jars, bowls and vases all over my house.  I love this combination of colors and decorate with them in my living room and master bedroom, along with a few pops of coral and aqua.  Unfortunately, the pictured yarn balls (and a whole bunch more) are all spoken for.  I'll be spending most of the weekend with these beauties, what will you be doing?

Don't forget to enter our current giveaway!   

Have a great weekend!

What's Up Wednesday

At our home, I was happy that my youngest's field trip to the pumpkin patch was canceled last week, but he was not!  After Chandra's report of the messy conditions, I was especially thankful that he would be coming home mud free.  Luckily, it's been rescheduled for this Friday!  And while our Friday activities were canceled, our Saturday and Sunday soccer games were still on the calendar.  We tied one game and lost the others, but we had A LOT of fun having family time and cheering on our children.
 
At Embellished Living, rain or shine, it's been a flurry of activity!  We got a HUGE order, got a new logo, and are starting to feel the rush of the Christmas season as we prepare for the Downtown Open House Celebration and our first show of the season.  It is the Festival of Art and Crafts at  First United Methodist Church in Murfreesboro and is happening in just 10 days!

Don't forget we are partnering with My Unentitled Life  who is hosting a giveaway on her blog for our Mustache and Lips wine glasses!

Miscellaneous Monday~ The Big Reveal

Happy Monday!  It is going to be a super busy but fantastic week, I can feel it!

A few weeks ago we did some Etsy searching to find the perfect person to create a logo for us.  Our original was just picked from the stock photos on Vista Print, and while it was cute it wasn't wanted we wanted long term.  We ended up rarely using it and went with a photo of our grey felt rosette wreath with our name.  Again it was super cute but didn't fit with our long term aspirations. After much searching we finally came to a decision and went with Sarah at Studio One Sixty Design on Etsy. Thanks so much to Sarah, she has been great!  Our new logo is finished and we are so excited!   We hope to switch everything over in the next couple of weeks.  So what do you think?

Fantastic Friday!!

Today has been a great day, despite the rain!  It started with a trip to the local pumpkin farm for my daughter's first Kindergarten field trip.  I wasn't certain it would happen since it rained all night and the place would be a muddy mess.  We went and it was, however, my little miss had a great time and I really enjoyed spending the day with her and her classmates.  Working from home rocks!

Just as that wrapped up, my Etsy app made the cash register sound to let me know of a new sale.  It was for 8....EIGHT...Winter Yarn Ball Wreaths!  Our biggest sale to date and for one of my favorite products we make.  I keep saying I'm going to make one for my house, should have done it this summer while we were a bit slower.  One day I'll learn.  I'm dying to know what they'll be used for, top ideas are a wedding or decorating a large and gorgeous house for the holidays.  Either way, I'm excited to get started on this order and maybe I'll make one for my house while I'm at it. Doubtful but I'm going with positive thinking...

Finally, a review and giveaway started yesterday.  It's for a pair of mustache and lip wine glasses, so if you've been eyeing them head over to My Un-Entitled Life to register.

Hope you all have a fantastic fall weekend, I love this time of year!

What's up Wednesday

WHEW!  After a fantastic time at the beach, we are slowly, because of the cooler temps, getting used to reality again.  It was 87 degrees and sunny when we left the beach, and by the time we got home, it was in the upper 40s and rainy!  What a difference a few hundred miles makes!

At Embellished Living, we are busy restocking the shelves at Simply Southern Marketplace, filling orders and getting ready for our show season to begin.  Chandra, Jacy and I love to craft and do a lot more than just what you see in our shop and on our Facebook page. 

I love to knit and spin (the making your own yarn kind, not the bicycling kind), and on occasion, I will accept a commissioned knitting project.  I've been asked to knit for others to carry on family traditions, to knit something for a bride on her wedding day, to knit something for a special baby, but I just got a request that I NEVER saw coming...  A sweet woman would like me to knit her mini pig a sweater.  Apparently, they get cold quite easily, and as I mentioned at the top of my post, it's getting cool fast here in Middle Tennessee!  Here she is:

I'd never heard of a mini pig until yesterday, and now all I can think about is getting a mini pig (much to my husband's chagrin). 

Do you have a crafty hobby?  Have you ever been asked to make something fun/funny?  I know I can't wait to get started crafting for Embellished Living and start knitting for that sweet piggy!

Miscellaneous Monday - We're back!

Hola!  We have returned from our week long siesta :)  We all had a fabulous vacation and feel relaxed, reenergized and are ready to face the next several super busy months head on.

We started our first official day back to work with a visit to Simply Southern Marketplace!  We were bummed to be out of town when the doors were officially opened to the public on Saturday, September 29th, but we were so excited to go today and check it out in action.  In a week we sold many things and we couldn't be more excited about the positive feedback the store and Embellished Living have received.  While we were in today we saw some customers that stopped in that were visiting here from another state.  They had been in last week as well, but wanted to stop in one last time before they left town.  Yay!!  How cool is that?  If you are local make sure stop by the square in the 'Boro and take a peek. Hours are Monday-Friday 10-6 and Saturday 9-6.

Also, while we were gone the totally awesome Riki at Crazy for a Deal hosted a giveaway for one of our rosette wreaths.  Congratulations to our winner Renee!!  Welcome to all of our new followers both here and on Facebook that came to from Crazy for a Deal. Thanks Riki for hosting our giveaway!