Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Bark, baby . . .

. . . and I'm not talking about a cute puppy. Check out what's new in Carnival's shop:


Peanut butter, peanuts, and dark chocolate meet up to please you in Carnival's Peanut Butter Flutter Chocolate Bark. But, just in case you like it white and extra crunchy, grab a bag of White Walnut Bark - a cheerful combo of delicious white chocolate, nutmeg, and large chunks of walnuts. Click here to visit Carnival's shop.

Sunday, May 25, 2008

SPECIAL FEATURE #3: The House of Mouse



The Queen of Mice. That's how I like to describe felt artist, Anna Greaves, the founder of The House of Mouse. Visit her shop crawling with adorable mice and you'll instantly be in awe.

If the thought of real mice scares you, there's no need to worry - Anna's mice are replicas of every day people, fictional characters, and pop icons you love. Meet the Beatles, Sherlock Holmes, or even happily wedded mice. But that's not all, she spends her days creating a variety of other cool characters at her location in Amsterdam, The Netherlands - Chewbaca and Princess Leia mice, included.

It's no surprise that The House of Mouse's creator performs improvised comedy quite often. She might make mice for a living, yet she hits the stage with a comedy group called "The Dog Ate My Scenework", in Amsterdam center on Friday nights. Think "Whose Line is it Anyway" - the hilarious unscripted show that featured Wayne Brady among other talents. It's a show I used to watch, religiously and therefore find it amazing that Anna's been at it for three years.

You'd think her schedule was booked between her time spent felting and making people laugh on stage. Oh no - there's much more she loves to do. About her extra activities, the artist says that she enjoys ". . . being able to get up on stage without having to learn lines first. It’s so much fun to make it up as I go along. I also enjoy sewing, knitting, baking, card making and any other creative things that take my fancy."

As you can see, it's no wonder that she describes herself as "quirky, creative, and loved." Yes, Anna - one look at your shop's 1,000+ hearts and it's pretty clear many people love your quirky, creative nature.

Read the interview below, to find out more about The Queen of Mice and what new things she has in store:


In business, the 20 second pitch means everything. In 2 sentences or less, tell us what you sell in your Etsy shop and why it is unique.

I create little felt mice that come in a large variety of styles and characters, all with their own little personalities; each individually handcrafted mouse is inspired by everything from occupations and culture to movies and fantasy. Handmade mice, little mice with big hearts.

What are your favorite materials to use in your pieces?
My mice are made with many different materials but I use more felt than anything else, I also use ribbon, beads and card. Some of my mice have accessories made from wire, polymer clay, wood, buttons and metal. I like being able to combine these materials in different ways to create new characters for my store.

Which item from The House of Mouse is your most treasured piece? Why?
Oh that’s a tricky question, that’s bit like asking someone which of their children is their favorite. I love them all! If I HAD to pick right now I would say it’s my Mother and Baby mice, mostly because that baby mouse is really pushing the limit of cuteness before it makes my head explode!

Mother Mouse and Baby Mouse by The House of Mouse


We all pull from different things to inspire our art. What 3 things inspire your creativity the most?

When I first started making them the inspiration came from my friends and family, as I was making each mouse as a Christmas present with a certain person in mind. After Christmas I was inundated with other suggestions from the people that received them!

I regularly think of other mice to make while doing my everyday things, I’ll be watching a movie and think “Oh, a Supermouse would be cool!” sometimes it is from finding an object and trying to see it from a mouse-size point of view. For example the Gladiator Mouse's shield is actually a particularly ugly earring I picked up at a car boot sale. Suffice it to say the ideas hit me all the time.

I also regularly get suggestions from people visiting my shop or MySpace page. And there is continued stream of suggestions from my friends. I have a little book I always carry with me to keep my ideas in.

What is your definition of success?
To me, success is having spent the day doing something creative, whether that creative thing in it’s self was perfect or even satisfactory does not matter. If I have made a creative step that day then I have had a successful day. I know that your question is asking about success as a business or success as an artist, or perhaps success as a human being . . . over a much longer period of time.

However I do not like to look at the top of a mountain and see how much further I have to go, setting myself difficult goals often results in my being scared by them and then unwilling to start. Now, I take a small step every day in the form of making something, I let The Universe choose the direction I will go in.

Etsy selling is all about survival of the fittest. What has been your toughest challenge while running The House of Mouse?
It is a little embarrassing to say this but I have not found Etsy particularly challenging so far.

Having done my research before I opened my shop – reading all the storque articles I could find on setting up my shop, and making sure I understood Etsy’s policies and rules - I have enjoyed myself a great deal so far. However I have only been selling for 3 months so perhaps I have not yet discovered the challenges you mention. I think perhaps that because my mice are very different from anything else sold on Etsy that I have an advantage over many other sellers.

I feel bad for the jewelry sellers in particular as they have so much competition on Etsy. The biggest challenge for me is to keep the time I spend of Etsy to a minimum, I am still a little addicted to chat, making treasuries and lurking in forums!

Share your most exciting experience while running The House of Mouse.
That’s a tough thing to do, narrowing it down to just one. My first exciting experience was my first sale, I think anyone who sells on Etsy would agree that the first sale is a big moment. A week later I had one order for 11 mice to the same person, that was amazing and I was thrilled someone liked my mice that much! But most recently, and perhaps most exciting of all was seeing one of my mice on Etsy’s Front Page.

What words of wisdom do you live by when selling on Etsy?
Strive to do better. One step at a time.

If you could open a brick and mortar shop anywhere in the world, where would it be? Why?
If I could I would buy back my Grandmother’s shop in a village called Mousehole in Cornwall on the south west coast of England .

My grandparents died when I was only 3 but I do have some memories of that shop. I think it would be wonderful to have The House of Mouse reside in the Mousehole shop where my grandmother made and sold her own little mice. She never had the chance to pass on to me the knowledge of how she created her mice, which were slightly different to mine.

I learned how to do it myself, but you could say that it is a family tradition. There would be a great feeling of completing the circle if I could return to that place and start a business there.

If you could select only one celebrity to be photographed with one of your pieces, who would it be?
Remy, from the Pixar movie Ratatouille.


(Remy; Photographer Mouse Female by House of Mouse)

What new things should we look forward to in your shop?
Oh, I have a list longer than both my arms of new characters for my shop! I plan on expanding my collection of mice inspired by famous faces, including Elvis mouse, Madonna Mouse and Marilyn Monroe Mouse. I am also working on a line of new Musician Mice and hope to have a whole orchestra full of them in a few months time. But I am sure that in time there will be new additions to every category of my shop. At some point in the future I would like to expand into making hedgehogs, owls and cats too.

Visit The House of Mouse to see more great items.
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Anna's MOST MEMORABLE CARNIVAL MOMENT:

Yes, when I was very young I went to a fair with my parents. The only thingI can remember about it is the candyfloss! I have a sweet tooth . . . .________________________________________________________________________________________________

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Eye Candy Fashion Feature #1

Fashion is equivalent to candy, in my book. Whether it's a fabulous handbag, a gorgeous shoe, an adorable blouse, or sexy knee-length skirt, I always get a heady rush whenever a sweet piece catches my eye.

If you're nodding your head because you can relate, you'll also agree that with all the great things to choose from, sometimes putting a look together for yourself can be a tad bit overwhelming .

You're a true-blue fashionista if you can pull an outfit together in your sleep. But, for those of you who can barely grasp the concept of what "a look" is, a helping of enlightenment is all you need.

I didn't have to go far to find stylish options to wade through. Etsy provided all of the cool things to choose from. It was quite tough selecting only 6 looks to help you add a hint of pizazz to your wardrobe.

I enjoyed discovering an abundance of handmade and vintage pieces. Call me your candy-making-virtual-stylist, if you will. My hope is that you love the eye-candy below, as much as I did serving it to you . . .



Weekend Cool: Pink Lovers Dream Tam (sold) Vintage Wooden Bangle Bracelet $7 Ocean Front Necklace $18 Daisy Tunic $85 70's Multi Color Marble Glasses (sold) Vintage 1970's LETISSE Softest Leather Clutch (sold)


Brunch in the City: Peach Purple Stripe Printed Tank $24.50 Silver Cats Eye Bracelet $19 Vintage Knit Red Pencil Skirt $14 Nightsky Earrings $28 Elegant Vintage Navy Clutch Purse $18



Comfortably Edgy: Smello Sweatshirt $45 Constellation Earrings $46 Ali Handbag $175 Stove Pipe Pants in Grey Denim $89 Custom Painted Sneaker $300 Organic Nesting Bracelet $30


Office to After-Work Chic: Retro Cropped Sleeves Jacket $52 Filigree Cup Ring $12 Sleek Leather Clutch $95 The Lucy Jumper $109 Purple Peep-Toe Shoes $15 Pair of No Slip Hair Clips $3.75


The Bright Side of Life: Beautiful Hand Painted Tan Dress $42 I Am Perky Ring $6 STRENGTH Five Stone Bangle Bracelet $66 Black Fish Leather Sandals $76 566 Oxidized Sterling Silver Wire Wrapped Hoop Earrings $65 Yellow Canvas Totebag w/Pink Camera Print $10


Jetsetting 101: Vintage Inspired Jeans Jacket $250 Sweet Horse Chestnut Droop Studs $170 Vintage Leather Oversized Convertible Clutch $32 Retro High Waisted Knit Pencil Skirt (sold) Golden Rock Crystal Ring $13 Vintage 80's Snakeskin Peep Toe Heels $42

TOP LEFT: Cropped Sequin Mod Top $45 Jet Cosmic Ring $18 Santoki Vintage




To visit Carnival, please click here.

Monday, May 19, 2008

CARNIVAL INSPIRATION: Macy's Herald Square

Each time I do a special feature on my blog, I like to ask the artist: "We all pull from different things to inspire our art. What 3 things inspire your creativity the most?".

There's a reason why I ask. It's not because I feel like taking up space on the page. And not because I couldn't think of anything else to inquire. My purpose is simply this: I really want to know.

I want to know what motivates an individual to pick up a pen to draw a picture, a pair of pliers to mold an earring, a yard of fabric to stitch a wonderful creation. There has to be something that makes one's pulse race. That something has to be fuel to charge the creative mind.

For me, that something is fashion. I've been in love with it since I was a third-grader skipping around in a brown, plaid Catholic school uniform, with penny loafers to match.

I've come a very long way since then. Gone are the days of bland, mandatory clothing and here now is my penchant for skinny jeans and 3-inch heels. I work in New York City by day and the world of fashion is at my fingertips each time I step out of the subway station on 34th Street and 7th (better known as Fashion Ave.).

As soon as I emerge from underground, I encounter the mammoth that is Macy's Herald Square. If you've ever had the pleasure of visiting that popular flagship store, you'll no doubt remember its windows. If you haven't had the opportunity to visit, one of the most exciting things about Macy's on 34th (besides the gazillion celebrity appearances) is the fact that the windows change every two weeks (it seems). The store's visual team does an excellent job of creating eye-catching window displays that are guaranteed to pull you in.

The most recent window displays have turned out to be my latest source of inspiration. The beachy summer theme along with a few Spring windows have caused me to walk by in awe. The colors are BEAUTIFUL! They're bold, they're bright, they're everything I love for my candy to be.


I could easily use the basic dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or white chocolate in Carnival's candy recipes, but after being saturated in the world of fashion for most of my life, I can't fathom not injecting color into my original candy creations. Fashion pushes me to the limit every time I pick up a pen and piece of paper to jot down combos that will come next. I pull from everything I've learned and reach back to all of my inspirations.

I've participated behind the scenes at Mercedes Benz Fashion week, sat in on the design process at major fashion companies, and come across some of the most fashionably (an unfashionably) colorful characters that are the everyday people of NYC. Can you blame me if I take it all in and dish it back out?

Macy's amazing team has charged me and given this candy-maker a desire to interpret these windows into new candies, cakes, and cookies for the Carnival shop. Take a look at the images I photographed below, see how these glimpses of inspiration have caused the gears to start turning in my head:


I recently added Choco-Chiptastic Citrus Mini Cakes and Sweet Spice Orange Cookies to my shop, but this window has me pondering an orange-chocolate type candy. Maybe something with a little white chocolate thrown in. An orange sherbert of some sort, maybe?


I'm going green . . . like green as in a new cupcake or candy bar or something else that's guaranteed to be pretty and delish. The brown in the bathing suits is a perfect touch too. I can't wait to play around and see what ideas develop.


That Coach bag looks like dulce de leche to me. And let me tell you, I LOVE to devour Haagen-Dazs' dulce de leche ice cream. Believe it. You can also believe that I'd wear everything in this window. Why not create goodies to match? I'm thinking more caramel in the shop. A caramel something with blueberries? Or maybe something else that will be a surprise . . .


Spring, glorious Spring! Pink, red, cream - looks a little like Valentine's Day to me, but I'll take it. I've added only two candies with the color red in the shop (the Triple Treasure Rhapsody Tubs and the Bombshell Bites). Red is my least favorite color, so I don't play around with it much. I have a feeling that will change very soon. Adding pink and cream may make me feel better.


A blue and orange color scheme always reminds me of the New York Knicks. Yet, I appreciate how much they complement each other. I'm not sure how I would translate this into a cookie or a cake, but something's cooking in my dome.


Here's orange again. Orange and brown make an exciting mix. All of my recipes are original so there won't be any Butterfingers in my shop. Instead, I'll add something peanut butter-flavored that I think will be absolutely perfect. I'm getting super-excited just thinking about it.


Brown and green again here, too. This window really did it for me, mainly because green and brown are two of my favorite colors to wear. I love a brown handbag and shoe, especially with hints of gold thrown in. Haven't thought much about gold candy, but something golden and sweet will certainly do.

It was so much fun filling you in on my newfound source of inspiration! I'm signing out now, but check back often for my future peeks into the things that inspire me. Until next time, I'll keep my eyes open for the next exciting wonder on the streets of NYC . . .

Orange Overdose & The Joy in Giving

Carnival Choco-Chiptastic Citrus Cakes & Sweet Spice Orange Cookies


Oranges. They're refreshing. They're sweet. They're one of my all-time favorite fruits.


Yeah, I love mangoes too, but since I'd already added the Mango Breezes Triple Stack Cookies to the shop, I decided to create a couple of orange-flavored treats for those of you who also love a little tang.


The Choco-Chiptastic Citrus Mini Cakes (Left) are 2 cakes packed to the brim with chocolate chips and orange flavor. If you're crazy about the orange, but would rather hold off on the sweet bits of chocolate, you can munch on Carnival's Sweet Spice Orange Cookies (Right). These moist and aromatic cookies are made with a blend of rind of oranges and sweet spice.


Enjoy either one with a cup up milk, tea, or rich hot chocolate. Or, if you really want to overdose on your orange fix, grab a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice. Your mouth will thank you big time :)



Also . . .


I've now added gift-packaging to the shop. If you find joy in giving, you can joyfully opt to have the gift recipient of your choice receive any one of Carnival's mouthwatering treats in either a cake/cookies box or a candy box as seen below:


Carnival Candy Packaging


Carnival Candy Packaging


Carnival Cake/Cookies Packaging


Carnival Cake/Cookies Packaging


And you don't have to go far for a greeting card either. These babies are hand-stamped (by me) with special designs. Add your personalized message to one of Carnival's coordinating cards. I've added one card to the shop so far - 3 more are set to come very soon. Check them out:


Carnival Greeting Cards


Carnival Greeting Cards


To visit the Carnival's shop, please click here.

SPECIAL FEATURE #2: Louche Lab


Is there anything Aya Rosen doesn't do? Ask and she'll tell you: she's a graphic designer by profession and a painter by definition. And then, just when you think those are a truckload of skills to last a lifetime, she reveals her web design, illustration, and crafting abilities too.

I say, more power to you, honey!

Aya's move from Tel Aviv, Israel to her current residence in Brooklyn, NY may have been a huge jump, but her space in this bustling borough looks to be a cozy choice as she creates the thoughtful and fun pieces that can be found in her Louche Lab shop. Take a peek at her site and you'll find foxes made out of sweaters, a pocket knife painted on leather, and even a woman baring her back on the front of a sketchbook.

Yep, Aya's creative. But that's only one of the words she uses to describe herself. There's emotional and changing, too. With that last self-description, one can definitely agree. She regularly enjoys motorcycle rides with her photographer/artist husband, Ned. And just to switch things up a bit, she recently joined her other half for a bike trip down the Appalachian Mountains for his 40th birthday.

Read this great interview with Louche Lab's talented founder. See where she's been, what's new, and the interesting changes to come:

In business, the 20 second pitch means everything. In 2 sentences or less, tell us what you sell in your Etsy shop and why it is unique.

The coolest thing about my Etsy store, is well . . . me. I'm an artist with a very different perspective of the world and a unique style. This comes out in everything that the store has, so that even though every day there are new products and items, the style is always personal, rough, and a little strange, like me.

What are your favorite materials to use in your pieces?
I love discovering new things to work with and I get bored doing the same thing over and over again. So, I keep finding and making up new things. The last discovery was leather. It's amazing - I always liked how leather looks, but actually working with it is new to me. It's very different than anything I've ever worked with before. Somewhere between clay and paper, but also like fabric. I can't wait to experiment more.

Which item from Louche Lab is your most treasured piece? Why?
That's a hard one. Over all, I don't really treasure the items in my store. I don't get attached to art so much at any rate. Most of my joy comes from the process of making it, not from owning it. And I love it when things sell in my store - it makes room in the studio for more things.

Saying that, I do have this one painting (below) that I made a while ago, and for some reason decided to list it even though I had no intention to give it away or sell it after I made it. I think I was trying to challenge myself with selling something that's really precious to me. So far, it did not sell (which is a bit of a relief). I would be sad to see it go.

Night Time - Original Painting by Louche Lab


We all pull from different things to inspire our art. What 3 things inspire your creativity the most?

More than inspiration, I'm just driven by a need to create and make stuff. My hands feels itchy if I don't draw or paint or make things for more then a day or two. I have a sketchbook in my bag and I basically draw every minute I'm not doing something else. Between courses in a restaurant, in concerts, even, once or twice, on the back of the motorcycle.

However, I do use a lot of reference in my art, and one of the major influences is Ned's photography. He's an amazing fine art and fashion photographer and the way he shoots makes me want to make art all the time. Also, I love botanical or zoological vintage prints and I have a few books of those that I use a lot for both inspiration and reference.

Another big source of inspiration is the internet - so many amazing artist and people to meet and interact and share my art with. I spend a lot of time on Flickr and on Etsy making friends and looking at art.

What is your definition of success?
Being free. Making or having enough money to not have to work a 9-5 job. That, I don't like. overcoming fears and having faith in oneself. Also, living a life in which you don't have to lie or hide things and being able to be the same person at any situation without apologizing for who you are. Is that to vague?! I guess I'm still trying to figure it out.

Etsy selling is all about survival of the fittest. What has been your toughest challenge while running Louche Lab?
The hardest thing for me is to keep at it even when nothing sells for a while. I just came back from a 2 weeks vacation to visit my family in Israel and ever since I got back the store hadn't really bounce back. It's really hard to keep making stuff and listing when no one buy my things. So I guess for me just keep doing it is the hardest part.

Share your most exciting experience while running Louche Lab.
There is so much! It's all exciting. Every time I make a sale I get all excited about it. I guess the most wonderful part was being picked for a video Storque article about our wedding. I love the way it came out. When we got married my family wasn't there - they live far away - and so, being able to share a movie with them about the preparation and the whole thing was the next best thing. Tara - who made the video - shot us 2 evenings for about 3 hours each, so I had no idea how the whole thing was going to come out, but when I saw the movie, it all made so much sense and was beautiful.You can see it here.

What words of wisdom do you live by when selling on Etsy?
Just that it's important to be original and make cool stuff, oh, and play nice with others

If you could open a brick and mortar shop anywhere in the world, where would it be? Why?
It would be right here in Williamsburg, I love this neighborhood, it's a really nice place to live and a lot of young people and artists live here (even though the rent's going crazy now). It feels like Brooklyn is the place to be right now, both with art and with craft. Plus, I like working close to home!

If you could select only one celebrity to be photographed with one of your pieces, who would it be?
I have no idea! I really don't get that much media exposure, so I'm not even sure who's a celebrity now. I love the author Chuck Palahniuk. Last year I went to a reading he did in a book store. He talked about how he loves to collect strange things that people send to him and sometimes he send them things back, just very random toys or papers or anything really, so I think it would be cool if he took pictures with one of my pieces before he sent it to someone.

(Chuck Palaniuk; Fly Away Business Card Case by Louche Lab)

What new things should we look forward to in your shop?

I'm actually really excited about that. At around Christmas, I illustrated a deck of tarot card, The full Tarot Deck is 78 cards - that's a lot of Illustrations. It's divided into the major arcana and 4 suites. At the end of December, I started selling the major archana which had 22 cards, and then, in February, I started working on the suites. I designed and illustrated the first one, which is "the cups". I'm now working on "The swords". I'm really happy to go on with this project and I know a lot of people are waiting for it. So, once I'm back from my big trip, I'm going to finish illustrating and start producing. In the meantime, the major archana and the cups can be found in my store.

Visit Louche Lab to see more great items. You can also visit louchelab.com

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Aya's MOST MEMORABLE CARNIVAL MOMENT:

I'm actually not a big fan. I have a traumatic fair experience from when I was about 3 which involved, me on some scary ride trying to jump off a plane shaped pod thingy and crying like crazy. I do however, love Coney Island, last summer we rode there all the time, and it's one of the most wonderful places in New York and the world, I love the colors and crazy combination of old, new, beautiful and derelict. I'm SO glad it's staying open for at least another summer.

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MOTHER'S DAY CONTEST: 1st Place Winning Entry by Johannah Brookwell

My mother had a strong faith in God. I imagine that was taught to her also as a child. And she passed that strong faith onto me - she taught me that God sees everything - He pays you back for every good deed you do 100 fold - maybe not right away, maybe not in the way you would like, but he will. He knows what He is doing, and He will never give you more than you can handle.

He will take you places you do not want to go, to teach you lessons you need to learn. And He will also handle those who seek to harm you. You do not need to concern yourself with these things. Do what's right, walk in the light - and God will take care of everything else.

Life brings all sorts of ups and downs - good things and bad. I know that "turning the other cheek" is not easy, but everytime I have done that in my life, I have been blessed. I have lived my life in such a way that there are no skeletons hiding in my closet - and when someone seeks to harm me by looking for them (this has happened) - they find nothing. Amazingly nothing. I do good deeds for others, without expecting anything in return, for they are not the ones whom I expect to receive my return from. My children have caused me to doubt a time or two, but always God has blessed the results when I leave it in His Hands. This mindset has allowed me to be free of fear and to live everyday to the fullest.

My mother is gone 17 years now, but there isn't a day that goes by that one of the things she has told me about God doesn't enter my mind. And one of the blessings is that my children also know these things and see that life reflected in mine. I am hopeful they too will "pass it on".

(Top Photo: Cross To Bear - Genuine Beach Stone Crucifix Necklace $45)

MOTHER'S DAY CONTEST: 1st Place Winning Entry by Virginia Tanner

My Mom taught me to be a survivor. Years ago I married a man I believed to be "the one". After two years of being brutally beaten he finally went the extra mile and almost killed me in front of my child. For months I cried and fell deeper and deeper into depression. I drank to kill the pain every day. I was not able to be there for my child or myself.

I will never forget my mother grabbing me by my shoulders and practically shaking me out of my skin. There I was 22 years old and crying to my Mommy. I told her I wanted to die and that my child didn't deserve me as a mother.

She wrapped her arms around me and I will never forget her words. She told me to stop crying and stand up. Confused I did as I was told. She grabbed my hand and told me about the moment she stopped crying over the past. She told me it is my choice to remain a victim. I was so hurt by that statement that I yelled at her. "How can you say that?" I screamed, "It isn't my fault what he did to me!"

Her next statement changed my life. She looked me straight in the eye and said, "You did not choose to be beaten, stabbed, or choked by that man, but right now you are choosing to remain his victim. Stand up and be a survivor. Don't let him own you this way. Take his power away."

Never have words struck me so hard. I have lived my life by those words every day since then.

I no longer allow anyone to walk over me. I have been hurt plenty since my ex, but no one has had enough power to break me as I was back then. I am there for my children always. Thanks to my Mom I am not a victim anymore, I'm a survivor.

(Top Photo: Siam Camo - Thai Stylee Skirt with Thai at Waist $125)

MOTHER'S DAY CONTEST: 2nd Place Winning Entry by Jessica Jane

A significant life lesson my mom has taught me is to always stick up for myself, keep a good head on my shoulders, and love unconditionally. My mom never personally told me any of these things, but yet, she showed them to me by doing these three things on her own. She is one of the strongest people I know.

Growing up I had witnessed my fair share of abuse. Whether it be physical or mental, I’ve seen it all. Every time another problem or argument came around with my dad, my mom was always sticking up for herself. I never really saw my mom cry but only a few times on which I could count on one hand. She had to keep her head up and stay sane for us kids.

Throughout the years growing up we stayed with our grandparents quite a bit. My mom and dad finally divorced when I was in sixth grade. It was a relief to all of us, we knew that we would finally be at peace. By the time I was in eighth grade, we finally moved into our own apartment. It was a good feeling knowing that my mom could do things on her own again. In my middle years of high school my mom had met a new boyfriend. Things got rough again and my siblings and I moved back to my grandparents until things settled. Meanwhile, my mom moved thousands of miles away and we lost touch.

I really resented my parents for a lot of the things that had happened while I was growing up. I didn’t talk to my mom for a few years after she moved. I was so angry at the way things had ended up, I didn’t think I would ever forgive her for leaving us. I started going to church regularly and it really opened my eyes to forgiveness. My best friend Amanda, who had lost her mom when we were freshman, told me that I shouldn’t live my life without my mom. She told me that as long as I have a mom, I shouldn’t take that special relationship for granted, that mother daughter relationship that she wished she could still have.

My senior year graduation was about to come up and I had decided to talk to my mom. I thought this could close old wounds if she would come to my graduation. Unfortunately, she couldn’t afford the trip from Florida to Ohio. So, as a graduation gift from Amanda, she took me down to Florida to visit my mom that summer after graduation.

Ever since then my mom and I have had a really strong relationship. We talk and email often. She came to be in my wedding last September even though the family wouldn’t even talk to her. I remember telling my husband to be that all I really wanted for my wedding was for my mom to be there, and she was.

Throughout all the hardships I have been through, I really am glad I went through it all. I wouldn’t be the person I am today, I wouldn’t be where I am at in my life had I not moved back in with my grandparents. I met my husband through a great group of Christian friends, and have been with him since the month we met. Everything that has happened to me has been a blessing because I have grown so much from it all.

I don’t know what I would have done without my mom. She has taught me so much, and she doesn’t even know it. Forgiveness is all it takes, and unconditional love. Without that unconditional love there is emptiness. I think that everyone should love their mothers unconditionally no matter the circumstances. We only have one mom, and she gave us life, so love it and love her!

(Top Photo: The Window, 12x12 $50)

CONTEST WINNERS: Mother's Day Gift Basket

Finally!

My internet service is still down, but I can now announce the winners of the "Mother's Day Gift Basket" thanks to my dear friend Mariane. As I tip-tap away on her computer, I do it with shaky fingers.

Why?

Because choosing the winners was more difficult than I imagined it would be. All of the contestants who entered shared great lessons that their mothers have taught them. Some gave me goose bumps, others made me raise my hand in agreement for the words that rang so true. I was overwhelmed with these entries and I couldn't choose by myself, so I enlisted the help of Mariane (my ace since 3rd grade) to choose the big winners. Truth be told, every single one of you ladies who wrote in are big winners. You've been blessed with mothers who've showed you what it is to be strong and kind and self-sufficient. If your mothers could see how much you love them and appreciate all you've learned from them, I'm sure their hearts would swell with pride :)

So, after much deliberation (and a little tweaking of the prizes) Mariane and I have chosen, not 2, but 3 winners.

Yeah, that's right, I said it - 3 winners.


1st PLACE

(It's a tie folks) - Mother's Day Gift Basket

  • Johannah Brookwell (Virginia)

  • Virginia Tanner (Georgia)


2nd PLACE

- 2 Brown Sugar Almond Swirl Cakes

  • Jessica Jane


Congrats Johannah, Virginia, and Jessica. Look forward to your goodies in the mail!!!

Let the Cookies Crumble in Your Mouth

Carnival's Cookies




Oh sweet surrender . . . how good it is to set your mouth free.

Yes, Carnival has entered the cookie arena. But there's no games here, just yummy, satisfying cookies in a variety of flavors. I've added to the shop (clockwise, L-R) Green Tea Cookies, Lil Miss Vanilla Cookies, Golden French Vanilla Cookies, and Mocha Supreme Wafer Cookies.

Treat yourself - It's been a long week and you deserve it!

Love what you see? Get them here.

How to Plan a Springtime Birthday Party for Little Girls

With the warm weather showing it's face more often, tiny buds waking up from their slumber, and birds chirping their melodic songs each morning, we all know that Spring is in the air! If you're like me, thankfully, you celebrate the gorgeous weather each time you step outside to start a new day. And if you have a little princess that's ready to turn one year older, I know you'll also want to celebrate how she's blossomed before your very eyes.

Look no further. I've stumbled upon a fantastic article at About.com that gives pointers on how to make your daughter feel extra-special on her birthday.

Every little girl loves a party! And why not go all out. Whether she's into ballet, crafting, or rhinestone-studded everything, with a little questioning and know-how, you can produce the party of your sweetheart's dreams. Read on to take note of some helpful tips:
Your primary goal is to make the birthday child feel special. A secondary goal is to ensure that everyone has a good time at the birthday party. The children will remember whether they had fun, not whether your house was spotless or whether you carried out your chosen birthday party theme down to the last tiny detail. As far as I'm concerned, a successful birthday party is one in which no one bursts into tears.

The first step in planning a birthday party is to sit down with your child and find out what type of birthday party he or she wants. Then determine if your budget, your creativity, and your energy can deliver that type of birthday party. If not, scale down. Don't worry that your preschooler is going to want clowns or ponies. You may be pleasantly surprised. For his first "friend" birthday party (i.e. not just the immediate family), my son wanted to go to the play place at a nearby fast food restaurant. When my daughter turned four, she wanted everything to be pink -- pink balloons, pink lemonade, pink cupcakes, pink napkins. Both birthday parties were incredibly easy and inexpensive.

You can't be in two places at once. In birthday party terms, you can't play musical chairs, cut the cake, and direct traffic to the bathroom at the same time. Enlist one or more "big people" (adults or responsible older children) to help you at the birthday party. If your birthday kid is very young, chances are the parents of your guests will ask if they should stay for the duration of the birthday party. The answer is yes! They can help with games, pour the punch, and take care of minor boo-boos. Just be sure to reward them for their service when you pass out the birthday cake. If you don't expect any parents to stay, and you can't talk your best friend into helping, hire one of your regular baby-sitters to help you. It is well worth the investment in terms of stress reduction.

. . . To read more, click here

Check out these Etsy items to help you plan that sweet Springtime birthday party:

How to Plan a Springtime Birthday Party for Little Girls


Tropical Berry Fusion Paper Cake $24 Blue Hydrangea in White Vase $40 Maki Girl $30 Vintage Kid Tea Set in Basket $49.95 Lil Miss Vanilla Cookies $9 Mini Colouring Booklet $5.50 Cake Photo Holder $9.90 Personalized Circle Stickers $12 Baby Blue Linocut Squirrel Birthday Card $5; TOP PHOTO: Roses are Pink Halter Dress $60


And don't forget you have to dress your little one too. Here are a few more Etsy items to make her super cute:


Springtime Fashions


Butterflower Hair Flower $9 Kinchi Fresh Flower Dress $59 Glass Post Earrings - Blue Velvet $8 Boutique Autumn Flower Rhinestone Ring $6



Springtime Fashions


Rainbow Windowpanes Infant Dress $36 Turquoise Colored Spring Baby Shoes $25 Flower Power Baby Hair Clip $8.95 Fleece Rainbow Jacket $42



Springtime Fashions


Angel Halo with Custom Headband $25 Pink Ruffle Sleeve Sweater $28 Hot Pink Felted Mary Jane Booties $22 Starlet 1st Birthday Name Bracelet $23.50


Thursday, May 15, 2008

SPECIAL FEATURE #1: Pretty In Peace

Pretty In Peace

A proud native New Yorker, Tameka Allen-Mercado will tell you that she's only hiding out in Goodyear, Arizona. With every bit of time she can find, the mastermind behind Pretty In Peace, creates jewelry, collages, cards and other pretty little pieces of art while pondering stuff to write about. Yes - writing is her first love. Yet, her hideout in the Grand Canyon State is where this wife and mother creates an amazing collection of earthy, eco-conscious pieces. Her warm and peaceful shop makes your fingers itch to purchase every pretty item that catches your eye.


When Tameka isn't designing accessories, writing, or working on an original piece of art, she manages her family-owned Indie electronic label at Next Dimension Music.com. Obviously, Mrs. Allen-Mercado does it all. This fact explains why she describes herself as "Deep, rich, and brilliant!" to which she adds, "Modest, aren't I?" Read her candid interview below to see why those three adjectives are more than appropriate to roll off her tongue:

In business, the 20 second pitch means everything. In 2 sentences or less, tell us what you sell in your Etsy shop and why it is unique.
I design art and artistic wares that make Mother Earth smile. Stop, shop, smile and live Pretty in Peace.

What are your favorite materials to use in your pieces?
It's a tie between junk and organic materials. In jewelry I absolutely love working with wood, copper and semi-precious stones. For my mixed media pieces, I'm rather fond of ephemera and random fabric scraps and such . . . y'know junk!

Which item from Pretty in Peace is your most treasured piece? Why?
I think this piece (below) is probably the best visual interpretation of who Tameka is. There's smoothe stones and faceted ones and wood and rugged little bells. It's all organic, and funky just a mix of loveliness. It's my favorite.


We all pull from different things to inspire our art. What 3 things inspire your creativity the most?


I'm a cultural sponge, growing up in NYC has exposed me to so much beautiful color and culture. It's all sitting in a grey fold somewhere waiting to make itself tangible. I listen to world music while I create and burn incense . . . so I'd say my inspiration comes from, "Far away people, places, and patchouli."
What is your definition of success?
Success is the journey. As cliche as it is I have no destination, but everyday that I rise and create something is a successful one. Sometimes, it's a meal other times a mess, but always a success.

Etsy selling is all about survival of the fittest. What has been your toughest challenge while running Pretty In Peace?
Not necessarily Etsy related, but on a whole I'm not sure how I feel about art as a business. Pricing a piece of my self is at times difficult, granted you have the materials but the creative process is really a part of your self and, putting a price on it is bittersweet. I want people to be able to afford my wares and at the same time I want to feel a deep appreciation for the creative process, money doesn't do that. Coupled with not seeing and feeling the energy of my customers. Internet sales can be impersonal.

Share your most exciting experience while running Pretty in Peace.
There isn't one, the mere existence of Pretty in Peace is exciting. Everyday that a new design is born makes me giddy all over again.

What words of wisdom do you live by when selling on Etsy?
From my husband, an artist and musician, "You just gotta keep doing what you do." It is so easy to identify the target demographic on Etsy (or anyplace else for that matter) and design around their desires, but in the end it doesn't pay off on the grand scale.

If you could open a brick and mortar shop anywhere in the world, where would it be? Why?
Key West, Florida. We honeymooned there, nothing would please me more than to ride a bike with a basket in the front to work in a quaint little village town full of funky little shops and folks.

If you could select only one celebrity to be photographed with one of your pieces, who would it be?


Corinne Bailey Rae. Before I took the plunge and left corporate America to "make stuff", her song, Put Your Records On was my mantra.

(Corinne Bailey Rae; Trois Fleurs Ring by Pretty In Peace)

What new things should we look forward to in your shop?
Actually, just today I listed my first mixed media piece, and plan to continue adding some ACEOs and other pieces of visual art alongside my wearables.

Visit Pretty In Peace to see more great items.

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Tameka's MOST MEMORABLE CARNIVAL MOMENT:
Carnivals . . . aah sweet nostalgia, funnel cakes, cotton candy, giant rainbow swirl lollipops...of course these things taste much better on the way down than on the way up. o_0
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CONTEST: Mother's Day Gift Basket

Carnival Mother's Day Gift Basket


Now's your chance to win a CARNIVAL Mother's Day Gift Basket!!! A grand basket of sweets at a retail value of $ 38.00 all for FREE!!!

I couldn't have picked a more appropriate time to host my first contest. Without our mothers waddling around with us for 9 months, none of us would be here. With that thought in mind, it's a must that we give gratitude to the mothers who have dried our tears, rooted for us, lifted our spirits, dished out tough love, showed us how to create art with our hands, and taught us how to be mothers ourselves. (Well . . . almost all of us - I have no kiddies yet!)

Anyone can enter this contest. I'm going to ask you a 2-part question and I want you to think long and hard about your answer:
1. What significant life lesson has your mother (or a mother figure in your life) taught you?

2. How has this lesson benefited you and molded you into the person you are today?

E-mail your answer to carnivaletsy@yahoo.com and you will be automatically entered. Your answer must be at least 2 heartfelt paragraphs and you may only enter the contest once.

I will go through each entry and choose the one I feel is well-written and stands out as the reason why we truly celebrate mother's day. The winner will receive a special blog post with their winning entry published and CARNIVAL's Mother's Day Gift Basket which includes: 1 Almond & Brown Sugar Swirl Cake, 1 pack of Cocoa Caramelts, 1 pack of Peach Cobbler Chocolates, 2 Pumpkin Blooms, 1 Mallodamia Funday Bar, and 1 Blueberry Dream Funday Bar.

But wait . . . I couldn't only give away 1 prize.

The runner-up will receive 1 free Almond & Brown Sugar Swirl Cake and their winning entry will be published as well!

The contest deadline is MAY 1st, 2008. The winner & runner-up will be announced MAY 2nd and your goodies will be shipped out to you on MAY 5th, just in time for Mother's Day.

I wish you all good luck, now let the contest begin . . .

P.S. -


If you'd like to just go ahead and purchase this basket, it is available in the shop. It is a limited edition. All baskets will be made on MAY 3rd and mailed on MAY 4th for extra freshness. Only 4 gift baskets will be made. Now that's exclusive!

Are You CARNIVAL's Myspace Friend?


Make my space, our space.

Add me to your friends or just drop your link below and I'll add you to my growing list. I currently have 83 friends on the Carnival Myspace page and I would love, love, love to add 83 more!

Click here to go directly to the hot spot and don't hesitate to extend a branch. I love branches. In fact, I'm going to create a branch-flavored chocolate candy bar next week!

Just kidding.

But honestly, I'm all about "the more, the merrier". I mean, just look at these for crying out loud. You can't get any more chock full of more than that . . .

Ciao bellas :) See you on Myspace.

Have a Fun Day With CARNIVAL's Funday Bars

Don\'t lick your screen - lick your fingers . . .


Get ready to wipe the drool from your keyboard! New in the shop are the ridiculously delicious "Funday Bars". Chocolate bars loaded with tasty chunks of nuts, berries, and fruit - they're all for the craver who believes that variety is definitely the spice of life.

Last week, I added flavors to the shop - Blueberry Dream and Mallodamia. Today I will add 2 more luscious flavors - Flirty Fruit and Jumpin' Cherry. Get yours today! At only $5.50 for a freshly made 2-pack, you can't miss out on these wonderful treats.


Also . . .


check back on Saturday, April 19th, for details on CARNIVAL's Mother's Day Contest with the chance to win a box of mouth-watering goodies. It's a contest you won't want to miss . . .

CARNIVAL Certified Links

Get Your Geisha On . . . for $500! Found, Now Home

This Persons Sheep Made All the Difference The Peach Tree

A 16 Month-Old Creates a Masterpiece michvanetta

Wanna Own a Piece of Graphic Art? OMG! Lia?

Bring Out the Dragon in Your Man 1337 Art

A Quirky Greeting Card Obsession Nature Manipulated

Smell Good Enough to Eat My Best Friend's Soap

How to Plan the Perfect Bridal Shower

Lo and behold: Bridal season is here. Bridezillas everywhere are putting the finishing touches on all the details for the big day they've anticipated for years.

But, there' s one major part of the season every bride-to-be leaves in the hands of family or friends. Yep . . . it's the beloved bridal shower, where tears, champagne, and naughty lingerie collide. Without a doubt, it's meant to be an affair to remember. And with that goal in mind, a lot of blood, sweat, and tears must go into organizing a superb bridal affair.

Please note: If the planner doesn't bleed, the bride will not feel special.

Luckily, I've found an article on helium.com. Use this guide as a cheat sheet - it shares a few very valuable tips on serving up a celebration that's painless. Here's a peek:
While thinking about a wedding shower you may wonder, who throws this party? When do you plan it? Where should it be held? When should it take place and what to feed your guests? Here are our suggestions for a fabulous Bridal Shower!

A nice description on the history of the Bridal Shower is shared here at Wikipedia. The Bridal Shower is traditionally one of the main duties of the Maid of Honor. Held in her home she is the hostess for this party where the bride to be is the Guest of Honor. The rules of Etiquette are changing and becoming more lax these days, so you may consider sharing these duties with members of the Wedding Party.

Here is some advice when planning a Bridal Shower for the Bride to Be!

* Always consult with the Bride, the groom and families as to how to proceed and what forms of etiquette are important to them.

* When putting together the guest list the Maid of Honor should always consult with the couple as to who to invite.

* It's also common these days to use an online invitation service to contact and invite your guests, as long as they are internet savvy.

* Never invite people to the bridal Shower that are not invited to the Wedding. This is a etiquette question we get a lot and one we feel all couples and those planning the Shower should stick to.

* When inviting guests and picking a date, consult with the Bride and family. You'll want to also pay attention to road closures or major sporting events that will make travel more difficult.

. . . To read more, click here.

Check out these Etsy items to help you plan that fabulous bridal shower:

Etsy Bridal Shower Picks


Wedding Wreath & 4 Pomander Bouquets $40 Green Scallop Plate $42 Polka Dot Floral Blank Invitation $18 Blackberry & Sage Tea Bath Salts $4 Caramel Diva Squares $12 Leaves Ribbon $2.50 Gift Box $8 Pattern Tags in Spring Green $3.50 Painted Wine Glasses $36 ; TOP IMAGE: French/Russian Birdcage Veil $49.99

Triple Treasure Rhapsody Tubs


For the second day in a row, I've added something that is triple the tastiness and triple the fun!

After creating recipe after recipe with nuts galore, I wanted to make something that was simply an overdose of chocolate. Something that was full of flavors that I've never tried before. From that brainstorming session came these lovely "Triple Treasure Rhapsody Tubs".

Mark my three words: They . . . taste . . . divine.

Triple Stack Cookies Island Assortment


Carnival's Triple Stack Cookie Collection offers 4 flavor's in this island assortment.

They're tropical stacks of paradise that you'll enjoy bite by bite. Currently available in my shop, they are made fresh with each order. Choose from Triple Stack Cookies in (clockwise) Coconut Escape, Cherry Lambada, Guava Paradise, or Mango Breezes.

Love what you see? Get them here.