Saturday, March 27, 2010

SHOP OF THE WEEK: Mrs. Kwitty's Cottage

Welcome to the Shop Of The Week: Mrs. Kwitty's Cottage This absolutely fun and playful shop is created by Karen who is also a talented Mother of two fantastic kids!
Here is a little clip from her profile:

"Next to my family, I love to craft and sew the best. I love vintage. I love handmade. I love to go to estate sales and antique shops and find funky and beautiful old things to use in my crafts and sewing. I have loved to sew since I was a little girl and my favorite gifts were those shoelace cards to "sew" and then I got my little girl's sewing machine and I was in heaven! I had the best dressed dolls in town. I have been designing my own crafts and sewing patterns for many years now and have even sold a few of my design to magazines."

I personally have been a fan of her shop for quite a while now and love the vintage feel of many of her creations.
(I shared some of her fabulous work on my blog in the past)
Here are a few of my current Favorites!

Brooch, Fab Fifties Fluffy Flower and Yoyo Pin


Beautiful Butterfly Old Timey Valentine


Pretty in Pink Love Dove ornament


You can tell a lot of thought and creativity go into each piece. I always have a special place in my heart for vintage items and I think this is why I just adore her work!
Definitely take a few moments to check out her shop as there are SO MANY more great designs to choose from.
Fantastic for gift giving in my opinion!
Frankly, I would love a few of these for myself!
;D

Karen is offering a special deal to celebrate her Etsy Twitter Team Shop of the Week status: With every order this week, she will include a free Gift Tag Sample Pack with each order!

You can also find her here:
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/misseskwittys
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=708146164&ref=name
BLOG: http://misseskwitty.blogspot.com/
FLICKR: http://flickr.com/photos/misseskwittys/

*Photos Courtesy of misseskwittys


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Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Cherry Blossoms From Weddings

Look what I found over at Martha Stewart Weddings! Wonderful Cherry Blossom Ideas for Weddings.
Not that it matters but being a Japanese American I have always had a deep love for Cherry Blossoms. I think watching all the old Japanese (subtitled) movies with my Grandparents romanticized the beauty of the Cherry Blossom trees in bloom.
...a lot of movies had that luscious panoramic shot of the trees in bloom and blossoms floating everywhere!
LOL!
...totally getting off my original idea here!
So here's a few of my favorites from Wedding Ideas That Use Cherry Blossoms.
I have no idea why but I am totally embarrassed that I had NO IDEA there were SO MANY different types of Cherry Blossoms!

Clockwise from top: 1. The flowers from the 'Hally Jolivette' cherry tree start off pale pink, then turn white. 2. The star of many a cherry blossom festival in the U.S. -- among them the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's, as well as Washington, D.C.'s -- the 'Kwanzan' tree can grow up to 30 feet tall. Its pink flowers are full and frilly. 3. The Yoshino is the most common cherry tree in Japan. Its perfect, slightly fragrant, five-petaled blooms can be pink or white. 4. Popular with amateur gardeners, the 'Higan' is a weeping tree. When at its peak, the profusion of cascading branches takes on the appearance of a fountain of delicate pink flowers. 5. It's relatively squat, but the 'Mount Fuji' cherry tree spreads its branches into a wide canopy. Its flowers are known to have a longer life span than those of other varietals.
The Table Setting

Cherry Blossom Cookies

Don't you just want to try one of these? Is it ia chip? Is it a cookie?! (I know it's a cookie but it looks so light and airy) And... I SEE ICING!
The Bridal Bouquet

Cherry Blossom Inspired Dessert

Of course it always has to come back to food of some sort!
LOL!
I just LOVE MOCHI!
This is such an incredible and creative display!
Gotta just LOVE IT!



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Monday, March 22, 2010

The Green Vase: Livia Cetti Floral Designer

The Green Vase is a FIND that I just had to share. Livia Cetti is an AMAZING Floral Designer. Her work gracing the pages of many magazines and covers including multiple Martha Stewart's Wedding Magazine. She has more then 17 years experience in the floral design industry.
If you are looking for an amazingly talented artist for your special occasion this is the lady to contact! As if that wasn't enough she is also a photo-stylist, crafter and event coordinator!








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Saturday, March 20, 2010

Jamie Hammond Photography

Look at these STUNNING Photos I found over at Ruffled by Seattle's very own Jamie Hammond of Jamie Hammond Photography.
(For the full article please visit Ruffled.)
You all know how I Love COLOR!
OH!
It just makes me HAPPY LOOKING at these!





With so MANY talented photographers to choose from it can certainly get overwhelming. I definitely invite you to take a moment to visit her site if you are looking for a wedding photographer in the Seattle area.
I think you will certainly be impressed with her work.
She also has a delightful blog with wonderful photographs of her work outside of weddings!
She's amazing!
Jamie Hammond Photography Blog

*Photos courtesy of Jamie Hammond Photography.


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Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Happy St. Patrick's Day



Leave it up to my crazy family to send me these pics.
...Yes, we are SO animal people!
LOL!!!!

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My FAVORITE Bath and Body Shops! Joyful Girl Naturals, Pigeon Creek Soaps and Bathlife

AH!
I get SOOO HAPPY when I open up a purchase from one of my FAVORITE bath and Body shops!
In case you are new to my blog I can pretty much make the statement with confidence that I most likely have the most sensitive skin of anyone you know. I am surely at the top of the list for super crazy, ridiculous, is this a joke, are you seriously allergic to this much stuff??? Person.
LOL!
Okay, I gotta laugh or I'll cry.

So, with this said, these AMAZING shops have been my lifesaving happiness filled with joy in my life skin care products.
...that absolutely made no sense at all but I'm leaving it in because it just makes me laugh.
After paying an arm and a leg out of pocket to get blood work done I found out that I am ALLERGIC to A LOT more then I ever imagined.
Some of my favorite ingredients like almond oil, vanilla, chamomile, aloe, goats milk and oats are all now No no's to my sensitive skin care. Yeah, I can't believe how these are of course in everything designed for "sensitive" skin.
I was at Wholefoods and only found 1 toothpaste that didn't have aloe vera in it. (I was also avoiding propylene glycol which was in a lot of them too.)

Anyway, I'm rambling.
I've been wanting to share all these incredible products I've purchased!
I just want to say first that I am in no way getting anything from any of these vendors for writing about them.
I just GENUINELY LOVE these shops and the wonderful women that create these items.

So, in no particular order here I go!


I want to start with one of my first real finds when I began to shop on Etsy a several years ago. I found a shop called BathLife An amazing woman named Kimberly creates amazing skin care and hair care. One of my best friends LOVES her shampoo bar...and he is such a "dude" that he was surprised he REALLY liked it! I have to laugh because he was such a "I use what's on sale at Target..." kinda guy.

In my search over the last few years for a deodorant that didn't have aluminum in it, it also became a necessity when I started being allergic to every over the counter deodorant. Nothing like big itching welts under your armpits! Then I found BathLife!
*hearing angels singing*
Kimberly has since been making me a special formula and even was kind enough to make her fabulous bar deodorant in a tube just for ME! I let her know what ingredients i needed to avoid and she has since customized my skin care exactly to what I need!
Here is my latest purchase of my favorite Deodorant and super creamy Silken Body Butter!

Look how cute everything is wrapped!

And you can just see the thick buttery texture in this butter!

I even got a cute little magnet that I will be putting up on my refrigerator.
I just LOVE her shop and have given so many of her items each year as gifts!
Many of my family and friends now have her lip balms, Silken butters and bars!

Thank You Kimberly for making me special items just for my sensitive skin!


My next favorite shop is Pigeon Creek Soaps by BJRussel. Barbara has been SO helpful with assisting me in my quest for skin care to help me heal. (and trust me, this has been a serious ordeal!)


I have to confess...this goat milk bar is TRULY THE CREAMIEST bar I have EVER USED! Seriously, I was AMAZED when I tried this bar. I have become a TOTAL B&B freak (to admit is the beginning right?) and found that I just REALLY gotta have smooth silky texture! I have tried A LOT of bars and by FAR this one REALLY is the CREAMIEST! You REALLY really should try it!
Unfortunately, after my blood work I no longer am suppose to use goat milk because I might possibly have a delayed reaction to it. I am TOTALLY BUMMED because I just loved this bar! Of course, ALL the more REASON YOU should give it a try and enjoy it for me!
Two other items I can't live without in her shop are these:
Unscented Moor Mud Healing and Detoxifying Bar

I use this every day and it's the only facial bar I have used for the last few years that doesn't leave my face feeling tight and dry. This is my main bar to bathe with now as well. Totally does NOT irritate my eczema prone skin when I flair up.
*just as added note, my guy friend said that the Lime in da Coconut bar I gave him was THE BEST thing he's EVER shaved with! He's got Seriously sensitive skin when it comes to shaving! I don't think this bar was technically made for the sole purpose of shaving but he LOVED it!
I also think EVERYONE should have this item.
EVERYONE!
All Natural Dead Sea Mud Mask with Moor Mud and Rhassoul Clay

I have also tried several different versions of natural Dead Sea Mud masks and this all natural mask with the Moor mud and Rhassoul clay mix is the BEST one I have found! My skin feels AMAZING after I use this. Smooth, hydrated and clean. I even used this on troubled eczema areas and I literally noticed at least on my skin that the inflammation and redness were a lot less after I rinsed this off. I am a true fan!
Barbara has been such a wonderful friend and was the one to give me that last push to seek out a homeopath in my area. It was the best thing I could have done! THANK YOU Barbara!


Finally, I Must share with you Joyful Girl Naturals. Shelley is incredibly knowledgeable and has gone WAY above and beyond to help me. She has taken the time and effort to explain ingredients, what they do and how they might help to offering other natural remedies I might inquire about. She has REALLY been heaven sent for me as I have been going through some tough times with my health. I am SO appreciative of her knowledge and willingness to share some with me. I am a HUGE FAN of her shop and own MANY if her products! A while back I began my search for shampoo that didn't have propylene glycol and this was how I found this shop! I won't use any other shampoo!

Great lather and no greasy film left in my hair. LOVE THIS!
I realized that all my "natural" body sprays also had propylene glycol in them so I went on a search again... Shelley to the rescue! She custom made these DELICIOUS Body Sprays for me!!!!! No nasty chemicals here! She even custom made the formula for me without Aloe since I'm allergic.

Since I'm so allergic to everything wearing classic "perfume" is pretty much not going to happen...so, wearing a body spray has been the perfect alternative to smelling pretty!!!!
I already know I will be ordering even more scents for Summer!
I am AMAZED at the selection of items in her shop to treat SO MANY different things!
I HIGHLY recommend taking the time to go visit Joyful Girl Naturals.
I also very much enjoy her leave in conditioner spray.

OH, I'm also going to try her actual conditioner.
I'll definitely share when I get it in the mail!

Gosh!
I could go on and on about each of these shops!
Seriously, I just LOVE to share about things I REALLY REALLY like and these shops are NO exception.
All the wonderful women that create these outstanding products are definitely women worth getting to know.
AMAZING LADIES with AMAZING PRODUCTS!
Go check out their shops!
You will not be disappointed!

:D

*extra photographs courtesy of each shop.



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Miss Val's Creations Giveaway


Hey Everyone!
Just found out on my friend Miss Val's Creations blog that she's promoting a Flowering Tree Botanical GIVEAWAY!
Gotta go check out her site for all the details!!!


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SHOP OF THE WEEK: Kim White Creations


Welcome to the SHOP OF THE WEEK: KimWhiteCreations.
Kim's shop is full of fabulous knits and crochet wearable and usable art. Some of my personal favorite items she makes are her Care Shawls and
Lap Wraps. " After caring for an elderly family member, and seeing a need she had, I decided to offer my Care Shawls and Lap Wraps through Etsy." I think these are such a wonderful gift to give someone and who doesn't like to feel the warm embrace of a hand knit wrap?
With several different items in her shop I wanted to pick a few that I really wanted to share!
Janet Care Shawl in Ivory

Let's not forget the men! This is a FANTASTIC warm scarf perfect for any guy!
The Nandoism Scarf Black Chunky Crocheted and Eleven Feet Long with Fringe

Of course I couldn't not show you one of her highly in demand coffee cozies! Seriously, think about how much cardboard can be saved by using just one of these!
Cabled Coffee Cozie in Cranberry Red


This week only Kim is offering our readers:
Any Coffee Cozy FREE with a $50 or more purchase before shipping-just let me know your Coffee Cozy selection in message to seller.

(I will ship internationally if requested.)

To learn more about Kim and her beautiful creations visit her at:

TWITTER ADDRESS http://twitter.com/kimwcreations

FB PAGE http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kim-White-Creations/450797680577?ref=mf

BLOGhttp://kimwhitecreations.tumblr.com/


*All photos courtesy of Kim White Creations



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Thursday, March 11, 2010

SHOP OF THE WEEK: Dee Jay Photography



Welcome to thE SHOP OF the WEEK: Dee Jay Photography
Everyone knows how it is a dream of mine to learn the true art of photography. Okay, besides my Fantasy Island dream of being a sultry torch song singer laying across a piano...ah, but I digress!
Let me introduce you to Denise Montville Photographer and creative back bone to Dee Jay Photography. This collection of unique and lovely photos is actually a Mother and Son collaboration. Denise and her son work together to maintain a shop full of creative and interesting photographs. They are available in several formats including bookmarks, cards, ACEOs and, of course, prints.

I've always been taken with a gorgeous black and white photo...as much as I LOVE color I have always had black and white photos hung in my home.
This is one of my Favorites!
STUNNING!
Black and White 8x10 Calla Lily Fine Art Photographic Print by Dee Jay Photography


Serenity 8x10 Fine Art Print Photograph Canoe and Sunset Reflection on Lake

Dee Jay Photography


You can't go wrong with these beautiful cards! I mean, they are pretty AND eco-friendly!
Set of 4 Black and White ECO-Friendly, Note/ Greeting Cards


DeeJayPhotography is celebrating one partner’s 17th birthday by offering a 17% discount. In addition, as Shop of the Week, they are offering free shipping this month (just wait for a revised Paypal invoice before paying for your purchase). International shipments can be accommodated, too. Just convo Denise first to request a shipping quote.

Follow Denise on:
TWITTER ADDRESS
FACEBOOK Page


Definitely take a look through her shop to find even more wonderful gifts for yourself or someone you care about!

*All photos courtesy of Dee Jay Photography.


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