Designs by Vanessa: May 2009

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Wordless Wednesday: Good Morning

Sunny Side Up Fried Egg and Crispy Bacon Earrings by roscata

Monday, May 25, 2009

Midnight Black Earring Giveaway Winner

Thank you to everyone who entered the Midnight Black Earring Giveaway! The winner will receive a fabulous pair of earrings by Jewelry of Lav.

I randomly picked the winner via the random integer generator at random.org...

Here are your random numbers:

Timestamp: 2009-05-25 15:48:17 UTC

SarCraw is our winner! Congratulations! I will be contacting you shortly for your contact info so Jewelry of Lav can send you this awesome prize.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Fabulous Friday Finds - Hot Pink

Have a happy loooong weekend!!

The Candy Clip by Mandizzle

Hot Pink Terry Towel Strapless Dress by muskokavintage

Cerise Candy Necklace by ShySiren

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Interview With An Etsian: Meet Chelsea

I love talking to creative people, seeing the face behind the art and learning more about what inspires them. I've been wanting to interview fellow Etsians for awhile now and have decided to make this a regular series on my blog. So without further ado, meet the fabulous Chelsea and check out her awesome studio...

In a nutshell, tell us about yourself.
My Name is Chelsea Ling, and I live in Charlottetown, PEI, Canada (home of Anne of Green Gables and lots of potatoes!). I am married to a super fun guy and we have a son together named Jude.

Apart from crafting and creating, what do you do?
I am a stay at home mom, and that is my main focus.

What inspired you to open an Etsy shop?
I was originally a browser and occasional buyer on Etsy. When I was pregnant, I started scrapbooking and it has just evolved from there. People on message boards kept telling me to open an Etsy store when I would share my work, so I did!

What is your favorite creation in your shop?
Right now, I am really loving my reclaimed and painted mirrors.

Where else can we find you?
Everywhere! lol :)

Personal Blog - http://chelstastic.blogspot.com
Etsy Shopping Blog - http://papercakesfinds.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/PaperCakes
Flickr: http://flickr.com/photos/chelstastic
Facebook: Paper*Cakes

Describe your studio and what you like best about it.
My studio is in our spare bedroom. I have two desks - a small one for shipping and packing items, and a larger U shaped desk where my PC and workspace are. I store items on shelves all around the room - I love shelves! I have 10 thrifted and repainted shelves on my walls, in addition to a cabinet, shelving in the closet, and a newly added large book shelf which will have craft supplies on the top and my son's toys, books, and games on the bottom. I have a spinning paper rack that I got from a scrapbook store closeout, and I keep my 12x12 paper there. Usually, my studio is always a bit chaotic.. but I am working on it! There seems to be STUFF in every nook and cranny. I am definitely a hoarder, and it got really bad when I developed a love of thrifting. I'm always trying to think of new ways to organize, and putting more things on my walls.. it's definitely a process!

What is your favorite Etsy shop?
You know.. I honestly cannot nail down one single favorite!! I have so many.. but a few off the top of my head are prettylilthings, oneripepeach, janesays, lemontreestudio, amyhatch, jennysbakeshop, nicepackage. I have a lot of shops and items bookmarked in my favorites - I recommend that you go and browse them :)

List your favorite book, movie, song & website (other than Etsy of course).
I can't choose a favorite book of all time.. but I recently read The Book of Lost Things by John Connely and I loved it, you should all go out and get it! My favorite movie is Labyrinth with David Bowie - I have loved that movie since I was 2 years old. I can't choose a favorite song either (can you tell I am bad at this, lol), but I am really digging the new Yeah Yeah Yeah's album right now. My favorite website besides etsy would have to be a tie between flickr and twitter!

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I honestly have no clue. I am so young, and so much has changed for me in my life just over the last couple of years. I have some long term goals and dreams.. but I just hope that I am happy in 10 years and have my friends and my family around me. I want to have some more children, I would really like a baby girl. Opening a boutique that sells vintage, handmade items, crafty supplies...and has craft classes is a major dream of mine too :)

What is your favorite birdie (as in species of bird)?
Swallow, they are so pretty!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Wordless Wednesday: I'm Not Lost

I'm NOT Lost, I'm Exploring Magnet by Minds Eye Cards

Monday, May 18, 2009

Birthday Proposal

Time for an Etsy Blogger Blog Carnival (say that 5 times fast) and the topic is to blog about a favorite birthday memory. Hands down my favorite birthday memory is from just 3 years ago…

Hubby made dinner reservations at one of my fave downtown Austin restaurants and when we walked outside the restaurant there was a horse drawn carriage waiting for us. Hubby is actually a pretty romantic guy (yes I used “romantic” and “guy” in the same sentence…there is hope) so I just thought this was part of my birthday surprise. As we were trotting along and the sun was setting, Hubby asked me to be part of his family (how cute is that). I think my first response was “are you serious?” and then he pulled out the ring and I knew he was talking business!

I feel a little bad for future birthdays because how in the world can they compete with a proposal?! This so would have been my cake topper if I had seen it while I was planning...

Love Birds Cake Topper by Middleburg

Friday, May 15, 2009

Fabulous Friday Finds - The Dreamy Giraffe

The Dreamy Giraffe is one of my favorite Etsy artists. I absolutely love her whimsical and dreamy style. Her prints are on sale through May 17th so check out her work!

Merrie by The Dreamy Giraffe

Theodora by The Dreamy Giraffe

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Etsy Blogger Feature: Create A Thought

Create A Thought is May's featured Etsy Blogger. Check out this creative shop and you'll find the most creative journals, magnets, greeting cards and more. Here is my favorite item from this shop...

Sweetheart Journal by Create A Thought

I used to journal on a daily basis but haven't found time lately. This journal would surely give me inspiration! This is where you can find Create A Thought:

Create A Thought Etsy Shop

Create A Thought Blog

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Wordless Wednesday: Star Trek

I Must Love You Card by Able & Game

Monday, May 11, 2009

Hello, my name is Vanessa, and I’m a shoe-a-holic!

Hubby: Can we go home? I don't think I can take another shoe store.

Me: Keep up, we are on a shoe mission!

Hubby: We've already been to 4 stores.

Me: And here is our 5th store.

5 stores later and I found the perfect sandals...

The Body Shop Giveaway Winner

Thank you to everyone who entered The Body Shop Giveaway! The winner will receive a fabulous prize pack from The Body Shop.

I randomly picked the winner via the random integer generator at random.org...

Here are your random numbers:

Timestamp: 2009-05-11 14:26:05 UTC

Debra B is our winner! Congratulations! I will be contacting you shortly for your contact info so The Body Shop can send you this awesome prize.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Midnight Black Earring Giveaway - ENDED

The lovely Lavender of Jewelry of Lav is generously giving away a beautiful pair of earrings to one of my lucky readers. Check out her gorgeous shop and blog! I'm in love with this Lavender Handmade Necklace and the many ways you can wear it!

Who? This giveaway is open to everyone- bloggers and non-bloggers, U.S. or non U.S. residents. The more the merrier!

What? Win a pair of Midnight Black Earrings by Jewelry of Lav:

When? Saturday, May 9th - Sunday, May 24th. I will announce a winner on my blog on Monday, May 25th.

Where? Right here.

Why? Because who doesn't love a cute pair of earrings?!

How? Let me tell you how you can win...

1. Visit Jewelry of Lav and pick out your fave item, come back here and post a comment about why you like it so much.

For Additional Entries:

2. Blog about this contest in your blog and come back here and leave an additional comment with the link.

3. Subscribe to my blog or follow my blog and come back here and leave an additional comment that you have subscribed/followed.

4. Add my blog button to your sidebar (just copy and paste the code you see in my sidebar) and come back here and leave an additional comment with your blog link.

5. Follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway, come back here and leave an additional comment with your twitter link.

6. Fave my blog on technorati and come back here and leave an additional comment that you did so.

Do this by May 24th and you are in! A winner will be picked randomly. Please make sure that you leave a way for us to contact you or Jewelry of Lav won't be able to get this fabulous prize to you.

This giveaway is included in the Ultimate Blog Carnival Spring 2009. For more great giveaways click here:

Friday, May 8, 2009

New Listing - Cecil Earrings

Check out my newest listing and let me know what you think. These classic earrings are composed of 8mm Bronze Swarovski pearls, 6mm round Golden Shadow Swarovski crystals and wire wrapped to sterling silver french ear wires. These earrings are perfect for a special occasion or everyday elegance. All metal findings are sterling silver.

Cecil Earrings by Designs by Vanessa