Speckled Egg

Creative Happenings

2012-01-13T13:01:00.004-05:00

Have you visited The Creative Patch lately?

New Kits!

(Nesting Bracelet Kit by Sheila)

New Guest Gardeners!

(DIY Little Girl Cape & Leg Warmers by Karla)

New Tutorials!

(Simple Seashell Heart Ornaments by me)

Altered Journal Swap

2012-01-09T09:37:00.001-05:00

What can you do with a composition book? You can "art it up" into a gorgeous journal! Purchase a plain composition notebook and decorate it like crazy! Re-do the cover in pretty papers or fabric and add some embellishments according to your partners' tastes. The front and back covers definitely need to be decorated, but feel free to add to the inside as well... maybe a personalized title page, a favorite poem, some pretty stamped images. Be creative and have fun!

1. You will be placed in groups of 3 players. You will need to make a journal a for each of the other players in your group (2), and you will receive one back from each of the players in your group (2).

2. The base should be a composition book. I found mine at my local dollar store, but you can also find these at discount stores and office supply stores.

3. The theme for your books should be vintage or vintage-inspired. Find out your partners' likes and dislikes, collections, favorite crafts, etc. The embellishments on the books should be "flat-ish", so the journals can actually be used. Think paper, flat ribbons/lace, photos, paint, scrapbooking elements, etc. You can see some photos of the journals from a similar swap that I hosted here.

4. You will need to mail your books directly to your partners by February 1st. PLEASE only sign-up for this swap if you are able to have your swap items created and mailed by this date. As with any swap, it is reallllly important to follow-up with your promise to make quality items and send them on time.

5. This swap is now full.
~~To sign up for this swap, please email me at info{at}speckled-egg.com , be sure to send the following:~~

*Name
*Please select which best describes your style:
(a) Neutrals, whites, aged, chippy, naturals
(b) Victorian, pastels, florals, foof, glitter
(c) Bright, fun, kitsch
(d) Anything goes!
*Email address
*Blog address, Website, Flickr, or Etsy Shop
*The country that you live in
*If you are willing to ship internationally

6. I will send a confirmation email when I receive your info. I will close sign-ups on Wednesday evening or at 50 players, whichever comes first. You will receive your group info by Jan. 13th. Feel free to grab the button above to add to your own blog.

2011 Pretties

2012-01-04T11:49:00.000-05:00

Some of my favorite projects and pretties from the past year...

THANK YOU Sale: 25% off the entire website!

2011-12-28T10:43:00.000-05:00

I can't thank all enough for all of your support and friendship throughout the years.

It has been wonderful to do something that I love and get to stay home with my girls.

I truly appreciate each and every one of you!

As a little thank you, I'm offering

25% off

EVERYTHING in stock

at Speckled Egg.

No coupon code needed, the prices are already listed on the site.

This offer is valid only on orders placed 12/27 - 12/31.

(May not be used on prior orders, or special/custom orders)

Wishing you a happy, healthy, and creative New Year!

Good Tidings

2011-12-26T13:10:00.000-05:00

The house is quiet so today.

The girls are happily in their jammies, playing with all of their new toys.

I don't really know what to do with myself!

It seems that all of the prepping and planning of the last two months just came to a crashing halt.

What to do now?!?!

My husband told me to relax and enjoy the day, as he headed off to work.

Turns out I'm not so good at relaxing!

I thought it would be a good time to come and say hello.

I hope that all of you have had a wonderful weekend of celebrating with family and friends.

Happy Everything!!!

(I made the ornament above for a swap I was in earlier this month ~ I'll share more photos soon!)

Vintage Poinsettia Kit

2011-12-09T16:10:00.001-05:00

My offering for December at The Creative Patch is a Vintage Poinsettia Making Kit.

This kit uses vintage silk flower parts to create beautiful poinsettias.

Fun, fast, and easy.

(We all need that at this time of year!)

You can find it in my shop.
There is still time to order last-minute holiday goodies.
Our ribbons, trim, and Christmas items make great gift toppers!
We are currently shipping orders the same or next business day.
(*Please note, international shipping is on hold until 12/27.)

Be sure to visit the Creative Patch to see the other kits that my friends, Sarah and Sheila, have put together!

Holiday Shop Update

2011-12-02T10:51:00.000-05:00

The December shop update is complete!

There are soooo many fabulous holiday supplies ~ in bright fun colors!

Here's a peek:

Click here to see all of the new goodies at Speckled Egg.

The complete line of Christmas and winter items is available here.

(Be sure to also check out the Ribbons, Tinsel & Trims category.

It has been re-stocked with all of your favorites!)

November Giveaway - IKEA Holiday Treats!

2011-11-25T12:10:00.001-05:00

I hope that all of you had a lovely Thanksgiving!

I am still stuffed, an entire day later.

A few weeks ago, my family and I made the trip to IKEA.

Have you ever been?

It is a huge Swedish design company that sells furniture, housewares, decor, and food.

My first trip to IKEA was in Germany.

I was in college, visiting a good friend when she brought me to this amazing place.

It was massive, unlike any store that I had ever seen.

We dined on Swedish meatballs and lingonberry drink at the cafe and wandered around the showroom and marketplace for hours.

I loved seeing all of the affordable decorating ideas for small spaces, and stuffed my suitcase with some fun treats for my dorm room.

When I returned home, my friend would send me IKEA catalogs and little trinkets.

But, I couldn't wait to get to go in person again.

It took a while, but happily an IKEA opened here about 5 years ago.

We now go once or twice a year to stock up on our favorite goodies.

I love going at this time of year because of the holiday decorations that they have ~

traditional, Scandinavian designs.

My father's side of the family is from Finland, and growing up most of our Christmas decorations were in the Scandinavian style ~ lots of red and white, gnomes, straw stars and goats, and woodland creatures.

Great memories.

I picked up some things to share with you!

Some sweet cookie cutters, cupcake liners, treat bags, labels,

wooden heart ornaments, and Santa ornaments.

To enter, just leave a comment below telling me what's on your wishlist this year.

I'll pick a random winner on November 29th.

Good luck and have a great weekend!

Edit: We have a winner!

#28

Laurie!

I loved reading all of your comments and wishlists ~ I truly hope that all of your holiday wishes come true, especially those of health and happiness.

Turkey Talk

2011-11-14T11:35:00.000-05:00

I picked up our Thanksgiving turkey today.

Is it really next week!?!?!

My mind is on food and decorating.
I think I may try brining the turkey. Any thoughts?

These are some simple ribbon napkins rings that I made for our table.
I've posted the tutorial over on The Creative Patch.
Enjoy!

Vintage Wallpaper Packs

2011-11-08T15:26:00.000-05:00

My offering for the November kit at The Creative Patch is a collection of yummy vintage wallpaper.

You can find it in my shop.

Be sure to visit the Creative Patch to see the other kits that my friends, Sarah and Sheila, have put together!

November Shop Update

2011-11-04T12:53:00.000-04:00

The November shop update is complete!

This month features gorgeous antique doll heads ~ over 150 in stock.

Also, a fresh batch of vintage religious medals.

You can click here to see it all!

Enjoy! Have a great weekend!

Autumn Love

2011-10-26T16:41:00.000-04:00

Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile.
~William Cullen Bryant

(I just posted a favorite fall recipe over on the Creative Patch. Enjoy!)

Halloween Giveaway!

2011-10-19T10:48:00.001-04:00

Would you like to win one of these "Midnight" Kits?

Just leave a comment below telling me your favorite Halloween candy.

Easy peasy.

Winner will be announced on Sunday.

(If you just can't wait, there are some of these kits still available here.)

Edit: We have a winner!

#31 (in honor of Halloween, of course)

Nicole!

Vintage Spoon Spiders

2011-10-10T08:28:00.000-04:00

These are ornaments that I recently made for a swap.

Spiders crafted from vintage spoons!

I just posted the tutorial over at the Creative Patch.

Enjoy!

Halloween Kits at the Creative Patch!

2011-10-09T07:23:00.000-04:00

Check out the fabulously spooky Halloween kits now available at The Creative Patch!

October Shop Update

2011-10-04T13:46:00.000-04:00

The October shop update is complete!

Here are a few peeks of the lovely new items available at Speckled Egg.

Warm colors for autumn...

And blacks and creamy whites for Halloween.

Click here to see the 40+ newbies!

Enjoy!

The Creative Patch - Giveaways and a Halloween Tutorial!

2011-10-01T11:38:00.000-04:00

The Creative Patch launches today!

Head over to enter some fabulous giveaways and see Sheila's adorable Halloween "Boo Bucket" tutorial!

*Also, the monthly Speckled Egg shop update will take place on Monday, October 3rd.

Sorry for the delay!*

Party Planning

2011-09-28T11:59:00.000-04:00

My Little One is going to be 9 next month.

That is completely unbelievable to me.

I wish I could stop time just a little bit, but I truly love the "big" girl that she is becoming.

She is such a sweet girl ~ kind, artsy, beautiful, and soooo smart.

We are currently working on preparations for her party.

She's decided that this year will be bakery themed.

Her friends will be decorating chef hats, making pretty cupcakes, and enjoying some fun treats.

We're going with a light pink, peachy orange, and yellow color theme.

You can see our inspiration board on Pinterest.

We've been busy making and gathering all sorts of pretties...

We were inspired by this tutorial to make these apron invitations.

We used paper by Basic Grey and a printable recipe card from here to hold all the party info.

I ordered these amazing cupcake appliques from my friend Laurie.

She makes the most fun and colorful appliques ever!!!

They will be decorations on the girls' aprons.

I also picked up these edible flowers from this Etsy shop.

They are GORGEOUS!

The hoarder in me wants to keep them for myself in a pretty jar! Heehee.

I looooove planning parties!

We are having so much fun with this theme and can't wait to share with her friends!

We'll have more to share with you too!

The Creative Patch

2011-09-22T14:22:00.000-04:00

Some exciting news to share....

My friend, Sheila, has been working hard on an amazing new project. The Creative Patch will feature free tutorials, giveaways, recipes, digi goodies, monthly kits, and other fun ideas to help nourish your creativity. I was thrilled when she asked me to take part as a regular contributor, or "Gardener"! Sarah will be there too, along with monthly special guest artists! Soooo exciting! I can't wait!

The fun begins on October 1st with some fabulous giveaways.

We hope that you will visit this inspiring new community and enjoy the many projects that we have to share.

Please help to spread the word by adding this button to your blog.

Enjoy!

Ready...

2011-09-15T11:15:00.000-04:00

for Fall!

The three months between now and Christmas are my most favorite time of year.

I loved reading your comments on the last post about the projects that you're working on.

(I was also glad to see that I'm not the only one thinking about Halloween... and...eeeek.... Christmas!)

Here's to lots of artsy-crafty wonderfulness for the next few months!

Have a great weekend!

September Shop Update and Giveaway

2011-09-08T12:15:00.002-04:00

Lots of new lovelies on the website!

You can see everything HERE!

For the September Giveaway I have a

$25 Gift Certificate to Speckled Egg!

To enter, just leave a comment below telling hat your plans are for Fall crafting.

A random winner will be chosen on Monday, September 12th.

Enjoy!

Edit: The winner is #8

Kathy

Congrats!!!

Petite Inspiration Box Swap - Curiosities Edition

2011-08-26T10:34:00.003-04:00

Edit: This swap is now full. Group emails have been sent. Enjoy!

I am thrilled that so many of you really enjoy these matchbox swaps! I had originally planned to try to mix things up and try a new type of swap, but I received so many sweet emails about these over the summer that I just had to do it again!

The theme for this swap is Curiosities ~ with Halloween approaching, I thought this would be a fun subject. However, I also didn't want to limit it to a Halloween swap.

I was thinking that the Curiosities theme could also cover flea market finds, steampunk style, and all those other fun and funky bits that we love to use in our projects. So, it is pretty open-ended. I hope that makes sense! Please read the guidelines below if you are interested in joining the fun!

Here you go!

Petite Inspiration Box Swap - Curiosities Edition

1. You will be placed in groups of 3 players. You will need to make a "Petite Inspiration Box" for each of the other players in your group (2), and you will receive one back from each of the players in your group (2).

2. The base of the box should be a sliding match box. I found mine at my grocery store in a package of 3 for about $2. These are the larger boxes that measure about 5x2x1, not the teeny-tiny ones. Decorate the outside of each box, and fill them with artsy goodies for your swap partners.

3. The items in your boxes should be vintage or vintage-inspired and fit the Curiosities/Flea Market theme. You can include some Halloween-related items as well, but the whole box doesn't need to be Halloween-themed. Find out your partners' likes and dislikes, collections, favorite crafts, etc. Here are some ideas of what to include: Old buttons, millinery, lace, ribbon, trims, jewelry findings, ephemera, images, charms, interesting bits and bobs, doll parts, game pieces, etc. These boxes are fairly small, so they should be easy to fill up... just be sure to send quality, usable items that you would love to receive yourself. You can see some photos of the boxes from previous swaps here.

4. You will need to mail your boxes directly to your partners by September 26th. PLEASE only sign-up for this swap if you are able to have your swap items created and mailed by this date. As with any swap, it is reallllly important to follow-up with your promise to make quality items and send them on time.

5. ~~To sign up for this swap, please email me at info{at}speckled-egg.com , be sure to send the following:~~

*Name
*Email address
*Blog address
*The country that you live in
*If you are willing to ship internationally

*Please select which best describes what your favorite types of "Curiosities" would be:
(a) Flea Market Finds - aged, chippy, rusty, natural/nature-inspired
(b) Victorian, Steampunk, Alice in Wonderland
(c) Halloween themed
(d) A mixture/anything goes!

6. I'll send you a confirmation email once I receive your info. I will close sign-ups on Monday evening or at 50 players, whichever comes first. You will receive your group info by Thursday evening. Feel free to grab the button above to add to your own blog. ( Images from the Graphics Fairy).

Hope you can play!!!

Library Love + Swap News!

2011-08-23T16:51:00.000-04:00

Over the summer I volunteered to teach some craft classes at our local library.

I did some simple crafts with the younger kids and a weekly art journaling class with the teenagers.

The kids all did an amazing job with their projects.

Especially the art journals ~ I wish I had photos to share!

I had put together some ideas and journaling prompts, and brought a bunch of fun supplies to play with.

They had fun cutting and pasting and putting together collages.

I really loved how they didn't over-analyze or stress over how things were looking.

They just went with it.

And they had a blast.

I love that about kids.

The library asked me to decorate a clipboard for a fundraiser they are having.

I decided to make a She Art-inspired piece.

I really love the technique.

It's fun to get a little messy and just go with it.

School starts next week.

Definitely bittersweet.

We had a great summer, but I'm looking forward to getting back to "normal".

I was thinking that it would be a great time to host a new swap.

Look for an announcement and sign-ups on Friday!!!

Heart + Home

2011-08-18T19:15:00.001-04:00

We are home from a fun vacation to New Hampshire.

We did lots of shopping, playing, relaxing, eating....

It is always fabulous to get away, but I also love coming home again.

I'm catching up on the orders that were placed last week and will have everything in the mail tomorrow.

The winner of the August giveaway is #10...

Jeanne!

Enjoy!

(The photo above is a peek of the hostess goodies that I brought to Natalea for the Garden Party. A heart tin filled with red supplies ~ her favorite color.)

Garden Party Gifts & Giveaway!

2011-08-12T10:21:00.000-04:00

Now to share the fab gifties that were exchanged at Natalea's Garden Party!

A sampling of the gorgeous vintage supplies from Tabitha

Sweet altered journal made by Sandy

Amazing cuff bracelet designed by Tammy

A sweet little jar of lavender from Natalea.

The cutest pincushion made by Viv.

Felted heart magnet and adorable butterfly doll by Sandy

Fun little notebooks by Tammy

An extraordinary sewn journal made by Natalea.

Here's a peek inside! Almost too pretty to use!

What's missing from these photos is all of the beautiful packaging!

(And the candy, sweets, lip gloss, and note cards that my daughters "borrowed".)

I really should have taken the photos as we were opening the gifts at the party.

My current photos really don't do any justice to these beauties!

My gifts to the girls were handmade earrings and a supply pack of

vintage wallpapers, trims, beads, and other goodies.

I don't have any photos of them.

I'm really kind of slipping with this whole blogging thing, huh?

To make up for my lame photos, I am going to put together another goodie bag for one of you!

It will have some of these yummy vintage wallpapers...

One of these trim cards...

And some other little surprises.

To enter, just leave a comment on this post.

I'll choose a winner on Thursday, August 18th.

Garden Party Weekend

2011-08-10T12:37:00.000-04:00

Just over a week ago I had the pleasure of attending Natalea's Garden Art Party.

In attendance were Nat, Sandy, Tammy, Tabitha, Vivian, and myself.

It was such a treat to spend some time with this fabulous group of ladies.

I have to say, I was as sick as a dog upon my arrival on Friday.

Ugh.

I was SO mad that I wasn't feeling well, but these ladies were all so sweet and nurturing.

Luckily I felt better on Saturday.

(Only to feel like junk again on Sunday... and the entire following week. Ugh.)

But, Saturday was lovely!

Lots of laughter, good food, gorgeous gardens, shopping, and crafting.

Here are some snapshots of our weekend...

Natalea's beautiful home and studio:

Some pretties along the Buffalo Garden Walk:

Tomorrow I'll share the amazing gifts that were exchanged, as well as a giveaway!!!

Free Shipping!

2011-08-01T15:03:00.000-04:00

I've just returned from a fun-filled weekend with some artsy friends!

I've got lots of photos and treasures to share with you but I'm feeling ~~a bit~~ very under the weather.

Either the flying/travel has messed with me, or I have an icky bug.

Today is the first of August, and I know that some of you are waiting for the monthly shop update.

I'm just not up to it today and we will be away on vacation soon, so I'm thinking that it will be best to hold off until September 1st.

In the meantime, please enjoy FREE SHIPPING from my shop on all orders to the USA.
This offer is for today only and no code is needed.

Enjoy!

Paper & Bling

2011-07-26T14:55:00.000-04:00

A quick little post on a couple of really fun swaps that I participated in waaaaay back in June!

The first was hosted by my sweet friend, Jessica.

A Spring-themed vintage paper swap!

These were the little packets of papery goodness that I put together...

Vintage butterfly cards, old tickets, buttons, vintage wallpaper circles, and silky leaves.

Check out this post by Jessica to see what I got in return!

Yippee!!!

I also participated in my pals Lynn and Karla's Bling Swap!

I sent in some vintage rhinestones....

And was sent back this amazing necklace!

Pretty fabulous, huh?

Shabby Apple

2011-07-19T15:18:00.000-04:00

I was contacted by Shabby Apple a few weeks ago to see if I was interested in reviewing one of their dresses...

Um, yes!

If you aren't familiar with Shabby Apple, they are an online boutique that sells gorgeous, classic, vintage-inspired women's dresses. They also do maternity, swimwear, and kids' clothing! I really love the fact that 5% of net sales support charities in India.

Their selection is amazing.

I liked so many of the styles, it was really difficult to choose.

I finally went with the Tuxedo III Dress.

It was SUCH a great choice!

I love the color and the fit.

My favorite part is the collar ~ SO fun!

I tend to get nervous when ordering clothing online, but I used their sizing chart and it fits perfectly.

(I wasn't too worried though, they have a great return/exchange policy!)

The fabric is a little heavier than I thought it would be, so it would be better suited for early Fall.

My only wish is that the belt in the photo came with the dress.

That's an easy fix... and a great excuse to do some shopping!

Shabby Apple will definitely be my first stop the next time I am in the market for a cute new dress!

They have also generously offered a discount code for you!

Just enter speckledegg10off at their checkout to receive 10% off your order! (Expires 8/18/11)

Goings on

2011-07-15T16:47:00.000-04:00

Hello friends!

I thought summer was supposed to be lazy!?!?

We are having a blast around here.

Birthday parties, swimming lessons, playdates...

Life is good.

Hmmmm... what else have I been up to?

*I'm preparing to visit this lovely lady in two weeks. CAN'T WAIT!

*I also joined Natalea's July Photo-a-Day challenge, and didn't make it past Day 5. Yikes!

*I celebrated my birthday last week.

My eight-year old made a delicious fondue picnic all by herself!

Love her to bits!

*I've been scouring the flea markets and collecting lots of treasures for the next shop update!

*The Mama Bird from this post never returned. So sad.

*I finally gave in and joined Pinterest. And now I am addicted! It's been fun to play with in the evenings before I head to bed. You can see my boards here. If you'd like to join the fun, I do have a few invites to share! Just drop me an email.

*I picked up a circle knitting loom at a yard sale.

Now I need to figure out how to use it.

Do you know of any good sites, books, or patterns?

*My husband reminded me last night that it was the 13th anniversary of our first date.

I couldn't believe he remembered! I didn't!

*I just realized that I still need to share a few swaps from June.

Double Yikes!

*I can't wait to head to the farmer's market tomorrow morning.

How is your summer?

I hope you are having a lovely time too!!!

Enjoy every minute!

Un-Birthday Box

2011-07-07T16:23:00.000-04:00

I played a long in Amy's Birthday Treasury Swap last month.

SO fun!

My partner was Debbi.

She is unbelievably talented.

The box that she sent to me is gorgeous.

Simple, neutral, vintage, nature-inspired.

Perfection.

She even added soldered glass doors!

Pretty amazing, huh?

The really fun part is that all of the little treasures inside

can be removed, admired, and re-arranged.

This is the box that I sent to her:

As you can see, we ventured a little away from the birthday theme!

I even ventured a little away from the box itself!

Be sure to visit Amy's blog to see many more photos from the swap!

July Giveaway!

2011-07-04T11:09:00.001-04:00

I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Ours has been pretty quiet ~ lots of family time, yummy food, and relaxing!

Here's the July Giveaway!

A fun collection of crafty goodness!

Bright colors that are perfect for summer scrapbooking, journaling, card-making, collages, etc.

If you would like to win one of these Summer Kits, just leave a comment below

sharing your favorite flavor of ice cream.

That's it.

Easy peasy!

I'll choose a random winner on Thursday, July 7th.

(If you just can't wait to see if you are the winner, there are a some of them still available here.)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Edit: The winner is #17 Holly!
Congrats!!!

July Shop Update

2011-07-01T15:35:00.000-04:00

I've just completed the July shop update!

Enjoy!

Yummy vintage glass buttons.

Vintage thread cards.

Sweet wooden charms.

Another batch of religious medals.

A petite kit.

Pretty pins.

Fabulous mini dot stickers.

And SO much more!

Click HERE to visit!

Wishing all of you a wonderful weekend filled with family, friends, and fun!

Tiny Books

2011-06-27T14:17:00.001-04:00

A few weeks ago, I made these Tiny Books for Michelle's swap.

This was my first time making these little cuties.

They were SO much fun!

I could easily become addicted to making them.

You start by decorating a full sheet of paper.

Then you bring it to the printer, where he shrinks it and copies it for you.

You cut and paste a little...

And just like magic, you have these adorable little books!

(Michelle has MUCH better instructions on her blog, but that's the basic idea.)

I have a few extras ~ if you'd like one, just leave a comment and I will pick two winners on Friday.

AND, be sure to check out all of the gorgeous books from the swap here!!!

So cute!

So tiny!

Edit: We have our winners!

Connie

and

Suzy

Bead Party!

2011-06-15T18:32:00.000-04:00

I had the pleasure of playing along in my friend Sarah's Bead Swap again this year.

Today she has put together a blog hop to share our swap goodies.

My partner was Erica.

She is so sweet and talented!

This is the adorable box that she sent to me!!!

Inside were these little lovelies!

Sigh...

Such perfect colors.

I can't wait to make something with them!

(Both of the above photos were taken by Erica ~

the battery in my camera is dead at the moment. Yikes!)

This is what I sent to Erica.

I found the cupcake box in the dollar bin at Michaels ~ it was bright yellow and covered with multi-colored sprinkles. Cute, but not exactly what I was going for. I decoupaged the lid with vintage newspaper and gave it a glittery cherry on top.

These are the pretty baubles that were tucked inside.

Erica has already made a bracelet with them!

(She's good!)

Be sure to stop by Sarah's blog to find links to all of the other swappers!

A little speckled egg

2011-06-10T10:46:00.000-04:00

We had some crazy winds a few days ago, so I had taken down the hanging plants from the porch.

I went to water them and put them back up this morning when I found this...

The sweetest little nest with one tiny speckled egg inside.

I really hope that the Mama will return.

My Littlest One has been keeping watch at the front windows.

I'll let you know!

Junk Hunting

2011-06-08T19:34:00.000-04:00

With all of the get-togethers, morning soccer games, and bad weather that we've had lately,

my treasure hunting trips have been limited.

I have SO been itching to get out there.

I've been a little bit desperate actually.

That's at least what my husband said when I came home with this...

His first question was "WHAT IS THAT!?!?!"

His second was if I actually paid for it, or if they paid me to take it. (He thinks he's just *soooo* funny.)

His third was if I had lost my mind...

I truly think it is kind of cute.

It is basically a chunk of wood that someone had carved these fun British icons in.

Maybe a school wood-working project?

It looks like the project was never finished.

Some of it it is painted, some not-so-much.

Or maybe it is supposed to be this way.

I have no idea...

But, I like it.

I'm thinking it just needs a little make-over.

Maybe some lighter blues and whites?

Or leave it as it is.

What do you think?

Would you have even brought it home in the first place?

Thanks to all who entered the June giveaway!

The winner is #32...

Jingle!

June Giveaway

2011-06-03T16:04:00.000-04:00

I'm thrilled that you liked the new artsy goodies in the shop!

Thank you SO much.

I think doing monthly updates will work out nicely.

I also think that monthly giveaways are a great idea as well!

This is such a sweet kit.

Great colors, perfect for summer crafting ~ or anytime crafting!

If you would like to win one of these Summer Holiday Kits, just leave a comment below sharing what's on your crafty to-do list for this summer.

That's it.

Easy peasy!

I'll choose a random winner on Tuesday, June 7th.

(If you just can't wait to see if you are the winner, there are a handful of them still available here.)

Have a wonderful weekend!

June Shop Update!

2011-06-01T12:08:00.000-04:00

I've just completed the June shop update!

There are tons of fabulous items that I am so happy to share with you.

I do hope you will enjoy them!

Lots of vintage papery goodness!

A creamy white kit.

A summer holiday inspired kit.

Many other red, white, and blue goodies too!

Yummy trims.

Gorgeous buttons.

A huge selection of religious medals at wonderful prices.

Flea Market Finds.

AND, the mushrooms are back! (Some great new colors too!)

Plus, SO much more!

Click HERE to see it all!

Swappy Stuff

2011-05-23T13:13:00.000-04:00

It's no secret how much I like swaps.

The latest Petite Inspiration Swap was so much fun!

I'm always amazed at how generous, talented, and thoughtful swappers are!

It's so much fun to find a lovely package in the mailbox (instead of the usual bills).

These boxes were sent to me by my sweet partners.

Tabitha made me this gorgeous woodland box filled with wonderful bits ~ dyed ribbon, buttons, trims, and beads. All my faves!

Lorraine sent this beauty full of lovely little notions, images, and trims. That hand-stamped ribbon is beeeautiful!

Thank you both SO much!

I truly enjoy making these little boxes customized to my partners tastes.

SO much fun to fill them with things that I think they will enjoy!

This one I made for Lorraine:

This one was for Tabitha:

And, this was for for a private trade with Lelainia:

I've had several questions asking when the next swap will take place.

I'm thrilled that you like these so much!

My plan is to hold off on hosting swaps until the end of summer.

I'll be sure to post an announcement here and on Facebook in August to let you know the details for the next swap!

Maybe try something new?

Worth every sneeze...

2011-05-19T13:06:00.000-04:00

Simplify

2011-05-16T10:49:00.002-04:00

Things have been busy around here.

I feel like I'm always saying that.

Maybe busy is the new normal?

With summer coming, life is getting even busier!

I've been doing a lot of special orders lately ~ ribbons, trims, and flowers for weddings and party favors.

(Don't you just love this time of year? All the new beginnings and promises of bright futures.

We don't have any gradations to attend this year, but I always love the energy that surrounds them.)

Anyway... I'm trying to simplify things a little bit.

I enjoy being busy.

I'm absolutely not complaining about it.

I am truly honored that you keep me busy!!!

Thank you for all the support throughout the years!

You girls are simply the BEST!

From now on, I'm going to try doing monthly product releases.

You can expect to find shop updates on the 1st of each month.

I've not been so good with updating the website regularly lately, so I hope this plan helps!

The next update will be on June 1st ~ it is HUGE!

Vintage ephemera, kits, trims, religious medals, flea market finds, and more.

I am super excited!

I think you will be too!

I'm also working on maintaining "office hours", which sounds so... official.

LOL.

I'm trying to stay away from the computer on the weekends.

That's been difficult!

So that's it.

Just a few little changes that you probably won't even notice!
They will just help me with time-management.
Putting them out there, in writing, will help me stick to them!

My Summer Intern (a.k.a. my 8-year old) will be out of school soon to help out.

She loves packing orders!

It's so cute!

I hope that you have a wonderful day!

I have some seriously fun swap goodies to share next time!

She Art Girls

2011-05-06T18:14:00.000-04:00

My Little One and I are taking Christy Tomlinson's She Art Girl Workshop.

It is a self-paced class with video instruction.

She's a wonderful teacher.

These are my first two girls.

It was fun to just play, and try to let go of that perfectionist thing that I have. LOL.

The hardest part was choosing the words.

Another difficult thing for me was using so much black. Christy uses lots of stamps, rub-ons, and black ink. I struggled with this... but once I let go, I REALLY liked the results.

This was my third girl, a birthday gift for a special friend.

Having SO much fun with these!
I can see lots more of these cuties in my future... they really are quite addicting!

Antique German Dolls & Parts

2011-05-04T12:25:00.000-04:00

I've just added a fresh batch of antique doll parts to the shop.

I've grouped them in small sets.

There are traditional Frozen Charlotte styles.

Lovely torsos.

Fancy families.

And a few creepies too...

Over 160 dolls.

You can check them out right here.

Making Scones

2011-04-28T12:06:00.001-04:00

Are you are excited as I am?

Tomorrow morning, I will be up bright and early to watch the Royal happenings.

I've always had a thing for all that is British.

The accent, the countryside, Jane Austen...

You will always find me watching the latest Masterpiece Theatre special.

LOVE the modern day Brit Chick Lit too.

Did I mention that in high school I was an exchange student to England?

I had THE most amazing time.

Instead of simply being a tourist, I was immersed in real British life, living with a family in a small town.

It was exactly as I had imagined.

I never had that dream to be royalty.

(Though, Prince William is quite dreamy and I'm sure that I could get used to royal life. For anyone who REALLY wanted to be a princess, this is a fun read.)

I just wanted to be a part of the country's culture and way of life.

I still think it would be absolutely amazing to really live in one of those stone cottages, with a beautiful garden, having afternoon tea...

(My husband is not so eager. LOL)

Maybe someday?

(The cute card above was made by my friend Cristina of Sweet Pea Ink.
You can find them in her etsy shop.)

Can you even imagine the jitters that these two are feeling?

The whole world watching.

Yikes!

I'd be a wreck!

I am so excited for them, and wish them all the best.

To celebrate, I'm making some scones today.

P.S. Sending good wishes to all my Southern friends ~ I hope you and your families are safe and sound.

Mommy & Daughter Basket Swap

2011-04-27T11:15:00.001-04:00

My friend Tabitha hosted a really sweet swap recently.

A Mommy and Daughter Basket Swap!

Both of my girls LOVE to create, so this was perfect for us.

We were partnered with Karla and Lynn and their daughters.

Karla and Lynn are sisters, so this was truly a family event.

SO fun.

These are the sweet baskets that their girls made for my girls.

These were PACKED with wonderful treats ~ stickers, candy, beads, and fun trinkets.

As you can see, everything has since been played with (or eaten!) LOL.
The girls just didn't understand that I need to photograph these things, first! :)

And, these adorable necklaces were tucked in there too ~ a HUGE hit with my girlies.

These are the baskets that Karla and Lynn made for me!

Eeeek! LOVE them!

Look at those handles!
And that chick!?!?!

Just gorgeous.

I don't have photos of what my girls made, but Lynn did a post about the swap.

Here are a few peeks of what I sent to the lovely Mommas!

Thank you SO much for such a fun swap!

Also, Karla and Lynn are hosting a Vintage Bling Swap ~ I am so excited!

There are still a few spots left!

You can see the all the info right here.

Sugar High

2011-04-23T16:08:00.001-04:00

I have fond memories of making special treats for our neighbors when I was growing up.

We did May baskets, bread at Christmas, and eggs at Easter.

With the help of our grandmother, my sister and I packaged dyed eggs and candies in little grass-filled boxes.

We loaded up our red wagon and delivered them to the neighbors.

I love those holiday traditions, and try to continue them with my own girls.

So, we whipped up a few fun and easy-peasy goodies for some friends and neighbors.

We made Jelly Bean Bark by melting white chocolate and spreading it on waxed paper. Then we simply dropped jelly beans onto it. We let it set and broke it into chunks. (Next time we'll use more jelly beans!)

Some mints...

And of course, the traditional bunny cake!

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday weekend!

Spring Crafting

2011-04-21T20:50:00.000-04:00

Some little baskets that I recently made for a few friends...

I love how they turned out.

So sweet.

So simple.

So Spring-y.

The Blahs and the Beautiful

2011-04-11T13:43:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the corny title.

I had my wisdom teeth removed on Friday.

Not fun.

I am such a baby when it comes to the dentist.

I go, but I am a total baby about it.

I know I should have had them done in high school or college like everyone else.

But I was a baby about it back then too.

It actually wasn't that bad.

Not much pain, just some swelling and a little achy.

Just really tired.

Spent a lot of time doing the couch luge, drinking smoothies, and napping.

(Will I ever want to eat "real" food again?)

I signed up for this lovely workshop.

It starts today.

I CAN'T wait.

My Little One is super excited too.

We bought a bunch of canvasses, some new pretty papers, and stamps.

Looking forward to making some beautiful things together after a weekend of blahs.

Vintage Easter Flea Market

2011-04-04T11:59:00.000-04:00

Last week I found an entire box of vintage Easter and Spring goodies that I completely forgot about!

I've just added them to the website, in the Flea Market Finds section.

They are available in larger lots, so you can scoop up some real cuties at great prices.

I've been thinking about doing more of these types of sales.

More kits and one-of-a-kind vintage finds.

Maybe a monthly "virtual flea market" on my website?

Think that would be fun?

Petite Inspiration Box Swap - Spring Edition

2011-04-01T17:25:00.002-04:00

Edit: This swap is now full ~ over 50 players. So fun! All of the group emails were sent Wednesday evening. If you didn't receive one, please let me know.

As promised, here are the details of my next Petite Inspiration Box Swap!!!

1. You will be placed in groups of 3 players. You will need to make a "Petite Inspiration Box" for each of the other players in your group (2), and you will receive one back from each of the players in your group (2).

2. The base of the box should be a sliding match box. I found mine at my grocery store in a package of 3 for about $2. These are the larger boxes that measure about 5x2x1, not the teeny-tiny ones. Decorate the outside of each box, and fill them with artsy goodies for your swap partners.

3. The items in your boxes should be vintage or vintage-inspired. The theme of this swap is SPRING ~ it is very open-ended, but please keep with the vintage/Spring style. Find out your partners' likes and dislikes, collections, favorite crafts, etc. Here are some ideas of what to include: Old buttons, millinery, lace, ribbon, trims, jewelry findings, ephemera, images, charms, cupcake toppers, etc. Some ideas for the Spring theme ~ birds, butterflies, flowers, nests, mushrooms, bunnies, etc. These boxes are fairly small, so they should be easy to fill up... just be sure to send quality, usable items that you would love to receive yourself. You can see some photos of the boxes from previous swaps here.

4. You will need to mail your boxes directly to your partners by April 29th. PLEASE only sign-up for this swap if you are able to have your swap items created and mailed by this date. As with any swap, it is reallllly important to follow-up with your promise to make quality items and send them on time.

5. To sign up for this swap, please email me at info{at}speckled-egg.com , be sure to send the following:

*Name
*Please select which best describes your "Spring Style":
(a) Neutrals, whites, aged, chippy, natural/nature-inspired
(b) Pastels, florals, foof, glittery, cottage

(c) Bright, bold, kitsch, retro, funky
(d) Anything goes!
*Email address
*Blog address, Website, Flickr, or Etsy Shop
*The country that you live in
*If you are willing to ship internationally

6. I will send a confirmation email when I receive your info. I will close sign-ups on Monday evening or at 50 players, whichever comes first. You will receive your group info by April. 6th. Feel free to grab the button above to add to your own blog.

Hope you can join the fun!!!

Spring Shop Update!

2011-03-25T11:58:00.003-04:00

I've just finished adding over 40 new items to the shop.

LOTS of fabulous new ribbons and trims.

These natural striped cotton ribbons are a personal fave.

As are these pleated satin ribbons.

Beautiful vintage, silk millinery in perfect colors for Spring crafting.

Delicious vintage bits....

And the sweetest little tags.

You can see all of the new items here.

I've also restocked many of the velvet ribbons, German egg boxes, and other favorites.

There are still some lovely bargains in the Sale section.

Happy Shopping!

Flea Market Boxes - Goodies Received!

2011-03-24T11:43:00.008-04:00

I have to say it again, I absolutely love swaps.

The fun of creating, sharing, and making new friends.

In the last post, I showed the boxes that I made for the Flea Market Inspiration Box Swap.
Here are the gorgeous creations that I received.

From Cristina, a beautifully collaged box filled with millinery and the sweetest mini boxes :

From Thespa, a gorgeous handmade box filled with vintage notions:

From Sheila, a sweet, Spring inspired box packed with little lovelies :

From Lynn, a floral box filled with treasures in a fabulous pouch:

Thank you all so much.
I'm a lucky girl!

If you would like to see some more photos of this swap, and past Inspiration Box Swaps, you can visit our Flickr group.

I'll be announcing the next swap on April 1st!
Hope you will join the fun!

(Edit: Ummmmm.... Blogger seems to be playing tricks on me. Some of these photos are the wrong way! Ugh. Not sure what's going on....)

Flea Market Boxes

2011-03-20T11:30:00.006-04:00

I really, truly love hosting these Petite Inspiration Swaps.
The latest one was a Flea Market theme.
I love these swaps soooo much, that I put myself in two groups!

These are the four boxes that I sent out.

They are all similarly designed with vintage wallpaper and millinery,
then stuffed with treasures.

So much fun to put together.

Wait until I show you the lovelies that I received!?!?!

(P.S. Just like all of you, I've been glued to the TV for the last week. My heart goes out to Japan. I can't even put it into words. It seems so odd and unnatural to go on with life as usual when something like this is going on in the world. My thoughts are with them...)

A Swap and a SALE!

2011-03-09T07:38:00.005-05:00

I recently took part in a fabric collage swap.

Sheila was my fabulous partner.
She made me this piece of loveliness:

It is perfect.
Exactly what I had hoped for.
Simple, with soft colors.
Just soooo pretty!

This is what I sent to Sheila:

My sewing skills are lacking, but it is always fun to play with the sewing machine.
I like sewing that doesn't require patterns, precise measuring, and a whole lot of knowledge about the machine really works.
(Don't tell Shelia, but there's a little glue in there too! Heehee.)

It was fun to make, and I'm thinking there will be some more sewing in my future.

In other news...
I'm having a Spring Cleaning Sale in the shop.
There are over 50 items, all marked 50% off!!!
Limited quantities, discontinued items.
Making room for LOTS of new stuff!
Click HERE to see!

Better than candy

2011-03-07T09:50:00.003-05:00

My Little One and I did a little bead shopping recently.

She's been making lots of bracelets and necklaces and needed more supplies.

I have plenty that I could have shared, but I'm not one to refuse buying more beads!
We actually went a little overboard....

Aren't they yummy?
I still haven't brought myself to cut apart the strands yet!

Is this normal?

2011-03-02T13:01:00.008-05:00

I promise not to complain about the weather any longer.

There's nothing I can do about it...
Spring will be here soon.
That's what the calendar is telling me anyway!
(Ugh. Even without trying to complain, I'm still kind of complaining... heehee.)

I just had to share this dream that I had last night.
My poor husband thinks that I'm nutso.
(But, I think you girls will understand.)
I jumped out of bed at 5:30 to tell him all about it while he was getting ready for work.

Here goes...
The family and I were at the beach collecting shells and other beachy things.
We wandered towards a wharf, where underneath was THE most amazing flea market that I have ever seen.
Tables and displays of things that had all washed up by the tide ~ including chandeliers, furniture, silverware, pottery, jewelry, books, etc.
Chippy, rusty, white, and perfect.

The best part was that we were the ONLY people there.
It was a personal flea market just for me ~ full of my favorite things.
The seller told me that he wanted me to have everything before the tide came in.
For FREE.

My husband loaded up the car.
Beautiful stuff was overflowing the trunk, the roof, the hood, even the glove box.
Then we drove home.
The end.

Think I'm jonesing for a flea market?
You too?

(Photos from Brimfield 2009, 2010)

Food Blogs

2011-02-22T09:17:00.004-05:00

I really can't wait for Spring.
I took these photos last week.
The view though one of the upstairs windows.
Ugh.

The icicles look like prison bars...
I think I still have a bit of a wait before Spring arrives.
In the meantime, I've been busy cleaning, organizing, and destashing.
Doing a little crafting.
Ordering new goodies for the shop.
And, reading lots of food blogs.

I loooove cooking and baking.
The winter is such a good time to try new recipes.
And a cold, icky day is great for browsing food blogs.
I've become quite addicted to them over the last few months.

Here are a few of my favorite yummy blogs:
Farm Chicks
Skinny Taste
Simply Recipes
Annie's Eats
Our Best Bites
For the Love of Cooking
Smitten Kitchen
Bakerella
Pioneer Woman
FoodBuzz

Do you have a food blog or know of one that I should visit?
Feel free to post links in the comments!

Sweetness

2011-02-14T16:15:00.002-05:00

Some pretty pink roses from my Sweetie...

And some yummy cookies made by my Little Sweeties.
(Extra sprinkles? Yes, please!)

Hope you are having a lovely day with your Sweeties!

Petite Inspiration Swap - Flea Market Edition

2011-02-01T10:12:00.005-05:00

***Edit - This swap is now full. We have over 60 players! Soooo fun. Groups have been emailed.***

As promised, here are the details of my next Petite Inspiration Box Swap!!!

1. You will be placed in groups of 3 players. You will need to make a "Petite Inspiration Box" for each of the other players in your group (2), and you will receive one back from each of the players in your group (2).

2. The base of the box should be a sliding match box. I found mine at my grocery store in a package of 3 for about $2. These are the larger boxes that measure about 5x2x1, not the teeny-tiny ones. Decorate the outside of each box, and fill them with artsy goodies for your swap partners.

3. The items in your boxes should be vintage or vintage-inspired. The theme of this swap is Flea Market Finds ~ it is very open-ended, but please keep with the vintage style. Find out your partners' likes and dislikes, collections, favorite crafts, etc. Here are some ideas of what to include: Old buttons, millinery, lace, ribbon, trims, jewelry findings, ephemera, images, charms, cupcake toppers, old game pieces, skeleton keys, old sewing supplies, doll pieces, small doilies, hankies, etc. These boxes are fairly small, so they should be easy to fill up... just be sure to send quality, usable items that you would love to receive yourself. You can see some photos of the boxes from previous swaps here.

4. You will need to mail your boxes directly to your partners by February 28th. PLEASE only sign-up for this swap if you are able to have your swap items created and mailed by this date. As with any swap, it is reallllly important to follow-up with your promise to make quality items and send them on time.

5. To sign up for this swap, please email me at info{at}speckled-egg.com , be sure to send the following: ***Sorry, this swap is now full.***

*Name
*Please select which best describes your "Flea Market Style":
(a) Neutrals, whites, aged, chippy, rusty
(b) Victorian, pastels, florals, foof, cottage
(c) Bright, bold, kitsch, retro, funky
(d) Anything goes!
*Email address
*Blog address, Website, Flickr, or Etsy Shop
*The country that you live in
*If you are willing to ship internationally

6. I will send a confirmation email when I receive your info. I will close sign-ups on Friday evening or at 50 players, whichever comes first. You will receive your group info by Feb. 8th. Feel free to grab the button above to add to your own blog.

Hope you can join the fun!!!

Valentine Giveaway

2011-01-31T11:45:00.005-05:00

It's been a while since I've held a giveaway.
With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I thought it would be a great time to share the love!

I've put together a fun collection of pink artsy goodness...

Some velvets....

Trims, ribbon, and embellishments too.

To enter, simply leave a comment below!
I'll pick a winner on Friday, February 4th.

I'll be giving away a second kit on Facebook.
If you are interested in another chance to win, just like/friend/follow me (whatever the correct lingo is) by clicking here.
Easy peasy.
(If you already "Like" me on Facebook, you are automatically entered!)

ALSO ~ Come back tomorrow for a new swap announcement!!!!

***Edit: We have a winner!
#6 Sassy Marsha
Congrats!
Thanks to all who entered!***

Shop Update ~ Over 60 New Artsy Goodies!

2011-01-22T14:32:00.004-05:00

I've finalllly finished a big shop update!
There are loads of fabulous new items, as well as some re-stocks.
There are many new embellishments perfect for Valentine's Day crafting.

Gorgeous velvet blossoms...

Vintage brass lockets...

Several sizes and colors of flower cabochons...

LOVE these linen-like flowers!

And SO much more.
Click HERE to see!

Old School

2011-01-13T12:12:00.005-05:00

I've been *trying* to organize some of the bazillion photos that I have stored on the computer.

Along the way, I found these...

It must have been 8 or 9 years ago that my mother asked me to take a One Stroke Painting class with her. I didn't really think it was my thing, but I went along anyway. The class was just a couple of hours long, but we learned the basics of the painting technique. Well, most of us learned the technique... my mother was completely and utterly frustrated with the whole thing. She just didn't "get" it. However, she had already purchased a large kit full of paint, brushes, books, and videos. So, she gave it to me.

Over the next few weeks, I painted everything in sight.
Lidded baskets, wooden boxes, ornaments, even a few mailboxes.

I gave them all away as Easter gifts.

The end.
That was it.
I never did it again.

Do you have any ghosts of crafts past?

Well, hello...

2011-01-08T09:21:00.002-05:00

We enjoyed a wonderful holiday season ~ full of family, friends, goodies, and gifts.

We baked, and wrapped, and played, and visited.
Then we relaxed....
The girls and I literally stayed in our PJs for most of vacation week.
We watched movies and played with our new toys.
It was fabulous.
I'm usually a "go-go-go" kind of girl,
so this whole just hanging out thing was completely out of the ordinary.
But, it was just what I needed.
I feel so refreshed and recharged.
I'm looking forward to this new year and all the possibilities that it holds!

Even with all the relaxing going on,
I have been busy ordering goodies for the shop and restocking items.
Valentine's Day is just around the corner,
so I'm hoping to have everything on the site by next week.
I'm so excited to share these new pretties!
I think you'll love them!

Have a wonderful weekend, Friends!

Warm Wishes

2010-12-31T15:07:00.005-05:00

I hope all of you have a happy and safe New Year.

May all of your dreams for 2011 come true.

Merry Mittens

2010-12-22T17:37:00.004-05:00

I participated in a wonderful swap with some fabulous friends earlier this month.
We swapped handmade mittens and little packets of artsy goodness.

This is the mitten that I made.
It's made from an old sweater and embellished with some vintage trims.
So much fun to make.
I love its simplicity.

Now for the sad part ~ this is the only photo that I have of the entire swap!
I really don't know what I was thinking!
My friends did an absolutely amazing job, and I feel terribly that I don't have more to share.
I hope that you will visit their blogs to say hello and see what they did!

Barb
Connie
Danielle
Heidi
Jeanne
Jessica
Linda
Lorraine
Melissa
Michelle
Natalea
Sarah

Little Gifties

2010-12-14T10:43:00.003-05:00

Less than two weeks to go!

Can you believe it?
Our house is bustling with excitement.

My girls and I made these cute earring sets for some special friends.
The girls picked colors for each recipient
and I made the earrings with vintage stones and brass findings.
Easy peasy.

I attached the earrings to these lovely bird tags and added some ribbon.

And then we packaged them in a nest of paper shreds in kraft colored boxes.

Sweet and simple.

Surprise Snowballs

2010-12-07T10:24:00.003-05:00

I've seen several ideas for crepe paper surprise balls posted over the years.
Such a cute idea!
I've been wanting to make some, and thought that they would be something fun for the kids to do while waiting for Santa on Christmas Eve.

They are super easy, and fun to make!
All you need is white crepe paper streamers and small toys, candy, or trinkets.
I used a roll of 150' feet of crepe paper and about 12-15 small toys for each ball.

To make one, just pick a toy and start wrapping!
(I used the largest items first and then finished with the smallest.)

Once that item is completely covered in crepe, add another toy and continue...
Just like you are rolling a ball of yarn.
I tugged a little at the crepe paper to help smooth it out along the way.

When you are finished just secure the end with a sticker.
I left mine pretty simple, but you could really go all out in embellishing these!

I put them in clear bags and added a tag that read:
Find the sticker on the snowball.
Then unroll the paper to find some fun surprises.

They will be a fun treat for Christmas Eve ~ even with the mess of 1000 feet of crepe paper floating around my living room!

Wish List Complete!

2010-12-02T13:53:00.002-05:00

Ok, so this wish list-making is kind of fun!
Here's what I came up with...

I'd realllly love this.
Some delightful looking books here, here, and here.
Any of the lovely jewelry kits from here.
Some other crafty kits here, here, and here.
I've always wanted one of these.
A perfect treat.
This sounds delish.
A splurge.
A cute new purse from here or here.
Sooo pretty.
Some fun stocking stuffers like this, this, this, or this.
Or maybe a gift card to here or here.

How are you doing on your list??? :)

Wish List

2010-12-01T16:30:00.004-05:00

My girls have been asking me for weeks about what I want for Christmas.

All of the things that I have suggested are "not fun" according to my 8-year old.
(A new garlic press isn't fun?!?)
The truth is that I really don't need anything.
They seem so disappointed when I give them that answer.

I think as mothers, we spend so much time during the holidays doing for others.
Giving to others.
Which is absolutely what it is all about.
It's a great feeling.

Obviously, Christmas isn't just about "stuff".
But, gift-giving is a part of the season.
We teach our children about how important it is to give.
We let them help us buy, make, and bake gifts for friends and family.
To experience that great feeling too.
And then when they want to give to us, we make it hard on them! LOL.

I guess what I'm saying is that it is perfectly ok to think of ourselves sometimes too.
We work pretty darn hard to make this holiday magical.

So, today I'm going to work on my wish list.
Do you have any ideas?
A wishlist or your own?
Some cute items on etsy that you've had your eye on?
I'd love to hear!

O, Christmas Tree

2010-11-29T06:32:00.006-05:00

We cut our tree this weekend.

(I should say that my husband cut the tree, while we all watched him.)
The girls and I decorated it yesterday.

It's such a rush to unpack each ornament and instantly be transported to a different time.
The glass lovebirds for our first married Christmas.
The little booties for baby's first Christmas.
The glitter seashells from a favorite vacation.
The antique glass balls that belonged to my Gram.

I'm always amazed at the memories that those little baubles hold...

Sweet Angel Kit Giveaway

2010-11-23T12:36:00.005-05:00

I've been doing a little (very little) cleaning and organizing around here.
I came upon a few DIY Angel Kits that were left over from last year, so I thought it would be fun to do a giveaway!

Just leave a comment below and I will pick two random winners on Sunday!

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with family, food, and fun!

We have the winners!
My girls picked the numbers....
Drumroll, please.

#3 Tabitha
#12 Elyse

Congrats! Please send me an email with your address. :)

Bella-rific

2010-11-12T16:02:00.005-05:00

I hope that all of my lovely Bella friends have a wonderful, sparkling weekend at Silver Bella!

I'm a little sad that I couldn't make it this year...sniff, sniff.
Can't wait to see all of the photos and blog posts!

I did send along these fun vintage embroidery motifs for the goodie bags.
They are so sweet ~ perfect for art journals, embroidery projects, scrapbooks, etc.
They are also available in grab bags on the website.

Happy Friday!

Holiday Shop Update! 60+ New Goodies!

2010-11-04T15:50:00.008-04:00

Just finished up a BIG shop update!

There are over 60 new artsy treats for your holiday crafting!

Retro Christmas Embellishments

Flea Market Finds

Jewelry Making Trinkets

Vintage Wall Paper & Ephemera

Victorian Scrap Papers

Fancy Ribbons & Trims

Click HERE to see!
Happy Shopping!

Inspired Ideas

2010-11-03T07:39:00.002-04:00

My sweet friend, Amy Powers, has been at it again.
The Christmas edition of her online magazine, Inspired Ideas, is now available.
It is chock full of lovely holiday crafts and projects.
It is beeeeautiful.
And it is totally free to view!
Check it out right here!

Tricks and Treats

2010-11-01T16:51:00.003-04:00

We had a FUN Halloween!
Hope that you did too!

Here are some photos of what I made for the Black & White Petite Inspiration Box Swap. These are always such fun to host ~ and to play in! You can see more images from the swap on our Flickr group.

I am a teensy bit behind, and still need to photograph the wonderful goodies that I received in this swap and a couple other Halloween swaps as well. I'll add those to Flickr soon!

My girls and I made a bunch of Halloween treats last week, including these cute cookies. A simple, fun twist on traditional gingerbread cookies. They did most of the decorating all by themselves. We got the idea from here.

The sideways skeleton cracks me up!

Paris Party

2010-10-21T12:52:00.006-04:00

My little sweetie turned 8 last week.

We did a lot of celebrating ~ a trip to American Girl, bowling with her cousins, a "friends" party, and a "family" party.
I am tuckered out!

We've been cooking up a Paris themed party since the summer.
It was a BLAST!
Here are some peeks:

Super cute invitations from here.

Pink poodles, all ready to be stuffed.

Paris themed bingo.

Little party favor bags filled with lip gloss, bracelets, stickers and other trinkets.

Cute poodle candles for the cupcakes.

The hit of the party was the pink and white candy buffet...

Sugar overload!
The girls loooooved it!

Still Charming

2010-09-30T14:19:00.005-04:00

A big thank you to everyone who posted comments, links, and sent emails regarding my charm bracelet dilemma! I've seriously been pondering this all week ~ I think I'm going to go with the Brighton bracelet for now. I like that we can mix beads with dangle charms and that she will be able to swap out the charms easily. I was a little nervous that she may get annoyed with all of the dangles of a traditional bracelet ~ she's a girlie-girl, but she is very active. The Brighton charms are also much more affordable and they also have very kid-friendly designs.

I thought I'd share my mother's charm bracelet ~ which is now mine. I remember being little and digging it out of her jewelry box to tinker with all the charms. Opening the typewriter case, cranking on the wishing well, and playing with the fish. The interactive charms are the best! She started it as a teenager about 50 or so years ago. Most of the charms were collected when she was a camp counselor. At the end of each summer, the counselors were allowed to pick a charm from a catalog to celebrate the end of the season. A fun tradition. I think the charm bracelet fad must have gone out of style in her early 20s, because she stopped collecting them ~ and I never had one made for me! Boohoo. I have a Pandora, but I think I need to create a vintage charm bracelet for myself. I'm happy to see that collecting charms is back "in"!

I also wanted to let you know that I just completed a small shop update. There are several new ribbons and trims, as well as some vintage jewelry bits. I've also discontinued several styles of the German Scrap foils and borders. Most are marked up to 50% off!

Click here to see!
Happy Shopping!

Juicy Opinions

2010-09-23T11:55:00.003-04:00

Hi Friends!

I'm having a dilemma here.
I want to start a charm bracelet for my daughter.
She'll be 8 in October.

I reallllly love the Juicy Couture charms.
They are girlie and adorable... just like she is!

But, the charms are a little pricey for costume jewelry.
And I'm wondering if it is too "trendy".
I'm not a huge fan of their clothing ~ but I sooo love those cute little charms.
What to do?
What to do?

Finally on Facebook & a giveaway!

2010-09-20T16:37:00.005-04:00

As you may know, I've been debating the Facebook thing for several months. I created a page for Speckled Egg last January, but never published it. I seem to be having enough trouble with keeping up with this blog! I recently received an email from a sweet customer who was very sad that she missed the last swap. She said that she and many of her friends now use Facebook more frequently than blogs. It kind of surprised me, but I understand. I can get lost for hours reading blogs ~ which I completely love, but there are some (lots of) days that there just isn't time for that. I guess Facebook is kind of a quick fix. Just a sentence here and there to share what you've been up to.

So, I gave in and now you can now find Speckled Egg on Facebook. Add us to your "likes" to stay up to date with swaps, new products, and giveaways. I promise won't bombard you with info ~ maybe just a weekly or bi-weekly update.

To kick things off I'll be giving away a $50 gift certificate on October 1st for our Facebook fans.
To be entered, just click here to "Like" us on Facebook.

Must See

2010-09-15T16:50:00.003-04:00

I can't think of anything better for a "ho-hum" sort of Wednesday.
Eye candy and inspiration.

My friend Amy has been busy on something AMAZING!
Click here to see.

Another sweet friend, Heidi, has been busy building the sweetest chicken coop that I've ever seen.
Check it out!

Scrumdiddlyumptious

2010-09-09T11:43:00.003-04:00

That's the word that came to mind when I first saw these beauties.

Big, gorgeous millinery blossoms.

Perfect, unused condition.
Limited supply.
Right here.

Petite Inspiration Box Swap - Black & White Edition

2010-09-01T07:41:00.006-04:00

Edit: Sign-ups are now closed. Group info has been emailed.

As promised, here are the details of my next Petite Inspiration Box Swap!!!

1. You will be placed in groups of 3 players. You will need to make a "Petite Inspiration Box" for each of the other players in your group (2), and you will receive one back from each of the players in your group (2).

2. The base of the box should be a sliding match box. I found mine at my grocery store in a package of 3 for about $2. These are the larger boxes that measure about 5x2x1, not the teeny-tiny ones. Decorate the outside of each box, and fill them with artsy goodies for your swap partners.

3. The items in your boxes should be vintage or vintage-inspired and ALL ITEMS IN THE BOX SHOULD BE BLACK and/or WHITE/CREAM/IVORY. You can include some Halloween-related items as well, but the whole box doesn't need to be Halloween-themed. Find out your partners' likes and dislikes, collections, favorite crafts, etc. Here are some ideas of what to include: Old buttons, millinery, lace, ribbon, trims, jewelry findings, ephemera, images, charms, cupcake toppers, etc. These boxes are fairly small, so they should be easy to fill up... just be sure to send quality, usable items that you would love to receive yourself. You can see some photos of the boxes from previous swaps here.

4. You will need to mail your boxes directly to your partners by September 27th. PLEASE only sign-up for this swap if you are able to have your swap items created and mailed by this date. As with any swap, it is reallllly important to follow-up with your promise to make quality items and send them on time.

5. To sign up for this swap, please email me at info{at}speckled-egg.com , be sure to send the following:

*Name
*Email address
*Blog address
*The country that you live in
*If you are willing to ship internationally

6. I will close sign-ups on Friday evening or at 30 players, whichever comes first. You will receive your group info by Tuesday morning. Feel free to grab the button above to add to your own blog. (Cute bat image from the Graphics Fairy).

Hope you can play!!!

Polyvore Party Planning

2010-08-31T12:48:00.004-04:00

Have you tried Polyvore?
If not, you are in for a treat.
It is a fun website where you can create inspiration boards from images from various retail websites. The images all link back to the source, so you know exactly where to buy those cute hair clips or adorable shoes.

I showed my Little One how to use it yesterday.
This is what we came up with.

Her birthday is in October and she has decided that she wants a Paris themed party.
With a candy buffet.
And stuff-your-own poodles.
And an Eiffel Tower cake.

I think I have my work cut out for me.

The Best Halloween Ever

2010-08-30T12:31:00.004-04:00

I am very excited to take part in ArtsyMama's Halloween festivities again this year.
You can read all about her special holiday blog, The Best Halloween Ever, right here.
The private blog will be full of inspiration, tutorials, giveaways, and a swap.
Kari has done an amazing job of putting this together!

For all of you Petite Inspiration Box-aholics, I'll be announcing a new swap on September 1st!!!

Guess Where

2010-08-26T11:28:00.007-04:00

My family and I just returned from a fun vacation.
Camping!
We made it!
Five days of living in a tent.
My husband and I used to camp quite a lot,
but this was our first time with both of the girls.
They LOVED it and can't wait for our next adventure.

Be the first to guess which state we were in and I'll send you a
$25 gift certificate to Speckled Egg!
Just post a comment with your answer.
Be sure to include an email address, if you don't have a blog.

Edit: Yeah! Congrats Caitlin! You were the first to guess New Hampshire. I'll be emailing your gift certificate tomorrow! Enjoy!

Just a note

2010-08-18T08:42:00.003-04:00

Speckled Egg will be closed from 8/17 - 8/22.
Orders can still be placed during this break, but I won't be able to reply to emails.
Shipping will resume on 8/23.

Have a great week!

Bead Party

2010-08-17T09:04:00.004-04:00

Cassandra is having a bead party to show off all of the
wonderful goodies from her recent swap!

This was so much fun!
I had a lovely group and received some gorgeous beads.
Have a look-see!
(Sorry that my photos aren't so great today ~ it's kind of a hazy, yucky day!)

Sweet pinks and greens from Bryanna.

Soft blues and whites from Debi.

Oceany blues from Michele.

Yum, yum!
Did I mention that all of these beads came in sweet little boxes?
Too cute.
Can't wait to play with these new treats.
Thank you, girls!

Giveaway Time!

2010-08-12T09:20:00.004-04:00

I believe that it is time for a giveaway!
If you would like to be entered to win a $30 gift certificate to Speckled Egg, just leave a comment on this post. (If you don't have a blog, be sure to leave your email address so that I can contact you!)
I'll pick a winner on Sunday evening!
Fun, fun!

Edit: We have a winner!
#17
Grace

New Wheels

2010-08-06T06:17:00.004-04:00

How cute is this?
My new wheels!
It was a complete impulse buy.
Yesterday, I was doing some errands and spotted a display of these.
Love at first sight.
I just had to have it.
The colors are amazing ~ a lovely aqua, cream, and brown.
I can't wait to "cruise" around on this with my girls.
I just need to find a cute basket.
Do you think that some vintage ribbon tassels off of the handlebars would be too much?
Probably.
Heehee.

You won't believe where I found it.
Right here.
Just in case you need one too.

Birthday Time!

2010-08-03T22:02:00.004-04:00

It's a little hard for me to believe...

SIX years ago Speckled Egg was born.
I have had such an amazing experience with this little shop.
I've learned a lot.
I've had a lot of fun.
And most importantly, I've made so many wonderful friends.

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
It really has been a blessing to be able to do something that I love AND to be able to stay home with my girls.
The best of both worlds.
I'm looking forward to many more years to come.

As my Little One would say, "Enough with the mushy stuff!"
Let's party!

I'm a big fan of dragging out birthdays, so we will be celebrating all month long with giveaways, special offers, and some fun & games!

Let's kick things off with FREE SHIPPING!!!
Now through August 6th, enjoy free shipping on all U.S. orders.
(International order will receive discounted shipping.)

I've just added a bunch of yummy new things ~ ribbons, jewelry making bits, and more!
Click HERE to start shopping!

Stay tuned.
More fun is on the way!

Dreaming of Paris

2010-07-27T21:04:00.004-04:00

My sweet friend Barb sent me this super yummy box of French macarons earlier this month. They were almost too cute to eat!
Almost.

They were a perfect pairing to my parcels from my swap partners in the Paris Inspiration Box Swap. I had two lovely partners, Lorraine and Marianne. I was completely blown away by the gorgeous creations that they sent.

This beautiful box was made by Lorraine. She was so clever and made the box open from the side instead of sliding open. Too cute! I LOVE the handmade envelope and muslin bag!

She stuffed the box full of fabulous artsy goodies! Such wonderful colors.

Marianne sent this amazing box. The details on it are just stunning. You can tell that she put her heart into this beautiful piece.

The inside was full of vintage French loveliness!!! (Are you drooling yet?)
Thank you both so much!

These are the boxes that I sent to them.

I'm lovin' those fabric roses at the moment.

Inside the boxes were vintage French beads & sequins, French seed labels, wine labels, old lace, an Eiffel pendant, cosmetics tube, buttons, velvet ribbon, a cake charm, and a pair of earrings that I made.

These Inspiration Box Swaps are always so much fun to host and to participate in!!! I'll be announcing the next one later this Fall. In the meantime, you can view other photos of the swap on our Flickr Group.

Cuteness Alert

2010-07-20T12:34:00.004-04:00

My girls are currently obsessed with Japanese erasers.
Over the last few weeks I've spent a small fortune on them.
They are really cute.
In case you haven't seen them, they are small puzzle erasers that are made in Japan and come in all sorts of fun shapes. You can take them apart and put them back together and swap the pieces around. Some of them have moving parts. They are about $1 each and can be found at party stores, gift shops, etc.

LOVE the tooth with the cavity.
Who would have thought that erasers could be so fun?!?!
(I'm pretty certain that these cuties won't actually ever be used for schoolwork.)

Hey Dolls!

2010-07-18T09:55:00.002-04:00

Goodness... it has been a while.
I've been enjoying my summer with my girlies.
Things have been busy.
And hot.
Majorly HOT.

I have been pretty bad with blogging for the last few months.
Things just really are busy.
I know it gets a little lame to hear that all the time, but it's true.
I keep telling myself that things will slow down after this holiday or that event...
But it doesn't seem to happen.
I think my new "normal" is busy.
Do you feel that way too?

I have lots of fun things to share with you, as soon as I catch my breath.
Swaps, summer crafts, flea market finds, and Speckled Egg's Birthday is coming up too!

For now, I do have a yummy new {old} batch of Frozen Charlotte Dolls that I just added to the shop.
You can find them right here.

I hope you are having a wonderful summer!
See you soon!
I promise!

Sarah's Bead Party

2010-06-29T10:41:00.003-04:00

My sweet friend Sarah just hosted a bead swap. It was exactly what I needed to get back into jewelry-making. I was on a big jewelry kick earlier this Spring, but haven't done much since, even though it is something that I really enjoy. I seem to get in crafty modes and then change gears (see post below). Anyway... my partner was Erica. She sent me an assortment of beads, and then I had to create something for myself with them. She sent me a beautiful mix of creamy whites and earthy browns, with a touch of sparkle.

I created this long necklace that I think will be fun to wear this summer. I made it long with the thought that it would be cute to make some more necklaces to layer with it. BUT, in case I don't follow through with that plan (see post below), it is perfectly cute all by itself.

Thanks so much, Sarah for a fun swap! And a big thank you to Erica for all the yummy beads!

Unfinished Business

2010-06-16T13:10:00.005-04:00

Please tell me that I'm not the only one who does this...

I get on a crafty kick and start a bunch of projects.
Unfortunately, some don't quite get finished.

I bought a wool felting kit last winter and it was a blast.
I made the quirky little bear in just a few hours.
The felting was SO much fun.
I thought that I would do this every single day.
But, as you can see, that didn't happen.

Look at this poor guy!
He's been without an ear and face for months!

Then there is the 40 Squares embroidery project.
Things got a little busy here, so I fell behind.
(Plus, I got a little irritated with the four-leaf clover that didn't quite work out.
See that green blob on the left? Still trying to take that off...)
Well, one week turned into another, and next thing I knew, everyone was done the project!
Yikes!

I am determined to get these projects done this summer.These will help along the way.
Yes, Trader Joe's has yummy French Macarons in the freezer case!
(Making my own is also on my to-do list...)

What's on your "unfinished business" list?

Grateful

2010-06-11T13:27:00.003-04:00

I just wanted to thank all of you loved the new goodies in the shop.
You just about cleared me out!

You girls are always so good to me.
I really, truly appreciate each and every one of you.

Thank you!

Here are some peeks of the ornaments that I made with the rolled flowers.
I added a bar pin to the backs, so they could be used as brooches as well.
Cute, cute!

Have a great weekend!

Shop Update!

2010-06-09T07:09:00.005-04:00

Tons of colorful new artsy goodies and restocks!

Right here.
Enjoy!!!

Patiently Waiting

2010-06-03T10:47:00.008-04:00

These babies have been taunting me for weeks.
The giant buds just wouldn't budge open.

Then, this past weekend they exploded! Definitely worth the wait!

While I was "patiently" waiting for my peonies, I made up a bunch of these ...

These fabric flowers are popping up everywhere.
I see why. They are so much fun to make!
Addictive, actually!
I love how each blossom is unique.
I made a pile of them for a swap that I'm working on.
I think I'll have to make a batch for myself too!

There are several methods for making these. Some links to tutorials for you to try... here and here and here. A big thanks to these wonderful bloggers and designers for sharing such fun projects!

Petite Inspiration Box Swap ~ Paris Edition

2010-06-01T11:40:00.008-04:00

***Edit: This swap is now full! Groups have been sent! Have fun!!! :)***

As promised, here are the details of my next Petite Inspiration Box Swap!!!
I am soooo excited about this one!!!!
Here are all the details.

1. You will be placed in groups of 3 players. You will need to make a "Petite Inspiration Box" for each of the other players in your group (2), and you will receive one back from each of the players in your group (2).

2. The base of the box should be a sliding match box. I found mine at my grocery store in a package of 3 for about $2. These are the larger boxes that measure about 5x2x1, not the teeny-tiny ones. Decorate the outside of each box, and fill them with artsy goodies for your swap partners.

3. The items in your boxes should be vintage or vintage-inspired and have a PARIS/FRENCH THEME. Some ideas of what to include: Old buttons, millinery, lace, ribbon, trims, jewelry findings, ephemera, images, charms, cupcake toppers, etc. These boxes are fairly small, so they should be easy to fill up... just be sure to send quality, usable items that you would love to receive yourself. You can see some photos of the boxes from previous swaps here.

4. You will need to mail your boxes directly to your partners by June 25th. PLEASE only sign-up for this swap if you are able to have your swap items created and mailed by this date. As with any swap, it is reallllly important to follow-up with your promise to make quality items and send them on time.

5. To sign up for this swap, please email me at info{at}speckled-egg.com , be sure to send the following:

*Name
*Email address
*Blog address
*The country that you live in
*If you are willing to ship internationally

6. I will close sign-ups on Thursday evening or at 40 players, whichever comes first. You will receive your group info by Monday morning. Feel free to grab the button above to add to your own blog.

Hope you can play!!!