This year I am gunna win it! If not at least it gave me some inspiration.

Are you all entering daily? A few clicks will mean a free home, car and $100,000 for one very lucky winner.

I haven't been watching much TV lately, well other than baseball, so I hadn't seen much about the new HGTV Green Home giveaway so when I saw an email with some snapshots I had to head over and take a closer look.

The design is so amazing. Lots of color palettes I am saving to inspire my own graphic design.

 

If you haven't heard of this sweepstakes head over to HGTV check out the amazing photos and sign up. You can sign up once daily until June 4th. Visit the HGTV Green Home webpage to enter. Or you can even enter in the box below or click to enter the tour.

Please attend a virtual craft fair supporting a great cause

Many of you know, I am a cancer survivor, leukemia a.l.l., to be precise. Since I can remember, the Leukemia and Lymphoma society has been working hard to make a difference in the fight against cancer. I have a friend riding in my honor, gearing up to ride in a BIG Team in Training event (100 miles).  

She is hosting a virtual craft fair which offers you the best of two worlds, support handmade AND a great cause. You can view her site online here. Once you choose what you want you can paypal her the money and she will make arrangements to get you the goods.

I just ordered two of the wood candle holders. Throwing this out there--- if anyone wants to buy a gift certificate from me anytime in the month of May I will donate the money to Kristin’s ride. You can buy them on my blog, http://www.customdesignsbykat.blogspot.com/.

does your couch need a little update? a couple amazing pillows can update the whole look of your room

New job is going great, people there are great, starting some fun projects and I LOVE getting home around 5:30 each night! It is going to give me a lot more time to spend here and on my etsy site! 

I have been saving cute throw pillows to my favorites for weeks now and I started to see a trend. I am totally digging yellow and blue together. Also had to throw in the super cute chandelier vinyl that would be so awesome above the pillows.

Tell me what you think. What color throw pillows do you have? Which is your favorite?

First Row: {1} Yellow Fern Pillow by Appetite Home {2} Seahorse Decorative Pillow by Freshline {3} Set of Two 18x18 inch Pillow Covers - Damask Print Mustard Yellow and Natural by this Little Home

Second Row: {1} Felt Foliage Pillow by V Squared {2} Crystal Chandelier - Vinyl Wall Decals Stickers Art Graphics by Single Stone Studios'  {3} Navy Blue Linen and Nautical White Star Fish Embroidery Pillow Cover by Kain-Kain

Third Row: {1} Yellow and White OLIVE BRANCH Decorative Eco Throw Pillow 20x20 by Zen Threads  {2} Owl Pillow 15 x 15 by Norajane {3} 18 X 18 in. Throw Pillow in a Navy floral print - eco friendly bamboo fiber stuffing by Rosie Pillows

aaaahh, excited, sad, happy, smiling, crying. Isn't it fun to be a woman?!?

I am starting a new job on Monday... what?!?  2 1/2 weeks went fast which I am excited, sad, stoked, happy, smiling, crying, laughing about.

As many of you have read I have been working as a Relay For Life Event Manager for the past two years (you know, my day job, ha, and nights and weekends). I have just recently accepted a new position as a Marketing Coordinator for First California Mortgage in Petaluma, Ca. I am so excited to take on a full time role which will utilize my graphic design and marketing passion.

However, I have loved so much about my experience working for the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life over these two years and the amazing people I have worked with - so I am sad to leave. I have expressed many times - my heart has been with this job. I will never stop volunteering because this organization is amazing and does BIG things in the lives of cancer patients and their families. To be able to say after two years and moving into a new job that you are now going to continue working for that company FOR FREE means something... BIG!

I LOVE RELAY FOR LIFE!!! If you don't know what this post is about you need to go to www.relayforlife.org. 1 in 3 women will get cancer in their lifetime, what are you doing about that?

Open House FUN!

I had a great time at my open house launch today. Thank you friends and family for your support. I do plan to have another one in a few months, open house / party not so much launch, since I didn't know when I set the date that is was both the butter and eggs and apple blossom fairs plus beerfest in SF!

Everyone thanks so much for all your well wishes and support it means so much to me and make all these hours feel well worth it.

Also big thank you to Natalie who spent her Saturday with us introducing me to Tastefully Simple. The food was amazing and believe it or not, lol, so simple to make! I can't wait for my order to arrive. I ordered the sangria and margarita drink mix buckets which you just put alcohol and water into and freeze for an anytime tasty slushy drink. Ryan and I also couldn't live with out the spinach and herb mix, artichoke dip mix and sun dried tomato mix! YUM. Gunna be a yummy summer of BBQ dips for us!

Below are some pics from the day. I was so glad my Mom and Dad could come down and showcase her jewelry here - I loved seeing some of the new pieces.

Thank you!

Mickey Birthday... plus download the font

I set out to make a Mickey Mouse themed birthday invite, googled free mickey font. Yay! Urban fonts had it. Look below for the link. View my new birthday cards in my etsy store. 

 Free Font from Urban Fonts

Open House Launch

Hope to see you here! I am so excited to try out some Tastefully Simple yummies! Plus I am very excited for mimosas.

Sew Cute! Don't you think?

I couldn't wait a minute to spread the word about the cutest etsy shop I just found on Everything Esty. It is called Sew Cute Shop and it is really true, the name says is ALL! I have listed three items from their shop that I just had to favorite right away. The first one gave me a huge grin and when a pillow does that you know there is something special about it.

Lynne Owl YOU PICK FABRIC Amy Butler Heather Bailey

Camera Strap Cover, Heather Bailey as Shown, Custom Fabric Choice Available, FREE SHIP to US

Ruffle Apron, Amy Butler LOVE, Tangerine Mint Sunspots and Tangerine Sandlewood, SewCute and READY TO SHIP

Everything Etsy is offering a $25 gift certificate giveaway for the Sew Cute Shop, so once you tell me what you love most, head over to their site and let them know what your favorite item is.

Candles, Fire and Wine OH MY!

I was so excited to see the weather this morning because it meant I got to light my new candles from Auntie B's Wax! I did some work with Auntie B a few weeks back for trade and was so excited when my candles arrived. I went with lemongrass out of her many flavors and I am so enjoying it. We also have a fire going and are enjoying a bottle of wine. I love that in California you can experience different weather everyday- hard to imagine that on Friday I was driving with the top down on my car and got a little tan.

   

If you are in need of some design work and are interested in a trade shoot me an email. I love to trade!

Calgon take me away!

I am totally jealous that my in-laws are in Hawaii... RIGHT NOW! Oooh I am ready for a vaca however I am not getting one anytime soon. To let my thoughts wander to beaches, tropical drinks with little umbrellas and romantic dinners I am putting together a little sampling of some great travel items from esty sellers. Also threw in a wonderful art piece which sums up how I am feeling each time I see a plane overhead.

First Row- 1} Mediterranean Map Journal by Kristin Crane 2} Luggage Tag .pdf Sewing Pattern/Tutorial by Navy Mango 3} Handmade Passport Cover Holder Amy Butler Blue and Cream by My Studio

Second Row- 1} HE WISHED FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT by Shyama Helin 2} UPCYCLED Blue VINTAGE Train Case with 3 Black Birds on a wire in black ink by Get Ready Set GO's 3} Eco Friendly Bamboo Sleep Mask Completely Adjustable by Doodle Bugs Fun Fabrics

Third Row- 1} DESIGN YOUR OWN - Large Cosmetic Bag by The Sweet Sugar Beet 2} Map Necklace Sterling Vintage Custom Location by Sherry Truitt Studios

Do you have any exiting travel plans? I'd love to hear about them, go ahead make me jealous.

Busy with a capital B

I have been VERY busy lately, which is awesome! However it has resulted in a lack of time to put all the awesome saved pages and favorited sellers into any posts. I am vowing that the end of the week will equal some posts about what I have been looking at lately. For now I wanted to share what has been keeping me up at night.

#1

Picture Perfect Printing website launch. This is the initial upload, more decorative header to come but needed to get something up for these lovely ladies. It is a very cool site, you should check it out, it offers you the ability to put your favorite photos onto your favorite items. There are mousepads, wallets, laptop bags and more. Check it out at http://www.pictureperfectprinting.net/

#2

Yay! Another project for Sarah Hull, one of my favorite people I have "meet" through my design biz. Sarah, along with a bunch of other crafters, is putting on a super fun spring shopping boutique this weekend and she had me put together the invitation for it. You can view her adorable products and learn more about her at http://www.littlepenelopelane.blogspot.com/

#3

Standard 5&10 May Newsletter- gunna be a good one. If you haven't heard of this awesome store yet check them out at http://www.standard5n10.com/. If you live in or around San Francisco I hope you will stop by and enjoy this throw back to the good old days as it is a 5 and dime however with much much more than you would expect.

More to come soon, I promise :)

In the studio with mom!

I haven't been up to see my parents in quite a while, almost two months I think. For those of you who live far from your family that may seem like a short time but since we only live 1 hour from each other we try and see each other about once a month so I have been missing them.

I couldn't wait to head up to Mom's studio and get caught up on her great work.

The biz is called Gee Wiz Jewelry for those who don't know about it yet, IT IS AWESOME.

Check her out in her studio showing me some of her new favorite pieces. People always tell me I am obsessed with containers but I think I know where I get it :)

Boy has she been busy! She has just started planning for a BIG gift show in San Francisco at the end of July so she has lots of new ideas in the works as well.

I  found my favorite! Birthday present maybe?

Off to play some games and enjoy the evening with Mom, Dad and the love of my life, my husband.

Happy Easter everyone!

Baby... We've come a long way

I made this sleek and modern birth announcement tonight. I shared it with the awesome readers over at "I made it!" at Everything Etsy. Once I finished I reflected for a moment on how far design has come in such a short time. I love the illustrations in the vintage cards below - I think I need to make some vintage announcements soon.

I can't wait to see how we will be sharing the joy of a new little one's birth in another 40-50 years!

Birth Announcement, Today

Photo Courtesy of Sarah Hull Photography

Birth Announcement, 1943

Birth Announcement, 1928

Birth Announcement, 1909 

See what others have made today!

Wedding Etsy Style

I am so jealous of the brides who get to peruse the pages of Etsy for unique handmade items for their weddings. I had to spend (well I did love every minute of it) countless hours on tons of different websites and in bridal magazines to find my choice wedding items. I thought I would put together a collection of items I would have added to my favorites if I were to do it all again - I stress the if.

I made all the paper goods for my wedding so I won't be featuring any of those in this sampling but you can find amazing wedding invitations, rehearsal dinner invites, menu cards and more on etsy (from my shop as well as many other talented artists').

We got married in September, 2008 in Healdsburg, California at the Villa Chanticleer. We were married outside in the wedding garden and had the reception in the bar and banquet room. We chose shades of green and orange to mirror the local vineyards as well as our taste in bright and fun decor.

If you see something you like look below for links to each item and store.

First Row: 1} Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend Garter by Garter Lady 2} JORDYN Go Green Seed Favor Place Cards by Peacock Invitations 3} Customizable Card Box -Made to Order by Shea Chic Designs

Second Row: 1} Satin Lined SEWN Tutu Dress by Fairy Wonderful 2} Silk Flower Kissing Ball by Anne Musing Designs 3} Simple and Tiny tag with birthstone by Art of Silver

Third Row: 1} Champagne Gold and Peridot Green Glass Pearl Bridesmaid Earrings by Slipstream Blue 2} Wedding Guest Book Box  by Cut The Cake Designs

Of course through my tireless searching I found everything I could ever have wished for in my dream wedding. I just had to look a little harder and sometimes customize things myself. Below are some of the highlights of my own special day.

My photographer was Erica Berger, view her site, I've got nothing but awesome things to say about her!

Planning your day? I'd love to see pictures, I LOVE WEDDINGS!

Cheers,