Dress Up Your Cupcakes

My gnawing late afternoon hunger and my sweet tooth brought me to a sweet little Etsy shop called Two Sugar Babies where you'll find fun and creative fondant toppers you can use to decorate cupcakes, sugar cookies, cakes or other baked goods. Two Sugar Babies has really fun Halloween fondant toppers and monogrammed ones that are perfect for a personal touch. What wonderful party decorations or a simple sweet gift!

The Fabulous Life of...Part Deux

In an earlier post, I shared some photos of old brooches and findings and promised I would do some before and after features so you can see how I upcycled them. Here is one example of an Art Deco era piece that I transformed into a glamorous necklace. I don't know what this piece was in its former fabulous life - a brooch, a dress clip or a pendant - but its new life is one of a pendant mixed with new but Art Deco style Czech glass beads. Perfect for a formal event, a wedding or Holiday time.

Dear Lillie Does Flowers Right

I have a weakness for flowers both in jewelry and clothing designs. A picture of a ring bearer's pillow with a beautifully handcrafted pink peony flower caught my attention on Etsy's home page. It led me to Dear Lillie's shop where I found amazing tanks and tees embellished with huge flowers. So feminine. Dear Lilly also has adorable baby clothes. Definitely worth a look!

Funky Cuff Links

Etsy often features quirky items on its home page including Star Wars cuff links. That's right - who would have thought? That's how I stumbled upon these a while ago and just had to feature these.

There are quite a few to choose from believe it or not in several shops on Etsy! I particularly like these Darth Vader cuff links from Cosmo Fashion Slave's Etsy shop along with the AC/DC Guitar Pick cufflinks. These definitely add some flavor to any shirt!

If you know of other funky or quirky items, please share!

The Art of Soap

If you want to make a scent-sational difference in your bathroom, try it with handmade soap. If soap were edible, I'd sink my teeth into this wonderful soap I discovered on Etsy at DeShawn Marie's shop. Her soaps are gorgeous. They are works of art and would make wonderful housewarming, hostess or holiday gifts.

Even better? They're made from all natural ingredients.

Buying Handmade is Cool

Top Three Reasons to Buy Handmade

1. It makes gifts more special.

Handmade gifts are more special because you know they weren't mass produced or bought in a chain store. They support artists and craft makers who take more time, care and skill than with a mass-produced product. Handmade gifts usually have a story to tell and and are often one-of-a-kind.

2. It connects people.

Mass-produced items and chain store products create a more bland culture and strip away the uniqueness of individuals. Buying handmade strengthens the human touch and builds upon the human and local side of products by supporting local artisans.

3. It helps the environment.

Mass production adds to global warming and pollution. Buying handmade can make a difference - even if just a small one - in helping our environment.

Have any more thoughts on the benefits of handmade? Please share.

The Fabulous Life of...

I like jewelry with history. My latest obsession is vintage bling: brooches, shoe clips and dress clips. Mostly from the 1930s-50s. Imagine the fabulous lives they've led. And they're about to lead another. These pieces can easily transform any chain or beaded necklace into a statement piece.

I'm drawn to Art Deco, floral and heraldry pieces as you can see from the photos. Watch for how I'll put them to use in future necklaces.

Words to live by

I have this crumpled article I tore out of a magazine (and I don't remember which one) posted on my refrigerator. It's a compilation of advice from women around the country about how to deal with bumps in life.

1. Aim lower. If you're a perfectionist, it can be tough to deal when things don't go your way. If you think about it, is there really such a thing as completely insane happiness? If you aim to simply be content, it can ease the pressure we often put on ourselves.
2. Pick friends wisely. Spend time with only the people who make you feel good about yourself - who support and inspire you. Why waste time and energy on those who bring you down?
3. Find the moment. Is it really possible to achieve a sense of balance every day while trying to accomplish everything on your to-do list? Why not focus on moments of peace and harmony instead? Taking the time to "stop and smell the roses" eases the pressure of trying to tackle daily tasks.
4. Think about something else. If you're feeling down about something, it helps to distract yourself. Think about something happy (a future vacation, a new outfit) or cute (the witty thing your daughter said). Things always seem less dire when you take a mental break.
5. Look ahead. If something is bothering you, it helps to give it a few months. Things will be different then. How true is that? The very thing that nags at you now likely won't occupy your thoughts down the road.

Got any tips for dealing with bumps in the road? I'd love to hear them.

It's Official

Yep - I entered the "blahg-o-sphere." My husband Keith has been pushing me to do it. That's one less thing on the to-do list. Phew! But wait - that actually adds quite a bit to my to-do list since now I actually have to blog. Frequently. So, I'm off to a great start: writing to an audience of exactly zero members as my daughter hangs on to my arm. Stay tuned for more.