Birth Announcements!!!

So does anyone want to know what I've been up to lately?? Here goes...

I've been busy! Orders are coming in more regularly which is fantastic!! Then there's the custom stuff.

Custom Client Project #1 - Hooded mommy wrap - for maternity photography. This is a true labor of love... I'm lovin' it... although it is slow going with the rich cables & lacework!! I will be so happy when I can share the finished product with you!

Custom Client Project #2 - Hanging "bucket" for newborn photography... which I'm just about done, just waiting for the base material to be ready. I must say it was a challenge to figure out what he heck I can use to make a ridgid base that can withstand the "hazards of the industry" if you know what I mean. ;) Hopefully this little number should be finished up within the week, then I just have to send it out for fit testing!

Custom Client Project #3 - Vertical Sling for newborn photography... I whipped up a great upright sling made from this beautifully textured imported yarn, accented with either a pink, blue, or green fishnet style flowered band. This little number is getting fit tested this Friday... YAY, I love having connections!!!

Personal Project - I've been trying to get more photography practice when I can, I'm not a professional, that's for sure, but I'm making improvement and learning from my mistakes! ...and I'm really enjoying getting more practice!!! So I did newborn pictures for my co-worker's daughter... oh, she was such a sweet little one!! Well, once I finished up her pictures I asked her mom if she'd be into some birth announcements. She said yes... then I had some fun! ...I haven't scrapbooked in ages but thought I'd approach this project from a digital scrapbooking angle and I had so much fun! Plus I haven't noticed any styled like that for sale!

I liked doing it so much that I made a corresponding boy announcement, in the same layout... and I posted them to my ETSY shop tonight! I hope everyone likes them as much as I do! I'm planning to design some more layouts and post them to ETSY as well... in between client orders of course!!! :)

so.... wanna see my first two announcements??

Monday Musing - I Never Thought I'd Hear My Daughter Say...

"...daddy (excitedly) ... let's go watch the football game!!!"

oh boy..... now I'm in for it! Two of them like watching sports... ugh!

With Love ...xoxo

Time to introduce you to a brand-new set... the "With Love" set...featuring the The With Love Hat and The I Heart Bottoms!!!

It all started with the bottoms... I whipped up the cute little diaper cover in a soft ivory yarn, accented with a richly colored red heart on the bum ...once I had those done up it hit me... I've seen a ladies hat somewhere in my travels that had hearts for ear flaps... and the lightbulb on ....paired up that would be one sweet little set!

The With Love Set is perfect for newborn photography... and is made of a super-easy care fibre. I'll be posting them to my blog and ETSY shop tonight!!!

Hope you love them as much as I do!!! :)

ps...special thanks to Baby I and her mommy and daddy for lending her to me for test fitting product and taking a few pics... I'll have the pics to you on the weekend!!

"um...I have an unusual request..."

I know it's going to be interesting when a conversation begins with that :)

One of P's daycare workers approached me a couple months ago telling me she'd seen and loved the baby wraps I make... I was wondering how this was going to tie in with the "unusual request", sincerely hoping she wasn't going to request an adult sized wrap!!! Could you imagine the quantity of yarn that would involve?? funny thing is...I'm sure I have much MORE than enough!!

...so she tells me about her cat Mügz. Now Mügz is a very cuddly fellow... he loves to snuggle with her in the evenings, usually with a blanket. C thought he would love some sort of kitty wrap to cuddle in. We talked a little more about him, what kind of cat he is, what color he is, his size, her expectations. She said there was no rush, whenever I get time.

Fortunately C is a patient woman! ...I was busy filling orders and just got to his wrap about a week ago... Here's a couple pics... Hamilton was my obliging model... in fact he was purring like an engine as soon as I put him in... it could have something to do with his obsession with natural, animal derived fibers... the Mügz wrap is a wool blend...mmmmmmmmm sheep.... I'm sure that's what he's thinking...

Monday Musing - 10 Things I Love About My Girl

1. The way she scrunches up her nose when she smiles!
2. How she says words like "pecause", "am-bull-ance", "plablo" (instead of pablo)
3. Her great manners!
4. She tells me I'm her best mommy!
5. That she won't pick a favorite hotel for vacationing because she wouldn't want to hurt the feelings of the hotel that she didn't choose :)
6. How she'll grab me a granola bar on the way out the door in the morning, in case I get hungry.
7. Baking together in the kitchen.
8. That she runs and jumps into my arms for the biggest hugs when I pick her up from daycare.
9. That she always wants to send hugs and kisses to my "work ladies".
10. How she likes to help me package up and deliver orders!

Monday musing ~ Volume 1

I like to talk...a lot...my report cards in school always said... Lee-Ann is a pleasure to have in class... but is very "social" ...in other words ummmmmmmm.... talks too much! :) so I blabber... about nothing... a lot ...so I thought I'd extend it to you! Really, it shouldn't just be my family and co-workers who have to listen to me!!!

So here goes... my very first Monday musing...

So a couple weeks ago I met Carol for lunch... nowhere special... just the local food court for a quick bite and to trade goodies (pictures and knits...yay), where I overhear the following conversation....

Girl - so yeah, look me up on facebook, we'll get together

Guy - uh.....I don't have Internet at home...

Girl - (said very emphatically, with a gasp of horror and an edge of disbelief) what???? HOW am I supposed to contact you??

.....uh....... ever hear of a phone... you know... they have numbers on them... you dial and oh heavens... actually talk to someone!!

...seriously??

oh my goodness I laughed all afternoon about that one!

a new look for Paper Raisins!!!

Hey all... so I've been working my tail off for weeks now on a new look for Paper Raisins. I got this adorable logo done by Marie. I found her on flickr, filled out a questionnaire, sent her my ideas and she put it all together. I'm really, really excited about my new branding and implementing my super cute logo.

I've still got a bunch of things to put together... it takes a lot of little labor-intensive elements to form one cohesive look... and since I know nothing about HTML it's a serious learning curve to make the adjustments!!! ...I was going to roll out the whole new look at once... but I think I changed my mind... I don't want to hide all this great new stuff anymore... I'm really excited to share! I'll be adding the new and replacing the old one or two things at a time... so hold onto your hats...cause within the next few weeks you can watch my transformation!!!! :)