Custom Orders Done!

Shew! The last of the custom orders were delivered today and let me say I feel relieved! I was getting down to the wire with Baby on the way. I had a lot of fun creating these dolls for all of my LOVELY customers!

I am a little bit sad to be putting the sewing machine in the closet for awhile but I am looking forward to starting a new adventure with my growing family. I am also excited about reopening the shop late this Summer or early in the Fall with some fresh ideas!

Totally 80s Baby Shower!

Earlier this month my girlfriends threw the most perfect baby shower for me and my Little Duke.  Since Little Duke is going to be my second boy and Big Duke is only 2, I did not expect too much. But let me tell you, it was perfect, is was amazing. It was RADICAL!

I cannot tell you how excited I was when I received my invite:

A ransom note? 80s wear? A surprise? It was just right. 

After driving around a little town we arrived at an old school Town theater. I really wish I would have taken the time to take some pictures outside of the theater but I was too excited to think about that. We were having my baby shower at a movie theater! Who knew you could rent out a movie theater?!

  

We got to act like goof balls, watch Breakfast Club, eat unlimited amounts of popcorn and soda followed by the most delicious cake (that looked like popcorn!) 

It has been a couple of weeks since the shower but I am still so excited that this actually happened. It was SO much fun and SO perfect.

34 Weeks

I realize it has been for. ev. er. since I last posted. I am still trying to decide on a focus for this blog. Mommy blog? craft blog? both? neither??  So many decisions so I will go with EVERYTHING until I pull myself together.

As far as Etsy I am taking a bit of a maternity leave. This baby is supposed to be here in the next several weeks and I should start taking some time to prepare! eek!

This is what 34 weeks looks like...check out that wallpaper.

 It is ridiculous how different the first and second pregnancies are. With the first I knew the moment I conceived. I could tell you the song that was playing on the radio that moment, the song that was playing in the waiting room at my first appointment and probably my baby's progress down to the very minute. This morning I could not remember if I was 31 or 32 weeks along. After a quick check of my email I have learned that I am 34 weeks...34 weeks!! ...Oh, and baby is the size of a cantaloupe...

I do have some great custom dolls images to share once pregnancy brain gives me a break and I can remember where i stashed the camera.

Snowed In.

I woke up this morning to no snow on the ground and in a matter of an hour everything was white. I canceled plans to run errands so Big Duke and I could keep warm inside and catch up on custom orders. 

I feel so blessed to have so many lovely customers. Their excitement in ordering something special makes my heart happy. 

I am always interested in other's creative process so here is a small part of my custom doll process. 

A Momma, a little guy, and two Who's Your Daddy sketches.

 Once receiving all of the images and information for a custom doll I sit down and make a quick sketch as well as a list of details. I have not streamlined my process with a list of options like many shops because I believe there are certain details that need to be true to the person I am creating. It may sound silly but one of the details I seem to stress most about is the hairline!

The hair is what really makes a custom doll look like the subject and stand out from other dolls. :)

Big Duke's First Snow Day!

Today Big Duke and I had to take a break to make some memories in the snow. It is not his "first snow" but it is the first time he actually had a chance to play in it!

Ever since I received a coupon code for a free printed scrapbook and 50 prints from a photo printing website I have been a little obsessed with getting pictures printed and organized. It has been quite the task considering I have done absolutely nothing with the tens of thousands of pictures I have taken of Big Duke in the past 2.5 years (I swear I took at least thirty pictures a day for the first six months of his life....little. bit. ridiculous.) I am determined to get through them before Little Duke gets here in May. So. Much. Deleting.

I have also been making a point to delete the bad pictures as I take them and to get the good ones organized right away. It feels kind of good to get this little portion of my life together and to have physical pictures to look at rather than a bunch of files sitting on my computer.

Custom Couple and a Daddy Doll

I finished a few more custom dolls over the weekend; a lovely couple that is too adorable for words and a sweet daddy in his Red Sox hat.

For the couple, my customer requested I add the thick eyebrows. I am absolutely thrilled with the way they turned out! I love making custom dolls; the little details make them so special. :)

The dolls packing up and getting ready to head to their homes!

I also managed to redesign my business cards for 2013! I am really liking the simple and bright design.

NOTE:

With Little Duke on the way soon, I will be taking a hiatus from custom orders beginning March 15th, 2013. If you are wanting to order a Duke & June custom doll for Mother's Day or Father's Day be sure to order before March 15th! 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day friends! Do not forget to let the people you love know they are appreciated!

Also, take a moment check out this fantastic cause and share it on your blog, twitter, and/or facebook today. There are children who need forever homes and families who need your help bringing these children home. There are many fantastic stories of adoption, parents looking to adopt and the children over at Mrs Marie Osborn's blog today.  If you have an adoption story (new or old) be sure to link up on her page as well. It is a great opportunity to connect! xoxo