Saturday, July 3, 2010

Whimsy House Sale!



IT'S HERE! Happy 4th of July! Enjoy 25% off sitewide this holiday weekend... a rare discount at Whimsy House! Simply mention "fireworks" in the "notes to seller" box at check out and your discount will be refunded through paypal. Sale runs through 7/4/10 at Midnight CST. Enjoy!

XOXO Molly

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

And the winner is...


Johnna from Artfully Said is the lucky winner of Mary Ann's garden charm giveaway! Yeah!
Many thanks to all who entered and enjoyed my interview with Mary Ann. Thank you to Mary Ann for her generous custom giveaway as well.
I love give away day... watch for another one soon!
XOXO Molly

Monday, June 21, 2010

Meet Mary Ann from A Very Mary Design & Magpie Mary

Mary Ann, Mary Ann... what can I say? This delightful gal has two of the most darling shops on Etsy filled with vintage treasures galore. She has a keen eye for the kitshy cool and unique vintage fashions AND she's also a talented seamstress and mixed media artist. And the best part? She is a treasure of a friend as well! We met about a year ago on Etsy through a series of fun trades and she has been a lovely addition to my life ever since. Thank you, dear Mary Ann, for being a constant source of inspiration and cheer. You make this world a better place ~ you are loved!

Enjoy learning more about merry Mary Ann and her charming shops and be sure to enter the GIVE AWAY below for the opportunity to win a darling handmade treat!

Tell us about your shop and what lead you to open it.
I started http://www.averymarydesign.etsy.com/ with a goal of selling handmade wares, but quickly realized that my love of vintage needed an outlet, so I opened a second etsy shop: www.magpiemary.etsy.com. Both shops are home to quirky, kitschy and classic vintage goods with a few handmade items tossed into the mix.


What part of your work do you enjoy the most?
Searching for yummy vintage treasures is, hands-down, the *best* part of etsying! I love choosing items that I hope others will adore!


What part of your work is the hardest?
The hardest aspect? Sometimes it's really hard to part with the loveliest of treasures!


A top ten list of your favorites...

... handmade possession...


When I was about 10, my father's mother gave me a giant bag of pre-cut quilt squares that had belonged to my great-grandmother. At 10, I couldn't really appreciate them, so I passed them on to my mother's mother. When I was about 20, my grandmother gifted me with an amazing queen-sized quilt made from those squares. Quite simply, it is my most prized handmade possession.



...item in your shop...



sweet strawberries ~ vintage ceramic pitcher at magpiemary



The Darling Feminine Hair Wrap at verymary


...item you’ve sold...


The Daylight Katy Shoes at verymary



Wild Poppies at magpiemary


...item in your favorites list...



Apak Shop
Murdock Design
Freshline Illustration



...Etsy purchase...



"we go together" handstamped sterling silver necklace by Punky Jane


...Etsy shop...





dulcet on Etsy



...blog or website...


Giver's Log

The Idea Room



...source of inspiration...

Being in my studio is the most inspirational place on the planet for me! It's bright and airy with bold colors, boxes & jars & containers full of delicious supplies, and an entirely creative space.



...piece of advice...

This old quilter's adage is a favorite motto and also very good advice: "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without." In other words, we don't need to spend a lot of money to make art!

...rule to break...


On the other hand, I love to thrift shop, visit yard sales, and scour rummage sales for fun "stuff" that I really don't need! If it's a good deal, get it (or you'll regret it!)






Now you love Mary Ann just like me, right?! And you need something special from her shop, right?! The lucky winner of Mary Ann's generous giveaway will receive 10 customized garden charms...



Adorable and perfect for summer! Leave a comment here to be entered to win this fun prize from Mary Ann.

For additional entries...

* Become a FAN of a very mary design on Facebook


*Become a FAN of magpie mary on Facebook


* Follow the i am very mary blog


* Follow the very mary made it blog


* Follow a very mary design on Twitter


* Share this GIVEAWAY using a Facebook link or on Twitter


* BLOG about this giveaway


Be sure an leave a separate comment for each entry. The winner will be announced on Tuesday, June 28th! Good luck!

XOXO Molly

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

What a nice surprise to wake up to on ANOTHER rainy day! An honor...


A Whimsy House ring on the front page ~ Retro Posey Vintage Findings Ring
Happy Tuesday to all!

XOXO Molly

Monday, June 14, 2010

Nostalgic Goodness


I find myself giddy and inspired by vintage textiles and findings. A little package of goodies like this... quilt scraps and buttons... my mind dreams up all sorts of things! I can't part with even the smallest scrap of vintage quilt fabric, often feedsack and always darling. I ponder the history of each piece and feel honored to give them a "new history" through my accessories.


These leather collage cuffs feature vintage quilt diamonds, silver buttons at center and vintage button and suede cord loop closures. It's no secret I'm a t-shirt, jeans and cowboy boot girl so I find these to be the perfect accessory!






My leather collage necklaces are such a treat ~ candy to the eye! They feature layers of vintage loveliness... a leather background sewn together with felted wool, a vintage quilt scrap and a vintage flower finding and bead center. I love making them because no two are ever alike.



What gets your creative juices boiling? What "supply" makes you giddy with excitement, makes you grin from ear to ear? Can't wait for your answers...

XOXO Molly

Friday, June 11, 2010

Last day of school...


Elle Cosette ~ First Day of Kindergarten, September 2009

Sometimes life seems to move at warp speed ~ today is one of those days. I find it near impossible to believe that my oldest baby is no longer a kindergartner, that she flew through the year with a bit of trepidation and a ton of brave, I-can-do-it-GO-GIRL attitude. She has been an amazing friend and well liked student (she even got 2 hugs from her teacher today!) I'm proud of the real person my little Elle Cosette is becoming. I have to admit, I had tears picking her up and thanking her teacher for a job well done. Her life flashed in front of me... from the hospital when she entered our lives to the day she will graduate college to the day she gets married. Seriously - it all literally flashed in front of my teary eyes as I buckled her into her booster seat. Sigh. I'm honored to be Elle's mom - what a privilege. Thank you, Sweet Pea.


Elle Cosette ~ Last Day of Kindergarten, June 2010

On to summer! Let the games begin!

XOXO Molly

Monday, June 7, 2010

Summer Berry Pie

strawberry picnic shoe clips from flowers and butterflies on etsy

It's Summer! We are celebrating birthdays galore this month at our house. This Summer Berry Pie is a favorite for any celebration. Give it a try ~ everyone will love it! Easy to make and pretty as can be. And the shoe clips above are the perfect accessory for pie eating ~ agree? Enjoy ~
Summer Berry Pie

ingredients:
3/4 cup sugar
3 T cornstartch
1-1/2 cups water
1 pkg. (4-serving size) Jello-O Brand Cherry Flavor Geletin (any berry works!)
1 cup blueberries
1 cup raspberries
1 cup sliced strawberries
1 ready-to-use graham cracker crumb crust (6 oz or 9 inch)
preparation:
MIX cornstarch and sugar in medium saucepan. Gradually stir in water until smooth. Stirring constantly, cook on medium heat until mixture comes to a boil; boil 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir in gelatin until completely dissolved. Cool to room temperature. Stir in berries. Pour into crust.

REFRIGERATE 3 hours or until firm. Garnish with whipped topping. Store leftovers in refrigerator. Makes 8 servings.
Bring on the berries! Happy Summer!
XOXO Molly