a coupon code....and my birthday?

now that the crafty wonderland sale is over, i am finally able to relax and enjoy this holiday season with my family. it took a full day to recover from my whirlwind weekend, but now that i am rested and free of stress i am ready to clean house a bit. which is why i am offering you a birthday sale....what? a birthday sale at christmas time?

so here's the scoop....when i was a kid, and even now as an adult, i would always receive combo christmas/birthday gifts. my birthday is two weeks after christmas, but still close enough for people to combine shipping or purchases. obviously now that i am a "grown up", i receive a lot fewer gifts. so i decided to celebrate my birthday this year for an entire month with a super duper coupon code....just a little combo christmas/birthday gift from me to you :) you can use this code in either my etsy shop or at www.bhivedesigns.com until midnight of my birthday on January 13, 2011. i will be adding new items to the shop this week, so be sure to keep checking back....to include this super cute giraffe onesie :)

Coupon code good through 1/13/2011

40WINTER2010

the "mother of them all" craft event!!

finally....crafty wonderland super colossal holiday sale!!

Come Visit Me Today or Tomorrow!!

12/11/10 & 12/12/10

Crafty Wonderland

Super Colossal Holiday Sale

Sat & Sun, 11am - 5pm

Oregon Convention Center

Exhibit Hall C

777 NE MLK Jr. Blvd.

Portland, OR 97232

a little decorating....and a lot of work

it has been difficult juggling the balls of my life these past few weeks. i have been crazy busy in the b hive, i still have two small children to feed and clothe every day, get to school, get to after school sports, help with homework, animals to care for, a husband to kiss now and then, and a part-time job three days a week....not to mention all of the christmas decorating. i managed to drag a very LARGE tree back to my house last week....and i really mean drag. once i got the large forest specimen back to my house i was a little shocked by how heavy it was. needless to say it was pouring rain and husband was out of town so i was on my own with the tree. i was just praying that none of the neighbors were looking out of their window as i struggled to get it up our driveway. by the time i got it into the backyard i was covered in mud, my shoes were destroyed, and my hair was full of pine needles. i was a mess....but one week later i am happy that i took the time to get our tree when i did. even though the tree is a wee bit big for our house (there is only one inch to spare between the star and the ceiling), it is so lovely and festive with it's twinkly lights at night......p.s. that's my murphy dog resting his head near the tree :)

i love creating little christmas vignettes throughout the house. this year i took a little extra time out of my busy life to create a few new items for my mantle. a couple of months ago i found a large birch branch down by the river, and i knew i had to have it. i wasn't quite sure what i would do with it, but i took it home anyway....much to husband's dismay (he's afraid i'm a hoarder). yesterday, i put my beautiful white branch to good use, and i created the most beautiful little candle holders that i've ever seen. i was so excited about how they turned out that i think i went a little overboard with the self-praise....husband teased me and said i should enter a mantle decorating contest. well anyway i love my little creation, and i wanted to share it with you.

i hope you're enjoying you're own holiday traditions as much as i am enjoying mine!!

the sunday best holiday sale....my favorite!

ok, peeps....this is it....my favorite little sale of the year. the sunday best holiday sale is such a treasure. this is a carefully curated collection, put together by julie of studio olivine. i can't say enough about how much i love each and every artist that is participating, but i will give you a little sneak peak at a few. on the right is the wonderful handiwork of anna joyce design. anna makes a variety of appliqued home good including stockings for christmas. you know i have a fondness for birds....love, love, love this sweatshirt. in the center is a necklace from tasi designs. the sisters that create this beautiful jewelry are sweet as apple pie, and i am always filled with desire when i see their beautiful jewelry. and last but not least are the perfect letterpress gifts from studio olivine. julie will be selling her printed goods, which include wall art hangings....there is even a special little collaboration between her and anna joyce that is a personal must have. but you really should come visit us this weekend to see for yourself. you will not be disappointed.

12/4/10 & 12/5/10

Sunday Best Holiday Sale

Sat, 11am -7pm

Sun, 11am - 5pm

The Cleaners

SW 10th & SW Stark

Portland, Oregon 97205

a little magic elf

i am so in love with my little boys, i just really need to share this story....

a couple of days ago my nine year old jackson came home from a friends house and said, "mom, i need to look around the house for a red elf on a shelf." i had no idea what he was talking about, but apparently his friend has an elf that lives at his house during the advent season. jackson said that the elf appears every morning in a different place. he also added that the elves might not come to our neighborhood....this could have been my out....but, being the good mom that i am i did a little research. apparently there is an "elf on the shelf" phenomenon. there is a little story about an elf that santa sends to live at your house prior to christmas. this little elf reports back to santa each night while the children sleep. the reports to santa include whether or not the children have been naughty or nice. of course when i read about this i had to find a red elf.

last night after work i quickly ran to our friendly neighborhood toy store, thinker toys, for an elf on the shelf kit. the kit includes an elf & a story book about the elf. before the boys returned home i was able to get the elf set up in their bedroom with a note from santa, the story book, two chocolate coins and a number tag indicating the number of days until christmas (in lieu of an advent calendar). when the boys came home i was in the kitchen preparing dinner. we were chatting about our evening the night before, and miles was wondering how he ended up in my bed during the middle of the night (a nightly occurence for our 4 year old). i suggested that maybe an elf brought him downstairs. within a few seconds jackson said, "i need to look around for an elf." i nonchalantly replied "ok", and continued making dinner. within a few minutes i could hear jackson yelling, "mom, i found an elf, i found an elf". he was sooo excited. he ran downstairs with the little elf and said, "i think he came because i believed in him". my heart seriously melted!! it was all very exciting....except i will say that miles was a little apprehensive of the elf. he looked at me and asked if the elf could fly, and whether or not he really had brought him downstairs the night before. after we read the story book about the elf, the boys named him cinnamon, and i caught them periodically whispering to him throughout the evening. apparently he can take requests directly to santa. miles is still a little unsure about the elf's magic, but i can tell you that he was not afraid of him this morning when he found him with a couple of chocolates on his lap :)

oh, i love christmas time....

cyber monday....BOGO SALE!

hello friends. it's cyber monday....woohoo! a few crafty friends of mine are having a Buy One Get One Sale on etsy today. place your holiday orders today, because i am offering 50% off the higher priced item purchased. Be sure to check out the list of other participating vendors. Each vendor has their own deal for the day, which should be listed on the front page of their Etsy shop. this is a ONE DAY ONLY SALE! when you place your order, be sure to type "BOGO" in the notes during checkout. **The BOGO discount will be given after payment has been received in the form of a refund (off of the higher priced item).** Check out the link below to find other participating vendors (or search the term "pdx bogo" on etsy)....

http://littledaisychains.blogspot.com/2010/11/pdx-etsys-cyber-monday-bogo-sale.html

give handmade sale....today, 11/28/10

the give handmade sale is an event not to be missed!!

each year the vendors of this event (formerly known as the secret society sale) contribute 10% of their sales to the oregon food bank. i am so excited to be a part of this group of artists for the third year in a row, and i hope to see you here today......after all, MALL is 4-letter word!!

11/28/10

Give Handmade Sale

(a.k.a. the Secret Society Sale)

11:00am - 5:00pm

Left Bank Annex

101 N Wiedler

Portland, Oregon 97227

http://www.givehandmadesale.com/

so much to do....so little time....and a "thank you"

i have barely been able to adjust to the time change after a whirlwind trip to visit family for thanksgiving, and i am already preparing for another event this sunday. but before i tell you about the upcoming event, i really must say a big "thank you" to everyone who came to my little event la fête de Noël. this was such a fun event to host, and was made especially beautiful by the lovely ivette of grace and ivy. her home was lovely as usual, and she really went above and beyond her hosting duties to make this a very special occasion. be sure to read about her experience on her blog....she always has such nice photographs to see (yes, i pilfered one of these from her blog).

a sweet deal

hello peeps....as promised, i am announcing the sweet little deal for my event this saturday, la fête de Noël. i love to keep it simple, so....

women's tees

short sleeve - $20.00

long sleeve - $25.00

skirts - you must come to see the deal :)

kid's tees

$10 - woohoo!

this is a savings of up to 15-40% off. check out my website to see some examples of what you will find at the sale. i will have other items that have not been listed online, including skirts. hope to see you there!.....oh, & i think that my co-hosts will be offering some sort of special for the event as well. i'll keep you posted.

DETAILS:

la fête de Noël

November 20, 2010

1:00pm – 7:00pm

14363 Amberwood Cir. Lake Oswego, 97035

introducing some friends

i am so excited to share a little bit about some of my crafty friends. i am co-hosting a trunk show this saturday, la fête de Noël, with the lovely ladies listed below so i thought you might want to know about all of the goodness that you will be able to peruse at our lovely little party. oh, & i think i forgot to mention that there will be champagne at our party....if that doesn't get you there, then i don't know what will :)

amy olson jewelry

i met amy two years ago working at our very first crafty wonderland event together in october 2008. we immediately befriended each other, and i feel so lucky to be working with her again this saturday. i love amy's jewelry designs. they are so delicate and feminine....much like amy herself. read the post i wrote a couple of years ago when i first met amy....i was obviously immediately enamored with her work.

www.amyolsonjewelry.etsy.com

www.amyolsonjewelry.wordpress.com

mimi muse designs

jen lees is the creator of the lovely handmade greeting cards called mimi muse designs. i met jen three years ago at a small craft fair called the rebel rabbit. it was jen's first event selling her cards, and i had only been selling my shirts for a couple of months when i met her. it is always such a pleasure to work with jen. she is a rare and kind individual who makes everyone smile, especially when they see her beautiful work. jen has expanded her business to include decorated switch plates, magnets, and whatever else she has a whim to collage.

www.mimimusedesigns.com

www.mimimusedesigns.etsy.com

grace and ivy

grace and ivy organic beauty products are created by the very lovely ivette newport (a.k.a. ivy). i met ivy only a few months ago, and quickly felt a strong bond with her. she is a very elegant and creative person with a keen eye for beauty. in addition to creating her beauty products, ivy also contributes to two blogs. i am always amazed with her creative posts filled with beautiful photographs, insightful ideas, and spiritual journeys. she recently took her readers on vicarious vacations, and her curated posts definitely promote my addiction to daydreaming. you really must visit her websites to fully appreciate ivy, the artist.

www.graceandivy.com

www.graceivy.etsy.com

www.graceandivy.wordpress.com

www.curateandlove.blogspot.com

b hive designs

....and then there's me, but you should already know about me, right? by the way, if you click on my link you will notice that my online shop is actually open....woohoo! there will also be more items listed on the site by the end of the week. maybe even a couple of new designs :)

i can't tell you enough how much you will enjoy seeing the work of my friends this weekend at the sale. there is nothing better than seeing a product in person, and meeting the artist who created it. but, if you are not lucky enough to live in rainy p-town then at least i have left you with a number of shops to peruse online....have a lovely week.

la fete de noel - 11/20/10

i am so excited to share this special holiday party with you. i will be selling my designs with some of my friends this saturday at a lovely little sale, where there is sure to be some good fun, a few drinks, and some really great deals. i will be offering a very special deal on my printed goods, which i will announce on friday....so be sure to stay tuned. i know you will have a great time with us!! in the meantime, check out some of the other items that you will find at the sale, amy olson jewelry, grace & ivy organic beauty products, mimi muse greeting cards, and of course a little b hive designs.

DETAILS:

November 20, 2010

1:00pm – 7:00pm

14363 Amberwood Cir. Lake Oswego, 97035

click on the image to view

seriously....i have to work?

ok, so i am still a little fuzzy in the head after a week in hawaii. i took a much needed vacation with a girlfriend, and literally sat on a beach doing nothing (well, except for the occasional sip of a tropical drink) for 5 days....no husband, no children. my major decision of the day was "should i lay on the beach, or sit by the pool"....oh, the life. but, now i am home, happy to see my little family once again & faced with a lot of work. i will be announcing a super special sale tomorrow that you p-town folks will be interested in. i am also going to be listing some items for sale on-line, and there will be a super duper BOGO sale on Etsy that i am involved in coming up soon as well. i'll give you the dets on all of this in the next couple of days. for now, i must get a few more ducks in a row, and continue daydreaming about this....