my shiny objects

Thankful Tuesday

2011-11-15T09:33:00.001-05:00

Thankful Tuesday resumes. Maternity leave is quickly coming to an end, which means orders are increasing and the blog awakens from hiatus. For those readers who are new to my blog, I try every week to document what I am thankful for. This gives me the chance to reflect on my week and to be grateful for the good things in my life.

I am THANKFUL for...

Lights, heat, TV and Internet. With the recent historic Nor'easter that came up the coast a couple weeks ago, we were without power for 8 days! I do love my technology, and without it, my life would be terribly hard. Try running an online business without power...and try making jewelry with ice cold hands due to no heat! Thanks to all my patient customers for understanding the extended production time.

The opportunity for Evy to meet her Great Grandpop and Great Pop-Pop. How special!

My hubby and FIL for spending hours cleaning up fallen limbs and branches from the storm. Our property looked like a bomb hit it.

My parents who took Evy and I in for a week while we were in the black in CT. Home cooked meals, heat and extra arms to hold Evy were a godsend.

Those extra arms held Evy while I could have some craft time. I pulled out my glue gun, fabric, elastic and felt to make some headbands for my little girl.

A hardworking husband, who works extremely hard so that I can stay home with Evy.

A clean refrigerator. One of the downsides of the storm was all of the wasted food that we had to throw away. My freezer and fridge were emptied into 8 garbage bags. With that came a good clean wipe down. Why does a clean and organized fridge make me so happy? It's a sickness.

That's it for now, although I could go on and on. What are you thankful for today?

November 20th is the last day for guaranteed Holiday delivery. Orders placed after this date will not arrive in time. Please plan accordingly friends!

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My Favorite Things {Mommy Edition}

2011-10-17T21:23:00.001-04:00

As I prepared for baby Evy to come along, I spent hours of research on the best products out there. I was one of those crazy preggo mamas that went to Babies R' Us every week to tweak and add items to my registry. I even changed my car seat a day before she came, talk about cutting it close!

A favorite blog of mine wrote about their 'Top Five Lifesavers' when they had their first bambino. I'm not a follower, but in this case, I thought I would share my own version of my favorite things, because who knows, it may help a new mama out there get through those first few months of mommyhood. Don't get too excited, I'm not Oprah, so there isn't a fantastic giveaway at the end of this post. I couldn't do just five lifesavers like YHL, just because there have been so many items that have helped keep me sane for these past four months.

Top Ten Favorite things for this mommy:

1. Summer Infant Swaddle seen here. Yeah yeah, you've all heard of swaddling, it's not a new concept. The old fashioned way of swaddling by using the hospital blanket doesn't work all that great if you have a little one that likes to get their limbs free. The velcro on this swaddle is key! This blanket was my saving grace when it came to getting her to sleep in 2-3 hour stretches.

2. The iPhone app called Baby Brain. This app was a godsend when it came to keeping track of those diapers and feedings in the early weeks. My sleep deprived and drugged up mind could not even remember the name of my brand new child, yet alone the important details of nursing :) The rubber band switch-a-roo on the wrist trick wasn't cutting it. For $2.99, this baby log gave me a sense of organization amongst the chaos.

3. Gas drops and Gripe water. Gripe water is a natural herbal digestive aid for babies to ease the discomfort due to colic, gas, hiccups and teething. Evy tends to be extra gassy and having these two items have been a lifesaver for us. The gas drops are wonderful for the typical upset tummy, but the gripe water work wonders for a fussy, constipated, and reflux baby. It seems to soothe her right away, sometimes putting her to sleep in minutes. Both are perfectly safe and healthy for babies.

4. This video monitor. I know that it is a luxury item and definitely not needed if the budget is tight. We splurged on this monitor and are so glad we did. For this first time paranoid mother, the fact that I can just sneak a peak at my baby in her crib gives me a sense of peace. This way I don't have to get up every 5 minutes to peak in her room, taking a risk of waking her up with our creaky doors. It will come in handy when shes a toddler too, that way I can spy on her as she gets into trouble during her "nap-time".

*this video captures her afters she rolls over in her crib for the first time. I wouldn't of witnessed this cuteness if I didn't have the video monitor. Have I sold you yet?

5. Moby Wrap. Oh how I love you Moby. You have allowed me to eat, vacuum, cook and even sleep with my baby attached to me. I heard mixed reviews about the Moby Wrap when I was doing my months of research- the consensus was that you either love it or hate it. I absolutely LOVE it. Yes, it was difficult at first to get the hang of wrapping yourself with 6 feet of jersey fabric, but after a few times you get the hang of it. Evy loves being snuggled up with me and I love having her close, mostly so I can smell her sweet head. It gave her the sense of being in the womb for the first couple of months, which was a great comfort for her. Now at four months, I use it with her facing out so she can explore her surroundings a bit.

6. Sound Machine. This machine is wonderful! My goal for the first couple of months was to make Evy's surroundings as womb-like as possible, hence babywearing with the Moby Wrap and this sound machine. It has a womb-like sound that is very similar to what she heard for 9 months. I was hesitate about getting her attached to a "prop" as many baby books warn you of, but I went with my gut on this one and am so glad I did. The sounds soothe her to sleep and give her a sense of comfort if she wakes up in the night. And let's face it, when you live in a home that's 100 years old, you need something to drown out the creaky wood floors and squeaky doors. Oh and it also has a MP3 feature so we can hook up our ipod in the future when the meatball wants to listen to music or a book on tape as she falls asleep.

7. While we are on the topic of noise, this dog tag silencer is a must have for any dog owner who has a pup that likes to obnoxiously shake it's head to get your attention. It's not the most attractive thing I've ever seen, but who cares. She can shake all she wants now. Go ahead Maisey, I dare you.

8. Sheet savers. Whoever invented these is a genius in my book. Instead of changing the crib sheets every other day due to spit up, all I do is change these suckers. They are soft and cozy for her head to rest on too.

9. Travel Diaper Changing Pad. Many of you moms have these, so it's nothing new or terribly exciting but I didn't think of it when registering. Good thing I have a sister who knows what I needed after raising three kiddos. There are tons of prints and styles to choose from out there! These are handy when changing in the car or on your friends guestroom bed, especially when the babe decides to relieve herself mid diaper change.

10. For all you cloth diapering mommas out there, this diaper sprayer is my BFF. Since the poo's aren't exactly solid yet, using the sprayer is a quick and efficient way to get off all the yuckiness before washing. It takes some practice in the beginning to get the poo in the pot. I have switched out our tooth brushes and washed the shower curtain several times after a few bad experiences.

So there you have it, my TOP TEN favorite things for this new mommy. I'm sure life would've gone on if I didn't have any of these "gadgets", but they certainly made my life much easier. And we all know that mommy's need a little help once and awhile :)

Life as I knew it...

2011-10-06T12:55:00.003-04:00

...is different, but it's a good different.

Ya'll read while I was pregnant about my fears and anxieties about having a baby. I couldn't imagine what a baby would do to our cozy lives. My hubby and I were content, happy, peaking in our careers, social butterflies...and so on. However, now I look forward to trying new crock pot recipes and choosing which cute nighty my little Evy Spaghetti will wear to bed. Pathetic, right? Yes, I miss the care free lifestyle we had, but I would never go back. I say that now, although ask me when she starts throwing a tantrum in the middle of Target or takes a sharpie marker and practices spelling her name on my brand new "off white" sofa. (More on that bold purchase later.)

I am enjoying motherhood more then I thought. The first two months were rough due to a slow recovery from a long and ridiculously torturous labor. After three months, I finally feel like myself again and can start focusing on other things besides how to get that yellow mustard poo off of my pants.

I've been a mom for three months now. In those three months, I have learned a few things about myself:

That when I have NO sleep, I chatter on about bunnies,

jalepenos and hot Fox News anchors.

That I am more of a germaphobe then I thought.

That I love my baby more then I ever imagined.

That I'm more patient then I thought.

That a smile from the babe will make everything better and nothing else matter.

Some have asked about Evy's birth story. I will sum it up for you:

Induced on Friday night, had her early Sunday morning at 4 am. Yep, it was long, painful and emotionally draining. Three months later, I can finally look back at the experience and not cry. Speaking of crying, the litle bean is bored in her boucey seat and needs some snuggles, kisses and some more kisses.

Be back soon my friends!

Meet Evy

2011-06-23T09:38:00.000-04:00

After 30 hours of labor, our little girl Evelyn ("Evy") Jane arrived on Father's Day June 19th at 4:05 in the morning. As many of you know, my husband and I chose to wait to find out the gender of the little one. I am so glad we did, it was amazing to pull her up onto my chest and wait with anticipation on the sex. I was convinced, I mean, CONVINCED it was a boy. So you must know, I am still in shock that I have a little girl. We are smitten and think she is pretty darn cute.

Meet Evy my friends.

I will share more of Evy's birth story at a later time, but now those frozen bags of corn are more important.

the lazy post

2011-06-15T09:58:00.000-04:00

I am feeling especially lazy, tired, moody, emotional, anxious and excited as the days wind down until this little babe comes. So in honor of my laziness, I bring you a lovely post that my friend Alexi wrote about my baby shower. Lexi, along with many other great friends threw me a "surprise" baby shower last month. It was so thoughtfully done, with my favorite pregnancy foods, handmade shower scrub as favors, an amazing invitation that Alexi designed herself and a pinata. Yes, a pinata. I haven't had an Airhead candy strip in so many years :)

So go check out Alexi's awesome blog where she talks about her newly married life, a new puppy and other random ramblings and while you're there, enjoy some baby shower goodness.

Thankful Wednesday

2011-06-08T19:04:00.003-04:00

Oops, I'm a day behind, so we'll make this post Thankful Wednesday.

I am certainly thankful that I have TWO WEEKS left! Come baby come!

A sweet midwife who delivered her delicious spring rolls to my house today. They hit the spot!

A hubby who is committed to making me comfortable these days. He comes home from work and picks up the slack here in the house right away (well... after he opens that beer)

Jersey skirts! I've had these skirts for years and just pulled them out, hoping they would work with this belly. Buying maternity summer clothes right now is NOT going to happen.

We are thankful for having a state cop (hub's brother) in the family who is crazy OCD about installing car seats. He gave us a tutorial, however, I don't think we will ever get it in as tight as he did!

A feeling of peace as we wait for this little one to come.

Feeling thankful AGAIN for all of our generous friends and family who have supplied our every material need and more for this baby. We only had to buy a few things, which blows me away when I think about it.

"maternity leave" {whatever it may mean}

2011-06-01T10:35:00.001-04:00

I put it in quotes because it's not really maternity leave. Shop remains open, orders can/will come in, and I still stamp away your "shiny objects". I still have to work BUT I have extended the production time to 4-6 weeks. I have tried to make it VERY obvious of this extension on my website, so hopefully I won't get bombarded with status updates while I transition into my new routine. I can't promise my response to those emails won't be grumpy. I hear you don't sleep much when a new baby comes ;)

My maternity leave in quotes doesn't mean I will be sniffing my 'just about to pop' peonies in my garden.

It also doesn't mean I will be going to the beach to collect more heart rocks.

Or even lounging in my favorite porch swing...

Well, it kinda means I will be taking it a tad bit easy, trying to soak up these last three weeks of a quiet life. So, take it as you want, but I like saying " I'm on "maternity leave"", whatever it may mean.

I do know I will be taking in more of this precious face before her life is completely turned upside down. Signing off for some belly rubs.

Chalkboard window project revealed!

2011-05-25T11:15:00.001-04:00

My chalkboard window project ended up taking longer then I expected but I'm in LOVE with the result! It was fairly easy but the weather didn't coorperate with me, which delayed the project a bit.

Note: Don't start this project if you have a projected forecast of rain for two weeks straight.

As mentioned here, I went to a local salvage yard and picked up some old windows: one which is painted white and another in a stained wood finish. Make sure to pick a window with no panes to insure you have a large chalkboard surface to write on.

I found the chalkboard paint at Home Depot, and chose to go with the tintable version which was about $13ish. After much debate, I decided to tint the paint in the Schoolhouse Green color, to continue the vintage vibe of the project.

I practiced on the white window first, experimenting with different techniques. I made sure to throughly clean the window so debris wouldn't effect the smooth finish. Even though I did this step, I still have a few bumps here and there, but it doesn't bother me too much. I started to apply the paint and realized it goes on pretty thin, which means many coats to follow.

I let it dry about 20 minutes, felt the paint and thought it was ready for a second coat. OH but I was so wrong. I realized this very quickly when the first coat started peeling off when I went painted over it. This is what I ended up with:

I sanded the spot in attempt to smooth it out and maybe, just maybe you wouldn't see my mess up. In the end, you can definitely see the imperfection, BUT when it's against the wall with no light shining through, it's hardly visible, even when I write over the spot with chalk. After the hiccup, I had to wait the full 24 hours it instructed on the box. I'm not a patient person when it comes to drying times when I'm in the middle of a project but I obeyed the rules and since then, I had no further uh-oh's. I guess it helps to read the directions and actually abide by them sometimes. Boo.

After about a week and half later, I was finally done applying the paint, about 5-6 coats in the end. If I was to do it again, I would make sure to brush the paint on the surface in one direction every time. My chalkboard has a cross hatched effect which is fine with me, but if I went in one direction the chalkboard finish would be smoother and more consistent. Also, I believe if I primed the window first, the paint would of adhered better, and possibly lessened the amount of coats I had to do.

I had the hubby pre-drill holes in the back to thread two screw eyes on each side, about 1/3 of the way down.

Then I attached some picture hanging wire, making sure it was sturdy enough to hang on the wall.

FINALLY it was time to hang it up! As I said before, I chose the wood frame for the nursery, since the hubs thought there was too much "white" in the nursery. He's worried that the nursery is too "girly" and maybe the wood frame would make it more "boyish". Here it is, written with 36 weeks which was the backdrop for my recent belly picture. (My dear mother demanded an updated picture)

I chose to put the white window in our screened in porch. We celebrated my hubby's 30th birthday a few weekends ago and this is what I wrote on it for his party:

I also decided to paint the backside of our medicine cabinet with the same paint. Much better then the yucky gray color it was before.

So there you have it, my chalkboard window project is complete and I LOVE it. Try it for yourself and I'm warning you now that you will find anything and everything around your house to turn into a chalkboard. I promise.

Since when....

2011-05-19T12:14:00.004-04:00

did Payless get so expensive? I love this new ankle strap, but $49.99? Really Payless?

However, I can handle these peep toe flats at $22.99. Cute, huh?
They come in red too!

But I think I'll be heading in for these woven wedges on sale for $16.99!

Just sharing some online shopping fun will ya'll. How's that for avoiding work this morning?

It's time to answer your questions...

2011-05-18T13:14:00.000-04:00

As most of you know, I am having my first baby around June 22nd. I can't even imagine how life will change once baby comes, I have a small idea, but I am not putting any crazy superwoman expectations on myself. So you ask....what does this mean for Magpie Designz?

Answers to your common questions:

I plan on leaving my shop open during my "maternity leave". Yes, I know....pretty insane, BUT, I have hired help for the studio.
However, even with this help, the production time will go from 2-3 weeks to 4-6 weeks. This extended time will give me the flexibility to adjust to my new life while juggling a thriving business.
The extended production time will start at the beginning of June. I do not have a specific date in mind yet. It all depends on my comfort level as I get closer and closer to my due date. You will see an announcement on my home page letting you know of the extension. You will also have a 'terms and conditions' to check before you submit your order, agreeing that you understand the new terms.
This means that YOU need to plan ahead and order your jewelry now!
This also means that if you order in June, you need to be patient. Do not expect your jewelry right away. It may get there fast, it may not. Pretty PLEASE do not ask for a rush on your jewelry or to have it by a certain date. I cannot make any promises.
The quality and standards of Magpie jewelry will remain the same. I take great pride in my work and will not send out anything that does not reflect my high standards.
I should be up and running at full speed in the Fall, just in time for the Holiday rush. I will be back to 2-3 week production at this time.

Did I miss anything? Leave me a comment if you have a question about Magpie Designz during this transition. Thank you for supporting my business. You all give me the opportunity to work from home, create jewelry that is special and meaningful for you while being a new mom. I am forever grateful for your support and patience as I adjust to this new life. Five weeks to go!

Thankful Tuesday

2011-05-17T20:01:00.005-04:00

I've been slacking on blogging lately. Too much to do as the weeks wind down until baby time! However, amidst the craziness, I will always find time to be thankful.

Peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Peanut butter has been my BFF though out this pregnancy.

A weekend to celebrate my hubby's big 3-0 birthday. I took ZERO pictures at his party, boo. We have known each other for half our lives now. That's pretty insane.

The chalkboard window project is finally done! (as you see in the picture above) I will tell you all about this project later this week. I love my last minute idea to paint the back of the medicine cabinet door with the same application because the hubs likes to leave sweet notes to surprise me. No pictures of those sweet notes though, I'll save him the embarrassment.

We are so thankful for all the baby gear we've received as gifts. I know you're probably sick of hearing me mention this, but I just feel so overwhelmed with the generosity.

Swing assembly: CHECK.

So much to be thankful for. How about you?

Mulch and girlfriend's

2011-05-10T11:12:00.005-04:00

My Dad sent me this website because he thought it sounded like my mission here on my Thankful Tuesday posts. Remembering to be thankful and have gratitude for the little things in life (like chocolate covered raisins from Trader Joe's) has taught me to slow down and put life into perspective. So here we go again...

Lately, I have been thankful for:

A relaxing day with my college girlfriend's yesterday. It was a day of shopping, coffee sipping, baby staring at Wyatt, laughing, dreaming, sharing ideas and goals, Target strolling and constant gabbing. I seemed to have forgotten about my camera in my purse during the gabbing and laughing. Not ONE picture. Boo.

Speaking of Baby Wyatt...his mom Kait is contemplating a new business. After leaving the Interior Design world (like myself) she realizes that being creative in her life is vital. SO, after sharing with us the artwork she did (along with her hubby) for Wyatt's room, we are pushing her to take it to the next step. I will keep you all updated on her progress but in the meantime, check out the artwork she sketched and cut by hand out of colored paper...with a knife. It's unreal! What a talent!

Zoom in to see the detail!

A lovely family shower with yummy food, hammy down maternity clothes for the summer, Yankee's game for the hubby and deviled eggs! We have so many wonderful people in our lives and feel blessed for their generosity towards us and this cantaloupe in my belly .

My favorite herbs are finally planted and marked with my favorite silverware Garden Markers. For the rest of the garden, this summer we decided to buy a share at a local organic farm. With the new baby on the way, we thought this would relieve some yard work. Not sure how I feel about not having a garden right outside my door, but I keep telling myself it's just this one year. I will have more important things to tend to ;)

My hardworking man. He spent all Saturday doing yard work. I usually help, but with this belly and lack of energy, I was only able to do small projects. Spreading mulch was not on my to-do list, but it certainly was on his. He finished all of our flower beds in 5 hours, with two Diet Coke breaks. It looks amazing!

What are you thankful for this week? Please share...

Bunnies for Bugembe {adorable}

2011-05-06T10:05:00.002-04:00

Good morning friends!

I stumbled across Bunnies for Bugembe this morning and I'm so excited to share it with you all! For some odd reason, I have been looking for a stuffed bunny for the baby for some time now. Not sure why a bunny but now my search is OVER!

Bunnies for Bugembe was created by Chalice, a 20 year old who is raising funds for a trip she is taking to Uganda in August. She will be working alongside Ekisa Ministries, a beautiful organization that cares for disabled, orphaned, and special needs children.

Each bunny you buy, a twin bunny will be made which will then be hand delivered to a child in need over in Uganda. Can you just imagine the joy that one of these children will feel when they are given their very own stuffed bunny? I can just imagine it now!

I love that each bunny has this scripture sewn on the back for a sweet reminder that God is always with them.

My peace I give you, I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. –John 14:27

Consider supporting Chalice and her ministry by showing children they're loved two at a time. I am so excited for my bunny to come- that is when I decide on what color to get- this is when I wish we were finding out this little one's gender!

(photos borrowed from Bunnies for Bugembe website)

Random Ramblings

2011-05-05T12:06:00.002-04:00

Life has been pretty boring lately in our household, which I am thoroughly enjoying. I think we both need this down time right now before the babe comes in less then 7 weeks...ahhhhhhhh.

We had our plaster ceilings re-done as well as the walls repaired and painted for the last two weeks. I was stuck in the bedroom or studio while the work was s.l.o.w.l.y being done. Maisey certainly didn't like her house being invaded and had a hard time adjusting to her new routines. Those two weeks made me a bit anxious with how she'll adjust when her routine and wonderfully spoiled life will be interrupted...in less then 7 weeks. I keep saying that, hoping it will set in and become a reality. It's not working.

I started the chalkboard window project, which is taking me MUCH longer then I anticipated. However it's coming along and I am loving the result. More to come on the finished product!

And in other stupid hormonal news, I made a major measuring mistake. I had a vision for the baby's collage wall for the nursery to include a canvas of Maisey, since she IS part of our family after all. Well, it came in the mail and let's just say, it was a bit creepy. I ordered a 16X16 canvas of a close up shot that I took this summer in Maine. WHAT WAS I THINKING?? It is about twice the size I wanted and envisioned for the collage wall. Now it hangs in our bedroom, staring at us every morning. Hubs says it creeps him out. I would have to agree. I blame the measuring mistake on the hormones. I only have less then 7 weeks to use that excuse. Again, it's still not working.

Just some random ramblings for you all. Have a great Thursday.

Updates:

The Lemon Chicken recipe I talked about here turned out good! Not sure it was the hubby's favorite meal, so it may not make it in the meal plans in the future, but it was SUPER duper easy and tasty, in my opinion.

We had a doctors appointment to check on the 2 vessel cord situation with the babe. The echo cardio gram of the baby's heart turned out the be great news- heart looks healthy and beautiful. Baby's growth is right on track, so doc's are optimistic for a healthy little one. Praise God!

Chalkboard window

2011-04-28T13:29:00.000-04:00

Last month, I took a trip to the local indoor salvage yard. An entire warehouse was filled to the brim with charming relics that were graciously saved from old homes. The creative juices were pumping as I felt my heart rate rising with excitement. Pathetic, I know...who gets excited over a dirty and dusty warehouse full of "junk"?

I went there with the intention of looking for a single pane window to create a chalkboard for the baby's room. The idea is to periodically write messages to the baby, for example, a favorite bible verse. Another possibility is to write a message of encouragement to myself as I spend many tired moments in that room nursing. Who knows how often I'll change the text but I hope to keep it fresh and new as often as I can. The picture below is where I initially got the idea from- a wonderful blog I follow called Life In Grace.

Edie's lake cottage kitchen

After searching through 60 plus windows with varied finishes, I walked away with one that is painted white and another that has dark stain frame. This is when my indecisive habit comes into play, but hey, at $4 a window, I couldn't resist both options.

This weekend's project is to get that chalkboard window completed- of course I will take precautions by wearing my attractive filtered mask so the little bean is unharmed. Stay tuned for the finished product!

sundea's and sunshine

2011-04-26T20:18:00.001-04:00

It's sunny and 80 degrees here in CT today!

{Imagine me with my protruding belly doing the happy dance right now}

I feel like I always give a forecast report to you guys, but the weather certainly effects my mood these days.

Thankful for....

SUNSHINE!

McDonald's $1 hot fudge sundaes

A midwife who doesn't mind if I call her personal number when I have paranoid concerns or questions.

Progress at letting the little things go.

The early surprise arrival of the crib and an anxious husband to set it up.

Alright, it's time to get off this computer and cook some dinner, which doesn't happen much these days. On the menu tonight is Barefoot Contessa's Lemon Chicken. Anyone ever tried it before? I will let you know how it goes!

The winner of the Grace necklace is.....

2011-04-26T09:07:00.001-04:00

NADIA!

nadiaidanadia@hotmail.com

Congrautulations Nadia on winning the new Grace necklace! I hope you enjoy wearing it for many years to come!

NEW Grace Necklace {AND Giveaway}

2011-04-22T10:02:00.002-04:00

Happy Friday friends! Today I am showcasing my new Grace Necklace. This necklace is a great reminder that it is by grace alone through faith we are saved.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Ephesians 2:8-10

This necklace features a sterling silver oval tag which is stamped with "by grace alone". A freshwater pearl adds the perfect touch of class.

(Featured font: Lowercase typewriter)

--------------------------------------------

Do you want one???

I will give away ONE Grace Necklace!

To enter giveaway:

Complete one or all of the requirements below. The more entries the better!

Leave link and email address for each entry as a comment below (Entries on Facebook, email or twitter do not count)

Blog about it
Tweet it
Facebook it
Follow my blog
Become a facebook or twitter fan

*Giveaway ends on Monday at midnight. Winner will be chosen using random.org. Worldwide entries welcome! Good luck.

Sage Mama

2011-04-20T10:20:00.003-04:00

Some of you have asked me how the cloth diaper decision came about. If you don't care, then skip this post and go shop! Mother's Day deadline has past but if you don't mind an IOU gift, then go for it!

I certainly know many moms who CD but it was never a topic I put much thought into. When it comes to being "green", my husband and I do our small part. We recycle, grow our own veggie garden, use cloth grocery bags, try to eat more organic veggies and meat, and of course we recycle (adopt) animals. As you can see, it's not a huge list, but it works for us....

...until I peed on that stick. After that line appeared, I began to question those topics that I often looked over or rolled my eyes about. That's when I started to evaluate the choices my husband and I were making.

As I was talking with a "green" friend, she told me I had to read this book. I thought to myself "I'll browse it but it doesn't really apply to my life". Well, now it does apply and it was time to weigh my options and make informed decisions regarding this baby and our lives. It's a short and quick read, which I like, but full of important topics. I even got my hubby to read it so we could discuss it together. We chose several ideas that were important to us and decided to start making those small changes. As we both read it, we noticed that it's very easy to go overboard and get caught up in the organic way of living. Some suggestions were just too unrealistic and expensive to take on. However, cloth diapering was one area where we thought we could make a difference and it wouldn't take over our lives too much.

So if you're preggers or thinking about starting a family, pick up this quick read. It will make you think twice about the the choices you make, if it's the food you eat or the cleaning products you use. As I said before, it's easy to get sucked into this "green" world since it's the trendy thing to do right now but being fully informed will help you make wise decisions for you and your family in the future.

Sorry for the long and "preachy" post but I wanted to share with you all how this pale-ish green girl is slowly becoming a sage mama.

raisin's and shag

2011-04-19T10:37:00.000-04:00

Today's a rough day so far. It's raining again and I feel pretty gross but that doesn't stop me from being thankful.

A hubby who is pushing me to get ready for the baby. I have been dragging my feet with the nursery for a while now. It feels better to at least get a cozy shag rug in there, although Maisey thinks we got it just for her!


sneak peak.

A project to-do list that is almost complete!

A lazy Saturday with no plans what-so-ever.

Trader Joe's Chocolate Covered Raisins. Seems shallow to be thankful for raisins, but they taste oh so good right now.

What are you thankful for today? Please share if your little heart desires...

Lesson learned

2011-04-14T13:10:00.000-04:00

This package came today...

I always made the claim that I wouldn't cloth diaper. I made fun of my sister who does it and rolled my eyes when she asked me to change that kind of dipe. However, the second I realized this life wasn't all about me, my hubs and that precious pup anymore, those "ideas" got tossed out the window. I NEVER, I mean never in a million years thought I would join the CD club. It was not for trendy reasons of course but for these:

better for baby
better for environment
better for wallet

So I learned my lesson. Never judge and never say never. We shall see how I feel about this intimidating endeavor once the baby gets here...a tad bit over 2 months!

diaper bag and lime jello

2011-04-12T11:48:00.002-04:00

It's a rainy Tuesday here in Connecticut. I wish I could lie in bed all day like this ...

Or like this kitty...

Anyways, enough wishing, time to be thankful...

this diaper bag that my sister surprised me with

Lime jello (newest craving)

for a nursery slowly coming along

I can now feel baby body parts in my belly. Sounds creepy, but OH SO FUN to actually feel this little one. We poke each other all day long now.

What are you thankful for?

My baby shower

2011-04-07T10:08:00.000-04:00

As I mentioned before, my mom and sister planned my shower. It was a beautifully planned party with many thoughtful and unique touches. The guests were family members and close friends that I have known since elementary school. It was such a blessing to have all those loved ones in the same room, celebrating this little one's life. I didn't get many pictures, but here are some that captured the loveliness.

The bird's nest favors that my sister made and forgot to hand out. Oops!

Karis loved her pink straw.

Italian soda served in mason jars.

The awesome centerpiece made by my friend Jacqueline.

no words.

Flowers dedicated to my late Grandma.

A HUGE thank you is due to my mom and sister, you both did an amazing job (and thanks to my dad for helping with much of the 'behind the scenes' work). I appreciated everyone who came to love on this baby.

We feel very special!

Thankful Tuesday

2011-04-05T16:28:00.000-04:00

It's Tuesday, a day to stop and think about the blessings in my life. Don't we all need to do this once and awhile?

Right now, I am thankful for...

My mom and sister. I went home to Philly this weekend for my baby shower. They did an amazing job capturing my personality with everything down to the food, favors, drinks and decor (more details to come on the shower soon).

A positive doctor's report this week! After learning that the baby has two vessels instead of three in his/her umbilical cord, things were a bit unsettling to say the least. However, after another look at the baby's development, doctors are optimistic for a healthy little one, with two vessels and all!

a sweet niece who exhibited her childlike joy for my baby shower the entire weekend.

Generous family and friends who have purchased necessities and "just for fun" gifts for the baby.

Reuniting with childhood and college friends. It's a wonderful feeling to be back in the presence of those friends who have watched me grow up from a scrawny teen covered in pimples to a preggo mama (who still has pimples...stupid hormones!)

I'm sure you can think of a few things to be thankful for, so please share!

Winner of the BLOOM necklace!

2011-04-04T14:15:00.001-04:00

Congratulations Darcy, you won the Bloom necklace! Please contact me at emily@magpiedesignz.com to claim your prize.

More giveaways coming soon, so stay tuned!

I had my baby shower yesterday, it was beautiful and perfect. More details and pictures to come soon!

Sneak peak....

Spring Give-away!

2011-03-31T14:11:00.001-04:00

I'm pushing warm weather with this give-away. I am feeling the itch to get my hands dirty in the wet ground. Who knows how much I will be able to do season with this semi-large bump in front, but I will give it a shot. So in honor of warm weather, sunshine, dirt and spring, I am giving away this necklace with the word "Bloom" stamped on it. It's a good reminder to "bloom" where you're planted no matter what comes your way.

Here's how to win this necklace...

<------------Follow my blog

Become a fan on Facebook ------------>

Blog it

Tweet it

Facebook it

Do all of the above or just one. The more entries you do, the better chance of winning!

Leave a comment below for each entry and leave a link.
Give-away ends on Friday at midnight, so HURRY! Winner will be announced on Monday using random.org. Giveaway is open WORLDWIDE.

pizza and jenga

2011-03-29T10:26:00.000-04:00

It's been a whirlwind of a week, with many up's and down's but I can certainly find a few things to be thankful for!

Game night with friends.

Family and friends who have been praying for the baby.

A lazy Saturday for me and the pup while papa was busy.

A hubby who let me order my favorite pizza even though he gags when he eats it.

white pizza with pesto and ricotta cheese. yumm-o!

What have you been thankful for lately?

on the hunt.

2011-03-28T11:24:00.001-04:00

There was no agenda for Saturday, which was a new thing for us lately. So I came up with the idea of going antiquing, specifically to find a vintage treasure for the baby's room. I wanted to find a "trinket", as my hubby calls it, that would remind us of this time in our lives as we prepare for the little one. The trinket would be displayed in the baby's room until they officially hate it and want to hang tacky posters on their walls.

Nothing struck our fancy that day unfortunately, which means more antiquing trips for us in the future! Some other trinkets did catch my eye though, so I thought I would share them with you.

Did you buy a 'little something something' for your

baby's room before they were born?

Please share!

need a good laugh?

2011-03-24T09:35:00.000-04:00

I am too embarrassed to tell you how many times I've watched this. Enjoy!

Iris' and invite

2011-03-22T17:20:00.002-04:00

I can think of a few things lately that made me smile and reminded me to slow down and be thankful.

A sister who knows me so well. She searched high and low for the perfect baby shower invitation and I think she did pretty darn good! I would've been content with invitations on 3X5 index cards but she desires to make me happy. I also love that she went to etsy to support artists like myself. I can hardly wait for the shower!

Invitation from this etsy shop

Iris buds popping up. However, looks like they will be smothered with 4-6" of snow tomorrow. Trying not to cry as I type that....

A growing belly means a growing baby! Thankful for friends who share their maternity clothes with me.

March blues

2011-03-21T13:30:00.003-04:00

I hate March. It's my least favorite month for many reasons. One, there are NO holidays to look forward too, or days off make it a four day week. Two, you get days like Friday that totally tease you with the warm and sunshiny weather. I get my flats out, roll my jeans up and feel like I can take over the world. Then Monday comes, three days later with snow, rain and sleet. Gloom. Pure gloom again.

Maybe because today is officially the first Day of Spring and it's snowing outside makes me feel gloomy. You can see in the picture that it doesn't look anything like Spring.

I know this unpredictable weather is typical of New England. I shouldn't be surprised, but every year I find myself in this situation. Stupid me. Can I blame it on the hormones this time?

Good news though.... March is almost over!

Anyways, to get me out of the gloom, I made more cupcakes. Yep, that's right, another two dozen. I think this shirt explains it all.

Happy Monday friends. Hope the sun is shining brighter where you are! What helps you with the seasonal blues and glooms?

new obsession

2011-03-18T10:58:00.000-04:00

Well, actually I have two new obsessions, to be honest. One, yellow cupcakes with chocolate frosting. I can't control the impulse right now. Two, Instagram photo app for the iphone.

I have been snapping away testing the different filters on this app for a week now. If you have access to it, download it. It's free and beware, it's addicting.

yes please.

and then there was one...

Maisey being pathetic, her specialty.

pushing spring.

the porch swing is calling my name today.

worship practice at church.

yet, another collection.

Off to work for a bit in the studio, then to that porch swing which is calling me and my bump.

Happy Friday, friends!

Thankful Tuesday

2011-03-15T10:23:00.004-04:00

A girls night last night watching my guilty pleasure. Yes, I am referring to the Bachelor finale! Some may think it's shallow or a waste of time, but who cares what they think.

a gradual warm-up here in CT which means I can start wearing some of my favorite flats again!

The to-do list getting smaller and smaller due to my husbands desire to make me happy.

Yellow cupcakes with chocolate frosting (the newest craving these days).

A reminder from a friend about a verse which is specifically helpful today: "My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." James 1:19

What are you thankful for this week?

my baby's 8....

2011-03-14T10:56:00.002-04:00

The baby I am referring to is my precious pup Maisey (also responds to Lou Lou, Rooster, Tooters, Tati-Noo, Boonie....). Yes we are those crazy people that have 10 million nicknames for our dog. This is why when choosing a name for our actual baby, the nickname is also something to consider since he/she will rarely be called by their full name. Anyways, yesterday was Lou Lou's 8th birthday. I caught myself saying "where did the time go", "she has grown up too fast", "it was just yesterday that we got her"....

It has gone faster for us because we did miss a year and half of her life, which was not a pleasant one due to abuse from the previous owner. She came to us with a grateful heart ready to love. The only disadvantage to adopting a dog as an adult is missing those beginning years but I would have it no other way. I would skip those puppy days every day, if it means we are providing a home for a dog that needs love.

I will stop preaching about adoption, most of you know where I stand. ADOPT, DON'T SHOP! Okay, now I will really stop.

We celebrated Maisey's birthday with her favorite treat of all time, peanut butter. Then we finished up the day with her favorite activity, a car ride. Unfortunately it was a bit too chilly to open the sun roof for her to peak her little head out. Come on spring, we are ready for ya!

Happy 8th Birthday Rooster, we love you more everyday!

desperately trying to get every last bit of peanut butter.

Get 10% off...

2011-03-10T10:42:00.001-05:00

...for being a Facebook fan!! Yep, that's right...go here and "like" my page. You will find the discount code in Notes. It's that easy!

The Facebook promo is for a limited time only, so take advantage of it now! Remember that Mother's Day is right around the corner on May 9th. Deadline for Mother's Day orders is April 18th.

Thankful Tuesday

2011-03-08T09:43:00.001-05:00

Melting snow with no leaks or floods from it, so far. Cross your fingers!

Friends who have written and called to check in on me while I come to the reality of becoming a mother.

The quality time in bed with the hubs playing games on our new iphones- it's the little things, I know.

Target cable knit leggings that are so comfy on my growing belly.

The discovery of a new shipping program which allows me NOT to stand in line for 30 minutes to ship packages.

What are you thankful for this week?

Owl fetish

2011-03-07T11:44:00.001-05:00

I have always loved owls, even before they showed up on your bed sheets or your kids underpants. Since I was a wee little one, I have vacationed in Owls Head, Maine. It's a quaint town with a friendly general store that I maybe sorta visit several times a day. I can't resist the homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast, the delicious apple chicken salad sandwich for lunch and the slice of strawberry rhubarb pie for my after dinner dessert. As you wait for your food to be lovingly made, you take a leisurely stroll among the owl souvenirs spread throughout. I can't help but think this is where my owl fetish began, in this general store that feels like home.

I seem to be collecting more and more owl trinkets as the years go on-sorry hubs. The owls that decorate my house have a job. They're not just clutter to collect dust but they remind me of my summers in Maine and immediately take me to a place that will always have my heart.

I love this garden owl that now finds it home on my mantle.

My sister got my these owl salt and pepper shakers for Christmas to add to my growing S & P collection.

This baby has no chance. His/her favorite birds will be magpies and owls!

This stuffed owl can be used as a book end for all those classic children's books that my husband has ~~hoarded~~ kept since he was little.

I would love to see my lil' one in this upcycled owl hat!

How adorable is this owl fused night light?

I don't believe the owl collecting will stop anytime soon. I predict an intervention in my near future.

Do you collect something that reminds you of a happy place?

Just what I needed...

2011-03-04T12:02:00.004-05:00

was a phone call from a good friend.

This is a friend who I traveled across the world with to Italy for two weeks last year (I think our hubby's tagged along too ;). She most likely learned more about me then she really wanted to know during this time, but she still loves me anyways. We made this "last hurrah" trip before both of us jumped into motherhood. They got preggo a month after we got back from our trip, and had their baby girl Eden last July. Here I am am, a year later, amidst the same emotions she went through.

She encouraged me to live in the moment instead of looking ahead at what life was or could be. She went through the same "grieving" process that I've been experiencing recently. Lately, she catches herself thinking ahead of when life should get easier, but she often forgets about the special moments she has now with Eden. I can so relate. I am too busy looking ahead or panicking about what I will be losing, instead of enjoying this CA-RAZY miracle of pregnancy. I don't want to spend my 9 months focused on negative thoughts, but rather on the positive aspects that life holds for me.

Thank you my dear friend, for showing me that it's okay to understand the reality of motherhood, but for also reminding me to not worry about tomorrow and live for today.

Another HUGE thank you is due to my readers and friends for your kinds words, messages and comments. I love reading them and appreciate each of you!

Of course these emotions will most likely linger on and relapse, but I can rest assured that I have friends and family that love me and who constantly encourage me to be a better person. I am so blessed!

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34

honest thoughts

2011-03-02T10:38:00.001-05:00

I would like to be here right now, rocking my fears away...

looking at this view....

Lately, the fears of motherhood have swept over me. The numbness of this pregnancy has disappeared. I was going with the motions...doctor appointments, ultrasounds, registering, nursery decor, etc. Now I find myself thinking of the future and the reality that is ahead.

I like my quiet and clean house.

I like my morning routine in bed with my dog.

I love that the hubs and I can just get up and go get a Friendly's peanut butter cup sundae at any given time.

I like my leisurely trips to Target just to "window shop" (or maybe spend $100 on nothing).

I love my long and hot showers where I come out with my body red and burnt.

I could go on and on. I know, I sound selfish, but these are specific moments that I am soaking up lately. I am trying to enjoy those moments without crying, as if I am in grief but I can't help it. I blame it on the hormones.

So I take these anxious thoughts and pray....and pray some more. Then I picture myself in that rocker staring at the sailboats with not a care in the world. I know I will get over this but these are my honest thoughts at this moment right now.

Now, off to take that burning hot shower until my skin peels off.

Thankful Tuesday

2011-02-22T11:02:00.000-05:00

Here we are again, another week to look back and be thankful for!

My new Shey B camera strap slipcover. I have had my eye on these babies for a while now, then they were featured on a Deal a Day site! I love a good deal!

A hubby who has a flexible job which means he can go to most of my doctor appointments

A mother in law who makes us dinner last minute when we call and invite ourselves over

This face

For loyal customers who come back time and time again to support Magpie Designz, thank you!

Baby's quilt

2011-02-21T09:57:00.000-05:00

The search for the baby's quilt must be a new mom's obsession early on in the pregnancy. I spent hours cruising the internet, trying to find something that fit my vision. I wanted something unique, colorful, gender neutral, handmade (gotta support those artists out there!), vintage inspired, and whimsical. I had my eye on a vintage inspired coin quilt on etsy.com from this seller. (I must of taken the last one because I don't see it in her shop anymore, sorry!) I put it on my wishlist thinking it would never make it in the nursery, but to my surprise I received it as a gift just recently.

The packaging was just as beautiful as the quilt. I didn't want to ruin it by tearing it open in my enthusiasm. Isn't it amazing? The attention to detail was very much appreciated!

Here are some pictures of the quilt...

More to come on the nursery, stay tuned...that is if you care :)

NEW necklace design {Key To My Heart}

2011-02-17T09:52:00.003-05:00

Many of you voted for the Key To My Heart design as your favorite. Here it is! Stamp the names of those who hold the key to your heart along the edge. The necklace features a smooth 1" sterling silver disk with a brushed finish. A rustic heart charm hangs in the center.
Featured font is lowercase typewriter.

Pretty cute, huh? To have your own Key To My Heart necklace, go here and pick one up. My two day 20% off sale is still going on until tomorrow at midnight, so stock up! I hope you love it as much as I do.

Don't miss this SALE!

2011-02-16T00:00:00.003-05:00

Enjoy 20% off everything in the shop from Magpie Designz for TWO days only!

Enter discount code in coupon code box: MAGPIE20
(coupon code box is at the end of checkout)

Stock up for Mother's Day, which is right away the corner on May 9th.
Deadline for guaranteed shipping will be April 18th.

Hurry, sale ends on Friday, February 18th at midnight. Share the news with your friends or more importantly, your hubby!

{Sale is valid from February 16th/midnight to February 18th/midnight, EST. No exceptions, sorry. Please give up to 3-4 weeks for production and shipping. Discount is for direct website sales only. Gift certificates excluded.}

Thankful Tuesday

2011-02-15T13:47:00.000-05:00

Another week to be thankful....

A completed kitchen floor!

A Valentine's fondue dinner tradition with just Matt, music, flowers and a sip of wine (shhh)

A hubby who volunteered to vacuum

A tease of Spring this week....a warm up to 50 degrees!

The sweetest card from the hubs that expressed his gratitude for handling this pregnancy with grace. Hmmm, he must be thinking of his other pregnant wife.

What are you thankful for this week?

Nursery inspiration

2011-02-10T10:46:00.001-05:00

The questions are now going from "when are you due?" and "are you finding out the gender?" to "what will your nursery look like?" In my former life, I was an interior designer. Having the pressure of the "perfect" nursery is in the back of my mind but I am slowly getting over this fear and deciding to just go with my gut.

Since we will not be finding out the gender, I take on the challenge of designing a "gender neutral" nursery. Oy vey! All I do know at this point is the nursery will be have a 'collected' style. My house has no theme to it what so ever, just a bunch of collected items with a ton of stories. Some may say it's a collection of old and chippy junk, but I say to them "Your trash is my treasure." That's what I want for my babies room.

I have collected items for my little one's room (more of that to come) for many years. I know, you are probably thinking I am a pack rat, but really, I promise, I just like old and chippy things.

I have gathered some inspiring nursery designs and ideas...take a peek!

thebabygardener.com

This collection of pictures, vintage plates and other miscellaneous decor is adorable.

___________________________________________________


jonesdesigncompany.com

I love the floating frame idea with vintage baby clothes and shoes. I have a collection of empty frames that would love to leave my damp and scary basement.

___________________________________________________


Armellejewelry.blogspot.com

OH MY, I just adore these embroidery hoop fabric swatches! This may be a more appropriate design idea for a little girl.

___________________________________________________

Mabelshouse.blogspot.com

Although this is not a nursery per say, I like the non-matchy collection of furniture, the wall collage and the bright punches of color.

_______________________________________

weewonderfuls.com

How fantastic is this collection of antique quilts instead of the conventional nursery artwork?
_______________________________________

I can't wait to start putting together all these random thoughts into that "imperfect" nursery that I know will be perfect for the lil' one.

Don't forget to stop my my sister's blog All in a Day's Work for Mommy Monday posts and other encouraging words throughout the week.

Thankful Tuesday

2011-02-08T11:46:00.002-05:00

A husband who is tirelessly working on our new kitchen cork floor so this OCD hormonal mama can get her house back to normal

He's a very patient man!

the mess.....and a dead plant.

more mess...

We're getting there....

A long nap yesterday and for once, not waking up feeling guilty for taking time to rest

Clean closets...which means many trips to Goodwill. I believe this is where the nesting part of pregnancy takes over your life

A comfy pair of maternity skinny jeans that I basically stole for $15 bucks!

Friends and family who love my baby already

Troublemaker...

2011-02-03T14:36:00.002-05:00

My ultrasound today at 20 weeks went great! Doctors were very pleased with the progress, but not so pleased with the SUPER active baby that would not cooperate. He/she is already a troublemaker!

I kept looking for a sign of the gender, even though we want to be surprised. Ughhhh, this waiting is killing me but I know I will be happy in the end for my patience, which is not a God given trait of mine.

Half way done, thank the LORD!

Thankful Tuesday

2011-02-01T10:20:00.000-05:00

This week I am thankful for:

My sister's advice and example as a mother. Especially this weekend as we hit up Babies R Us and tested all the "equipment"

My sweet niece Karis who told me I looked beautiful as I was getting dressed for church

A good deal! I got a maternity shirt on sale for $1.60 at Kohls!

A husband who will be snowed in for TWO days this week due to snow/ice storms

What are you thankful for this week?

Key To My Heart

2011-01-31T11:31:00.000-05:00

Seems that most of you like the idea of the 'Key To My Heart' design.

I will have a version of this necklace coming soon. Stay tuned!

Key's seem to be all over the place these days.

Here are a few handmade items that have caught my eye lately. Enjoy!

__________________________

How cute would this be for a baby gift?!


Fox & Feathers

__________________________

What a fun necklace, and I'm in love with the long chain length.

Marolsha

__________________________

Another precious baby gift idea...

Schmoo1515

__________________________

I have always had a love for vintage postcards.

These gift tags would come in handy to decorate all those baby gifts ;)

Beehive Cottage

Happy Monday and don't forget to....

Support Handmade!

Vote for a NEW design!

2011-01-26T13:17:00.003-05:00

I need your help! Here are two designs which I have sketched for
a new and exclusive Magpie original.

Vote for your favorite!

Note: These are rough sketches during the concept stage.

Thanks for your input!

Emily

Thankful Tuesday

2011-01-25T10:20:00.001-05:00

My lovely sister has a blog that shares her ups and downs, joys and trials, and triumphs and failures as a wife and mommy of three. Her honesty and real experiences are inspiring and often make me go places that I may not want to go. One area in my life that I have have wanted to challenge is my quick instinct to often grumble and complain about life. Tuesday's will be a blog day dedicated to challenging this not so pleasant character trait....wish me luck!

Five things to be thankful for TODAY:

A warm and cozy house as the temps are in the negatives right now.

The second trimester goodness seems to have set in (Cross your fingers it doesn't leave me)

A snoring dog sleeping next to me

My hubby who loves to serve me without complaining (especially these last few months!)

Monday night TV (my guilty pleasure, The Bachelor)

Those are just a few things to be thankful for today. What are you thankful for?

Candy making

2011-01-20T09:40:00.000-05:00

I think I'll stick with jewelry making. My attempt at Sea Salt Caramels didn't go so well. I think the main problem was the lack of a candy thermometer. I gauged the temperature by eye and a meat thermometer which in the end caused a hard rock caramel. Oh well, it was something I have always wanted to try, so I gave it my best. No pictures of that disaster recorded.

I did, however, succeed at Peppermint Bark. I combined several recipes and came up with one that worked for me. This is what I came up with:

18 oz of semi sweet (or bittersweet) chocolate chips- a bag and a half

18 oz white chocolate chips
3 boxes of candy canes, crushed
1/2 TS of peppermint extract

Crush candy canes in a plastic baggie, set aside 1/4 of the pieces.
Prepare TWO cookie sheets with wax paper. I sprayed the cookie sheet with cooking spray so the wax paper would adhere better and didn't slide around.
Melt the semi sweet chocolate in a glass bowl. You could use a double boiler, I opted for the microwave. If using the microwave, total cooking time is 6 minutes. First, melt on 50% power level for 3 minutes. STIR. Then put it back in for another 3 minutes.
Add 1/4" teaspoon of peppermint extract.
Spread chocolate on cookie sheet in even layer. Put in refrigerator for approximately one hour. I took it out after 45 minutes because I'm impatient.
Melt white chocolate chips. Same technique as above.
Mix in 1/4" teaspoon peppermint extract AND 3/4" of the crushed candy canes.
Spread over chilled dark chocolate. This white chocolate layer is lumpy, so be patient and spread to the edges as best you can.
Sprinkle the top with remaining crushed candy canes.
Chill until hardened (about 4 hours or overnight), then break apart into bite size pieces.
Will keep in fridge for 5-6 weeks.

I think it came out pretty darn good! I packaged the bark in some festive tins and shared it with my neighbors. Now that all my baking and candy making is done, I need to get back into the studio to work on pending orders and design some NEW ones! Stay tuned!

Snowed in and the WINNER.....

2011-01-13T10:24:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone! Sorry for the delay in sharing the results of the giveaway. I have been sick for the last two days and then yesterday we got slammed here in CT with 22" of snow!

Here's a short video of my pup in the snow- playing for just a second to appease me.

And the winner of the Nolan Necklace is..... Steph! Steph's email is thelazybees@yahoo.com.

Steph, contact me at Emily@magpiedesignz.com to claim your prize!

Thank you everyone for entering the giveaway and make sure to look out for more chances to win a Magpie Original again!

Mommy Monday

2011-01-10T21:31:00.000-05:00

My awesome (and older) sister who has three kiddos writes a Monday blog called "Mommy Monday". Every week she blogs about advice, ideas, baby gear and other parenting topics that will be VERY helpful for me as I enter the world of mommy-hood for the first time. It is also opened up the the readers to share their struggles, fears, and advice so that I can learn from all you experienced mothers!

I know it can be completely overwhelming being a first time mom (from what I've heard :) and I am starting to feel the pressure. Do I register for the wipe warmer or diaper genie? What baby carrier do I get? And the stroller, oh my, so many choices!

I can't believe I don't have ONE decent picture of my sister and I! This is all I got folks, pickle and all!

Deli in New York City, hence the ginormous sandwiches!

So if any of my readers feel moved to share their mommy advice, go to my sister's blog and comment on her Mommy Monday posts. Make sure to check back every Monday to see what the new topic of the week is!

First 2011 giveaway for blog followers ONLY!

2011-01-03T14:47:00.002-05:00

Welcome 2011! With the new year here, I want to thank my loyal blog readers with a fabulous giveaway. The Nolan Necklace is one of my most popular designs, so I know that one of my readers will enjoy it too!

It comes with a tad bit of work though, see below!

Up for grabs... The Nolan Necklace!

TWO Mandatory entries: (Leave entries in comment box)
1. Visit my website at magpiedesignz.com and tell me which design is your favorite. (Leave your email address so I know how to contact you if you are the winner.)

2. <-------------Follow my blog. You have to be a follower of my blog in order to be entered. (see "Follow" button on left side of blog)

Extra entries: (Leave entries in comment box)
3. Share this giveaway on your facebook page
4. Become a fan of my FACEBOOK fan page
5. Tweet about my giveaway
6. Follow me on Twitter

*Winner will be chosen using random.org. Giveaway ends next Monday January 10th at midnight.

This is a giveaway to show my appreciation for my lovely blog readers. So THANK YOU to my current readers and WELCOME to my new readers! Following my blog DOES come with perks!

My favorite Christmas things....

2010-12-20T10:09:00.005-05:00

The Christmas spirit was a little delayed here in our household this year. With the amount of orders my studio had and my lack of energy due to a little bun in the oven, the decorations took a bit longer to get up. I didn't put out everything I usually do, just some of my favorite things.
So here they are, just in case you care ;)

When we were first married, we made a rather expensive purchase on a sentimental nativity scene. I have fond memories of setting up and playing with my childhood manger. So I knew I wanted to get one that had a story and that we could pass onto our kiddos. However, this nativity scene is not "kid friendly". Oops, wasn't thinking that 9 years ago. We purchased it from an elderly man with Alzheimer's from his quaint studio in Maine, were my hubby and I met. I had my eye on it for years and we finally bit the bullet.
I'm so glad we did!

I have a LOVE for all things vintage...
to tablecloths, salt and pepper shakers, artwork and in particular Christmas ornaments. When we were first married, we didn't have many ornaments besides the hammy downs from Matt's childhood. We had the typical cookie ornaments, nursery school crafts, and a collection of tacky crystal angels and snowmen. I knew I had to add to these, so went to a local antique store and stocked up on some vintage balls. Some have broken since then (insert sad face) due to a fallen tree in our first apartment, but most are in tact.

1. Typical school craft

2. A sweet blue ball with applique

3. An intricate ball with great detail

4. A garage sale find... love these little people!

5. I try to buy an ornament from each place we visit. This one is a Murano glass ornament from Italy.

6. The ugliest beaded ornament from Matt's childhood. It always makes it's way to the back of the tree.

Those are just a few of my favorites that decorate our tree!

Here are some other Christmas decorations that
I have collected over the years.

I love those big vintage lights, but don't have the guts to string my house with them. So instead of outside, I use the bulbs as a centerpiece on my dining room table. The stockings are a fave of mine that I found for $2.99 each from Christmas Tree Shoppes. The salt and pepper shakers were a gift from the hubby a few Christmas' ago...I LOVE them!

And a few more favorites....

We both love nutcrackers so our collection grows each year. I think we need to slow it down a bit because our small little cottage can't handle my collecting obsession. The vintage blocks with Merry Christmas on them is a 'must put out' decoration, just too cute to keep in the box this year.

There's a short tour of my home this season. Looking forward to heading down to Philly to visit my family this Christmas. Have a blessed Holiday everyone!

Check back for my attempt at peppermint bark and sea salt caramels!

I've failed...well kinda.

2010-12-14T21:05:00.001-05:00

My cooking challenge went on hiatus as soon as I started feeling nauseous, exhausted (like the kind of exhaustion if a mac truck ran you over), no appetite and basically plain ol' yucky.

You mothers all know what I am talking about...

Yes this all means....I am pregnant. This is my first, so I have no idea how this all works. I am just going with it, day by day.

I fee like life stopped for 5-6 weeks. I have a wonderful hubby who took/takes care of me and my every need (even at 3am when I wanted nothing but Cheerios). Now at 13 weeks, I am feeling somewhat better and may even try to attempt my cooking challenge again. I make NO promises. But the doc says I need to eat and gain weight.

My blogging took a back seat as well. Holiday orders are out and being delivered as I type, so I can breathe again and enjoy this pregnancy!

Here's how we announced it to our friends! Enjoy :)

Maisey's announcement

Be patient....

2010-12-06T10:38:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone!

I am just sending out ANOTHER, yes another, annoying reminder that my production time is extended to 3-4 weeks due to high holiday order volume.

I just ask that you be extra patient during this time, pretty please!

Sending emails asking for updates just sets me behind in the studio...I often spend more time answering those status update emails then in the studio making your necklace. SO keep in mind the production time and know that it will ship within that time, no doubt about that!

To sum it up:

Stop asking where your order is or for an update :)

It will ship out within the listed production time, I promise.

________________________________________________________

{November 22nd was the last day to order for guaranteed Christmas delivery.

Orders placed after that date will arrive in the first two weeks of January.}

Old windows

2010-11-30T14:37:00.000-05:00

Confession:

I have an obsession with old windows.

As I cause a traffic jamb on the side of the road, shoving them in the back of my jeep, I feel giddy with the possibilities. Even though most of them collect in my shed, much to my husbands dismay, I do eventually use them when I feel inspired. Here is proof that it's totally worth the honks and evil stares from those cranky drivers.

Sunflower wallpaper applied with decoupage

My feeble attempt at stained glass

Whimsical wallpaper for laundry room

Freehand attempt of stained glass with lead paint

In the Summer, I did a u-turn for this beauty! What to do with this one?!? I have a vision to put it above my fireplace once I get sick of my botanical prints. Not sure when that will be though.


I'm in love with this HUGE window!

So as this amazing window sits in the shed for the winter, I decided to get my hands on a smaller window that is just too cute for words. No picture of that because my shed is too embarrassing to show you all, but this is what I hope to create with my next 'trash to treasure'.

Now, mine will be a bit different. I hope to remove the glass panes and put mesh or screen on the entire back for my ever growing collection of earrings. I haven't decided if I will do a shelf of not, we will see how ambitious I get. Look for photos of this project soon, but not too soon :)

______________________________________

Do any of my fantastic readers have other creative ideas for old windows?

I would love to hear!

Holiday Deadline!

2010-11-18T10:26:00.000-05:00

Hurry...go tell your MIL, hubby and sister that Magpie Designz holiday deadline is November 22nd. Sorry husbands, but November 23rd is one day TOO LATE. I wish I could make exceptions. Trust me, I get pathetic stories for a good month after my deadline, begging me to make just that one exception.

Production time is 3-4 weeks during this peak holiday season. Please, please plan accordingly. Now I am begging. Also remember that the postal service is busier now too, so packages may take longer to be delivered.

You've been warned.

Happy Holidays!

Emily

Oh Pottery Barn.....

2010-11-04T11:02:00.002-04:00

I have always been fascinated with lamp making. It's a mystery of where this passion came from but I was determined to create my very own jug lamps. I found these lamps in the Pottery Barn catalog and fell in love.

However, I couldn't justify the $139 EACH price tag. SO I had to figure out a way to create them myself. After searching on Ebay for a bit, I came across some clear wine jugs. I paid $12 for the pair (yeah, I know, a steal!) and then made a trip to Lowe's to pick up this lamp kit.


Lamp kit from Lowe's

It was much easier then I thought to wire the lamp. The instructions were super easy to follow. I was SHOCKED when I plugged them in for a test and they worked! You will be impressed with yourself, I promise. Now it was time to fill the jugs with all sorts of goodies. My goal was to change them for each season. I haven't quite mastered that goal, but I have two themes that I use often.

Fall lamp with acorns and fake leafy branch


Summer lamp with pebbles and fake fern leaf

I am going to try a Christmas themed lamp this year.
Stay posted to see what I come up with.

Oh, the pressure.

_________________________________________________________

Oh and by the way, my deadline for Holiday orders is November 22nd. I will announce this often and you will be sick of hearing it, but I hope to avoid those emails on Christmas Eve from husbands hoping that I can overnight a necklace to them for Christmas morning.

Yeah right, I will still get those emails. What am I thinking? At least I tried.

New Designs!

2010-10-28T16:43:00.002-04:00

Please help me welcome a few new designs to my hand stamped personalized collection.

I hope you all enjoy them as much as I do.

As always, I welcome new ideas and custom requests!

Violet Necklace, Mclaine Necklace and Wesley Necklace

Don't forget that my holiday deadline is November 22nd.

Think ahead and enjoy this holiday season even more by doing some early shopping!

Visit my website to browse my new designs!

Apple Cheddar Soup

2010-10-20T19:35:00.002-04:00

I took a {cooking challenge} hiatus last week due to my trip to Nashville. It was a nice break to go out most nights in TN for dinner, but I did miss my kitchen. Is that weird?

This week I made a soup for my MIL's birthday.

Apple Cheddar Soup

Doesn't that sound just lovely?

Soup season is here, one of my favorite things about Fall.

Perfectly sweet and salty at the same time. Try it, I promise you'll love it.

I paired this soup with bread and a green salad. I tossed the salad with my new favorite vinaigrette.

Lemon Dijon Vinaigrette

(note: I "threw" together this dresssing, so amounts are approximate)

2 tablespoons of dijon mustard

juice of one lemon

a few tablespoons of water

1/4 cup of olive oil

salt n' peppa

___________________________________________

Do you have an EASY but oh so yummy salad vinaigrette that you love?

Newman's Own ain't cuttin' it anymore.

Howdy ya'll!

2010-10-13T13:14:00.001-04:00

i'm back from Nashville TN where my hubby and i visited friends who recently left us here in CT.

and i quite possibly gained 20 lbs.

we enjoyed some

pulled pork,

grits,

hashbrown casserole...

those are just a few examples of the southern goodies we ate.

our good friends paul and amity on the right

The picture above is at a mexican restaurant where we saw Ted Danson and his wife. you know, Ted Danson from Cheers!? he was sitting at the table behind us!

we toured downtown nashville one day and got a dose of real TN living.

cowboy boots/hats,

blue eye shadow,

rhinestone belts

and

aspiring singers.

my husband and i fell back in love with little katherine (our friends 2.5 year old) whom we haven't seen in about a year, so a lot has changed!

our trip was plain ol' awesome! we got re-acquainted with close friends and just picked up where we left off...isn't it great to have friends like this? i will miss them terribly.

some more pictures ya'll....

now off to catch up on orders...boo for the end of vacation.

Recipe four: SUPER!

2010-10-01T12:19:00.000-04:00

my father in law could not stop raving about this weeks recipe. i would have to agree with him....this dish was outstanding! if you love a good stir fry, then you will LOVE this. i promise.

the only adaptions i made:

we are huge broccoli fans here, so i added a bunch. i feel like it need a little more somethin' then what the original recipe called for.

this is a SPICY dish, so if you like a good burn, then the amount of pepper flakes would be perfect for you. i may half the amount next time i make it.

(oh and the recipe is the perfect amount for two people. if you are serving four, double the recipe)

this weeks grade:

A+++

learning to slow down.

2010-09-28T10:36:00.002-04:00

it has been one year since my hubby and i took a 2 week vacation to italy with great friends. the older i get, the more i am trying ('trying' is the key word here people) to s l o w down and take life in because it moves by WAY too quickly. since then the friends we traveled with have had a baby, my husband has undergone a HUGE career change and i have quit my day job to focus completely on magpie designz.

in venice, jumping with not a care in the world.

so this year i am going to {take. it. all. in.}
life is too short and i need to enjoy it more. i have never been great with change. so when change comes, i am going to embrace it and realize that it belongs to a bigger plan that is not my own.

stuffing our faces with gelato in florence.

Recipe three: has potential

2010-09-23T11:09:00.002-04:00

i found a wonderful foodie blog that i check every day. she inspires me to try new recipes and to be brave with new and different ingredients.

This weeks recipe was pork loin chops with roasted garlic cream sauce. i totally forgot to take pictures of the finished product, so i am borrowing from cassie craves blog.

photo taken by cassie craves

this tasty recipe was easy peasy with basic ingredients. next time i make this i will use a pork tenderloin instead of chops. I tend to overcook chops which leads to dry and chewy pork. the cream sauce was delish and was a flavorful topper to some typical mash potatoes.

besides the mash potatoes, i served this recipe, taken from my friend's blog, life in a nutshell.

it was incredibly easy and again, it stretched me beyond the basic veggies that i often grab at the food store. broccoli rabe may not be my fave veggie (bitter and kinda chewy) but mixing it with some carrots and a pinch of nutmeg saved the day.

photo taken by meredith from life in a nutshell blog

this weeks grade:

A-

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...and until next week. what should i try next?!?

Keep Calm....

2010-09-20T17:43:00.000-04:00

and carry on.

see this shop for keep calm posters

Is it just me, or has this saying exploded in the last year? well, i decided to go with it and put a spin on it. sooooo... out comes my "keep calm" collection. instead of the typical {carry on}, i changed it up for those out there that have a passion for a certain hobby, sport, or activity.

visit here to view my collection

so i ask you all...do you have any ideas for my "keep calm" collection?

if so, i would love to hear them!

recipe two: success!

2010-09-16T09:42:00.002-04:00

i am two weeks into my cooking challenge and feeling very encouraged from last nights dinner. After recipe one took a back seat in my recipe book, i was determined to find a worthy recipe this week.

this weeks recipe? Butter chicken
how can you go wrong with that title?

it tends to lean towards indian flavors, which we are a fan of in this family. the one spice that i didn't have and wasn't willing to spend $12 on was cardamom. i goggled a substitute and came up with 50% nutmeg and 50% cinnamon. it worked perfectly in my opinion.

it had the perfect amount of heat too.
the cayenne pepper goes a loooong way.

this weeks grade:

**********************************

enjoy my friends. please share with me your favorite recipes.
i would love to give it a 'stir'.

lakehouse retreat.

2010-09-12T21:53:00.006-04:00

i am back from a stay at my friends lakehouse in upstate new york. what an amazing place to forget about life for a bit and soak in the rustic charm of a cozy cabin.

scenic walking,

jet skiing,

fire staring,

smore making

story sharing,

memory making,

picture taking

were just a few things we were able to enjoy this weekend.

_________________________________________

sometimes its just necessary to take a moment to breathe and bask in God's creation. have you taken a second to breathe recently? please do share.

recipe one: bust.

2010-09-09T10:26:00.000-04:00

not pleased with this recipe. what was Emeril thinking?

OK, so I won't be too harsh BUT i hate it when i spend a good hour preparing for a meal with high hopes and then it turns out to be nothing close to my expectations.

it has tequila. how could it be that bad?

i came to the solution that maybe if i marinated it more then 45 minutes it would of been delish. that's what emeril said to do, only 45 minutes. i should of known better. Marinading it OVERNIGHT would of made a world of difference.

the chipotle adobe sauce was wonderful. i put more chipotle peppers in then it called for. that was the only flavaful part of this meal. unfortunately.

yes i will try it again. maybe for company. and maybe overnight the marinade. it's a ton of prep work for a meal during the weak, which defeats the purpose of my challenge.

so the hunt continues for a new recipe.

i'm in a rut.

2010-09-03T16:36:00.000-04:00

So my goal this year is to try a new recipe each week. I will share my thoughts, critiques, praise, tweeks and other useless points about the recipe with my awesome readers.

Now, I am no chef, but I do enjoy playing in the kitchen. I definitely need to get out of my 5 meal rut and try something new. I know, crazy idea right?!

I love a good challenge every once and while, so let the cooking begin!

oh how i love you september

2010-09-01T16:30:00.001-04:00

well, it doesn't really feel like fall here in new england. it's in the 90's and humid. we got a tease with the fall temperatures last week. so now i am craving every little piece of the harvest season.

there are SO many reasons why fall is my favorite season.

crisp walks at night with my pup and hubby

apple picking

"fallerizing" the house (more to come on this)

baking this spice cake {thank you Dina for the recipe}

wearing my flats and scarves again

pumpkin pancakes

skirts and my leather boots

sleeping with the windows open

starbuck's pumpkin spice latte
the smell of fallen leaves

and pumpkin beer.

I found one that i LOVE...and it's $6 a case from trader joe's. the reviews are so-so but who cares. my hubby gagged when he sipped it but he is a beer snob. i just love the deep pumpkin flavor. is it 5:00 yet?

bring on the harvest season.

fall is too short but i will make sure to enjoy it to the fullest.

oh and i will be drinking lots of beer. no i am not an alcoholic.

-------------------------------

what are you looking forward to this fall?

be green and rescue.

2010-08-26T11:41:00.003-04:00

Many of you know (and may be sick of hearing) about my passion for rescuing animals. As long as I can remember, I have had this inner ache for all creatures, specifically dogs. When I was about 10 or so, my parents decided it was time to add to our family. We took a visit to the local SPCA and found a well tempered dog, named Kita. She was hours away from being euthanized. Just to think that this dog, who fetched the newspaper for my mother every morning, would of been killed because her time at the pound was overdue. We never had a discussion about rescuing dogs, it was just something that we did. This simple trip to the local SPCA turned out to be a valuable lesson to me, which I am sure my parents didn't realize at the time.

As soon as my husband and I lived in a home that was dog-friendly, we were dedicated to adoption. We visited the local humane society every Saturday morning in search of our next family member. Today, 6 years ago, we came home with a lab mix that we named Maisey. She was 1.5 years, abused and very timid. Since then, she has been the joy of our lives.

Maisey, of course, isn't perfect. Either am I. Adopting a dog or any other animal comes with baggage. I wasn't sure we could train her to walk without pulling, or not being timid around men, or not aggressive around her bones or not chasing pizza delivery cars. Many of those bad habits are still there, but that is her personality and we embrace it.

Maisey is a family member and is treated like a family member. Many think I am crazy for taking her for car rides with me every where I go, that she sleeps in our bed, that I brush her teeth, take her to the dog park, feed her yummy scraps of steak.... but I don't care. Whew, I said it. Laugh at me, but my dog is my best friend.

My friends, consider adoption. It is a rewarding experience that you will never regret. Of course, there are horror stories out there about people who adopt a dog and it ends up being a disaster. It happens, but don't give up. To me, the pros of adoption out weigh the cons.

Everyone wants to jump on the "green" bandwagon. Shopping with reusable bags, buying hybrid cars...why not consider adoption as being "green" too?

Recycle an animal, instead of buying one.

-------------------------------------------------------

Check out my pet jewelry! On sale until Saturday at midnight!

Dakota Dog Tag

Rescued Tag

New Designs {SALE}

2010-08-24T13:36:00.004-04:00

I have been enjoying the slower pace of summer, which gives me more time for creating new designs. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Bird Cage Necklace

Simple, sweet and just adorable!

Hang three birthstones from the bottom.

HURRY, on sale now until Friday for $30.

Alicia Necklace

These rectangular tags have been hammered on the edges for a touch of rustic. A sweet heart charm finishes it off!

ALSO on sale until Friday for $32.

polaroid.

2010-08-20T10:03:00.003-04:00

Remember the polaroid camera? The waiting, the shaking....then poof, there is your photo. Well I found this amazing app from my friends blog (check out her awesome etsy shop). I've been having fun (wasting time) this morning with this app. Try it out, you will be addicted in no time. I promise.

Do you have any fun apps to share? I would love to waste more time.

Soldier reunions {and SALE}

2010-08-13T10:36:00.001-04:00

So yeah, I haven't figured out yet how to post an actual video, but the link below will have to do for now. Take some time to view part ONE and TWO of these soldier reunions.

Have your tissues handy!

Video of Soldier Reunions

My brother Andrew with his wife Laura

I experienced this joy when my twin brother came home from Iraq in March. I felt like I could hug him for hours. Just touching him, making sure he is in one piece is something my entire family has waited a year for. I stumbled upon this video showing soldier's reuniting with children, mother's, dogs, father's, wives and husbands. All are experiencing that joy of FINALLY hugging their soldier.

Make sure to check out my Military Necklaces!

And guess what? All four styles are on SALE now until Sunday :)

back to reality....

2010-08-10T13:53:00.003-04:00

My husband and I just got back from our favorite place, Owls Head Maine. We relaxed, read books, ate tons of cinnamon rolls from the general store, kayaked, collected sea glass and heart rocks, shopping and more shopping.

The little red cottage still holds a ton of memories. Here's a picture of the cottage where my husband and I met 13 years ago. Still looks the same.

I enjoyed some QT with my niece and nephews. They are growing up too fast!

Silas (Si Si, Si Guy)

Jesse (Jesse Boy)


Karis (Kare-bear)

I also enjoyed playing with my new Canon camera. I specifically enjoy shooting people, but I did take a few still life shots. I will learn with time how to use this fancy dancy camera, but for now, I am having a blast! I also love editing them just as much in photoshop.

So these are just a few of the shots I took with my new cam! Now I need to get back into my studio and start catchin' up on orders.

---------------------------------------

Have you gone on vacation this summer? If so, where to? Does it have any special memories like the little red cottage does for me?

Finally....my vacation is here!

2010-07-30T10:50:00.000-04:00

I leave for vacation to Maine tomorrow morning. YIPEE! I need to break out of these fours walls of my studio to admire the beautiful coast line. I absolutely agree with the Maine license plate slogan" The way life should be". At least I can enjoy that life for just one week a year.

We are going back to the little red cottage. That cottage is where I met my husband 13 years ago this August. The memories (some I like to remember, others I don't- like my zits and braces) of our teenage years together constantly surround us. Now I am off to create new memories within those rustic and thin walls of the little red cottage.

I will be back soon, hopefully exploding with new and fresh ideas!

Photo taken by my talented father, William Buckman

I'm not the best blogger....

2010-07-27T22:26:00.003-04:00

but I plan on getting better :)

Have you checked out my Facebook Fan page? If not, I would! You can find the latest designs, sales, giveaways, freebies, and so much more!

I have an on-going contest on my fan page called {For Every 100}. Every time my fan page grows by another 100 fans, I will give away free merchandise! Yes, I said it....you can win a FREE Magpie Original! (check out Notes section/tab on my fan page for more details)

So visit my FAN PAGE and make sure to suggest the page to your friends!

By the way, have you seen my new Daddy's Dog Tag necklace?

Perfect for the proud daddy!

Emily

Amazing pillows....

2010-06-19T22:23:00.000-04:00

I love these applique pillows by Lacefield Designs ! Enter to win one of these pillows at this amazing blog. Good luck friends!!

Name That Pin {Giveaway}

2010-06-05T22:28:00.003-04:00

Help me name this new pin design! If I choose your name idea, you will receive this pin for yourself or someone special. Have fun, be creative and keep it short and sweet!

ENTER this giveaway/contest on my

FACEBOOK FAN PAGE ONLY!

Visit facebook.com/magpiedesignzjewelry

Spring Time....

2010-04-03T10:53:00.004-04:00

It's gorgeous here in New England, so I am planning to get my hands dirty today! Do you need a gift for your favorite gardener friend? They will love my exclusive Garden Markers on vintage silverware. Customize them with any herb or vegetable of your choice. Happy gardening, friends! See Garden Markers here: http://magpiedesignz.com/index.php/garden-markers.html

The power of a chocolate egg...

2010-03-20T13:23:00.007-04:00

I was featured on a Deal-A-Day site 2 weeks ago and my studio has never seen so many orders in one day. Needless to say, life is a bit chaotic right now. However, the warm sunshine outside is a welcomed friend right now.

A sweet friend brought me these chocolate eggs to help lift my spirits during this stressful time. It made my day.
{yes, I finished the box that day}

Now, off to do some spring cleaning!

Emily

More new designs...

2010-03-04T22:52:00.000-05:00

I've been feeling inspired lately, so this is what came from many nights of no sleep! Let me know what you think or if you have any "inspirations" for new designs!

I LOVE new ideas!

The winner of the Bird's Nest Necklace is....

2010-03-03T22:36:00.011-05:00

Kelly Deaton! Contact me within 24 hours to claim your prize! More giveaways coming soon, so keep checking back. Thank you everyone for your continued support!

Emily

Mama's Nest Locket GIVEAWAY!

2010-02-25T11:42:00.001-05:00

OK ya'll, here is the next giveaway :) I just LOVE this new design and it seems to be a huge hit with everyone! A bird on a berry branch is stamped on the outside, then a nest holds three turquoise beads on the inside, representing your "eggs". Sterling silver 7/8" disks have a brushed finish and are cupped/domed to create locket style.

SO, do you want to be the lucky winner of this locket? Well, it comes with some work! (Leave entries in comments box)

Mandatory entry:
1. Visit my website at magpiedesignz.com and tell me which design is your favorite. (Leave your email address so I know how to contact you if you are the winner.)
Extra entries:
2. Follow my blog
3. Share this giveaway on your facebook page
4. Become a fan of my facebook fan page: facebook.com/magpiedesignzjewelry
5. Tweet about my giveaway
6. Follow me on twitter: magpiedesignz
6. Sign up for my newsletter on the bottom of my website

Easy peasy, right?? Giveaway ends one week from today, March 4th. Results will be calculated using random.org.

Have FUN!
Emily

New Collection!

2010-02-22T16:15:00.000-05:00

Introducing a new collection to Magpie Designz! I have entered the world of soldering and enjoying it very much! More to come, stay posted! Let me know your thoughts...

My Valentine's Dinner

2010-02-13T22:06:00.000-05:00

I do have take time to brag a bit about my wonderful husband and the amazing meal he cooked for me tonight! He spent all day in the kitchen preparing a gourmet Mexican dinner that he saw on the food network channel this morning. Here are the recipes if the pictures below tempt you: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/marcela-valladolid/baja-style-fish-tacos-recipe/index.html . And for dessert, this delicious coco flan: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/marcela-valladolid/chocoflan-recipe/index.html
I am so blessed to have a thoughtful husband who loves to make me happy by cooking a delicious and authentic Mexican dinner. Now off to bed, those margaritas are making me sleepy!

Best Valentine's Day ever!! What did you do for V-day?

Emily

New designz

2010-02-09T21:39:00.000-05:00

I was in my studio this weekend, feeling inspired. So here are some new designz! I love this new copper cuff for the rustic daddy and the new locket design with a mama bird and her eggs in a nest. Visit magpiedesignz.com for more information about these new pieces!

NEW custom dog tag

2010-01-27T21:30:00.000-05:00

Your pup will stand out at the doggie park with this dog tag! A 1.25" sterling silver disk is hammered with the address along the edge. Then a 3/4" copper disk is soldered on top. Decorate with a design stamp (star, heart, lotus flower, cross or bird) or a polka dot trim. You all know how much I LOVE polka dots!

and the winner is.......

2010-01-25T14:47:00.000-05:00

jmcourt6. JMcourt6, please contact me with your personalization details for your NEW Jacob Necklace! You can contact me at emily@magpiedesignz.com

Thank you everyone for entering my anniversary contest! Look back soon for more giveaways, promotions, sales and new designs!

NOTE: If I do not hear from JMcourt6 within 24 hours, I will choose a second place winner.

*Random.org was used for contest results.

ONE year and still growing....

2010-01-17T21:36:00.000-05:00

Magpie Designz has officially passed the one year mark!!! After 2600 sales on etsy.com, 1000markets.com and NOW my very own site at magpiedesignz.com, I feel proud and amazed at the overwhelming response to my jewelry business endeavor. Who would of thought I could quit my day job and focus completely on creating art? I never did, and here I am, pinching myself every morning as I walk into my studio. This past year has taught me a lot. Mostly that I can achieve what I set out to do but also a belief that hand made items still do have a place in today's market. Thank you to my friends and family who have helped and encouraged me when I wanted to give up. And most of all thanks to my customers that have passed on my name with high regards and continue to come back.

SO with all that said, I am sure you are all waiting for me to say.... Here comes the ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY GIVEAWAY! Up for grabs is the Jacob Necklace:

Rules:
For one entry: Become a follower of my blog
For two entries: Facebook about my ONE YEAR giveaway
For three entries: Tweet about my new website and giveaway
For four entries: Blog about my website and giveaway

NOTES:
*Leave in comments box which entry you completed
*Contest ends January 24th
*Entries will be digitally counted and winner will be picked at random
*Winner will be contacted on the 25th of January

Growing....

2009-11-23T17:47:00.000-05:00

I have great news to share!!! Magpie Designz has grown tremendously in the last 10 months (almost 2100 sales). Along with that growth I have created my very OWN website! Check it out and have fun shopping: Magpiedesignz.com

Also, become a fan at facebook.com/magpiedesignzjewelry. Here you will find the latest information on promo's, sales, new designs, deadlines, giveaways and much more!

I appreciate everyone's loyalty to Magpie Designz and your support of handmade items!

Thanks!
Emily

Start your shopping now!

2009-11-12T19:47:00.000-05:00

Some exciting news to share! I am in the process of the creating Magpie Designz very OWN website. Stay tuned for the grand opening and a special giveaway!

The Holiday rush is beginning! Start your shopping soon- deadline for guaranteed holiday arrival is November 25th. No rush orders will be accepted after this date.

Thank you for your business! More giveaways to come after the new year :) Hope you enjoy some of my new designs!

And the winner is....

2009-07-17T22:20:00.001-04:00

JEN!!!! You were randomly chosen for the free Jaden Necklace. Email me at emancini@gmail.com with the details of your necklace ( names and chain length, 16" 0r 18")

Congrats Jen! Don't be discouraged if you didn't win this one :) There will be plenty more give-a-ways in the future!

July Giveaway

2009-07-09T15:41:00.000-04:00

OK so this giveaway will be a bit more work :) Time to spread the word friends. Up for grabs is the: Jaden necklace-
2 smooth sterling silver disks with freshwater pearl.
Simple and classy!

Visit my shop: magpiedesignz.etsy.com

You can earn one entry for doing any of the following (please leave a comment for every entry- helps me know which one you did):

1. Blog about my etsy shop on your blog (magpiedesignz.etsy.com) - leave me a link to your blog
2. Tweet about my giveaway- leave the link in a comment
3. Become a follower of my blog (or let me know you already are)
4. Brag about my giveaway on your facebook page (Become my friend-Emily Buckman Mancini)

That's it!!! Thank you and GOOD LUCK!

Giveaway ends one week from today- Thursday July 16th 2009

New Design- Hand cut Peek-A-Boo Necklace

2009-04-09T16:03:00.000-04:00

I woke upwith this idea and didn't sleep until it was created. So here is it everyone, enjoy.

*Peek-a-Boo Heart Necklace*

This 1.25" hand cut hammered copper heart disk overlaps a hammered silver disk with a swirl of names or your favorite quote. The heart cut out gives a peek a boo view of the names underneath. Fun and unique design that will be a sure conversation piece. Stamp up to 55-60 characters. Strung on a oxidized 16" or 18" ball chain.

Perfect for a Grandmother with many kiddos- up to 7-9 names, depending in the length. Great Mother's Day gift!

Featuring.....Magpie Designz

2009-04-03T11:47:00.000-04:00

Check out my jewelry which is being featured on a trendy mommy blog! Great blog for mom's of multiples. Check it out!

http://multiplesandmore.blogspot.com/

Mother's Day Promo

2009-03-11T18:35:00.000-04:00

Now until Mother's Day, if you buy 2 necklaces you get the 3rd half off. Stock up now for your gifts! Need a baby shower gift? Birthday? My personalized and custom necklaces are the perfect gift!

Details:

Discount applied to the least expensive item.
Purchase all three necklaces through my etsy site (magpiedesignz.etsy.com) and I will reimburse you the discount through paypal on the credit card that was used during the transaction.
Put in the 'message from seller' box the code "motherslove".
Stock up.