Project Linus quilt

When we were at the hospital on Christmas Day, the nurses gave Wavey a blanket from Project Linus, a non-profit group that provides handmade blankets to hospitals and social service organizations to help comfort children during a difficult time. 

To pay the gesture forward, I've decided to make a blanket in return so that another child may benefit from the experience.  However, its been no secret that my sewing skills are pretty basic.  So much so that I'm hoping the Project Linus people don't return my blanket with a note that reads, "Ma'am, your preschooler shouldn't be using a sewing machine." 

I've cut out all my squares so far (and if you craft with fabric without a rotary cutter, you're nuts.  I rank the invention right up there with the light bulb).

And have decided on the sequence of the squares:

I'll keep you posted on the actual fun-with-sewing part when I get there.  I imagine my resolution to keep the swearing to a minimum might be challenged.

PS: Today is the last day to enter A Good Gravy! Giveaway.  Deadline is 11:59 p.m. tonight.  And seriously, folks, the donut preferences are truly cracking me up.  Such passion behind those answers!

Two Little Tots logo design

I'm super-excited to share that Melissa at Two Little Tots chose this logo design among the few I presented for her ridiculously cute shop.  Through the process, we've developed a wonderful friendship and while she's a Midwest girl and I'm a New-Englander-by-way-of-California, we've found that we have so much in common in work, family, and parenting.  The blog world is a small world, indeed.

What we do not have in common is sewing.  Melissa = amazing.  Me = not so much.  I'll stick with paper products, thank you.


PS: Don't forget to enter the Good Gravy! personalized stationery giveaway!  Have a great weekend!

A Good Gravy! Giveaway (closed)

Resolve to get more personal this year.  Instead of email or texting, send a handwritten note expressing anything, such as gratitude, love, big news, and more. 

Good Gravy! is giving away two free sets of personalized flat note cards to one lucky winner!  The winner gets his or her choice of any of the designs in our shop, and we're throwing in free standard shipping, too. 

You're feeling lucky, I know it.  Here's how to enter:
To enter, leave a comment and tell me who would be the first person you'd write a handwritten note to with your new stationery, AND your favorite kind of donut.  That's right, your favorite donut.   Just because I'm wondering.  Here's mine: strawberry frosted with sprinkles.

Details, details, details...
+ Contest ends at midnight 11:59 p.m. Pacific time on Monday, January 11.  The winner will be announced on Wednesday, January 13.
+ Limit one entry per person, please.
+ Winner will be chosen at random using the random integer generator.
+ Your donut answer will not be held against you.

Good luck!

Pretty in pink: baby girl birth announcement

While I'm the first to say that I love photo announcements, I really enjoyed the simplicity of this latest custom baby girl birth announcement.  Featured on white textured paper with chocolate and cotton candy inks, it's matted to a shimmering pink lollipop cardstock.  Simple.  Pink.  Pretty!

Welcome, Sydney Grace!

Personal information modified for privacy.

1972 called again. They want their clown back.

Oh, Hi-C.  How I wish my mother would have let me consume something as nutritional sounding as "orange drink."  But wait, did mom decline serving us your juice because it resided in a tin can or because some random sad hobo clown served small children Hi-C in the 1972 print ads? 

1972 called. They want their hairpins back.

We're in the midst of freshening up the layout of our finished basement and while I was on this binge-and-purge tear, I came across this huge stack of magazines I'd been saving for a variety of reasons.  Most of them hit the recycle pile, but a few I held onto, such as the small stash of magazines circa 1972 from my Nana's house: A page-by-page treasure trove of hilarity for me, including the DIY holiday ornament idea using hairpins as seen above.

Other gems included an ad for plaid couch and loveseat set with what appears to be a brown cow rug under the coffee table:

And who can resist a recipe for "Corned Beef 'N Cabbage Mousse?"

If you look really carefully at the bottom of the picture, you'll see this delectable delight is described as a "man-pleaser." 

You just can't make this stuff up.

Free printable "ta-da!" list

I have a love/hate relationship with making to-do lists.  Love to make them because they keep me on track, but hate to reference them because it disheartens me if I don't get to cross off an item.  The love part of lists usually wins. 

To ring in the new year, I've designed free printable "ta-da!" lists.  Why "ta-da?" Because I love the feeling of accomplishment (I mean, who doesn't?).

Click here to download your very own set.  Print on a standard 8.5" x 11" piece of paper, cut along the centered line and voila!  You've got two lists to start your resolutions off right.

Happy New Year and I'll see you back here on Monday!

Some like it hot

My husband likes to eat spicy food.  As in, "I'm not going to even taste what is on my plate prior to dousing it with Tabasco sauce" kind of spicy.  I'm all for spicy, too, but I can only take so much heat.  So when I came across this one-gallon delight, making it his Christmas present was a no-brainer.

Check out the proportional difference between the average size bottle and the jug.  I give it until April - tops -  for the 3.8 liters to get plowed through.

A trip down memory lane

As we wind down 2009 and I get my resolutions list ready, I want to share some of my favorite photos from the past year.

(Seriously?  The head-to-lollipop size ratio for Griffin is hilarious.)

(Wavey was contemplating leaving her brother for sale in the snack jack bin)

(Halloween with our favorite friends!)

A very un-merry ER visit

Well, it was an eventful Christmas Day to say the least. After we opened gifts in the morning, Wavey took a really bad turn so I took her to the ER.  After three failed IV attempts to get her hydrated, a number of blood tests and a chest x-ray, her flu culture came back negative, but she tested positive for pneumonia.  They gave her a super-shot of antibiotics and by the next day when we followed-up, she was feeling 1000% better:

She's still convinced it was "the best Christmas ever" because Santa loaded her up with gifts which is good, all things considered. 

There was a moment of awkwardness the first ER visit when the nurse asked me if I worked in the hospital because I looked very familiar.  I responded, "Sadly, you just recognize me because my kids have a propensity to be sick on weekends and holidays." 

We practically deserve a "Visit 10 times, get your 11th visit free!" card.

It's what's for dinner

On tap for Christmas dinner: Beef Florentine.  I seriously can't wait.  And don't let me fool you into thinking that I'm pounding out beef and harvesting my own spinach while my homemade aged cheese lies waiting in the wings.  I purchase it pre-fabbed and ready, just short of cooked.   A convenient Christmas is what I'm all about. 

Wavey has been quite sick these past few days and upset that she's missed the multitude of festivities at preschool.  We tried to host our own "Pajama Day" at home, but she wasn't buying it.  And (knock-on-wood) none of us have been afflicted with whatever bug she's got, so I'm really hoping she turns the corner since this is the first year she's really embraced and understood the Christmas/Santa/Gifts concept.

Making a list and checking it twice

Now that Wavey is getting better with recognizing letters and has a real desire to learn how to spell, we decided it was time for her to write her own wish list this year.  With Daddy's help, she included some toys she'll hope to receive from Santa and also understands that not all may arrive under the tree "because Santa can't bring every toy or else his sleigh would be too heavy to fly."  Take that, Zhu Zhu Pets.

After she was done, she decided that Daddy needed a list, too.  She also decided that she would dictate what she believed Daddy should ask Santa for.  Here goes:

Can we talk about the second item from the bottom that reads "Prince Eric hair" for a moment?  Let it be known that my husband is neither bald nor balding, so why Wav was inclined to wish "Prince Eric hair" (from The Little Mermaid) on his behalf is a hilarious mystery to us.  And please, please note that the adults in this house do know how to properly spell "helicopter" but in this case were *forced* to spell it her way, not necessarily the right way. 

I do hope Santa brings Daddy a popstar for Christmas.

iPod birthday invitation

This weekend we took the kids on a snowbound sleigh ride through a local farm which was lots of fun and lots of cold (but we stayed toasty). 

After the ride, Wavey informed us that we were drawn by horses on a wagon, not a sleigh.  Why?  "Because if it was a sleigh it would have magically flown, of course."  Oh yes, of course.

Also this weekend, I really enjoyed designing this invitation suite for a two-year-old who I was told LOVES listening to an iPod and dancing. 

Personal information has been modified for privacy.

Christmas through the years

It wasn't until I pulled these photos together did I realize that we're only on our second Christmas with Griffin!  Feels like we've been a complete family forever and I can't imagine (or remember) life without these goofballs.  A really nice feeling.

This upcoming weekend is somewhat 'the calm before the storm' here, but we're geared up and excited for Santa to visit. 

Have a great weekend!

Charlie Brown Christmas Tree

We waited WAY too long to get our Christmas tree and the result: the weensiest tree ever is now in our home.  To give you some perspective:

• The tree only took one (one!!) measly string of lights.
• Only about 45% of the available ornaments were used because of lack of branches.
• It's so little, I could probably easily lift it with one hand including the metal stand
• Wavey could practically touch the top if she raised both arms
• What you don't see behind Wav is a giant gap where it's all trunk, no branches.  I can put my head in the space and be far from the touch of any branches, it's that massive (and so is my noggin).

Sigh... It's so wee that it's laughable.  And we're laughing. 


In other news, Wavey woke up screaming the other night.  Her nightmare? "I was put on the naughty list!" she cried. 

A funny story now, but not-so-funny at 3:30 a.m.

Holiday cookie tags

Growing up in Southern California, our next-door neighbors always had these amazing, classic Italian cookies on-hand which were my introduction to the lovely, subtle and spicy anise flavor.  In the 16 years I lived next door, I can't really recall a moment where they didn't have a beautiful cookie to offer as a small treat.  So, when a client recently asked for a gift tag design to include a recipe, it brought back wonderful memories of childhood cookies.

Holiday party invitation

It's all Christmas, all the time around the Good Gravy! studio these days.  We're still finishing up some last-minute custom orders and working feverishly to get them out the door so our clients can officially say that their cards were in the mail before the big day! 

I want to share this holiday party invitation designed for a client which reminds me how I'd love to host a dinner party, not just around the holidays since it's a pretty insane time of year for me - though the season is indeed perfect for this kind of event.  Check it out:

Personal information has been modified for privacy.

Holiday deadline extended

By popular demand, I've extended the ordering deadline to Thursday, December 17 for holiday delivery.  All you last-minute shoppers looking for a personalized, unique gift for everyone on your list, now's the time!  Visit the shop today.

Ladybug birthday party

Last month, I designed birthday invitations and cupcake toppers for a little client named Paige.  Paige's mom took photos at the party (of course!) sharing how she tied together the black and red ladybug theme.  So cute!  But, what really impressed me what this little number:

Paige's crafty mom created this great collage temporarily using an exisiting frame her in dining room.  Clever!

Who has nicer nails? Me or my preschooler?

Okay, so Barbie offers everything.  I get it.  A beach house, a vet table thing, I could go on.  But I was pretty floored when I opened the weekly toy store circular and saw that it's a whopping $149.99.  Um, does Barbie understand how many real manicures I can get for $149, not to mention at the MSRP of $179?!    Not happening, Barbie.  Just not happening.