Paper Raisins

Closure

2011-02-22T10:09:00.000-06:00

Paper Raisins is going to be closed until further notice. I do plan to re-open, I'm just unsure of the time frame. Sorry for any inconvenience.

For the love of...

2010-10-29T08:00:00.000-05:00

...The Manitoba Children's Museum!!!

As you probably know, the Manitoba Children's Museum is undergoing a huge renovation project. They'll be closed for quite some time... sniff...sniff... but will be re-opening with new galleries and experiences for our children... I think I may be more sad than P about the huge tree slide being removed...

Well... Paper Raisins has donated a hat, scarf & mitty set for their fundraising efforts! ...the set will be auctioned off to the highest bidder - check it out here! There are many great items there to bid on and the auctions will be up until November 24, 2010.

Go now... check it out and support this great facility!!! Go....

the thing about Annie...

2010-04-06T20:52:00.007-05:00

Hey guys! ...a tiny bit of down-time ...a moment to breathe and a little time for a new post! :)

So it's been insane in my world. I had a retirement party for a co-worker to plan and execute...which took place today... whew... despite being stressed about making it a success it went off without a hitch! yay! ...I like a good theme for a party so this one was a Country-fair, Farmer's Market type feel, complete with straw bails, a scarecrow, big bunches of balloons, 1/2 barrel full of flowers and veggies (I even got carrots with leafy tops!!) and a red and white gingham table runner! ...not to mention all the "in theme" signage...

Watering hole for the drink table... bake sale for the dainty table... farmer's market banners for the banquet table... photo op with the scarecrow... kissin' booth (goodbye hugs - free) by the honored retiree! ...and it was all named Annieville...

So my personal gift to our dear Annie was the gift of memories. I took pictures of each of the staff in our department and a few extras, retirees and others who asked to be included. About 30-35 staff in total. I also asked for a writing submission beginning with "The thing about Annie..." from each person participating. Once the pics were done and edited and writing submissions collected and proofed I did some fancy digital scrapbooking and had the whole project printed into an 8x8 hard-cover book! I am so in love with the finished project.... although I had to part with it rather quickly and didn't even get a chance to photograph the final result.

I'm sure you can image the "man" hours that went into this labor of love! But it was all worth it! ...I know she will treasure it for a lifetime!

Wanna see a couple sample pages??

And me - incidentally I hate pictures of myself... this one I didn't mind so much though!

Hope you enjoyed! I'm off to put up my feet for a few minutes... watch some Biggest Loser!

Stay tuned for my next post... I will have some new hats to share! ...and they are modeled by the sweetest little one, she's the gorgeous daughter of a co-worker...I got to play with her a couple weeks ago! :)

Monday Musing - Have a Nice Trip???!!!

2010-02-08T20:30:00.004-06:00

So here's a fact that those in my close circles already know... I am a complete klutz! This is especially true when it comes to walking... seriously, I suck at walking. Lately I've been doing sooooo good...despite my case history which includes:

Falling in gym class as a child and not telling anyone that I'd hurt my bum...didn't get my back fixed until I went to a chiropractor in my 20's!
Falling up the stairs (that's right, now down them but up them...in high school, in between classes, the halls teeming with students... needless to say I was mortified).
Falling down a flight of stairs at my old work while carying about 20 patient charts... they went flying...I tumbled down about 10 stairs, landed at the bottom and smoked the back of my head on the metal edge of one of the concrete stairs, can you says seeing stars and nausea??
Falling down while exiting my apartment while my husband (then boyfriend) was driving down my street to pick me up (think ...now you see me.... now you don't...real smooth).
Falling at the same spot on the sidewalk on Ellice near my work three independent times. The two most memorable were once while walking with a co-worker, she couldn't stop laughing...and the time I fell walking to my car - my purse went flying...the contents of my purse went flying ...my lunch bag went flying... I went flying...and a couple homeless guys stopped and picked me up of the sidewalk, gathered my things and made sure I was okay.

This brings me to today! ...it's been a while so I was overdue for a good fall... in classic Lee-Ann style I was at my 5 minute morning exercise group...all psyched for stair climing... I took one flight and at the bottom of it rolled my ankle and met the landing with a thud. I was stair climbing roadkill... seriously...people had to step over me.... LOL...

So I waited it out, moved it around gently and then climbed stairs for the last 2ish minutes, then walked my coffee-break 20 and my lunch 40, although a tad slower than my usual pace ...needless to say I'm feelin' the pain now! ...my foot's up, and I'm hoping this one fulfills my quota for a while!

A Beautiful Disaster!

2010-02-07T18:17:00.008-06:00

A few months ago I got a call from a lady I've known for most of my life. Her daughter is a few years older than me and has 3 little ones, 2 girls and a boy. In fact, when her daughter was pregnant with her first, I was pregnant with Pyper, we were due the same week!

Grandma was ordering two hats to accessorize the two black faux fur coats she made for the girls. She had ideas for style and a specific color in mind. Grandma came over and we looked at a few patterns that I'd pre-selected based on our discussion, and sure enough there was one there that she loved. The color palate was white with a black band and soft pink flowers with black leaves, simple but striking. Here's where the distaster begins!!!!!

The brand of cotton I usually use doesn't have a soft pink... seriously, hot pink, dusty rose, peachy pink....no soft pink. I whipped out the laptop and we looked at the color options from the brands that I could order in. We decided on a tone and I placed the order as soon as she left, and then I waited....

And waited...

I received an email from the supplier indicting that they were undergoing a change in their postal delivery service and that although it would speed things in the future it would cause a delay on this order. I phoned Grandma and let her know.

And waited...

I sent the supplier an email... a rather unhappy email indicating that they usually have a slower than average in the delivery time and that I understood that they were undergoing a change but this was CRAZY!!! I am running a business and their wait time is reflecting badly on me and my business ....where's my stuff?? I soon found out that they sent the package to my old address...despite the fact that I've ordered since the move. Of course the new owner rejected the parcel and it was sent back to the supplier. It was that close...about 6 blocks away from home! They said once the package was received back they'd re-ship to the correct address... ugh......

I phoned Grandma and let her know where things were at...and waited...

And waited...

It took aproximately 2 months for the yarn to show up...... holy poopers... I was soooooooo irritated... I finished the embellishments for the hats that night... and delivered ASAP. Despite my many phonecalls throughout updating Grandma, she though these hats just were not going to happen. I take pride in beating the deadlines I give people... so needless to say I was mortified... and of course did my best to "make it right".

I had Pyper model one of the hats...so here you go, you can see my beautiful disaster!

What have I learned?? ....uh....find a new supplier... triple check to make sure the shipping address is correct... stock more colors so I don't have to order to fill an order!!!

You can't see me....

2010-01-17T20:54:00.004-06:00

Some time ago.... and when I say some... I mean a big some...LOL, a girlfriend of mine emailed me looking for a couple gifts for 2 of her pregnant co-workers... they were having boys!

I'm always a little stuck for boys...I know, bad me... it's hard to not spend most of my time making little girl stuff...since as you know I have a girl! ...lends itself naturally to having an in-house model and fit-tester!

Anyway J wanted a camo hat for each of the babies...and little mitties "if I had time". Since I love making tiny little newborn things and I didn't have a little newborn mitty in my repitoire I was totally excited to get this project done.

So, here's the result... sweet little camo hats with thumbless mitties... attached of course by a nice tightly crocheted string. I ususally call it a dummy string.... definitely got to think of something nicer to call it!!!

I've got lots of projects in the works... some that I'm waiting to have fit tested.... a sweet hat I finished for a custom order, the hooded mommy wrap that is a beautiful work in progress! ...I'll be posting those as soon as I can...

My time is divided as I'm working on a project for my husband... setting him up with an ETSY shop... he makes gorgeous pens...fantastic for gifts... graduations, bankers, lawyers, Father's day, Mothers day.... any other occasion you could think of! They're totally unique and extremely stylish! ...I've got 4 posted in his etsy shop and working on getting the other pics ready... check out what we've got so far!!!

Monday Musing - The Rule of My Body...

2009-12-28T19:37:00.002-06:00

The #1 rule of my body...

If I'm going to be off work for longer than a weekend..... I GET SICK!!!

And true to "the rule" I'm off work this week and sick! ...it hit on Wednesday, lingered, incubated, progressed all weekend and then yesterday, no voice! ...which may have made my husband happy... remember, I tend to talk a lot!!! :)

I heart... returning customers & custom orders

2009-11-21T19:59:00.003-06:00

I had to share this cute little hat with you!

I got an email a couple weeks back from a local photographer (so local she's actually on my way to work!!!), she's got one of my hats already. So this time she was looking for another hat, and a diaper cover. She sent a picture of a had she'd seen and was hoping for something similar, but with a flower in a soft tone.

Once I poured over the picture for a while I figured it was made using 2 yarns held together. Something for a base, maybe with a little texture and a novelty yarn for some fuzz. I'll have to be honest, I usually stear very clear of the novelty yarn, it's just not my genre, however, on this one I'm glad I picked it up. I think the result came out really cute!

It was funny thought, i crocheted the whole thing and realized that the inside was VERY furry.... I uh........... had to give it a haircut :)

Hope you like! :)

Birth Announcements!!!

2009-11-03T20:18:00.010-06:00

So does anyone want to know what I've been up to lately?? Here goes...

I've been busy! Orders are coming in more regularly which is fantastic!! Then there's the custom stuff.

Custom Client Project #1 - Hooded mommy wrap - for maternity photography. This is a true labor of love... I'm lovin' it... although it is slow going with the rich cables & lacework!! I will be so happy when I can share the finished product with you!

Custom Client Project #2 - Hanging "bucket" for newborn photography... which I'm just about done, just waiting for the base material to be ready. I must say it was a challenge to figure out what he heck I can use to make a ridgid base that can withstand the "hazards of the industry" if you know what I mean. ;) Hopefully this little number should be finished up within the week, then I just have to send it out for fit testing!

Custom Client Project #3 - Vertical Sling for newborn photography... I whipped up a great upright sling made from this beautifully textured imported yarn, accented with either a pink, blue, or green fishnet style flowered band. This little number is getting fit tested this Friday... YAY, I love having connections!!!

Personal Project - I've been trying to get more photography practice when I can, I'm not a professional, that's for sure, but I'm making improvement and learning from my mistakes! ...and I'm really enjoying getting more practice!!! So I did newborn pictures for my co-worker's daughter... oh, she was such a sweet little one!! Well, once I finished up her pictures I asked her mom if she'd be into some birth announcements. She said yes... then I had some fun! ...I haven't scrapbooked in ages but thought I'd approach this project from a digital scrapbooking angle and I had so much fun! Plus I haven't noticed any styled like that for sale!

I liked doing it so much that I made a corresponding boy announcement, in the same layout... and I posted them to my ETSY shop tonight! I hope everyone likes them as much as I do! I'm planning to design some more layouts and post them to ETSY as well... in between client orders of course!!! :)

so.... wanna see my first two announcements??

Monday Musing - I Never Thought I'd Hear My Daughter Say...

2009-10-19T21:34:00.002-05:00

"...daddy (excitedly) ... let's go watch the football game!!!"

oh boy..... now I'm in for it! Two of them like watching sports... ugh!

With Love ...xoxo

2009-10-08T19:39:00.009-05:00

Time to introduce you to a brand-new set... the "With Love" set...featuring the The With Love Hat and The I Heart Bottoms!!!

It all started with the bottoms... I whipped up the cute little diaper cover in a soft ivory yarn, accented with a richly colored red heart on the bum ...once I had those done up it hit me... I've seen a ladies hat somewhere in my travels that had hearts for ear flaps... and the lightbulb on ....paired up that would be one sweet little set!

The With Love Set is perfect for newborn photography... and is made of a super-easy care fibre. I'll be posting them to my blog and ETSY shop tonight!!!

Hope you love them as much as I do!!! :)

ps...special thanks to Baby I and her mommy and daddy for lending her to me for test fitting product and taking a few pics... I'll have the pics to you on the weekend!!

"um...I have an unusual request..."

2009-10-03T18:26:00.006-05:00

I know it's going to be interesting when a conversation begins with that :)

One of P's daycare workers approached me a couple months ago telling me she'd seen and loved the baby wraps I make... I was wondering how this was going to tie in with the "unusual request", sincerely hoping she wasn't going to request an adult sized wrap!!! Could you imagine the quantity of yarn that would involve?? funny thing is...I'm sure I have much MORE than enough!!

...so she tells me about her cat Mügz. Now Mügz is a very cuddly fellow... he loves to snuggle with her in the evenings, usually with a blanket. C thought he would love some sort of kitty wrap to cuddle in. We talked a little more about him, what kind of cat he is, what color he is, his size, her expectations. She said there was no rush, whenever I get time.

Fortunately C is a patient woman! ...I was busy filling orders and just got to his wrap about a week ago... Here's a couple pics... Hamilton was my obliging model... in fact he was purring like an engine as soon as I put him in... it could have something to do with his obsession with natural, animal derived fibers... the Mügz wrap is a wool blend...mmmmmmmmm sheep.... I'm sure that's what he's thinking...

Monday Musing - 10 Things I Love About My Girl

2009-09-20T23:35:00.002-05:00

The way she scrunches up her nose when she smiles!
How she says words like "pecause", "am-bull-ance", "plablo" (instead of pablo)
Her great manners!
She tells me I'm her best mommy!
That she won't pick a favorite hotel for vacationing because she wouldn't want to hurt the feelings of the hotel that she didn't choose :)
How she'll grab me a granola bar on the way out the door in the morning, in case I get hungry.
Baking together in the kitchen.
That she runs and jumps into my arms for the biggest hugs when I pick her up from daycare.
That she always wants to send hugs and kisses to my "work ladies".
How she likes to help me package up and deliver orders!

Monday musing ~ Volume 1

2009-09-14T07:11:00.000-05:00

I like to talk...a lot...my report cards in school always said... Lee-Ann is a pleasure to have in class... but is very "social" ...in other words ummmmmmmm.... talks too much! :) so I blabber... about nothing... a lot ...so I thought I'd extend it to you! Really, it shouldn't just be my family and co-workers who have to listen to me!!!

So here goes... my very first Monday musing...

So a couple weeks ago I met Carol for lunch... nowhere special... just the local food court for a quick bite and to trade goodies (pictures and knits...yay), where I overhear the following conversation....

Girl - so yeah, look me up on facebook, we'll get together

Guy - uh.....I don't have Internet at home...

Girl - (said very emphatically, with a gasp of horror and an edge of disbelief) what???? HOW am I supposed to contact you??

.....uh....... ever hear of a phone... you know... they have numbers on them... you dial and oh heavens... actually talk to someone!!

...seriously??

oh my goodness I laughed all afternoon about that one!

a new look for Paper Raisins!!!

2009-09-11T22:37:00.004-05:00

Hey all... so I've been working my tail off for weeks now on a new look for Paper Raisins. I got this adorable logo done by Marie. I found her on flickr, filled out a questionnaire, sent her my ideas and she put it all together. I'm really, really excited about my new branding and implementing my super cute logo.

I've still got a bunch of things to put together... it takes a lot of little labor-intensive elements to form one cohesive look... and since I know nothing about HTML it's a serious learning curve to make the adjustments!!! ...I was going to roll out the whole new look at once... but I think I changed my mind... I don't want to hide all this great new stuff anymore... I'm really excited to share! I'll be adding the new and replacing the old one or two things at a time... so hold onto your hats...cause within the next few weeks you can watch my transformation!!!! :)

Luna ~ Autumn Hippie

2009-08-25T21:34:00.010-05:00

So... first thing... my vacation was great... swam with P until I didn't think my fingers and toes were ever going to loose their raisin-y texture!

I spent some time puttering (not as much as I'd anticipated...we were having too much fun to work!) and knocked a bunch of projects off of my "no rush list" YAY!!!!!! It's great to shrink the list!

One of my favorites was a sweater set for the mom of one of my models. She needed something special for her new neice (who will be making her debut shortly). I had carte blanche with one tiny stipulation, make it for fall... I immediately knew what I wanted to do... chenille of course, and break into some of those new colors I ordered but haven't had a chance to play with! ...it all came together beautifully and I think I'm in love with Luna - especially the head band with the bead detailing!

The Luna - Autumn Hippie set (in a 4 to 6-ish month size) will soon be added to my repitoire. I'll also be offering the Luna Headband on it's own which is very forgiving and will fit anywhere from 6 months to about 6 years!

Enjoy!

sweet, sweet relief!!!!!!!!!!

2009-08-07T21:47:00.004-05:00

Oh...I'm soooooooooo excited... giddy almost... :)

...no I'm not heading to a tropical beach... anyone who knows me well knows that would not be my ideal... the heat... the hives from the sun... ugh.... nope, not for me....

So, my excitement is that as of this evening, I'm officially on vaction... from my day job... For a whole week!!! ...usually I don't take more than a couple days off in a row so I'm totally stoked that I booked the whole week off! Looking forward to lots of fun, fun, fun... and a little rest! ...and I've got a few tricks up my sleeve to surprise P... it's going to be a great week!

...oh, and I'm very-much looking forward to catching up on some of my "no-rush" projects...

Have a great week all!!!!! xo

a bowl of cherries...

2009-07-23T20:46:00.003-05:00

So I thought I'd give you a little peek at another one of my loves... it's not only yarn, sticks and hooks that I enjoy playing with....

I also love fabric and needles!!! ...I really enjoy designing occasion wear for little girls... I've usually got a pencil and paper handy to sketch out the ideas that come at the most unusual times... I've put my skills to work for more than a few friends...and also for the odd wedding project! ...As with my knitting etc, I like the unexpected, colors, details, quality workmanship, exquisite materials, well thought out design...

Here's a small taste of that!

I whipped up this dress for my girlfriend's daughter... I came up with a design concept, sketched it out... sourced out the materials that I'd need, made the pattern and brought it to life. About 20+ hours were spent hand-painting the cherries onto the shantung and that was before I actually put it together. The dress was trimmed with red satin backed crepe piping and red tulle peeking out at the bottom of the full skirt. All seams were professionally finished and the garment was fully lined. Red panties and an ivory (with red trim) hat went along to finish off the ensemble.

B was a challenging fit...she's tiny! ...tiny.... so it was exciting for me to create something for her that complimented her tiny size and pixie features!

Dreams for the future.... to expand my Paper Raisins line to include custom tailored occasion wear for little girls! :)

New-ool-o-pho'bi-a

2009-06-15T20:23:00.005-05:00

Newoolophobia (new-ool-o-pho'bi-a) [G. newwool - new type of wool + phobia - fear]

The illogical fear of a new, never before used type of wool, yarn or fibre.
Characteristics include fixation, gentle caressing and obsessive contemplation over the fibre's possible uses. It is typically stored in a prominent area, carefully protected in plastic, yet clearly visible, mocking you with its presence.

Newoolophobia can only be overcome by taking a few deep cleansing breaths and jumping in with both feet, needles or hook in hand.
Overcoming newoolophobia is undeniably rewarding, resulting in new, wonderful creations and a corresponding boost to self esteem.

I was recently afflicted with a serious case of newoolophobia. I had a request from a client, Gloria for some custom work, a beautiful wrap and hat set that appeared soft and light as a fluffy cloud. I unsuccessfully tried to source out some yarn around home.

I'm hesitant to buy yarn over the Internet...because, unless I've worked with it before I don't know how its going to feel. It could look stunning in a picture, but it could feel crunchy, scratchy or synthetic in my hands. Well...I took the plunge and found this gorgeous hand-spun merino wool from The Fiber Denn on Etsy. I was thrilled when it arrived, it's wonderful...it's soft...it varies drastically in thickness...so great texture...and its a beautiful natural ivory tone... LOVE IT!!!

Then came the newoolophobia...oh, boy... what if I mess this up??? The creation of this yarn was someone else's time, effort and art... it was costly... what if it doesn't turn out how Gloria was expecting... oh the stresses I can impose on myself...

Well, after a few weeks of mulling it over... with the yarn... in it's prominent position... mocking me..... I took the deep breath... and I'm so glad I did... I love how it came out... check it out! :)

...it's in the bag baby!!!

2009-06-04T21:10:00.004-05:00

So... I carry my knit/crochet with me ALL the time... but you knew that about me already! ...usually I carry an "eco-friendly" reusable grocery store bag with all my goods stuffed inside... not so glamorous ...somewhat utilitarian... does the job... I can live with that...

Well...after a whole lot of "window shopping" it was time for a treat! ...I first saw Jordana Paige knitting bags in, you guessed it, a knitting magazine...and I was in love! ...they're great... they've got all these special knitter-oriented packages and pockets... oh, they're awesome!

So... I finally ordered one! :) ...yay for me! :)

whatcha think?? ...I love the color, red-faux croc! ...so the next time I brought out my knitting at the in-laws they told me this was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH better... apparently the grocery store bag wasn't workin' for them! LOL...

hoppity hop.... star struck bunny!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-06-04T20:34:00.008-05:00

The baby bunny hat has became a favorite to many before it hit the market, thanks to this beautiful picture that Carol posted on her blog!! ...then with this week's Prop Insanity review ...so many people are asking...where's that bunny??

well...here it is... freshly posted to paperraisins.ca

The specs - 100% Acrylic (super-soft), ears lined with a cotton/polyester blend, trimmed with bows. Currently available in newborn size only... perfect as a photography prop, or as a gift to a new mommy!!! The baby bunny retails for $26.00. Available in tan (shown) or mottled tones. This bunny's star struck with the following fabric options, please let me know which one you choose at the time of ordering.... yellow, teal, blue or green

Hope you love the baby bunny as much as I do!!!

...come find me!!

2009-06-02T18:56:00.003-05:00

What kind of day is it today?? .....hmmmmmmmmmmmm.... how about a GREAT one!!!

Yesterday I was featured on Prop Insanity... a fantastic resource for photographers to connect with people who make photography props... I owe a huge thanks to Tracy who contacted me a while back. She'd seen some of my work and wondered if I'd be up for her doing a product review etc... I jumped readily on that bandwagon and sent her two of my favorite things... :) ...you'll have to check out the website to see which products they were!

So pop over, check out Prop Insanity... and the sweet pics Tracy took using my props!!!!

.........shhhhhhhhhh....whisper please....

2009-05-22T21:24:00.004-05:00

I was on this mini-roll with a post a week... but then I fell off the wagon ...I've been plugging along steadily with orders, which is great!!! What isn't happening though is stock isn't getting made... always a goal...to have stock ready for immediate shipment... I keep trying!!!

I'm totally excited because on June 29th the blog at Prop Insanity is doing a review and feature on a couple of my items... you'll have to check it out then to see which ones!! ...It's great exposure for me so I'm totally stoked! :)

And ....for the latest item... The Whisper Wrap - photography prop! The whisper wrap is worked up in this fantastic soft acrylic/nylon/mohair blend in a loose crochet so lots of skin will show! It's a scarf-style wrap. Hope you like! :)

Well...tomorrow morning we're off to Pembina, North Dakota... just a hop, skip and a jump away... picking up some parcels... a fantastic Jordana Paige knitting bag I very excitedly ordered, it's red faux croc... and some new yarn... trying out a new supplier!!! ...why I can't get some things shipped to Canada I'll never know!

ooooooooohh.... maybe I can convince the family to drive the extra hour and have Paradiso for lunch?? ;)

the button sling...........photography prop!!!

2009-04-27T15:35:00.005-05:00

After much deliberation.... and a bunch of emails inquiring about it ...I've decided to finally...........finally.........post the button sling!!! It was really tempting to torture you some more and make you wait a bit longer... but I give... :) I know you want to hear all about it... and since I hate to disappoint... :)

A while back I saw a gorgeous picture done by Kelley Ryden - her sister had made a sling for her - it was amazing! So, I thought I'd take a stab at it, and I'm so glad I did! ...I'm really excited about the sling! Here's my version... What do you think???

The button sling will be available in 4 colors (brown/ivory, limes, green/tan (as above), blues), has a wood button detail and will retail for $90. There will be limited availability - I bought the store out of the yarn it takes to make this!!! :)

So I'm totally stoked in two other areas... Carol finished editing the images from our product shoot and I'm just in the process of picking out what I want... which so far is um............ everything!!?? ...she does such amazing work it's hard to choose... I'm blown away by the shots she got, seriously can there be too many product shots? :)

The second thing I'm stoked about is that I'm finally working on my "space"... my husband would call it the yarn room... but I prefer to give it a little more prestigious title... my studio!!!

I've had it planned for so long and it's finally going to come together... I got this fantastic EQ3 storage piece in a glossy brown color...and the inside of the drawers are lime green...i think i'm in love! ...the lady at the store suggested that for a work surface I go to our local Habitat Re-Store (they sell stuff that has been salvaged from buildings etc) ...they did however have some brand-spankin'-in-the-box-stuff.... so i got two shiny...shiny red EQ3 tabletops...and fantastic brushed metal legs.... oh, my goodness to actually have enough room to work! ....plus we're in the process of hanging two long narrow cabinets with sliding doors above the work surface area... I'm all about the storage... and i bought a great lamp...and I've got a chair & ottoman to re-upholster after i pick out the fabric.... YAY!!! ...i finally see a light at the end of the tunnel! I will be sure to post pics once it's all together! I should have taken a before shot... boxes of yarn piled up to the ceiling!!!

Well - hope you enjoy the button sling...and stay tuned for more things to come... still more new products to showcase! :)

the feathered nest.... photography prop!!!

2009-04-19T13:01:00.006-05:00

UPDATE - sand (shown) is now sold out... but we still have sage and water available...

Well, I'm totally excited to add the feathered nest to my repitoire of newborn photography props!

The yarn is this great stuff I found at my local yarn shop, and it was even on clearance!!! ...it was fantastic, there's so many things I like about it, it's more of a ribbon than a yarn, it has a couple rows of stitching running the length (made me think of pin stripes) and then there's the fine fuzzy strand that's attached, what's not to love???? ...although I didn't know exactly what I'd do with it at first (which is also why I suspected it was on clearance - obviously others didn't know what they'd do with it either), I knew I had to have it! ...I bought all that they had in stock! :)

Once I thought on it for a while I decided it would lend itself perfectly for a photography prop, especially since it's sooooooooooooo soft and dreamy looking... I think you're going to love it!! ...this one will have limited availability, once I run out of this fantastic yarn it's done, great for those who purchase them because you'll know it's not something that you'll be seeing a lot of people using. :)

The colors are sand, sage & water - and the feathered nest retails for $35.

Enjoy...

OH.... PS... the horizontal button sling will be coming up soon, I promise!!! ...just trying to decide if I should post it next OR ...leave you "hanging" for a little longer... whatcha think? :)

earthen hive - photography prop!!

2009-04-12T11:39:00.006-05:00

Well...I'm super excited that I'm able to offer some new photography props... and some new colors for existing props!

I had a fantastic product shoot with Carol last weekend! ....did I mention FANTASTIC?? :) It was so amazing to watch her in action... she's like a non-addictive sedative for babies... I often wondered how she got such amazing shots... all sleepy and bendy and now I know!!! She's got an amazing gift...that's for sure! We had a great time... and it didn't hurt that our two models were ADORABLE!!! ...great big thanks to their moms (and dads) for lending them to us!

The earthen hive is a variation on the hive wrap that I already offer. The yarn is new and available in such great colors!! Hope you love them as much as I do! The colors from bottom left across and then up are : pumpkin, deciduous, water, garden, cave, middle earth & surface.

Tips: The hive wrap is intended for newborns - within their first couple weeks. Their legs should be tight against their body, not extended. Scrunch the wrap down like you would when you put on a sock. It's best to put their bottom into position and then ease the wrap up around their legs, midsecton, shoulders and up over the head. Don't be afraid to stretch it a bit - should fit very snug with lots of skin showing through!

Things to come - stay close because in the next few weeks I'll have several new things coming! I've got a great horizontal button sling that's upcoming...it was based on a Tracy Raver design and it's already creating buzz!! ...I'm really eager to get that one up!!

Enjoy! :)

love....hate...

2009-03-28T19:15:00.005-05:00

Do I start with the LOVE... or the HATE??

I'll start with the hate and get that over with!! ...I hate having to tell a client that something is out of stock! ...sometimes I get fantastic yarns, clean out the store of it and then can't get it in again... once i've used it up, it's gone... that makes me sad... and I hate having to tell someone they can't have what they really want... okay, so I guess there might be one positive thing though, for the people who do get those products... they are getting something unique!

now that i've vented... let's talk about the LOVE.... or rather i'll talk... :)

I love when clients LOVE their stuff... I love when they're so excited to get their items that they can't wait until I've left to open them up... or so excited that they ask me to ship overnight so they can see it right away... which has happened 3 times this weekend!!! ...makes me very happy!!! :)

I really enjoy being able to provide a client with a product that exceeds their expectation... A loves hats but has a challenging head size.......... uh......... she has to shop in the kids department for hats!! ...so finding a "grown-up" style...not to mention finding something that looks "grown-up" AND stylish in the retail market... seems to be too much to ask! ...i've now made 4 hats for A...and she's just requested a 5th... for her it's great because she's getting what she wants and not comprimising on fit.... for me, it's fun... she loves her stuff enough to keep coming back for more...could there be a bigger compliment than that?

I took A out for some pictures on a lunch break (from the "day" job).... still trying to get the hang of taking pictures...and I ended up with a few that i'm quite proud of... yay!! We had a great agreement...she'd be patient with me because i'm no photographer...and i'd be patient with her because she's no model... :) iIve included a few of the pics from that day thoughout today's post...

Well...i'm off... that was more long winded than I anticipated... as you can imagine I talk a lot in person too!!! ...i've got lots of stuff to make for next week's newborn product shoot... i'm super excited about that!! ..i'll keep you posted!

...anyone want to play with Paper Raisins?

2009-03-24T19:02:00.002-05:00

Carol and I are partnering up for a product shoot!!! I've got some great newborn photography props and hats I'm dying to have tried out!!! ...and taking stills just doesn't do them justice.

SO.............here's the thing... we're going to be needing some models! Specifically newborns (with their mommies only) and they will need to be under 14 days old on the day of the shoot.

The Date - April 4th @ 10am.

The Location - Carol's home in LaSalle (just south of the south perimeter...not far at all!!!)

The Info - the session will run 3-4 hours with lots of breaks.

What's in it for you? - You will receive a $40 Paper Raisins gift certificate, the session free and a beautiful 11x14 print of your little one!

What do we require? - You will need to sign a model release form to allow Paper Raisins & Freckle Face Photography to use the images for marketing purposes.

If you or someone you know has had a baby in the last couple days or will be having one in the next few days and would like to come and play with us, contact me @ lee-ann@paperraisins.ca.

props baby...

2009-03-15T10:56:00.011-05:00

Well, i've been up to my armpits in paint! Our living room is well on it's way to looking fabulous!!! ...I am soooo excited... :) ...and new carpet will be be coming soon too!! ....thanks to a horrible paint/dog/stairs incident and the great insurance company replacing it...

I've been working on some photography props for Carol and I'm finally able to offer a few of them on my website! Yay!

The Orginal Cocoon Wrap - a Marta Locklear design - is currently offered in 4 colors, surf, heather, fire & thunder. Wrap shown in surf, other colors below.

The Mummy Wrap - a Paper Raisins orginal! Offered in spring, summer, fall & winter.

The Gourd Hat - a Paper Raisins original! Offered in surf, heather, fire & thunder.

The Hive - a Paper Raisins original! Offered in Orange as shown, white, raspberry & hot blue.

The new wraps can be found on the "for fun" section of the galleries on http://www.paperraisins.ca/.

And lastly, for now the Trumpet Lily hat (named for the way it looks unworn and uncuffed. This one is made from a beautiful wool/soy blend. There are some truly stunning colors, uniquely blended and vibrant.

The new hats can be found on the "for baby" section of the galleris on http://www.paperraisins.ca/.

Enjoy the new stuff!!! :)

...humph...

2009-02-17T17:40:00.005-06:00

...here's a shot that didn't make paperraisins.ca... it's a variation of the shot that I added to the "for mom" section. I posted this one...briefly, but decided to swap it out for one that looks more fresh and fun... since this one wasn't in keeping with my theme.... uh, thanks for pointing that out Aunt Les.... :P

I wanted to share it anyway because I really like how it came out... just not for my website...

Okay...i'm done pouting now :)

the schoolbus driver...

2009-02-12T19:57:00.003-06:00

Here's a variation on a new syle...thought I'd try it with buttons and a band, and I'm LOVING how it came out! It was so much fun...I got this box of crafting odds and ends from a friend and was so excited to sift through literally hundreds of buttons.... now I'm trying to come up with anything that I can do with buttons!!! ...It's great becasue of the one-of type work that I enjoy doing, the trimmings can vary, depending on what I can find in this box of many buttons!!! The sizing options so far are 18", 20", 22".

Pype enjoyed her first trip on a transit bus to the public library. I'm ashamed to say that it's taken me 3 1/2 years to take her there, usually I just pick up my reads on lunch from work. She was in awe when she realized that the building we were standing across from was the library, and even more awed when she saw how many books were there, I believe it was a slow, deliberate, "hooooolllyyyyyy cow!" that came out!

On the bus is where I got this shot...and I promise I will have this added to the gallery on my website this weekend!!! ....there will be lots of color options upon request!

new hats!!!!

2009-01-26T18:37:00.004-06:00

Hooray for new yarn and new hats!!! ...i'm still working on the size ranges for these ones, but should have them up on the website shortly!!

I've had this pattern for a newsboy style cap for a while now and just hadn't done anything with it... found this great soy/wool blend and thought i'd give it a shot. Of course I found things that I wanted to adjust... so I'm still working on improving the pattern...

The first one is a cotton newsboy, super-cute and i'll have several colors to choose from once I get my act together!

The second is the wool/soy newsboy...which I plan to adjust (from what you see in the picture) ...I plan to line it with jersey fabric and make a double-layered brim for more structure... but I loved doing the flower pattern, they're all shell-type buttons and jewelery beads...

Unfortunately, the pic turned out WAY too dark... but you get the idea on the hat anyway!!

and the winner was....

2009-01-23T19:55:00.004-06:00

Tasha from Life's Little Treasures Photography (http://lifeslittletreasuresphotography.blogspot.com/) ...but what did she win?? Carol (http://www.frecklefacephotography.com/) hosted a contest a few months back and Tasha won a Paper Raisins gift certificate!!!

Tasha shot me an email and just wasn't sure what exactly she wanted, she liked one of the hats I'd done recently but wanted something a little more neutral...so after a few emails back and forth and a couple trips to the yarn shop we had a winner...

I put together this brown and ivory tassled hat... complete with a couple detachable purple flowers for a little punch! ...oh, and I couldn't resist making a scarf to match...so I threw that in too... sometimes I just can't stop... must keep crocheting... :)

I was excited when I received this pic of her little girl in the set... It makes me so happy to get feedback, especially to find out that I've nailed it, and made exactly what they didn't know they were looking for!

Tomorrow I'm heading out to take some pics of Pype, in the new hat I whipped up for her... hopefully they turn out!!!

yarn & stuff

2009-01-14T21:03:00.005-06:00

Well... I made it through the holiday rush... yay for me!!! :)

I got a new camera...it's really fancy!!! ...and I'm really hoping to develop some skills... me, skills and camera are somewhat questionable together, but i've always been intrigued by photography and thought there's no time like the present to jump in with both feet... and if I can get Pyper to stop making faces for more than 2 minutes at a time, i'll have an in-house model!!!

I picked up a bunch of yarn a little while ago...I saw this one and had to have it...it was stunning. I don't think I quite captured the colors of it, i'm going to have to play some more... it's this beautiful lime and aqua with silver accents... it is intended for a scarf... there was this great lady at my work who retired, she was a blast and I gave her a "pick whatever you want" gift certificate... once I came across this, I knew it had to be for her!!!

I've got a bunch of little projects in the works, and again many new styles that are on the horizon... tried to get some shots of my girlfriend's baby in a few, but I just couldn't get what I was after... got some great pics of her little guy, just none that showcased my merchandise...

I just signed up on flickr - you can check me out there too... hopefully you'll be seeing progressively better shots... more pressure to succeed if I know someone's keeping an eye on the progress!!! ...check it out at ww.flickr.com/photos/paper_raisins

...i'm off... hope you're all keeping warm...it was -49 with the wind chill today... brrrrrrrrrrrrr

gift orders...

2008-12-05T12:23:00.005-06:00

Quick post to say my hooks are producing full-steam ahead... I haven't had time to post about my new chenille colors yet... or post any new styles as I'd hoped... I probably won't get the new styles up until after the holidays :(

So I just wanted to mention that I'm running at about 1 to 1 1/2 weeks from order confirmation to shipping/delivery or pickup - so please keep that in mind when placing orders for the holidays!! ...please order as early as possible... I really want everyone to get their "stuff" in time!!!

Happy shopping!!!

Mary-Jane Slippers!!!

2008-11-24T11:41:00.004-06:00

I'm so excited to finally post the mary-jane slipper. I bought this pattern some time ago but when I made my first pair there was a major design flaw - every time I took a step my toes would pop out the top... it was like flossing your toes... not a pleasing quality in a slipper! I shelved the pattern for a while...

Eventially I decided that they were so cute that they deserved some re-working to make them the awesome slippers that they were meant to be!! I'm so glad I did because I am in love with this pattern - they're not your grandmother's slipper... ;)

Specs - ultra-stylish mary-jane shape - 100% cotton slipper - double layer sole for added cusioning - firm upper provides just the right balance of support and flexibility - strap keeps the slipper securely where they belong - super comfortable - sizes XS, S, M, L (fits aprox 6, 7, 8, 9 respectively) - $25.00 a pair. Great gift idea!!!

Now for the fun part - there are so many color options and combinations, here are a few examples! I'll be posting them to my website very soon!

..."The" interview

2008-11-21T14:44:00.005-06:00

Well... I'm a little late on this one... about a week in fact... :) I've been hopelessly sick and more or less non-functional... which set back the slipper production! :( ...incidentally I should have some pics of those to post this wknd!!! YAY!!

Anyway...back to the topic at hand... Carol from Freckleface Photography (http://www.frecklefacephotography.ca ) contacted me about doing an interview on her blog. She's doing a series of posts called Workin' Woman Wednesday - and I was her first "real" interview!! ...it was lots of fun to answer all her questions and I totally love her idea - uh....why didn't I think of that??? :) I find it personally encouraging to know that we're not alone out there trying to succeed as business women, all the while juggling a great many things! It's also a great way to find out about all these interesting businesses and the women who front them! YAY Carol... I just read your second interview and can't wait to read more!!!

If anyone wants to check out my interview you can proceed to the following:

http://frecklefacephotography.blogspot.com/2008/11/workin-woman-wednesday.html

Boys...boys...boys

2008-11-13T12:11:00.004-06:00

There is a serious lack of crochet patterns for boys, but I bet I didn't have to tell you that! I loved the scarf with tassles that Pyper made (with a little help) so much that I decided to make a boy hat & scarf set based on it!

I bought a couple balls of this great multi-colored yarn with dark green, grey and taupe - I bought it for something else entirely but though it would lend itself perfectly to this project. It's SUPER soft!

Since I have only a small amount of this yarn I can only offer two of this set, first come, first served! ...The hat fits a size 18-20" - it's nice and plyable.. the scarf has the loop to keep it in place around the neck. They are very easy to care for, machine wash in warm water and dry on low heat - but I do strongly, strongly recommend washing and drying in a laundry bag to prevent any snags from other clothing. The cost for the 2-piece set is $45.00.

Stay tuned for those awesome slippers I mentioned in the Pyper post... they will be making an appearance soon!

Miss Pyper's first project!!!

2008-11-12T09:27:00.006-06:00

Pyper just finished her first crochet project... i'm so excited for her!!! She wanted to make a scarf for "Auntie Crystal's other baby" she said as we were in the store shopping for yarn. The "other" baby is the one that has not yet been born. So we picked out this icy blue alpaca blend, it's super-soft!

Through many evenings she sat in my lap holding the hook with her right hand while I guided the yarn with the left - complete teamwork. I must admit I sneaked in a couple extra rows for her here and there to speed the process a little!!! I did the finishing and added the tassles and she's so excited to box it up and take it over!

My next project is these great slippers - so she says - "mommy can you teach ME how to make slippers". I told her it's pretty hard to which she answered, "I knowww that, I want you to teeeeeeeach me". How can I say no to that? I suspect she's going to jump right in with both feet just like her mom!

I can't wait to post the new boy set that I just finished last night, and those fantastic slippers, they haven't even hit the website yet and I've already got a bunch of orders!!! :)

mmmmmmmmm........ butter........

2008-10-26T12:39:00.005-05:00

oops... I`ve been seriously delinquent in the posting department... our move proved to be more unsettling than I had expected, but I`m here, catching up on orders and trying out some new stuff!! ...I love new stuff!!!

I was in touch with my chenille supplier and placed a BIG order...yay!!! ...yarn... I`m trying to get some of the popular colors that I`m running (or have run) out of and of course a few new ones to add. It`s funny when you`re in the realm of ordering yarn by the pound, rather than by the ball... I asked her how much i can fit in one box... and she said not more than 50 pounds.... 50 pounds... holy cow... that`s like 1 1/2 Pypers ...of yarn...

Carol (freckleface photography) was in touch with me a couple weeks ago and sent me an image to see what I could do with it... as a result I made a newborn ``pod`` ...I LOVE it and hope it works for her! It`s out of this great dill colored bamboo yarn...melty soft!!! I love these opportunities, getting to step outside of the ``box`` and create a pattern from scratch, especially the photography props, since they`re not my norm... hopefully I`ll have a great shot of it soon to post!

Just finished a hat order... (above) a chenille berry hat, they`re so adorable...I really like making them, and they are so cute on... the shade I used was one I forgot I had (the larger ``the stash`` gets the more amnesia about what`s in it) :) ...anyway, it`s butter.... soft, smooth, cuddly... butter... I hope the intended recipient loves it... `cause I sure do!!!

I hope to have the berry hats added to the website soon, a few people know I do them and have requested them specifically even though they`re not yet listed. I`m also planning to add newborn boxed gift-sets...like the one I did in the Cotton Candy pink (post below) I figure one for girls, one for boys and one neutral... so easy for gift giving, it`s all there for you, all you have to do is wrap!!!

Oh, I almost forgot.... I`m offering Gift Certificates now!!! ...sometimes it`s hard to make choices for someone else so now you can let them do the deciding... They`re available in denominations of your choice, $15 minimum.

Mourning the loss...

2008-09-21T19:21:00.011-05:00

It is with a heavy heart that I report the untimely loss of cotton candy.

She was born in North Carolina, at a manufacturing plant, it was not an ideal environment for her beginnings. Once she had "served her purpose" her owners auctioned her off to the highest bidder which is when Cotton candy entered our lives. She was welcomed with open and loving arms into our family. She had a beautiful color and had a fine disposition, always soft and gentle, and so flexible - willing to do whatever I asked of her. There is not a person that she encountered who didn't share a love and appreciation for her many favorable qualities.

Cotton candy will be greatly missed! With a little help she managed to pull herself together for one final project, her magnum opus before she met her tragic fate.

Here's to you cotton candy! I will miss you more than you know!

PS - I couldn't figure out why all the pictures i took of this set came out hazy... just discovered little fingerprints on my lens... thanks to P!!! I think she's an aspiring photographer! :)

PPS - Cotton Candy was my pale pink chenille yarn.

Confessions...

2008-09-15T09:32:00.007-05:00

I have a large stash – and I don’t mean moustache! My yarn collection could rival any respectable yarn store.
Although I have this large stash, I still buy more yarn!
I regularly beg my husband to take up crochet so I can increase production.
Acrylic chenille is one of my favourite materials – it can be tricky to work with but is so soft and cuddly I can’t resist.
I have an addiction to Slurpees and Kraft Dinner (I know! It’s bad!!!!)
Every time I come up with a design idea (crochet, home, sewing, scrapbooking...) i'm terrified that i'll never have another good idea.
I'm starting to teach P how to crochet, she's 3 - child labor isn't all bad is it??? ;)
I'm excited about my business and terrified at the same time. Hopeful it will be successful, afraid it will be successful...i'm an exercise in contradiction!
I am a birth junkie, facinated by the natural, unmedicated & properly supported process. I read about birth, I watch shows about birth - and not the baby-story type, the natural, raw kind. If I had a chance in life to go back to school it would be to become a midwife.
I take crochet projects out with me...i've even been known to crochet at red lights while driving... ssshhhhhhhhh, don't tell!
I'm a perfectionist when it comes to my work - i'll tear something out and start over 10 times if it makes it come out better in the end... it pains my husband to watch!
I love my family of 3!

lift off........

2008-08-27T21:11:00.005-05:00

Today I lauched Paper Raisins' new look! ...a new face with lots of new images. It's been quite a while in the works and it's nice to have it done...ish...!!!

Of course there is lots of great stuff to come...fantastic new patterns, color options etc... but it's a start. A lot of my stuff is in storage right now since we're moving in October... and moving us means Paper Raisins is moving too.

I am so excited that in the new digs - I will have my own dedicated space to create! ...I've picked out the color scheme and can't wait to impliment it...it will be fantastic to have creative and soothing surroundings in which to do what I love doing! I only wish it didn't have to be a part-time passion. I feel like Clark Kent - during the day working an 8-4 then morphing into Superman when I get home! ...well, maybe not super"man" ...more like super"mompreneur", it's a lot of work to try to juggle!

Anyway...enough babbling... enjoy the new look, new site and new styles...and keep your eyes peeled for more great things to come!

Images

2008-07-17T08:00:00.010-05:00

I had a lunch meeting with Carol (freckleface photography) yesterday and we exchanged goods! I am now in posession of stunning images with which to reconfigure my website, I can hardly wait. Here's a sneak peek at a few images...

Of course, my girl...
Are his eyes not stunning??!!

I really hope that Carol is as happy with her handmade props as I am with her photographs. I'm still in the process of finishing up the last hat, I made one each for her three girls. The last of those is in the works and I picked up some fantastic ribbon and a clip to use on it, since I'm told she's not a frilly girl it's more tailored. I really hope the girls like their hats once i'm done...

I can't wait to get the ball rolling on the new website!

PS - an extra special thanks out to my fantastic "models"...they did so well and are absolutely gorgeous kids!!!!

...Making it work

2008-07-02T22:04:00.010-05:00

This post is a test of sorts! I'm taking issue with the fact that when I post pictures along with my text for some reason my spaces between paragraphs mysteriously disappear. Incredibly frustrating!!

So I thought i'd give it another go and make it worth my while by including a pic of a sweater from a set I made for a client. The style was requested in this fantastic color for her neice's baby after she met me at a local craft show.

It's a pattern I really love...Auntie was thrilled with the results and hopefully mom was too. The set was hand-crocheted using the most melty-soft acrylic chenille... a weakness of mine!!!

Here's hoping the spacing stays put!!

OH...MY...GOODNESS... apparently paragraph spacing was too much to ask... what does a girl have to do to get a single blank line between her paragraphs??!!???

Kayla

2008-06-23T19:58:00.023-05:00

Well, a trip to the emergency room on Friday afforded me the time necessary to finish up this hat for Kayla. She's the unborn child of one of my daughter's daycare workers. I'd save the hat until after she's born but her mom isn't returning to work after, so no better time than the present.

I made this Cloche Style hat from acrylic chenille and sized it to fit her at about 3-6 months, so she should be good-to-go for the fall/winter, provding her head circumference co-operates!!! I had been saving this fantastic plum chenille for something special. I broke it out for Carol (frecklefacephotography.ca) to make a newborn hat and decided that it would be lovely for Kayla too! I have such a small amount of it that i'm really trying to save it for special projects!

Hope the hat is a hit!!! :) ...and i hope that somewhere down the line i get to see a picture of Kayla in it!

All Good Things

2008-05-07T12:58:00.023-05:00

...must come to an end... so the addage goes!

We returned home last week from Florida. I'm not one for heat or the sun... but I had a great time anyway. We took P to Disney World - she was blown away! We sat outside and watched a show - walked, walked and walked - got her face painted, shopped... and tried to get her in for a Princess Makeover in Cinderella's casle... unsucessfully - they were fully booked...for a year...!!

She enjoyed her audience with the princesses!

She was in awe of everything, and so was I, right along side her! Disney is a truly a magical place!

My knitting needles were working busily in my spare time, preparing a prototype of a wrap to use at newborn photoshoots. Fingers crossed that Carol likes the result! ...and of course true to my addiction I had to check out the local stores for yarn. As if my yarn stash isn't big enough already!

Home means a snap back to reality - fixing our condo for sale... but eagerly anticipating the move - where I will have a room for my studio! I am so excited to be able to have a space dedicated to my craft - I can't wait to decorate it - i've got the design all worked out. If only I didn't have to wait until October! :)

Esther

2008-04-11T09:51:00.019-05:00

Just in the nick of time I finished the hat and scarf set for Esther. After painting my upstairs hallway's second coat I hit the hook hard... up late putting on the finishing touches, and none too soon either. The retirement party for is this morning and I just got it wrapped and boxed, whew!

I think it's her, it should be a big hit! ...in fact now that it's done I want a set for myself...

Congratulations on your retirement Esther... you deserve the break!!!

WOW!

2008-04-07T11:56:00.001-05:00

Okay so here it is...

...Carol posted a sneak peek of pics from the Paper Raisins photo shoot we did about a week ago (check them out on http://www.frecklefacephotography.blogspot.com/). So - now i'm officially embarassed!!! All the pictures I have posted on my website currently (that I took myself), most of which were in my house, all with flash and artificial lighting... hee, hee...oops... with colors that are definitely NOT true to life... oh, my... it is a sad state of affairs... I should really focus on the crocheting and leave the photography to Carol!!! :)

Well, I guess we do the best we can with what we have at the time... but these photos are amazing... the kids look fantastic and Auntie "C" looks awesome too ...as usual! :) I am so looking forward to getting these up on Paper Raisins!!!!!!

"P" loved the pics of herself... acts like a goof in front of the camera for me, but does great for Carol...and when I opened the blog page and she saw the picture "About Me" section, it was, "Hey... that's my best friend Carol!".

Well, back to crocheting I go... I'm on my lunch break at my "day" job and working on a hat/scarf set for a friend! ...i'll post a poorly taken photo of it (LOL) when i'm finished!

L-A

Beginnings

2008-03-29T19:48:00.001-05:00

It looks like things are starting to take shape.

Months and months...and months ago I registered my business, but have done very little with it. Until today... I had a photoshoot with some amazing kids, and a fantastic photographer, Carol (freckle face photography). My daughter calls her the Carol that takes pictures (she knows a few Carols).

The moms had a blast with all the wardrobe changes, trading of clothes and most importantly... great hats! The kids did fantastic and I can't wait to see the result!!! I am so looking forward to what i'm positive will be amazing pictures to help showcase my wares. And i'll be feeling extremely humbled about my current product shots (sadly, taken by me) versus Carol's artistic talent!

A huge, HUGE, HUGE thanks to Carol for making today so painless... I had such an exciting afternoon!