Coming soon...

I have also just recently bought my domain

and started work on my own site through Big cartel....

www.stellajade.com

I'm working slowly on adding pieces to my site,

as well as keeping my etsy shop up to date.

I'm super busy, but having the BEST time.

Garnish your ears.

Molly Earrings:

Days spent on the beach.

Florida Faves No.3

We spent a few lovely days on a secluded beautiful island

bathing in the sun, floating in the ocean, taking walks,

and searching for sand dollars.

Meet Chloe

...a new addition to the shop:

    My "Happy Birthday America" Sale 

is still running & going through July 8th.

   Free shipping to the US & Canada

   & 15% off everything in the shop :)

Brand Spankin' New!

After vacation, it seems that it just always

takes a bit of time to get back in the groove of things.

But, I'm finally back in stride and am adding

2 new lovely additions to the shop today!

A beautiful vintage style buckle bracelet:

& a Necklace of beautiful vintage charms.

Busy Busy Busy

I've been slacking on my blogging

mostly cause I was so busy 

preparing for my first show

... and since then I've been busy 

trying to photograph all my new items.

My first art and craft show went well.

I had hoped for a little better,

but it was a rainy day...

I had 2 great friends who came out 

and took turns helping me.

And wonderful family and friends

who came out to see and support me :)

Here's my table...

and here it is with 'Shelly' in a different spot

to make her better seen to those walking in the door...

I learned a lot,

like for the next show I will 

put money towards a nice black table cloth.

I had spent so much money on so many other things 

I just didn't want to spend a ton of money on a table cloth

this time around...

I was next to two wonderful ladies

and all the other vendors at the show

were super sweet.

We had lots of fun chatting it up and 

walking around to see each other's items.

Plus it was free to have a spot...

I'll definitely go back in December :)

Earth Day!

It's a huge fantastic selection of goodies 

that will be given away to 

4 different randomly selected winners!!

Do you want to be a Winner?

I know I do!...

Look at all these wonderful items...

...So, go HERE, follow the instructions...

and maybe you'll be the winner of some

pretty fantastic earth friendly items!!!

A great new blog and a feature

Robin Lynne has started a blog

    Etsy under $20.

A fantastic idea, as there are MANY

great items at affordable prices on etsy.

And I'm flattered to have my orange rose ring

featured on her brand new blog!

Robin Lynne takes beautiful photographs

Photograph is property of Robinlynne

which you can find in her Etsy shop 

and you can also visit her website

My little family

My hubby lost his job a little over a month ago.

But God provided an opportunity 

that same day that he lost his job, for

a short 4 week contract job, the only catch...

the contract job was in Panama City Beach.

I didn't know how I'd make it 4 weeks without him.

But, he took the job, and we made it through the 4 weeks.

And we're so thankful that during his contract,

He got offered a full time position. (here in dallas)!!!

He ended up getting called out of town again for 2 days.

So I'm alone again.

And I'm matron of honor in a wedding tomorrow.

But he'll be back in the morning and will be able 

to dance with me at the wedding. So all is ok.

So this week, we spent some time at the zoo one day, 

and got McKenzie's picture taken with the easter bunny another day.

We had a FANTASTIC time at the zoo.

And McKenzie called me Mama.  Pointed at me and said, " Mama".

One of the greatest days ever :)

Flamingos

Same spot 10 months ago:

First Carousel Ride:

She loved the little petting zoo area!

And feeding the birds.  

This was so fun with her.

I got some great video, but 

missed a moment I'm still kicking myself for.  

She actually got a bird to sit on her stick 

and she lifted up carefully enough

that he stayed for a bit....  not long enough for me

to catch on camera, though. So sad.

I loved seeing her love the animals.

And watching her learn and enjoy things.

It's so amazing and exciting.

I'm just in awe of all the little moments with her.

So thankful and so blessed to be her Mama.

A List of Firsts

On February 22nd, McKenzie started walking 

And since her first birthday in January there's

been a plethora of firsts... My baby changes every day.

I haven't shared all I've wanted to about her recently

because of Cora's passing.  It felt wrong somehow...

She can point out her

eyes

ears

hair (what little she has)

teeth

tummy

belly button

and feet

She says

go go

keys

no

eye

daddy (which is also meant as "what's that")

mama (but she doesn't really call me mama, she just says it)

uh oh

woof woof  (when asked what a dog says, or when she sees or hears a dog)

She also says ooohhhoo at things she finds to be pretty 

or exciting.

Opa being the nature lover that he is has taught her to sniff flowers

So now whenever she sees a flower... real  or not.  She sniffs.

I bought her some chunky crayons this month 

and she's actually done some scribbling

though she prefers to take the crayons out of the box 

and put them back in, more than actually putting crayon to paper.

Taking things out of something and putting them back in, 

or putting lids on things is a constant source of fun.

She also kisses with a puckered closed mouth now.

Which is sorta sad, cause I miss her slobbery kisses.

But it's so much cleaner now.

She can drink from a straw now ,

and loves her juice boxes.

(Do they still make those juice box holders? 

We need one..BAD)

And she loves to bring me books to read.

Though it's a little sad seeing my baby grow and change so fast.

It's exciting, fun, and such a great adventure.

Babys/Kids are so interesting...

the way they learn, what they can accomplish.

Life is such a precious miracle.

After pulling my new scarves out of the bag

I showed her how to wear it, which

received many "ooohhooo" s as she 

'pranced' around the room.

Handmade Beauty

Recycled Antique Pillow Cover Dress 

Photo copyright of Stephanie Teague

I about DIED when I saw this gorgeous dress from 

Pretty Birdie by Stephanie Teague.

Isn't it gorgeous!? What talent!?

She used an antique pillow cover and vintage curtains in this design.

The neck is hand sewn from vintage sheer muslin and 

the belt is recycled leather with adjustable snaps.

My favorite parts....the neck and the cinching on the skirt.

Oh gorgeous little dress, Be MINE.

Spring/Summer Line

New pieces to my spring/summer line are being added almost daily.

...as much as I can get done and add while my daughter sleeps.

and lucky me, she's napped a ridiculously long time today! 

Zero complaints from me about that, though.  She was CRANKY earlier today.

It's Almost finished...

... just a few more things to hang.

-the remaining art prints

-the dry erase board

..and I'll need to fix the cords to the wall or hide them. 

Or maybe in my laziness they'll be left to hang there

in all there beautifulness. ha.

But it has come a long way.

And I'm still kicking myself for not having before shots.

From the doorway looking in:

I really want THIS pink rolling chair from Ikea..

or THIS one, even though I could never convince myself 

or david for that matter, to buy that chair for that price.

And I do understand neither would probably be as comfortable 

as the ugly gray one I currently own.

Another view:

Handy little baskets:

My Printing & Shipping Center as I like to call it.

It feels so good to have this *mostly* finished.

I can think more clearly in an organized & fresh space.

Hooray!

New for Stella Jade

I had an order yesterday for one of the butterfly necklaces

I made in memory of Cora.

This special necklace is going to a friend of the purchaser 

as a birthday present.

So as I started packaging it up, I became frustrated with the way

I've previously been sending my items...

Just wasn't as pleasing to the eye as I'd like.

So I decided on making these cards for my jewelry:

and then some pretty gift wrap for the birthday girl:

I also recently got my order of kraft jewelry boxes

(many months after starting to look and trying to decide

exactly what I wanted/needed), 

and a huge box of 'Go Green' mailing envelopes.

I've rearranged my work space a bit, and am working

on hanging pictures and such to bring some color and fun in.

A space to feel inspired in.

I'm excited about all the wonderful change!

Pretty Shower Favors

For a bridal shower I hosted with the other bridesmaids this weekend, I found THIS idea.

Supplies needed:

-Tissue paper.

-Lace. (The lace used in the picture I found (see above) is much prettier, but I had limited time to find my supplies once I decided on this for the favors)

-Cord, ribbon or string

-small individually wrapped candy (I used a bag of Mini's Mix)

-clear treat bags

-Time.  (allow for plenty of it, as to not have your other hosts hidden away, wrapping final favors while guests are arriving)

Roll the wrapped candies up in small pieces of tissue paper, lay lace over top, pinch the ends and tie with cord, ribbon or string. 

Cora's Playground Etsy Benefit Sale

So many of us in the blogging community 

have been touched by Cora's story.

Our hearts are hurting for her sweet mommy and daddy

and I think we've all been searching for a way to help.

Thanks to Julie's sweet efforts, 

many of us have come together to 

donate proceeds from our shops to Cora's Playground.

                                      &

Thanks to Daydreams by design and Sara & Abraham 

for donating the Sweet Button design for our blogs.

If you feel led to help, click on the pink button in my side bar 

and it will direct you to the items/shops donating proceeds 

to Cora's Playground.

&

Please copy and paste the link underneath the button 

and add it to your own blog to help us spread the word!

 (And if you need help adding it, just let me know)

You can read more about Cora's life 

and find out more about the playground 

from Jess and Joel's blog, HERE.

Good and productive day!

I got much accomplished today.

Which I'm really relieved about.

I finished all the thank you cards to send out to people who brought gifts 

to Lil' Miss's birthday party.

Yes I was behind. 

But i have good excuses, illness and moving. 

Bad combo for getting anything accomplished. 

I finished 5 new pieces for the shop.

Here's 1:

Hope to have them all posted in the shop by the end of the weekend.

And I'm finishing up on shower invites this evening. 

My paper cutter and I are at odds, so it's been rough getting 

those invites precise. But no fear, I'm making it happen.

And a bonus cap off to the day,

my hubby just told me that he won a contest at work, 

and the prize is a flat screen tv.

I'm super excited. We've talked about buying one for ourselves for the past 2 christmases, 

and now we get a pretty and free 40" delivered directly to our door next week.

Oh happy fun day.

Grosgrain...Kathleen's back, and at it again!

Grosgrain: The Lunch Date Blouse GIVEAWAY!!!!

Amazing, simple, beautiful....

....maybe, just maybe, I will be lucky enough to win this time :)

Use the link at the beginning of this post for your chance to win!

A plethora of newness!

Royal Key Necklace:

Tulip Ring:

and one earring of a pair I'm working on. Yes, just one... I'm doing 

so much at one time, that I can't even show you a completed pair... 

My sister in law bought the vintage merlot bracelet, 

and then requested earrings and necklace to match... here are the earrings:

necklace:

I finished the pair of purple earrings, but not in time to have good light to photograph them.

This necklace wasn't finished in time for great light either, but I wanted to share a preview.

Happy New Year's Eve everyone!

...more next year!