allora handmade

2011-08-27T15:04:00.001-06:00

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2011-05-05T16:50:00.001-06:00

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pardon our dust!

2011-01-20T02:00:00.004-07:00

pardon our dust, we are making a few little {exciting!} changes here!
within the next few days, please update your readers, bookmarks, feeds, etc. because the blog will be moving over to allorahandmade-blog.com !
thanks! can't wait for you to see what we've been working on!

that's what she said! {and a BIIIIIIIIGGGG winner!)

2011-01-19T08:00:00.001-07:00

if you'll join me over on twitter, each week i will be asking a question and posting your answers here.

this week, i loaded up my ipod to FINALLY head back to the gym. that got me thinking:

" what is your go-to happy song? "

it's amazing how much you can learn about someone in that little question! love it!

kbberger Katie Berger

Oh my goodness! Probably anything by The Fray.

PeggyAnn_Design Hannah

"Valerie" - the glee version. it makes me dance all over the place!

BringingUpBurns Erin Burns

currently = Pink's Raise Your Glass, Ke$ha's Your Love Is My Drug, KatyPerry's CA Gurls (it reminds me of @hausofgirls)

meganluvsjewels Megan Reynolds

Don't Stop Believin' (Or anything upbeat from Glee :)

homewiththeboys Erin M.

"You've Got a Home" from @christawells!

CreativeKristi Kristi

#TWSS My go to happy song is "sittin on the dock of the bay" by otis redding (don't know if that's the actual title)

sandyalamode Sandy Chang

Usher - DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love is my go-to happy sing and dance-along song!! :) #TWSS

jinao Jina Olbinski

Say Hey by Michael Franti. I can't help but chair dance when it comes on...

pepperglenn Sarah C. Taylor

Vanilla Twilight by Owl City

kodibevelle Kodi BeVelle

Curbside Prophet by Jason Mraz

ohsweetjoy Kim Davis

pennies from heaven by louis prima :)

taradaramadeit taradara

Firework by Katy Perry

born2boop Betty Neale

Any Beatles song #TWSS

alilbitoflovely ABeautifulMess

"Electric Twist" by @afinefrenzy

anewhistory Alissa Smith

My go to happy song is "Undignified" by David Crowder Band. Kind of silly I know. (:

tiffharper143 TiffanyHarper

Mindy Gledhill "California" love that song. Happiness always follows. #TWSS

gooseandtrisser Rachel Anne

No one by Alicia Keys - reminds me of my wedding day when I sang it to my husband as a surprise!

angiyt Angela T

I've Got A Pocket Full of Sunshine & Fat Bottomed Girls!

afdjewelry Heather Giustino

don't laugh, but my go-to happy song (since FOREVER!) is George Michael's/Wham's "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go" My fave!!

CarolynAnnRyan Carolyn Ann Ryan

My go-to happy songs include Heartbeats (Melinda Ortner) & Bottle of Sunshine

30daysblog Mique Provost

I ADORE music.It all makes me happy.But especially Be OK by Ingrid Michaelson.No choice but 2 be happy while listening 2 it!

AngryJulie Julie

My go to happy song..."Party in the USA" by Miley. It reminds me of #Blissdom last year. Silly but true.

susanbsnippy Susan Barker

In the Summertime -- Mungo Jerry 1970

redbuddesigns Redbud Designs

take it from me by the weepies! really, anything by the weepies...

MelissaPitz Melissa Pitz

The Gambler by Fun. Such a good song!

Mandipidy Mandy

Part of Your World from Little Mermaid ... it's made me happy for 21 years now :] #TWSS

jennilynncar Jenni Carlisle

I'm loving this song at the moment:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L64c5vT3NBw. This version is perfection.

mandiegirl MandieSegura

Lately I'm loving "I'm Yours" from Jason Mraz. :)

CreatedbyCole SimplyCreatedbyCole

hard choice for me! LUV music, anything @therealtobymac or @adiecamp #TWSS

inspiredbyjenna Jenna

what is my go-to happy song? its defs "MYYYY SHARONA!!!!" :)

BringingUpBurns Erin Burns

@AngryJulie it's ok. I admitted to @allorahandmade that Ke$ha makes me happy. Anyone with a $ in their name is serious cause for cringing!

findcaro Caro

Jump by the Pointer Sisters!http://youtu.be/BgSyB5xSo2U Try to NOT dance. You can't.

CreatedbyCole SimplyCreatedbyCole

@adiecamps' "where could I go"#TWSS

all images found on weheartit.com

didn't get to play along? what is your go-to happy song?

speaking of twitter, i hit 1,000+ followers this weekend thanks to you! as promised, one lucky winner will get $100 credit to allora handmade. aggh! i was stressing over the winner - you all have helped so much and i felt so bad having to choose. so, i made my husband. i asked him to pick a #, and guess whose number came up?

celeste!!!
i feel bad that everyone can't win, but i felt better knowing that celeste works so hard to bring awesome giveaways to so many people- karma, i suppose!congrats celeste!to the rest of you, thank you so much for helping me reach this goal! you are amazing! just for that, how about 10% off? through friday... use the code 1000 to get 10% off your order!XOXOXO

{sponsored giveaway!} aPearantly sew

2011-01-18T08:00:00.001-07:00

i hope you're ready for another great giveaway this week!

i'd love to introduce you to sweet alison from aPearantly sew...

well, i say that, though we've never actually met! but that will soon change since alison will also be at blissdom next week! seems we have a lot in common- same age, both moms of 2 boys (who are also almost the same age), both love handmade. however, we just discovered that i am about 9 inches shorter than alison. ha! now there is one thing we do NOT have in common!

alison's shop, aPearantly sew started as an outlet for a creative stay at home mom who fell in love with sewing. i love that her shop is so full of fresh color and interesting patterns.

if you know me, you could guess i'd have my eye on these:

man, i'm so predictable. i promise one day i will have a new favorite color. maybe. ok, maybe promise is a strong word.

ahem.

lucky for you, alison is offering up this beauty today:

Turquoise Dots Wristlet Clutch

This adorable clutch is perfect for a night on the town! Turquoise polka dots on a cream colored background. Natural lining.

Measures approx. 7.5" (w) on top, 10" (w) on bottom x 8.5" (h)

sooo cute, right?

to be entered to win, please visit aPearantly sew and leave some love here for alison. to get an extra entry, spread the love on facebook or twitter and leave an additional comment. the giveaway will end sunday, and the winner will be announced on monday.

thanks alison!

to jeg or not to jeg? that is the question {and a winner!}

2011-01-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

inspired by a twitter conversation yesterday, i must ask.
are you brave enough for "the jeggings?"
i know, i was terrified at first.
true story: a year ago a much younger, cooler friend of mine told me i should really try out skinny jeans. i laughed at her and asked if she'd seen my mid-section lately. i was certain i would look like a rolled sausage in skinny jeans. but i decided to at least try them out, and i was completely surprised by the result!

a year later (and no, i have not lost 20 lbs since then) i own more skinnies than anything else!

but... jeggings?

i mean, let's get real here. the name? well, it's a little revolting.
brings to mind "skort" of the 90's. or "ligers".
can any good come from hybridized words?

and really? conan o'brien didn't do jeggings any favors

sorry if i've ruined your appetite for the day. had to be done.

even april tried to convince me at the queen bee market that jeggings were amazing.
i wasn't buying it.
over christmas, my anthropologie shopping, always-looks-amazing sister in law was wearing super cute skinnies. when i asked her where they were from, she told me anthro (no suprise). but then she said "i love jeggings! they're so comfy!" and i was shocked.

jeggings?

well, you all know what happened. i blew my entire gift card that hubs gave me for christmas on a pair jeggings because when i tried them on, they were magic.

like yoga pants, but somehow completely fashionable!
it's a miracle!

aaaand... the spendy ones were perfect because they have a higher rise to cover my not-a-baby- bump. who could ask for anything more?!? (p.s. you can find a great pair at target too, so no worries!)

someday i may look back on this trend and ask "what was i thinking?!?" but for now... comfy pants!!

what say you?
are you a *jegger?

making my "so they're a little tight" face

i am.

*term "jegger" totally made up by me. feel free to spread it like wildfire. it's all kinds of awesome.

don't forget about the winner of the funky vintage kitchen giveaway!
drumrolll....

#34!

congrats sarah! and thank you to fellow jegger, april!

friday feature: new in the shop! {mini modern pearl statement necklaces}

2011-01-14T13:22:00.002-07:00

so excited to show you what i've been working on and just added to the shop!
introducing:

mini modern pearls!
a teeny bit more understated than the original, the mini modern pearl still makes a huge statement in a small package. the largest rosettes measure about an inch, and the smallest about half an inch.

currently available in these colors

comparing the original to the mini

if i don't look happy it's because henry broke my mirror 3 seconds before this pic!

find them here.

and happy friday... the shop is restocked with necklaces!!

(p.s. don't forget about the blissdom discount)

meet my new friend nikon

2011-01-13T11:49:00.001-07:00

for christmas, my sister gave me this beauty:

excuse the phone pic

do you want to hug it and kiss it like i do?
oh, ruthanne, you kill me. can we talk about the mustard? the gray? the polka dots? the ruffles! aggh! it's perfect!!
what was i talking about again?
oh yeah, the "pretend" DSLR that hubs and I got 3 years ago just wasn't worthy of my pretty strap. (not really pretend, it was just not.good.at.all) we needed an upgrade.
so, after christmas, we found a worthy match.
(of course i had to take a pic of it with my phone for you to see it)
isn't she pretty?

the best part? we found it in like new condition on craigslist for half the retail price. SCORE!

the REAL best part? i get moments like this in full focus:

I. DIE.

that's what she said!

2011-01-12T08:00:00.004-07:00

if you'll join me over on twitter, each week i will be asking a question and posting your answers here.

i la-la-loved your enthusiasm about "that's what she said" last week, and i'm so excited to continue this week. 56 entries!
so, since we are in the thick of applying for law schools ALL over the country, i just had to ask:

"if you could live anywhere in the US (other than where you now live) where would it be?"

@PeggyAnn_Design : I would love to live in Boston or Charleston or somewhere with a rich early American history. I'm a dork.

@simplerika Ketchum (Sun Valley), ID. such a laid back, beautiful town! spent summers there growing up.

@AliLittle28 I would live in Hawaii with @aisletoaloha or I LOVE Charleston, SC!

@kodibevelle Because we are knee deep in snow, I'd choose anyplace with a beach!

@bebehblog Charleston, SC! I went to college there, got married there & got a tattoo there ;) Most beautiful city in the US.

@bucknerfamily I would want to live in Montana...even though I have never been there! :)

@SugarAndDots: Texas! I wouldn't mind having an accent. Plus, the whole "big hair" thing makes me wanna bust out the Aqua Net & go to town.

@KnittyBitties I haven't actually visited, but I'm pretty sure I'd love to live in Vermont. Preferably in the 2011 HGTV Dream House. :D

@framesandnames North Carolina...4 seasons, trees, close to water AND mountains. Perfection in my book!

@teacupofcoffee Santa Monica, California! If I could walk down Main st or lay on the beach wih a view of the pier I'd be a happy girl :)

@jeannettg do i have to take my kids with me?

@thevintagepearl id live on the central coast of Florida, anywhere near a pretty beach and close enough to drive to Disney :)

@ChicGeekDesigns either downtown Charlestown SC or somewhere on the beach. Love the beach!

@piperpost I think I would choose Oregon.

@thelushers San Francisco!

@RebelBellePhoto I'd be living in LA, for sure...although I'd take anywhere in SoCal. :)

@hiyaluv riverside, california or anywhere in so cal for that matter! Or perhaps Minneapolis so I could be near @GussySews

@The_BMG That would be hard b/c I've lived in CO my whole life! I think I would choose Northern California.

@beslightlyaskew I would pick Huntington Beach CA-not just anywhere in Hntgton. I would buy Ruby's at the end of the pier & make it my house.

@iheartBCD I already know my answer! San Francisco! I miss it!

@parkersprints NYC- Upper East Side a la Gossip Girl :)

@coraannedesigns I would live in NYC!!

@KrystinaM NYC

@abbeyviolet Alexandria, VA

@Jdpresley Cape Cod. So pretty.

@bbgoad I would live in Ft Collins CO

@30daysblog Encinitas,CA as long as you're there. Kauai would be dreamy as well. But I do love where I live. ;)

@jennilynncar ok Cali since some of my fav bloggers/friends live there. If I did, u would HAVE to move back!

@celeste_w might sound odd, but I'd move back to my hometown: Tallahassee, FL. I miss it so much!!

@CrystalStine if I could live anywhere, I would live in Napa Valley - it just smells so darn good!

@sandyalamode i'd LOVE to live in hawaii! great weather, a walk to the beach, shaved ice, and luaus in my backyard every night! ;)

@oakhilldesigns Considering we have 11 inches of snow right now, I would have to say Florida or Arizona-somewhere warm with no snow-ever!!

@aprilkennedy I'd live near the beach. Hubby is a laid back man during the day when he starts it in the ocean. All is right in his soul!

@aisletoaloha Alaska! Craving the cold and wide open spaces after living on a hot island. Plus, it's the other "outcast" state. ;)

@yourwishcake On an apple orchard in Washington State. (As long as I don't actually have to pick all the apples myself, of course.)

@KEEPUPWITHJJ Newport Beach, please. TY :)

@justjuliblog J Bethel, VT or Jimez, NM

@AlexaTC I would live in Washington DC. Still get four seasons, but a milder version than Minnesota!

@afdjewelry nowhere! I'm staying in my happy, little bubble! ;)

@mandiegirl Chicago!!

@nmilkie in a craftsman style house with a wrap around porch on the beach in a small, quaint town.

OMyFamily Salt Lake City. True story, just ask @ryles or @theoutdoorwife. Nature, has all 4 seasons, friends, family friendly city, adventure.

theoutdoorwife SLC. Friends. Sun. Mountains. Small city. Church plant.

@gooseandtrisser Orange County, CA. Beach town. Preferably Laguna Beach!

@taprilcrosier San Diego!! {i have a love obsession with Shamu and SeaWorld}

creairtive i live in sweden right now, but would love to live in San Francisco, my favourite city!

@Marci_Girl I would move back to Florida and live on the beach!

@tristina_wright Near my mom's horse farm just outside St Louis, MO. 23 acres, woods, lake and lots of animals!

@homewiththeboys This might sound crazy, but Sioux Falls, SD. I grew up there and my family still lives there - such a lovely town!

@eclecticwhatnot NYC, baby!

@jennilynncar India

@GreenEnough4Me I'd move back to Alabama.

@chspooner Nashville, TN

@yes_teacher In a rural area right outside of Flint, MI. It's where my in-laws live and where I 1st discovered that red barns are real!

@aroomsomewhere no question, San Luis Obispo, CA! Love that town.

@MamaoftheFisch In the South where the southern charm seeps from people, the accents are adorable, and the history is in the buildings

you know what i love most about this? there are good places to live EVERYWHERE. that makes me really happy :)
what about you? where would you live if you could live anywhere in the US?
thanks for playing! tune in next week!

{sponsored giveaway!} funky vintage kitchen (giveaway closed)

2011-01-11T08:00:00.002-07:00

i am so excited to bring you another giveaway today from funky vintage kitchen!
have you met april? read her blog? followed her on twitter? seen her lovely shop?
i was lucky enough to spend the weekend with her back in november when she made the trek down with her family to be a vendor at the queen bee market. and her booth? to.die.for. (in fact she was voted to have the best booth!)
can i just show you her booth?

the picture doesn't do it justice, just believe me... SO cute.
anyhow, where was i? oh yes, april has great style and taste, a tender mother heart, AND she fills her shop with handmade lovelies, recycled items, and vintage finds. full of accessories, jewelry, and goodies for the home, there is something for everyone at funky vintage kitchen!

like this:

and this:

and you know i love this:

lucky for you, april has offered up $25 in love bucks (shop credit) to funky vintage kitchen!

to be entered to win, please visit funky vintage kitchen and leave some love here for april. to get an extra entry, spread the love on facebook or twitter and leave an additional comment. the giveaway will end sunday, and the winner will be announced on monday.

thanks april!

bliss!!!

2011-01-10T14:00:00.003-07:00

are you going to blissdom?
if you are, will you please leave a little note here for me? i would *LOVE* to meet all of you!
p.s.- even if you've "already told me," could you remind me? i tend to have the memory of a grasshopper.
(which is very small.)
(i think.)
i am so excited to pack up the cute version of myself (not the one who lounges around in jammas half the day with no shower/make up on) and spend 5 days with some AMAZING women and some of my favorite friends.
not sure what to expect really, but leaving the expectation door wide open so that i can fully enjoy whatever comes my way.
if you are going to blissdom, would you like to wear allora handmade? (you know, as your cutest version of yourself?)
how about a little blissdom promo to help you out?

that's right! 10% off and free shipping (a $5 value in itself!)
which means, if i am a math whiz, you could get a modern pearl necklace delivered to you in person for just barely over $30! now that's a deal...

**promo code valid only for blissdom attendees. make your purchase now and i will deliver it to you in nashville. please be sure to include a twitter handle or email so that i can find you while we are there!
**I will refund the shipping after the time of purchase as the discount code won't work for shipping.

p.s. i know the shop is a little empty (especially in the necklace department) but i will be updating this week! keep watching!
see ya in nashville, y'all!

i live in the snow. {plus, a winner!}

2011-01-10T08:00:00.002-07:00

soooo... i'm a san diego girl. you know that, right?

except somehow i've spent the last 3 winters surrounded by all this cold white stuff and quite uncertain what to do with myself.

please ignore the unflattering attire & uniboob. not proud of it.

i'll admit it, since moving to utah i have not *embraced* the winter.
at. all.

i turn into a hermit, and my poor children don't see the light of day until spring.

not a fan.

but the other day a friend sent me a text asking if hubs & I would like to go snowshoeing. a snowshoe double-date.

GULP.

{out of shape. not a fan of snow. first and last time i went snowshoeing was on a TERRIBLE blind date eleventy billion years ago. did i mention i'm out of shape? and don't like the snow?}

but, we needed to get out of the house. the kids needed a break from me, and i needed a break from them. and we needed to socialize with other adults. who we like.

so, i ~~bought~~ found some warm, waterproof-ish clothes and left early saturday morning just hoping i'd make it back alive.

i struggled. oh boy, did i.
but i survived.
did you know snowshoeing is like hiking, but in the snow, and with like 20lbs strapped onto each leg?
yeah. it is.

at the top, before coming back down. do i look tired? uh, don't answer that.

when i got home this is what i tweeted:

so, i was tired. and felt a little defeated to be the slowest (BY FAR) of the group.
but, when i wasn't gasping for air, it was so refreshing to breathe in that cool mountain air and enjoy this crazy phenomenon they call winter. and when i could catch my breath, it was taken away by the beauty of the powdered-sugar wonderland that surrounded me. and while i don't have the beach close by to remind me of the majesty of god's creations, a crisp white clean winter might just do the trick every once in awhile.

my friend - who everyone thinks is my sister. crazy, huh?

aww... a double date! (yes, hubs wears that hat on purpose. isn't he cute?)

that's not to say i'll become a snow-sho-er per se, but i will do my best this winter to TRY to enjoy the here and the now and the beauty that is before me.

did you enter the lollipops giveaway? are you the lucky winner?

you are if your name is KATE !

congrats!! i will email you shortly.

thanks krystina!

friday feature: new in the shop!

2011-01-07T06:00:00.001-07:00

i'm hoping to feature new products for the next few fridays and i'm so excited to show you this one!
especially with all the baby talk going on in the interwebs these days... seems like everyone i know just had a baby, is having one soon, or wants to!
so, for the little girls in your life, i give you:

baby rosies on 3mm elastic headbands- sold in packs of 3!

(very limited # available)

1. shabby baby- light aqua, baby pink, buttercream

2. bold baby- turquoise, rich red, plum

3. mod baby - gray, mustard, off white

4. neutral baby - black, chocolate brown, white

6. pinky baby - bubblegum pink, fuchsia, blush

Find them here!!

and if baby girls aren't your thing, look what else is back in stock!

my mother heart.

2011-01-06T08:00:00.003-07:00

most days i feel like a below average mom. there is something about working from home too many hours a day and having 2 little people who expect to be fed, changed, and entertained all day that brings out the worst in me. i lose my patience with them. a lot. but no matter how crazy they make me, there is nothing like singing them lullabies at bedtime to remind me how truly blessed i am. my favorite part of the day is hearing their sweet little voices chime in:
i'm trying to be like Jesus,
i'm following in His ways
i'm trying to love as
He did in all that i do and say!
...love one another as Jesus loves you
try to show kindness in all that you do!
be gentle and loving in deed and in thought,
for these are the things Jesus taught.
and they go to bed with my kisses on their foreheads and a prayer in my heart to be a better mother, to love them more tomorrow, to be more like Jesus, to love them as He does.

that's what she said...{a new series!}

2011-01-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

if you'll join me over on twitter, each week i will be asking a question and posting your answers here. some days the questions may be VERY random, but this week i thought this was appropriate:

"what do you hope 2011 will bring?"

image

@mandiegirl: health!
@crystalstine: i hope 2011 will bring unexplainable JOY :)
@meganluvsjewels: I hope 2011 brings GROWTH!

image

@peggyann_design: i want to get knocked up!! I need a bebeh!!!!
@thesweetpetunia: joy & laughter. :)
@amschotter: hoping to get pregnant! :)
@eclecticwhatnot: health :D

image

@marci_girl: Another baby!
@bbgoad: I hope 2011 will bring growth to my blog & a successful online shop opening.

image

@hiyaluv: handmade success!
@afdjewelry: contentment

that about sums it up... health, happiness, success, and BABIES!! :)
what about you? what do you hope 2011 will bring?

{sponsored giveaway!} lollipops cards

2011-01-04T08:00:00.020-07:00

lollipops cards is the papery brain child of sweet Krystina, an admitted paper junkie who fell in love with making cards, stationery, and paper goods! Krystina also has a puuuuurdy blog (that she designed herself!) where she shares tutorials, beautiful photography, and a peek into her everyday life with 3 kids and her surfer guy. (love that she calls him that!)

oh, the polka dots!

lollipops cards specializes in stationery, invitations, playdate cards, wino tags, holiday gifts, and paper banners.
my favorite item in the shop has to be these babies:

LOVE!
shop, blog, twitter, facebook

Krystina is giving away a set of 10 Sweet Playdate Cards!

10 Playdate Cards in a Tin, with polka-dotted backs! Customized calling cards for your children with your info on it. Cards measure 4 1/2 X 2 3/4 and come in an adorable tin. Printed on high quality white heavyweight card stock, with nice rounded corners. the winner will be sent a pdf file on clip art choice, font choice, and font color choice. You will also be able to specify any information on the card.

to be entered to win, please visit lollipops cards and leave some love here for krystina. to get an extra entry, spread the love on facebook or twitter and leave an additional comment. the giveaway will end sunday, and the winner will be announced on monday.

thanks krystina!

dear 2011,

2011-01-03T13:11:00.002-07:00

oh how i love this picture...

dear 2011,
we are only 3 days in and i'm already a little bit overwhelmed by you. i mean, 11 was always my lucky number, so you have a lot to live up to. i hope you can handle the pressure.
so many things are in store for you, 2011! conferences, markets, a college graduation, law school, vacations, a big move?, and lots of snuggles, belly laughs, and pajama days thrown in.
i'm not one to make many resolutions, and certainly not in a public forum where i might actually be held accountable for them. so instead i will just look forward to all that you have waiting for me... even the curve balls (you know there'll be a few). bring it on, 2011. let's see whatchooogot.

a few things for you to look forward to here on allorahandmade.com in 2011:

giveaways, guest posts & bears, oh my! (ok, i lied about the bears.)
new product lines! (so excited to share more!)
sales and discount codes!
more handmade business tips!
a few new series highlighting you, dear readers, and some of the women i admire!
and an overload of owen and henry cuteness. guaranteed!

p.s. did you see that the shop is now "ready to ship?" and sort of stocked up?

p.p.s. did you see my new button over there? grab yourself another if you'd like

p.p.s. did you see all those other buttons over there? ---> yeah, giveaways. from them. soon.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2010, you were a weird (but pretty awesome) year.

2010-12-31T15:48:00.002-07:00

am i the only one that gets totally teary thinking about a year in review? i just can't believe all that has happened this year. to be honest, 2010 was hard. it was amazing, but there were days i just wished it was over. looking back, i don't know if i would take one bit of it back. i learned so much about myself this year and i am so grateful for that.

they look so little!!

in january i hosted my first ever benefit sale for my nephew's birthday. It was by far my favorite way to celebrate a birthday/start a new year. We raised over $1300 for autism in just 3 days!

in february I was invited to have my products in shade stores all over utah for a 3 month local accessory designer sale and worked round the clock to keep my items in stock. shade has since gone out of business, but i felt like a rockstar having my items in the local malls. the popular modern pearl statement necklace was first introduced at shade. i also got to pull off another surprise and made it to my niece's baptism in california.

march marked my baby's 1st birthday- i reposted the letter i wrote to him the day before he was born wrote him a new one as well. we celebrated with friends and family at an "oh henry!" bday party.

april and may were a complete blur thanks to the first ever queen bee market. i think i talked to my sister more on the phone in those 2 months than i ever have in my life. the queen bee market was so much fun and it was so great to meet and connect with such amazing women from all over california. to think, i'd never even heard of lindsey! (i know, i was living in a cave!)

in june i participated in my first bijou market and loved it. i was really tempted to quit after a busy 6 months. but then i didn't. i hopped on twitter and quickly realized it's positive impact on my business. i sent a pair of mustard earrings to miss gussy and made a fast friend.

july 5th was allora handmade's one year anniversary! i celebrated that month with 500 sales on etsy and sent goodies to blogher with sara sophia in hopes they would land in martha's hands. july was also the begining of my soon to be re-released baby line, and really marks my switch over to this blog as my main blog. my sister surprised me with her secret plans to help me get to the creative connection. i started (and never finished! note to self!) my mary, mary quite contrary series.

i spent most of august in san diego wishing i still lived there and relaxing, went to disneyland with my kids for the first time, and celebrated clint's 31st birthday and last year of school.

september was full of prep for and recovery from my first conference, the creative connection. i was on cloud nine rubbing shoulders with some amazing women and was later featured on the pioneer woman's blog and sent pics of her wearing my necklace!

we also celebrated owen's 3rd birthday and my heart couldn't believe it had only been three years since i had become a mother. i reposted my most favorite post ever in honor of his birthday.

in october my monthly sales tripled as a direct result from the connections i made in minnesota. I introduced a new fall line, started wishlist wednesdays, and hired an official allora handmade assistant. i started thinking about christmas in october for the first time in my life. much of the month was also spent prepping for the holiday queen bee market. and then there was halloween. no comment.

i turned 31 on november 1st and finally joined the rest of the world in getting a smart phone. we pulled off another queen bee market - bigger and better- and had a blast doing it. i also participated in another bijou market, and got serious about filling christmas orders.

in december my mom came to the rescue to watch the boys for a few days while i finished up all of my orders a week early with blistered fingers! i participated in project 320 and christmas for cliff and celebrated the true spirit of christmas. we spent the rest of the month in san diego and ended the year with family and friends.

in 2010, i had a lot of breakdowns. and a lot of breakthroughs. i almost quit. and then decided to go for it. i made new friends. i grew as a person. i reached some goals and made some new ones. i am so grateful for the struggles and accomplishments that 2010 brought.
here's to another crazy good year.

my favorite picture.... EVER. (taken on a phone, of course.)

2010-12-28T07:00:00.000-07:00

my favorite gift this year was these pj's we gave to the boys.
oh my word, they kill me.
i laughed forever when they put them on on christmas eve.
i die.
and can you keep a secret? they never even got dressed christmas day. why would you when you could run around dressed as woody & buzz? and it kept me smiling all day long.
man, i love these kids.

a few random things:

i got to guest post for one of my favorite friends this week! love me some gus!
sooo many exciting things coming for allora handmade in the new year. can't wait to share!
i caved and bought jeggings. from anthro. and i'm in love. (i have NEVER spent more than $40 on a pair of jeans, so this was big for me. tell me it's going to be ok.)
no seriously. tell me it's going to be ok. {hold me.}
i'm working on changing the shop to be ready-to-ship only. this means when something sells out, it will be gone until i have a second to make more. i hope it makes things a little less stressful for you and me!
the shop WILL be stocked up on the 1st! (thanks for your patience!) maybe even some new products!
blissdom is 28 days away!!! are you going?
check out what cute sandy wore on christmas day! love it!
have you seen those cute shops over there on my sidebar? i want this and this and this and these. and i could go on and on. seriously. check them out. (want to join them over there? email me for more info!)
if i were you, i'd start rounding up your allora handmade photos to be added to our customer love page so you can get a 15% off discount code in time for the shop update on the first. but i'm not you, so you can do whatever you want!
look what my rockstar sis surprised me with. oh ruthanne... you genius, you. (miq also got me these in mustard. she knows me pretty well, huh?)
enjoy the rest of 2010! i will be spending the next 3 days soaking in san diego, friends, family, and real mexican food before heading back to the ccccoooooolllllllddddd.
y'all are the best! xoxo

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

2010-12-25T08:00:00.005-07:00

wish list wednesdays: my grown up christmas list

2010-12-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

Rescue of the Lost Lamb by Minerva Teichert

lately i've been thinking about my "grown-up" christmas list (thank you amy grant.)
so often i find myself wishing away all the hard things in life. wishing things were different, wishing life was easier. wishing we could be done with school, wishing we lived closer to family, wishing i could spend all day everyday with my kids.
wishing, wishing, wishing.
but when it comes down to it, i do not want to wish my life away.
what if the hard things were all gone? would i be who i am today? would i be courageous enough to start my own business? would i be strong enough to fight through doubts and doubters? would i be confident enough to set goals and actually achieve them?
i believe in Christmas.
and i believe in Christmas because i believe in Christ. and if i believe in Christ, i believe that He heals all wounds. all heartaches. all sorrows. all pain. i believe that He knows me and all that i feel and long for. i believe that He has great things in store for me.
instead of wishing away the things that make our lives hard, this year, i wish for more faith. faith that He knows what He is doing with me. faith that His plan is better for me than mine. faith that in the end, everything will be ok. not just ok, in fact. everything will be PERFECT.
i wish for faith enough to trust. faith enough to be bold. faith enough to stand. faith enough to not be afraid. faith enough to LIVE and not just pass the time. faith enough to make a difference.
i hope this season we can take the time to step away from the gifts and glitter to celebrate the Greatest Gift: the birth of Him who gives us hope in all things.

wish list wednesdays: introducing Danielle from Take Heart

2010-12-22T07:45:00.001-07:00

hi! i'm danielle from take heart and i am so excited to share my little wish list with you all today. i have been so inspired by all the ladies' wish lists before me that i had trouble narrowing my own down. this has been such a delightful way to spread the handmade love and discover new shops to admire. thanks so much for letting us all share, jess!

{it is just days from christmas now but i will happily accept any and all items from my wish list as a new years present. hubby, girlfriends, sisters, mom…ya heard?!}

1. moustache water glasses

how fun are these?! you can choose from all different stache shapes and hair colors.

2. modern pearl rosette statement necklace

i can't think of an outfit i wouldn't wear this with. i love all the colors but, since i am smitten with mustard yellow, that is my number one choice.

3. sea breeze ruffled camera strap cover

my camera strap looks naked without this.

i promise it would be used every single day.

4. oh, how he loves us print

i already have one print from tank and tink and this one is next on my list.

l o v e.

5. holiday bunting notebook

i am a girl of many lists.

lizzi marie's bunting notebook is the perfect place for me to store them.

6. three initial hand stamped necklace

for me to carry my guys close to my heart.

{ c, b, f }

7. cowl neck scarf

i love the color, texture, and chunkiness.

upstate new york winter is here and roaring and this is calling my name.

8. doily clock

yellow, doily, being on time…

how could a girl go wrong?

happy wishing, happy wednesday, happy holidays!

love,

danielle

our week(ish) in phone pics

2010-12-21T10:33:00.001-07:00

well, we made it. we are here in (not so sunny) san diego and are thrilled to be home.
we've had a fun, relaxing, full week. it seems i'm better at taking pictures (blurry as they may be) on my phone than in any other way, so we'll go with it. and since i'm technically on vacation, they are in no particular order. call me lazy. if you follow me on twitter these will look familiar (again, lazy.)

clint relaxing and playing with henry after a whopping 6 1/2 hour math final. ask my sister, i seriously thought he was dead in the streets and started driving around looking for him in the gutters. 6 1/2 hours!!! who does that? no more math for him(yay!) and only one more semester to go. well, for now.

driving around to look at the christmas lights. the boys LOVE christmas lights. unfortunately we never made it to temple square this year, but here is my post from last year. love that place at christmas time.

gotta teach 'em while they're young. i rarely go to restaurants with the boys - i'm not very adventurous with them on my own, but they are finally getting to an age that is so much easier. and since the hubs isn't in love with cafe rio like i am, i found another date. or two. and they were HAAAAAPPPY. so was i. win win!

deciding whether or not to buy the ridiculously cheap forever 21 cowboy boots. i didn't buy them that day, but they haunted me and i went back the next day to get them. and i'm in love. i think i've worn them every day since.

owen & i decided to try our hand at gingerbread houses. oh boy. whoever invented gingerbread houses a) did not know anything about gravity or the laws of physics in general b) did not know much about children and their patience levels. let's just say it's a good thing i don't plan on being an architect. but owey sure was happy. can you tell?

my amazing (and totally unoriginal) invention. i had used this mug to dip pretzels into caramel (for before mentioned holiday treats) and when it was time to clean up the mess i decided that rather than cleaning up this caramel, i would make apple cider in it. oh. my. yum. soooo goooood.

the latest addition to my tights collection. tights are my favorite way to make winter not so .... winter - y. these babies were just $5 at target!

henry eats breakfast in style. someone tell me why my boys insist on eating yogurt with their hands?

sorry if you are offended by this one. i think it's hilarious. henry likes yanking on his diaper until it is barely hanging on. i sent this pic to my sister to make her laugh. it did.

sad, sad day in provo. the tabernacle burnt down and the city is still mourning this beautiful building. we live about 8 blocks from here, so we could see smoke for 2 days. so sad, but the boys sure loved the fire truck action.

good mail waiting for me in my mailbox! heather from angel face designs sent me a package full of goodies. aren't they pretty?!

from our front yard yesterday. let me tell you how sad i was to leave all the snow. (not even a smidgen.)

henry at the airport. we got there nice and early and it made for a much easier trip. the boys watched planes and trucks out the windows and were thrilled.

owen and henry ate breakfast on these treasures this morning. cabbage patch plates from when mique and i were kids that my mom still has for the grandkids to use. don't be jealous.

printables!

2010-12-18T08:00:00.004-07:00

i finally got all my holiday neighbor goodies out the door... i must say, i am no baker, that's for sure! i always manage to screw up even the simplest treats. oh well. ya win some, ya lose some.

i did however manage to come up with some pretty cute tags i would love to share with you!

i am tickled with how they turned out! my husband is usually in charge of the graphics around here ... even he was impressed! feel free to print and use them till your heart's content! i used a 2 inch circle punch to make it super easy. or you could cut it out by hand if you don't have a punch. maybe even use them with some baker's twine and newspaper?

merry christmas, and happy gift giving!

blue steel and a winner.

2010-12-17T08:00:00.001-07:00

i just about died when i saw sweet ilene's links on twitter yesterday and hopped over to her cute blog to find these:

well hello there modern pearl in mustard yellow...

ilene has great taste... the mustard is my favorite too. i'm always planning my wardrobe around that necklace!

isn't she gorgeous? don't you love her pairing of mustard and navy? ME TOO.
anyhow, got me thinking.

do you have pictures of yourself modeling (or just wearing) your favorite allora handmade items? I want to start up an "i heart my customers" page and would love your pretty faces all over it.
would it be worth 15% off your next order (shop will be full in january! promise!)? send me what you have and I'll send you a discount code! and if you are hoping to have some new goodies under the tree, don't worry, i can wait!
so put on your best blue steel (zoolander anyone?) and send me your pics! (allorahandmade@gmail.com)
can't wait to see!
**if for some reason you are dying to send me your pictures but do not want them included on my site in any way, please let me know**

in other news... the winner of the project 320 and team cliff giveaway (according to random.org) is lucky #9:

congrats Meggan! email me to claim your prize!
thanks to all of you who donated!

they say...

2010-12-16T10:24:00.000-07:00

they say necessity is the mother of invention.
(right? isn't that what they say?)
for a while now i've been trying to figure out how to organize my necklaces. not my allora necklaces (that's another post altogether) but my OTHER necklaces. you might be surprised to know that when i don't have roses hanging from my neck, i wear a pretty simple jewelry. (though that's usually because i have roses on my ears, in my hair, or on my wrist!)
anyhow, where was i? oh, yes...
while i was cleaning my house last week (which had been SORELY neglected in the madness that was november and early december), i decided it was time to figure something out. i thought i wanted to put a frame on the wall and pin each necklace up a la lindsey (isn't it soo pretty?!) but when i found out the wall i wanted to use was solid cement, it opted out of some serious labor (meaning tools involved) and holes in the wall.
and then, it came to me.
we've had this "tree" hanging in the corner of our room for awhile- and suddenly it looked like a perfect jewelry rack to me.
so, i started hanging

this beauty is from local artists tom design

a lot of my silver comes from sweet lisa

and i love the way it turned out:

the branch is from a dead tree at our last house and it is suspended by some hooks in the ceiling. adds a little whimsy to an otherwise REALLY boring bedroom. (we've lived here a year, and i still haven't decorated the bedroom!) and now, it's totally functional! love that.

how do YOU display/organize your necklaces?

wish list wednesdays: introducing Kyla from Funky Polka Dot Giraffe

2010-12-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

Holla!
I'm Kyla (aka mormishmom) from Funky PolkaDot Giraffe
and I so freakin' excited to be here today.

Jess said that we should dust off our glamour shot
and include it with our post.
So here I am :)My husband said to me the other day - You really have a LONG wish list.
I was slightly offended.
No, I don't - I retorted.
And then I sat down to figure out what I wanted to share with you
and I realized he's right.
(Shhhh . . . . don't tell him.)
But I'm sharing them all with you anyway,
because they are just that AWESOME!

So, let's get this PAR-TAY started!

1. Perfectly Golden Heirloom Necklace by Amy Cornwell
Love anything by Amy, but this necklace is so unique.
I can put my anniversary and kids' birthdates and it would be RAD.
2. Whimsical Primitive Glittery Christmas Village by Craft Junkie 28
Have you seen her shop? DARLING! This Christmas village
is just too precious.
3. Personalized Silver Stacking Rings by Cinnamon*Sticks
Love me silver jewelry - and these rings are fabulous.
4. Lily Apron Top by Sew Cute Shop
I love that it's an apron and a top!
5. The UNmanual by Mom*tog
I read her blog religiously and she has mad skills,
maybe it would rub off on me?
6. Kelsey. Simple leaf dangles. by Lemon Kissed
I am obsessed with Shauna and all her dangly earrings!
7. ATAT Walker Family Car Vinyl Decals by Short Sleeve Alliance
I had a cute little family on the back of my Neon, but we upgraded
to a Caravan this summer and I think these would be so much cooler.
8. Rose in Teal by Jo Totes
It's just delicious. That is all.
9. The Silhouette Machine
Who doesn't have this on their wish list? ::sigh::
10. The Necklace by Julie of Joy's Hope
These are like unicorns - rare, elusive and beautiful. Maybe one will pop
up in her shop one day.
11. Petal Pusher by The Pleated Poppy
I take one in any color . . . in fact I'll take one in each color!
12. Drama Queen Ribbon Bracelet Trio by Twillypop
Beautifulness!!!!

13. Modern Pearl Rosette Statement Necklace by Allora Handmade
Again, I'll take one in every color :)
14. Kate Pleated Shoulder Bag by RKEMdesigns
I have a sick bag obsession . . . and this one would fit
right in with my collection.
15. Lavender Daydreams Ruffled dSLR Camera Strap Cover by Eclectic Whatnot
Talk about obsession . . . sorry Ruthanne . . . it's true . . . I'll try
to stop stalking you . . . but only kinda :)

give.serve.love. {giveaway closed}

2010-12-13T08:00:00.004-07:00

i LOVE this time of year.
aside from the jingle bells, christmas trees, and twinkling lights, i LOVE seeing so many people willing to give of their hearts, their time, and their talents and come together to celebrate the greatest Gift of Love that was ever given.
i do not even pretend to do anything great. but, i am lucky to know people who do.
a few friends of mine have some awesome things up their sleeves, and i am eager to help in any way i can.
1) have you heard of project 320?
awesome girls leading seriously awesome lives and making a difference for so many people.
want to do something cool this year? why not help make water possible for a village?
2) have you met cliff?
jeannett has taken on a huge goal to help this little boy go home for christmas.
i can't stand the thought of an orphanage during christmas time. (well, any time of year, really. but you know what i mean.) uggh.
do you want to help?
i know you do. i do!
first off, i know. times are tough. most of us have a little less than we are used to this year. the budget is tight. i get it. (believe you me, I GET IT.) but, will you trust me when i promise you that when you give you will receive? never fails. promise. pinky swear.
second, can i sweeten the pot a little bit? other than the great feeling you will have knowing you are serving and embracing the true christmas spirit, i am throwing in the opportunity to win this:

i know the picture isn't fabulous, but work with me here.

for every $10 you donate to charity water or every $10 you donate to cliff, you will be entered to win this pile of yummy rosieness (not a word, i know.)

what's in it, you say? oh, just 2 three musketeers headbands (in bubblegum pink and eggplant), 3 pairs of rosy earrings (in light yellow, turquoise, and gray) and one rosette statement bracelet (in blush pink).
if my calculations are correct (and they are), that is $89 worth of Allora Handmade! AND, it is all ready to ship and *should* get to you in time for christmas if you are generous enough to give away some of your giveaway. (crazy)
wooooo hoooo!
so, here's what you do: hop on over to donate and come back here to comment once (including your email address) for each $10 you donate to either cliff or project 320. i will announce a winner on friday morning, and the goodies will be sent out first thing on saturday!
ready, set, go! and go!
and thank you.
really.

Merry Christmas to me! Merry Christmas to you!

2010-12-09T08:20:00.001-07:00

all of your orders spent the night under my tree last night ;)

by now, my mom is on a plane headed back to the sunshine.
we miss her already.
the boys woke up asking for her, and they probably will for the next 11 days until we make our way down to san diego for christmas.
thanks to her, i spent the last 48 hours working, working, working like i've never worked before to get it all done. and i am so happy to announce that ALL of my orders are finished and ready to ship!! 6 days early!!
i can't even tell you how excited i am! {thank you, thank you, thank you mom!!!}
i have lists and lists of things to do before we leave, including pull off a christmas program tonight for the women at my church, but #1 on that list is spend some much needed mommy and me time with my boys. they are so patient with me and my crazy work schedule, and i am just so excited to play with them without worrying about whose order needs to be shipped.
so, merry christmas to you - your packages are on their merry little way!
and merry christmas to me - i get a whole extra week to hang out with the cutest little kids on the planet! (not biased at all.)

wish list wednesdays: introducing Jacky from The Sweetest Petunia

2010-12-08T08:00:00.006-07:00

Hello! It's Jacky from The Sweetest Petunia, and I'm so excited to be here today. :)

It seems like lovely things are always catching my eye.

I had a terrible time paring down my favorites to my absolute favorites!

But here they are, the top 5 pretties on my wishlist right now...

{1} You're the Cream in my Coffee necklace from Lisa Leonard Designs

This necklace has been at the top of my list for quite awhile now - I'd choose the skinny tag with "happy" stamped on it.

{2} Westbury Self Inking Custom Stamp from NoteTrunk

Love this! I just can't decide if I'd personalize it with my address or my shop info...

{3} Mr. Darcy Proposal Mug from Brookish

Yes, I adore Austen & Mr. Darcy. This mug would be perfect for my morning coffee!

{4} Black Plum Lip Balm from Flourish

Doesn't this look yummy?!

{5} Jane Austen Silhouette top from DearLillie

I think I almost died when I saw this. And then I told my sweetheart all about it & sent him the link...

because I'd really love to make it mine!

What loveliness have you added to your wishlist lately?

Thanks so much for having me, Jessica.

Happy Wednesday!

today is a good day.

2010-12-07T14:54:00.001-07:00

first, thanks for all of your sweet comments about my mountain of rosies!
last night it felt really good to step back and revel in the moment. i will feel even more accomplished when these packages are out the door! {soon, soon!}
today is a good day.
my mom flew in last night after hearing the panicked sound in my voice at the end of last week.
she's so good to me. and my kids.
so, she is entertaining those boys to pieces and spoiling them rotten for the next 2 days while i work round the clock to *hopefully* get orders out even before my december 15th deadline. wouldn't that be swell? {fingers crossed!} i'm feeling much better now that she is here to help.
another reason today is a good day?
late last night i got these sweet pics in my inbox from brooke of brooke ashley photography (she's amaaaazing... go check her out!):

i die!
brooke is one of my best customers and it made me so happy when she told me she and her sweet daughter, ava can both wear three musketeers headbands! isn't that awesome? so when she asked if i've ever made earrings for little ones, i had to give it a try. i love how they turned out!
so, coming in january... petite rosy earrings - for you (if you like things a little more understated) or for your little ones. sooo cute! thanks brooke and ava!
and that won't be the only thing coming in january - i've been making a list and checking it twice (tee hee) with all of your suggestions for new products! and i'm excited! keep 'em coming!
(lots of exclamations!!!! sorry!!!)

wow.

2010-12-06T23:12:00.000-07:00

do you ever take a step back from something you've worked on so hard and just soak it all in?
i don't usually have time to.
and, i am usually much more likely to be overly self-critical than to take a second to congratulate myself for my accomplishments.
but, i have to admit - tonight, this was pretty amazing to step back from:

yeah. i did that.
cool.

question for you...

2010-12-06T08:00:00.002-07:00

if there was one product you would like to see from allora handmade in 2011 what would it be?

comment, comment, comment away my pretties....

can i unload my brain for a minute?

2010-12-03T09:46:00.001-07:00

happy friday friends.

right now i am:

typing with bandaids on 5 of my 10 fingers. serious.
realizing that this one-woman-rosette-factory deal is hazardous to your (and by "your" i mean "my") health.
happy to give my little fingers a quick break
super grateful for the friends that live inside my computer
fa-reaking out a bit trying to figure out how to get it all done before my december 15th deadline.
overwhelmed by the fact that I just had my best month EVER.
eating triscuits and cheese for breakfast (no, i'm not pregnant.)
wanting desperately to get it all done so i can focus on the REASON for the season.
pretty stoked to have finally wrapped up all the loose ends for the queen bee market.
excited and stressed all in one that we have another show scheduled and booked for may.
still in my pajamas
praying for guidance to do what is best for me and my family
anxiously anticipating a night out with the hubby tonight (even though going to a church dinner isn't exactly a hot date - i'll take what i can get.)
terribly humbled by your love, support, orders, etc.
excited by the possibilities that lie within the new year
counting down the days (17!) to get out of the snow and home to the sunshine with the whole fam
thinking about Mary and her response: "Be it unto me according to thy word..."
brainstorming new product ideas for january
wondering what new allora products you are dying to see
offering free advertising for december on my sidebar. see?------->
(email me if you want in on it)
hoping you have a great weekend
ready to announce the Scotch (R) Tape giveaway winners!

Drumroll pleeeease!

The lucky winners:

Dixon family (jennysrushton@hotmail.com)
Megan (meganleigh123@gmail.com)
Melissa (chocoholic@socal.rr.com)
ArmyHearts (createdbykatyann@yahoo.com)
Savanna O'Gwynn (sbmmhoover@yahoo.com)
Denise (deniseb777@gmail.com)
Ann (ann.swindell@gmail.com)
jeannetg (jeannett.gibson@gmail.com)
Nichelle (nichelle.l.allen@aggiemail.usu.edu)
Alison (aclittle28@gmail.com)

I will contact you shortly for your info!
Thanks for playing!

wish list wednesdays: introducing Julia from J-Jewels Designs

2010-12-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

Hello to all you Allora Handmade Lovers (myself included!)

My name is Julia I am the creator of J-Jewels Designs a Hand-stamped Jewelry company.

I am thrilled that Jess asked me to guest post my Wish List for all of you!

So fun to see what everyone wishes for and get some of my own ideas too!!

Here I go but this is just a sampling because I could go on and on....

1. Boots - Zappos.com

2. Fairies- Kelly Rae Roberts

3. Organizing Classes- Simplify 101

4. Shirt- Down East Basics

5. Cute Hat- Kanokwalee's Shop (Etsy)

6. Purse- Down East Basics (OK I guess Ijust really like everything here!)

7. Personal Mug- Mypolkadotpottery (For Coffee Lovers, Like me!)

8. Great book for list makers like me!- Amazon

9. This is a no brainer!!! (I want them in teal, hint. hint....)

LAST CALL!

2010-11-30T18:52:00.001-07:00

gratuitous picture of my freaking adorable offspring.

ok party people!
this is it!!
tomorrow is your LAST CHANCE to order that necklace/headband/bracelet/fill-in-the-blank-rosette-something-rather you've had your eye on!
tomorrow is your last chance to convince your husband/boyfriend/sister/mother/dog's best friend to make all your rosy christmas wishes come true!
after tomorrow, i will clear the shop of made-to-order items and all that will be left is ready-to-ship (which are still on sale, btw). SO, this is it!
oh! and don't forget about your cousin's wife's sister-in-law. i bet she would love some rosette earrings. don't you think?
you're welcome.

and just for good measure:

the view from the camera on my phone. seriously, does it get any better than cheeser grins in front of a christmas tree?

do you love that henry is physically incapable of keeping his eyes open with a flash? laughed for about half hour over all the squinty eye shots i have of him... oh, boys...

gift wrapping ideas & a giveaway from Scotch (R)

2010-11-29T08:00:00.004-07:00

Thanks to Scotch(R) Double Sided Tape for sponsoring my writing about crafts. Add your comment below to be entered for a chance to win free sample rolls to help with your upcoming holiday needs.

One of my favorite parts of giving gifts is the wrapping. I tend to be drawn to a more homemade version of wrapping paper, and this year is no different. And it doesn't get much simpler than this!
To make your packages stand out in a crowd, here are the supplies you will need:

newspaper (or brown craft paper works well too)
Scotch (R) Tape or Scotch (R) Double Sided Tape
Baker's Twine (mine is from the Twinery)
holiday tags (mine are from Joyful Joyful)
scissors

1. wrap your gift with newspaper
2. seal it up with Scotch(R) Tape or Scotch (R) Double-Sided Tape
3. flip it over
4. measure out your baker's twine to wrap around your box
5. cut three lengths of baker's twine
6.wrap all 3 pieces of twine around together as you would a ribbon
7. tie a bow
8. pick out a gift tag
9. attach the tag to the twine

voila! cute and crafty gift wrapping for the holidays!
you can also use these pretties as decoration! we have a pile of presents sitting on a table in our entry way along with a mini christmas tree and some other holiday decor.

Want a sample of Scotch (R) Double Sided Tape for your holiday wrapping? Comment below and be entered to be one of 10 winners to receive a roll compliments of 3M. Winners will be chosen Friday, December 3rd.

Please learn more about Scotch(R) Double Sided Tape and other Scotch(R) Products, and join the conversation on the Scotch(R) Brand Facebook Page and via Twitter . I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective , which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

BLACK FRIDAY!

2010-11-25T23:59:00.001-07:00

without warning, i have decided to have a little black friday sale on READY TO SHIP items.
excited?
me too!
since boutique season is over for me, i have quite a stash to put on sale!
in select colors:

earrings, just $9! (normally $11.50)

three musketeers headbands, only $12! (normally $15)
and of course, my best seller...

i have very limited # and colors of the modern pearl statement necklaces available for just $32! (normally $37)

get 'em while they last!
happy shopping, y'all!

and remember, just 5 more shopping days before i close my christmas queue!

wish list wednesdays: introducing Mandie from Mandie's Mumblings

2010-11-24T12:00:00.000-07:00

Hi there lovelies! My name is Mandie, I blog at Mandie's Mumblings, & have recently opened up my own etsy shop, MoxieMandie. I love to sew, take photos, & hang out with my husband, Gabe. I'm pretty stoked to get to share my personal wishlist here on Jessica's blog!

This shower curtain is so sweet! I love the ruffles!!

This rooster is awesome! I've got a major crush on roosters!

I just LOVE this handmade advent calendar! It's so pretty & soothing.

I have been in L O V E with Meg's cute ruffle necklace since I first laid eyes on it months ago. In muistard, of course(my FAVORITE!)

I think that these shoes, however illogical they may be, make up completely in beauty for what they lack in common sense.

This clutch is SO sweet! I just love the combination of the fabrics together!!

And I'm unsure what it is, but there is just something so fun about this Sweet Bee necklace that I can't get enough of!!

This canvas is extra special, because it was created & is being sold to help fund a maternity home in Kenya, & I just think that's rad!

Well, I am so glad that I got to come over & share what's on my wish list this year! I hope that you & yours have a wonderful holiday!

wish list wednesdays: introducing Kim from Oh Sweet Joy!

2010-11-24T08:00:00.003-07:00

Well, hello there! I'm Kim, the girl behind the blog, Yellow Songbird, and the shop, Oh, Sweet Joy!

This is such a fun feature that Jessica is doing & I'm thrilled to be a part of her Wish List Wednesdays!

Creating a wish list was a piece of cake for me ((thanks to my endless favorites list on Etsy)), but narrowing it down to a "bloggable" number of items was pretty tricky. Here are my top ~~nine~~ 10!
((as i was making this, Shey*B presented a pretty irresistible item for me))

All handmade. All fabulous. Let's do this.

((going right to left, starting at the top!))

1. L'Amour Dress from Amanda Archer
2. Grey Upcycled Wool Flowerette Pin from A Little Thistle.
3. Gingiber's Illustrated Owl Calendar
4. I'm Sew Very Happy Print from LoveSugar
5. Lisa Leonard's Petite Family Crest Necklace
6. Grasses Scarf from New Duds

7. Owl Clock by Playing Grown Up

8. Cowl from Yes Jess.

9. Pastels Bracelet from Spin Thread

...And number 10? Shey*B's new wrist strap for point & shoot cameras. I've been waiting for this for a long time. I'm not a pink girl, so this isn't the exact one I would get, but there are plenty of other beautiful fabrics she uses in her shop for me to choose from.

Well there ya go, more items for you to drool over. :) Thanks, Jessica for letting me participate in this fun feature. Can't wait to see what all the other gals are picking!

monday, monday

2010-11-22T09:45:00.001-07:00

hi friends,
it's me, your long lost alloralicious pal.
man, what a week!
i spent most of last week recovering from the exhaustion of QBM only to get a nasty bout of food poisoning or something yesterday.
no fun-no.
but, enough about that.
it's Thanksgiving week!! can you believe it?
where did 2010 go? sheesh. flew right by.
we will be heading to grand ol' wyoming to eat massive amounts of turkey and mashed potatoes (which would normally excite me to the point of tears, but with a yucky tummy, not so much right now) and spend time with the inlaws.
and since i'm already taking christmas orders and planning a christmas party for the women at my church, i almost forgot about thanksgiving! shame, shame.
here are a few of my favorite etsy thanksgiving finds:

1. don't you think my boys need this gobble shirt?
2. perfect utensil for serving up some warm turkey
3. lovely banner to remind us we are blessed
4. hilarious cufflinks that still have me giggling
5. beautiful raw print "thanks is for giving" (yes, it is!)
6. lucky little wishbone necklace
7. pretty glittery "give thanks" gift tags
8. yummy felted acorns
9. may as well hang the pie around your neck!

LOVE!

what are your plans for the big day? eat yourselves silly? watch ridiculous amounts of football? order pizza?

p.s. allora handmade christmas shopping deadline is 9 days away! did you get yours yet?

wish list wednesdays: introducing Mandy from mandypidy!

2010-11-17T12:00:00.000-07:00

Well hello! I'm Mandy from Mandipidy,
and I'm so excited to get to share my wishlist with you today!

My wishlist could seriously go on forever...
[It's not that I'm greedy.
I just admire so many lovely things.]
So I've narrowed it down to my top ten for you!

[1]
I'm starting off with an absolute favorite of mine...
Lisa Leonard.
Specifically, this Sweetheart Tree Necklace.
With a d+m stamped in the heart... perfection.

[2]
I'm a sucker for fabulous prints,
so you'll see that several have snuck into my wishlist...
like this one from Volume Twenty Five.
Yellow + Typwriter = [LOVE].

[3]
You've heard of TOMS, right?
Of course you have.
Seriously amazing shoes.
And when you buy a pair, TOMS gives a pair to someone in need...
How's that for justifying some shopping?

[4]
Sleepy King is one of the first etsy shops I stumbled across, and is still a favorite.
Cutest plushies ever,
And I'm infatuated with this owl wing headband...
The color combination is dreamy:

[5]
And now for another happy find in the print department:
My Soul Shines
These prints are awesome...
I love every single one!

[6]
Dainty, frilly, feminine...
Garlands of Grace.
I love this shop and the sweet testimony of the sisters who create these headpieces.

[7]
Have you heard of Good Gravy?
Absolutely gorgeous paper products.
Like this bunting stationary:

[8]
Another fun indie print shop?
Why certainly!
Rosie Music is Uh-dorable.
Replace the piano with a math book, and this print is practically me and the hubby!

[9]
I'm so sure you've heard of Gussy.
She's the queen of the ruffled pouch.
But have you seen the beautiful Christmas stockings that she's selling now?
Mmmmmmm.

[10]
And I know that if you're here, you are already familiar with Allora Handmade.
But yes, it's on my wishlist.
I'll take one in every color, please and thank you.

Thanks so much for letting me share my wishlist on your lovely blog, Jess!

wish list wednesdays: introducing Heather from Angel Face Designs

2010-11-17T08:00:00.007-07:00

Hey! I'm Heather from Angel Face Designs and I'm so excited that Jessica is letting me use her awesome blog for my wish list. I have two little girls, Leila and Gianna and like to make jewelry in my (tiny bit) of spare time. I'll be forwarding it to my husband, who will hopefully get the hint.
Without further adieu....

1. Anna Maria Horner Blue Dessert and Coffee Apron. This would definitely inspire me to bake more. I think I need some towels to go with it too. So cute, I kind of can't stand it.
2. Allora Handmade modern pearl rosette statement necklace in turquoise. And fuchsia. And off-white. I have the "Partly Sunny" necklace, which I wear all the time, but definitely need to add some more alloraliciousness in my life.

3. Laser Cut Silhouette Pendant from Le Papier Studio. So classic and so timeless. So in love. I am dreaming of this with my girl's silhouettes. How cute would this be with every single outfit you own? Seriouisly. I really hope my husband is paying attention on this one.

4. Tiny cake stand by Vessels and Wares on Etsy. Preferably in yellow or turquoise. I have imagined having this tiny cake stand, and having my girls excited to use it on their birthdays, or when have a special day at school, or maybe even a bad day. I feel like this tiny, little cupcake stand holds lots of memories waiting to happen.

5. Handmade California Key Hook. I have been in love with this bad boy for such a long time. It's California (my state!), it's turquoise (perfection!) and it's gorgeous! I know exactly where I'd hang it. The top hook would be for the girls to hang their aprons,and the bottom hook would be to hang my aprons.

6. A small Much Ado About You calendar in the Peyton style. I looooove MAAY! My awesome cousin got me the "Mia" last Christmas, which I use several times a day and show off whenever possible. I already have a large Savannah calendar, that will be the "family" calendar for 2011, and I definitely need the little Peyton for my purse. (Psst - I'm a calendar ambassador, so use the code "HG10" at checkout and you'll get 10% off!)

7. Gussy Blue Bell makeup bag. How cute are Gussy's ruffles?! LOVE! This would be perfect for the 500 chapsticks and lip glosses rolling around in my purse. I am also really (really) in love with this!

8. Speaking of purses, the Jo Totes "Rose" bag in teal is way high up on my list! I entered to win one of these on a blog a while back, and was way too upset when I didn't win. This would become my new everyday bag. So pretty and so functional!

9. Personalized Family Tree wall hanging by Elm Studios on Etsy. I think this is just the sweetest thing, and it would be cherished for years to come.

Thanks again to Jess for including me on Wishlist Wednesday!! Happy holidays, and happy wishing friends!

where do i begin?

2010-11-15T16:17:00.001-07:00

thanks jeannett for getting a good pic of our sign

i am still so overwhelmed from such an amazing weekend that i seriously don't know where to begin.
you guys, the queen bee market rocked.
like, ROCKED.
(proud mama moment.)
i wish you all could have been there.
it was so inspiring.
to see all of these artists and creatives come together in one space with their heart and soul poured out in booth form. it was incredible.
my favorite part about the Market is the vendors. hands down, getting to interact with such fabulously talented people is so rewarding.
the weekend was such a high, and now i'm ready to crash.
tying up loose ends with the market and a church activity tomorrow. staring down my list of orders, needy children and pile of laundry. wondering how i'm going to pull off selling at another boutique this weekend.
i'd rather lay in bed all day.
and i just might.
(you know i won't.)
(a girl can dream.)
i hope to post more in detail in the next few days with a little more clarity and more pictures gathered from here and there.
in the meantime, you can read what some of our vendors and customers had to say about it:
the pleated poppy
creme de la gems
flawed perfection
olive blue
life rearranged
crystal b.
funky vintage kitchen
swanky paper
30 days
are you coming in 2011? you should. serious.

wish list wednesdays: introducing Holly from Mommy Holly

2010-11-10T10:00:00.001-07:00

I am so excited to share my {current!} wish list here on Allora Handmade! :) I usually have an ever-changing list in my head of things I am wishing for, and here are my faves at the moment:

1. Vintage Butter and Gold Flower Earrings from EricaLeilaniDesigns!
So, so, so pretty. The perfect addition to any outfit. I have a pair of these earrings from the last Queen Bee Market, and oh.em.gee. I love them! :)

2. A Modern Pearl Rosette Necklace from {who else?!} Allora Handmade!
Seriously, so darn cute. Who won't put this on their holiday wish list this year? :)

3. Houses all in a Row Print from claudiagpearson!
I adore art prints and Etsy is full of amazing ones. This one tops my list at the current moment- I love brownstones, but does it get much better in pink? :)

4. Cream Colored Beach Cruiser
The most delicious piece of sporting equipment I've ever seen. I am no athlete, but I would love a fun bike to ride around the local lake with my six-year old! :)

5. Courtier Skirt from Anthropologie
Must I stress my love for this store??? I know this skirt is expensive, but it sure would look cute with my slouchy brown knee boots. Swoon!

6. Blooming Slouchy Beret from EmilymaySparks!
A fellow Queen Bee and an amazing accessory artist, for sure! I already have a few things from her and love, love, love each one. :)

7. Mr. Darcy Proposal Mug from Brookish
I would be happy each and every day to sip my coffee from this darling mug. And I mean, does it get any sexier than the words of Mr. Darcy?! I think not. :)

8. Grey and Silver Leaf Necklace from PrintParty
I wear a lot of neutrals, and this would jazz up any plain white tee, don't you think? :)

Happy holiday season to all of you,
happy wish-listing,
and I hope to see lots of you at the Queen Bee Market this weekend!!
xo! -Holly :)
mommy holly

wish list wednesdays: introducing Megan Reynolds of Flawed Perfection Jewelry

2010-11-10T08:00:00.002-07:00

Hi everyone, I'm Megan of Flawed Perfection Jewelry! I'm was so honored that Jessica said I could share some of my wish list items with all her wonderful readers :)

I must admit, I have a *bit* of a shopping habit! If it's handmade, I'm even more excited! (Hence, I might be doing some serious shopping at the Queen Bee Market this Friday and Saturday.) When it comes to holiday shopping, I love to find unique and clever gifts for my family and friends. Since I make jewelry for everyone for their birthdays, they know that they are going to get something other than jewelry on Christmas ;) Narrowing my list was difficult, but here are a few of my wants!

1. Table Topics: I discovered Table Topics a few months ago & fell in love! They have dozens of different sets for different people and occasions! Each set includes over 100 questions that are meant to be conversation starters. Some examples of sets are "What Would You Do?," Girls Night Out, Family, College, Slumber Party, and Couples. They *seriously* have a set for everyone! I think these would make perfect gifts for Christmas, for a housewarming party, or for a thank you gift!

2. Stitched Boutique's Ruffle Scarf: I love this scarf for a few reasons: 1-LOVE the ruffles, 2-it comes is a dozen colors, 3-it's super affordable! This scarf is so stylish and adorable, yet light enough that I could actually wear it here in San Diego! It is a modern take on the classic winter accessory! (I would also check out everything else that is the shop, it's all pretty cute ;)

3. *Shey* [B]'s Wrist Strap: If you don't know Shey, where have you been hiding? She's well known for her camera strap covers, but she *just* introduced this brand new product for all cameras! Her new wrist strap can be done in almost any of her fabrics & is perfect for those of us who don't have SRL cameras! I don't really know many people who have SRL's, so this is such a cute and useful gift for the people with Point & Shoots in my life! Now we all can have some *Shey* [B] in our lives, no matter what camera we have!

4. Fern Tree Studio's Pride & Prejudice Print: In case you didn't know (why would you know? ;), I am a HUGE Pride & Prejudice fan! Like, HUGE! A while ago, I was browsing P & P items on Etsy & came across this gorgeous print! This shop is full of beautiful prints, but this one caught my eye (the color is customizable as well). When I get this *wink wink*, I am putting it up with my black & white wall of photography. It's so modern and classy, yet whimsical.

5. Peggy Ann Design's Pom-Pom Pin: Hannah of Peggy Ann Design is such a hoot & keeps me laughing over on twitter! But, she also makes adorable items in her shop! Her popular Pom-Pom Pins are all the rage. While they were designed for your favorite sport teams, you can get them in ANY color combo, meaning that you can just put your favorite colors together for a customized & fashionable look! Right now, I'm really wanting one in purple & gray. She's even got a new baby version coming soon :) I can't wait to buy from her (& hopefully meet her once she moves to San Diego next year ;)

6. Red Ink Designs' Brainstorm Notebook: I'm a huge note-taker and list-maker, so this is the perfect notebook for me! It's great for sketching or jotting down ideas. How perfect would this be as your idea book for product or business ideas? Pretty perfect. It's such a clever design & would make a wonderful gift for any artist, business owner, or creative type on your shopping list! I'm excited to see Marcie again at Queen Bee this Friday & Saturday! Maybe I'll snag a few of these up then for some of the people on my list ;)

7. ALL Gussy's New Products: Along with probably every one of you out there, I'm a GIANT Gussy fan! Maggie is so talented and sweet; how could you not fall in love with her ruffles?! She recently added TONS of new designs, and, boy, are they pretty! I've added a small pouch, a medium pouch, as well as another clutch and make up bag to my Christmas list! (Wait, I guess I'll just take one of everything!) Her new prints are so gorgeous--there is definitely a design/print for every lady on your list!

*****

Thanks Jessica for letting me post and share my wish list! See you in TWO DAYS!!! (I know, you'll are jealous, right? ;)

the shop is now updated!

2010-11-08T08:54:00.004-07:00

ok people. here it is.
i have updated my shop. (gasp! people do that?)
that doesn't mean the items listed are in stock. no silly, i am leaving town tomorrow.
it means i am taking christmas pre-orders right. now!
all orders purchased between now and december 1st will be guaranteed in time for christmas.
anything after that? ...your guess is as good as mine.
and since i am currently in qbm freak out mode, and realizing that bijou is just 5 days after i get home, let's just say the normal 2 week turnaround is going to have to be pushed out a bit. so, while i will happily take all of your christmas wishes starting now, unless you decide to rush your order, please be advised that all orders will be ready in time for CHRISTMAS. not thanksgiving, not december 1st, but december 25th.
All orders will ship via usps priority mail by december 15th.

And, just because I am feeling really bad about my crazy schedule and total inability to be a one woman rosette factory (though after this week, you might think i was), how about a little discount?
Spend over $100 before I return from the Queen Bee Market on Sunday, and you'll get 10% off your whole order. Just enter EARLY10 to receive your discount.

the early bird really does get the worm!
ok! i feel better now.
ready, set, SHOP!!

p.s. i realize 10% is not huge, but I try to keep my prices really low already. and every little bit helps, right? muah!

if you're wondering where i've been

2010-11-04T10:54:00.003-06:00

I am elbow deep in 50 trillion rosettes. I am frantically prepping for the queen bee market and may actually come up for air someday. If you've placed an order in the last week or so, it will ship before i leave. I appreciate your patience! All orders received this week and next will ship AFTER i get back. xoxo

p.s just added updated production times in the right hand column. when in doubt, check it out.

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wish list wednesdays: introducing Hannah from Peggy Ann Design

2010-11-03T08:00:00.003-06:00

Hello Friends! I'm Hannah from Peggy Ann Design. I'm so excited to be posting here on Jess's allora-licious blog for Wish List Wednesdays! This will be my very first handmade Christmas and I'll be very busy over the next few weeks teaching my husband about buying on etsy and big cartel! ;-) Here's what he'll be buying...

When Jess asked for wish lists, I immediately put my name in the hat. I had actually already started a draft of my own wish list post that just so happened to start with one of her lovely necklaces. I'm having a really hard time choosing which color I want. They are all so fabulously gorgeous!

(No, including one of her products was not a requirement for writing this post.)

Modern Pearl Rosette Statement Necklace

Ok so this one is actually not for me, but I still love it. My little brother is getting married in January and I would LOVE to give him and my new sister-in-law one of these super cool custom prints from Becca at Hugs & Kisses Designs. I think I'd get it in gray & dark purple - their wedding colors.

Custom Wedding Date Art

I would very much like for the weather to cool down here in Alabama so that I can wear my scarves again! I would especially like this mustard yellow Neck Rag from Textile Monster.

Neck Rag

Since i currently live in the loveliest little village on the plains, (Auburn, AL) and because I'm a fan of the wonderful Auburn Tigers, I tend to incorporate a lot of navy and orange into my wardrobe. I have a really cute navy shirt that is begging me to buy this ruffled necklace from Pretty Things By Meg. It really would match perfectly.

Ruffled Necklace in Burnt Orange

My current laptop bag is BIG and BLACK and NOT PRETTY. Which is why I will be receiving a gorgeous Gussy Laptop Bag with a red ruffle. Because seriously? Who doesn't love Gussy?

Gussy Laptop Bag

I recently invested in a Sony dSLR and it has a camera strap that is also plain black and not pretty. So obviously I need a pretty new Lemon Drop Ruffled Camera Strap from Eclectic Whatnot.

Lemon Drop Ruffled Camera Strap

While I'm not normally a fan of putting things in my hair, I'm really loving all the adorable headbands that are popping up everywhere. I especially love the Sailor of My Dreams Poppy Headband from Much Love, Illy.

Sailor of My Dreams Poppy Headband

The Vintage Pearl is another on of those shops where it's so hard to decide which product I want. I especially like the new Vintage Silver Pendants Necklace.

Vintage Silver Pendants Necklace

And last, but certainly not least, I'm in dire need of a Petal Pusher from The Pleated Poppy. I think the cream one is my favorite. This week at least.

Cream Petal Pusher

Thank you Jess for letting me invade your space and share my wish list with your readers!!

Happy Wednesday!

~Hannah

you say it's your birthday!?

2010-11-01T08:53:00.000-06:00

it's my birthday too, yeah!
and i've already been spoiled.
i had a bit of a pity party last night wishing i was closer to home and could spend the day with friends and family. but then my husband made the world right and gave me some presents early and reminded me i'm already home. (and that home is where your heart is.)

oh yes, he did get me this beauty. isn't she pretty?

yes, i whine and complain about how "unfair" it is to be so far from the ones i love and to be living the crazy, unpredictable, completely out of the norm life that we live right now. but the truth is, i have it pretty good. a loving husband and family, 2 to-die-for-cute boys, a business i love, our health, i could go on and on. i am truly blessed.
happy birthday to me.

P.S.
want to give me a present? (you know you do!) i'd love to get to 1,000 twitter followers. i'm over halfway there. but i need your help. what's in it for you?
don't worry, you scratch my back, i'll scratch yours. promise.
how about this?

this is by far the biggest giveaway i've ever done! think of the gifts you could give yourself or others! (i won't judge) had your eye on a modern pearl necklace? know someone who would die for a rosette bracelet this christmas? this is your chance!!!
every time you tweet, facebook, blog about this contest, come back here and comment and your name will be added to the hat to be chosen for the big fatty prize. obviously, the more you spread the word, the more chances you'll have!
this contest will be open until we reach 1,000 followers. as soon as I get there, I will choose a winner!
will you help me? awww, shucks.

happy halloween!

2010-10-31T20:29:00.000-06:00

xoxo, lion, dragon, nerd & monkey.

wish list wednesdays: introducing Tiffany from MomNom

2010-10-27T08:00:00.001-06:00

Hi! I'm Tiffany, from Mom-Nom.Com!

I'm honored that Jess allowed me to post here today! What an incredible idea and a great way to feature the many adorable, unique and talented creators in the handmade market. Coming up with my Handmade Christmas List was overwhelmingly easy, I'll take one of everything. Please&Thank you.
But, if forced to narrow it down, here is what's on my short list - I think these shops are the bee's knees and I hope you do too!

1.) Yahee's Place - Words cannot explain the love affair I have going with Melissa of Yahee's Place. If you're in the market for something vintage, handmade and unique - this is the shop for you! Not only are her bags stylish, but they are comfortable, sizeable and perfect for the mom-on-the-go! Oh, and Melissa, is even more adorable than her bags. It's a win-win.
2.) Allora Handmade - I'm pretty sure we're all familiar of these SWOON-worthy necklaces. Jessica is incredibly talented and every last thing in her shop makes me want to blow the budget and surround my family and friends with one-of-a-kind Allora goodness.
3.) Flawed Perfection - Megan's cluster pearl earrings are the perfect combination of classic and unique. I can picture these with jeans and a cardigan, just as easily as a cocktail dress for the perfect summer soiree. And, that doesn't just apply for these earrings - all of Megan's collection can be paired with anything in your wardrobe - which gaurantee's you'll get your money's worth.
4.) Gussy Sews - EVERYBODY wants a Gussy ruffle. Including me. While I have my pouch, I LONG for one of these adorable travel bags in a unique pattern with a classic Gussy ruffle. Maggie, the face of Gussy, is a staple in the handmade community - reaching out to shops that need guidance and using her blog as an outlet to promote all things handmade.

5.) Twenty Five Designs - That adorable bracelet up there? It's just one of many. The color combinations are endless and the adorable rosette's are in full bloom. I can think of about 10 people on my shopping list that would LOVE their very own Twenty Five Designs creation - and I bet you can too!
6.) Little Alouette - I've been eye-balling these wooden teething toys since I was pregnant. Not only is this mustache adorable - but oh-so-trendy. And, there's more where that came from, with everything from Giraffe and Hippo to state's and shapes. These wooden toys are perfect for kids of all ages and gaurantee'd to be a hit with the expecting/new moms in our lives.
7.) Jessa ZG - Who wouldn't want a classic silhouette of their child up in their home? Or, what grandparent wouldn't just SWOON as they unwrapped the profile of their adorable grandbaby? These custom creations are priceless and gauranteed to become family heirlooms. Handmade & timeless? The perfect combination. Jessa, the adorable face behind the creations has more than silhouette's to offer - check out her site for pet illustrations, custom height charts and a special surprise - coming soon!
8.) Much Ado About You - I've been wanting a planner for EVER. And, not just any run-of-the-mill planner. I've had my eye on a Much Ado About You personalized planner. With adorable tabs, custom covers and trendy backs - these planners make keeping your life organized stylish AND fun.

9.) Sandy A La Mode - One of my more recent finds is the adorable Sandy of Sandy A La Mode. Her adorable pins are perfect for my hair style, and the fall colors would go with just about everything in my wardrobe. Nothing dresses up a ponytail faster than an adorable A La Mode hairpin. I have a trendy 19 year old cousin that will just DIE when she finds these goodies under her tree.
10.) Sheyb - Every mom with a camera should have one of Shey's stylish and comfortable straps. Not only are the designs unique and fun, but the comfort of the strap makes it nearly irresistable. These straps are sure to make every photographer, regardless of experience, feel inspired and loved.

THANK YOU, Jess, for letting me take over your beautiful space! Happy Shopping!

this just in:

2010-10-26T18:05:00.002-06:00

all orders purchased through the 22nd are shipped! yay! progress...

this kid makes me laugh

2010-10-26T14:30:00.000-06:00

in a bit of a funk today. maybe because it is threatening to snow, and the day it starts to snow here is the day i start my winter mourning. this san diego girl is not cut out for the winter. no snow on the ground so far, but i can feel it in the air..

moving on.

you know what's making me happy today?

this kid:

sometimes i feel bad that henry hasn't gotten the same blog-time and documentation as his older brother did. but let's be honest, my life was a heck-of-a-lot less complicated when it was just me and owen.

no allora. no school for dad. no queen bee. no siblings. just me and o.

and poor henry may have gotten the short end of the stick when it comes to journaling about his firsts, etc. but the kid is pretty dang happy anyways.

love him.

a total bulldozer, complete disregard for personal safety, and will do anything to get people to laugh at him.

when he turned 1 in march i *may* have been concerned he wasn't the smartest kid on the block (don't tell him that!) he only said one word regularly at that time: dad. (he is a total daddy's boy.)

now, at a year and a half, the kid is blowing me away.

knows animals, animal sounds, abc's, numbers, recognizes some of his letters and numbers, and repeats just about anything.

besides that, henry's got a mean booty shake going on.

(it's to die for.)

his hugs and kisses make me melt, and his laugh is absolutely 100% contagious.

and i'm so happy he's mine.

christmas in october?

2010-10-22T11:04:00.000-06:00

via martha

thinking of christmas in october makes my brain hurt.
i am not the shop way ahead of time type.
i plan to get 90% of my christmas shopping done all in one place.
but if you are the list making, sale shopping, get it done before thanksgiving type, I'm talking to you.
actually, if you have any allora handmade items on your wish list or on your gift list, i'm talking to you.
i know, i'm asking a lot of you to think about all this, but just call it fair warning.
because of the turn around time for my shop, i can only guarantee delivery in time for christmas for orders made before december 1st.
i'll say it again.
if you want to gift allora handmade this year, order before december 1st!
{ducks and hides.} {dodges tomatoes being thrown.}
having said that, you may notice that there are a few colors already sold out in my shop. i am busy as a bee trying to stay on top of all of the orders coming in (thank you!) AND prepare for november.
november is already my busiest month of the year, and with the market as well as the opportunity to participate in one of my favorite local boutiques, bijou, the next 6 weeks are going to be IN.SANE.
so, be patient with me (please!). if you don't see a color you want, shoot me an email and i'll let you know what the turn around time will be.
i'm not saying you have to shop NOW. just be warned about december. and if you would be so kind to put a little note in at checkout (in paypal) letting me know something is for christmas, that would help me not feel so anxious since that is still 8 weeks away.
holy moly. 8 weeks!!?!?

i better get shopping.