part 2: handmade birthday party for the baby

We did it! After days of planning, we celebrated Audrey's 1st birthday party with friends. Birthday girl had a blast!! Still can't believe she is one now. Seems like it was just yesterday when I welcomed her into this world. She's been the greatest joy of my life. I love her with my heart and soul. Ok enough with the sappy opening, here are some pictures from the party!

My precious birthday girl with her own cake! She wasn't sure of what to do with the cake at first. Then she started smushing it and ate the icing!

Birthday cake! No, I didn't make it myself. I was going to but I was afraid I'd ran out of time so I ordered from a local bakery. They did a fabulous job! It was vanilla with raspberry filling and cream cheese frosting. Surprisingly delicious and super soft!!! Everyone enjoyed it! I am not kidding.

Some sweet treats that I served. Most I made myself.

This is what the finished invitation looked like. Handmade! and no, they didn't look like 1st bday party invitation but I loved the look.

This is what the invitation looked like. The paper bunting was sewn on the card. I was going to order the invitation through Etsy but decided to make them on my own. I was happy with the result. Didn't take long to make at all.

Overall, I was really happy with how the celebration turned out. Audrey might not remember it but she will learn through pictures and stories that I will tell her one day. I promise myself that we'll celebrate our birthday each year on its own special way. Doesn't need to always throw a party but I want it to always be memorable. I, for example, like to take a day off from work on my birthday every year. My birthday is my personal holiday. The most important day of the year for me. The celebration of the time I arrived in this world. It is such a happy day.

part 1: handmade birthday party for the baby

{image belongs to sweets indeed}

Audrey is turning a year old next month. I can't believe my baby is going to be one! For a while, I had been going back and forth with the plan of whether to throw her a birthday party or not. Now I am certain that I am going to host a lovely birthday party for her. Audrey's family in NY/NJ will be throwing her a Korean birthday bash in NY --- it's a Korean tradition to have a huge 1st birthday party. Well, certainly, I am not going to throw another Korean birthday party here. I want to do something different (of course!!). Audrey is going to have a sweet and lovely handmade birthday party. It'll be a small birthday party. We'll invite close friends. Hopefully it'll be something that everyone can remember for years to come.

vintage inspiration

I came accross that lovely pic above while browsing around apartment therapy's site. Don't you love it? I love the "handmade" side table. I might just have to copy that look for my own bedroom. I happen to have a vintage suitcase (ivory) that I can use.

Gosh now I want to revamp my place. But I am on a budget. I still need to find 2 white bookshelves and a white dining table (to serve as large work area) for my sewing studio. I did find a super cool white dining table from overstock a while back but then it sold out a week later. I am still kicking myself in the butt for waiting too long to purchase it. Such a great price too ($168 + free shipping!!). I might hit my favorite vintage shop in town next weekend. Who knows I might find a cool one there.

Also, few weeks back, I bought a couch from Craigslist. It is a lovely light blue couch. Came from a good home. I am happy with the purchase. I love the couch but not the pillowcases that came with it--such boring plain pillowcases. So, my hands are itching to make some handmade pillowcases for my lovely blue couch. Will post the before and after pics once I am done. For now, I have some zipper pouches to make!!

giveaway winner

I am so so sorry for the delay.
I have chosen the winner for the last giveaway using random.org but somehow I couldn't post the image here :( booo

So.. the winner is Annie
Annie said...
Oh yay I need a new makeup bag! I hope I win! And my favorite color is yellow.

Annie, please claim your winning: 2 cute handmade pouches!!
Send me an email with your address :)

Thank you everyone for entering the giveaway! There is going to be another one this Thursday :)

handmade zipper pouches

These are some of the pouches I finished for my etsy shop. I have A LOT more ready to be stitched closed. I'm also working on getting some iPad and 15-inch laptop sleeves done for the shop. I can be very productive if I stick to my plans.

new changes

I apologize for the patchy postings on my blog. I have been very busy for the last 2 weeks. Seems like when things happen, they happen all at once. Thankfully, it is a good thing.

A lot is happening with my little shops. A new baby boutique that just opened in town offered retail opportunity for me, which of course I gladly took.

I am planning to revamp my 2 Etsy shops --- the main one and the baby one. The main shop will have a new (fresher) feel. The baby shop's transformation will take a little longer as I'm still working on fulfilling order from the local baby boutique. However, I'm super excited for it. I'll be better prepared for the holiday shopping rush this year than last year. It was a nightmare last year (note: I was very pregnant during the holiday season last year).

So, get ready for some new changes. I mean, it won't be totally different but it'll still be nice changes.

3rd giveway --- sweet pouches

Giveaway!! Giveaway!! I am giving away not one but two handmade zipper pouches!!! You can keep one and give the other to a friend maybe? Or you keep both. These are super cute. Measures 5.5" x 4.5". It has light padding too! I promise you, you will love it.

here is how to enter this giveaway (you can do one, two, or all):
* Leave a comment to let me know your favorite color (1 entry).
* Become a follower (1 entry) and leave a (separate) comment telling me that you are one.
* Post about this giveaway on your blog/Facebook (1 entry) and leave a (separate) comment with link to your post.

Giveaway opens on Thursday, September 9, 2010 and will be closed on Wednesday, September 15. I will announce the winner next Thursday, September 16.
And as always, this giveaway opens to everyone in the world.

Good luck!!

xoxo,
Lita