TIO's 2nd Birthday!

Happy April 29th, which is not only one day closer to when I can start planting things in my garden.....it's also my 2nd Etsyversary!!! How time flies, amirite?

My goal for this year was to reach 300 orders. As of today, the total is 317! I can't even believe that. Remember when I was hoping to get to 20? Seems like it was just yesterday...not two YEARS ago!

Now that this goal has been reached...it's time to set a new one. I think I've already mentioned this in a previous post, but I'm going really big for the next goal - 550! Eep. That's a big number and I really don't know how realistic it is, but I feel confident that maybe we can at least get close? .......... Maybe?

The past several weeks have been really crazy over here. I've had the opportunity to work on some really awesome custom orders because my customers are the most creative, fun people out there and they all have AMAZING ideas! One of my favorite projects lately was designing an invitation for my BFF's bridal shower next month. I just mailed them out yesterday, so will wait until next week to post the design so that the surprise isn't ruined. Here's a sneak peak of Moose helping me put them together...

He's such a good little helper, isn't he? Charles was also lending a paw, but it's really hard to get them both in a photo...they're quick little guys.

Thank you to everyone who has helped me along the way, to my customers who have kept me busy and allow me to keep the shop running, to my friends and family who I annoy with talking about invitations all the time, and to Sam - for not only making me a special Etsyversary breakfast this morning, but to always giving me advice on new designs, promoting the shop, and mostly for giving me reassurance when I'm constantly second guessing myself, and also - you're pretty handsome and are always there when I need help opening a jar.

So - YAY!!!!! Today is a good day! Enjoy your day, friends!

-- Alison --

Musicians for Shriners

Over the past couple of years, I've come to learn that during April and May, the shop really picks up. I've been super busy with orders lately, including some really awesome custom orders that I can't wait to share with you! 

We've also been working on the house some more....or well, trying to. We started painting that one room, all of the walls are done, but we haven't done the trim yet...oops. In the process of painting this room I've learned a few things: #1 painting paneling SUCKS, #2 anything that involves putting down or peeling up painter's tape also SUCKS, and #3 money trees can't withstand cold temperatures... yup I killed my new awesome plant by putting it out on our sunroom while we painted and then we got a second winter. What's funny is the weekend we bought that plant, we won money on the superbowl and then the weekend we killed it we had to pay a bunch for taxes...coincidence? I was able to find another one though... but still haven't received a large sum of cash. What's up with that, money tree?

In addition to painting that room.... we've started working on the two big projects for the backyard. #1 remove / get rid of / replace fence and #2 demo concrete / get rid of / plant grass seed where there was an in-ground pool filled in. We are...sort of...or well, totally in over our heads with these projects. Turns out, breaking up concrete is REALLY hard. What's even more difficult is trying to figure out how to get rid of it. Look at this mess we've made:

Fortunately, we have a friend coming over this weekend to try and help us come up with a game plan for this. We're determined to get rid of it! I'm hoping to have a nice green backyard and also plant a little tree out there this spring / summer so we can watch it grow as we live there. I know, I'm so cute.

One last thing for today. My dad is in a band, isn't that fun? He's going to be one of several bands playing at a benefit for the Shriners Hospitals for Children this summer and asked me to make a poster to promote the event. Here's what I came up with:



So if you happen to be in the area, you should come check it out! A great event for a great cause!

Until next time,

-- Alison --

"Movin' to the country, gonna eat a lot of peaches"

So all this talk of spring has jinxed us. You know that lovely flower in my last post? Well... it no longer exists. It snowed again. Like... a foot. It has since melted, but it was just enough heavy snow to squish all the daffodils that had popped up. Sad face.

I'm so over this gray, dreary, cold weather...come on warm weather, you can do it! You know what one of the best parts of the spring / summer is?..... PEACHES! It's rare to find a really, really good peach, but when you find one...oh man. I can't even.......... They are just so good.

Speaking of peaches, there is a new invitation in the shop! You can find it here.

Since we've been trapped inside and unable to do any work outside it has forced me to shift my focus back to painting that darn room. So, good news! It's been primed and we bought the paint..finally! Going to paint this week. I'm super excited to get that room back together and hang up the last box of pictures we haven't unpacked yet.....we are slackers.

Not only has priming that room kept us busy, I've been busy working on several orders and projects outside of the shop. I'll show you a cool poster I designed for a fundraiser my dad is involved with in my next post! :)

-- Alison --