Sprinkle Storage

I love to sew, but I also LOVE to bake!  I've been selling cake pops on the side for a couple years and I really have fun doing it! Today I ran across a picture on the web, can't remember where I saw it now but it inspired me to get organized with my sprinkles.  I had a new case of Ball Canning Jars that I hadn't used yet so I decided to take the sprinkles out of the less than cute plastic containers and put them in jars.  I use my canning jars for everything! We even use them as drinking cups when they aren't busy holding homemade jam:)

 

My sprinkles are bringing me joy, I just want to gaze into my cupboard at their beauty.  And of couse, I now feel like I have to go shopping for MORE sprinkles because I can clearly see what colors I am missing!

 

If you live local, I would be happy to do a cake pop order for your special occasion!

Just let me know:)

Do what you love

 

This picture just reminds me that I am doing what I love when I sell at my booth. 

There are lots of things in life that I "have" to do.  No option, I need to do laundry, clean up after dinner, pick up dog poo (yes, I said it), make hard choice about life and work the day job.

 

 

Laveen Farmer's Market - May 2013

 

When I have my booth set up and I look around at the things that I have made, it makes me smile.  Everything in there is 100% me.   I created them, I decided what colors to use, I added a ruffle and I use lots of colors because that's what I LOVE. 

 

 My favorite part about this picture is I am with the ones I love the most.  Even though they might get bored sitting sitting at shows or hot, really hot sometimes...I hope that my girls see that I am doing something that I really love and that I created myself because I wanted to.  I hope that I am being an example of what they can do if they really want to.  They can be what they want to be and do something that makes them really happy. 

 

 

Sewing Crumbs

Even the little tiny sewing crumbs make me happy!

 

Laveen Farmer's Market

Click the link to find out more!

Nifty Apple will be there this weekend!

Saturday, May 11th from 8am-1pm

Nifty Apple out on the town!

I try to take a photo every time I have a booth...sometimes it's just a fuzzy picture from my cell phone but I still love the pictures and like to document where Nifty Apple has been...here's a few places we have been spotted...

Laveen 2nd Friday...evening show so we had some lamps out to light up the place.  My 2 favorite helpers were with me that night:)

 

The Laveen BBQ 2012 (we missed 2013 to be in CA for my Mom's Bday)

 

Market on the Move! Only did this show once but I am hoping

to join them again when they start up next year.

 

Holiday show at a private home in Laveen that hosted vendors, lots of fun!

(apparently I was having fun with a photo app on my phone for this pic!)

 

My latest show at Wee Blessing preschool in Chandler.  My sweet niece goes to school there:)

Excited to finally have a way to display my custom tees.  These were my main sellers for years

when I was selling from my Tote and Tee website, glad to have them back!

 

 

And that's it for now....mostly fuzzy and not the greatest pictures but I have learned that you can't wait for the perfect picture to document something.  That might never happen! Maybe next time, I will bring my fancy camera and take a better picture (and maybe someone will buy that "kick" pillow!?!?!?)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upcoming Show

Hello! It's like a ghost town on my website here nowadays! I have switched gears from being an online store only for so many years to doing local shows so the ol' bloggy blog is getting neglected!!

For my local peeps, I will be at the Laveen 2nd Friday Artwalk and Community Market on May 17th. (yes, that's actually the 3rd Friday this month, they changed it up a bit...same great fun, different Friday!)  I love this event! I had to take a couple months off lately but I have been a faithful vendor there since they started.  
Be sure to "like" their Facebook page and come by and see Nifty Apple and all the other talented artists and vendors! May 17th from 6-9pm at 5001 W. Dobbins Road in Laveen, AZ.

I pinned it AND I did it!

Whoops! 6 months since my last post....slackkkker!

I am glad to see 2012, I see lots of good things happening this year.  It's already been off to a great start with the birth of my new niece.  I am overjoyed and can't wait to snuggle her!

I'm always sewing and creating new things but seldom remember to document them, so I am going to try to do that.  Or not...we will see what happens!

One of my newest addictions in the last 6 months has been a little ol' website called Pinterest.  Heard of it?  Yeah I thought so! Best website ever invented! You can follow me on there and see what kind of goodies I pin. 

Here are a few things that I have pinned and GASP...actually made! Go me! Woot!

Here's a little round up:

I am getting ready to do a 22 mile with the Young Women's group at church and well, I figured we needed some of these little babies to carry our water bottles. They whip up really quick and I have TONS of strapping on hand so that made it even better.

Source: thelongthread.com via Amy on Pinterest

I am in the progress of making one of these. It's going to be a little different but this was my inspiration. I will post pics of it when I am done...if I ever finish;) Oh...and funny story. I got an email on Freecycle about free pallets, replied right away and sure enough it was one of our favorite teachers from the girl's school...the pallets were at school. Total score!

Source: designfinch.com via Amy on Pinterest

April (my 12 year old) found these on Pinterest and made them for a Christmas cookie exchange she had with some of her friends. They didn't quite turn out looking like that but they were still yummy and she did them all by herself!

Source: creativekitchenadventures.com via Amy on Pinterest

Ok, so a certain 12 year old in my house sometimes doesn't get her hair washed as well as a certain mom in this house would like and well, it looks greasy sometimes. (certain people will remain nameless...) Anywho, didn't want to spend a mint on store bought dry shampoos because I am cheap like that. Whipped some of this up with ingredients I had at home. Used it one time...it worked wonders and ever since then she is washing her hair better. (maybe it was actually just a magic potion?!?!?)

Source: hookabledesigns.blogspot.com via Amy on Pinterest

hehehe, did this one to one of our favorite friends/neighbors. The joy of teaching my girls the art of ringing the bell and running as fast as they can back to the car so we can take off before getting spotted was a delight!

Source: poppiesatplay.blogspot.com via Amy on Pinterest

Yummmmmo! Made this, loved it!

Source: stamps4fun.blogspot.com via Amy on Pinterest

I've made quite a few batches of these amazing chocolate chip cookies using my sweet cousin Stephanie's recipe...it's my fave go to chocolate chip one for sure!

Source: homegrownhospitality.typepad.com via Amy on Pinterest

Made a few of these and totally forgot about them. Where did I put them?

Source: thecottagehome.blogspot.com via Amy on Pinterest

I worked on this and wish more people would....

Source: etsy.com via Amy on Pinterest

Unfortunately, I did a bit of this....

Source: gracieava.tumblr.com via Amy on Pinterest

This couldn't be truer...

Source: georgeandlola.tumblr.com via Amy on Pinterest

VERY important!

Source: mylifeinwords-m.blogspot.com via Amy on Pinterest

And another wonderful, inspiring doodle from my cousin Stephanie...(does she realize how amazing she is???)

Source: homegrownhospitality.typepad.com via Amy on Pinterest

And lastly, this one needs to hang in my house! And the reason I don't usually blog pictures of my creations is....

Source: patinawhite.typepad.com via Amy on Pinterest

Oops, that was a lot! Did I mention I love me some Pinterest??

Something new EVERY day in June!

Yep, I set myself a goal and if I don't keep it...I give you all permission to kick me! I am planning to post a new item in my Etsy shop every day for the month of June.  I am ready to really build my business back up again and I thought this would get me a little jump start.

With today being the 2nd day of June I have already put 3 new things up...yep, I am one ahead already!
This is one of my new faves....

Go to Nifty Apple on Etsy to see more!

My Banner as a Photo Prop

Sigh! How cute is this??

Shanda of ShandaLeighDesign on Etsy used my Sweet Romance fabric banner in one of her newborn sessions! Squeal! Thanks for sharing the picture Shanda....

be sure to check out her shop, she has some really cute crocheted hats and photo props!

Getting my Earth Day on.

Remember our little starter seeds from last week?

They are growing up fast!

The only dilemma...what do I do with them now?  We have a big backyard but most of it is "desert-scape" which means lots and lots of rocks and dirt that is hard as a rock!

I decided to check out the raised bed option.  I went to Home Depot first and they had a really cool kit for $34.  Not bad and it looked really nice.  But then I realized that the soil would be the expensive part so I thought I better check for other options.  (seriously, I didn't want to end up spending $100 to get 3 cucumbers...I am still not sure what color my thumb really is.)

I checked out our wood scraps and saw that we have a few pieces that I could use to make my own bed...but first thought I would check WalMart to see if they had one.  (I had to get frosting and makeup remover anyway...seriously where else can you shop for a garden bed and frosting in one stop? Ok, probably Target but that's about 2 miles farther and you know how gas is right now....)

Anywho...I ended up finding a good option for only $10!! woot!

I waited until my little garden helper was home from school. 

And there it is.  Looks a little wonky in this picture but I am sure my veggies won't mind!

(side notes....Abby is growing out her bangs and totally needs to put a clip in her hair and I need to finish painting my chairs red.)