Waiting Room

I feel like we're in the waiting room once again. Now that we're done with looking for a house as we found the one we like, made an offer, and now just waiting for the closing date which is next month, we are trying to be patient waiting. A lot of things can happen in a month...but again, the "the waiting room" is a place for us to learn to be patient, strive to be creative (as we anticipate decorating the new house) and at the same time, be prepared of any unexpected events.

The amazing part is the contentment being in the "waiting room" . It's not always easy, but with God's grace, we can find peace just waiting. It's not like I'm being negative or not trusting God...but as I said, a lot of things can happen and as we continue to trust God with the closing of the house...we are thankful for going through the process from the beginning.

On the other note...as I tried to sell some stuffs away to unclutter our apartment...I want to share some home decor inspirations I truly dig.

Since we bought this cute Alta Baby "Dido" Bedding for our upcoming baby boy...

...I'm digging some elephant items for the baby/kid's room (the baby and our little toddler will share their room), like this Modern Retro Elephant by BabyBomb

This will definitely stimulate the baby's vision.

I wish I can get this one for their room also...so not just the baby will appreciate the elephant theme, but as well as my little toddler. Anyway, the baby will be with us with the cradle in our bedroom for quite a while before we completely transfer him to the their room. But my little toddler would definitely like this modern elephant decor for kid's room. Elefant by Richard Hutten

EtsyMom Trunk Show in Etsy.com on Sept. 4 at 7pm: BE THERE!

Just came home from a holiday weekend with my hubby's family and although I'm a bit exhausted and still lazy to unpack our suitcases, I'd like to take this chance to announce this important message to everyone that you should check out tomorrow.
Etsymom Street Team in Etsy will be having a trunk show at Etsy Virtual Labs tomorrow at 7:00pm. More info below:

Get a jump on your holiday shopping with the Fall into Holiday Cheer Trunk Show the wonderfully talented Etsymom Street Team Members are hosting this Thursday, Sept. 4th at 7 pm in the Etsy Virtual Labs. Come find out what inspires the beautiful handcrafted artistry of this dedicated group of moms in business. Each Etsymom participant will display images of their work, share about their creative process and answer questions. Don't miss this first-time event for Etsymoms and an opportunity to buy some incredible handmade goods!

Magnet Board Give-Away

Here's the magnet board give-away! The winner will have the option of taking the magnet board or the e-gift certificate that can be use towards purchase or private alchemy request at Urban Creativity shop or ChieCarroll's shop

Note: Refer to the earlier blog post for full details. The magnet board can only be shipped to US address (Does not include Hawaii, Puerto Rico & Northern Marianas Islands).

Turning ONE! ~ so here's a giveaway...

Actually I'm turning 29 next week, but Urban Creativity is turning 1. Saturday (August 16) marks our online handmade shop's first anniversary in Etsy. I'm also excited to announce our Anniversary giveaway. Starting today, post your comments until Saturday 11:00pm.

Post a comment on this blog or at Miscellany blog. We will draw and pick ONE winner on Saturday evening at 12midnight.

The winner will have the option to choose a $15 electronic gift certificate that can be use in any of our shops: (Urban Creativity)mitches21.etsy.com and chiecarroll.etsy.com

OR a handmade magnet board.

Note: The e-gift certificate can ONLY be use towards purchase or private alchemy request (in both shops). The magnet board give-away is for US residents only. I will post here tomorrow a photo of the magnet board.

In addition to the give-away, 15% will be effective on August 14-August18, 2008 on both shops.

Have a great day!

TGIF Friday SALE TODAY March 28'08

I'm having a sale today at MY STORE. My sale would be for one day, but for this blog post...I am extending my sale until April 1. It's my grandma's birthday on April 1 so I want to extend it up to her birthday. She's gone now in heaven...but if she's alive and knows I have this store in Etsy...I'm sure she'll be glad.

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade chiecarroll.etsy.com

Intro to Alchemy

It just came back recently, a feature called Alchemy in Etsy. I have no idea what it was before until I got a newsletter update from Etsy about this feature.

Alchemy is a feature where you can request a custom handmade item. It's a great feature especially if you can't find a particular item in Etsy using the search window. At the same time, for buyers, it's a shortcut to find the seller who can make the item for you and for sellers, it's a way to reach out to their buyers.

Sellers or artists will make a bid on your request and you will pick which is one will suit your requirement. I've worked previously in an ad agency and this just reminds me of making a pitch. You basically pitch for the customer's requirements.

My first Alchemy request is a Bistro Chalkboard. When I made a bid, I sent the buyer a sample sketch of what I can make for her. Here's the sketch of the bistro chalkboard:


Well, I primed and waited two days for my first and second coating of chalkboard to dry. Now, while Gwen is napping, I'm taking my hands on this on. The buyer sets a desired deadline date and as a bidder, you also get to set the date you can actually finish the product. In this case, my completion date is April 9, but I'm so excited to finish this that I will try to show it off to the buyer by end of this week.

If you haven't gone to the Alchemy feature in Etsy, check it out. Somebody out there might be able to take your request.

Don't forget to read first also the Alchemy Guidelines.

Organization...Anticipation

As I unclutter my desk today while my little angel is taking her nap, I thought I'd drop an announcement here.

Buy ONE Get ONE, still enforced at Urban Creativity for items listed January 10, 2008 and later.
There will be minor changes in upcoming new line of items at Urban Creativity. As I enhanced my skills in sewing, which I learned from my "Lola" (tagalog for grandma) when I was 9 years old. I hope to honor her by including more new sewn items at Urban Creativity.

I remember the times I used to pick up pre-cut fabrics from my Lola's employer and bring it to my Lola's house. She makes duster similar to a smock. It's usually in floral and being in a tropical climes, it has to be airy cotton and short sleeved or sleeveless.

This month, new authentic vintage items will be introduced at Urban Creativity. Also, altered vintage dresses at a reasonable price. Frost Accents jewelries by Maila can be purchased directly at http://frostaccents.multiply.com

Urban Creativity still houses a few of Frost Accents jewelries and are available with free shipping for purchases within United States. Papergoods section will add a few more items of quality & unique handmade cards and other scrapbook items most especially for the Valentine season, so please stay in touch with the blogsite.

As a member of CAST (Christian Artist Street Team) in Etsy, I'd like to announce too the upcoming contest open to all Etsy members. Check out CAST blog site for updated info. Okay, I better get back now to my organization...and laundry.

Featured: OrientalFabrics

I stumbled on her Etsy store as I go through forums and once you see her colorful asian fabrics...it will just cheer you up! If you don't know what Etsy is, check out the site :)

Meet Tisha of OrientalFabrics. She's a stay at home mom and a new member of Designing Swanky Moms. I asked her a few questions about her and her store as well.

Can you briefly share something about you (aside from being a stay-home mom)?

"I used to work in the Food and Beverage industry before getting married to a
colleague at that time. My husband is now the Food and Beverage Director at a hotel here in Taipei. Our previous countries we have lived in are Singapore, Indonesia and now Taiwan. We also live in the hotel which my friends find so fun and exciting as get the whole works. I speak 3 dialects of Chinese, Malay, English and a little French (through my husband). Now that my girls are a little older and have started nursery, I have started crafting again. Sewing little cushions and wristlets/purses are my passion as I have a fetish for cute fabrics and bags of course! I am not really good yet but
perfecting my skills slowly but surely."

Describe "FUN" for you craftwise.

"For fun I enjoy doing stuff with my girlfriends as I don't get that many nights
these days. Like any other mom, I thrive for time alone just doing my own thing
which includes playing the piano...and of course going for a pedicure once in
awhile! "

Describe what we can find in your shop.

"As I am a self addicted fabric-holic, I decided to sell them on Etsy as well. I love colours and textures, mainly prints that symbolise the Orient. I have some lovely Japanese Sakura (cherry blossom) fabrics as well as locally made Taiwanese Hakka prints that you can only find here. They are starting to become very popular as most people from the west are looking to the east now for inspiration. I decided to also add in some kawaii (cute in Japanese) fabrics as I saw a need for Etsy crafters as they are very popular at the moment. I also have fun retro prints to add a little fun and colour to my shop."

O r i e n t a l F a b r i c s

Etsy Buy Handmade orientalfabrics

Swanky Moms

I recently joined a group called Designing Swanky Moms and I'm glad to have joined it. Designing Swanky Moms or DSM is group of moms who devote their time with their kids at home and create great handmade crafts at the same time. Right now, the group members is up at 104 and continuously growing. Check out DSM members at Etsy by searching DSM.

What Design I should make?

It's a new day today... I slept in for a couple of minutes. Now, while my little angel is taking her morning nap, I'm thinking of what design I should do for the mirror series I'll make. It's a plain framed mirror 10"x10" in size.

I thought of a bamboo painting or just decoupage the wood frame. There's so much things I can do, but I can't decide what to.

This is the first one I made a while ago. Not included in the series I will make. I handpainted this with acrylic paint and some alcohol ink to create a weathered look. I decoupage flat scrapbook paper and silver hearts. This is rustic mirror in my Etsy store but I entitled this "Give the Gift of Hearts".

New Look

I'm now linking this blog to my etsy store. I've opened the store with the help of my hubby and my dear friend Maila last August and although the sale is quite slow...I'm learning a lot and making connections with great crafters...great creative minds. One group I recently joined was Swanky Moms, a group of swanky designer moms. Most of us are also sellers in Etsy...check out my link at the left side to see cool stores of Swanky Mom's members.

Now on the personal side, I just finished some scrapbook stuffs but I haven't posted it in my etsy since I'm recharging the battery of my camera. Tim got an email from Convergys about a job in Cincinnati. Now, if this is God's will...then we might end up moving before end of this year. Unless Tim decided to drive 2 hours back and forth to work...which I don't want him to do. We're praying for it and our hopes are on HIM!






Gwen's bday is coming in a few weeks. I don't know what to feel, but this is her first birthday and I'm just very excited to celebrate my baby's first birthday. We'll have two bday celebration for her, one in Winona Lake together with her great grandma Gwen (we got her name from her great grandma who's bday is the same as Gwen's) and another here in Columbus. I hope her she'll get over with her cold right now :(

Etsy Store

If you happen to wonder here in my blogsite...please visit my online store. I just opened it and am trying to keep building my inventories.

You can see the preview of my store at the left side of this site. Thanks!