Pretty Pear Designs

So excited...could not sleep!

Fabric mini Playdate and Call Me cards

 

 

 

I was so excited I could not sleep.  Which has lead to an exhausting day today, but well worth it.  With some great suggestions from PamperingBeki, and my inspiration from my eldest daughter I designed and created this fabulous fun fabric mini cards for kids.  These cute and tiny (2 1/2" x 3 3/4") folded cards are what I think are the latest and greatest way for your kids to handout their name and number.  I have been so confused lately by my daughter trying to tell me who wants to have a playdate and can I call so and so, that I thought this is a much clearer, organized - but FUN way for kids to share their names and numbers.

Time to say bye-bye to the scribbled names and numbers on pants, hands, notebooks, and crumpled up papers.  They can give this out while making a fashionable statement.  It is simple and fun and hopefully will not be buried in the bottom of a backpack.  I can customize to whatever name, number or sayings that you would like, and you can choose the fabrics.

I introduced these today at the Farmer's Market and they were so well received.  Everyone thought it was a fabulous idea and that they were really cute.  Speaking of the market.  Each week is getting busier and busier, which is really good.  I am almost back to square one on inventory so I have LOTS of work to do.  Today was a particularly strange weather day.  We just missed a few major downpours, but we were hit with wild gusts of wind, which made for a stressful day for all of us vendors.  Luckily my engineering husband came up with a great way of weighting the tent down with cut out fly wheels, so I had no problems with my tent, only flying cards.

Well, I just listed these mini Playdate and Call Me cards today on my Etsy shop.  I am so excited to see where this goes.  I hope that they do really well.  So if you like and want a custom order you know where to go.

Staying on top of things

So, I thought I was organized - if my mother is reading this right now she is letting out a big laugh.  I blogged a few days ago and promised myself that I would stay on top of it this week and blog through out the week, I even made a list of topics to blog about.  As I type I am not even following that list.  I so wish at times that I was a more structured task oriented person - but I am not.  Maybe that is the ultimate challenge of us creative folks trying to start a business.  If I were to describe myself as a stay on the path kind of gal or one that goes off the beaten path, well I am off rode.  I am not completely fly by the seat of my pants.  When I was younger it was far easier for me to be like that, but now with a family not so much.  There is an element to everyday of my life where I just go with it.  I may have plans to get this, that and everything under the kitchen sink done, but I usually end chucking a good part of it to take my kids for a walk, go for a bike ride, do so gardening.  

I love when people ask me if I scrapbook - I don't.  I admire people that do, but I honestly can not pick up one more artistic crafty hobby.  I already call myself  craft A.D.D.  However, I am consistent and completely committed to Pretty Pear Designs and card making.  My poor pottery wheel is covered in cobwebs in the barn. 

Well, today I have a lot to do, but I just got invited to go the lake, so I will get my girls ready and head on out.  It's SUMMER!!! 

New Pictures

New Kid's Stationery

 

French Country Fabric Note Cards

 

Fabric Toile Note Cards

 

I just wrote a lovely blog post about how excited I am that I have finally found a way to take pictures that I like - However, I must of hit the wrong button and lost the whole darn post.  So, here is my abridged version - frustrated with my old pictures - happy with my new ones - I hope you like!

I would love to blog more about this, but I used up all my time of quiet, entertained children!

I remember when

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recently I posted a question in the Etsy forums as to whether stationery for  kid's would be a good idea.  I wanted to created boxed sets of note cards just like my many other fabric ones all packaged pretty with a ribbon, but geared towards girls.  I was not sure if others thought it would be a good idea, but the response was so positive - yes!  Love the idea great for gifts and for kids going to camp......

That is when I remembered, and I was surprised that I had forgotten how special fun stationery was for me when I was a kid.  As a child I was fortunate enough to spend eight summers of my life at a great sleep away camp up in the Berkshires of Massachusetts.  Now I know that times have dramatically changed since I went to camp and technology has crept its way into every aspect of our kid's lives.  When I was a young camper, there were no cell phones (or assess to any phones for that matter ), no ipods, dvd players, video game, computers, NOTHING!  We spent our days swimming, sailing, tennis, soccer, hiking, and every other great outdoor activity.  We did have down time, so what did we do with ourselves when we were not entertained by some activity?  We wrote letters.  I wrote to my mom and dad, grandma and grandpa, my school friends who were off at different camps, and even my cats.

It was such a treat preparing to go to summer camp, and one of my most favorite things to do was to pick out my stationery have it all organized and ready to go.  So, during our breaks after lunch we would go to our cabins, or as I was older our army tents and get on our beds or sit on our trunks, or maybe just find a nice quiet spot under a tree and write.  It was fun sifting through my stationery and picking out just the right one for just the right person.  I remember cool breezes and such a sense of calm and peacefulness all around me, because this is what we were all doing writing letters.  It was important to do so, and it was our only way to communicate with the outside world.

I sincerely hope that this small but important aspect of our children's lives are not lost to the instant availability of communication and technology.  It is important to teach our kids to write letters and that pressing send is not the only way to show you care.  Because of the great memories that I have of finding that special stationery and writing those special letters, I am so excited to start offering boxed stationery for kids.  The picture above is just some of the fun fabrics that I will be offering the stationery in.  I welcome custom orders and special requests of personalizing each card.

I am so grateful for the memories that I have and I hope that my kid's summers are filled with fun, playing, and those special memories of finding a quiet spot to right the best letters that they can!

Saturday Farmer's/Artisan Market

Well, week two of the market.  Luckily it was a beautiful blue sky, low humidity morning - which of course is a very welcome change from what has been going on here in Wisconsin.  I was able to get set up pretty fast now that I know how I would like my display to be.  My goal in the mornings is to get up and out of the house fast.  I would like to sneak out without waking anyone under the age of 5.  Not so lucky this morning this morning.  My oldest was up and ready to go downstairs with me.  However, this year she understands what mommy is doing and why she is leaving so I do not get the buckets of tears.  So, my goal is to get out fast for two other important reason's.  One, if I set up fast and have everything done before the market opens at 8 am then I can walk around and mingle and look at all the other lovely things at the market.  I found that last year I never got to see about 3/4 of what was being sold, because I was stuck at my booth the whole time.  Second, right next to the market is a wonderful coffee shop and I am driven to get out of bed early just so I can get my yummy large latte with a muffin and eat and drink it in PEACE!!!!!

Today seemed a bit busier then last week which was good.  I think since school is out in a lot more places people are ready to start their vacations.  Lots of people summer in Elkhart Lake and it is wonderful to see everyone hitting up the market in their beach wear ready to spend a great day on the lake.  I think the market really begins to pick up in July and I am looking forward to that.  As for now, I am tired.  So, I am going to relax and enjoy a quiet Saturday evening on the couch!

A crazy week

First I have to begin this post by stating how fortunate we are, how my thoughts go out to those who have lost a great deal this week.  As you all have probably seen on the news the weather has been just horrible here in Wisconsin and throughout the Midwest.  From about last Saturday afternoon throughout the weekend and into parts of this week we have been with thunderstorms and under what seems like a constant tornado watch.  Needless to say it has been a bit of a draining week.  I have been trying to remain focused and get work done this week, but honestly it has been hard to do.

Now here at our house and property we are fortunate.  We really do not have to worry too much about being flooded out.  We are on high enough ground that it is really not an issue for us.  However, what I do worry about is the tornado's.  Last night for the second time since we have lived in this house we had to go in the basement.  I had been watching on the news all late afternoon the path of the storms and it seemed inevitable that it would come our way.  Well, right after dinner the warning went out, and we headed downstairs.  I was trying to stay very calm, because the last thing you want to do is scare a 2 year old and a 4 year old.  So we grabbed, kids, dogs, books, games, and some blankets and hung out in our basement.  I felt very safe down there and give much credit to an amazing stone foundation built 100 years ago.  Luckily, besides our radio we had my husbands firemen's pager with us, and that gives all updates and announcements even before the radio.  At one point they were reporting rotation all around us.  Well we stayed downstairs for awhile, and my poor dogs just hate this weather.  Our 15 year old Beagle is such a trooper, but I know she is terrified of the storms.  So, I was sitting on the floor of the basement and turned to my husband and said Fleetwood ( the beagle ) is so scared she just peed on the carpet - so I thought.  We turned around and realized that water was seeping in all through the south side of our basement.  Quickly we moved everything and happen to have our shop vac down there and started sucking up all the water.  We finally came upstairs, put the girls to bed and gave out a big sigh of relief - along with a much needed drink.  It stormed all night long and we remained under tornado watch until 2 am but it never turned into a warning again.

As nerve racking as these fits of mother nature are, they are a great reminder of what is REALLY important.  Everything and I mean everything vanishes except for the safety of the ones you love.  If we had come upstairs to find that we were hit by a tornado it would have been devastating on one level, but I would have felt like the luckiest person on earth as well, as long as everyone is safe.  We can get very caught up on the smallest things and think that they are very important - but they are not.

  We used to live in Colorado, where we had to deal with the threat of wildfires ( crazy extremes here).  In 2002 the largest wildfire hit Colorado, the Haymen Fire and that was where we lived.  Everyday we were under a constant threat.  We were packed up and ready to evacuate at any moment.  My mother-in-law once asked me how did I know what to pack and what to leave behind.  I told her in a situation like that you stay calm and you do ian immediate inventory and you just know what is important - Pictures and family keepsakes, pretty much everything else can be replaced.

So, we are not out of the woods yet here in Wisconsin, it has been just crazy severe weather here.  I try to stay positive and am happy for the fact that I have not had to water a single garden, or potted plant in almost two weeks, and everything is looking good!

Here are some pictures.

A great way to communicate

A couple of weeks ago when Stacy from Artistic Impressions was here to take those fabulous pictures of my daughters and my cards, she got a great laugh as to how I greeted her.  She pulled up to my house and there attached to my side was my good old walkie talkie.  Yes I said walkie talkie ( it is so hooky that I do not even know if I am spelling it right).  I think I got a fairly amused look from her, because lets face it how many adult women are armed with their walkie talkies.  Then, after my introduction to the girls a voice chimed in, my husband.  He wanted to know who was here, and for the 100th time I told him that Stacy the photographer was her.  I had to laugh as well, because this is how my husband and I communicate.  Even as I type this I got my walkie talkie on hand, tuned into channel one.  And although you maybe chuckling a bit right now, it is actually a great idea on my husbands part.

For all of you who have seen the pictures or heard me talk about our property, we have about 20 acres, and usually especially in the summertime I am on one end of it and my husband is in another.  It is really a great way for us to communicate.  I can't tell you how many times especially with little ones in the house that I needed to get a hold of my husband and he was in the back field or in the barn.  It was nerve racking to try and find him and I would often just go on our front porch and yell very loud for him, because I did not want to leave the kid's alone in the house.  It has also come in very handy because my husband tends to disappear and forgets to tell me that he is running down the road to our neighbors.  Most importantly he is a volunteer fireman and if his pager goes off, he is off and running.  This way I am able to know where he is   running to.  It is also a great outlet for me to break out in song and serenade him from time to time, and vice versa - so it is truly a gadget for romance.  Our only problem is we do not have any handle names!

First Day at the Farmer's Market!

Yeah!  I just love our farmer's Market!  Saturday was the first day, and it was so great to be back.  I woke up bright and early Saturday morning, packed up the truck and drove into town.  It was a beautiful sunny morning - so peaceful.  I got there early not knowing where I was going to placed and how long it would take me to set up.  Luckily everything went quick and easy and I figured out how I wanted my displays to work.  I was excited to have a big 10X10 space and I tried to utilize as best I could.  The market was packed with vendors and it looked more like a craft show then a farmer's market.   It will be a while for the produce to start coming in.  I liked my new location and was happy with the crowds - good to see lots of familiar faces.  It was not the busiest of days, but it never is the first weekend.  I did make a few sales and was happy about that. 

Wind was my only issue.  My tent was weighed down so that was not a problem for me, but some of my displays kept blowing over, so I will have to rethink that.  So, here are some pictures of my displays.  I hope you enjoy!

My set-up.  Yummy bakery behind me.

Lovely Toile display

My husband made this display window!

My custom order display table

A closer look - this is what the wind liked to blow over.

Boxed Note-cards

Pretty Pear Designs - open for business!

Time to stir things up

 

Well, things are going to be different here in our household.  Today is the last day of school.  Bye-bye Jr.k  - next up the big league.  As we all know you fall into routines of how your day goes.  Our mornings here are slow going.  All year long my daughter had school in the afternoon, which worked out well for me.  This is them waiting for the school bus in the mudroom.  Everyday my older one would get all ready to go after lunch and the younger would have to put her backpack on and wait with her.  I am now trying to figure out how I am going to get much done without this routine.  My daily break was when one went on the bus and the other napped.  Now  - Yikes!  Summer camp is just around the corner, which will start early and well, my high energized young one, my goal each day is to play, and play so that we get that guaranteed nap in.

Wish me luck!

Farmer/Artisan Market

 Well, it is that time of year!  I have been very busy and if you ask my husband and kids a bit frantic trying to get everything ready for the Elkhart Lake Farmer/Artisan Market.  It is really a fabulous market and I LOVE being a part of it.  Elkhart Lake is a lovely small town community nestled in the Kettle Moraine area of Wisconsin.  We ended up here, by chance and what a wonderful place to be.  It is a small enough community where no matter where you go whether it is for a cup of coffee, the local market, of just taking your kids to the park, you will always see someone you know. 

Every Saturday morning from June - October the Market is filled with such goodies.  What makes this market so special is that it is located right in the middle of town in the historic Elkhart Lake Depot.  I love being a part of this, because not only do you find great flowers, vegetables, and yummy baked goods, but it is an artisan market as well.  I love being a part of the caliber of artists that part take in the market.  The standards to be a part of this is high.  All artist who sell there must submit a sample of their work.

By far the market is my favorite way to get Pretty Pear Designs "known"  I have met such wonderful customers there and I love being known as 'Oh, so you are the one who does those fabric cards".  I love that it allows me to serve our community and our area in such a unique way.  I sell my product on line, but without local support I would not be where I am now.

This year I am very excited because I have purchased a 10x10 space, and can't wait to set up my bigger display offering more great things.  I have been scouting out local thrift stores coming up with new ideas for displays - stay tuned for the pictures!

So, if you are in the area taking a lovely vacation in our beautiful little resort town, come on by and say hi!  Please take the time to browse through the Elkhart Lake link, this truly is a wonderful place to visit.