Pretty Pear Designs

New Logo

 
 
 

I am so excited to be sharing some of my new logo designs created by the wonderful Scott Pope  of Scott Pope Designs.  For a very long time I have been wanting to put out a consistent logo.  Simple and elegant.  In the the past I have always stayed away from incorporating a pear in my logo, it always seemed too obvious to me.  However, I just loved how it was added here.

Many people have asked how I have came up with the name Pretty Pear Designs, so here is how.  Pretty came from mom who after the births of my daughters would always send me little gifts, she would always say just something a little pretty to help you get through the blahs of being a new mom and feeling like you were the last one to be taken care of.  Pear actually had nothing to do with fruit really. It comes from the initials of my family.  My husband is Peter, daughter Emily, I am Amy, and my youngest is Rebecca.  It was a fun play of words for us.  Designs comes from not wanting to box myself into just being cards.  I am far to antsy and want to try creating different things, so I thought Designs is a great umbrella for that.

There you have it!  I would love to know what you think of my new logos!

Winter

I had to post this picutre.  My sister in law captures the best moments.  I never take my camera anywhere when I know whe will be there.  This was our weekend of fun in the snow.  I just loved it.  It is my oldest daughter, loving every second of Winter!

 

Last Day of My 30s - Looking back on the Last 20 years

 Another decade has gone by in my life, what does that mean well I thought I would do a photo-op of my adult life for the past 20 yrs, a bit of reflection. So here I go....

My 20s

 
Oh, the college years... so many memories, fun, fun, fun & educational too (but fun)

   

Straight with my college degree I pursued a career in sustaining this lifestyle a.k.a  I was a ski bum.  However, I loved every second of it and it was a gift a freedom that I gave to myself, for a few years. 

  
Ok, it looks like a pattern of fun in my twenty's is happening here and it was.  I left Crested Butte and returned to Fort Collins,Co and worked at the AMAZING , Odell Brewing Company.  Incredible micro beers, but more importantly incredible people to work for ( and where I met my husband).

 
 

However, I was starting to see my future in my twentys and while working at the brewery I returned to school to get my teaching license in art education.

My 30s

    

Got engaged and married.  That is my husband and I our wedding was at the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park in Estes Park, Co a perfect day!

 
My first daughter was born

 

Left Colorado after 15 joyous years and lots of great friendships and memories and moved to Wisconsin.

 
Beautiful baby #2 was born.  Two precious daughters!

 

My first job is MOM, but I always had the urge to create and make things with my hands, so my creative outlet became Pretty Pear Designs.

 

So this is where I am at now in my life.  It is a good place.  I am excited for my forties the girls are getting older and life is getting busier.  I am still in spirit the same person who took off to Colorado when I was 18.  I believe life is good, I believe that the simplest of things gives you the biggest fulfillment's.  As long as those that I love are healthy and happy then deep down I have all that I want.
 
 

Weight Watchers, turning 40, and drinking wine

                

   

 

My life in a nutshell right now.  I joined Weight Watchers, I am turning 40 in a few weeks, and well I just enjoy drinking wine.

I am quite happy with this declaration of self.  I have never gone on a "diet" before, and I really don't look at this as a diet.  So far so good, good tools, I am enjoying it, it is making me accountable for what I eat, since what I can eat has changed a bit through the years.  As I announced to my family I joined because I would like a better me.  The me of a few years back.

Because, warning I am turning 40.  I am making a bigger deal of it then what it really means to me.  I will wake up on my birthday feeling like me inside, which if you ask those closest to me has not changed much since I was 18.  I would like to be as mentioned above back in better shape and sort of being how I look on the outside to match a bit on the inside (although I am not talking about looking like the Jersey Shore).  I believe in age appropriateness, just looking good at it.

So, I am excited about all of this.  I think 40 is sweet.  I could use a bit of portion control in my life, so I like Weight Watchers ( it sounds like such a mommy thing to do) which is ok - I am a mom.  However, I find as I do get older, I really covet my wine.  I do not drink it everyday, but when I have it with a good meal and good company or just sit quietly by the fire it is just divine to me.  It is just a little life pleasure.

I am sure I will be posting more about this, the whole weight watchers, turning 40, feeling better thing.  Sort of all surreal to me, since inside I am still 18 or I should say 21 so I could legally be able to drink my wine.
 

Three day weekend...Plus a SNOW DAY!

The only sound in my house right now as I type this is my dog sort of snoring, and I am loving it!  For the record, I love my kids of course.  As I told my husband last night I feel guilty - kind of.  I have two great daughters 7 and 5 yrs old.  Beyond random bouts of drama and some whining here and there they are good kids.  I am grateful for no major issues with them, they are happy and 90% of time they are best friends.  I only have 2 kids and a fairly slow paced life, so nothing to complain about.

BUT...By evening last night I was on my last mental leg for no good reason, except thatword mommy popped out of my kids mouths every 10 seconds for 4 days straight.  I live in Upstate NY where for right now the weather makes us stay indoors quite a bit, we have been hunkering down together.  To be honest I am just rattled.  Beyond going out for dinner Sunday night, I had not been out of the house in a few days.  Monday, with a break in the weather I thought I would do something fun with the kids to break things up a bit.  It was frigid outside, so we opted for (big gulp of sanity) Chucky E Cheeses!  Supermom or stupid mom, not sure which category I fall under for that one.  We spent 2 1/2 hours there, I hated it but my kids loved it.  Of course they thought I loved it too, would never let them how I really felt.  Just followed along holding buckets of tokens and keeping track of tickets.  By the time we left my head was about to explode and I started counting down the hours until bedtime and the lovely moment I could sit on the couch with a glass of wine by my fire and regain control of the remote control.

I thought I had ended this three day weekend doing great, we were home for most of it but did some fun things.  Only to be woken up early yesterday morning with an automated call from the school announcing a snow day.  What????  My husband looked at me with the greatest sincerity and ask "are you going to be ok".  I said yup, and I was, we had a good  day at home.  My girls played together well throughout the day and I was actually able to tackle some of my to do list.  However, I am grateful for school today, my few hours of some peace and quiet - minus a snoring dog.

2011 Time to create, sell & find out what you would like - Please leave a comment

Happy New Year!  14 Days late, but yeah 2011 is here.  I am ready to get busy, ready to not start over but to improve and grow.  I am one those people who has divine inspiration at 3am, while driving my kids to school, staring out the window while doing dishes...I am always thinking I can make this. 

The past 14 days I have hit the ground running ( which is why I have not blogged).  I have been busy in my studio, sorting, organizing, de-cluttering, and desperately trying to be more efficient, which lets me do what I want to do the most - create.  I am excited, very excited, as I have written about before I just love fabric and the things you can do with it.

Here is a little sample of one new item I have added to my shop.  So fun and so functional, I use them for everything.  However, what I would love is to know what you would like.  What would you to like see more of in my shop.  The best things comes from your input, so please share and comment.  It can be anything from just wanting to see a different style of fabric to a whole new item.  My ears are open and my hands are ready to go!

 

 

Fun Paper Ornament

What to do on a snow day....Well, we had one the other day and I thought that this would be a fun little activity to do with my girls.  Great little gift to add to the tree or just hang on the wall.  Super easy just cut out circles glue together, use a punch hole and thread with ribbon.  In the center we decided to use a picture and gave it as a gift!

 
 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Last week we had a never ending snowstorm.  It started on Sunday and just kept going through Wednesday.  However, we caught a little break on Wednesday and my youngest daughter & I along with my dog had a chance to go outside and enjoy some of this winter wonderland.  Happy Holidays!

 

Our dog Bernie

 
Up to the barn

 

 
A little front porch decorating 
 

 
My daughter's perfect snow angle
 

Happy Hanukkah! A good activity for the kids

So last night was the first night of Hanukkah.  My kids were very excited, and were anxious to light the menorah.  However, as I looked around the house I realized I have no Hanukkah decorations.  I told my girls to turn the t.v off, and we were going to work on a simple project.

I gathered up some cardboard, aluminum foil,some wrapping paper, and tape - easy/peasy as my kids say.  We cut out triangles wrapped them in the foil and wrapping paper, taped them together and voila!  I used some ribbon that I had and made a loop on the end...instant Hanukkah ornaments.  We hung them on my palm plant, and made ourselves a little Hanukkah tree.  Got the t.v. off, the girls busy and we talked about the Star of David.

Happy Hanukkah!

 

It's December! How we celebrate in our house.

I love December, it is just a festive time in our house.  We celebrate both Hannukah and Christmas - plus we are sprinkled with lots of Birthdays in between.  I thought it would be fun to creat this beautiful treasury of items on Etsy to showcase what wonderful items people are creating out there...Enjoy!

 

'December in My House' by prettypeardesigns

We do it all in December!

Olive Green Colored Felt Tre... pinkbeeb0 $45.00	SHVITZ BUSTERS - STAR of DAV... bubblegenius $6.00
Tiny Red Mittens, Christmas ... happyment $10.00	FRESH Large Square Boxwood W... rmccune $49.95
Star of David Pendant on Ste... ArtandArtisan $32.00	Miniature Mitten Christmas O... CherieWheeler $8.50
pine cone Christmas tree orn... valche $15.00	Fleece Hannukah Stocking - S... JudyLichtenste... $32.00
Hanukkah personalized hand p... CreationsdeFlo... $29.50	Set of 4 Lacy bird ornaments... PrinceDesignUK $16.00
Holiday Kissing Ball Pomande... AnnaHailey $33.00	garnet boxwood wreath on bei... weatheredsilo $14.00
Gingerbread Man Cookie Fonda... TwoSugarBabies $15.00	Star of David Earrings in Sh... CreaShines $11.00
A Christmas Cardinal Wreath twoinspireyou $75.00	Menorah Holiday Cards - Set... PolkaStripeStu... $14.00

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