Inside My Pink Purse

Are You a Procrastinator?

2010-12-08T09:51:00.001-05:00

I am extremely fortunate to have great friends. One in particular is Amy Storer-Scalia. She's smart, driven and beautiful plus she's the editor of Cincy Chic. Just this morning, she posted an article about my business and my custom card offering! Check it out...

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/cincychic/2010/12/08/custom-cards-from-pink-purse-creative/

Oh and check out my Etsy shop at Pink Purse Creative on Etsy.

Have a wonderful day!

It's Been Awhile

2010-11-10T10:15:00.000-05:00

Pink Purse Creative took a bit of a hiatus. I had the opportunity to work as an Account Director for a local design agency for the past six months. It was a fabulous gig and I learned a ton! But now it's back to living my dream and driving forward with my passion.

You'll be hearing from me more often and seeing new designs posted in my Etsy shop soon. Right now I'm busy, busy, busy getting ready for two holiday shows. The first one is a private party this weekend where I'll be showcasing holiday gift tags, cards and the cutest new cozy pattern. The second is the following weekend and it is the Second Annual Legendary Run Arts and Crafts Show. If you're in the Cincinnati area, stop by! There will be ceramics, ornaments, jewelry, photography, silk floral arrangements, oil painting, pastel drawings plus my handmade cards and gifts.

Hope to see some of you there. Let me know you read my blog and receive 10% OFF your purchase.

Grand Rapids: Great Town, Awesome Art

2010-04-05T15:15:00.000-04:00

I'm spending some time in Grand Rapids, Michigan to help out my brother and sister-in-law over Spring Break. One of the best things about this town is how well they support the arts. A number of large companies call Grand Rapids home including Meijers, Steelcase, Hermann Miller and Amway. They all do a fantastic job within the community to make it a better place to live.

I took Carson, my 6 month old nephew, to the Frederik Meijer Sculpture Gardens this morning and shot some great photos of the art. I'm a huge fan of sculpture and dream of one day having my own little sculpture garden...a girl can dream. I'll be posting some of my favorites and I'm thinking of running a contest to see which of my readers was paying attention in Art History.

Stay tuned!

Saveur: Savor a World of Authentic Cuisine

2010-03-23T12:07:00.000-04:00

Among the things I enjoy the most in life is cooking and eating...who doesn't - they are not my friend. We all know that the kitchen is the heart of any home; where family and friends gather to talk and bond. Even at a party, most of the crowd is in the kitchen. It's a room that conveys warmth and nurturing especially when filled with the delicious scents of a home-cooked meal.

There are many magazines published for the food industry and I've purchased many subscriptions over the years but my absolute favorite is Saveur. Actually, I own every single copy EXCEPT for Issue 1. I will get it at some point, of that I am sure. When the newest issue arrives at the house, I can't wait to devour it cover to cover. And, trust me, not a single page is skipped not even the advertising. I love everything about this magazine!

Photography
Skillful imagery is key in a food publication and Saveur doesn't disappoint. The viewer should be able to see the quality of the food, understand the preparation and almost taste the completed dish or produce. The first thing I do when it arrives is peel off the mailing label so I can appreciate the entire cover just how the designer wants me to see it. Each and every image shows the thought process behind the concept especially the ones showing a gathering of people. It's the travel element that attracts me to the destination articles.

Short Articles
These tidbits of information are extremely well written and always interesting. They are not always about food but can cover a multitude of topics. Two of my favorites from the recent issue discuss Tupperware and smuggling.

Long Articles
Each and every article transports the reader to another place, whether it's Taipai or a ranch in Texas. You understand who the people are, the history of the foods they eat and how it strengthens family ties. Recipes are included as well as Where to Stay, Where to Eat and What to Do.

Moment
On the last page of every issue is this fascinating snapshot; some beautiful, some weird, some kind of gross. It is just that though, a snapshot into the lives of people and their food. Photograph by Martin Parr/Magnum Photos

Recipes
I've made a number of the recipes over the years and refer to back issues often especially for holidays and parties. They are easy to read and follow, include helpful hints (like where to buy certain ingredients, how to accomplish intricate details, etc.), have images so you can see how it's suppose to turn out, and teach some basics as well as interesting pairings.

Website
I've included the link to the website which just launch about a year ago. It is a great companion to the printed magazine and a wonderful source for quickly finding recipes.

Twitter
And, of course, I follow them on Twitter (@SAVEURMAG)! The tweets usually correspond to the current issue with personal banter too. They have over 16,000 followers compared to my measly 183; but then again I've been on Twitter (cailin3) less than a year and don't publish my own magazine...yet.

Just so you know, I have not been asked to rave about Saveur...just a fan. No compensation in any form has been transferred between the two parties. I just hope you check it out and enjoy the magazine as much as I do. And maybe, just maybe, they'll send me that elusive first issue...a girl can always dream.

Kit Kats from Japan

2010-03-17T08:36:00.006-04:00

I received the best gift last Saturday!

I was trolling the internet a few weeks ago and came across an article about Nestle marketing a line of Kit Kats only in Japan. The reason it is such an interesting story is that they incorporate regional flavors into the candy. Here's the link to the original article from Advertising Age; which happens to be one of my top reads! Make sure to check out how they branded a post office for the "Kit Kat Mail" campaign. As seen in my previous blog post, I've got a thing for Asia being that I'm half Korean. Turns out, my sister was traveling to Tokyo for business and I asked her to pick up some of these Kit Kats. So I got a box of wasabi Kit Kats and a box of soy sauce Kit Kats. Strange. Weird. Yucky. Gross. Delicious. Unique. What do you think? Which one would you want to try? Which one do you think would be better?

You should check out the link above highlighted by the word Kit Kat (or here again). This brings you directly to the Nestle Japan website which is cool in and of itself. I'm talking FUN! I'm also a huge fan of Japanese design whether its packaging, graphics, fabric patterns, flower arranging, rock gardens, etc.

So this is the general consensus from some of my family members: They are both surprisingly good but the majority felt the soy sauce melded better with the flavors of white chocolate. The wasabi was a bit overpowering to the sweet and there was no heat to it, only the flavor of wasabi. Uncle Jim was the only person who disagreed and preferred the wasabi over the soy sauce. I just wish we could get more but they are only sold in Japan. Lucky Asians! BTW, I love this fact from the Adage article:

Nestle was struck by the discovery that the Japanese translation of Kit Kat -- Kitto Katsu means "surely win" -- and realized it could be paired with the tradition of sending students good luck wishes before they take tough higher-education entrance exams.

Enjoy! Tell me about some interesting foods you've tried especially the ones that turned out to be better than expected.

Asian Influences

2010-03-16T11:01:00.001-04:00

Lately I've really been on an Asian-kick. Perhaps it's because of the Olympics. Perhaps spring makes me think of the exquisite cherry blossoms that are so prevalent in Korea and Japan. Perhaps it's because my sister just went on a business trip to Tokyo. I think all of these are responsible and I'm not complaining!

One of my favorite sites for scrapbooking supplies is Two Peas in a Bucket and they started sending these daily specials that I can't resist...so I click. I usually end up somewhere else on the site (good job, your marketing plan is working!) and I found the most delicious paper collection. Of course it's from BasicGrey and incorporates the loveliest color palette, floral patterns and graphic patterns paired with some great embellishments. Typically I don't buy entire lines of a new collection but this one is extremely tempting and I just received Archivers 30% off coupon.

See ya, gotta run to the store! Do you love this collection as much as I do? Let me know which new product line makes you all giddy and ready to get creative!

Not a Basketball Fan

2010-03-09T09:24:00.001-05:00

Probably because I don't really understand the game and I think the salaries the NBA players make is obscene. Top it all off with the "stars" thinking they are above everyone else and turn it into a bad attitude. No one likes a troublemaker.

But this post isn't about my ranting and raving...it's about our own children and supporting them as they grow and develop. My oldest son - he's 11 - loves sports. Actually, all my boys love sports! This was Luke's first year playing basketball and even though I wasn't very excited about the prospect, we signed him up.

Organized sports are a wonderful way to teach teamwork, hand-eye coordination and good sportsmanship. All of these can be brought along on their life journey (back to the statement that no one likes a troublemaker). He has developed even stronger friendships and it boosts his confidence. He also has a great coach, Andy, who pushes the boys to reach & exceed their potential, encourages them when they are losing and congratulates them whole-heartedly when they win. Did I say, he's a great coach. Thanks Andy!

This season, the team didn't do so well. Ok, they really stunk, winning only two games and those...barely. Now we are in tournament and it appears they have found their mojo! The first game was a win of 46 - 18 and Luke made 8 points with multiple assists. The second game was more of a nail biter but they pulled out a win of 30 - 20. They play again this Saturday at Indian Hill Middle School. We will all be there to cheer them on. You have to be their life coach, cheerleader and shoulder to cry on.

That's what family does.

Little Birdie Secrets: place mat purse tutorial - three projects in one

2010-02-26T13:15:00.000-05:00

Little Birdie Secrets: place mat purse tutorial - three projects in one

DIY Placemat Purse : Little Birdie Secrets

2010-02-26T10:37:00.003-05:00

I came across this incredible DIY project at One Pretty Thing and am totally going to make this placemat purse! The post was originally created by Little Birdie Secrets and has great step-by-step instructions. What a super gift for all the girls in your life and I think it would appeal to all age groups.

One of the issues that kept popping up in the comments was where to find cute placemats so I did a little hunting and found these. What tends to happen to me is that I see a project and want exactly what is pictured; you get an idea stuck in your head and it's hard to think outside the box sometimes. I hope this brings you some inspiration. Besides the ones below, don't forget to check out your local TJ Maxx and Tuesday Morning. I love both of these stores for their prices and the excitement of the hunt!

(Crate&Barrel)

This one was actually found at the sister site, CB2.

Horchow : absolutely stunning products with prices that match. Well worth the price though!

Overstock.com : on the other end of the spectrum but grab them while you can.

For Little Girls

Target

Bed, Bath and Beyond

I hope this inspires you and remember, if you are having trouble envisioning what it will look like as a purse, fold the placemat in half. With some of the larger graphic patterns, you'll be amazed how they take on a different look when folded and turned on it's side.

Thanks Little Birdie Secrets for posting such cute and easy projects! Leave a comment here and share your pics of your own placemat purse.

Here's to the Olympics! Go South Korea!

2010-02-23T11:00:00.000-05:00

Who doesn't love the Olympic games? Not me and I know I am not alone with viewership surpassing some of the highest rated tv shows! The winter olympics are even more interesting because there are fewer countries participating in fewer events compared to the summer games. This gives some of the smaller countries a big advantage against heavy hitters like the USA, Germany and Russia. One country in particular has been doing very well...South Korea.

Those of you that know me, know that I am half Korean. My father was born and raised in South Korea, graduating from Seoul National University, before moving to the United States to do his residency in Anesthesiology. He married my mom, an American, and had four children. Even though we were raised as American, there has always been a special place in my heart for Korea and the culture.

I want to highlight some of the amazing talent from Etsy that call South Korea home.

In many ways, Korea has become very "westernized" over the past few decades but they still retain a unique quality and respect for the earth. Nacreat's pieces remind me most of Korea and my parents have furniture in the mother of pearl inlaid style...absolutely beautiful workmanship! The delicate flowers on Woomi's embroidered ring pillow are reminiscent of the oriental threadwork on Korean kimonos especially the traditional wedding gowns. Akinamina's story reminds me so much of myself and her design's evoke a whimsical sensibility while highlighting fantastic color palettes! These are just a few examples of the incredible artistry and humor interjected into the art of Korea so take a minute and explore what they have to offer, learn a bit about the people, and savor the mental trip to another culture.

(from top left and over)

I'm (Jim Chan's Shop)

Enjoy and see you at the Games!

MOD Notecards :: Free Download

2010-02-16T23:05:00.002-05:00

Here's my first free download! I designed these very mod, very hip cards that you can print, trim and score to use for all sorts of great things; thank you, birthday, miss you, just because, etc., etc. You can download it here. I recommend printing them on a heavier weight paper and make sure you score the fold edge before trimming them out.

Have fun and leave a comment :: I love feedback!

Please remember that these are for personal use only. You can use this freebie for any private project for free without restrictions. The design may not be resold, sub-licensed, rented, transferred or otherwise made available for use. Please link to this article if you would like to share this freebie.

I {heart} Doris Day : Get a Grip

2010-02-15T14:42:00.006-05:00

I've always been a huge fan of Doris Day and love to spend a lazy afternoon watching some of her movies. Not only is she beautiful, she was a working woman too! Did you also know she was born in Cincinnati, Ohio?

The epitome of the "pull yourself up by the bootstraps" mentality and "Que Sera Sera" mantra, Doris Day has weathered the numerous storms of both career and personal life, using these carefree and easygoing sentiments as a testament to the endearing endurance and eternal optimism that defines her infectiously positive outlook on life. Answers.com

One thing I find most fascinating is all of her fabulous outfits; even working as an interior decorator, she wore a different coat in each scene - the next more exquisite than the last. Pillow Talk is at the top of my movie faves with all of its 1950s sexual humor. What attracts me the most to this movie genre is the overt differences in how men and women of the time handled situations. The best scene is when Doris had just found out Rock was beastly. She's sitting in a diner with Tony Randall crying her eyes out, he just reaches over, slaps her across the face and tells her to get a grip. Wow, what an outrage if that scene were in a movie today! What does Doris do? Stops crying and gets a grip! No wonder it garnered five Oscar nominations. Pillow Talk Intro

All images belong to their respective owners.

Valentine's Day Carrot Cake Recipe

2010-02-15T10:45:00.003-05:00

Shane's favorite dessert is carrot cake and I have an incredible recipe...cream cheese frosting and all! If you think baking is difficult and making a cake from scratch is even more impossible, you need to try this one. It always comes out moist. I can't remember where I found the original recipe but I've been sharing it with friends and family for years.

Cake Ingredients
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp nutmeg
Pinch of salt

1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
4 eggs
3 cups finely grated carrots
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 cup drained crushed pineapple (optional)

Note: use whole nutmeg with a micro-plain, you'll get better nutmeg flavor. Also, I highly recommend pure vanilla extract. Lower grade vanilla has a high alcohol content and therefore delivers inferior quality and flavor. It's worth the additional cost so check the label!

Here's what the batter will look like when everything has been combined. I shred the carrots with my Cuisinart and blend everything with my Kitchen-Aid stand mixer. I've had both since we were married in 1996 and they really take a beating (no pun intended).

I always smack the pans on the counter to remove air bubbles. You can see the difference in these two pans (the one on the left has the bubbles removed). I think it makes for a denser cake and encourages more even cooking.

When the cakes are done cooking, remove them from the pans and place on a wire rack to cool. Do not frost any cake while it is still hot or even warm, your frosting will melt, making it difficult to frost and not look so nice either.

Icing Ingredients
8 oz cream cheese (softened)
1/2 cup butter (softened)
1 lb icing sugar (powdered sugar)
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp orange juice
2 cups finely chopped pecans (optional)

Blend cream cheese and butter. Slowly add sugar, vanilla and juice. Ice after cake completely cools. Decorate with chopped pecans (if desired).

We celebrated Isa's 5th birthday. Lucky girl was born on Valentine's Day! I hope you make this recipe and enjoy it as much as my family.

My Studio is Being Featured on Another Blog!

2010-02-11T17:00:00.001-05:00

I'm thrilled! I'm flattered! I'm excited! I'm honored!

Thanks Ann Gorman! She's a fellow Etsian and happens to live in my husband's home country, Ireland. The internet is an amazing place that creates and connects people from so many places and walks of life. Please remember that when you are "surfing" it is important to be real and human. Go ahead and visit her blog and leave a comment!

Where People Create Blog

PDF Portfolio: LauraLee Kavanagh

2010-02-10T22:45:00.000-05:00

Last week I applied for a Senior Designer position with a local design firm. Part of the process was submitting a PDF portfolio. Not to give away my age - it's how young you feel, right - but I didn't have one. So I spent an entire day going through DVDs and pulling a "short list" of work I had done and showed some of my talent as a graphic designer.

I want to post it here on my blog but I'm not sure how to upload a multi-page PDF. Here are the jpegs. I'd love to get your comments and feedback. The firm specializes in environmental graphics and does work for cities and universities mainly. Thanks all!

Another Snowy Day in Cincinnati

2010-02-09T11:04:00.001-05:00

The kids are off school and the husband is home as well. This actually gives me some time to work as they are all out frolicking in the snow. Shane's been taking some pictures so I'll have to post them later.

I've been bouncing around a few ideas for blog topics so keep watching as I'm hoping to get a few down on"paper" today. Some news first:

My fans are now over 100! Thanks for being a fan and, if you aren't, go do it now. Become a Fan of Handmade Cards by LLK.
The Go Red for Women! event held at the offices of Dr. Lisa Larkin was on Friday evening. We had a so-so turnout because of impending bad weather but it was a success none the less! I met some wonderful women, ate some delicious food and sold over $200 worth of cards and cozies. If you live in Cincinnati, make sure you attend next year!
I've had a few promising interviews lately so keep your fingers crossed and say a prayer that something breaks soon.
Vienna is still on The Bachelor.
My new studio isn't neat and clean anymore.
I still have a few Valentine's cards left so check out my shop, send me an email or give me a call.
I was mentioned in a blog recently.
I'm one of four creative women that started a support group that encourages and shares our knowledge to help creative women start, build and be successful with their own businesses. The name of the group is W2Wcincinnati. No website or blog yet but we meet every Saturday morning at 9:00 AM at the Caribou Coffee in Anderson. Please join us if you are interested or let me know if you would like to speak at an upcoming meeting.
I added a new widget to my site so you can purchase my Etsy listings even easier! Look to the left of the postings.

Catch you later!

This Week's Special: Welcome to February!

2010-02-01T09:47:00.000-05:00

This is the first of many specials I will be running from my blog!

If you ever go to your local coffee shop and grab a cup 'o joe, tea, hot chocolate or even the fancier temptations (my fave is a mocha), then you will LOVE my coffee cup cozies! They are each handmade by me from double-lined fleece and fit all standard drink cups. The best part about them is that they help keep our earth green. No more using and throwing away those cardboard sleeves. They are also...wait for it...wait for it...machine washable and dryable AND don't need to be ironed. Just take it out of the dryer, throw it in your purse and slip it on to your cup. They work really well for cold drinks too.

So here's the deal...for every cozy you purchase get a FREE handmade greeting card of your choice! After you make your selection here, just put in code Feb2010Special in the notes to seller. Also include the type of greeting card you want. This set would make a great teacher gift for Valentine's Day! Or give it as a gift to your mom, sister, BFF, mailman, husband, that lady down the street that thinks your weird, just about anyone would appreciate it! In fact, you may want to buy a few cozies. There is no limit but the offer expires on Valentine's Day (February 14).

Studio Tour

2010-01-31T16:33:00.002-05:00

Shane and I finally got all the components up last night in my new studio. When we finished the basement last year, the plan was always to have the bedroom double as a studio. My dream finally came true after a 4 hour shopping excursion at Ikea West Chester! Here are pics I took...while it's still clean.

Enjoy!

My First Etsy Treasury

2010-01-29T15:20:00.000-05:00

I (heart) the Etsy Greetings Team! Since I'm a new member, I thought it was important to jump in with both feet and participate in the Valentine's Day Promotion. You can do a search for "egvdaypromo" to find all the cards and shops participating.

The best part of being in a group is all the new stuff you learn and try because (1) you didn't know it existed before, (2) you were afraid, (3) you didn't think you had the time. I could go on and on. The thing I tried today for the first time was curating an Etsy Treasury. I had to wait until some expired as there are a limited number of showcases allowed. That was the hardest part. While waiting, I perused all the participating members' shops and kept those windows open on my laptop so I could pull them all quickly.

I'd love it if you would all go take a look, leave a comment and make sure to click through to all the listings. This is the part where I learned something new. The more views AND click throughs, the higher the ranking on the "hot" list. Let's see if we can get it to the top of the list and get some of us featured on the front page!

Here's the link:

Je T'aime Treasury on Etsy

Etsy Greetings Team VDay Promo

2010-01-25T13:55:00.001-05:00

I joined one of the Etsy teams at the beginning of 2010...Etsy Greetings. I'm looking forward to participating and learning from the rest of the group which consists of over 300 members.

It didn't take long for me to get involved as we are hosting a VDay Promo. There are 33 shops, each one showcasing a Valentine's Day card (mine is in the 3rd row, 2nd from the left) and some are offering special deals. The really nice part is getting some additional exposure for my shop. We are all aware of the over-abundance of information on the web (just look how many people have blogs for goodness sake) and reaching people through multiple touchpoints is essential to e-commerce success. But more on that subject later.

For now, check out my VDay offerings at Pink Purse Creative. The promo runs through January 31 so don't wait to purchase the items quickly as they won't last long!

The Wonderful World of Color

2010-01-19T09:16:00.001-05:00

Our first encounter with a rainbow of colors probably all came from the same place...a Crayola crayon box. We all have our favorites; mine is, of course, purple. Even the smell is familiar and comforting. But have you ever really thought about the evolution of their color spectrum?

I came across an incredible chart that shows the progression from the original 8 crayon set (1903) to the massive set of 120 (present day)! The blog entry by Weather Sealed is cunningly written. I get the feeling we are about the same age because I know exactly what he's talking about when he heard a Styx song on an oldies station! The chart though is incredibly beautiful and graphic. I want to print it out really big and hang it on the wall.

I encourage you to take a step back in time, check out the chart, maybe even grab some of your kid's crayons and draw a little picture. Feel free to post your favorite Crayola color here. It'll be fun...just like the old days when we would play 4-square during recess.

Ethan is Turning 8!

2010-01-12T16:19:00.000-05:00

He wants to have a few friends over to celebrate this Saturday. You know, totally boy stuff: laser tag in a pirate-themed environment, all the pop and popcorn they can eat plus cake!

But back to the main reason for this post. I threw a few invitations together and wanted to share them with you. Quick and easy with lots of stamps. I used Strathmore Script White Heather (98# Cover) that I got for a steal from Xpedx. Paid $4.04 for an entire ream! The stamp set is Stampin' Up Extreme Elements. I love this set, part of my hostess rewards from the party with Blaise Hoopes. It's the perfect stamp set for boys who are not quite young anymore and I'm using it a lot on my latest custom project too, a Mardi Gras-themed gala. I incorporated three different ink colors from Stampin' Up as well; chocolate chip, crushed curry and green galore. And as Blaise always says, no naked envelopes.

Hope you like them!

Made with Love

2009-12-31T16:00:00.000-05:00

Shane likes to have Irish brown bread with a cup of tea but whenever I make it he tells me to make it with love.

He swears he can tell.

So this morning when I made him a brand new loaf, I made sure he knew I put lots of love in it. It was the least I could do since he has been so generous in setting up my new studio; purchasing all the furniture and containers AND spending two days building all of it. The studio benefits him as well since all my mess, I mean creative chaos, will be neatly placed in one room.

The brown bread of love:

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

2009-12-24T11:53:00.001-05:00

I won't be sad to see 2009 go bye-bye. It's been a difficult year. I will take with me a few lessons learned. I am talented and creative, the world did not end as we know it, the children are fine without so much "stuff," as a matter of fact, we all are. And the biggest lesson, this too shall pass.

To everyone that has read my blog or is reading it for the first time, I wish you great memories this Christmas and only the best for the coming new year.

See you on the flip side!

Mardi Gras in December

2009-12-22T22:06:00.000-05:00

Ok, so it's not really in December. I just happen to be working on a new project for a big bash for Mardi Gras. It's all top secret for now but part of the project includes these little miniature mardi gras masks. They have been incredibly fun to decorate...the trimming part, not so much.

I'm hoping they buy into the idea of making each one unique, numbered and signed. Wouldn't it be absolutely fun to see people trading for their favorite the night of the gala? Then they get to take it home as a keepsake.

More to come as the project develops. Got ideas? Leave a comment.

Custom Holiday Cards are Complete!

2009-12-17T15:33:00.001-05:00

I've just finished making 200 custom holiday cards! Whew! Did I make any money? I don't think so but the way I look at it, it's 200 new people who will see my work. Look at it as an investment in marketing.

I knew I was offering a very sweet price but there are a few reasons for it.

They were for my sisters.
Like I stated before, an investment in marketing.
I wasn't really sure how much it was going to cost when I priced them.
It's my first holiday season in this business.
At least it wasn't a total loss.

We all learn through doing and I'm hoping that next year will bring me and all that I know much success. Hey, it can't be as bad as 2009!

Super Graphic Coffee Set

2009-12-14T13:52:00.001-05:00

I came across this adorable set at Caribou Coffee this morning! Love the graphics! Love the shape! Love the matching coasters! Keep a look out, these will be providing some inspiration.

Holiday Cookie Exchange

2009-12-13T17:28:00.004-05:00

This year I was invited to a cookie exchange by Karen Lovely. If you've never participated, everyone bakes and brings a set amount of holiday cookies (we each brought 6 dozen).

Actually, I procrastinated about doing it because of lack of time but Karen, with a little gentle prodding, convinced me to come...cookies or not. The one cookie that always reminds me of baking with mom was thumbprint cookies. I'm sure everyone has their own favorite but the look, the taste and the preparation of these makes me think "holidays."

So after a quick run to the store, I made a mess of the kitchen and even got the kids to help. Okay, they only helped with the first batch then a movie beckoned them to abandon me. They turned out just like I remembered and everyone else's cookies looked fabulous as well.

It was a wonderful afternoon spent with friends, a few drinks and some yummy food. I can't wait until next year!

Thumbprint Cookies (Bird's Nest Cookies)
½ c Butter or Margarine

¼ C dark brown sugar
1 egg yolk

pinch of salt
1 egg white

1 C sifted flour
½ C chopped nuts

½ tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream butter and sugar together. Add slightly beaten egg yolk, vanilla and salt. Mix. Add flour and blend. Roll dough into small balls. Dip in slightly beaten egg white and then coat in chopped nuts. Place on greased cookie sheet. Make an indentation in the dough’s middle.

Bake at 375 degrees about 12-15 minutes. Fill depression with preserves when cool.

Yields one dozen cookies.

Caution: I'm Hot!

2009-12-12T23:15:00.000-05:00

I was so excited to get these new coffee cozies completed and posted to my etsy shop. I couldn’t wait to share some of the images with you. It just makes me giggle every time I look at them.

Nordlund Holiday Card

2009-12-12T23:13:00.000-05:00

I’ve been working on custom holiday cards for the Nordlund family and wanted to share some images with you. The most important thing when starting a new project is communicating with the client. If everyone is to be happy with the end result, you need to find out what their expectations are; color palette, layout ideas, likes/dislikes.

This family isn’t very religious and they have many friends who don’t celebrate Christmas. The first step was deciding that this would be more of a holiday card and can appeal to a larger audience. We choose a winter theme and stayed away from a typical Christmas color palette (red and green) instead choosing blues, purples and whites. I picked an incredible patterned paper by Heidi Grace and paired it with a deep purple (almost looks black in the photos).

They wanted to incorporate a photo of the kids as well which led me to creating the bracket. I die cut these with my new Sizzix Epic Six using a heavy silver metallic paper (thanks to Bramkamp Printing). This creates a nice landing spot for the photo to live. Setting it off to the left helps create interest in the layout and gives room for the holiday greeting. The holiday greeting was stamped using a Stampin’ Up stamp and their metallic ink in Platinum. I am so in love with this ink since it has a really metallic finish and is completely opaque. Plus it dries quickly! Happy Holidays was stamped onto a dark blue pearlescent paper (scraps/cut-offs from Poeme) and will be applied in the upper right corner using dimensional stickers (Hobby Lobby).

The client is providing the photos but I assisted in cropping the image and showing her how it would look on the finished card. Since the photos aren’t arriving until next week, I completed as much of the work in advance so I just trim the photos, stick them down and place the greeting.

I hope you enjoy this and I’d love to hear your comments! I’ll post pictures of the completed cards in a week or so.

Oh, the weather outside is frightful...

2009-12-01T14:00:00.000-05:00

Not really but I love a good holiday song; puts me in a great mood! When we talk about the holidays we can't avoid discussing gifts and the shopping of said gifts. This year is definitely different than Christmas' past. For one thing, the economy has really put a dent in my budget. The biggest difference is directly related to my new business venture.

The two really can go hand-in-hand. Since all of my items are handmade and I make a HUGE effort to sell locally, the majority of gifts that I've purchased are either handmade or made locally or both. Every year the family pulls names for the gift exchange since we have so many children now (7 here in Cincinnati) and my pick is my big sister, Lisa. Usually, we just give the other person a list of wants and "off we go a shopping," but I asked if I could choose her gifts and she whole-heartedly agreed. probably because she knows I have exquisite taste. : )

Here's what she's getting under the tree (don't tell her):

All made by FridaWer and shipped from Italy. How European! She has other beautiful things too and feel free to have them shipped directly to my house. Here's the link to her shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/FridaWer

I custom ordered matching fingerless gloves from SWAK Shop: Couture Accessories by Amina. She's very talented and based out of Atlanta, GA. Check out her stuff at http://www.etsy.com/shop/swakdesigns

So, that's everything Lisa is getting this year...not too bad for a $100 limit. I didn't forget the children though and got some adorable things for the newest nephew, Carson. He was just born in late October and we're really hoping they make the trip from Grand Rapids to celebrate his first Christmas. My brother, Jason, and wife, Mercedes are pretty hip and organic so I found this incredible bib set made by local artist, Gillian. We arranged for local delivery yesterday which saved me shipping costs PLUS I got to meet her in person. It makes it even more special to know who's hands created a gift that I will be sharing.

Gillian has a great story, sad but great. Etsy is a really amazing collection of really amazing people so check it out and support handmade artists. www.etsy.com

Happy Holidays everyone!

Catching Up is Hard to Do

2009-11-23T15:24:00.000-05:00

A bunch of stuff has happened since my last post...all good stuff! The shows were a very positive experience and I'm looking forward to doing more in the future. Poeme is considering adding a third date in early December and, if you didn't read my last post, it's an incredibly wonderful little shop! For the Legendary Run Arts & Crafts Show, I introduced my latest new product...Coffee Cup Cozies! They were a big hit and I'm not surprised. Not only do they help people keep the earth green because they're reusable; they're also machine washable, reversible and adorable. I've got one posted in my ETSY shop if you'd like to see it.

I've also been busy developing different lines for the cozies; some are plain, ones that appeal to men, and embroidered ones. The embroidered ones will be ready early next week and say, "Caution: I'm hot!" How awesome is that! There are a slew of color combinations and you should also be able to find them at The Gift Box in Mt. Lookout.

My last note here is that I stopped by the Archiver's store in Deerfield. They are running a great sale ALL WEEK instead of just Black Friday. I picked up a lot of beautiful paper and embellishments but the big purchase was the Quickutz Epic Six (http://www.quickutz.com/epic/); a die cutting and embossing machine. I've been wanting to explore embossing for my cards and this was such a great deal I couldn't pass it up (especially thanks to the sales associate that helped me spend all my money). I can't wait to get it out of the box and get going. The best part about it is that it uses dies from a couple different manufacturers and the new L Letterpress products work with it too! I know what's on my Christmas list. Check out the review by Paper Crave, one of my favorite bloggers (http://papercrave.com/l-letterpress-tool-review/).

Poeme : A Great Shop

2009-11-16T14:54:00.000-05:00

These days we need to be aware of all the great local shops and support them. It would be wonderful if everyone found that special place to frequent and buy a few things. Not only does it encourage our economic growth, it also helps the local economy more than shopping at one of the chains.

One of my favorite shops is Poeme, located on Michigan Avenue right around the corner from the Hyde Park fire station. They carry fabulous paper products including stationary, cards, ribbon, wrapping paper and other gifts. I knew they existed but had never gone in until about a month ago. I was looking for shops that would be interested in carrying my handmade cards. Turns out I knew the owner, Kristen Folzenlogen. She is a talented designer and creates the most beautiful custom invitations.

If you're in town, stop by and tell them you heard about it from Pink Purse Creative. You can also visit them on the web at http://www.poeme-online.com/ and Become a Fan on Facebook at Facebook | Poeme.

It's Show Time!

2009-11-09T10:48:00.000-05:00

You know, I only started my greeting card business this past August and it is off to a great start! With the holidays coming upon us sooner than we always think, I am participating in my first shows.

I have to admit, I'm uncertain and stressed to the max! How much stock should I have? Will anyone show up? Will any of my designs sell? Is it worth the time and effort? I certainly hope so. I've never been one to worry and look at the "worst case scenario." I really try to stay positive and upbeat.

My main path of thinking is, "I love my cards so there have to be others out there that love them too!" It's like selling your house. You bought it, right? Because it was a great fit for you, your family (if you have one), your lifestyle, your taste. So it only seems right to think that it would also be a good fit for someone else.

I hope everyone that reads this post will love my cards too and stop by to see me at the shows.

Thursday, November 12 5:00 to 8:00 : : Poeme Trunk Show
Sunday, November 15 noon to 4:00 : : Poeme Trunk Show
Saturday, November 21 noon to 5:00 : : Legendary Run Arts & Crafts Show

You really want to know what's inside my purse.

2009-10-26T17:18:00.000-04:00

Yes, to start off, my purse really is pink. That's where the name came from since it really stands out and becomes a great conversation starter. I believe these are two important aspects of myself and brand...I want to stand out and have my designs be a conversation starter.

Back to my purse and what's inside. I would say I'm a typical female and carry some pretty standard stuff in my purse.

my passport - unfortunately, no trips planned in the near future
OTC allergy meds
Clinique Raspberry Glace lipstick
Maybelline Plum Crazy lipstick
a receipt from Lookout Joe's - from this morning, got myself a mocha
a blue lighter
my car key with mini measuring tape keychain
Ghirardelli Caramel Chocolate
a pair of earrings (they belong to my sister, Nina)
the list from this morning orientation class for JSFG
A Red Robin brochure - Neighborhood Programs
a room key holder from Hampton Inn, Shelbyville, IN
half of a Butlers Irish Mint Truffle
my iPhone
a blue Sharpie
a Quaker Chewy chocolate chip granola bar - I know, I love chocolate!
a sample size tube of Aveda hand relief - best stuff on earth
2 tubes of lancome Juicy Tubes (1 Jelly, 1 Smoothie)
a Delta pack of tissues
receipt from Red Robin
a pen
a mint
a bottle of almost gone ibuprofen
2 packs of cigarettes - I know, I should quit
my wallet, no cash so don't even think of stealing it

That's all I have in my purse. My initial observation...why so many lipsticks?

Next on the Agenda

2009-10-19T18:02:00.000-04:00

I'm going to learn and design my own blog background...probably use it on my Twitter page too (cailin3). Can't be that difficult, right?

In the meantime, I've got the meatloaf in the oven, one kid drinking milk in the kitchen, two kids at a neighbors house and a husband getting his hair cut. With my trip to Grand Rapids last week, I've fallen behind on the card making front. I also still need to send pricing for thank you cards for a potential new customer. How long is too long before you lose the opportunity? Need to contact the lady about the card displays too and I'm suppose to have coffee with a past client. Not sure about the last one since she hasn't confirmed the date and time. I'll just show up at Caribou Coffee in the morning anyway...never one to turn down the chance for a mocha! Y U M ! ! ! !

There are a number of new items I want to add to my ETSY store in the next few months. Custom designed invitations via the Mac for one. I also went in this cute store in G Rap that had painted metal boards and accessories. You mix and match items to create photo boards that hang on the wall. They even showed scrapbooking paper as the background! Now I just have to find someone who can cut the metal sheets for me. Know anyone, leave me a comment. Preferably local to the Cincinnati area.

My neighbor has also asked me about my sewing skills. Of course, I'm pretty good at it. She found these great little dresses for her daughter but doesn't want to pay $80! Can't blame her considering Joss will just grow out of them in a few months.

So keep checking my ETSY shop for some of these new things and if you have any suggestions don't hesitate to leave a comment here. Thanks for reading my blog!

Just Getting Started

2009-10-19T15:48:00.001-04:00

Just wanted to write a quick entry to my new blog. Sort of a test to see what this whole blogging deal is about.

I've recently opened a shop on ETSY to showcase and sell my handmade cards. I love designing stuff and with a background in graphic design, thought this would be a fun thing to do. Sharing them with friends, family and the whole entire world is really a thrill!

What you will see on my blog are new designs, ideas and my thoughts on the design industry in general. Thanks for checking out my blog and hope you visit often!

LauraLee Kavanagh

www.pinkpursecreative.etsy.com

Facebook: Handmade Cards by LLK

Twitter: cailin3