something new

I recently stumbled across a new (to me) blog
run by Jeanie of The Paper Nut.

I found quite a few cute things lurking throughout her archives...

Her brilliantly fun lettering:

{click it to enlarge the letter-goodness}

{Paper Nut Letters found here here and here}

My favorite among her wedding invitation suites:

{Great Wedding Suite by The Paper Nut}

The most awesome pair of girls pants I've ever seen!

{Crankypants on Etsy}


Some fantastic wooden finds...

{Plastica}

And, last but not least, something kind of weird that I kind of like...

{Little felt toys from AsherJasper on Etsy}

Quixotic Designs: Invitation Compilation Debut

{all boxed up and ready to be mailed}

I think by now it is safe to post pictures of my recent creations without spoiling the surprise for anyone involved... so allow me to introduce you to what the philosopher refers to as my insane procrastination effort: baby shower invitations.

Technically, there were six different variations of the design that got mailed out and two different stamp designs. But, for all intensive purposes I think of the invitation as having 3 main variations with a little something extra thrown in for the {great!(grand)parents}, the aunts, and the uncles-to-be.

All of the invitations sent out had four essential components: The letter-pressed lion invitation with blue ink (printed on sustainable bamboo paper) from Smock; a personalized letter-pressed elephant enclosure card from Dingbat Press; a hand stamped, double-sided light blue insert that included directions to the shower, registry information, and a special request for guests; and one or two *super cute* stamps from Cakespy's Zazzle shop.

The elephant enclosure cards were not just for looks - - I especially want to orient the shower towards personal relationships and I thought I'd lay the groundwork by asking the guests to share something personal. I included the guest's name(s) on the bottom of the envelopes to add a personal touch to the invites and just in case someone fills out the card but forgets to sign, the new parents will know who it was from!

There was a "ruffle ribbon" version:


{at the very end I ran out of white ruffle ribbon and had to use a bright ivory ruffle ribbon for a couple invitations *technically* yielding two variations - - fortunately, the ivory looks white until compared directly against the actual white ribbon!}


There was a "jungle leaf ribbon" version:


{Since the ribbon was reversible, it *technically* yielded two variations.}



There was a "paper bag" version:


no frilly ribbon just a cute little paper bag to hold
the lion invitation, the elephant enclosure card, and the blue insert.


There were 7 extra special invitations for the parents-to-be,
three aunts-to-be, two uncles-to-be,
two sets of grandparents-to-be,
and one pair of great! grandparents-to-be.

For them, I put the invitation in an unsealed "inner" envelope, then encased it in blue tissue paper, and housed the whole shebang in a special little box. Partly I did this because the little chartreuse boxes were just so cute (but too expensive to mail to everyone!). But also it was important to me that these invitations not get too banged up in transit. After all, if anyone is going to save these invites it'll likely be someone especially close to the parents-to-be and the new baby.

And there were two stamp variations:

A "cuppies & owl" stamp version and a
"where the wild (and sweet) things are" stamp version.
{I really wanted to use these stamps too
because they're soooooooooooooooooo cute
but there just weren't enough invitations to merit the extra sheet.
I'll have to think of something else to mail! wink, wink}

All in all there were 29 shower invitations.
I can't wait to see how many people show up to the main event!!

The mail man came to visit today...

...and he brought me something really special.

They're even prettier in person.
Talk to Meg to get some of your very own.

cakespy!

{click to enlarge the cuppie goodness!}

One of the great things about living in Seattle is getting to see Jessie Oleson's art around town. Cute watercolor paintings of cuppies in action, robots, ice cream cones and so forth just make my day. I know what you're thinking. "Didn't you just get through raving about all the sweet treats you like more than cupcakes??" Yes. It is true. There are things I like to eat more than cupcakes. But it is tough to pull off a painting of tiramisu visiting the space needle (unless you count the tiramisu riding around in my love handles). I think my favorite cakespy image is the spoof of Andy Warhol and his tomato soup piece. The hair just kills me! But they're all pretty awesome.

Aqua Red, Aqua Rad: A Treasury for Etsy

I made this one a while back.
I've completely lost patience with Etsy's treasury.
Besides, does anyone really look at them?
Maybe it is just me... but the few times I've clicked around there
I've been supremely unimpressed.
Unimpressed on multiple levels.
a. not many that are aesthetically pleasing to my eye
b. of the ones that are, wtf? who would want that stuff?

sources/shops from the top, left to right:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

An Inspiration Board of Sorts

Creating a treasury for etsy a few weeks back really unleashed the curator
in me. But with so much to do for school I don't have the time to wait for
a spot in the official treasury and I don't fancy being confined to products
for sale on the site. Thus I've decided the quixotic.design page is ready for
a new "feature". Call 'em what you want - inspiration board, design board,
treasury, collage... "A rose by any other name."

sources/shops from the top, left to right:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

True Love... and Consumerism Galore. Eekk!

It is sick, I know. But I am endlessly amazed and in love with Etsy.
My wishlist just grows and grows and grows.

I try to fight it. I try keep the consumerism down.
And, I'm broke yo so I usually do.

But really. truly. Is this not amazing?
Ugg. I loovveeee the cell phone case too.

I especially like it since the camera I own would fit inside it
and I haven't been able to get a holga to call my own.

Then again... this case costs more than the beauty-full holgawood herself.

Maybe part of the reason I'm so into this little case is because
it reminds me of the felt-tabulous creations by Princess Lasertron.
I've been obsessing over her pins & corsages.

Pink-Periwinkle Love, or why I want a baby girl!

Today I made a treasury on etsy!

For the next two days you can find it {here}
sources/shops from the top, left to right:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Quixotic.Arrivals

A few new creations from Quixotic.Designs:

view these and more at my little shop!

I heart etsy

{photo by SS Photography via Paisley & Posies}

I have been coming across the most awesome etsy shops recently.
Perhaps it is because I have a growing number of little ones in my life
or maybe just because goodies for babies are so little and cute...

Check out these tutus by Paisley & Posies on etsy or visit their {blog}
and how cute are these toddler leg warmers from Knotty Baby Wear?
I have a hard time deciding between these and these and these and...!

Is it just me or does etsy need a wishlist/registry feature?

{photo by Heather Lynn Photography via Knotty}

I'm going to be an aunt, again!

{a photo of my niece, Emily}

M

y sister Jodi is pregnant with her third child expected sometime late this month. They finally decided on a name and had a funny story to tell about it. As they sat their children down to tell them their soon-to-be little sister's name, my nephew Ben decided it was only fair that he play a part in the naming process. Jodi & John were planning on a "Kate" but by the end of the conversation it was an official "Katie". Way to go Ben.

Ben's enthusiasm with the name is actually a big step too. When he first found out the boy-girl balance in the house would soon be against him he started crying unconsolably. In fact, my sister wasn't able to get him to stop until she'd promised him a hamster.

Of course, as soon as I found out they'll be having another {little girl} I started collecting a few presents to send along as Katie's birth neared. In a lot of ways my gift-gathering was an accidental trial run for etsy - an experiment to see just how talented these crafters really are. There are four especially brilliant artists who I've had the pleasure of supporting:

1. Mama Robot, an artist who silkscreens her images on American Apparel onsies along with a variety of shirts for adults. She also offers the cutest little gift tags featuring reproductions of her art.

2. The PataCakeBaby, a company based in Idaho that sells handmade blankets, wet bags, diaper diddies, onsies, etc...My favorite thing about this shop? They've got a whole line of items in Alexander Henry's "Juicy Jungle" fabric! {I came accross "Juicy Jungle" in my local JoAnne and pretty much wiped them clean. But, my eyes are bigger than my ability in terms of sewing right now...} I went for a diddie and I plan to make a blanket myself in a few weeks... I might make a tee pee or a sleeping bag too for the big sister!

3. Sugar Plumb Tree, based out of California Jenny Plumb creates all sorts of accessories for toddlers and kids. I purchase the cutest pair of leg warmers with felt flower appliques. Even though my sister lives in Texas and the baby will only get to wear them a few times, they were absolutely worth it!

4. Finally, Aurelia & Annalise (now ivory&moss), is a wonderful shop that carries the most amazing handmade shoes for babies. Every order is made custom and styles can be modified to your liking. I really had to control myself in this shop - particularly after I recieved these. Maybe as summer rolls around I'll break down and order a pair of these and these and * maybe even * a pair of these (even though they're meant for boys) for my new niece.

New at Etsy

...necklaces from Quixotic.Designs

One Italian-inspired murano, one simply beaded, and, of course, one black onyx & kiwi:

More from QuixoticDesigns Jewelry

Just a few more of my designs
featured {here} on etsy.

A couple of necklaces:


And a couple of bracelets:

My Little Etsy Shop

A lot of people already know about etsy.
It is a great place to find lots of handmade treasures.
I recently opened up a little esty shop of my own!

All of my jewelry is one of a kind.
I love black onyx, muscovite, and kiwi stones.
And silver, amethyst, and jade.
But I use a lot of other materials too!

Check it out {here} or go to www.quixoticother.etsy.com.