Look at him grow!

Cohen turns 4 months old on the day after Thanksgiving. I cannot believe how big he is! He is finally sleeping through the night and his mood has dramatically improved. I'm going to miss him SO much when I move.

Melts and Tarts

The melts and tarts are finally done! These are being offered in two scents: Pretty in Pink (a vanilla-cotton candy scent) and French Café (just like a hot cup of creamy cappuccino). Shapes include: Primitive heart, grubby heart, smooth heart, victorian heart and fleur de lis.

Ceramic Warmers...

We are finally getting ready to add our french tarts and warmers to the website! These dual warmers are great for those who do not like to burn candles. The top dish is used to burn tarts/melts and can be removed to heat a wickless candle! These will be offered in black with white polka dots, black, brown with pink and white polka dots, brown with white and baby blue polka dots, white and white with black and pink polka dots. The melts/tarts will be available in a handful of scents.

Check out the mini wallets!

Mini Wallets have finally been posted on TPPDP! The exterior fabric is shown but the interior fabric will always be a surprise! These are perfect for when you go out but don't want to carry everything with you. I usually carry my cell phone, lipgloss, cash and credit cards in mine. They are ~6'' wide and 3 1/2 to 3 3/4'' tall (under flap).

No marbles...no magnets.

On my first day off (after working a strech of 5 nights) I decided to go to Michael's to search for clear marbles, magnets and silicone glue. I found round marbles...but no flat ones. I was frustrated (lack of sleep) and decided to purchase all the items online instead of searching all the craft shops in Grand Rapids. So, I go to UHAUL to get the hitch put on my SUV. They initially said it would take no more than 3 hours....well, 4.5 hours later, I was heading back home and during that time, had received a call to come into work...so I worked again last night, basically on no sleep.

I'm off work until Monday night and I will be enjoying these next few days to myself. I'm going to work on posting the new mini-wallets on my business website and will be going to my mom's tomorrow to work on the french tarts (I just received the molds in the mail). After finishing this blog, I'm heading to the beading table to start some more bracelets..I've mastered the process and now it takes me less than 15 minutes to complete a bracelet...I'm loving it!

Busy Day...

Yay! My first day off after a grueling 5 night stretch! I just woke up and I'm heading to Grand Rapids to buy supplies to make a few new things (you'll see the finished product) and I have to buy boxes from UHAUL. I have to get a lot of my packing done this week because my sister, brother-in-law and my nephew are moving in November 17th. If I have time to work on crafts tonight, I'll post pictures of the final product!

What happened on Saturday??!!

So as I spent most of my night suctioning a patient who was on a vent (at least every 30 minutes due to aspiration pneumonia) I watched the end of the MSU vs. U of M game with his daughter and we must have looked like fools hooting and hollering before the big disappointment. Every year I get my hopes up....I hope that MSU will FINALLY beat U of M (how many times have they won in the last 10 years? The last I can recall was '01). What makes me even more irritated is that we lost by only a couple of points!!

Like my banner?

A fellow ETSY friend made this banner for me and I've been using it as a header in all my business related e-mails...I <3 it!

Mini Wallets...

Here is a sample of the mini wallets that will be offered the week of November 12th! Floral, poodle, eiffel tower, stripes, swirls and paisley prints will be available. Once again, custom orders are available. I mostly use Michael Miller and Amy Butler prints.

Magnets...

These are so cute!! I will be offering various magnets on my website. If you want a certain color or pattern, feel free to leave me a comment under this blog entry or email me at: pink07@thepinkpolkadotpoodle.com

The Big Countdown...

The little elephant's first Halloween....

Just thought I'd share a photo of my nephew, Cohen, on his first Halloween! My sister found this outfit online and it looked SO cute on him!

Custom jewelry available...

We love creating personalized jewelry for our customers! These silver peacock bracelets have been hard to keep in stock. With various lighting, the beads change colors (from pink to orange and from green to purple).

Scrub-a-dub-dub....

We are now offering various soaps and floaps. Floaps have very tiny holes in the bar that allow air to trap inside, which creates a floating element. The floaps will be available in many scents and looks.

The Perfect Baby Shower Gift: Nursery Canvases

A new item will be available in 3-4 weeks by LHS Designs! These Nursery canvases will be done in a few styles for either a boy or a girl and will be personalized with the name of the baby. Family members and friends can sign the canvas to welcome the new bundle of joy!

Clutches and Candles...

The anticipation is almost over! Clutches and scented soy and beeswax products will be available by October 29th. Instead of the traditional candle, The Pink Polka Dot Poodle will be offering candle warmers/tart warmers in black, white, or black/white with pink polka dots. You can then purchase scented wax products to place in the warmer and they are guaranteed to scent your entire home!

Home Parties and Online/Book Parties...

Many people have asked me if I do at home parties. Currently, I have not been doing home parties but I might be interested in the idea. If you'd like to have a few friends over or have an "online" party (where you and your friends place one large order, with the sales total being >$200.00), you will receive 15% of your sales in hostess credit! I'll only be available for at home parties until November 28th, 2007.

Change

Quotes of the Day:

"If the facts don't fit the theory, change the facts." ~ Albert Einstein

"Everything changes, nothing remains without change."

"Love is more afraid of change than destruction."

"Forget about the consequences of failure. Failure is only a temporary change in direction to set you straight for your next success." ~ Denis Waitley

Custom fabric orders...

FYI, custom bags ordered after October 13th, 2007 will include an additional charge of $2.50 per bag (if you choose a fabric we normally do not carry). If you already have the fabric yourself, you can send it to us and you will receive $2.00 off per bag. Please remember that custom orders may take up to 2 weeks to complete.

Business Cards

Many of my customers who have purchased hand bags have been asking for several of my business cards. If you are still interested in carrying around my cards, please send me an email: pink07@thepinkpolkadotpoodle.com and make sure you include your address and how many you'd like. I appreciate the word of mouth advertising you all have been doing! :)

Lazy Saturday

I finally fell asleep around 6 am and woke up around 12 and my sister and the baby were no where to be found! She is a day person and I'm a night owl. After waiting for me to wake up she decided to go home to shower and do things at her place. She is coming back over in a bit with our mom and we are going to scrapbook! My mom found a wholesale company that sells a bunch of cute scrapbooks, accordion books and tin books and I just received my order this week...it's like Christmas in October! I will post pictures of the final project later.

Insomnia

I just finished posting all the cute hand painted nursery letters on the website! It's 3:51 and despite being tired, I cannot fall asleep. The last few weeks have been very challenging and I have many things on my mind. I cannot wait for the month of October to be over with!

Top 10 Acts of Rude Behavior...

According to an article on yahoo, recent studies showed that the following acts are considered the most rude:

1. Discrimination in the workplace
2. Erratic/Aggressive driving
3. Taking credit for someone else's work
4. Treating service providers as inferiors
5. Jokes that mock or make fun of others
6. Children who bully others
7. Littering or spitting
8. Misuse of handicapped privileges
9. Smoking in non-smoking areas or smoking in front of a non-smoker without
permission.
10. Use of cell phones or text messaging during a conversation or presentation.


"Life is short but there is always time for courtesy." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Memo boards

These memo boards can be used in any room in your house. I have one in my office and in my bedroom. You can store mail, photos and awards on these. You can also request a custom memo board by choosing any fabric that you'd like. Popular themes include: floral, french poodle, toile and wine bottles.

Scent Your World: Candles, Bath and Body, Gifts and more...

My mom created an online store for her candles, soaps, body butters, potpourri and room sprays. She has been making candles for 4 years now and finally ventured into the e-commerce world. She also offers wickless candles (you place them on a melting plate) and wax dipped bears (which are perfect for those areas we cannot burn candles). Check out her website! www.scentyourworld.com

C'mon Yankees!

For all of us who bleed pinstripes and for those of us who are fans of Roger Clemens, have we been disappointed with the performance of the Yankees so far? Nope. The best has yet to come. The second game in the playoffs was definitely disappointing because I really thought they'd pull through and tie the overall standings 1 to 1 but unfortunately the bugs prevented that (haha). Sunday will bring a new game, a seasoned starting pitcher and high hopes of the Yankees defeating the Indians.

Stampin' Up! Parties and Purchases

Due to some drastic changes within my place of employment and the economy in Michigan, I will not be in the area much longer. I'll be available for home scrapbook and greeting card parties until November 28th. Purchases after then will have to be made by sending me an email: pink07@thepinkpolkadotpoodle. As a way of saying thank you for all the support I've been given by family, friends, and customers, I'd like to offer a 20% discount on ANY Stampin' Up! purchase. This offer is good until November 28th and applies to any product listed in the 2007 Fall-Winter Catalog (can be viewed at www.stampinup.com).

Hand painted letters...

Starting Saturday October 6th, these 8'' hand painted letters will be available for purchase. There are many designs to choose from so please visit my website!

Jewelry

I'm working on many different styles of bracelets right now! Be watching for toggle bracelets, wrap bracelets and the new style of wrap bracelets that incorporates a rosary. Coming from a Catholic faith oriented family, these are a big hit!

Fabric for Clutches

I just love these fabric choices for clutches and many of them are PERFECT for Fall and Winter! Make your clutch unique by adding a grosgrain ribbon pin or brooch. These will make perfect holiday gifts.

Stationary

Beautiful, personalized stationary can be created for you! Choose from various themed cards and envelopes: missing you, loving you, happy birthday, thinking of you, etc.

Memories in the making...

My sister had her first baby, Cohen, on July 23rd and I finally became an Aunt! Since that day, Cohen has been photographed on a daily basis and I can't believe how much he has changed.

This mini accordion album is perfect for storing your favorite photos. My sister made one of these herself and she takes it to work to display the pictures on her desk. When tied with a matching ribbon, it makes the perfect brag book and can be carried anywhere!

Handbags

Here are just a few of the handbags offered! If you have a certain fabric in mind, we can make a bag using that fabric! All bags have either a magnetic snap or wide grosgrain ribbon for closure. Three pockets can be found inside of the bag and they are very roomy (i.e. I carry my ipod, day planner, wallet, cell phone, lipgloss and sunglasses in my medium size bag).

Welcome!

www.thepinkpolkadotpoodle.com

Since I've always enjoyed a challenge I figured I'd venture out into the blogging world and give it a try!

First I'd like to start out by telling you about The Pink Polka Dot Poodle. Over the last year, I've been working with Stampin' Up! products and I fell in love with scrapbooking and making greeting cards. I made several custom scrapbooks for family members and friends and after much encouragement I opened the online boutique. Initially, I was going to sell personalized stationary, DIY and custom scrapbooks and a special candle line from my mother's business, Scent Your World. Slowly I started to add more products (hand bags and memo boards) and before I knew it, the business took off!

As with any boutique, changes are happening on a daily basis. In the next few months, clutches, air fresheners, candles, wax dipped poodles and poodle soaps will be available. Custom orders for scrapbooks, stationary and handbags can be made by sending an email to: pink07@thepinkpolkadotpoodle.

Please be reassured that all products are high quality and inspected thoroughly before being shipped. I take great pride in my work and I would never sell you something that I wouldn't use myself!