Happy Thanksgiving

This is so embarrassing that I haven't posted since August! I guess that's what happens when you move from Arizona back to California...life becomes one big mess in a box or should I say boxes! We are finally unpacked and just in time for my parents to be here for Thanksgiving! I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday feast today : )
I am posting a few pics of some new items in my Etsy shop. I have made a ton of lollipop ornaments and a new design of a cupcake ornament too!

  A group shot to help see the color differences...

I'm still not sick of Pink & Red together ~ especially all wound up into one nice over sized holiday sweets ornament!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I'm off to make some sweet potato biscuits!
Hugs~
Gigi

Vintage Inspired Sewing Machine Pin Topper

    

 Available for pre-order!

 

Welcome to California!

 Swimming in Boxes!

I have been very bad about posting lately because we're in the middle of packing up our house here in Arizona and moving to California in less than 3 weeks! It's very exciting and yet stressful because of the short amount of time we have to get everything done!
I know this may sound crazy because a lot of you know I struggle with the heat here in AZ but believe it or not we're moving somewhere even hotter! That's the one part I"m not looking forward to at all - at least not in the Summer time : ( But alas we'll be back home in our HOME STATE and that much closer to our families!
We found a cute house close to Palm Springs! I was poking around on the internet to learn more about the hot springs around there. Come to find out back in the 1950's there were over 80 + spas and hotels (often referred to as "spa-tels" operating at the time! That's a lot! Apparently the Hollywood stars of that time would come to get a way from it all! There's a small town close built on one of the world's finest natural aquifers and has won multiple awards for the "Best Tasting Municipal Drinking Water" in competitions. I never knew there were such a thing as competitions for water tasting did you?
Anyway, I'm busy packing and cleaning and trying to get things done in a timely fashion. Unfortunately I'm doing most of this by myself as hubby is always gone on business.
As for Pinks & Needles news I am keeping my shop open during this time and am hoping I won't be too out of touch with flickr, Etsy, Artfire and email in general while I unpack and get settled. Let's hope for the best!
I have designed a new pin topper I am currently taking pre-orders for on Etsy. It's a vintage inspired sewing machine! I will be shipping them all out the second week of November to ensure a timely arrival before the holidays : ) The shop is currently stocked at the moment with a few new designs too! Come stop by and say hi!

Have a great Sunday everyone!
Gigi

Have You Ever Seen Flowers This Pretty?

Hello everyone!
Sorry I've been a bit MIA but all in good fun! One of hubby's business partners got married in Santa Barbara last weekend and it was so lovely! Anyway, we spent some time in Los Olivos, Solvang and even made it down to visit our friends in Laguna Beach! My goodness the flowers that grow this time of year on the coast are breath taking! Like this morning glory winding it's way up a regular old sign post!
 I really enjoyed wine tasting at Saarloos and Sons in Los Olivos - their tasting room was so cool! Hubby knows Kirk Saarloos (one of the owners) from when we lived up in the Seattle area. He used to play major league baseball and would give us tickets on occasion : )

 This gorgeous chandelier hung right outside the front door under the eve of their cute California Bungalow!

Can you imagine taking the time to hand paint these silhouettes all over the wall? Oh my gosh that must've taken forever!

 This Shasta Trailer was the highlight for me as far as sight seeing goes in my home State of California! Would you believe me if I told you they sell cupcakes out it? I'm serious! Enjoy Cupcakes is making it's way around the valley! You have to check out their website! it's so cute!

Well I know none of this was pin topper related but I was so excited to share with all of you a little bit of what I experienced while being back in California! Back to work Monday sculpting more Halloween pins for the shop!

Glitter Lollipops & Whimiscal Cupcakes

Hello friends!

I wanted to share with all of you some fun news! I am so happy to announce I have officially opened up a new shop on ArtFire! Of course I will always keep my Pinks & Needles shop on Etsy but I was too excited not to share the exciting news! My new shop frosted window on ArtFire is dedicated to Year Round Holiday shopping.

        Lollipop Ornaments in Progress - still need to add ribbon and a laminated tag that reads "Sweet!" to each pop!

I'm having this image made into glossy postcards and it will read "Happy Birthday!" down at the bottom in Pinks & Needles font!

 I'm thinking I would like to keep my pin toppers in their proper Pinks & Needles place but frosted window will offer an array of handmade items like all different styles of  faux dough cupcake & lollipop ornaments, felted cotton candy necklaces, postcards of my photography, prints of my original paintings & drawings ~ and gifts in general. I would love it if you popped on by to have a look when you get a chance!I should mention too that I will be listing 20 new pins in Pinks & Needles tomorrow morning (Thursday July 29th) ~ many of them brand new designs and some Halloween related!
I'm leaving for a wedding this Friday in Santa Barbara which I am thrilled about! it will be so nice to get out of the desert heat and into the refreshing ocean breeze!
Have a wonderful rest of your week everyone!

Hugs,
Gigi

Vintage Vacation Swap

Hi everyone!
I have been wanting to post a few pics of what I sent my partner Jenn of Eye Candy Creations! Many of you probably already know her but in case you don't go check out her blog ~ she's got the cutest banner first of all and her style is so whimsical and fun!
My take on "vintage vacation" was a road trip! A little something from Georgia to represent Jenn, a few little things from California/Arizona to represent me and a little something from New Jersey to represent jenny who hosted the swap! I never seem to have any time anymore to swap so I made it a point to make time for this one!
I hope all of you are enjoying your Summer/Winter depending on where you live ~ I've been melting for months now and am ready for cool weather...ya right....not for a while still!

Hugs,
Gigi

Pincushion Rings Coming Soon!

Hello everyone!
I hope everyone's Summer has started out with a bang! Mine sure has. It's like I'm a bear who hibernates in the Winter only it's the opposite seasons for me. Too hot for outside activity unless you get up at 5am....zzzzzzzz......is usually what I'm doing that early : )
Anyway, I just wanted to show you a fun bowlful of goodness coming to the shop really soon! I have hand felted cute little things and made them into pincushion rings. Each ring comes with it's own trio of tiny pin toppers! I'm hoping to have plenty of these made up for the holidays ~ perfect for gift giving or spoiling yourself!
Enjoy your day!

Launching New Etsy Shop "Frosted Window" in July!

 Hello friends!
Wow what an incredibly busy month for me! After getting home from our 6th anniversary (spent at the Summer Bay Resort in Vegas off the strip)...I have been playing mad catch up with everything and everyone. We've already been cursed with 111 degree days which makes working with clay and nightmare so on those days I piddle around the garden and nap......I know it sounds like I'm a real slacker but for some reason I can't sleep at night when it's super hot like that! I have become nocturnal for the most part : )
Last July I wanted to open up another Etsy shop Frosted Window but it never quite got off the ground so with careful consideration I have made it a priority to get it up and running this July! Why July? Well for one thing I have always loved the idea of Christmas in July! If it were up to me I would have 12 Decembers in a row just so I could bake and make all year long!
I will be dedicating Frosted Window to everything Holiday related so I hope to see you all there soon!
In Pinks & Needles news things are changing for me somewhat in the next few days. I'm going to be making very limited amounts of pin toppers starting July 1st through the end of the year. The reason being, I will be dedicating my time to Pin Topper of the Month Club (PTMC), and working on getting the new shop stocked for the upcoming holidays! Plus I will be working on some really fun projects that I hope to share with all of you soon! It is my goal to have around 20 NEW pins listed in the shop by the first of every month! So once they're gone......they're gone : )
I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Hugs,
Gigi

Here's a few pins I've made for a custom order I thought you all would enjoy: