All the best in 2009!

Happy new year my friends! Hope you all had a blessed holiday season! I'm sure glad to get back into the swing of things here.

For my first post of the year I thought I'd share a few of the wonderful items I gave and received over the last month or so!

First up, thanks to my incredible circle of friends here at home for throwing us an incredible Welcome Home party for Charis. It was a sweet time, and your generosity was overwhelming! I have some amazingly talented friends who knew I was hoping for handmade items :o) And afterward I was in the buy-for-new-baby mode, and I snatched up a few of the Etsy items from my baby wishlist.

And with Christmas fast approaching at the time I also shopped some fab Etsy shops to find gifts to give. Some places I shopped:
**Fun Button Hip Clips for 11 year old neighbor from Button Boutique
**Awesome emery Pin Cushions for sewing friends from Dottyral
**Sweet Bows for baby girls from Tara Marie
**Soft and squishy cloth balls for babies from Muse
**Adorable Pony Tail Holders and Hair Clips from Mary Marsh at Meeting Street Designs
**Super-fun jewelry for friends of assorted ages from fellow Amy in the Arts teammate AlwaysAmy
**And everyone on our Christmas card list received a darling photo card of the boys with their brand new sister along with holiday greetings handmade by another Amy teammate, Amyzo

Some extra-special gifts I received for Christmas:
**An incredibly special personalized necklace with the kids names and birthdates from ChristinaPDesigns

**A gorgeous pair of earrings and a Signature Chain bracelet from Mary Ellen Doran for our CREST team exchange





**Actually a gift for our 10th anniversary - an amazing Ametrine solitaire ring (ametrine is special to me because it is the natural blending of two quartzes: amethyst - my birthstone - and citrine - Josh's birthstone - he gave me a necklace with this stone for our first anniversary)

Overall, spending time with family and friends this Christmas and New Years, and having a little downtime, was the best gift I could have asked for! I look forward to a wonderful year ahead, hope to share more with you, and get to know you all better.

Happy new year! Amy

PS - come back tomorrow for details on my very first SewArtsy giveaway!!

New Baby Wish List!

Some of you know that Josh and I have once again taken the adoption plunge (#3!), and that we are now excitedly awaiting the birth of our daughter :o)

We don't need much in the way of baby items except girls clothing, but I love Etsy (of course!) and all the handmade goodies to be found for little ones. Since I have taken the Handmade Pledge this year, I took the liberty of making a list of items that tickled my fancy for welcoming a new baby.

Check out these items, and the stores that go along with them. Have fun imagining a new baby and all the joy she (and some would of course work for little hes, too) would receive from these fabulous items made with love by artists' hands!

RosePosieDoll.Etsy.com: Nina Doll
I love everything about this doll - my favorite orange and green! - not too frilly - squishable! This shop sells a wide range of fabric dolls and doll patterns






TheStarCraft.Etsy.com: Electromagnetic Gamma Ray Bursts
Fabulously unique! Who wouldn't want to stare at this all day! Find all sorts of goodies made with these hand folded Moravian stars at The Star Craft.






MuseLady.Etsy.com: Stitch-A-Wish Cloth Ball - Cinnamon Dots
I imagine hours of fun with this cloth ball - I love the great fall colors. Super cute owls in this shop as well!






Babyballou.Etsy.com: Owl Onsie Duo
I think owls must have moved onto my favorites list! These adorable onsies just look so soft :o) Cuddly owl blocks and other great baby gifts in this shop as well.





IAmSunshine.Etsy.com: Sock Monkey/Baby Safe
Oh, it's my favorite blue! Oh, it's a monkey! Oh, right, it's not for me :o) What a great friend for baby...Ahhhhh, sock monkeys!











BelleandBoo.Etsy.com: Lola Freedom
I can't imagine a more precious print hanging in any little girls room!
It was hard to choose just one print from this fabulous shop!










IcingOnTheCupcake.Etsy.com: Mod Penelope Bird Watching Over It's Nested Eggs Art Print
Perfectly playful print! I love this color combination, and the motif of the mother bird watching over her yet-to-be-hatchlings. Find other fabulous art prints and baby items at Icing On the Cupcake!






Moxy.Etsy.com: Everythings Coming Up Roses Fabric Journal
A great idea for writing down special baby moments, and later on for special girly secrets of her own! Moxy has beautiful journals for girls, boys, men and women alike.





RecycledJeans.Etsy.com: Funky Denim Heart Pillow
I've admired this pillow for a while now, and I think any girl (any age!) would be happy to snuggle this, and find special notices inside! All sorts of goodies to be found at The Recylcled Jeans Co!






HumbleBea.Etsy.com: Lotus Baby Set and Felt Mary Janes
I love the coordination, and the green and orange Amy Butler print. Amazingly cute sets, and the shoes in this shop are spectacular!







ManicMuffinTotes.Etsy.com: Kiwi Lil Hoot
I know, I know, again with the owls! But who wouldn't fall in love with this little guy! Check out all the different combinations of fabrics on these lil hoots!




CandyStickLane.Etsy.com: CSL Boutique My Best Friends at Recess Custom 2 Pack Choose your Size and Sleeve Length AND CSL Boutique Javalicious Bib
The little girls in these prints look like they're having so much fun! I love all the designs at Candy Stick Lane - fabulous clothing, bibs and more!





ThePolkaDotPig.Etsy.com: Mini Baby Snap Clip Bows - Fall
Bows are one thing I've missed out on so far. These little numbers will stay in even fine baby hair, so I'm sure to stock up on many different designs!






ChristinaPDesigns.Etsy.com: Personalized Necklace
And what mother wouldn't love to wear their children's names next to their heart? I can't wait to order one of these! Check out the unique and simple designs in this shop - your sure to find lots to love!




PregnancyJournals.Etsy.com: Elephant Onsie in Esprit Stripes
I loved this stylized elephant, and the rustic colored stripes would be suitable for boys and girls. There are many prints to choose from at this store!






LydibugDesigns.Etsy.com: Red Hawaiian Paradise Baby Bib with Soft Minky/Minkee
Adorable and brightly colored bib with a snap closure! Practical and stylish at the same time. You can find a wonderful assortment of bibs and other baby items at LydibugDesigns!






Hope you enjoy looking half as much as I enjoyed the hunting!

Happy Friday! Amy