Cupcake Liner Cuteness!

A little shopping alert for you -- I just got these cupcake liners at Michael's on the dollar aisle!  I couldn't believe it, as the strawberry pattern looks just like one of my favorite Cath Kidston designs, and the blue floral looks a lot like some Greengate cupcake liners that I've been wanting to order but I haven't because they have to ship from Europe.  There are 75 liners in a package for $1.50.  Woohoo!

Aside from making cupcakes with these, I think I need to come up with some other uses for them (given the rather large amount that ended up in my basket).  Any ideas for cupcake liner crafts?

There were other fun items, too, like this nail file:

So fun!  Happy shopping!

Oh, Happy Day!

There was already a lot to be thankful for today: beautiful weather, healthy kids off to school for the day, and a tennis match that I played pain-free (for the first time in about 6 months).  But despite all of that, I let myself get irritated by some small stuff, and by lunchtime, I was in a bit of a bad mood.

But then the mail arrived -- and lo and behold, it was Cath Kidston! My mood lifted.  Then I saw this:

and this:

and realized that I could order wrapping paper for Christmas that looks like this:

and well, I've been basically giddy ever since then.  The best part?  Apparently now Cath Kidston ships from the U.S. -- so, no more crazy expensive shipping from the UK!  Woo hoo!
[Edit: well, after placing my order it appears that shipping is still kinda pricey.  Maybe a little less, but not much.  Did that deter me from my impulse purchases??  No indeed.]

Wish I could stay and chat, but I've got shoppin' to do!

Square 37, a Guest Artist, and an Ode to Cath Kidston

So here's my next square.  I was inspired by my favorite Spode Mayflower dishes.  I've really been enjoying this project so much, I'm sad that we're nearing the end!

Remember when I said that one of my daughters was really taken with my stitching?  Well, I gave both girls an embroidery starter kit for Easter, and here's what my older daughter came up with on her first try:

I think it's so cute and wonderful!  I can't wait to see what she does next!

Lastly, my Cath Kidston order has arrived!  I didn't have time today to artfully arrange and photograph everything, so excuse the photos, but here's my loot:

And here's the inside of the sewing basket -- darling!  I also ordered the cute Union Jack needlepoint pincushion.  Now I just need to get all my stitching stuff organized....

The Plunge

So, for years I've had this thing about Cath Kidston.  I study her catalogs, and I went nuts over her line at Ikea (I'm still kicking myself all these years later that I didn't buy more of her line when it was available at Ikea prices)!  Every now and then I've ordered something, all the way from the UK, like my strawberry oilcloth bookbag, that is currently home to my 39 squares project:

But I haven't ordered anything from her in years, mainly because of the shipping cost.  I keep filling up my online shopping cart, only to change my mind because of the shipping.

Well, last week I reached a huge personal milestone -- I went over 1000 sales in my Etsy shop (something that last year at this time I thought was impossible).  I decided that this big achievement deserved a little Cath Kidston!!  So, I took the plunge, and finally completed an order!  I'll take pics and show you all of it when it arrives, but one of the items I bought is the darling cottage sewing basket shown above.  LOVE IT!

Below is my latest square:

Hope you have a happy Thursday!