Giveaways!! Who Loves Em?

Who wants to win some free stuff? I know I do! Well, you can check out all the possibilities for prizes by entering the giveaway that Charity from The Carriage House Studio has going on over on Facebook! As you know I am all about supporting other small business chics and this one just happens to be pretty close to my heart since she is my cousin! Charity does some fabulous children's portraits in the Mobile, AL area. (see examples above..I know you just went "ohhhh ahhhh") Take a second to check her out and leave a comment! (feel free to mention that you found her through DBK..wink) She doesn't know I am braggin on her!

To make sure you are in on the fun click HERE....You must go to her Facebook page and "LIKE" her to be eligible!

OHHH I forgot to mention that I have something in the giveaway as well!!!

Speaking of giveaways! I am planning to do one of my own in the near future! Stay tuned for your chance to win a personalized travel mug like these!




I am also joining some bloggie parties this week!!!

2 months...Really?

When I signed on to my blog today and saw that my last post was in April....well, nothing major happened! That's just me and this crazy life! April and May were quite hectic with 2 dance recitals, 1 pre-k graduation, and one 8th grade honors program. Not to mention at least 3 or 4 V.I.P birthdays! June hit like a freight train with V.B.S for a week and then Summer Daycamp for Bailey for 2 weeks. Starting this past week our oldest daughter, Samantha, is with us for an extended summer visit so now the real fun begins! The 2 younger gremlins look forward to this visit all year! We always figured that as Sam got older and more involved with friends she would start to dislike the long visits...but it seems just the opposite! She is a wonderful big sister and truly enjoys her time with them!

My absence from the bloggie world usually means that I have also been super busy making some really cute things! So now we are well into summer and I am well behind on showing you the aforementioned super cute things! But that's OK..I would not trade one minute of my crazy, hectic life for one that is much more sane and relaxed and at a slower pace...hmmmmm seconds thoughts?!?! Nahh!!!!

Oh, another fun thing that I have been trying to accomplish...clean out all of the misc. inventory that seems to be spilling out of every nook and cranny that I have or can create in the house! Right now, if you are a fan of my Facebook page you can see some of the extra cute stuff that I am practically giving away! So hop on over and become a fan....don't forget to leave me a note..cause I love notes!!! Click Here


I have several clients with little boys right now and the boys need that extra cuteness too! It seemed like all last year all of my projects were girl related! So this has been super fun!


I absolutely could not resist putting a picnic ant on this shirt for my niece, Zoey! I wish I would have had my camera in hand when I showed it to her. Pointing to the ant, I said "Look Zoey, what is it"! Eyes wide, face scrunched, she replies "a buug" with a little shudder! Regardless, you have to admit that this ant is welcome at any summer picnic!!


A friend of mine had her little girl's first birthday party last weekend and we were unable to attend! So I had to make her something extra cute! I bought the shirt a size larger than 12 months so that hopefully she will get lots of wear out of it!


This is another outfit that I took home last weekend for Zoey. She is a flip flops kind of girl, just like her Aunt Karla!

Intentions

Oh to be a blog-maniac! I have the true, sincere desire to be ultra cool and timely with my blog updates. What is that saying...something about the "road to somewhere not fun is paved with good intentions"? Anyway, if ever there was a girl with good intentions it is this one here! I have about a seventeen hundred pictures on my camera right.this.minute! Just waiting for me to move them to the computer, edit, and get to blogging about their cuteness! Again, those intentions are the best! I finish a project and take a few minutes to snap some shots and that is where it ends! Alas, I can not sit around and mope about it (well actually I can because I am woman and I can mope as I please!)

When I stop mopeing long enough to think about the reasons I do not blog more often I realize it is all about choices! And the awesome part is that most of the time I am choosing my husband and kids over editing and posting! I say most of the time, well, because we all know that there are times when the cute husband and dirty kids are being totally ignored for some computer time.

And then other times I realize that part of the reason I do not get around to blogging more often is that my mind tends to wander around from subject to subject. For instance in the time it has taken me to type this update I have been mentally reviewing things such as:

-I wonder if I can find all of the pieces to Bailey's recital costume?
-Hope the squirrels will stay out of my flowers this year?
-Ohhh yeah, I have a bag of corn cobs to put out on the squirrel feeder, need to do that tonight!
-Is "mopeing" really a word
-Wait, hubby just texted me to see if I texted our hair chick to make him an appointment(seriously!)

Ok I am back, now what were we talking about? Oh yeah, my lack of blogging abilities! So with all that off my chest I am going to move on with my day! I have lots of orders (yay), lots of errands (oh boy), and lots of sunshine to work with this weekend! So while I might not make a post everyday, just know that I am constantly thinking about it! And soon there will be a new one waiting for you when you come to check in on me! Maybe one day I will get it together enough to do a giveaway! Hmmm...would love to hear your thoughts on that! Leave me a comment let me know how you are doing! While I do not post often enough I sure love to see/hear your feedback!!!

I love the time change!

I don't know what all the fuss is about! Some people just absolutely hate the Spring Forward time change! I LOVE it...repeat...LOVE IT! Yes it is a bit darker when you first get up in the morning, but by the time I am showered and fully awake the lights are on outside! The awesome part is coming home in the evening and there is plenty of daylight left to get outside with the kids and dogs and get some much needed fresh air and sunshine! This is the time of year to get the kids out of the house, away from the goober box, off the video games, and on to the swingset or out with the bat and baseball! This is the time of year for all the folks that blame childhood obesity on soft drinks to open the back door and say "hey you, stop eating that cheeseburger while you are playing video games and go move your butt around outside".

Ahhh...I just love this time of year. I am not so much loving that everytime I go in the store there are aisles of bathing suits staring at me. Don't get me wrong, I love bathing suits..but I have said to myself "Self, you are not buying a bathing suit this year until you reach your fitness goal". Self is working on it, somedays it is easier than others. I also have a very very very hard time finding a swimsuit that I like and that likes me back. I hate anything that ties around my neck (and it seems they all do these days) and I need "full coverage" in the caboose! Very hard to find!

Anyway, enough about me and on to the cute stuff!

Here is a look at some of the latest baby shower gifts I have had the pleasure to work on!





you can reach me at karla@dezignsbykarla.com

Sore butts and busy weekends

Good Monday Morning! What a beautiful weekend we had! It was just pretty enough outside to make me think that short sleeves, capris, & flip flops were in order to run some errands on Saturday! I was about half right! Out in the direct sun it was perfect. But under the little tent thing in the garden section of Lowe's.....not so much! However, that did not deter me from pulling out another pair of capris on Sunday! The kids played outside ALL weekend! Which gave me some much needed time to concentrate on sewing ALL weekend! It was fabulous!

Shawn and I have been working out at the Opelika Sportsplex for awhile now. Last Wednesday I decided to take a Cycling class. Oh.my.goodness! It was a great workout but my sitting bones paid the price! Friday night we bought riding shorts with those neat (yet oh so ugly) cushions in them. Saturday morning Shawn took the class with me! The shorts helped...marginally! I am looking forward to giving it another whirl on Wednesday! Yay me!

Here are some of the many projects I have been working on. These are a couple of weeks in the past. But a lot of the items I do are for baby showers or other event gifts so I try to make sure I know the date so I can post after!

Cute Personalized Onesie! Love these and have a ton more to blog soon!

Monogrammed Burps make the best shower gift!


Who doesn't love a cute pair of bloomers!


P.S. Don't forget how to reach me karla@dezignsbykarla.com

Today I am joining these parties in blog world:






Read more: http://www.craftskeepmesane.blogspot.com/#ixzz0hadMxpD6

Terrific Tuesday....needs a list!

It is only Tuesday and already I have some extra cute and fun projects to get completed!

To name a few:

- 4 pair of personalized slippers for a bridal party (how unique and fun is that?)
- One boppy/nursing pillow slipcover (well it is complete, just needs a boppy pillow to fill it up, expect pics soon)
- Several burpcloths for a weekend baby shower
- A St. Patrick's day T shirt with a leprechaun to warn off all those would be pinchers!
- A couple of birthday outfits including one for my BFF's 1 year old baby girl, Matti!!!

So check back soon....I hope to overwhelm you with pics!

Bailey Bug

Bailey has been taking Irish Dance Lessons - think Micheal Flatley's Lord of the dance - since October. It seems as though she has found her little place in the world of extracurricular activities! Although she still wants to play soccer and that makes her Daddy very happy. The most important thing is that she stays active and enjoys what she is doing at the same time!

Last weekend the Dancers were invited to be the entertainment at an Auburn University Club benefit function. Talk about excited! The studio offers lessons to dancers from 3 yrs to 103 yrs of age! Almost all of the students participated with the exception of the wee little ones. The event was a black tie affair....I had to pick Bailey's chin up several times, and stop her hand from floating out and up to touch one of the many formal gowns that were being worn around! While in the ladies' room waiting to wash her hands, there was a stunning orange dress using the sink. (I should call her a person, but honestly in the eyes of an 8 yr old girl...well, there was only the dress to be seen) Anyway, as the dress stepped aside, Bailey says - in complete awe - "You look beautiful"! It was really so cute!

Of course I have some pictures. What Mom would not come fully prepared to take pictures. I cleared all the current pics off my memory card, charged my battery, and off we go. But alas, after getting 3 shots of the girls pre-performance, the camera decided it was done. I have been having trouble with this darn thing and at one point I did threaten to throw it out the door. I refrained, and I am sure that everyone was grateful. BUT, I did get a couple of cute ones!




Bailey's class was doing a group dance and they were one girl short. So Ellie filled in. OH.MY.GOODNESS. you have never seen a more excited little girl. To be dancing with an older girl that is advanced in her technique...well you can imagine!

Are you there sanity...It's me Karla!!!

Well, my goal of blogging more often seems to be constantly outrunning me! However, I have recently found some other awesome blogs to stalk and I feel the motivation bubbling up in me to get a move on! I am still busy embroidering and sewing and have some cute things coming up that I really need to show you! Valentine's, St. Patty's Day, and Easter all make for great projects!!!

Bailey is knee deep into her Irish Dance Classes and while it has added a whole new dimension to our busy lives, I have to admit that I am really enjoying it. Watching her learn the new steps and practice so hard makes me proud. They will have a workshop this weekend and have the chance to take lessons from Karl Drake (he is pretty famous in the Irish Dance world). Then Saturday night is their first performance!!! Fun FUn FUn!!


OK back to the subject of blogging:
One of my current fav's is "Today's Creative Blog". Kim is an awesome lady that highlights another blog or website "almost" everyday of the week. I just can not wait each day to see what she has posted. And through her blog I have found several others to stalk....too bad I do not get paid for stalking! Hmmmm

Anyway, Kim has a Friday Giveaway every week and I am sure hoping to win!



Have a great Friday and an awesome weekend!

Love & Stitches,
Karla

It has been forever since I have posted anything at all and the entire Holiday Season passed by without the first picture of all the cute things I was able to create! Shame on me! However, I must say that it was another absolutely wonderful experience to be involved in creating precious gifts for people across the country! Monogrammed Spa Slippers seemed to be the hot item this year!

I also have to admit to being the worst ever when it comes to Christmas cards or pictures or anything like that! I remember every year my Mom sat down with this huge list of addresses and a huge stack of cards. She managed to get a card out to each person on that list. Then if someone new sent us a card well, they went on the list too! I have never been able to get that routine down..so I gave up! A couple of years ago I snapped a cute pic of the 3 kids in front of the Christmas Tree. Took that one to good ol' Wally World and made the cutest Happy New Year card you can imagine! Sent that to the Grands and the Great Grands and everyone was happy!

So this year I made an appointment with a friend that is working hard to grow her own photography business! Praying that it would not rain, again! I got that wish...but good grief was it cold! All in all it worked out pretty darn well! She got some really great shots of my 3 goblins and even included Ruby in a few! I am posting a sneak peak. Jessica is going to blog some on her side also but I could not wait!

Oh..and to achieve my goal of organized chaos....I am going to be making some changes to my current blogs. I have two, 1 for family and 1 for Dezigns by Karla. I decided that the two are so very closely intertwined and I rarely have time to keep one of them updated...so all will be consolidated! I will just post some "what's happenings" here and there mixed in with my current DBK projects!

I could not believe that we actually got Shawn to participate so freely!



Here are the goblins! Starting with the youngest.

Caden is 4 but he can not wait to be five! Jessica did a great job with the picture. But mostly I was very proud of my little man for cooperating so well the whole time!


Bailey Bug. What can I say! She has loved the camera since she was very little! It is hard to believe how she is growing!


Samantha...The Teenager! Whew! Such a beautiful girl inside and out! Watch out world!

What's going on around here!

So who says that every blog post has to have a picture? Not this time. But I have a ton of stuff coming up so it will not be long and there will be more cute pictures to browse through.

We are past the mad dash of Fall Soccer Season. This year the team was made up of 1st & 2nd grade girls and they had the best time! This week is of course the death of all good dental habits...Halloween! Our town has decided that between High School Football and College Football we will trick or treat on Thursday night. I understand the rationale..but it kind of feels weird!!!

Oh and if I go missing in the near future I may have run away to the beach! I agreed to a birthday sleepover on Saturday night! Bailey is super excited! Shawn and Caden plan to vacate the premises when dark arrives! The good thing about that is they will take the doggies with them and that will be 2 less "animals" for me to keep up with!

Check back soon for some new project pictures and party pics from the sleepover...IF I survive!!!

Just thought I would ramble today!

I do not have a cute pic to post today! But I should have some more soon. I have had several orders come in lately and I will be working hard these next couple of days to get them caught up and out the door!

I just love when a customer places an order with me and tells me that the items are for her bridesmaids or other special event! I guess I just feel like I am doing such a personal thing for someone halfway across the country!

Anyway, I will also be at Santuck this weekend with my hardworking machine and 2 friends there to help me along! It should be a great weekend with good weather!

Hey, also, if you are on Twitter please look me up and follow me! I would love to have some more "Tweeps" to follow! I am @karlaboyse


Hope everyone has a great day! Please make sure to come visit often and send any other "blogstalkers" that you know over my way!

Love & Stitches,

Karla
www.dezignsbykarla.com