Goodbye to Little Window Shoppe
May 18, 2009 by Emily · 62 Comments
My Dearest Window Shoppe Readers and Friends,
This post has taken me over a month to write - partly because this is my last post on this blog. I am so sad to announce that as of today, Little Window Shoppe is closing for good.
The decision was not taken lightly and was really hard to make, but a combination of factors came together that brought me to this post…very much wanting to spend more time with my family (I have a very busy two year old who needs more mommy-time), 
getting ready for baby #2 in November (I’ve been out sick for two months! But it’s totally worth it as we’re so excited to have a new baby come to our family), and finally getting ready for a move to a new state with my family this Summer (my hubby is starting a new job).
{Photo source: Wilson Library Reserve}
I have learned so much from blogging at Little Window Shoppe and will be forever grateful for the kind friends I have made and the amazing experiences that I have had here!! Thank you so much for taking time to make Little Window shoppe a part of your lives and for being such a fantastic community. And also, thank you for all of the nice emails and inquiries about how we are doing.
Before I say goodbye for good, I want to thank a few people who helped me along the way:
First and foremost, my husband Scott. He is an incredibly supportive husband and friend and was the first person to listen to my every idea and concern throughout my blogging adventures. He has also been Superman at my house and has cooked, cleaned, taken care of our two year old and helped me out while I was sick over the last seven weeks! I couldn’t ask for a better man in my life and I love him so much!!
I also wanted to thank Holly of Tutus and Turtles. She is so cool and listened and talked to me for hours on the phone as I worked out how I would end my Window Shoppe blogging days. Her blog has been an inspiration to me from the beginning and I think that her blog ideas rock!!
Finally, I wanted to thank each of the writers and contributors for Little Window Shoppe. Each of them had creative and beautiful ideas to share and I’m so grateful and honored that they wanted to be part of this blog with me. They have become some of my dearest friends and were the best group of writers a blog ever had! They even sent me tulips when I was sick (just about made me cry, I felt so loved).
Please visit each of their blogs to keep up with their cool ideas!
- Vanessa - her blog: I Never Grew Up
- Lauren - her blog: Supermom Central
- Michelle - her shoppe: Sweet Mady’s Paper
- Michaelle - her blog: Monkeys Momma
- Cassie - her shoppe: Madison Envy
- Kelly - her blog: Albany Mommy
Also, I wanted to leave you with a few additional recommendations of blogs I love - in case you are looking for new places to subscribe:
- www.simplemom.net - this is my absolute favorite blog to follow…it has the best family tips and ideas that make sense, the ideas are easy to follow and I just can’t get enough of its coolness.
- www.howaboutorange.blogspot.com - artsy, tons of crafts, diy ideas, printouts, and the best time-wasters ever.
- www.thepioneerwoman.com - recipes, photoshop tutorials, photography 101, down-to-earth life.
- www.makeandtakes.com - the coolest (and most creative) kids crafts ever!
- www.metropolitanmama.net - and for all you contest lovers, this Metro Mama has excellent giveaways all of the time - and she writes helpful articles with tips for parents. Love it.
There are so many more…but I think this is a great start.
If you want to stay in touch with me, you can follow me at a few sites:
- www.emilyjune.com (I’ll still be designing blogs and websites - starting again this fall).
- I’m also going to be checking in and updating my facebook page and my family blog regularly. They will have weekly updates of my family life and the cool fun things we are doing.
**If you want to stay in touch with me at my family blog or on facebook, just email me or leave a comment letting me know and I’ll send you the links.**
Thank you again for making this the best blogging experience I have ever had!!
Always,
Emily
I Like You
March 26, 2009 by Cassie · 4 Comments
I wanted to revisit Little Shop of Shavs since the newest addition to Shauna’s shop is one I couldn’t resist sharing with you. Personalized gifts are often the best and this gift idea is definitely priceless as it’s perfect for someone you “like.”
Shauna has made it possible for you to create your own personalized version of the classic children’s book “I like you.” All you have to do is send her a list of things you like (or you can send a list of things you like about someone else), and she will design custom pages with her drawings that will be inserted into the real text.
All the custom pages are bound together with the real book, which creates a totally personalized book for the recipient.
Little Shop of Shavs is offering $10 off the original price for Little Window Shoppe Readers (making it only $15!) until April 1st.
Written by Cassie of Madison Envy
Vintage Modern with Amy Butler
January 26, 2009 by Emily · 12 Comments
After gazing at Amy Butler’s bright and beautiful patterns, Spring feels like it is just around the corner. Amy Butler is a fabric, fashion, home and print designer known for her fresh and modern vintage style. With bright colors and gorgeous prints, her designs are splashed throughout the fabric industry in handbags, bedding, sewing & craft patterns (free pattern downloads too!), stationery, gift wrap, project books and home design . I love her style and her commitment to give back.
She has a shoppe too! Not only is this gift wrap an eye-catching display of green and pink elegance, it is made with 100% recycled/biodegradable tissue paper, 100% post-consumer waste paper, soy based ink, and all of it can be recycled after use. Isn’t that impressive? It makes gift wrapping pretty irresistible.
Merry Christmas and 10 Free Gift Tag Downloads Too
December 19, 2008 by Emily · 13 Comments
We hope you have the best Holiday. We’ll be out-and-about over the next week, but don’t worry, we’ll be back with more sizzling hot posts for the new year. And meanwhile - just in time for gift-giving, here are 10 links to FREE supa-chic printable gift tags ~ simply click, download and print as much as you want!
*Sweet, Pretty, Simple - Made by Yours Truly - Emily (pdf) (So Proud! They look really cute printed out on White Cardstock)
*Free Martha Stewart Holiday Clip Art Tags (pdf) (traditional)
*Mod Mom Shops - Christmas Birdie Gift Tags (can they get any more adorable?!)
*Holiday Gift Tags by Sew Mama Sew (pdf) (A little modern flair)
*Four Seasons by Fog and Thistle (LOVE these)
*SERIOUSLY FUNNY Gift Cards by Angry Chicken (Warning, you may laugh your head off)
*Seussville Gift Tags ~ (for fun) ”If you’d like to have some fun, Just print these tags, cut out each one, Color them and add some string. For Christmas gifts, they’re just the thing!”
Holiday Gift Tags by Amy Butler (for the handmade diva at heart!)
For the Stylish People In Your Life Gift Tags by Bucklette (pretty hilarious)
*Penguin Printable Gift Tags by Tricia-Rennea (brace yourself for even more cuteness)
Red Barn Mercantile
December 11, 2008 by Emily · 9 Comments
“As soon as you enter Red Barn Mercantile, you’re welcomed by the mild scents of bath soaps and leather, candles and wood. Laughter blends with jazz as shoppers smooth the fabrics, gaze at the glassware and flip through books with their children. A couple is in the corner considering a changing table and crib for their expected arrival, a gentleman eyes an industrial steel and glass table for the space in his office, a woman spies a bucket chair worn smooth by years of use at a long ago dairy.”
I don’t think I could have said it better, after reading this, I’m pretty sure that I want to make a trip to Washington, D.C. just to visit this shoppe!
With furniture, bedding, gifts and home decor, this Washington, D.C. based shoppe blends old and new, vintage and modern, classic and quirky into one unforgettable experience. This store offers signature whole-room designs at great prices and you may also purchase many of their items online at their website.
Coupon:
Receive $10 off a purchase of $50 or more if you sign up on their e-mail list.
Handmade Holiday: Juice Can Lid Ornament
December 9, 2008 by Emily · 6 Comments
This awesome post and handmade holiday idea comes straight from Kathleen over at Katydid And Kid - she has awesome crafty holiday ideas and tutorials on her blog and we think that her limeade lid ornament tutorial rocks! (shared with permission).
Handmade Holiday: Juice Can Lid Ornament - by Kathleen
I love recycling nearly as much as crafting (kinda sad, huh?) so when I was making limeade for some unexpected guests the other weekend, I had an “aha!” moment. I keep a few of those frozen concentrated mixes on hand in the freezer for when I’m in a pinch and want to offer visitors something more than the customary water and iced tea we drink around here. As I was opening the can, I remembered a craft my mom used to do with us when I was little…
She would save the metal lids throughout the year (we had tons, since I have 4 brothers who were sugar addicts) and around Christmas we’d make ornaments for our tree and as tags for presents for teachers, grandparents, and others. These lids are perfect because they don’t have sharp edges like ones you get from steel cans.
This craft requires a hammer, so you may want to do it with more mature kids. It doesn’t require heavy pounding, just a few little taps so you could try it with younger kids. I remember loving the chance to use a hammer as a child. I felt so grown up, and hey, who doesn’t like to pound things every once in a while.
What You’ll Need:
- juice can lid(s)
- hammer
- long nail or awl (if you’re fancy!)
- stack of newspaper (for padding)
- pretty ribbon
- tape
- paper
- pencil/pen
(Optional): Shoe polish or brown acrylic paint and a paper towel and a clothespin for helping hold the nail.
What You’ll Do:
1. Trace the lid from the can so you have a circle to draw your design in. You could draw it right on the metal lid if you wish, but then you have to wipe it off in the end.
2. Cut it out and draw your design. I chose “S” for my son’s name. You could also print letters or images from the computer or take a design from a coloring book. The simpler the image, the better it will turn out.
3. Tape the paper to the metal lid. You don’t have to use red electrical tape like I did! It was the closest thing available.
4. Here’s the fun part. Take your hammer and nail and begin tapping holes in the tin, following the lines of your design. It may be easier to pinch the nail with a clothespin that has some tape on the inside (to hold the nail in place better). This would prevent little fingers from being smacked. Do this on top of a stack of newspaper so that you don’t puncture your table.
5. If you peek under the paper, it will start to look like this:
6. When you’re done, your design will be seen as a series of tiny dots. Be sure to poke a bigger hole at the top for threading the ribbon into. Caregivers might want to do this step.
7. Here’s the finished result with a pretty ribbon for hanging.
8. (OPTIONAL): If you’d like to “antique” your ornament, put a dot of brown paint or brown shoe polish on a paper towel and rub it into the dots. It’ll make your image “pop” a little bit. Do this on top of the newspaper because it might bleed through the back. Rub off any excess paint. And of course, do this before you put the ribbon on so you don’t get paint on it.
9. There you have it! You can cut out a piece of felt to glue onto the back, since you might have some sharp pieces of metal poking through. It’ll save little hands and walls from getting scraped. I’ve chosen to hang mine on a doorknob, as I think it looks quite charming.
If I find some more time, I’ll finish all the letters of my son’s name and string them together to make a little banner for over his window.
Enjoy and happy crafting!
Kathleen’s blog: Katydid And Kid - Adventures in making and doing.
Ten Thousand Villages
December 9, 2008 by Vanessa · 6 Comments
Have a little last minute holiday shopping to do? Head on over to Ten Thousand Villages, they have over 160 retail stores in the United States (and some in Canada too!) along with 220 festival sale locations. They have a great online selection as well!
Ten Thousand Villages is a fair trade retailer that carries handmade jewelry, home decor, gifts and much more. They work with over 130 artisan groups in more than 38 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Fair trade enables artisans to earn a fair wage and provides the opportunity for a better quality of life.
I can honestly say you will find a holiday gift for everyone on your list at this shoppe. Everything is made with high quality and is unbelievably beautiful. I stayed in the shoppe for hours in awe, you could tell everything was made with such talent and love.
They have the perfect gifts for clients, teachers, children, parents, spouses, hostesses, fathers and mothers. They have beautiful recycled treasures, gift baskets and stocking stuffers. If you are overwhelmed and can’t decide just pick up a gift card!
For most of the items you purchase, you will also receive information on who made it and where it was made, which makes the gift even more special. For instance, my mother in law bought me these beautiful handmade Lotus Teacups and Saucers that were made from the Vietnamese artisan group Craft Link.
Vanessa’s blog: I Never Grew Up - Ideas and Reviews to Help Parents Entertain, Care for and Educate their Children.
Tiny Sprouts ~ Hand-Embroidered Goodness
December 5, 2008 by Emily · 7 Comments
You know that cookies are just around the corner when this itty bitty apron goes on. This lovely little culinary adornment is one of the many outstanding pieces in Tiny Sprout’s collection.
I have been marveling all morning at Tiny Sprout’s customized hand-embroidered goodness. From clothes to accessories, you will find that all of their cotton garments are hand-dyed, hand-embroidered and fit all sizes ~ newborn through toddler. Wouldn’t these items be a perfect keepsake?
With Christmas just around the corner, I simply couldn’t resist posting a few samples from Tiny Sprout’s Holiday Collection too. I was instantly a fan of their dainty ho ho ho loungeset.
Always Free Shipping:
More Awesome Finds Under $10, $25, & $50
December 4, 2008 by Emily · 5 Comments
Following up with even more affordable finds for your holiday shopping…(just in case you haven’t seen our previous affordable finds this week - you can check them out here).
Under $10
- Cutie and Patootie - Flower Headband - $6
- International Playthings, Inc. - Watergames - $6.99
- Lilybella - Personalized Sippy Cups - $9.90
- Sobella - Red Polka Dot Bow - $4.00
- Modern Seed - Doodles at Dinner (fun for kids at dinner or lunch) - $9.95
- HapeToys - Anamalz - $5.95
Under $25
- MoleBaby Buttons - Tic Tac Toe To Go - $12
- Bunny Slippers - Black Bear Paw Slippers - $24.95
- My Little Pakora - Organic Wild Baby Onesie - $22
- Little Alouette - Blocks That Rattle - $18
- MoMA Store - Cupcake Canisters - Starting at $16
- Amazon - Foodie Fight Trivia Game - $18.95
- Red Envelope - Personalized Purse Mirror - $24.95
- Sugar Sweet Baby - Orchid Zen Receiving Blanket - $25
Under $50
- Alex Toys - Busy Bee Discovery Flower - $37.99
- Booda Brand - Courage Tee (at Cocotier Kids) - $35
Another Great Shopping Resource to Checkout
Taste Homemade - A virtual online marketplace for all things homemade. Designed for talented designers and artists to showcase their creations.
Win It: Little Brown Pen - Everything is Under $10!
December 3, 2008 by Emily · 136 Comments
Contest Update:
*We have a winner!! The randomly chosen winner for this contest is: Stefanie. Congratulations! Thank you to everyone who participated, please stop by again as there are new contests each week.*
Little Brown Pen is a darling Etsy shoppe with downloadable, printable templates for stationery, notecards, calendars, tags and gifts.
This cute little shoppe provides simple, affordable, elegant designs and their prices are reasonable (with most items between $3 - $5, and everything is under $10)!
I also just watched an ad video by Little Brown Pen on YouTube - it is brilliant. I think you’ll really like it if you have a moment to watch:
Promotion:
Mix and match any three for $10.
Win It:
One lucky Window Shoppe reader will win one item of your choice from Little Brown Pen. To enter, stop by their shoppe and let us know in a comment which item you would choose if you win. For this giveaway, you may enter once each day until December 12th (that gives you a chance to have up to 8 extra entries)!
This giveaway ends on Thursday, December 11th at midnight PST. The winner will be chosen randomly and will be announced here Friday, December 12th. Good luck, everyone!
(Please feel free to read our contest rules for additional details)
Featured Shoppes
