A Change Gonna Come...

The good Southern girl that I am, I was raised to please people. Be polite, gracious, and try your hardest to help someone out. Ever since Christmas, I have hit the ground running. I'm sorry to say that January and most of February have slipped my mind. For the life of me, I can't recall too much that went on during those first months of 2010. Now, you might be thinking to yourself "Well Erin, lay off the booze." Well sure, I always try to drink in moderation. Those that know me will insert laughter here because one drink and I'm silly. Anyway, booze is not the reason for my inability to recollect those two months. It was life! I was busy finishing my best friends' wedding invitations which turned out beautifully, photos to come, Jeremy and I became hermits due to the unseasonably cold North Carolina winter, and I was feeling the depression that usually comes during January and February.

NO MORE, I say!! I love blogging, even if no one but Dom, Laura, and Kelsi read it. I felt a pang of guilt everytime I'd look at the same dern post from freaking February. I missed blogging and being a part of the blogging community. I love reading other people's blogs and I missed being able to share in the joy that it brings.

So, with spring comes change. A warm breeze, the renewing promise of Easter, the longer days, and hopefully a ton of new opportunities.

I have some fun things lined up for this little blog and for my little Etsy shop. I can't wait to share them with the world (read: the four friends that read this blog) but I will have to wait. I need to get organized and get ready to present something that is worthy of the foster&stella name. I can't wait and I hope you'll tune in to see what's next.

For now, get those toes done, grab a glass of cold tea (sweet of course), and enjoy the wonderful things that Spring has to offer us.

Exciting News

Go Green Reusable Snack Bags: My Favorite!


foster&stella cards are now going to be available at mick&mack!! So, mick&mack is this wonderful online children's boutique run by my friend Michaela. We went to high school together and lived in the same neighborhood growing up. Her store is filled with handmade goodies from artists (including herself) all over the country and I'm going to be one of them! I just can't wait for y'all to see her amazing stuff. These are just a couple of my favorites from her site. Please follow the link and enjoy!!

Adorable Fabric Storage Buckets

I Like to Rock: Blue Art Print

Whale Pattern Art Print

SNOW

Our second day of laziness is going just as well as the first. It really is a treat to have a couple of days where you literally don't have to do anything. Jeremy and I have loved just hibernating at the house with the pup and a bunch of movies.

I did get some stuff done, however. Check out my Etsy shop! Lots of new card sets! I'm always printing and drawing so hopefully the updates will be more often! As always, I want to thank those friends of mine who have supported me in my creative venture, you're wonderful!

Have a great lazy day, I know I will!!

Hurt

Haiti is hurting. American families with loved ones in Haiti are hurting. Mankind is hurting and feeling for those in Haiti.

Please pray for everyone affected by the massive earthquake that hit Haiti yesterday. Pray for their basic needs to be supplied (food, shelter, sleep), for strength, and most of all, for their aching souls. It is my hope that the world's governments will come through as some of them already have.

Praise God for the blessings in your life and pray for the healing in others.

Peace be with you and with all.

Top Five's of 2009

These top fives may not have come out in 2009, they are just what I have enjoyed this past year. Also, these are in no particular order.

Top 5 Movies
1. The Hangover
2. Shakespeare in Love
3. Paris, Je T'aime
4. New Moon
5. Say Anything

Top 5 Songs
1. Your Love: The Outfield
2. Use Somebody: Kings of Leon
3. Dreaming with a Broken Heart: John Mayer
4. Bloody Sunday: U2
5. Glory Bound: Martin Sexton

Top 5 Moments
1. Stacy and Matt's Wedding in May
2. Jeremy graduating from Campbell's MBA program in December
3. Celebrating our 3rd anniversary in June, and being more in love than we were 3 years ago.
4. Giving our hardships over to the Lord and trusting that His plan for our lives is better than any plan we can create.
5. Selling my cards to more than just my loving friends and family.

I hope that everyone's New Year has brought reflection over the past year. Resolutions to come, but I like to call them Goals. It makes me more responsible to actually achieve them!

2009 Photo Recap

Too Long...

It has been way too long since I have posted anything. Sorry. I have recently found that it is very difficult to work full time, have commitments during the week, run an Etsy shop, have a blog, and try to be a good wife/daughter/friend all at the same time. I was finding no time to blog or update my shop between all the other stuff!! So please forgive my absence.

I am hoping to update the shop today with a couple of new card sets as I have sold a few and the shop is looking sparse! Thank you to everyone who has supported me in my creative endeavors!!

So expect me back in full force after the holidays and the crazy has died down a bit! Until then...

Peace and Blessings to you and your family in this upcoming Christmas week!

Deck the Halls...

And the blog!

December is here and so is my new blog! I've really been wanting to focus my blog on not just my personal life but also on my art. I love to create as many of you know, and it's time I start to market myself! I'm going to start posting a lot more about my creative process and what's going on in the Etsy shop. I can't for everyone to get a glimpse into both my personal and creative life!

Here's a shot of some new fabric notecards that just popped into the shop!

Buzz

I just wanted to put a little bug in everyone's ear. Actually the imagery of that is pretty disgusting. Ok, I just wanted to tell you something exciting. In the next week or so I'm going to re-structure this blog and my etsy shop. I'm doing some major work this week and creating some new cards for Christmas. I'm also going to be joining some other local artists in a store for independent artists. It's located in the University Mall in Chapel Hill. It's right next to A Southern Season (favorite) and I'm so excited. Be sure to check back here for updates!

I want to thank those who've supported me this far in my art endeavors and who've showed their support by purchasing my goods. I can't tell you how wonderful it feels to know that my cards are making it into homes and hands all over! Thanks everyone!!

I'm sending love, can you feel it? I'm just in a loving mood....watch out ;)

Link Love

Our sweet little blog was linked on Bonnie Forkner's blog today! I am so blushing at the idea that someone other than my loving family and friends reads our blog! It does make me feel a little like when someone shows up unannounced at your home and you're quite aware of the undies on the drying rack in the guest room, the dirty dishes lounging in the sink, and the Foster tumbleweeds rolling in all corner of the room. I might need to spruce up the blog a bit.

I'm just proud to be among some of the other blogs that she listed as part of her post today. See her post here.

Anyway, I hope everyone has a wonderful day and weekend!

Happy Birthday Mere!!

Etsy Picks: November

1. With This Ring ring bearer bowl: My best friend is getting married and so I'm kind of in wedding mode. I love the simplicity of this, so sweet. See it here.

2. Large Magnolia Wreath: Just in time for the holidays. This is a Southern staple and my favorite kind of wreath. See it here.

3. Ethnic Jacquard Necklace/Scarf: So versatile and I love the colors for fall. This can be worn so many ways. See it here.

4. November Party Poms: Tissue pom poms, need I say more? These colors are perfectly November and the shapes are so fun and whimsical. I want these in my house all the time, not just because my life is a party. See them here.

Fall is wonderful for so many reasons. The crisp air, the falling leaves, and the hope of bright holidays to come. This year our leaves have been exceptional. I think because we've had such warm days and cool nights. I've caught myself daydreaming while looking at them. To me, fall and the turning leaves remind me of a simpler time. A time before so many distractions. The upcoming holiday season is always my favorite and I can't wait to experience them with my family and friends. God has truly blessed us and I thank Him each day.

Get ready, the Mulling Spices are on the stove and Christmas music is coming!!

I might be listening to Christmas music already. Tee hee....

NC State Fair=Happiness

Safety first!

Cameron and Christine getting ready for the swings to take off. Pray for safety.

Mid air on the swings.

Erin on the swings.

Silly face from Miss Grace Elizabeth. Welcome back to Raleigh!!

Gracie was getting so excited about the Catepillar Roller Coaster. Precious!

So excited about the roller coaster, she's pulling her daddy's hair!

This "band" covered The Electric Slide. Amazing.

My favorite thing at the fair. Heaven in the form of mini doughnuts covered in cinnamon sugar.

The prize winning pumpkins! The biggest one was over 300 lbs!

Turkey Shoot. Classic.

Mmm, ranch is good.

I mean, this is the mecca for Fair goers. The fried stuff booth. The oreos are bangin'.

Tobacco: It's what we do.

Erin & Erin

Bluegrass Group: This is why I love where I live.

The creepy troll dolls sold at the Village of Yesteryear

Ferris Wheel: note the clouds, it rained a couple of hours later.

Christie and James with an eclair and Erin with what seems like a weapon (it was in her corn dog, yikes!).