January 15, 2011

Frosty the Snowman

We've had so much snow lately, and it warmed up to just the right temperature today that the snow was perfectly sticky for snowman making!  "Playing" in the snow for the past week has mostly consisted of shoveling (not as fun for the kids), so being that my children were driving me a bit crazy from staying inside all morning, we went outside to build a snowman while Jer stayed in to make some sandwiches.

My mom's suggestion for keeping the mittens on was to cover them completely with long socks!  Looks a little ridiculous, but it worked!

Don't you just love the new roof we put on this fall?  A necessary but not so glamorous reno...

Aria, Frosty, and his "magic" hat



We decorated the band of his hat with some colourful Japanese maple leaves from the tree in our garden.

Not a bad snowman!  Aria wished he could have a magic hat like the real Frosty in the cartoon, so we made a top hat out of snow.
As we were heading inside, she was lamenting that Frosty would probably melt.  Well, yes, but with the amount of snow we've had lately, I don't think it will happen anytime soon.  I was thinking yesterday, that God must be making up the difference in snow this year from the lack of snow we had last year.  I don't mind the shoveling... too much.  Its a good work-out, and the kids burn some energy outside while I'm shoveling.  I like shoveling the light, fluffy stuff we've had lately, as compared to the heavy, wet snow from November.

Well, I'm off to memorize some lines for VAC Kids tonight.  The kids are tucked away in their rooms for nap/quiet time, and Jer's folding laundry.  So, I'll go join him with my cup of tea and get some work done.   

January 11, 2011

Such a Deal for You... And Me!!

So, I've been trying to think of some kind of fun promotion to do with my hats... and I realized I don't have many photos of kids "modeling" buttonbox hats (other than my own kids, and a few done by a photographer friend of mine).  A friend sent me some GORGEOUS pictures of her youngest wearing his hat, and the pictures were so great I asked for permission to use them on my Etsy site.  So here's what I'm thinking of for a promotion...

Send me pictures of your kids wearing buttonbox hats that I've created.  IF I choose to use the pictures you will receive a gift certificate for 50% off your next purchase of one hat.

The requirements of the photo must be that it is: 
  • "professional" quality (no, you don't need to be a professional photographer, but it does need to have that certain "je ne sais quoi") 
  • ready to use (no touch ups required, as I'm a low-maitenance, low-tech kind of gal) 
  • features the buttonbox hat not just your child (I know your kids are beautiful!)
  • and I must have your full permission to use the picture as I choose (that means on facebook, etsy, here on my blog, or possibly printed and framed for display at any shows I am involved in).  I understand that these are your children in the pictures, and I promise you that I will never use the photos in any manner that would compromise you or your child's integrity or privacy.
  • you may enter more than one photo, but you will only be eligible for one certificate per style of hat.  (ie. You can submit three photos of three different styles of hat and be eligible for three different discounts)
You may submit your photos to me by email (jckinnib[!]telus.net).  I will respond to you via email, and if I choose to use your photo I will send along a photo release form.  After you have returned that to me (again, via email), I will send you a gift certificate for 50% off the price of one hat.  Whether or not I use your photo is up to my discretion, and you will receive the gift certificate only if I choose to use your photo.

I'm super excited to see what you all send me!  Here are a few pics my friend sent me of her little one that inspired this promotion...



January 8, 2011

New Things

In December I got an early Christmas present in the mail one day.  I found out that I'll be showing at Creative Chaos in Vernon in June again this year.  It was a such a fabulous way to connect with families in my area, and to get my product and business name out there!  I'm very much looking forward to the show this June, especially since I have a little experience now, and know a little of what to expect.  I had set some pretty outlandish goals for myself and what I wanted to take to the show last year, and had to keep editing and editing my lofty ambitions for new designs and product.  Building display racks and printing off cards to display product on, and finishing touches kept me away from accomplishing all I had dreamed of.  But this year is a different story.  I have all the displays built already (thanks to my hubby!), and I've already been working on new designs, so now I'm ready to "mass produce" them (at the incredible speed of one hat per evening... or two, depending on the size).


 


I definitely still welcome custom orders at anytime, but in the next couple months, there may be a lot more to buttonboxdesigns than hats and flowers!