Taylor Made designs

Happy Birthday to Me

Tonight, because it was:

1. hot

2. summer

3. yummy

4. my birthday on Thursday

we went to Far Far's for ice cream. I had chocolate chip. Heaven. So creamy. So good. For those of you who are familiar with weight watchers... it's a good 14 points! Seriously. But worth it. I hate the fact that I am getting old. But as they say, "it sure beats the alternative, dying young." So happy birthday to me. I hope it's a good year :) 

Write it down

I'm a total list girl. I have an itouch which I have used for lists making. But nothing beats writing it down on paper. {And then crossing it off my list.} I find it so tedious to type my list in. And from the amount of books I sell, I am thinking I am not alone. I much prefer to use a nice pen and a favorite notebook than some electronic gadget. Am I alone on this? Maybe I really am getting old!

Homemade Ice Cream

Ah summertime :) Nothing is better than homemade ice cream. J'adore plain, yummy vanilla. It's still my all time favorite. Add some strawberries from the farmer's market + some homemade chocolate sauce and I am one happy camper!

World's End, Hingham, MA

With the loss of Kotyboots {our black lab}  this Spring, poor Montana {our yellow lab} has been all out of sorts.  So I have been trying to include him on family outings - I really think he's lonely!

This weekend we brought him with us to World's End. Just a lovely place to take a walk. Seriously, this place is peaceful and just beautiful. If you are feeling a bit down, or feeling a bit troubled, a morning/afternoon here is way cheaper than therapy!

The kids really enjoyed our walk. Which makes me happy. I want them to appreciate the world around us. To see things. To see nature! It's one of the reasons I refuse to get a DVD player for the car. I always tell them to look out the windows, see what is out there. They can watch TV anytime... but the world, it's passing you by – don't let it!

Anyway, William was our guide... reading the map and directing us to follow certain trails. We saw tons of butterflies, a couple of red tail hawks, and a baby deer. If you think the photos are pretty, just imagine being there. After about 2 hours, and a 3 plus mile walk, we drove Monty home and then we went out for a late breakfast. A perfect day in my book :)

Life Lessons

Is this not the most magnificent tree? Perfect tree to climb. 

I have been keeping this list on my computer to read daily. It makes me feel better :) I hope you'll find one or two gems that will resonate with you!

Written By Regina  Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It  is the most-requested column I've ever written.  My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.*

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15.. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19.. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up  to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27.. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

Knitting Extraordinaire

Thank goodness my sister Nicole loves to knit! Look at these gorgeous sweaters she has made for my beautiful kids. Seriously! Does it get any better than this? I am so thankful that she is so generous with her talent. What do you think? Can you believe how talented she is?

Happy Birthday Davis!

My baby turned five yesterday. Five. How the heck did that happen? I know, you're tired of hearing parents say this, but it's true - time flies freaking fast! Next month my baby will be in full-day kindergarten! So not a baby anymore.

I remember Davis being born + teasing my mum that I was going to call her Phoebe :) She did not like the name and was hoping that I went with the name "Davis". Growing up there were so many girls with my name or variations of my name: kristen, kristin, kristan, kirsten, christina, christine. I had decided long ago, if I had a girl, I would try to find a name that was beautiful, but different. Hence, the name, Davis.

As with my first pregnancy, I did not want to know what I was having but I had  Placenta Accreta, so I had level 2 ultrasounds every month. You do not have to be a technician to be able to read those ultrasound images. I would be having a girl. whoo hooo. William was 22 months old. Happy, healthy, adorable and a boy. So now I would have two kids...one of each. What a cliche I would be :) 

I had always wanted three kids, but there was a good chance I was going to have to have a hysterectomy if the Placenta Accreta (PA) was severe. It turned out I did not have to have one. Later on my doctors suggested that if I got pregnant again, the PA would most definitely be more severe next time around and suggested – I be done :) 

So two it is. My William. My Davis. My loves. They make me a better person. I want everything for them. everything. For those of you who are parents, you know where I am coming from. Your love for your kids is unbelievable. Those without children, oh, just you wait :) 

It's amazing to look at both my kids and see myself in them... especially Davis. Everyone says William is a little Neal, and Davis is a little me. She puts her hands on her hips, has an easy going manner and an infectious laugh that I can hear in a room filled with kids. A cry –  just the same. The other night while watching, "so you think you can dance" {our current favorite show} she leaned over, gave me a kiss and said, "mummy, I wish we had a maid." and I turned to her and said, "me too!" and she continued with, "that way she could get me my coco, instead of you." Funny girl huh? 

Sweet, funny, and artistic. Oh, and cute, cute, cute. Cute in appearance, cute in behaviour. She is kind. She is happy. She is five. She is mine. Happy Birthday my lovely girl. Wishing you nothing but happiness, always. love mummy

Birthday Gift Ideas

Here's another birthday gift I created for William's friend Savannah. Like most little girls, she loves fairies, and girly things. So I found a fairy illustration online, modified it + added colour to it. I then created a sketch pad, notepad + custom notecards with envelopes and stickers. I also picked up some markers. The fairy illustration has come in handy. Naturally Davis wanted stickers + a notebook of her own. 

I swear, I have more fun making up these presents than the kids have using them. I am still not convinced that a little boy would be enamoured with a notecards, sketchbooks etc. So I find myself heading to the store buying legos :)

I Want to be a Ballon Artist!

Seriously. This woman ballon artist was terrific. William asked her for a penguin and Davis a poodle. I was blown away by her skill. I can make a few things out of ballons, such as a dog, a flower, a sword and a few other things, but that is it. She made a few people some spiders and some butterflies. Amazing! I got her card for future parties :) Oh and that cotton candy... how happy was I when the kids didn't want to finish it up?

Home Sweet Home

It's July 17th and it finally feels like summer. Today it was hot and humid. Just like summer is suppose to be. For awhile, I was afraid with all the rain we had my flower boxes and pots would die. Seriously, we had so much rain I think we broke some records for the month of June + July. But my flowers are looking good :) I love being able to cut flowers from my garden to bring inside. Just makes me happy. Have a great weekend everyone!

A Different Silkscreen Ribbon Order

Isn't this the coolest looking ribbon? Silver ink on black twill ribbon. It came out great. This order was sent all the way to Australia.

I'm really bummed, my gocco supplies are starting to dwindle so once they are gone, so is my custom silkscreen ribbon offering. So if you've been on the fence about ordering, I'd gently suggest, doing it now!

If anyone out there knows where I can purchase some supplies without paying an arm and a leg, let me know!

What I learned this week

I got this idea from Jen over at Our Daily Big Top. Every week she does a post on what she has learned that week. And, without fail, her list always makes me smile + makes me think.  So thank you Jen for the inspiration :)

Enjoy each day
These are my last few weeks to have Davis with me in the afternoon for like, the next 18 years! So I am trying to enjoy every minute I have with her. We had lunch in the city the other day, and as we were sitting outside enjoying our meal + each other, Davis looked at me, smiled and exclaimed, "mum, it's like we're on a date! I just love you." Then she leaned over to kiss me. Everyone around us just went, "ohhh, she is too sweet!" and you know what, she is.

Sometimes we get what we ask for.
I have a friend, who wanted badly for something to happen. She put things in motion, worked hard to make it happen and guess what? It happened. Now, all she is doing is complaining about it. So I guess that old adage is true... be careful of what you ask for, because, you might just get it.

Our library really rocks
I love that from the comfort of my home, I can go online, look up books, requests books + have them waiting for me at the library. I've been doing this for well over a year, but just started doing it for the kid's books. Saves me all sorts of time.

Sometimes it's not me, it you
A lot of times I receive calls from women looking for Cindy Taylor Oates, of Taylor Made design. Cindy makes quilts and has published a lot of books. The women are normally looking for a pattern, wanting to buy Cindy's book, or looking for advice. I always call the women back to tell them they reached the wrong number. Usually the women thank me for taking the time to call them back to let them know.

Today I got one of the those phone calls. I called the woman back, in Seattle. And you know what? She got all sassy with me! I explained to her that she had reached Taylor Made designs, but we are a design studio specializing in graphic design – and that it sounds like she is looking for Cindy Taylor Oates. Blah blah blah. Well, she told me "she was put out. She needs help. Why can't I help her? Why am I calling her if I can't help? Who is she suppose to call to help her?" And on and on and on.

Seriously. I had to tell her i was sorry, I thought I would just let her know that she had the wrong number and good luck to her. "Good luck? Is that what you have for me? I don't need luck, I need someone to help me out!"

I have to remind myself, "it's her with the problem, not me". I don't want someone like that to jade me. You know, to let someone like that put me off on being nice. She's just one person having a really lousy day.

Things will get better
To be perfectly honest, I've been having a real lousy year. No that's not right. I've been having a terrible, horrible, never in a million years did I think life could be this bad, kind of year. But I know it can't last. So I'm trying to keep my chin up, and pray, that things will get better. 

Great Baby Gift for New Mums – mitetees!

I want to have another baby just so I can order one of these clever onesies!  Seriously... is this not the cutest baby gift ever?

Actually, short-sleeve t-shirts are available for toddlers up to 6 years of age.
Whew. No need to have a baby :) 

Anyway, good thing there is another baby boom going on, because now I can do the next best thing... order some for my friends and be the superstar gift giver :) Cause you know... everyone wants to be known for giving the best gifts. Give one of these, and tadaa, you are a rockstar. That is exactly how Cindy, the owner of MiteTees started this business. She made these onesies for her sister. Gave them to her at her baby shower and everyone "oohhh + awwwed" and wanted her to make one for them. Love stories like that.

I met Cindy last fall while we were both doing a house party. I had seen her onesies in a local store and just loved the whole concept. Oh, and the way she packages them up? Adorable. 

Cindy + I  meet up on Friday mornings for coffee and to just chat about our businesses and stuff. It's so good to have someone else to run ideas by and to provide feedback on stuff. Plus, she's funny :) Her significant other, Paul, is a comedian. So she keeps me laughing.

The onesies are really reasonably priced. They sell for $24.00 and she has a promotion going on right now. Save $4.00.  Tons of different designs. Really, go check out her website. Such great ideas.

A customized baby gift for $20.00? Can you say, a w e s o m e.

Need some ideas? I've got 'em. Perfect Teacher Gifts :)

I know. I am tooting my own horn here, but honestly, this is what's been keeping me busy the last few weeks. Bookplates + notecards for teachers, kids, and friends. I didn't realize how popular these would be. I think both products are priced right and are pretty darn sweet. Boy, I really am tooting my horn huh :)

So get your orders in today. The end of the year is almost here! For my kids June 15th + 18th are the last days of school. You can either contact me via my email address, kat at taylormadedesigns dot com or visit my etsy shoppe.

Here are a few answers to some questions I have already received: Here's the 411. 

Turn Around Time
It's usually a week turn around time, even for custom illustrations. I ship USPS, first class. Depending on where you are, that takes around 3-4 days delivery. Canada, it's longer!

Custom Illustrations
Yes, your order can be  "Taylor Made". I am offering all the illustrations on my ABC print for both the bookplates + the notecards. I also have available: a horse, a crab, flipflops, a purse and a few additional illustrations that I will put in my etsy shoppe. I can create a custo, taylor made illustration for an additional $4.00. Really now, how cool is that? A " Caramel Frappuccino® blended coffee at Starbucks cost more than that!

Email me with questions or requests. Thanks again for all your support!