What fun we had shooting the new items for fall…

It is always fun to be a part of the photo shoot…never quite knowing what the outcome will be, but keeping our fingers crossed that we catch our wonderful models at just the right moment…

Great Success!  All our little friends showed up with smiles on their faces and ready for action!  Of course, many thanks to the moms for pulling lots of tricks out of their hats…and for bringing the best treat of all…M &M’s!

So…check out all the new holiday fashions.  There is adorable denim, spooky spiders, mighty monsters and sweet black cats for all the little goblins!  Let me know how you like the collection.  As always, I love your feedback!

Free Shipping is available through September 15!

WOW…the time has really slipped away…

The good news is that summer is here!  Time for sleeveless dresses, adorable jean skirts and brightly colored short sets!  Goodbye cold…bring on the sun!

The updated show schedule will be posting soon.  I am hoping that you will be able to visit me at one of the fabulous shows on the list…There is really nothing more enjoyable than experiencing all of the wonderful arts and crafts created by hand!  Oh…and don’t forget the great food, too.  Lots of unusual treats at these summer events!  Summer shows are great places to bring the kids, as there are usually kid friendly zones packed with crafts and games for your little ones…

So…if you have the chance, please add a show to your summer itinerary!  If I am lucky enough to be a part of a show that you plan to visit…please stop by for some chit-chat!  I can hardly wait…

Enjoy the warmth of the sun with a smile in your heart…

I don’t know about you, but I certainly get excited when I learn something new on the computer, and I didn’t have to depend on the kids to teach me!

To celebrate, I want to pay it forward…something you might be able to use and mostly, something you can impress your kids with!  Yes…a celebration in and of itself!

The program I want to share with you is called paint.net.  You can download it for free, and then pick up simple tutorials on YouTube (welcome to this century!) 

This program is a simplified photoshop program with wonderful benefits.  It is free.  It allows you to try your hand at photoshop-like software and see some great results.  It gives you the ability to create some pretty wonderful artistic images by removing backgrounds and then layering them in your own creation.

As you advance, you will see that you can perform all sorts of neat tricks with your pictures!

Have fun…let me know how it turns out!

Don’t forget…as you are getting ready for spring, there is still time to take advantage of FREE SHIPPING at www.kateandbudscloset.com

I am so excited to hit the road this weekend! 

I will be at the Saline Middle School for the Saline Community Education Spring Craft Show.  This show has been around for 7 years, and has a fine reputation amongst vendors as well as the shopping community.  If you are in the Ann Arbor, MI area, please stop by for a visit. 

The show is located at 7190 Maple Street. 

 Show hours are 8:30-3:30…come early and enjoy a cup of coffee as you wander through this most enjoyable show!

My Spring schedule is now finalized.  I have been accepted in all shows that are listed.  I will be doing quite a bit of traveling this spring…Michingan, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York…I look forward to meeting many new people, as well as visiting with lots of you along the path.  If you need additional info, just drop me a line!

It is time to get back to work…still have hats and bows on the agenda before I can hit the hay!  For you sports fans, hope you are enjoying March Madness!  It is exciting as usual.  I hope that your favorite team is rising to the occasion…

I look forward to seeing you soon…I am so happy to be…ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

We sure have had our share of crazy weather! 

Kate & Bud decided it was a great idea to get the new Easter line rolling so we can all think spring!!!

I had such a great time creating the little bunnies for this spring release!  After all, winter has been going on forever.  Bright colors, the thought of blooming flowers and sunshine provided the inspiration behind the scenes. 

Having the opportunity to be a part of the photo shoot brought great joy as well as the chance to actually see the designs on the adorable  models!  If you look closely, you will see that little Mikey, Gabriella, Anthony and Lauren have grown since the original shoot last October! 

What fun to watch their progress…and…a big thanks to their moms.  Where would we be without those helping hands!  We added a new model for Easter!  How wonderful to have Miss Caitlin to show us how the big girls look in Kate & Bud’s Closet originals!!

So…please enjoy the new collection.  Also…remember that St. Pat’s is right around the corner.  There is still time to order from The Lucky Charm Collection!  Don’t forget to add the word LuckyCharm at check out to receive your 10 %discount.

Before I close, I want to give a shout out to my dear friend Carol…an old time vendor friend who is the creative energy behind Ragamuffins.  I want to thank her for the most inspirational conversation as well as her friendship, which we have shared for so many years!

OK…I will be posting some craft projects soon…check back, and tell a friend about www.kateandbudscloset.com

Have a wonderful day!

                           I am very happy to bring you the newest part of the collection…”Lucky Charm”… 

Within this collection, you will find fun and whimsical items for both the Little Leprechauns and Irish Lassies in your lives!  From this collection you may select full outfits, or separates…it is up to you!  As always, you may personalize, or create a saying of your own.

The best part is…these great Lucky Charm items can be worn all through the year! 

It is time for the wearing of the green…please remember to allow at least a week from order to ship…

Let me know how you like this newest collection of Kate & Bud’s Closet…

It’s hard to say when the snow will stop…seems like it has been snowing for weeks now.  I was thinking about the things that bring sunshine to my days.  Kate and Bud top the list!  Here is a pretty recent picture of them, taken when Bud was home from China…the end of December 2009.  Of course, what would a picture be without our little furry friend Addie…got to love it! 

Bud is now back in China.  He did return to lots of snow when he flew into Beijing.   We are happy that Kate has relocated to Cleveland post college!  We just love when she comes home for dinner!  Addie…well she will stay put…she knows… that there is no place like home!

Hope that you are having an enjoyable day!

Yes, it’s another day of snow, however, what could be more cozy than to cuddle up with your little ones and enjoy Valentine’s Day!  Perhaps after breakfast you can bundle up and enjoy the beautiful snow by building a snowman or making snow angels…and then back inside to eat some of those lovely goodies…chocolates, cookies, cakes…and hot chocolate!  Enjoy…

I will spend the afternoon working on some of the newest entries for the website so that we can begin to “Think Spring”… You will soon find your favorites such as Birthday Boy/Birthday Girl, Big/Little Brother and Sister, and ”I love you…a bushel and a peck”…as well as some holiday shamrocks for the little leprechaun!  I won’t give away all of the surprises, but I say, “Bring on the snow!”  It keeps me home and working in the studio!

Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you…

Snow, snow, go away…come again another day…

well, that might not work, but I do have some little mini projects that you might like to do while you look out the window at the beautiful snow that is falling…and falling…and falling…

What a great day to gather up the little ones…or just yourself…and bake!  Now, most of you know that I am not a whiz in the kitchen, just lucky to have a husband who loves to cook!  But baking is another topic!  That can be lots of fun, and who doesn’t like to be a part of the tasting crew!

Easy Valentine’s Treats:

Decorate Cupcakes…

Yes, gather all of the little red-hots and sprinkles…choose a strawberry cake mix and white frosting or a white cake mix with white frosting or chocolate cake mix and chocolate frosting…it really doesn’t matter…Once the cupcakes have baked and cooled just frost and decorate…red-hots lined up in an X or an O or a heart…Red, pink and white sprinkles on other little cupcakes…what an adorable presentation for the ones you love!!

Next, gather up the pink and red solid and patterned construction or scrapbook paper and a few glue sticks…cut strips that are 2″ wide and 8″ long…assort the colors and start making a valentines chain…just loop each strip inside the loop that you just constructed.  You can make the chain as long as you would like…decorate a doorway, lay across the fireplace mantle, let your little girl wear it as a fancy boa!!!  There is lots of love and fun tied into “mom and me” projects!

ooops…almost forgot about the candy!  Check out your cookie cutters…Pull out the heart shapes and lay them on a flat dish.  Pour some of your favorite little candy treats in each heart…gummy bears, candy hearts, m&m’s…create a little assortment!  You can even fill the empty spots in between the cookie cutters with red hots or  swedish fish…you get the idea…no rules, just have fun!

So, the snow might be falling, but…you’ll have your love to keep you warm!

Enjoy…well, I have decided to make this a daily routine…so check back and see what is going on in the world of Kate & Bud’s Closet…insights, updates, places to go, people to see, ways to enrich your lives…