So Fabulous I HAD to share!

You know when you come across a product or seller that you are so impressed with you return time and time again? You just know that the customer service and the quality are going to be amazing and from the minute you make a purchase you are already thinking of the next item you want to buy.....


One of these shops for me is Whimsical Creations! I can't say enough great things about the shop owner, Melanie, and her gorgeous polymer clay works of art!
I was the very first customer at Whimsical Creations Etsy shop when I bought these two personalised fairies for my girls.


I have since then been back for a bunch of other bits and pieces like this personalised family ornament I gave to my sister for Christmas


this love heart ornament I had custom made for good friends who had just announced their engagement - I sent Mel a photo of the couple and I LOVE how she personalised it right to the distinctive mole on the guys face!


My latest order was a double one - as my regular readers would know I have just had a baby boy so I ordered a 'Super Boy' ornament to hang with my girls fairy ornaments and it turned out perfect!


and to thank my parents who stayed with us to help us settle into having our new addition to the family I asked Mel to make this magnet.


When my mum opened it she was so excited to have something with Grandma Barbara and Papa on it - it's what all their grand kids call them but she had never thought she would find anything with those particular words on it. My dad loves fishing so the fish and rod are perfect and my mum has a grand old wardrobe she has turned into a dolls house so I sent Mel a picture of it and she got the miniature version just right!!

Mel is just wonderful with every request I have asked of her and I highly recommend you pop into her shop HERE for your next gift or for a little something just because.
I'm already thinking of what I can throw at her next to make.....

You can find out a little more about Melanie and Whimsical Creations HERE from when she was a Weekly Featured Artist or stop by her blog to see what she is up to next.

Giveaways, giveaways, giveaways....

It seems no matter where in blog land you look at the moment you'll find some sort of giveaway... it's 'bloggy giveaway carnival' time!!!


Here are just some of the giveaways I have come across and entered so far..... as soon as I hit post on this I'll be back out on the hunt!!


From I Luv U Tutu Much blog one lucky reader will receive this beautiful purple (my favorite colour) tutu skirt adorned with hot pink polka dot satin ribbon made by I Luv U Tutu Much Boutique! This Tutu skirt will fit a size 2year old to a small 14 teen.


The deadline to enter is February 5, 2009 and ends at 12:00pm PST.


From the fabulous New England Quilter you have the chance to win this Tied Quilted Crib Rail Guard that was handmade Amy herself and is on sale in her etsy shop. It is perfect for your teething little one or if you just want to add stimulating colors to your nursery. This guard is made with fleece, batting, ties, and love. The guard measures approximately 51 inches long and 10 inches wide, ideal for a crib with 8 perimeter around the rail or less.


You have until Saturday night, January 31st to enter.


And if you head over to Whimsical Creations blog and enter Melanie's giveaway you could be in the running to win TWO of her polymer clay creations!!
One of these adorable Love Fairies


and one of her stunning Cherry Blossom Ornaments


To enter you need to go to Mel's shop, Whimsical Creations, then head back to HERE and leave a comment to let her know what your favorite item is. This giveaway ends on Sunday, January 31st.

Oh and just a reminder that you have two days left to enter the giveaway at The Mom Buzz and be in the running to win the Mosaic Spirals, Giggleberry Creations fabric banner (entries close January 29th)


Be quick and goodluck for all the current giveaways!!!

Giveaways, giveaways, giveaways....

With Christmas in just one month today do you have all your shopping done??? I'm pretty close now I think. But what about when your 2nd cousin shows up on Christmas day with a 'friend' and you have a gift for everyone else in the house except him or her?? well I say enter a bunch of giveaways and fingers crossed you'll win the perfect item to have stashed away in the cupboard for this very situation... and if no random guests show up then Merry Christmas to you!!!

Head over to Momma Findings Blog who is hosting a whole collection of giveaways in her Christmas


Like A Blog Makeover from Goodness Sake Blog Designs - just head to her site HERE and pick your favorite blog design pack then return to the original post HERE and leave a comment about your pick - Easy!


Or from Retro Rugrats a Crayon Roll that will be personalized with what ever name you choose!! Just make a comment at the bottom of the post HERE.


Next is from Whimsical Creations... TWO GIVEAWAYS!!! either one of her gorgeous snowflake ornaments or her fun and cute cupcake ornaments. Pop into Whimsical Creations Shop HERE pick your favorite item and then go back to the original post HERE and comment about it to be in the draw!!!



Then what about this great one from Green Toys, a complete Green Toys Tea Set!! again it's easy to enter just go to Green Toys shop HERE pick what fun toy set you would like the most and return to Momma Findings and comment all about it.


That's just 4 of the many giveaways at Momma Findings and they are all ending soon so hurry over there and take a look and be sure to enter away!!!

Giveaways, giveaways, giveaways....

I almost don't want to share this one with anyone else in the hope that maybe that makes my chances of winning even better.... but sharing is caring right??


Melanie from Whimsical Creations hand makes gorgeous polymer clay items and is running a giveaway on her blog of the same name, Whimsical Creations. Just by popping into her shop HERE on etsy, finding your favorite item (a hard mission I know) then leaving a comment back at the giveaway blog post about that item you are in the running to win!! Easy right?!

And look what it is the lucky winner receives.... this stunning handmade set of white snowflakes! I love them!!!!



Entries close November 2nd so be quick to grab your chance at having these gorgeous snowflakes decorate your home this Christmas!

Weekly Featured Artist - Melanie of Whimsical Creations

I'm thrilled to have Melanie of Whimsical Creations as this weeks 'featured artist' - I love her polymer clay items and I was the lucky first buyer in her etsy shop when I ordered my daughters a persanilsed fairy ornamant each! Melanie just keeps coming up with more and more unique things to make like cupcakes, snowflakes, wedding cake minatures, halloween ghosts and pumpkins, animals...... the list goes on and on!

Tell us all about yourself and your craft?
I am a stay at home mother of 2 children, a son age 7 and a daughter age 20 months. I have been crafting since I can remember. My family loves to hand make lots of things. My grandmother does portraits, my mother loves to crochet and my sister loves to create lots of things. I make polymer clay ornaments, figures, magnets, beads and pendants.

How long have you been creating your craft?
I started making ornaments out of salt dough with my mom as a child. I have been working with polymer clay for about 15 years.


What is one of the biggest lesson you have learnt about your craft & selling it? To be patient. Patience is really hard for me. I started selling my product on etsy in April and it took me until June to get my first sale.


Which of your items did you have the most fun creating & why?
My sock monkey & my cherry blossoms pendant. The sock monkey was inspired by fellow Fam (Fabulous Artistic Moms) members who have sock monkeys in their shop. They looked so fun. The cherry blossom pendant was inspired by a treasury I made of Cherry Blossoms, I absolutely love the way it came out.


Is there a basic ‘household’ item you use when creating that seems to work just as good if not better than the actual ‘tool’?
Toothpicks, string and an exacto knife....

What is your favourite candy bar & why?
Milky Way Dark (oh I'm sorry they changed the name to Milky Way Midnight). I have loved that candy bar forever (before dark chocolate became 'healthy' for you).


If money, responsibilities, and time were no issue where in the great wide world would you go & why?
I would love to travel to Hawaii. What a beautiful place to visit. I can only imagine the beautiful pictures I could take there while on vacation. My husband says every thing we do is a photo op. I also would like to take a class at the Deco Clay Craft Academy located in Hawaii. They teach you to make gorgeous flowers out of light weight deco soft clay.

You can visit Melanie on etsy HERE. With both Halloween and Christmas getting closer and closer you'll be covered at Whimsical Creations!! Mel says "I love to work on custom orders. Please contact me if there is something special you are looking for" - and don't forget to take a look through her sold items if you need a little inspriration for your custom order.