Nursery Progress: Artwork

With so much fun artwork, Baby McBride's Nursery is becoming a little gallery…

We ordered this sweet "Muppet Alphabet" print by Mike Boon off of Society 6

Left: An illustration I did in college from my first little storybook "Jimmy's Tree" - the colors work out really well in Baby's Room.  Right: A super cute screen print from Sara Lintner of Too Many Suitors

"Nuggets in a Carton" - an illustration I doodled on a napkin one evening, scanned, and color digitally - became the start of many a Nugget projects - stuffed friends, tooth fairy Nuggets, Nugget finger puppets and wash mitts, etc…..

Yay! Raccoons on a tandem bicycle! This is an original screen print from my friend/co-worker Alyssa Nassner.
All of her work is the bee's knees!

Left: Here's "Robit Robot "rolling along by me + Right: Calla the bluebird and her babies in a little nest. I loaded this texture in the background: a scanned piece of Eucalyptus & Flax paper that Kevin and I made together back in school!

And a little something that's right up Kevin's alley!! Left: Our version of "Keep Calm and Carry On"
+ Right: a fun R2-D2 illustration I created, and Kevin approved.

When someone asked me if I was planning to add some of my own geekiness, I figured I'd better infuse some of what I get a little geeky over too :) Left: Got this great print from Painted By Renee out of Los Angeles on Etsy who sent it my way quite promptly +  Right: I found a pretty decent resolution version of this Platform 9 3/4 Hogwart's Express ticket online and printed it off for a little 3" x 5" frame

Last but not least, our McBride's family illustration I created over 2 years ago when we started this blog - and I've been adding family members to it ever since….

The Nursery is really starting to come together! Can't wait to share it with you!

Last Weekend: Our Booth @ EP Arts in the Park

  Last Sat. (May 18th) was EP Arts in the Park - outdoor, one-day only art sale. and OF COURSE it stormed most of the morning. Luckily the event start time was pushed from 9am back to 11am - so there was no setting up in the rain for us. We were left with really soggy, swampy grass under our booth that seriously deterred people from coming in - perfect right? - but those who did venture a closer look at Yellow Finch.Gray Day seemed quite pleased.
  [Que the wind] Aside from the steamy, muggy air that arrived as soon as the clouds parted, our next battle was the wind coming right off the lake. It blew Kevin's Mom's tent right off, knocking over her displays. Lame!
  Overall, the event was great. A majority of the other sellers featured Paintings, Photography and Jewelry - I was the only one with kid's product (well, lots of Deb's ceramic Fairy Houses can be for kids too!), so I'm not certain I really fit in at this specific event. Oh well! It was my first time, but perhaps not the last!

  Notes to self:
   1: outdoor art/craft fair events in May = not a smart idea....
   2: I *probably made too much product. From just walking by, it appeared I had double or triple the amount of actual items - even more than some of the the jewelry peeps...
   3: the iron-on tees I made for my mom and I to wear during the event = nice touch :)
   4: the Square register app/card reader on my phone isn't just for running credit cards: I tracked every transaction, even cash transactions on my phone. So easy!

  Have a look at how the Yellow Finch.Gray Day booth turned out!

pet department!! people LOVE those Squeaky Bones!

Birdie & B's Sweets = My sister-in-law Anna and her sweets partner April made the first ever Nugget Cake Pops!
They fit in perfectly, and were SO tasty! 

 + last week, we were super excited to see some familiar faces in

the Eden Prairie newspaper (+ online). How fun!

Elisa McBride of Yellow Finch Gray Day offered these plush “nuggets.”

Prep for EP Arts in the Park!

   We have a looooong check list of tasks to tackle in preparation for EP Art in the Park - its coming up fast: May 18th! Here is the link for details!
  We've created product for Finch's Boutique how many years now? 6? 7? Its hard to keep track. I always make a bunch of stuff, but I kind of just keep making things until I'm out of time. 5 Nuggets here, 2 Jimmys there, a few Wash  Mitts, some pot holders, and some last minute framed artwork. This is my first time doing an *actual Art/Craft Fair style event. Which means I have a 10' x 10' tent space to do with what I please - but it's all me. I can't just put out a few of those or that - Its the "Elisa Show" - or I suppose the "Yellow Finch.Gray Day Show" - so we've been hard as work, cranking out more than ever! My WONDERFUL mom, Bonnie, has been taking on sewing on those pesky Jimmy and Robit Robot arms/legs/tails/hair/antennas, Kevin has been showing off his Stuff'n Skills (he is a REALLY good Nugget stuffer!), Finch has been snoozing, and Rigby, well, he's been pulling up 'branches with roots' from the yard (which is actually the Buck Thorn that we need removed from out back. So he *is kind of helping out in his own way...)
  Like I was saying: We are down to a two weeks away from the event, and the list is starting to look like stress in disguise as letters. Sheesh. Yikes!

To Do:

- Finish product: Sewing plush Jimmy Dolls, XL Nuggets, Tooth Fairy Nuggets, "Regular" sized Nugget Sets, Terry Wash Mitts, Felt Finger Puppets, Magic Sponge Sets, Artwork.....

- Sew little illustrated tags on to product (...once it's finished....)

- Print + Fold Yellow Finch.Gray Day coloring sheet/books for booth visitors to take

- steam the creases out the vinyl banner I had made with my logo that showed up all smushed

- cut business cards in half (seemed like a good idea at the time...but of course, it just another process)

- Set up dry run of tent, tables, shelves, etc. int he back yard the week before event so we can ensure that everything FITS. That way on the morning of May 18th, we can just follow the photos are know where exactly everything goes. Yes. I'm like that.

- ... I'm sure I'm missing some other key things..... yikes!

Here's my crew of XL Plush Nuggets with pockets :)

if you happen to be in the area on May 18th~

Eden Prairie Art in the Park

Purgatory Creek Park

13001 Technology Drive

Eden Prairie, Mn55344

Just Hatched!!

Bunnies and Birds to get you ready for Spring + Easter! Here are a few cuties from Etsy! (including a few Spring colored Nuggets and a fresh batch of baby blue birds from yellowfinch.grayday!)

Cute Bunny Rabbit Illus... mikaart $4.99	Yellow Nugget & Lavende... YellowFinchGra... $12	Flat Bonnie Bunny Plush... FlatBonnie $15	Totally organic Wheat S... MillCreekHoney $1.99
Cute BUNNY Ears Baby Cr... MadebyCrochetF... $14.99	Primitive Rabbit Salt D... cookiedoughcre... $14.95	BUNNY PHOTO CARD - Baby... samclarkphotog... $5	Little Bird Stamp Asahisogo $5.4
1 Dozen Berry Baskets -... ThePinkPicker $4.75	Tiny Nest, Aqua Eggs, W... gingerlittle $4.5	Mommy and Babies Bird B... ymcjewelry $30.9	handprinted original bi... randomnicole $9
Original Red Robin Stuf... featherednests... $14	Grey and White Bird SaraGilbertson... $8	Nicholas Wilson Etching... tjstortuga $65	Set of Three Blue Baby ... YellowFinchGra... $12

Officially: Yellow Finch.Gray Day on Etsy

   Well we've officially done it - and so soon! "Launch Etsy Shop" just graced our new To Do: 2013 list last week, and we've already crossed it off! Sure, there was a lot of pre-work that I had started last year - thinking about shop name, shop 'policies' and the oh so important shop "banner." Of course "launching" the shop is really only the first step...

The Shop:

etsy banner

Name: Yellow Finch.Gray Day

Link to Shop: click here! (might want to add it to your favorites! wink!)

The Plan:
   Yellow Finch for Littles: Fun items + gifts for kids & baby
   - Items like: Plush Jimmy Dolls, Nuggets, Tooth Fairy Nuggets + Finger Puppets + Tea For Two Sets + Wash Mitts + Magic Sponge Sets + Artwork, etc.
   Gray Day for your Home: Cute Decor & Art for everyday.
   - Items like: Pot Holders + Towels + Wash Mitts + Handmade Books + Cards + Artwork, etc.

Product listed so far: 5 Tooth Fairy Nuggets! Hooray!  I have a bunch of stuff leftover from Finch's Boutique, so expect to see lots more very soon!

Blog: http://yellowfinchgrayday.blogspot.com - I figured that a fun way to feature and share some of my new projects, ideas, and items for Yellow Finch.Gray Day could live in its own blog - but wait! there's nothing up there yet except for a blog title banner I made (see below) - you'll have to check back later...

blog banner

Have a look!
Now we just need to get people to visit our shop....

Spooky Scary! Halloween Recap

OoooooooooooooooOOOoooooooooo! Spooky! Well not SUPER spooky...

  Trick-or-Treaters Count:.... 18. Only 18?! Disappointing. We're used to 80 something in Mpls - we have a lot of leftover candy...
  For the 18 Trick-or-Treaters that DID stop by, here is what they saw:

Owen and Brooke broke out their Halloween finest - the safari theme was NOT coordinated up front - just kind of worked out that way.

and Finch got in on the fun too...

And here was my spooky surprise for Kym! Halloween Nugget Trio!

..they could be lurking ANYWHERE!

Who is scarier? That Ghost Nugget? or the vertical blinds he's hiding behind?

The Boutique is Back On!

   Have you heard? Finch's Holiday Time Boutique

is back in action!

After taking a year off to get married, move and try to settle in, we are back!
Mark your calendars for Dec. 3rd and 4th - Come and shop and you'll get to see some of our lovely home updates in person - if that isn't enough motivation!! Plan to complete a TON of your holiday shopping early because there are going to be really great stuff made available by over 50 local artists/designers/crafters, + 1 designer from Philly and 1 designer from Denmark (just bc you move, doesn't mean you can't participate from afar - we love you Lynn & Vân!)

Have a peek at the Boutique Blog: http://finchsboutique.blogspot.com/

So that means I am also full speed ahead making cute little items for the sale and getting ready to transform the new place into a 2-day boutique. So! Now I get to share some of what I'm working on along the way :)

I've been making little Nugget Finger Puppets!

and these little "Tea-For-Two" sets
(2 tea bags + 3 sugar cubes - ready for the fanciest of tea parties...)

I have lots more in the works - I'll be sure to share more as I go :)

Kyle & Heidi's Wedding!

It's finally here! My brother, Kyle, and Heidi are getting married! Hooray!
Rehearsal and Groom's Dinner last night went well - fun! - now for the big show.

Kevin and I are about to jump into action:
- drop of Finch at Kevin's mom's
- get my 'hair did' (10am)
- pack up the cooler to take with us on the limo-bus later
- grab Kevin's tux, my dress, our overnight stuff, and GIFT! heh heh heh - we'll show you that later...
- to the hotel by 12noon to get ready

Here's a look at the invites, etc. I designed for the event

+ Here's a little something I've prepared for our niece Brooke - it's not every day that your mom and dad get married! so - Bride + Groom Love-Bird Nuggets! (in the wedding colors: Black, White + Pink)

Okay: Wedding photos to follow soon!