Yikes

With all the goings on around here, it's really hard to keep up a blog. I'm really not sure how other moms do it. Moms? Advice?

Finn is now 14 months old, and he's so active! Between playing/learning with him, cooking all of our food daily, designing a monthly magazine from home, marketing for Little Lion and doing artwork for Little Lion ... I barely get time to shower, let alone blog. So, the blog gets left out. But it'll remain here for a day when I will be able to post how I want, more often.

I'm actually looking to point this blog back into the direction that I wanted it to go in. I'm very much a supporter of living green in simple ways, educating those who aren't aware of the impact of things they do on a daily basis; but also, the importance of supporting local businesses, artisans, professionals. I wanted this blog to be about all that and how it can impact your family's health, wealth and well being. All that with some updates on us and our kiddos for examples.

I'm not going to do the monthly Finn updates anymore. I have a few reasons for that .... protection, privacy, time management, etc. He's growing, and those of you who really want to know how he is can find me on facebook at www. facebook.com/crunchygranolamama . Not everyone out there is bound for good and positive thoughts, and, after a few weird events, I'm at a point that I'm a little fearful of posting him on my blog. So, there will be tidbits, but find me on FB if you want to keep up on pics and milestones. :) He's darn cute. Here's some of his latest pics. There are tons more, and if any of the family is interested in ordering, please message me on facebook for more details. Linda Ford is a local photographer (yay for local and not SEARS Portrait studio!), who you can find here. I met her at one of Finn's friend's birthday parties because she is also a photog for Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep. 
When she found out photos were never offered to us for Kaia, she offered to shoot Finn for us. She was amazing with him, and I highly recommend. Having been to SEARS, there is simply no comparison with the quality of work and the personability of Linda. She's outright amazing at what she does.

These pictures are all copyright of Linda Ford. Downloading them from here is illegal and subject to prosecution.

He would NOT wear the hat.

Finn is ONE!

Mommy's hand keeps me safe.

Where's my robe and cigar?

So, while I'm on the subject of shopping locally, I'd like to mention a great arts & crafts fair happening this weekend in Westlake, OH. It's St Bernadette's Annual Artisan Affair, and you can find information about it here. The proceeds from the event will go to their school and also to The Gathering Place to help people who have been touched by cancer. See, shopping at Walmart won't donate money like that. ;) It's a great place to find high quality gifts for Christmas, while keeping money in the community in which you live. Keeping money local means better education for our kids, thriving local business, which is the heartbeat of any community, and feeling good that your purchase dollars went straight to the hands that made it. I will be there for Little Lion Designs.

I have several new pieces showing, like this guy ...

Finn named him "Raffey".

... as well as a new product ... LLD Minis with Easels make great stocking stuffers!

I'll also have over 60 prints available for purchase. And, as always, a percentage of all of my sales will go to the Children's Heart Foundation. (Now that's something to feel good about!) Most artisans have gifts under $50/25/15, and all are handpicked and of the highest quality we have locally. Show is from 9am - 3:30 pm this Saturday. See the link for details.

In light & love, as always,
Stephanie

So many updates!

I finally opened my Artfire account. You can see all the artwork I currently have available for instant purchase. You can also contact me for special order requests. Here's a link to my shop littleliondesigns - ArtFire Artisan Studio. Of course, you can always still shop at my etsy site. However, my etsy site has all of my options on there, not just the items I currently have in stock. littleliondesigns - Etsy Studio

I would like to shamelessly ask if you all would be so kind as to vote for my business in this year's Start Up Nation's New Business contest. It's so hard being a full time mom, doing all my marketing, fund raising and artwork. I spend most of my time doing the first 3, that I barely get to do any artwork. Times are a little tough right now. And this mom needs your help. You can vote for me once a day (no registration required....literally just click and done!)by clicking here.

Lastly, MARK YOUR CALENDARS! LLD will be at this year's Hessler Street Fair, May 21-22! I cannot wait to do this event. I've been wanting to since I started LLD, and I cannot wait. Have I said I cannot wait? For Hessler details, click anywhere on this sentence to be taken to their website.

Okay, I lied! This is the last announcement. I'm also doing the Avant Garde Arts & Crafts show to benefit the Cleveland APL. That show is June 11 in Middleburg Heights. Click here to go to their facebook event page.

Another giveaway. I LOVE this one!

Just in time for Finn's 3rd week birthday. :) I'm a huge fan of http://www.etsystalker.com. They feature some amazing artisans that I would never have found otherwise. They're all people like you and me, trying to sell their wares on etsy. One day, I grabbed my courage and asked her if she would consider featuring me. She agreed! And today, there's an interview and a giveaway right here (click here).
The winner will be chosen on September 19th, so be sure to leave your comment before then to be eligible to win.

I'm really proud of this one, if you couldn't tell. Be sure to check it out and follow her page. There are giveaways all the time, and the art is always amazing!

Finn updates to come soon....as soon as I can figure out how to get video onto the computer. ;)

Show this Saturday! Come one, come all! Sales on certain pieces, too!

Hello all! This Saturday, from 12-5pm, there is an art show being put on by the Cleveland Craft Coalition. Little Lion Designs will be there, along with 20 other local artisans, selling their wares. The show is called the "True Colors: Exposed" show and is located at two Lakewood locations (right next to each other). LLD will be selling tons of artwork, some at discounted prices, at River Colors Studio (please click name to go to their website).
They are located here:
1387 Sloane Avenue
Lakewood, Ohio 44107
(216) 228-9276

The second location is Blackbird Baking CompanyBlackbird Baking Company, which is located here:
1391 Sloane Avenue
Lakewood, OH 44107
(216) 712-6599

Hope to see you there!
Stephanie

Hear Us Roar!

Win win win!!!! Did I get your attention? You can win a Little Lion piece! How? Well, I'll tell ya! It's super simple. Just go to the fabulous monsterbites365.com website and read this blog "Hear Us Roar!" (click to be taken directly there). All you have to do is follow the link and comment on that blog post by telling them what animal you associate with a specific personality trait – Little Lion Designs is named after Kaia’s courage, etc. While you're there, make sure to subscribe to their blog. Lots of amazing goodies on there weekly.

New art for adults are up!

Hey all! I've been truckin' along with art and wanted to share some adult pieces I have done recently.

Visit my etsy site (click here) to purchase available art or to special order a piece.

new pieces, new pieces

New pieces are up at www.facebook.com/littleliondesigns and www.littleliondesigns.etsy.com. They're also on my website at www.littleliondesigns.com. 

Reminder that my show is running all of June at Bela Dubby. Bela Dubby hours and location are located here.

Show is up!

Well, it's officially up! My first big show is now up at Bela Dubby in Lakewood. Bela Dubby is located at 13321 Madison Ave, Lakewood, OH. I have 21 pieces up there now and am bringing in 2 more over the weekend. This Saturday there is a big arts and crafts exhibit there. It's on Saturday the 5th from 12-??. It would be a great time to go shopping for local art. :) Be sure to pick up a CHD fact flyer (hanging on the wall in a fabric pouch with all the business cards and such) and bring it into Planet Green in Rocky River for 10% off anything in the store.

Everyone is officially invited to the opening party, as well. It will be on June 12 from 5-8 pm. Lots of veggie and vegan fare, cookies, coffee, beer, etc. will be available.

Thank you all for supporting local art and helping me raise awareness and funding for the research/prevention (and one day cure!) for congenital heart defects.

click image to enlarge.

Click here to visit little lion designs official website. Sales and contact info are located in the "contact" section.

June Art Show INFO!

Hello all! The June show at Bela Dubby on Madison Ave. in Lakewood, Ohio will be going up the morning of June 1! I'm letting you all know that it will be up the entire month of June, just in case you were unable to make it to the opening on June 12 from 5-8.

For Bela Dubby or the June 12th opening party info, please see this link:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/manage/?act=56148047#!/event.php?eid=101934279844514&ref=share

Thank you all for your support! This show really means a lot to me, as it's Kaia's birthday, as well as my own. I really feel like she helped me through all the pieces and was a true inspiration to it all. I'm so honored to be able to share it with all of you.

Just a reminder that any orders placed in May will have a portion of the proceeds going to The Children's Heart Foundation in honor of Kaia's birthday. If she, or the show, or anything inspires you to give, please consider the Children's Heart Foundation or It's My Heart for your charitable dollars. Feel free to grab one or several CHD fact sheets from my show and pass them out. All donation info is located on those.

Blessings!
Stephanie

new pieces are up!

Please visit my facebook page to get the latest updates on events and works. Remember that a portion of all sales ordered in May will go to The Children's Heart Foundation, in honor of Kaia Urban.

I hope you enjoy!

Tree Frog, 18 x 24, Commissioned and sold! Copyright 2010 LLD


Apology, 22 x 30, Available for purchase, June 1 at Bela Dubby in Lakewood, OH! Copyright 2010 LLD


Michael Williams Surf Spot, 18 x 24, Commissioned and sold! Copyright 2010 LLD

Holy Moly! Was NOT expecting this!

My good friend, Sativa, is such an amazing woman and a huge supporter of Little Lion. I was surprised this morning to wake up to a message that LLD has a write-up on an automotive blog (I used to be a designer for two automotive magazines). What a wonderful Mother's Day gift! I'm not sure how many people follow this blog, but each person that reads this is one more person closer to finding what causes CHDs and stopping them altogether! Thank you, Sativa! And thank you AskPatty.com! You can read the write-up here.

latest work

All pieces (except for the fairy) are available for purchase on June 1 from Bela Dubby in Lakewood, OH. Come to my show June 12 from 5-8 and see in person! Also can be purchased on my etsy site. See etsy link on the right side of this page!

the world wide web

It's official. Little Lion Designs now has a space on the great big world wide web! Please come check it out! My complete portfolio of fabric work is on there. It's a very simple website that I created last night in a few hours on our mac. I love free software! Someday I'll get some real web design software and create a spectacular site. But for now, this will do the trick. You can subscribe to the photos section too, so it will update you on when there are new pieces up.

Here's the link. www.littleliondesigns.com

Yay!

Newbies!

this one here is "Lily":

Click image to make bigger.

This one is "Moonlight & Copperfoot".

Click to make image larger.

Both will be available for purchase at my June show at Bela Dubby! (June 12, 5-8 pm in Lakewood).

Latest lions

See facebook page for details.

Latest work

A huge heartfelt thank you

When I was working at my last company, I didn't feel fulfilled. I was happy with my job, but something was missing. It bothered me daily that what I was doing was not helping people in any way. I was doing nothing for others. I was merely using my creativity to help a team pull in ad dollars.

After three and a half months off for Kaia's birth, illness and bereavement, I went back to work for only one week. During that week, I fought with my husband over the stupidest things. We hadn't fought in probably 6 months, but we fought that whole week. I realized that then/now, more than ever, I needed to do something to help people in some way shape or form. I had no idea how to do that artistically. All I know how to do is art. I've never been good at anything else. In realizing my job was the root of the tension, I looked up to God and said "I need to find something else to do with my life. Please help me." Then I asked Kaia to help lead mommy, as well. The very next day, I was laid-off. I took it as a sign.

After spending a couple of days sulking, I got a call from my sister-in-law about a lady who was interested in selling my fabric art. At this point, I'd only done one piece for Kaia's nursery. That's all I had to show this woman in our meeting, and it was enough for her to say "let's go for it".

I spent the next month creating and wondering "will this work". I still needed to know that this new career venture would be helping others in some way. With each piece I sold, I got to tell Kaia's story. Each piece was spreading awareness of CHD. People kept saying "I've never heard of that" or "I've never been aware of that". Word spread through facebook and CHD communities, and soon I was being blessed with being able to create these pieces for kids with CHDs, for fund-raisers for CHD and for new families just finding out about CHDs. I've received letters and emails of how Kaia's story is still helping families. How all of this is inspiring parents and loved ones. This is the greatest blessing anyone can give us.

I think a parent's greatest fear is that their child will be forgotten after they pass. And you all show me on a daily basis that her life is still working wonders. She's still inspiring people, and she's still here glowing like a bright light.

As long as this can continue, I will be a part of it. This business is what I'd been missing in my career. I never thought I could help people through my own story....through Kaia's story....through my art. But it's clearly evident that I can. I feel this is one of the most important things I've ever had the chance to do, and I thank you all, from the bottom of my heart, for giving us this chance. Each person made aware of CHD is another step toward finding a cure or a prevention. Each dollar donated can be a life saved. Every little bit helps. I firmly believe that maybe one person can't make a huge difference alone, but a few people working together can change the world. It is you who is changing this world.

Thank you for remembering her, for supporting us and for helping future CHD families. Each piece of Little Lion Designs artwork will be shipped with a CHD fact sheet and what you can do to further help, if you choose.

Many blessings to all of you. 10 fold....it will come back. Thank you again!

It's all happening!

It's official! Bela Dubby (in Lakewood, OH) will be filled with Little Lion Designs' artwork the entire month of June. Please stop in and see it! Every piece will be for sale.

We are having an opening on the evening of June 12, 2010. The event starts at 5pm and will go until around 8 or so. There will be food and drink for all. I will always have flyers with CHD facts and what you can do to help, if interested.

Come on down and celebrate the end of spring, the beginning of summer and the art inspired by one life taken too soon. Spread the word, spread awareness and spread the joy in supporting local art and businesses!

Please contact me with any questions at the email or phone number on the flyer. If you are on facebook, please see the event page here.

Thanks all! Hope to see you there!
heart hugs!
Stephanie

Etsy right in my blog!

hey ya'll! Etsy has this fancy schmancy new trick. You can add it right to your blog page. So, from now on, you'll see my latest 5 etsy pieces in the right hand column of this blog. Just click on a pic to see that image, or scroll to right under the pics to the link that says "littleliondesigns".

Also, you can now shop my etsy site right from facebook! If you go to my facebook page (click here), then become a fan, you can click the tab that says "etsy" on my little lion page and it will open up my etsy shop right in facebook. Pretty neat, eh?

Here's my latest. I loves it! I hope you do too! Of course, I couldn't get the camera to take a good picture of it, but you get the idea.

new piece

click image to make bigger.
I thought it was time I went back to how I USED to draw. I used to do only people. To show some versatility in that I don't only do cute animals, I did this piece. It's available for sale through me (not etsy). If I don't sell it before, it will be at my show at Bela Dubby in Lakewood in June. :)