New fabric shipment has arrived!

Our new fabric shipment from the US arrived today! You'll see there's a definite theme emerging of greens, oranges and pinks coming through - all awesome autumn and winter colours to brighten your day. The theme has come mainly from people requesting green and orange pram liners (lily pads) to match the new craze of brightly coloured prams, and requests for new pinks and purples on t-shirts (topography). You'll see our usual designers in here - Amy Butler, Patrica Bravo, Art Journal....

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Megan Fox Allure June 2010 and Naked Scandals

Read-Megan Fox Allure June 2010 and Naked Scandals

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Studio 36's Pet Portrait Contest Winners!

So, let me start off by saying that EVERYONE was a winner in Studio 36's First Annual Pet Portrait Contest. The pets involved were an absolute treat to work with. The pet owners were amazing, loving, and fun. The voters (which included many of the pet owners) were incredibly generous. And because of all involved, the Bangor Humane Society is the biggest winner of all ... as together we raised $1,602.88 for animal care at the shelter. Okay, so maybe that means the animals at the shelter are the biggest winners of all! Hooray!

Now for the winners ...

The picture that got the most "votes" was the winner. And "votes" were $.25 each ... so, essentially, the portrait that garnered the most donations was the winner.

This year's winner did his best to raise as much money for his portrait as possible. You may recognize him as a long-time employee of Mardens in Brewer ...

First place goes to Dana and his dog, Niko:

Niko was an absolute treat to work with. And because they won first place, I will be working with them again during another photo shoot :) They will also receive a spot in the local paper. So shine on you two ... you are soon to be famous!

Now, the winner of second place was totally shooting for coming in second, as she wanted to win the $75 gift certificate to Pet Quarters so that she could donate it back to the Bangor Humane Society. Great, huh!?

Congrats to Donna and her Labs, Mason and Ella:

These two were also such a pleasure to work with. And Donna is an amazing woman who does so much for animal welfare. She is incredibly generous and I am glad to know her.

In third place, we have an awesome little man, Osiris the Cockatoo:

I LOVE this bird. And even more so, I adore his owner, Gidget. Turns out that we went to school together back in 1989 in Hudson, NH ... but never officially met till now. She has had Osiris since he was a baby bird with no feathers ... and they are an absolute riot together. So glad they won third place, as now Gidget will receive an artist's rendering of her beloved bird.

I wish we had prizes for all 24 entrants. Maybe next year! I so look forward to doing this again next year. It was a wonderful treat to be able to play with so many sweet pets ... and to meet so many incredible people. THANK YOU ALL!

To see pictures of all those who participated in this event, please feel free to check out my Flickr site. Enjoy.

If interested in your own pet portrait session, please call us at 385-3940.

~ Jodi

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Ready-to-wear shirts

In addition to our personalised shirts, ready-to-wear baby and girls shirts are also available and SO much fun to make! They are all original designs and inspired by favourite fabrics and images.

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Colorful quilled heart card

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I got a little carried away today and made this colorful quilled heart card with a purplish pink theme. I've always loved this color combination :). It's a soft and sweet combo. 

Actually.......what happened was.....I thought of using this design for the next blog giveaway.....I was thinking of a simple design that I can do for the prizes......since this time around I need to give away 6 cards for 6 lucky people. So I can't do something that would be too overly complicated.....coz then I might not have the time to make them. Hmmm....decisions decisions......

To be honest......this design looks so easy right? So simple......but the fact is.....it is quite time consuming.  You know why? Because the quilled paper are not of the same size.....they are randomly quilled paper of different length and different color. I wanted to make sure there aren't many gaps in between them....so that's why they come in different sizes. Big, medium, small and teeny weeny quilled papers.... :). Right now I wish I have a paper shredder.....hahaha......coz I really hate the cutting part.....I just love to quill the paper....not cut them hahaha LOL! 

I was also thinking of the wordings to put on the card.......I couldn't decide on what to write on it......or print on it......or stamp on it......errrmmm....I guess it would be pretty hard to stamp on it since the paper I used for the card has texture on it.....so I can't stamp on it just like that.....coz then the stamped wordings wouldn't look even on the card or can be seen clearly on the card because of the rough texture.

Sigh.......I'm still in the experimenting phase......this card is not finished yet......still have to worry about what to pop in the inside. I still can't decide what to do. This card is quite big.....half A4 size.....so the heart is quite big as well......thus requiring me to quill more paper in order to make the big heart shape.... gosh...I wonder how many quilled paper I used for this heart....probably near 100?? Donno laaa......too lazy to count hahahaha.....

Hmmmm......anyways I still can't decide what size, shape or theme I'm going to do for the June 2010 blog giveaway.....should I just stick with this heart design or do floral patterns? Perhaps I should do another poll to for readers to vote for what they prefer for the next prize ya? That could probably help me decide. Anyways....if you have any suggestions....I would love to hear it! Thanks! :)

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Fashion Model Brooklyn Decker Swimsuit Bikini Issue 2010 Hot Pictures

Read-Fashion Model Brooklyn Decker Swimsuit Bikini Issue 2010 Hot Pictures

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Lily Pinnies

Combining features from our other products, we are having lots of fun working together on Lily Pinnies - a gift for children that is both gorgeous and practical.

All our applique designs are original and the aprons are made from some of our favourite designer fabrics.

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Mallu Malayalam Sexy South Aunties Hot Pictures

Read-Mallu Malayalam Sexy South Aunties Hot Pictures

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The lily pad

As busy mums we’re always out and about and our babies always come with us, often leaving crumbs and spills on the way and sometimes having to sit in places we can imagine crawling with germs, like the supermarket shopping trolley. The lily pad solves this by being designed to fit any standard five point harness. Its ‘petals’ simply fold around the straps without you having to undo anything. Try it on your pram, stroller, bouncinette, café high chair, supermarket trolley, playground swing.

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World Cup 2010 Soccer Girl Painted Football Jersey

Read-World Cup 2010 Soccer Girl Painted Football Jersey

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Karina Shaw Telugu Heroine Sexy Pictures Biography

Read-Karina Shaw Telugu Heroine Sexy Pictures Biography

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Love on the Rocks.

Isaac has this incredible ability to find love everywhere he goes (I think he gets it from his Mama). He loves to strike up conversations with new people ... especially pretty young girls ... and often hugs them ... stares into their eyes ... and professes his unwavering love. And he means it. Truly he does. He loves SO BIG ... and SO OFTEN ... and he never forgets a love.

Sadly, his emotional connection to other young people is not often reciprocated. However, on a recent trip to one of our favorite beach-combing spots, Isaac met his match. He found a young girl who falls in love as easily (and as hard) as he does. Within 10 minutes, she was introducing Isaac to her other friends as her "new best friend". Meanwhile, Isaac was telling us that he just met his "new wife". Ahhh ... young love.

They had a such a great time together. Both families did. Meaghan was quite taken with Isaac's new wife's little sister. And young friends who came to join the little girls also joined in the fun.

Come to find out, our new "daughter-in-law's" family owns the Three Tides in Belfast, Maine. Another young family ... working hard to create their own family business while also doing their best by their children ... I can SO appreciate that. (And if you can too --- go check them out some night!)

Anyway, these two lovebirds were quite a pair ... searching for goodies together ... playing games ... sharing stories ... professing their love. It was wonderful to watch. I think Halis and I were beaming the entire time. So rare has it been to find another child as sincerely loving and sensitive as he. But, for whatever reason, we did not exchange names and numbers! I am sending this family a link to this post (and to the rest of the pictures) ... in hopes that we can get together again sometime. We ADORE Belfast (Maine) and will be back soon.

Hopefully, these two can walk hand-in-hand again ...

May we all learn from these sweethearts ... Love BIG, Love OFTEN, and Love without Question. (I think I will start within my home).

Love to you all,
Jodi

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MAY 2010 BLOG GIVEAWAY WINNERS!!!!

Good evening to all of my lovely readers! Sorry for being a little late with the results of the blog giveaway. It's been a pretty hectic day for me indeed! Phew! I'm so happy that finally, I have finished checking all of the names of participants for this month's blog giveaway .........and I have done the lucky draw to picked the 5 lucky winners. :)

For this month.....there were quite a number of participants....I'm quite happy that many are trying their luck at winning this month's prizes. :) I've checked one by one and altogether there were  about 36 bloggers who joined in! A lot more than last month's :). I've also received so many feedback and suggestions for my card blog.....and it's so wonderful! I'm so overwhelmed by your support to make this blog a better card blog in future. Thank you so much. I've already implemented some of your suggestions and I'm thankful for it because sometimes I myself don't notice what is missing here. It's good to have feedback from readers so that I can improve the blog and make it more interesting and informative as well. :) I really really appreciate it!

Ok! Now it's time to announce the names of the 5 lucky bloggers who have won themselves each a  love theme pop up card. Check them out below:

 SYIRA MIA ARIYS WORLD

http://syiramarcello.blogspot.com/

.

.

AMANDA ELTIQAZ

http://amandaeltiqaz.blogspot.com/

 .

.

NURAARIN

http://nuraarin.blogspot.com/

 .

.

MY ONLY ONE

 http://fasyafrina.blogspot.com/

 .

.

 KEMBARA HIDUP

http://along-nidar.blogspot.com/

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS!!!! Please email me  as soon as possible your full name and complete mailing address plus your active contact number for mailing purposes. I will post the prizes to you by next week! 

Heartfelt thanks to all who have participated in my May 2010 Blog Giveaway. I really appreciate your effort and all your lovely wishes......I'm overwhelmed by them! Thank you so so much! For those who did not win this month, don't be sad :( ......do try your luck again next month for more interesting prizes to win! 

p.s. I'm thinking of giving away quilling pop up cards next month hehehehhehe! Ok or not???? ;). Whatever it may be....a simple quilling or with pop ups.....I hope it has something to do with quilling since I love it so much now!! ;)

XOXO,
Lin

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New Garden Buddy.

So, here is our new garden buddy ... discovered by Isaac ... and 'man-handled' by me whenever I get the chance ...

Even though I do get a bit jumpy when I watch a snake slither though the grass (is that a natural human instinct?) ... I still love the thrill of the chase ... and the feel of their skin once I grab him/her. Garden snakes are just so totally interesting (they move with lightning speed and can open their small little mouths to take in an entire frog - whole). And this one is pretty predictable ... always sunning him/herself on the rocks by the birch trees ... letting me get close ... flicking his/her tongue to "smell" me ... and fleeing down into the rock bed once we lose eye contact.

I love that Isaac and I periodically visit "our snake" while outdoors. I love that he is learning respect for all animals (I've only chased the little guy once, I swear). And I love that there is such a diversity of wild creatures here on our little farm.

So, any new friends your way?

Love,
Jodi

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Pop up balloons!

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This is a very simple birthday card design for a little girl :) I had a request to do a birthday card for this little girl from a regular customer of mine and was given the freedom to do whatever I wanted. I wanted to experiment on the birthday cake using the quilling technique but decided to make the cake using foam instead. So for the candles I wanted to do the quilling as well....but somehow the rolled candle like paper didn't fit in well with the foam cake. So I used something else instead as the candle and made the fire using quilled tear drop shapes. 

I scattered and glued so many tiny cubes of foam of various colors on the card . I like that 3D effect it gives:) For the pop up....I love using the weaving technique.....so I weaved the paper strings of the balloons on the square pop up to make it look like it's floating hehehe. It's very simple and easy to do. :) It's a very colorful card indeed! :)

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Last day of May 2010 Blog Giveaway!!!

Oh my God......time sure flies fast.......today is already the last day of May 2010 Blog Giveaway! The giveaway ends at 11.59pm tonight.....so there is time for you to join and stand a chance to win this lovely handmade love theme pop up card :). 

Do click HERE to go to the May 2010 Blog Giveaway post and find out how to enter there.

Follow the simple steps and be a part of the giveaway now........it's an opportunity you wouldn't want to miss!!

Those 5 lucky people who wins this particular handmade love theme pop up cards will be the first 5 people to own this card design.....because I have never sold this card design to anyone yet or used it for my own personal use. So those 5 lucky people will be the first to own and use the cards. :)

So be a part of this giveaway now and stand a chance to be one of those 5 lucky owners of this handmade love theme pop up card!!!! 

I would like to wish all the participants all the very best!! I shall announce the names of the 5 winners once I have checked and done the lucky draw :).  A big THANK YOU to all who have supported the blog giveaway for the month of May. God bless you all!!

XOXO,

Lin

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Why buy handmade?

As life-long 'arty' gals here at On Top of a Lily Pad (starting young as sketchers, then painters, then photographers, art history students, sewers, and now 'crafters') we've always made our own presents for family and friends. We really, truly and firmly believe in the significance of giving a handmade gift. And we're not alone! In the US a whole movement has been made up by craft lovers called buyhandmade.org - with its main result being Etsy.com.
The movement has three reasons why people should buy handmade:
1) it makes for better gift-giving, both in quality and satisfaction;
2) it is better for people, helping us reconnect with our culture, art history and family life; and
3) it is better for the environment, in terms of using natural materials and stopping mass synthetic productions.
Love it! We'd just add to this - 4) it supports small creative businesses and
5) handmade goods stand out and make a statement about being unique and proud!

Check out Topography on Etsy.com.

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My blog featured in InTrend Magazine :)

:) I was so surprised when I was informed by one of my blog readers yesterday that my blog was featured in InTrend Magazine June 2010 issue. I couldn't believe it at first.....until shortly after that I received an email from another customer mentioning that she knew about my card blog from the Intrend magazine! :D I had no idea that I was one of the bloggers featured in the Gaya Hidup : Klik and Blog segment. So, a big thank you to Asri for informing me hehehehe.....otherwise I would have never known about it! LOL! I didn't have the time to look for the magazine yesterday, so this afternoon I went to search for it.....luckily it's available at a nearby shop. :) This is the first time I bought this magazine....quite an interesting magazine I must say....quite good in quality hehehe......

In short.....they mentioned about how my customers are able to share their ideas with me in producing a personalized handmade card for them. It's true that some of the custom made handmade cards I've created here were sometimes produced with the basic ideas given to me by my customers.......in the initial stage when we discussed about the colors of choice, themes, wordings, and what type of pop ups they prefer.....I do love to know and find out what my customers really want in their personalized  handmade cards. This is to ensure that they will get what they can't get in the usual card stores. It's important that I materialize their dreams. :) And by knowing what they want....I will try my level best to make it happen for them ....God willing :).

I would also like to say a big thank you to InTrend magazine for featuring my blog this time around.......even though I did not get to be the "Chosen Blogger"....it doesn't matter....as long as I was featured in it hehehe. It's an honor really :). Mucho mucho gracias everyone! :)

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Tri-color quilling flowers.....

AC004

Another pending order ready for delivery today :) I'm so happy I managed to get this done on time hehehe. This was a request from my customer who was interested in my HB014 card design. She especially loved the sexy pop up lips inside the card. But for the front design I changed it so that it would look different. I'm always trying to make it different every time.....even if the changes are minor ones....at least it's different from my previous designs.

This time the changes is quite obvious because I'm using the quilling technique :) As you all know, I'm quite obsessed with it lately.....so I'm experimenting with it on most of my new designs..hehehe. I'm quite happy with how it turned out.....the flowers I made had 3 colors in it.....red, blue and white. Actually my customer wanted this card to be in a combination of red, blue, black and white......but I decided not to add the black because I didn't think it was suitable for this particular design. Perhaps for other designs it would be good to add the black. So I tried my best to use all those colors....and added some gold and beige as well to match it all up. At first I didn't think that gold and beige colors would be suitable but in the end.....I thought it looked ok with me :) I like it! hehehe!

As I was making the sexy pop up lips....I remembered that it was my first pop up experiment in 2008...how long time ago that was....and how scared I was making it for the first time. I didn't have the confidence to do it back then, and I didn't know anyone at that time who was able to help me, I figured how to do it on my own...I'm glad my customer gave me the support. :) I used to think it was so difficult to do it....but now I can say how easy it is to pop that sexy lips. It took me years to understand the mechanics of pop ups.....but I'm getting there....not an expert yet....but I'm getting there...God willing :).

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Brilliant! Celebrity Autobiography.

This may be the coolest comedy concept I have ever known ... check it out ...

And here is a taste of the magic ...

And when the kids aren't around, you may want to check this out. Absolutely hilarious.

ENJOY!

Love,
Jodi

P.S. Apparently Nightline did a segment on this ...

P.P.S. Apparently, I am WAY behind in learning about this new comedy brilliance, as The View also did a segment on this:

Any other press on Celebrity AutoBiography? I seem out of the loop ... but am loving watching these on You Tube!

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Lily pinboards get a facelift!

Our lily pinboards have been given a facelift with a new supply of brads in a cute star shape! These will hold your photos, trinkets and momentos like show tickets safe and sound - and up high on the wall out of your little one's hands. This year's Disney on Ice tickets will have pride of place on my daughter's bedroom board.

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Hong Kong hk Actress Cherrie Ying Beautiful Pictures Gallery

Read-Hong Kong hk Actress Cherrie Ying Beautiful Pictures Gallery

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Quilled heart card....

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This design is already sold but I can remake it for you. When I remake this design, the arrangement of the quilled paper may not look exactly the same as this one because each quilled paper is arranged one by one by hand in random order.  Each design is one of a kind. :)

I'm so into someone right now.....and was thinking of giving this to him when the time is right..... :). It's suppose to be so easy to just give it to him....but then again maybe....maybe it can wait a while. Fear is always the case. :I

I'm so happy to do this very simple quilled heart card for the first time after watching the Youtube videos for ideas.....Youtube has so many tutorials that we can get ideas from and be inspired :). I was thinking of my button and sequins heart all the time when doing this.....it's a similar pattern except that instead of using buttons and sequins, I used quilled circles instead. The quilled circles are in different sizes as you can see. 

Believe you me......this design is never going to be exactly the same each time I make it because it was made spontaneously and furthermore I never measure the heart shape or drew the shape of the heart in advance. I just arranged the quilled circles one by one randomly. So, the next time I make this, it will look slightly different from this one. So each person who orders this card will get one that is one of a kind. :)

I made this design on a note size card.....quite small one about A6 size. Cute size card to be given to a cute person ehehehhee.....I have attached here two Youtube videos that shows how to make quilled hearts on a card. Check it out and be inspired! :)

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The Studio - In Pictures.

For those of you who read this blog ... but are not from my area ... and have wondered about the Studio that I refer to ... here are some random shots of the photography studio that I created in downtown Bangor:

It is humble, homey, and I love it. Please feel free to drop by anytime you are in the area.

And for all those who have graced this space, thank you so very much for making it feel wonderful. xo

Love,

Jodi

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