This week I thought I’d link up with Michelle at The Vintage Apple for her “Oh How Pinteresting Wednesday”.  I’m a few days late due to the flu and strep which have taken over my family for the past few days, but this morning I am feeling well enough to pick up my pinterest “habit” again and share some of my favs with y’all.

I love pinterest!!!  From the minute my friend Brittany told me about it, I knew it was the site I’ve always dreamed of!  Millions and millions of amazing ideas and photos to pin (hoard) to my heart’s content and spend hours getting my creative juices flowing over.  Who could ask for more?  Now I can catalog everything lovely or cool or just plain quirky that I find on the internet.  The problem is I have pinning ADHD – I am hyper with excitement and can’t keep my attention focused on one theme at a time because something else catches my eye every 30 seconds and takes me in a new direction.  Oh if I could just make a career of pinning I think I could spend 8 hours a day doing it!

I love this ‘definition’ of pinterest that’s floating around in cyberspace!

This week I’ve decided to try and squelch the ADHD a bit and share some of my pins focused on Valentine’s Day since we have one more week to figure out our kids’ valentines and what we’ll be doing for hubbies and the special people in our lives and such.  Anywho…  Here are some of my fav ideas!

So adorable from cookiesandcups.com

When I think of cookies and milk I can hardly think of anything cuter than this!

marshmallow pops by blogger mommygaga

I love the marshmallow pops because they are so much quicker than cake pops and harder to mess up.  I’m always in a hurry…

Pinwheel bows from Style Me Pretty

I L.O.V.E. pinwheels!  I think they are so cute!  Here I pinned some that are a little more sophisticated that you can make to top a box for a special someone.  How about on top of a box with a luscious chocolate dipped strawberry inside or some homemade confection?  Or love coupons?  Or use more colorful paper for your kids and put some fun treats inside.

So adorable from marthastewart.com

I love these felt fortune cookies!  A couple of years ago I tried to make real fortune cookies for my husband and it was a big fail!  I couldn’t get it right!  But I think I can get felt right.  They look so easy to make.

Scratch off cards from Better Homes and Gardens online

I’ve always wanted to know how to make scratch off stuff.  Weird I know, but it feels a bit like the lottery and I love the suspense of guessing what’s under there!

muffin tin crayons from Our Best Bites

I think these are so clever!  I love the idea of giving something that’s not candy.  Maybe it’s just the dietitian in me, but I’m always looking for ways to make gifts that my kids can give that are not candy but still just as fun for other kids to get.

paint chip valentines = free and simple

I found these little cuties on pinterest and love them!  I love using paint chips for all kinds of things.  Maybe it’s my obsession with color. (I have a whole pinterest board of colors and color combos I love.)  Just tape these on a piece of paper and run them through the printer and Voila!  you have quick, easy, and FREE valentines cards.

Googly Eyes valentines printables from www.armommy.com

I can’t get enough of these funny valentines.  Sooo cute!!!  And, you can buy the pdf printable for this for just a few bucks here.

army guy valentines from Jacolyn Murphy

Maybe I just love the old school song lyrics or that we have about a million army guys laying around my house I’d like to give away, but I think these are hilarious!  This blogger says here daughter says she should’ve quoted Bruno Mars “I’d catch a grenade for ya” instead of “old” songs.  Either way – easy, inexpensive, and fast to make!

And finally,

love bug free valentine printable from dandee designs

I think these Love Bug valentines are super cute.  I have two little boys who are into spiders and all things creepy and crawly so this is right up their alley.  Danyelle and Dandee Designs offers a free printable and all you have to do is visit the dollar store and pick up a few icky bugs to attach.  Seriously, so cute!

Valentine’s Day is less than a week away and I am late at getting any decorations up this year!  I was inspired on my trip to visit my grandma last week and created this craft to decorate her room in an assisted living center.  I only had my phone with me and she doesn’t have much room to display anything, so sorry for the poor photography!  I thought I’d share it with you anyway and show you how to create one.

Supplies:

• 4 letters – two paper mache ones and 2 wooden ones (bought these at JoAnn’s and the wooden ones were already white)
• 2 colors of yarn in whatever colors and bulkiness you like (doesn’t need to be good quality)
• 4 pieces of felt in shades of red and pink
• hot glue gun and glue
• scissors

Instructions:

• Start with the yarn letters by cutting enough 3 inch pieces of yarn to cover the top flat surface of the L and V.  Hot glue them over the top of these two letters and trim excess leaving it hanging over the top about 1/2 inch.
• Next cover the letters in yarn.  Start by carefully hot glueing the start of the strand on the back side of the letter.  Wrap the yarn around the letter being careful that the yarn is mostly straight and that you can’t see the brown cardboard through the yarn. This may require wrapping it a couple of times.  Every 1.5 to 2 inches glue down the yarn on the back of the letter to keep it in place, holding the yarn tight for about 30 seconds to let it set before continuing to wrap it.
• When you come to the corners and ends, carefully put small drops of glue and wrap the yarn, holding it until dry to keep it from slipping off the corners and edges.  If the corners aren’t perfect you can cover that area with a felt flower.
• On the letter V it was easier and looked better to wrap the yarn straight across the bottom as pictured.
• Now make the felt flowers.   Some tutorials I linked to recommend fabritac glue which you can use instead of hot glue.  But I am impatient so I used hot glue so it would dry quicker.  Make 2 flowers using the tutorial I found on THIS blog by Design Dump.
• Make 2 flowers using the tutorial shown HERE by I Am Momma Hear Me Roar.
• Make 2 flowers using THIS tutorial by Infarrantly Creative.
• Pick the colors you want for each flower and lay them out on the letters as desired.
• Now just hot glue the back of the flowers and attach them to the letters!  Be careful to hold the flowers firmly in place and let them dry well.

Voila!  Now just display your cute craft for all to see!  I am making another one for my home and will be putting it on buffet in my entryway.

I spent the weekend with my amazing grandmother celebrating her 87th birthday.  It was a great trip and while I was there I made some Valentine’s crafts and decorated her room for her, including a wall of hearts with the things my cousins and I love about her.  She was thrilled and I was happy to see her feel the love.  So coming from a weekend of spreading the love I thought I would share the love a little more.  Today I have a free (yep you heard it right – totally free!) printable sheet of one dozen Valentine’s Day cupcake toppers.

Click on the document name below to download the pdf file.

They are 2 inches and can be cut out as is or layered on a scalloped circle or whatever you like.  If you prefer cake pops, just print these out and cut a slit in the top and bottom and slide them on the sticks.  Anyway you use them, these little toppers are sure to make someone smile and feel the love!  Click HERE  >> Valentines cupcake toppers<<  (on the title) to download the pdf file to print.  Enjoy!!

I’m so excited that our Perfect Pear cocoon and hat set has been featured on Babyology!  They did an adorable article themed for the 12 Days of Christmas and our pear set is the “baby in a pear tree”.

Don’t just hop over there for my sake – they have tons of cute items and gift ideas for music lovers, vintage lovers, and more.  My favorite are the boombox baby leggings.  Yummy!  Click on the banner below to check it out!  Come on back and let me know which item you loved.

It’s October and you know what that means…  Knitting time is in full swing!  I’ve been inspired to pick up my knitting needles and start some fun new projects this year.  So much changes from year to year and so I find inspiration in new things and places all the time.

This year I am in love with headbands, whether they have bows, flowers, feathers, or just about anything on them!

My friend's precious little girl inspired this delicate headband.

I am also finding inspiration in food; pumpkins, pears, apples, and all things fallish.  There is just something about a baby dressed up as food that makes me happy!

Wouldn't this be an adorable Halloween Costume?

I love seeing babies and children dressed in “grown up” styles too.   Little boys in tweed pants and bowties and little girls in boots and cool jeans.  It makes me laugh!

I love the look of the Bitty Baby Turban!

I am so excited that summer is finally here!  Summertime for me means sunny days at the beach, cooling off in the pool, BBQs, flip flops (my favorite shoe), and spending lots of time with friends and family.  I get so excited thinking about all the things I want to do in the summer with my kids especially!

I have been browsing the internet looking at things for some summer  fun and get togethers and thought I would share a few of my favorite items with you.  Do you have a favorite summer BBQ must-have, accessory, decoration or pool / beach toy?  Please… Share!  Whatever you’re doing this summer, I hope you have FUN!

(psst… if you want to check any of these items out, click on the images and it will take you to their stores)

I want to wear this necklace with a bright pink or orange sun dress. By Mano Celebrates on Etsy

I want to go to any party that sends me this invitation. Looks so fun!

I think this beach bag is simple but very cool (by O'Neill)

I think these would be cute in my kids' playroom! By Wall Fry for the Small Fry on Etsy.

I want this cute sailor knot belt to wear with all kinds of things. By marcelacamargo Tea Accessories on Etsy.

I really like this print. Reminds me of late afternoons at the beach. I can even smell the salty breeze. By Elgarbo Art on Etsy

I think these straws would be fun for a 4th of July BBQ. By Showers Bring Flowers on Etsy.

I want this happy, colorful print in my house. By Integrity Studio (buckscountyframes) on Etsy.

I love springtime with its warm air, breezes, and all the fresh flowers and fruits that start appearing.  Around here in southern California we see a lot of little bunnies hopping around nibbling on grass and plants.  They’re so darn cute!  I love bunnies and found these cute things that would make my house so cute this spring…  (click on the photos to go to their websites)

Tissue paper pom poms by Sweet and Savvy Designs on Etsy

I love this awesome wooden bunny tag that you can hang on an Easter basket by Go Rustic on Etsy

I love this fabric banner by Stitchin' Netka on Etsy

PEEPS soap by Broken Road Farm on Etsy

How about these funny bunny ears hair clips by The Laughy Giraffy on Etsy?

I love these wooden egg decorations from Define Bliss on Etsy

Such an adorable little Lopp eared bunny watercolor by Lonoras Art Creations on Etsy

I really want these egg placecard holders for my Easter dinner! These are from Imeon Design on Etsy.

I thought since Easter is on its way and the bunnies have come out to play I would feature my Bunny Foo Foo hat.  This pattern is not too difficult, super soft, and makes a perfect hat for Easter or spring photographs and holiday celebrations.  If you love it, visit my store and you can get the pattern to make yourself one of these cute little hats.

It’s been a while since I’ve blogged here.  The holidays came and went fast and furious this year for me.  We had two family weddings to attend and traveling from Sunny Southern California (which was not sunny this year – flooded is more like it) to Las Vegas and Arizona to be with family.  We had a great Thanksgiving and Christmas but the whole month was totally jam-packed with events and activities and travel.  I’m finally home and officially “pooped”!

I absolutely love the holidays and am always sad to see them go.  But, on the other hand, the start of a new year always seems so fresh and hopeful to me.   I love to daydream about what might be happening in my life a year from now at the start of 2012.  My mind has been buzzing with hundreds of ideas, patterns, card designs, brand new product lines and all kinds of things.  I feel ready to clean house, de-clutter, and reorganize everything.   Today I bought a new journal and some other little books and organizers, which made me so excited to get out a pen and scribble in (and my husband wonders what I need more journals and planners and the like for).

Anyway, I am glad to be back and excited for the coming year.  I think 2011 will be a great one and better than 2010.  I am excited to mold my vision for this little business of mine into something even better and to share it with you.

Before I go, here’s a peak at some of the things that kept me a busy bee over the holidays!

Another Chevron Stripe holiday card design

Gift christmas card

Chevron Stripe holiday card

Birch Tree Holiday Card

Merry & Bright Snowflake Holiday Card

Merry & Bright Holiday Card without snowflakes

Holly Holiday Card

I am excited to say that I now have a facebook fan page!  Well, I’ve had it for a couple of months but haven’t done much with it.  It’s a little confusing but I’m learning.  Now I am committing to being more involved in the facebook community.  So if you love Lillebarn, then hop on over to facebook and look for Lillebarn Quick Baby Knits by clicking HERE and become a fan!  See you on the social network I hope…

I absolutely L.O.V.E. handspun yarn, especially thick to thin.  I love the character the dyes and textures give to a garment.  I love that the yarn is one of a kind and not perfect.  In my “other life” (not knitting) as a Mom and Registered Dietitian I tend to be Type A and a perfectionist of sorts.  Sometimes I find myself falling short and not being too happy with myself.  I love that these yarns are not “perfect” in the traditional way.  Their flaws and imperfections make them unique, valuable, and unable to be duplicated with exactness.  Hey – that’s kinda like each of us!  That’s why I love handspun yarn.  The uniqueness reminds me that even though I am not perfect, I can still be beautiful and precious and valuable.

Here are a few yarns I would love to get!  Aren’t they yummy?  They make me want to pull out my needles and create away.  What do you think?  Comment and share…

Curcao yarn by Magnolia Handspun on Etsy

First Snow by Magnolia Handspun on Etsy

Taos Fiesta by Magnolia Handspun on Etsy

Crazy Love by Sweet Redemption on Etsy

Holiday Candy by Terra Bella Spun on Etsy

Roasted Pepper by Terra Bella Spun on Etsy

Sweet Treat by Fiber Art by Sosae Caetano