THE Ultimate Gift Basket

Oh my! Can you even begin to believe the wonderful offerings you see in this custom, velvet lined basket? Many of my friends at Make Mine Pink put together this stunning basket just overflowing with special gift-giving ideas for you.

Each boutique has a special category in their shops to assist you in finding that perfect item to go in a gift basket of your own creation. Be sure to check them out by clicking on the photo and gathering all the details.

...AND.........as if that weren't enough! You could possible win this amazing basket, valued over $1000. This is the Grand Prize during the Make Mine Pink 12 Days of Christmas Shop Hop.

Can you just imagine getting this package on your doorstep? I am in awe - aren't you?

til next time......

Carol

Office Management

Earlier today I had the opportunity to view an Office Manager at work.

My friend, Gail, of Gail Friend Designs is a very busy woman and found it necessary to hire some help to keep her office running smoothly.

Now.....don't tell Gail this, but I fear her Office Manager is "sleeping" on the job.

I have a fair amount of experience in this regard.

Here's a pic of my own Office Manager. Note the similarities!

til next time............

Carol

........and the answer is.............

Here's the answer.....my new oh so luxuriously soft Scotty Dog.

And, the winner is...............................Lynette Larson-Campbell!

Please email your addy to me at espritdejoie@comcast.net, Lynette, and he will be on his way to you as quick as a wink.

NOW! Many, make that MOST, of you were very very close. Little Scotty does have a friend...

Little black velvet Kit Kat! Many of you thought she should be the answer, but alas, she is not. These sweet little velours will be available starting tomorrow on Make Mine Pink's Posh Tots.

Look for them then......and thank you ever so much for playing!

til next time.............

Carol

Contest!

Well, it's about time, isn't it??????? I have a little contest for you - it will run until Thursday morning only. Anyone is eligible to enter and win.

So, here's all you have to do.
Guess what is in the picture below. Hint: it's my latest creation.





Do NOT put your guess on here, but DO post that you've been and seen.
Then email me your guess at espritdejoie@comcast.net

I will do a random draw from all the correct guessers Thursday morning at 9:00 est.
The lucky winner will receive one of these "somethin somethins" in the mail from me.

So, give it a try. Follow the rules.............and keep yours fingers crossed. (toes too wouldn't hurt!)
til next time..............

Carol

More Exciting News!

You are just gonna love this! I just know you are!

It's a brand new, exciting event at Business In THE Bag, Esprit de Joie, and Make Mine Pink.

What is it??? It is......................

Yes! Make Mine Pink's new Pink Twilight Sale!

Every third Saturday of the month from 6:00 pm to midnight you will find unbelievable buys from boutique owners at Make Mine Pink. Of course we will be participating here at Business in THE Bag and also at our sister site, Esprit de Joie.

Once a month - for six hours only - you'll see buys like never before on Make Mine Pink. You won't want to miss this - so mark your calendars. I know I will.

til next time...

Carol

Greenfield Village

Yesterday may have started out cold, cloudy and windy, but finished up with a gorgeous day with temps at about 60 degrees. My BFF, Debbie, and I made our annual pilgrimage to Greenfield Village in Dearborn, MI.

I so enjoy being transported back in time each year when we visit. It always makes me wish for a simpler life. Thought I would share a couple pics that I took as we walked along.

The large white building is the Eagle Tavern where we enjoyed a delicious 1940's style harvest meal. Don't know why I didn't take pics inside! It is such a delight.

I hope you enjoy these pics!

til next time.............Carol

Make Mine Pink Friday - Timeless Textiles

This week's theme at Make Mine Pink Friday is all about textiles..........old or new, pristine or weathered. I love textiles and have a quilt collection of my own. There's something about pretty antique pillowcases with hand-embroidery that always draws my attention.

As the years pass, they grow more beautiful by adding the threads of history to their own. The original colors might fade, but these timeless textiles stay bright with the memory of the hands that created and cared for them. The stories they know are never truly forgotten when we make room for them in our lives and in our homes.

I hope you will join my dear friends at Make Mine Pink for this special event - Friday, September 25th. Just click here.

til next time.....
Carol

Where oh where????

Where have I been? Geez, I can't believe I haven't posted in so long. I guess I've been pretty busy.

Right now, I'm finishing up a few orders and then I absolutely must re-arrange my desk top. Wouldn't you know it, but I was forced to go out and buy a new printer. I didn't want to get a new printer. I wasn't 100% happy with the old one, but these are the times of "making do" and "getting along" with what you have.

When I went into the office store (for the 3rd time), this particular salesperson told me my old all-in-one is about 6-7 years old. What??? Where did the time go? I am not one to throw away good for the joy of purchasing all the latest, greatest new goodies. I try to get every bit of mileage I can from what I have. What about you??? Are you a frequent upgrader?

Well, anyway, I bought one printer and brought it home to my studio and it just wasn't doing the job. It was very clunky sounding - even tho it printed better quality than my old printer.
Now.........I am not going to name names (brands, that is) but back it went to the store.

It interests me how you can go to one store three times and get different salespeople who tell you different things. Why didn't I research on the net? - I did - yup - but that just resulted in confusion too. Anyway, I'm making this into a longgggg story, I know. In the end, I bought another printer and .............drumroll...............I love it! I have been upgrading my materials for several months and now have upgraded my printing.

Bottom line (thank goodness, right?) .........better quality for my customers. Yay!

Well............til next time...........
Carol

Make Mine Pink's Friday Event

Getting Organized

at Make Mine Pink's Friday Shopping Event.


Please join us for shopping with a twist on Friday,

August 28, 2009 as we present "Getting Organized"

Getting Organized has taken on a new look! From being strictly functional to being functional and stylish has become the latest and greatest way of getting and staying organized. Pretty and stylish organization means that you no longer have to hide everything away in back room closets and filing cabinets. Instead, old locker baskets painted pink and stylishly chic organizers help you get organized in creative ways.

Please join me at Business In THE Bag, along with many of my friends from Make Mine Pink, in our special offerings to de-clutter and organize your spaces and life.

til next time...........Carol

Giving Back - The Pink Slipper Project

My heart is full of joy and excitement this morning as I think about this heart-warming (and toe warming) project started by Joyce Lucas at Make Mine Pink. "The Pink Slipper Project will be joining hands with Terry Grahl of Enchanted makeovers.org as we offer comfort and support to the women and children at Newhouse in Kansas City, Mo. (http://www.newhouseshelter.org/), a shelter dedicated to providing new beginnings to abused women and their children. Our challenge is a big one but one I'm sure we can meet. The girls at Make Mine Pink and Quilt 'n' Stitch Marketplace are ready to roll up their sleeves and dust off their sewing machines!"






I just couldn't wait to jump in there and start making slippers. Here are a couple I've made so far. These are made from decorator fabric, but just imagine how adorable they would be in flannel, or fleece, or cute cottons. I encourage all you sewers and non-sewers alike to participate. The pattern is soooooooo easy - I am not kidding. Anyone can make them.

Stop over at http://www.pinkslipperproject.org/ and download the pattern and get to work. I know you'll enjoy yourself too. Won't you help us meet this make this challenge a success?


til next time...............
Carol

Show and Tell Monday - August 3

Good Monday Morning!

It's a gorgeous day here in Michigan with temps in the 70's and beautiful sunshine everywhere. We have been so blessed this Summer with milder than usual temps and I just love it.

Today I thought I would share with you a very special day I spent last week with my BFF, Debbie. She treated me to a very special garden tea luncheon in celebration of my birthday. Would you like to see a few pics?

This is the Heavenly Scent Herb Farm in Fenton, Michigan. This is a spectacular place started about 20 years ago. They have beautiful walks through gardens, a gazebo for parties, fountains, a greenhouse with their own grown plants and................inside is a retail store that is a feast for the senses! I love walking through - their displays are always gorgeous. For obvious reasons, I was prohibited from taking interior pics. Ah well - you'll have to use your imagination.

Here are pics of my BFF, Debbie on the left..........and me on the right.

What a beautiful entrance! And the gardens are spectacular! I couldn't post them all, so here are just a few.

Luncheon was a very lovely event held under the gazebo. We started with scones (blueberry and orange/poppy seed) served with fresh-made lemon curd and devonshire cream - along with delicious Ginger Peach iced tea.

The next course was a lovely Chicken Pesto Salad on croissant with a side of apple/cucumber slaw and fresh fruit. I don't care for cucumbers, but this slaw was soooo declicious. It had a hint of cinnamon too.

Then for dessert was a lovely wine glass with a delightful and delicious chocolate mousse/strawberry trifle. Yum!

After filling our tummies, we learned a bit about the language of flowers and their meanings. Our final enjoyment of the day was making a fresh tussie mussie. Here are before and after pics!

What a wonderful day we had. I am so blessed to have my BFF, Debbie, in my life.

Hope you have a wonderful week ahead.

til next time............

Carol

Show and Tell Monday - July 27th

Well, it's Monday again and what a week it has been! All last week was our fantastic event - Christmas in July Shop Hop - hosted by Make Mine Pink and sooo many beautiful boutiques.

I hope you all had an opportunity to find all the little hidden totes and enjoyed a bit of shopping while you were visiting the shops.

In the meantime, I have been a busy, busy person. (Doesn't feel right to say girl - cause I am soooo far from that...........and don't care for the work "woman" here either.........so person it is).

I have a couple new Signature Bags to show you today that have been just added to our line-up.
Here they are:



I have also been working some other goodies that I cannot wait to share! It's going to be another busy week so I'd better get at it.

til next time...........
Carol

Christmas in July Shop Hop

It's here, it's here. It's time for Christmas in July Shop Hop

at BusinessInTHEBag.com and MakeMinePink.com.

This is such a fun and exciting event - you

will want to participate. Just head on over to either BITB

or MMP and register to get started. There is no purchase

necessary to participate and you have an opportunity

to win great prizes. Gee, I wish I could participate!

But! I will be shopping during this event as all the wonderful boutiques will be offering specials, giveaways, discounts, etc.

It's the perfect time to get a jump start on your holiday

shopping. So, what are you waiting for????

til next time..........

Carol

Christmas in July Shop Hop!

Oh my goodness, I can hardly wait. In just 10 short days it will be time for the Make Mine Pink - Christmas in July Shop Hop! This event is always soooo much fun and there are tons of really special prizes to be won.

We will also be offering some great new gift ideas for your holiday shopping along with specials to make your shopping even MORE enjoyable.

Be sure to stop back on the 20th!

til next time.......Carol

Monday, Monday......

Don't you just love Mondays? I do - really, I do. It's a chance to start a whole new week with a whole new attitude and fresh ideas. (not to mention that diet =) )

This weekend I received a most wonderful and fun gift in the mail. I am participating in a Secret Sister exchange with my friends at Make Mine Pink. It is always great fun to get to know each other a little better and do something special. So..........thought I would share my gift with you.

My Secret Sister sent me a wonderful book for Creative Entrepreneurs, a booklet of K & S cards to play with, a sweet jar of robin's egg blue flowers, a jar of vintage black buttons and another jar of vintage white buttons, a roll of great olive ribbon, a package of beautiful needles (yes, there is such a thing a beautiful needles), a stack of four gorgeous black/white fabrics, cute little package of purse kleenex, a nice length of vintage trim, a page of wire words (love), a sweet vintage handkerchief with robin's egg blue edging, and a wonderful crocheted (I think) doily with a flower basket design.

Now..........that is a lot of wonderful stuff. BUT.........in addition was a package of robin's egg blue (can you tell this is my favorite color?) M & M's. Mmmmmmmm - just for me. I guess you can tell how much I like those cause I had to open them even before I took these pics. Ah well.

Thank you so, much Secret Pink Sister. I have a couple clues to your identity and will be posting my guess on Make Mine Pink.

What a great day!

til next time...................Carol

Show and Tell Monday

Yep, it's Monday again! Amazing how quickly these Monday's keep rolling around, isn't it?

Today, I am excited to be sending off a special package to Enchanted Makeovers. If you haven't had an opportunity to visit this site, it is a MUST. Terry Grahl, founder of Enchanted Makeovers, is doing some pretty awesome work revamping and prettifying women's shelters in Michigan. I am pleased to say we share the same metro area of southeast Michigan.


Terry has a special cooking class scheduled at her newest shelter for young women. The aprons you see below are a collection of simple, but sweet aprons that I made to donate to this very special day and cause.















Doesn't it just make you feel good?

til next time.......
Carol

Lowboy Update

Well, I'm back already! I finished up that lowboy I was working on and thought I would share. I've decided it's not quite what I started out to do.

I'm thinking about sanding off the drawer fronts and starting over with something hand-painted instead of applied paper.

I've also painted on my favorite saying "Esprit de Joie" on the top drawer - which also, incidentally, happens to be the name of my other web site. I've been so busy here at BITB that I am seriously and sadly behind adding new products to Esprit de Joie. I'd love you to stop on by tho. http://www.espritdejoie.com/

So, tell me what you think. Redo the drawers????? And don't worry, you won't hurt my feelings at all.

...til next time...Carol

Show and Tell Monday

Good Monday Morning, my friends.

I can't wait to share with you a wonderful gift I received yesterday. My Mom and two of my sisters and I got together for a long-overdue lunch yesterday at the home of my youngest sister, Gayle.

Gayle is busy these days with her full-time job (in the numbers field), a young teenage daughter, her DH, and grown children with three little grandchildren. On top of this, she is taking a full load of classes working toward her degree. Whew - I am tired just thinking about all she is doing.

Happily, she has reserved a little space in her life for creativity. She, like my other sisters, Mom, and me...........is a "doer - a maker - a creator" of beauty. Recently she took up scrapping and altered art. I loved seeing all the special touches she has added to their home.

As a special gift, Gayle made us each a very personal altered art photo memory book. Here's a peak at mine.

That's my place card on the left - yes, it's me.

Here's my book. She knows me so well - I LOVE the toile and blue.

Here's the oldest three of us (there were seven!).

These are pics of me as a little tyke.
These are my parents - Dad on their wedding day and Mom as a young teen.

Well, I hope you enjoyed this little journey into my past. There were also pages for each set of my grandparents, and more of Mom and Dad.

Thank you so much, Gayle, for this special gift.

til next time.......Carol