Stelie Designs

I completed the Arabella baby shower invites to celebrate a new baby girl in Virginia.

I'm working on these beauties. Isn't he just gorgeous. The fabulous photography of this little munchkin is by Teresa Hermes of Teresa Hermes Photography . If you are local, check her out.

A glimpse at just a few of the weddings I'm working on right now. Stay tuned, I'll post full pics as they are completed. If you are interested in one of these or your own wedding set, please contact me at steliedesigns@yahoo.com.

Avery loves all things penguin, she can spot a penguin item from miles away. Paxton enjoys penguins as well but not nearly as much as his sister. An incredible family friend and neighbor of my parents was able to get us time with the penguins at the Great Plains Zoo up close and personal. It was the most amazing experience. Kimberly, in charge of the penguins, brought 3 penguins outside behind the building because the back area is pretty small. Astro, Stump, and one the kids called Mumble, waddled around, and explored. They are so cute and funny. Paxton and Avery didn't know what to do at first, they just kind of froze, then they were walking with them, talking to them, and touching them. After it was getting a bit too hot for them, Kimberly brought us inside the exhibits work area. The penguins went wild. Here is just a glimpse of our experience! Warning: Turn down your volume on the 2nd video, he's loud. Thank you to Linda, Arthur, and Kimberly for this fabulous opportunity.

We went to see my lifelong friend, her son, and her new baby girl. Nicki and I have been friends her entire life (she's 3 months younger than me.) My kids like to play with Zach and were so excited to hold baby Lauryn. Avery is just like her Mommy, loves those babies! Notice how Paxton couldn't even get to hold Lauryn without Avery touching her. It was a great time, then we drove back to my childhood home and went swimming. It was a bit on the cool side and getting late so we didn't get to play in the pool as much as they wanted.

My husband had a wonderful Dad's Day. We spent the day at my parents playing in the water, riding the wet bikes, and fishing. Jer's brother, his wife, and our two nieces came for some fun and lunch too. One of my favorite pics is the one with Jer and Avery at the table. My mom has a bird book that she likes to look at. While I was working all I could hear over and over was "What's this Daddy?" (in her sweet voice) and Daddy saying what it was. It's the little moments that melt my heart, I'm so lucky to have him as my children's father. My Dad was very happy with his Father's Day as well. He was happy to be surrounded by his favorite little ones. It only could've been better if his favorite big ones were there (my nephews, they'll be here in 2 weeks.)

It was hard but I made it without internet for 3 days! Thankfully our time was packed with activities or driving so it went by too fast. Not enough time in a day. We had a wonderful time and I'll post pictures. We also had a once in a lifetime opportunity too, so stay tuned to find out. While I'm filling orders and playing catch up, I thought I'd leave you with Avery Paxton Designs and Stelie Designs Father's Day cards joint collaboration. and part of a new invitation design...

The kids, my mom, & I are off to South Dakota to visit friends and family, to swim, and to visit the Great Plains Zoo. (They have giraffe's and penguin's.) Don't worry, I'll be back posting Thursday... Have a great Week!

Happy Father's Day to every Dad out there, but most of all to my fabulous husband and my wonderful Dad!

A glimpse of a couple October weddings I'm working on today. What do you think so far? They are sure to be gorgeously delightful so stay tuned for a future reveal...

Here's a glimpse at a new invitation design...what do you think so far?

Wendy Balis, an etsy seller herself, was kind enough to ask if I was interested in being a featured artist on her blog. Of course!! Read my interview and check out the rest of her asian inspired items on her blog . Then go check out her fabulous jewelry at her etsy shop . Thank you Wendy for finding my shop and for my feature.

We converted P&A's cribs to toddler beds last August and have been wanting to move them into twin beds but I keep changing my mind on what I want their beds to be. My Inspiration Since we already had the twin mattresses and knowing this is the only week we'll be home every night until the end of July, we decided to forgo the bed frame and just use the mattress on the floor. Monday was a trip to Target, where Paxton & Avery got to pick out new sheets, then we re-used their IKEA bedding. Plus the kids love their new beds!! Now I can hang pictures up again because they can't reach them to knock them off. I think I'm going to design their beds and my husband will build them, so someday (hopefully before the end of the year) when it's done I'll post pics. Now it's back to work for me...

Our weekend full of activities started Friday evening. Our Zoo just opened it's Russia's Grizzly Coast. [We've been talking about it and watching the constuction for the past year.] We met our good friends, Julie & Shawn, and their 4 kids to walk thru it, have a picnic, play, and just have fun. It was so packed since it was a member preview night. [we're used to going right when it opens during the week] I'm sure we'll get to see and enjoy more of the animals when we go at our usual time. Here are a few pics. Saturday morning was breakfast at IKEA with grandma & papa, (my parents.) P&A love to go there for breakfast and then play with all the toys. Unfortunately, they are napping awful now (not good for a work at home mom) needless to say we had to pass on a housewarming party that evening because my usually well behaved children were little tired & whiny monsters. Sunday was a fun filled day at grandma & papa's lake house. Thankfully th

This week I completed 4 sets of personalized stationery. It's been rainy here all week so it's hard to get any decent pics. Here's a pic of my last set. It's true, when I find my favorite design elements, I tend to translate them into alternate uses. The tree branches design was originally for save the dates/wedding invitations, then for blank note cards, now for personalized stationery, could be shower or party invitations too... The squiggle aka. Payton design, I designed a while back for personalized stationery and just last night, took the idea I've been tossing around in my head onto paper to use for wedding invitation design.

Here's a quick peak at a new Wedding Invitation design, I'm hoping to have up in my Etsy shop today!

We had a full and wonderful family weekend. Saturday evening we attended a 35th Anniversary party. Miss A & Mr. P behaved fabulously. We stayed much later than anticipated, I knew it was pretty late when Miss A kept saying she wanted to go home, that is rare, she was tired. It turned out to be a blessing though, we missed the hail storm that raveged our neighborhood. Sunday was a day at the MN zoo, it was a sunny and gorgeous 82 degree day. We finally made it to the outside part and even to the farm. After naptime, the kids played in their kiddie pool. Here are some pics from our weekend experiences.

And the Winner is... Paxton proud of his pick Avery wanted in on the action too Congratulations to Kristen of Five Dot Design . Your Essential Card Kit will be on it's way to you soon. Thank you to everyone who took the time to enter and I appreciate the wonderful comments. There will be more give aways in the future so keep reading my blog. PS. Yes, it is June and yes, my kids are wearing their halloween costumes!