Adoption Auction

:::UPDATE::: We traveled in late May and are still collecting items for the auction. Hoping to have it up SOON!:::

Okay....so, here we have it. Facing the unknown once again and starting back at square one. We are soon to travel on our second trip to Eastern Europe, but it will be a like a trip one all over again.

::if you're new here and interested in the auction and would like to know more about our story, check our our adoption blog over HERE::

It's hard. And, at the same time I have hope. There is a glimmer. There is a child there waiting for us. And all the while, this has been the most difficult journey of our lives. To experience such loss and at the same time such hope...not sure how to really put it into words. I don't think I can.

What I can do is put an auction together. And I want to say a HUGE Thank You to those of you who've offered items to donate to our auction. You have no idea how much this means to us. An unplanned third trip is not exactly what we EVER thought would be happening.

With this unplanned trip comes many unplanned adoption expenses. Mainly travel. Travel is a giant chunk of the adoption expenses. This is where the adoption auction comes in!

We are planning to have the auction up and running by late June/early July. If you are wanting to donate an item or gift certificate (or the like), please let us know! You can email me at Jaime(at)littlebirdcreations(dot)com.

We have some great items donated so far, so I am really looking forward to getting this up and running!

Please help us spread the word about it! The auction will be set up on this blog.

THANK YOU!!!

A Series Of Unfortunate Events.

As some of you have heard through twitter and facebook, my family received some devastating news this week. We were supposed to be traveling this week to go bring our daughter home from Russia.

This is not what will be happening. Instead of re-writing it all on this blog, please go HERE to learn more about what happened.

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Obviously, we are stunned and in disbelief. At the same time, we are still invited to travel to meet another child.

This is the hard part. How does one mourn such a loss and at the same time be willing to open their heart to another child? I am still not sure how my heart will be capable of this. What I do know is that God has not said no and we are to continue down this path of adoption that He is leading us on.

That being said....

This will now require us to make an unplanned third trip to Russia. A trip that we are not at all financially prepared for. This means we absolutely cannot complete this adoption without more fundraising. And this trip could be coming more quickly than we realize.

This is where we need your help. We need you to help spread the word via twitter, facebook...whatever means possible about an online fundraiser we would like to put together. We need donations of items to raffle.

Are you willing to donate an item? Do you have an Etsy (or other handmade) shop that you would be willing to donate something from or a gift certificate?

Please let me know! Just email me at jaime(at)littlebirdcreations(dot)com if you are interested.

Thank you. Thank you all that have already been supporting us in prayer and your kind thoughts and encouragement. This is an extremely difficult time right now and we need your thoughts and prayers more than ever.

Bless you!

Just 203 To Go!

It's been a while since I have mentioned much about adoption fundraising, but this just might be my last post on it for a while. At least for our family. Yes, we plan to adopt again in the future, but right now we are focused on Songbird and the time is coming fast to when we finally get to bring her home.

Meanwhile....

We still have a puzzle to finish! I've mentioned it before and there are details about it HERE.

It's no secret that adoption can be costly. I haven't calculated it yet, but I'm pretty sure FedEx has received quite a chunk of it. Let's just say...sending paperwork over half way around the world (whether the size of a novel or just two documents) is pricey!

SO...if you don't mind helping to spread the word, we just have 203 pieces to go! We'd love to be able to finish it before we leave.

***Update: Now just 193 to go!***

ALSO....a little something extra for you! If you click above about the details, you will see that each piece can be sponsored for $5. I am also offering you another option! From now until May 12 (when LBC closes  shop until July) any purchase made at Little Bird will count towards finishing the puzzle! All you have to do is enter coupon code Songbird to receive 15% off your order and in the notes just tell me you'd like to be added to "the missing piece" to help finish the puzzle!

How does that sound?! Good? Hope so...I would love to be able to put as many names as possible to show our Songbird just how much so many care and love her.

Thank you and, if you would, please help spread the word around blog and twitterverse!

Shop NEWS!!!

Some of you that follow me on twitter or facebook have already heard the good news....but, we finally got our court date to travel to Russia to see Songbird and (hopefully all goes well) bring her home!!!

SO, that being said, Little Bird will be going into vacation mode starting May 12. Custom (*design your own*) will only be excepted through May 6. If there is something you've been eyeing, go take a peek and snatch it up! I will not be reopening until July to allow time to spend with our new family of four!

AND...to add a little goody for you, use coupon code LBC15 to receive 15% off your purchase at Little Bird!

Thank you and have a lovely weekend!

A Little Update

You might have already seen these listed in the shop, but I thought I would share a little more about the NEW adjustable Little Bird Coffee Cuffs.

I have been using mine for a little over a month now and have to say, love it! Mainly because the weather is already warming up here where I am (like, it's going to be almost 90degrees today!) and once the weather starts getting up there, I like to drink me some iced coffee beverages.

SO....in comes the new Little Bird adjustable coffee cuff!

It still works on the hot coffee (or tea or hot cocoa) to-go cups, BUT it will also stretch to adjust to most iced coffee (or tea) beverages too! Fun, huh?! Another fun thing? I even use mine on my reusable travel coffee cup!

Also....I know some of you might be pretty excited about this (I hope), but the Songbird and I *heart* Sewing Coffee Cuffs will soon be in the shop with the "Design Your Own" option!

K...enough shop update.

Happy Friday to you!

Spring Craft Fair

A couple weeks ago I participated in my first art, craft and vintage Spring Fair.

I was hesitant at first to say 'yes' since we have literally been living "on hold" waiting for THE call to travel for our adoption for the past 9 months. But sometimes? Ya just gotta keep living...it's a fine balance...(and I have yet to figure that balance out)

SO, I said yes and got my craft on super speed to get ready for it.

It has been a while since I've done a craft show and this would be my first like it. It was located in a coffee shop in downtown Austin where the BEST, most fabulous coffee is being served.
(Seriously, if you're ever in the Austin area, go check out Caffe Medici. Their mocha...I die it's so good!)

K...back to the show.

Let's just say at one point I think I hit freak out mode wondering if I could possibly put everything I needed together to go to this event. Figuring out how much to make and of what....ugh.  I decided to just make what I could and based the color combos on what was the latest and most requested from my Design Your Own listings.

Wanna little peak on my set up? It's super simple, but I tried to get it all together well on two tables that were only about 2ft. in diameter....not a ton to work with!

Here is my modest little table(s) all set up:

Here are some Pretty Rosette Pin Cushion Rings:

(I have not yet listed all of these in the shop, but hopefully soon they will be!)
And a total side note on the bowl the rings were in...I was packing all my display items to take to the show and the bowl slipped right outta my hands and crashed all over my dining room floor...disaster! I had no good backup except a bowl my Gramms had given me that I really did NOT want to use, but took it with me and held onto to it with a kung-fu grip lest anything should happen to it! It survived the show just fine, promise. But I will be replacing the broken bowl for the next show...

Overall, the show was good. I didn't make a ton of sales by any means, but I made some great connections and really enjoyed meeting the other creative types around me. And a total bonus? I got to drink coffee....lots of it the whole day. Mmm...

Tell me, are you planning any Spring or Summer shows? How do you plan for them?

Some Comic Relief

A little comic relief making valentines (project found HERE) with my son for school. It was a much needed laugh after the very difficult week we had.

As some of you know, my Gramms passed away unexpectedly last week. It's been hard and I will dedicate a post to her soon....

For now, I wish you all a Happy Valentine's Day! I hope it is lovely.