Miss Piggy, I've Been Waiting So Long!

I love Oriental Poppies.  Gardening is a huge part of my life and  I lean to both the vegetable and flower sides.

For many years I have been collecting Oriental Poppies.  These are the large brightly coloured (usually orange) flowers we see in flower beds in the spring time.  And no, they are NOT the Opium Poppy (an annual plant which self-seeds but does not return from its root each year as the Orientals do).

While I have several of the orange variety ('Allegro' is a common species) I am always on the lookout for others.

About three years ago (or maybe it was four!) I bought by mail order a pink Oriental Poppy called 'Miss Piggy'.  Well, I thought I lost her the first year.  A few shoots came up and then disappeared.  The following year there was a bit of foliage but no blossoms.

It seems these flowers, native to Turkey and Iran, like the cool wet winter/spring we have this year because not only has Miss Piggy bloomed (three flowers!) for the first time but her cousins are also putting on a glorious display.

Here is a photo of 'Miss Piggy'.  The blooms are six inches across, and fully double in a very light pink colour.  Please pardon the brown spots which I am certain are due to all the rain we have had in the past week!

While I'm at it, here are a couple of others from this year's crop:

This one is 'Picottee'.

 Two varieties:  'Brooklyn' and 'Staten Island'

Sadly, some of my old favourites have taken this year off.  Missing in action are:  Patty's Plum, Pink Ruffles and Harlem.  There's always next spring!

What a Great Idea!

So often I have people tell me that something among my products is a "fantastic idea".  I am usually gracious but I admit to being a bit sheepish with the praise since most of my "fantastic ideas" are often derivatives of other peoples' "fantastic ideas".

I believe my strength lies in knowing when an idea is suitable for the greater giftware market, and my customers in particular.

Once I had decided that a birdfeeder made from an old teacup was, indeed, a "fantastic idea" I had to do some research as to whether the "raw materials" were readily available. 

I began by browsing through several local thrift stores and checking prices, since I had to come up with an acceptable price point. 

Upon determining that there seemed to be plenty of old teacups available -- although not always matching sets, I then set out to determine how to construct the birdfeeders.

I researched on-line the means of drilling holes in the saucers.  Then I had to find the required tools. With that accomplished I gave the drilling a try.  I was thrilled to discover I had a new skill.

Next, I had to find the chain for hanging.  That proved slightly more difficult as the cost of chain and other hardware would really add to the cost of the finished product.

As luck would have it, I stumbled upon a basket hanging assembly in the catalog of an existing supplier.  I was able to order a few samples and assemble a proto-type.

Packaging was the next hurdle.  Going again to the catalog of an existing supplier I found some nice pink boxes.  The first size I ordered proved to be too big and clumsy, but my second pick was perfect!

 Almost finished!  Next came a label for the box.  I had an idea of something calico-ish (I made that word up) and browsed a number of my favourite graphic sources until I found something I liked and then re-coloured it on Photoshop several times until I was satisfied.

The package was complete. I added up all of the input costs -- everything from the teacup to the bubble wrap to keep it safe and was able to settle on a final price.

It is a similar path that I follow for all of my creations.  It does take time, effort, creativity and sometimes just a lot of dumb luck to bring a product to market.  And I am extremely grateful that this one has been so warmly received.  Here is where you can order one: 

Buffalo 1855

I just finished this custom project for Premier Gourmet in Kenmore NY.  They chose a map of Buffalo from 1855 for reproduction on coasters, trivets, trays and cutting boards.

I think they turned out rather well!

Almost Choked on my Coffee

Reading the newspaper yesterday over my morning coffee, I turned -- as usual -- to the lifestyle and cooking pages.  What popped out at me?  A photo of mushrooms on a MUM'S CREATIONS' SHISH KEBAB SKEWER!

Looks like Postmedia News (a newswire service) has posted the photo using my skewers.

I am so excited!  I can tell from the photo that these are the earliest version of this product, but what the heck, they are beautiful to my eyes.  Only a mother would recognize them! 

Here's the link to our website page:  http://www.mumscreations.com/skbshish-kebab-skewers.html

And, here's the photo:

Oh Grandma! They Were Just Gathering Dust!

I'm sure some folks will be horrified to see Grandma's old teacups transformed into bird feeders.  I saw these somewhere and thought they would be a great addition to our products.

The bird feeders are fashioned from mismatched (usually), orphaned and discarded teacups from thrift stores. 

Where I live, we sadly cannot use bird feeders because they attract unwanted wildlife such as bears.  One of those critters would not be coming for tea when they smell this!

To buy one, go to:  http://www.mumscreations.com/tebife.html

By the way, if you have any old teacups lying around, I'd like to talk to you.

All in a Day's Work

I've found a new way to display some of the vintage images I've been collecting.  I particularly like the old paintings of women from the early 1900s doing somewhat untraditional activities.

I have created three different notecard collections:  Summer Women, Winter Women and Sad Puppies.

Each set of 20 cards and envelopes is packaged in a keepsake metal tin and sell for $25 a set.

See more here .

Baking Some Love

This time of year, when we look back at the triumphs and the tribulations of the past twelve months it is important to realize while our challenges have been great, they pale in comparison to others in our community.

We are so fortunate to live in this beautiful place, to have a roof over our heads, people who love us and food on the table.  Others are not.

Each year a Christmas feast is prepared for 3,000 people in Vancouver's Downtown East Side.  For the second year I am contributing to the home baking for this event by baking up some goodies to be handed out.  Here are my brownies (these folks love chocolate, I'm told!) that will be delivered this Saturday.