Get out your big wheels!

One on my clients Shannon Littrell a Photographer shared this photo of a BabyPop WonderPets cape and it reminded me on my childhood riding  past my house toward the next store neighbors "The Fultons" house zoom off toward a new world,  but I used a towel.

What my fellow campers must think?

 So we got a seasonal camp site this year. So I planning on spending time up at our site this summer. So this weekend is the first time camping at our new site...Above here is a picture of a my mothers day. My mothers day gift this year from Mr. Aikens and the kids, this awesome lounge chair from Cabelas. So this is mothers day for me after fishing in the 50 degree temp with a strong wind…to me in my new lounge chair with a blanket and 3 layers, outside with my laptop is awesome…this is the vision…

This is my view ..the great outdoors

Grundy has a raised bed so is pamper butt does not have to sit on the rocks.

And my view of Mr. Aikens again in his natural habit. Complete with his prefer drink..coffee  Guess what he got for an early Fathers Day...(hint rhymes with AIR)

Who said 2 dueling laptops in the great outdoors.
Aha I love camping- no that is not our camper.. we have the Pop Up (glorified Tent) you can't see.

Just picture all the campers walking or riding by and laughing… you know I am ok with it,  It is my mothers day…ah I love technology.

Business Outside and Party Underneath

Just in case you did not know it I am a fashion designer.  I worked in the apparel industry in design and development for many years prior to starting BabyPop Designs. I don't get to design items as much as sometimes I like.  But on the rare occasion I do I have some fun.   This week was one of those times.  My sister inlaw was getting married this past weekend.

(Saturday before the wedding)
Amy calls me "Sher, I have a job for your daughter,  I need her to hand out the programs at the wedding" she continues "since I know she will wear something super cute and fun... and I know she will wear some of her jewelry"
Me.."No Problem she will be happy to be party of your special day"
what I am really thinking...(oh s_ _ t.  I don't know what I am putting her in I have not had time to make anything!!)
me.. to Amy "Is bright colors ok"
Amy  who is usally game for anything"The brighter the better she is a little girl"

(Aha/Light bulb moment)..So the time is come... Last year I commissioned Lori at MissRubySue  to make a headband for my daughter. My only request to Lori was hot pink, orange, and aqua.  I wanted to design a dress for my girl based on the headband.
( Next it is Wednesday Night) Picture me scrambling not one but 2 fabric stores to get the perfect fabric..
(Me having flashbacks to my teens) My mother was Right I do wait to till the last minute..as she is yelling at me while I was sewing my dress as I walk out the door to the prom
(Friday morning)  Doing final fitting and putting in zipper...then sewing the lining in the car on the trip to the wedding location...(my subconscious  ...see your mother was right)

(Saturday afternoon) So this is it... Hot Pink cotton sateen, Orange Taffeta,and Aqua peti-skirt with 4 layers of tulle trimmed in orange ribbon with a peekaboo of orange micro tulle. 

The dress was business on the outside and Party Underneath.. You would think she was getting Married....it is her cousin

Wordless Wednesday

4 Years on ETSY…and people still say the word wrong

So April 19, 2010 Marks the 4 year anniversary of me being on Etsy.

If you don't know what etsy is? Let me introduce you….Etsy is said like "Betsy" without the "B" ETSY is a place to buy and sell all handmade goods…. Or In the beginning days of etsy, no one I told could understand the concept…so I would say "Etsy it was like ebay but for handmade items"…and people would say Ohh I get it. But Etsy is so much more… Warning!!! Etsy can cause a shopping addiction.

Now Back to the BabyPop Etsy Beginning..

5+ years ago After the birth of my second, I left my "fancy"(I use that term loosely) apparel job with Mitchell and Ness. My Husband and I struggled with the loss of my paycheck ,so I c ould stay home with my preemie daughter and my 4 year old son. I started sewing since that is what I know. In 2001 I purchased the name babypop.com hopping some day I would own a business by that name…so in 2005 when I was home it was the perfect time to start my entrepreneurial plan. With my husbands support, I sold at craft show and on feebay… getting lost in the shuffle of 10's of thousands of sellers.

Then during my "get out of the house for sanity time" … aka weekly knit group, my friend Diane of KnittingZeal told me about this place I should sell on ETSY. Diane was the only person I knew who blogged, so she was my authority on everything web related.. Diane said "Etsy only started a few months prior but it is a handmade site, like e- - y but for handmade". Diane when on to say she purchased some handmade knitting items, and thought my items would work there. That night I went home and signed right up. Then I waited and waited . In my BabyPop Etsy shop listed knitted bags , purses , my teepees, ipod holders, dresses, and my capes. I also listed a sewing pattern. My 1^st sale on etsy was for a sewing pattern 4 months after list my 1^st item … a sewing pattern shipping to Canada. I shipped my 1^st item and sent it of… It never arrived to the customer. The client was not happy, she did tell me that mail system in Canada was bad … so I gave her a full refund, also sadden by the lack of sales, I waited for sales. I was the only person selling capes so they have to sell Right?…still I waited and sold at craft shows. My point new etsy Sellers don't get discouraged it will happen.

Then 2 months later, Sept 06 later I had my 1^st cape sale on etsy. October 2 more superhero capes, November I sold 11 babypop capes….and it grew. I sold my 1^st teepee to Etsyian Erin of Oneluckybaby. She was great Erin taught me to include thank you note with every purchase and let people know how to leave feedback. Erin said since Etsy (besty ww/o B) was so new it was , customers did not know how to leave feedback. I did what oneluckybaby said and my feedback / sales grew.

By January I added my first adult gloves. My broken heart gloves. Then I added pacman gloves… I was then contacted by etsy my pacman gloves were chosen by "Dazed and Confused" a glossy British magazine to represent etsy in there best of web award…Then being picked as Etsy Featured seller and Wining the Judges award from cookie mag. Good Morning America was because I connected with a etsy babypop customer who was in Public relations,  she thought BabyPop is a good story for GMA,  so because I sold on etsy they added me to the article. The more I embraced the etsy culture, the more the I got back in return.   So newbie Etsians enter contests and make connections with sellers and customers. 


I enjoy the chat rooms, making connects and friends. I have also spent time in the forums comment on peoples post. I try to read everything that etsy provides and learn, then help teach others, because we are all a community. I became part of etsy unofficial mentor list, I hope those I have helped have grow, because I have learned from helping them. It takes a village to Raise and Etsyian myself included.

Etsy has been very good to me over the years and I am happy to be associated with them and the etsy community.

So … Dear Etsy creators and employees, have changed my life, allowed me to be home with my children, and build a super business that makes others smile. I want to say thank you to etsy for supporting me as an entrepreneurial and giving me to have an venue to sell my product. Hope the future of Etsy is bight wonderful. Thank You!


 
That being said I would Like to offer Free Shipping on any BabyPop Custom Superhero Cape from 4/19-4/21/2010 when purchased on etsy please type code "4YEARSETSY" in the notes to the seller when you check out.

Where the wild things are?

It seems I am seeing owls everywhere…Today we took a trip to the local zoo… not Philadelphia Zoo. But a small local zoo Elmwood Park Zoo. We got the membership for around $80 last fall. It has been great because we go often. It is not a huge "zoo" trip like heading to a large city zoo, Elmood Park is local and small enough that it takes an hour to walk around. There is also no fee to park and no annoying vendor selling something at every animal exhibit.  It also has a wonderful playground, with the membership we can stop by and entertain the kids, everybody ends up happy. Bonus: the kids never ask for anything "to remember the zoo aka souvenir " ...because we will always be back.


The majestic eagle...so American

Me trying to chase down the peacock,...Him thinking "why is this crazy lady following me"

My wounded female human with a "boo boo" from last weekend's easter egg hunt..she drives me insane because she  never can look at the camera

This porcupine animal my son said it looks an over sized guinea pig…

This is our guinea pig Graham I don't see it..

 A close up View of a Mr. Aikens in his natural habitat (my husband)

The fox ripping into a animal of some sort.. 

My daughter saying "look mommy he is eating an apple" ...

Me "Yea honey, foxes love apples just like you" 

She says "can we get one as a pet?"... 

"No, not unless we want Graham to be lunch"

 

The great hunter Mr. Aikens capturing a wild animal with his bear claws

My wild 9 year old holding still for a picture

Resting after a long day

A rare picture of a Sherry Aikens,  since this animal is I am often behind the camera and tending to her cubs.

thanks for going to the zoo with us

Thoes darn birds woke me up!

Lately there has been many birds that have been in my life. I want to share some local Philadelphia artist I love and there bird images.


Lisa Kelley from Milkshake Crafts

You can find the chickadee in Lisa's online store

Kristen Stein from Studio Art Works

 

The owl actually say "hoot" you can find  it in her etsy store. 

Little Aikens from (my house my daughter)

Who do you love that is Local?

Homicide in the House

Today I walked down stairs and realized I did it finally happened I killed it…The plant which I have moved with me since prior to my meeting my husband 17 years ago. It died.

This plant has been to college with me where my roommates cared for it. Then back to my mother's where she cared for it. To when I moved in with my boyfriend / future husband he took pity and watered it. But the plant never liked me due to lack of love and neglect… so I committed a homicide against a prayer plant. 

I grew up in a green thumb family a long line of plant lovers and gardeners. But I fell far from the per verbally tree… like down the hill and rolling away. Yep, I can't keep them alive, every year plant flowers they never grow they dry rot in the pots which they came in. I even had a friend Alicia, an avid gardener offer to help with my "green impairment" and plant my flower bed… they did great! Then next year, I tried by myself planting hundreds of seeds …3 came up and they died due to lack of supervision. 

Then, you get those "perfect" plant people..(aka my mother) saying "Sherry, when you have more time you will be able to tend to plants", this being said as she walks around her house watering her hundreds of healthy colorful plants…

Me thinking I just don't care if they die.

OK ! I admit I am jealous of her perfect plant tending talent! I do have plant envy of others… but sadly for me it is just not in the cards and I can accept my failure. I like them when they come, but I am ok when they die because time heals all plants (..that and the trash can) so it is a sign of it is time to go buy more. Maybe, my kids will be the protector of the plants and water them? Hum

Ha Ha Ha I think wrenching my hands "I would Like to introduce you to my latest victim…Mr. Tulip"

I see her everyday and yet I ignore her beauty

Every day I drive by this magnificent mansion It is the Widener Estate  designed by architect Trumbauer he also designed Philadelphia At Museum the one Rocky ran up the steps. This magnificent home has fallen in to disrepair but still an amazing view of history. My daughter says everyday if we lived there we would have everyone we know could come live with us and she names the names, grandma, Pa Nana Pop Pop, our next store neighbors and so on. My son s says how sad it is that the mansion has fallen into such a state. 

So today we stopped and walked up to the gates... which are amazing ...I would love to see the inside...the house now belongs to a church group in NY and they have let it go... saddened I noticed,,,
what a beautiful day it was.
which lead to the next adventure for the day..


Hum... white cherry trees. My son said "we need to find a pink cherry"… so 5:30 at night we decided to drive around finding trees and taking pictures of the flowers. All 3 of us being obsessed this time of year with the Cherry Blossoms   my daughter points them out and my son remarks on how I love them..

So here is our photo journal of our search for the perfect early spring flowers. It took about ½ and we jumped out and took picture of the trees and hoped back in the car to find another. My son telling me "mom you are parked in a no parking zone… I think you broke a law mom"… me saying "I am 5 feet from the car it is ok. stop worrying "  I know not the best role model example...(really it is ok sweetie break the law)... in retrospect it could come back to bite me..but look at the flowers can you blame me.

 I hope we get out soon to take more picture... I have a few years and my son will say no more looking at flowers.  So I am so glad to share these treasured moments with him. 

The Only Banana Bread Recipe

Stop Searching !!! This is the Only Banana Bread Recipe you will ever need. In 1993 when I met my husband, I met his family. His family is of a Pennsylvania Dutch background. If you know anything about the PA Dutch…they are amazing bakers! Pies, Cookies, sweet breads…yum. My 1^st Thanksgiving with his family in 1993 there was no lie 13 different pies on the tables… the big bird played a second to the pies. Needless to say for this Jersey girl it was very intimidating. So I make a pie or 2…yuk…(I blaming my lack of backing ability on the fact I have warm hands). My pie skills were so bad..that my future mother in-law gave me a instant pie crust mix when she gave me the pie plate back…she said "Sherry, there is no shame in using store bought. " So I would never be a pie maker. So I searched for a baking recipe to make all my own. And this is it… 


Every time I make this bread get people telling me it is the best banana bread they have ever had…and not just my in-laws (even strangers tell me). My Mother said this is your "thing" for 
Christmas from now on. For me it is my go to recipe when I go to someone's house overnight. I found it 1996. It is adapted from the Southern Ort cook book 1990 version I purchased from the ort women in a mall in south Florida. The Original baker was Pearl Ansell of Orlando Florida. I picture Pearl to be an older women who received this recipes from her mom or grandma and she has taught it to family.

My just turned 5 Daughter loves making this recipe with me she peels the banana and mashes them with the potato masher. I love it because nobody in my family will eat the banana with brown spots, but they are the best for bread. 


BabyPop Pearl Banana Bread
(Printable Version w/o pictures)

Ingredients:

½ cup of vegetable oil

1 cup of sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon of vanilla

1 ¼ cups of all purpose flour

1 teaspoon of baking powder

1 teaspoon of baking soda

3 large or 4 small bananas (ripe)(brown spots are fine)

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Baking Spray or butter to grease the pans

• Preheat oven to 350
  

• Using an electric mixer beat oil and sugar in large mixing bowl for 2 min
  

• Add eggs and vanilla to oil/sugar, beat well with mixer (I was making a dbl batch use 2 eggs for one batch)

• Sift flour, baking soda, baking powder into batter, mix for 2 minutes (if you don't have a sifter light spoon in flour so it is not heavy)

• In separate bowl mash (with a potato masher or large fork) peeled banana with cinnamon (like chunky baby food): add to batter and mix to well blender

• Pour into 2 well greased loaf pans 9x5x3" or 1 pan if you like a bigger slice

• Bake for 37-40 mins for 2 loaves or 42-45 for 1 loaf (watch them once they get golden take them out as long as the toothpick comes out clean)

• Let cool for 10 min before taking out of loaf pan and cutting. Also can be frozen

Variations:

• ½ cup chocolate chips, add once the batter is already in loaf pan.. if you add chips mix in with mixer they tend to go to the bottom of the loaf once you pour in the pan.
  
• Smaller personal loafs which I make more at the holidays teacher gifts ..take about 37 min to bake , you can make 4 small loves from one batch of batter
  
• Banana ripe but no time to make the bread, freeze the bananas for later . The bananas tend to not be a chunky but the taste is the same. FYI Banana turn black when frozen they are still good 

Want a drink?

I went to a Sportsman's show ..and here are some pictures from the show.

with or without worms?

 

big mouth

who?

Don't try this at home!

Senseless death!...could have been yummy