maybe she’s not so sure about that?

{onesie and “clown pants” (as dubbed by Daddy) both from the lovely Sarah G. — The onesie was made by the fine folks at craftster.org and found at the Boston Bazaar Bizarre (which just so happens to be having a SUMMER show this year, on August 21st. Sure to be totally awesome.)}

Not like you wouldn’t have guessed, but I’m taking a little break from all things web-related. I’m also going to be putting my Etsy shop in vacation mode in the next day or two (meaning it’s closed to new orders, but you can still see things that have been sold, contact me, etc., and you can sign up to be notified when it re-opens), and I’m not sure if I’ll re-activate it before the baby bean is born or not. We’re in the middle of project basement right now, and my entire studio is going to be moving down there in the next week. Since I probably won’t know where anything is or have access to everything for a while, I figured it’d be best to put the shop on hold for a while.

So, if you have any shopping you’ve been meaning to do in the Laurie Coyle Designs Etsy shop, now’s the time to do it! If you order something in the next few days I’ll be sure to include a super special free gift, too! yippee!

As for this blog, I’m just going to let myself off the hook, ok? I miss you, but I also feel bad when I don’t post, and that’s just no good for either of us. So I’m here to officially say that until I get into a routine with the little one, I’ll probalby not be here much. There may be no noticeable difference from the current infrequency, but who knows. I totally love you, though, and appreciate all of your encouragement and kind words and your interest in my work (and life!). It really means a lot to me, and I’ll be sure to keep you updated on baby-progress, as well as any new work that comes out of the new studio. I’m also planning a big before-and-after reveal of the basement space, but the project is definitely not done. Not quite yet. So until then…

xoxox

There are still a few more of these little guys in my Etsy shop. I’m also taking custom orders, which will take 7-10 days to complete, barring any unforseen moving-my-studio-two-floors-away circumstances that pop up.

Also be sure to head over and become a fan of Laurie Coyle Designs on Facebook for a super-sweet discount redeemable through Sunday (Feb. 21) on anything in the shop (you are also eligible if you are already a fan — and thanks!).

I just got in under the wire to donate a few prints to the Craft Hope for Haiti Etsy Shop, and the listing is up now. There are 4 copies of my print “The Question is Irrelevant, Love is the Answer” available, $12 each. I will ship them anywhere in the world — so get shopping!

There is a lot of other great stuff in the shop, all donated by hand-makers of all kinds. All proceeds will go to Doctors Without Borders in Haiti. You can learn more about what Craft Hope is doing on their website. I also have to hand it to the organizers, all working crafty moms! They are doing great things, and I hope they can keep up the good work!

**update 1/21: All four of my prints sold in one day! So exciting! And so humbling to know I can help in this little way. There is still lots and lots of great handmade stuff to buy in the Craft Hope shop, even including some sewing and knitting patterns, so head on over!**

From now through January 1, 2010 I’m offering FREE shipping on everything (everything! well, excluding custom orders) in my Etsy shop. I’ve also put my 2010 Birdie calendar on sale for HALF PRICE. It’s only $10 now, was $20.

Wicked good!

In honor of our first real snow this weekend, and just in time for sending out to your holiday card list, I’m giving away two separate sets of 8 holiday cards!

To enter just leave a comment with your favorite holiday song or album, or your favorite tasty holiday treat. Extra brownie points for a link to the song/album or recipe! Leave your comment by midnight EST Wednesday December 9. I’ll choose the winners (by random number generator thingy) on Thursday and contact you for your address to send them out asap!

I’m giving away one set of each of these designs (two chances to win!):

Bike with Wreath

&

Peace Stars

These are A2 size cards (4-1/4″x5-1/2″), hand-screenprinted here in my little hillside studio, blank inside, packaged up with envelopes for your sending pleasure.

good luck!

It’s this weekend! It’s going to be AWESOME. I can’t wait to see/meet you there! yippee! (I’m table #84! Near the Theramin!)

As I write this, I’m just over 12 weeks pregnant. It’s true! A baby! Making it’s way into our lives at the end of April (2010!)!

I have been soooo tired these last few months, and thankfully that has made it a *little* easier to keep this secret, since it takes all my energy to sit down and get anything done, including this blog post. I haven’t been doing much making, and therefore not a log of blogging, but as Penny’s hubby said about her first few months of pregnancy in this post, I need to remember that I have been busy creating something completely different. I might look like I’m just sitting on the couch, but darn it, I’m working hard!

So far everything is going great with out little bean, and we will get to see much more at an ultrasound at 18 weeks. We got to hear the heartbeat a week ago, and let me tell you that was quite an amazing thing. We had an ultrasound at 6.5 weeks, too, but weren’t really able to see anything but a little blur and a flickering speck of a heartbeat. {Little flickering speck, how I can’t wait to meet you!}

I spent the last 4 days in Pennsylvania with my cousin Becky and her twin boys who just turned one on Wednesday. What a fun time that was — they are quite possibly the cutest and happiest children in the world. It was a nice for me to get some baby practice, too, even though they are technically toddlers — both walking now!

Some FAQ about the baby bean?

• No, we don’t have any names picked out (tho some front-runners, which we will probably keep a secret)
• We still aren’t sure if we want to find out the sex until the birth, but I think I would like to, as I am not a very patient person!!
• Yes, we had been trying off and on for about a year, but it finally happened when we relaxed about it and really believed “whatever happens, happens” (my hubby’s favorite mantra). And then it happened! I really didn’t believe it when I saw that plus sign on the test, and I had to wake John up at 6am to tell him! It has been so hard not telling everyone in the world, and we started telling select friends and family pretty early — at 5 weeks. I decided I didn’t want to go through any of it alone, and especially if something bad happened, you know? You know. And also wanted to share the joy and excitement as soon as we could!
• Thankfully I have been feeling pretty good. Super tired and a little moody, but I have been soooo lucky not to have any morning sickness. I am just constantly hungry, but I get full really easily and nothing really sounds good to eat. I have had some heartburn, which is not terribly fun, but I am so lucky not to have much nausea at all that I really can’t complain. I do pee about every hour, and there are lots of other “symptoms” of pregnancy that I’m not going to get into here, but I’ve got ‘em! It’s been quite a ride so far, and I really can’t believe I’m already a third of the way through!

: )

P.S. Just listed my 2010 calendar in my Esty shop! This year it’s “Birds of the Berkshires”; a whole collection of hand-painted likenesses of our favorite New England avian friends. They’re pretty pretty, if I do say so myself. I’m so happy with how it came out!

This little guy is on his way to his happy new home, and I’m working on some wedding invitations and thank you notes for some of my favorite friends. Birds and pirate flags (?)!  Not in the same designs, but still. super fun.