Disney Friends Who Craft: Side of Nicoleslaw

So for the last few months, I've had this idea knock around my head... I have SO many creative, talented friends.  I would love the chance to share their work with you! 

I wanted to start with someone who is a sweet friend, extremely creative, and has always had my back. I introduce to you, Nicole Duffy! Creator of my favorite Disney-Inspired ears and owner of Etsy Shop: SideOfNicoleslaw.







I asked Nicole about her love of Disney, and where it originated, this is her story...

A selection of Nicole's ears, both custom and shop ready!

I have loved Disney for as long as I can remember. 

My first Disneyland visit was when I was months old and it's been history ever since. I grew up watching all of the classics, enjoying the magic in every story. My love kept growing as I aged. 

The Grijalva's making a little Star Wars magic! PC: White Rabbit Photo Boutique

In high school, I created a Disney themed totalitarian state filled with pixie dust. It was then I was nicknamed "Miss Disney" by my teacher who would laugh when I related all history events to some Disney story. In college, I came across Disney Fairytale Weddings in which I knew my future wedding plans. I fantasized regularly of the perfect event with the ultimate wedding guests, Mickey and Minnie. 

MY first Nicole ears, for Halloween, I couldn't wear a costume, I wore my ears!

During one of our first conversations, I told my "now" husband that I was getting married in Disneyland. Two years later, I said "I do" under the gazebo at Rose Court Garden with my Prince Charming. 
 

During my planning, I wanted the perfect bridal ears. At the time, I couldn't find the Disney ones online and all vendors charged amounts that were out of my budget. 

Evan Dagg is a good sport and modeled my Christmas ears!

It was then I started my research on how to craft the perfect ears. My first set was actually using just fabric, foam and hot glue. 

 It was so much fun to make, that after my wedding, I invested in a sewing machine to further my creativity. A few months later Side of Nicoleslaw was created.  







 

Nicole's unique 101 Dalmation ears! (I've got a bow on order mimicking this!)

 

My store name came from a nickname growing up... I would call a classmate "pita bread" who would in turn call me "nicoleslaw." I wanted a store name that would truly reflect who I am. My goal was to make unique sets of ears that would be budget friendly. 

Molly Dagg's custom graduation ears! PC: Christina M. Photography

 

 

I've made some of the best friends during my venture, which is probably the best part. Not only do they push me creative skills, they have been the best support system. But hey, we all know that Disney friends are the best friends! 🙂 












Can you see why I love this girl?  She's as sweet as Minnie Mouse, and as creative as Walt Disney himself!  I've seen her make ears for a friend going through a hard time, get frustrated when another ear maker doesn't take inspiration from her ears but copies her design exactly.  She and I agree that crafting is a community, not a competition but also that creativity should evolve.  The things this girl can do with a little bit of ribbon and fabric never stop amazing me!

Renee Forero-Cook in her birthday present, Nicole's custom interchangeable ears!!

So, you've seen some of her work, you can see why I'm obsessed yes?  She continuously goes above and beyond her friends' and customers' expectations.  If you choose to buy from her, you won't be sorry.  Favorite her shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/sideofnicoleslaw, follow her on Instagram, share her info, or reach out to her to get your order placed.

Nicole is constantly coming up with new, innovative ways to enhance her ears!

 Disney friends are the best friends, I look forward to more ears and bows from Nicole, and to sharing with you more of my creative, talented friends!

Love,
~ R. Winn

My custom interchangeable ears, with my Regina from OUAT bow!

Love is in the air... and so is a sale!

So today, I'm home sick, but I've had this box of of Stampin' Up products that have been staring at me for a little over a month.  I've had so many projects that had deadlines, so many gifts that I needed to make that taking the time to create something I wanted rather something I had to.  Today, I played with my new Stampin' Up products from the new Occasions catalog and the Sale-a-bration special products!  

Before I show up my creation for the day, I want to tell you about Sale-a-bration, for every $50 you spend, you get to pick a free gift from the cattie for FREE.  Twice a year, Stampin' Up puts out an Occasions cattie as well, it's a mini catalog that gives you a change to pick up some products geared towards the time of year it is (i.e. Spring and Valentine's day or Winter and Christmas). This Occasions mini ROCKS, so many fun products and the SAB gifts are absolutely wonderful! I'm absolutely thrilled with what we've got available.  Now through March 31st, you can get your own free gifts! Some are limited time, so don't wait!

With no further ado, my fun for today!

I used the Shine On DSP which has 12 different designs, each fun and unique... oh and about half of them sparkle!  The stamp set is the What I Love photopolymer set, which was one of my SAB gifts, I stamped it in Stanzon Black Ink using my MISTI, which you can purchase from So Suzy Stamps and using my referral link, http://r.sloyalty.com/r/udNBO8QQbUdY you will get 10% off your first order!  MISTI allows me to stamp the same image or sentiment repeatedly, crisp, clear, and exact.  It is brilliant!

For the beautiful flowers, I used the Blushing Bride Glimmer Paper, and the Red Glimmer Paper.  I used my Big Shot, Magnetic Platform and the Rose Garden Thinlit Dies to cut them from the Glimmer Paper, for the small pink flower, I used my Stampin Trimmer to make cut the edge of one off to make the smaller accents on the edges. 

I used Real Red Cardstock for the base, cut a one centimeter "frame" with the Blushing Bride Glimmer Paper and used our Multipurpose Liquid Glue to attach the two layers, then in the cut out portion of my cut frame, I used Dimensionals to attach the Shine On DSP to the card!

I think this may go to my husband for Valentine's Day!  I hope that you enjoy this as much as I enjoyed making it.  Feel free to let me know if you have any questions, or even better, give me some love!

~R. Winn
My Stampin' Up Website

Puppy Love... LooLooLoo, I Love You!

LooLoo, Olaf, and Dottie... before Dottie took Olaf's face off...

Hi all! 

Be ready for tears.... this is a tough one.

October has been a difficult month here in the Winn household.  Our little LooLoo passed away a week ago today.  She spent the last 3 days of her life in emergency vet care in an oxygen kennel.  Despite the doctors and staff going above and beyond to try to help her, our little girl had fluid in her lungs and was working so hard to breathe.  At 4 am on October 4th, I received a phone call letting me know it was time.  LooLoo was exhausted, she couldn't sleep because breathing was work for her, and her condition was not only not getting better it was getting worse, rapidly. She has crossed the rainbow bridge and is now resting with our German Shepard, Lilly, and her grandpa, who I know she has missed.

 LooLoo came to us about 4.5 years ago, she was a Pomeranian/Chihuahua mix.  When we got her, she was a grumpy old woman who barked out a tooth in our bed, the first night we got her.  She had several medical issues, a skin fungal disease, several teeth that needed pulled, worms, and hip issues.

Our poor little girl had been living a rough life, she was not very trustworthy of people, hated Dottie, and was terrified of kids.  Despite all of that, she had our hearts immediately.  We worked with our vet to get the medical issues taken care of, and under control. Taught her that she could trust us, and tolerate Dottie and other dogs, and that kids, while clumsy have so much love to offer.

LooLoo, aka Little Bear, aka, Tinkerbell, aka our little monster, was a huge fan of pillows. She would commandeer couch cushions, bedroom pillows, laps, chests, anything that was soft and fluffy.  She did a happy dance or circles whenever she was excited or when she wanted something!  She spoke for Dottie, who doesn't tend to let us know when she's hungry, wanting to go potty, etc. Would tell her Daddy to go to bed or get up if he was taking too long... (hehe) and would demand that someone be present while she ate her food (off the floor, bowls were scary!)

This last week with her being gone has been more difficult than I can express.  In order to help myself come to terms with the fact that my baby would in fact not be coming home, I created thank you card for the two amazing vets that took care of our little girl the last few days of her little life. 

  This first one, I was determined to use only Stampin' Up products.  I needed something to make me focus.  I can't tell you if half of these items are still available, and it's a little rough if you look too close, but for the local vet, who took care of LooLoo at 3 AM on Friday when I came in with her breathing rapidly, I think it's perfect.  They let me cry, made sure I was comfortable with her condition prior to my leaving her there, and when it was time to send her to a specialist, they did all of the research, found one in Tacoma for us, made sure they were aware that we would be on our way, and provided a portable oxygen kennel for us to use on the 30 minute drive. 

LooLoo in her travel oxygen kennel.

The next card, for the doctors and staff at the specialty ER vet, was a bit more personal.  I used stamps from Unity and Paper Smooches, I colored them with my Copics, and finished it with a few Pretty Pink Posh sequin stars.

These people took care of LooLoo for almost 3 full days.  They reached out to their associates who were on days off to get their opinions, one even both an in flight wifi package to review her x-rays, loved on her when we weren't there, promised me that someone would be with her she ate, so she wouldn't be alone, allowed my husband and I to visit every single day, talked to us like parents, not owners, she was our child, not our dog. I could go on. They set it up to we could hold her before we left each day, made sure that when my little sister came with to visit she could see then helped us get her hot cocoa to just the right temperature so that she could have it to comfort her, allowed my other sister and her boyfriend in to the ICU to say goodbye and love her as well.  They made sure we were prepared for the worst but strove for the best possible outcome... I know we paid them to do a job, but I owe them my heart for loving my little girl and taking care of her the way a mom can only hope her child is taken care of. 



Good night mommy's little girl, daddy's little princess.  We miss you each moment of each day.  Watch over us, and remember that sometimes, we will need you to put your little paw on our shoulder to let us know it's going to be alright.

 Love,

Mommy and Daddy 

If you are interested in helping make an animal's life a little better, and can't bring a pet (or another pet) home, please donate in LooLoo's name to the Thurston County Animal Services.