Sweet Basil Avenue

day 2!

Junkstock Day 1- here we go!

And then there were 2! ❤️ It’s surreal to think I have written and illustrated two Children’s books. The first one took me 10 years and the second one only took me 10 months…lol Both of them are available on Amazon and are coming with me to this weekend (Oct. 4-6). Thank you to everyone for all of your kind words and support! It truly means a lot. Ideas for a third book are definitely brewing.

I can’t believe is only 18 days away! So excited to see all the travel themed art installations, and the weather is getting more autumn-like by the day!!! Yay!

NOW AVAILABLE! 🎉 My second book, The Cheese & Green Olive Sadwich, is now available on Amazon. I will also be selling it it just a couple weeks. This story is for everyone! It has such a great message and who doesn’t love food!!! I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed making it! 🧀🫒

Today is Sweet Basil Avenue’s 7th birthday! 🎉 7 years! Wow! I haven’t kept “stats” on everything throughout the years but I have kept count of how many dresses I’ve sold. (Only dresses-no other type of clothing I’ve made) Drum roll please…..
I have made & sold 719 dresses in the past 7 years. Whoa! How neat is that!?
Thank you for everyone who has supported me and small business over the past 7 years- by purchasing, reposting, commenting, sharing, sending happy thoughts and kind words. I couldn’t have done it without all of you! ❤️

I know no one’s probably thinking about Christmas yet, but here is a whole rack, full of holiday clothing, that’s done and ready for 🎁🎄🌟
Junkstock • October 4-6

I’m bringing lots of patchwork quilts to this fall. Each one is unique and doing its part to help reduce fabric that’s headed for the landfill. Mark your calendars and come check them out!
Junkstock - October 4th, 5th & 6th
1150 River Road Dr., Waterloo, NE

Come see these little repurposed beauties in person- is right around the corner.
Junkstock - October 4th, 5th & 6th
1150 River Road Dr., Waterloo, NE

Here’s the finished Fall Collection! 🍁 I am posting more individual photo in the next post. (I think fall is slowly becoming my favorite holiday.)

Junkstock - October 4th, 5th & 6th
1150 River Road Dr., Waterloo, NE

I recieved the files today of the book illustrations photographs for The Cheese & Green Olive Sandwich! Hooray!
My husband and I will now be spending some of our evenings adding the text, designing the cover, etc. before sending it to the publisher.
We are one step closer everyone! So. Exciting. 🧀🫒

Photo shoot day! 📷 I got photos taken of all the book illustrations today. This is a huge step in the process and such a relief to have behind me.
Next steps: I should receive the files sometime next week and my husband will be able to start adding the text before sending it off to the publisher. We’re getting closer!
Thank you to everyone for all your kind words and support. You’ve been amazing! 🧀🫒

(Re)Introducing our leading lady! This is Lynn and this is Lynn’s favorite Sandwich. My new book- The Cheese & Green Olive Sandwich was born from one of the illustrations in my first book- Ballerina Rats. (If you have the book- go see if you can find it.)
I can’t wait to share with you what happens when Lynn brings such an “interesting” lunch to school with her.
The Cheese & Green Olive Sandwich comes out soon (hopefully August/September)
Thank you for all your support!

Coincidentally, our family took a trip to Florida around the same time I was working on some of the food illustrations for the book and as I walked along the beach, I thought to myself, “gosh these seashells sure look like potato chips.” And voila!-this page was born. What are they getting dipped in? You’ll just have to wait till the book is done to find out.

I’m kind of bummed that this is the only landscape illustration in the book…I just love making it and I want to make more!

(This picture was too good not to save as a permenant post.) This tiny, Cheese & Green Olive Sandwich shows up a few times in the pages of the new book. It’s one of the joys of making 3-D illustrations, that I only have to make one sandwich and I can move it/use it multiple times. 🧀🫒

I wrote my 2nd Children’s book last December and have been slowly working on the illustrations and I am finally ready to share it with you!
It’s called The Cheese and Green Olive Sandwich 🧀🫒. It’s not a sequel to Ballerina Rats but it’s a bit of a spin off.
I will be sharing some of my illustration making photos with you over the next couple weeks and I’m hoping to have my part done before the school year starts. 🤞
Enjoy!

Finally! After living in our home for 4 years, we have artwork hanging above our bed. Yay! Everytime I walk into our room and see it, I’m like, “ooooo!” lol
It’s simple, yet grand. It’s balanced and it’s beautiful. I love it!

It’s perfect! It’s so serene! It’s just the right size for this space and the colors turned out exactly as I had hoped. I love it! And it feels good to finally get some things up on the walls around here. lol

Here it is! All finished and up on the wall. I was absolutely honored that my daughter wanted something made by me to hang up in her room. 🩷🩷

The month of May is always such a whirlwind for moms and teachers so it was nice to put a pause on Sweet Basil Avenue and focus on the end of the school year and take a little family vacay.
But now June is officially here and I’m ready to jump back in. I’ve got lots of fun projects planned and can’t wait to bring you along for the ride.

I wanted to send out a HUGE thank you for all the love and support these past two weekends. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

To my amazing husband for “holding down the fort” while I’ve been away for long days at . ❤️

To my mom for helping with setup and tear down. ❤️

For everyone who came to shop in my booth. 💛

For those who stopped by to show me pictures of things they’ve bought in the past. 💛

For all the people who worked so hard to make happen and make it so magical. 🫖☮️❤️

To my neighbors- and for listening to my spiel over and over and over again! For all their positivity, encouragement, and good conversation. 🤪😊

And last, but not least, for everyone who sent comments, messages, hearts and likes to cheer me on. You are all so wonderful!

I will be taking the rest of May off to finish up the school year, rest and with my family. See you in June for more repurposing with Sweet Basil Avenue. 🌱

Last day of is today from 10-5! It’s gonna be a beautiful day! 🌸💛🌺

Junkstock Day 2! Grab yourself some coffee from the coffee house and make your way through the Junkstock wonderland. ☮️ ❤️🫖🌸

A little splash of summer to add to my booth this weekend! ☀️ I now have 128 pieces of clothing, which is the most I’ve ever had at one time. Are you ready to do some shopping?

—> May 3-5 & May 10-12

1150 River Rd Dr, Waterloo, NE 68069