Just Popping In To Say...

We have finally been making progress around here. Man! does it feel good to finally be able to scratch some things off that never-ending to do list! Trying to keep up the momentum from the weekend during the work week while juggling Brady's activites. Jeff's sister will be in town on Thursday and is coming for a visit so I'd like to get a few more things completed before then. Fingers crossed.







Here's a peek at our new furniture that was delivered on Friday. I think I'm really happy with it. I wanted all white Pottery Barn, but just couldn't justify the cost. So this is as close as I could get. I took this right after the carpet cleaners left on Saturday. I've since rearranged the mantle and the side table vignette and added some throw pillows--they are from Pottery Barn! ;) Not sure if it was just adding the loveseat or the colors in the fabric with our wall color, but the look of our living room has totally changed. Definitely looks more cohesive. Love spending time in there now. I'll have to post better photos later.




It's been kind of a stressful summer so far. I didn't think summer was supposed to be that way. Turns out that most every day at summer camp Brady is the only boy in his group. So needless to say, he's not thrilled about going this year. Guess it's giving us a taste of what it will be like next year when he'll be too old to go there at all. He's growing up so fast. He's really enjoying baseball this year though and I think he's going to learn and improve alot. All too soon summer will be over and we'll be headed back to school. Or so I keep telling him. In the meantime, Monday trips to the skating rink, reading Treasure Island and baseball are helping him to get through.









I'd better get going. My goal is to be able to mark something off my list tonight. Does a load of laundry count? It wasn't on my original list. But first I'm going to go watch Jeff and Brady play catch for awhile. Brady can't seem to get enough of playing catch this week. Last night they played until they couldn't see the ball any longer. I love that he's trying so hard to get better at something. WAY TO GO BRADY!

Inspiration Begets Inspiration

Did you ever play the game Telephone as a kid? Someone starts by whispering something to the person next to them and they to the next person and so on and so on. When the phrase reaches the last person it's always interesting to see how the phrase has changed as it's traveled through the "telephone". Inspiration is alot like that game. You see or hear something that moves you and then create or do something in response resulting in something your very own yet a reflection of what has inspired you.

Artists and musicians often refer to their influences. Who has influenced their style? Who inspires them? Even athletes find inspiration from their heroes. Inventors are inspired by the need to find a solution to a common need. Every successful person has had someone who inspired them to reach their goals.

So, who or what inspires you? As a creative person I long for inspiration. And I find it all around me-nature, music, print ads, movies, blogs-- inspiration is all around. At times, I'm more receptive to it than at others. Sometimes it moves me to be creative or to change my behaviors. And what a feeling when inspiration hits. It's energizing. You truly feel alive, engaged. Inspired!

I've mentioned the little indie book, Postmark LA here before. Some of my favorite mixed media artists (Theresa McFayden, Pam Garrison, Carolyn Peeler, Rebecca Sower, Amy Hanna, Charlotte Lyons) recently self-published this book about a girl's weekend they spent together. Like-minded artistic souls spending time together doing what they love-shopping, talking, working, creating, finding inspiration. As a result, they created this book for the sole purpose of inspiring others.

I was recently inspired by a project from the book by Carolyn Peeler to create this project. Carolyn was inspired to create her piece by Corey Moortgat. No doubt, Corey drew inspiraton from someone or something else when she created her pieces which inspired both Carolyn and me. See? It goes on and on.

I know. A little Circle of Life, but who or what inspires you? Who are your heroes? I love the quote I chose for this piece. I find it...inspiring!

Man! can't believe it is Monday already! In a way I'm relieved. I mean, I felt like I needed to go back to work to rest today! I definitely function better when I am on a regular schedule and that's much easier to maintain during the work week. Anyway, it's back at it for the week, but here are some of the highlights of the weekend:

Friday-went to the movies with my mom and sister. Had fun just hanging out together. I think my sister is one of the funniest people I know.

Saturday-spent most of the morning doing laundry, waiting for a repairman and working on this.

Jeff called after he got to work and said, "oops. forgot to get my dad a card for Father's day." So, no problem as things were already a mess on the island I just made this. I scanned it for posterity, but afterwards added a couple more words and embellishments (in the car on the way to meet Jeff's folks). I'd wanted to do something with this photo ever since I worked with Grandma Alice's photos last summer. Of course, most of you readers don't know Jeff's nephews, but Jeff's nephew, Grant looks alot like Jerry (Jeff's dad) in this photo. And although the one on the bottom looks SO much like Jeff, I also see Jeff's nephew, Andrew and even Morgan, a bit. Love working with family photos in collage work-one of my new favorite things. In the afternoon, we met Jeff's folks for an early dinner at Cheesecake Factory-YUM!

Sunday-after church my sister and I took my dad out for lunch-Just the three of us. I'm not sure that we had actually ever done this before ever, but it was a real treat to have this time with him. After lunch we took Dad to check out the new Dick's Sporting Goods in our area. Dad is so funny-you can tell where I get some of my wish list making. Dad had already made a list of all the stuff he was going to look for!

Too funny! Jeff and I rounded out Sunday evening with some errands, working on the garage and getting take out followed by a movie-National Treasure 2.

Although it doesn't seem like I actually did that much, it certainly was a busy weekend. This afternoon, I'm catching my breath and then I've got to keep moving. Our new sofa and loveseat is set to arrive on Friday and we're having the carpets cleaned on Saturday. The mission to continue to declutter around here continues. Have to turn my efforts away from my studio this week, but we are definitely making progress around here and that is a good thing.

<----- I leave you with this photo of a bunny I spied in mom & dad's yard yesterday afternoon. He made me laugh at how relaxed he looks all stretched out lying in the cool grass. He must have laid there for at least fifteen minutes before he jumped up and hopped away. Going to find a couple opportunities to relax like that this week and enjoy the beautiful weather they have forecast. Well, it's on the list anyway!

Happiness Is...

a kind word and good deeds. Such little things, but big in the effect they have on one's spirit. My sister is the Queen of random acts of kindness. She and a friend of hers lugged my new cabinet from the garage to my studio in the downstairs this past Saturday. It would take me awhile to list all the selfless acts like this she's blessed me with over the years. Seriously, she's a good sis!


Merci becoup, Marisa!



<-----BTW, this was a little thank you I made for my sis inspired by the Bella's new book, Postmark LA. Climbed on to the dollie head bandwagon. Love their sweet expressions and all the wear and tear from being loved.






Not quite ready to show it all, but here is a peek at some of my favorite spots in my studio. It's making me happy to see progress and imagine it finished and actually working in there. You can see the start of my dollie head collection. ;)






Here are some other things that are making me smile this week. Hope you'll share what makes you happy. Leave a comment and play along, won't you?

Happiness Is...
our new smooth operating garage door and being able to use the opener again

jack johnson playing on the radio on a balmy summer day



browsing through the kids section at barnes & noble and seeing all the titles i read as a kid-did you read nancy drew? how about the little house books? tom sawyer?



a new book = new inspiration
<-----can't wait to dive into this one


an icy cold java chip frappuccino



reading about traveling to paris-could i? will i? i just might.



lavender sachets in my dresser drawers-love the way they scent my clothes


you've got mail-the movie AND receiving an unexpected sweet note from my mom

MAMMA MIA!

What a weekend! Spent ALOT of time at home working on my studio and managed to get quite a bit accomplished. Still not finished, but definitely making progress. But the highlight of the weekend was going to the Fox to see Mama Mia with my mom, my sister and Shirley. What a fun show! I had been looking forward to it for some time-you know how my sister and I love ABBA.





I was very curious how they were going to work the music into the storyline. So clever. Loved the use of color to get the feel of being in Greece. There's nothing quite like live theatre. Loved the voice of the gal who played the mom-her voice was great for ABBA. She had great control. The dancing was amazing, too. My favorite part of the whole night were the encores when the entire cast performed three ABBA songs in platforms and those whild metallic space inspired outfits the Swedish foursome used to wear back in the day. Can't wait for the movie adaptation-I'm hoping they have a sing along version like they do for The Sound of Music! ;)





Hoping to share some peeks at my studio soon. Although at times it feels like all the stuff is growing, it is starting to come together.

P.S. Yes, this is the lone photo I snapped before going in. No cameras allowed so I was afraid to even snap a photo of the four of us. Oh, well-next time.

Paging Peter Walsh

Where is Peter Walsh when you need him? You know who I'm talking about, right? The Australian guru of clearing out the clutter who dares to ask the question, "Does this clutter make my butt look fat?" Well, I need him ASAP! The clutter is not only making my butt fat, but driving. me. crazy!


Seriously, we've been attempting to get a handle on the clutter around our house. Part of that is clearing out my studio. In particular for a piece of furniture I just brought home over the weekend (thanks to my dad) which will hopefully help me to be more organized. I desperately want to pare down, weed out and basically get rid of ALOT of stuff. I'm making progress, but I am so frustrated and need someone who is not emotionally attached to me or my stuff to say, "hey, get rid of it!"





Here is a BEFORE photo. Don't judge me-I know I'm not the only creative hoarder out there in blogland! ;)

These are some inspiration photos I'm carrying around with me to stay motivated. Hopefully, in a week or so I'll have IN PROGRESS photos. Once I clear everything out I still want to paint and then finish my vintage wallpaper'd wall I started.

<-----Love the open shelving and the collection of vintage containers. And of course, the wallpaper!

<-----Again, love the open shelving and that you can see what you have. Also like that it is practical yet decorative.

<-----Love the locker baskets and the little drawers. I have that very lamp only it's dark brown (and needs rewired).


I'm slowly making progress. I also picked up a set of bed risers for my desk and now I have the counterheight working space I have been wanting. I can always lower it if I decide I don't like it later. I'm a little fickle at times. I'm hoping to have my mom help me make a skirt for it. I got this idea from Colleen Moody HERE.





I just keep hammering away at it. And enjoying some positives including finally putting to use some of the items I'd purchased for organizing. I am loving the new-to-me vintage luggage I purchased for a song. Nice and clean and in great shape-storing books in these. Going to sell or get rid of the luggage pieces I purchased previously. Yep, can't get over the smell. See, fickle.



Although Mr Walsh is not by my side, I am using some of his tried and true tricks--quick sort, purge and organize and the piles-keep, toss, give away. I know this works it's just time consuming and you have to stick with it. My goal is to only have 1/3 left when I'm finished. I have a way to go so, if you see Peter send him my way. And tell him to bring Eric Strommer with him--I could use some open shelving and help getting that cabinet downstairs!

EveRyDaY

Today's blog post is dedicated to my dear husband, Jeff. We are celebrating our 11th anniversary today. I am so grateful to have this man in my life. He truly is one of a kind. He has demonstrated many times over just how dedicated he is to me and our children. The lyrics to this song by Rascal Flatts sum up how I feel about him. He truly saved my life. I love you, Jeff!

Bonne Anniversaire, mon cheri!

You could have bowed out gracefully

But you didn't

You knew enough to know to leave well enough alone

But you wouldn't

I drive myself crazy trying to stay out of my own way

The messes that i made

But my secrets are so safe

The only one who gets me

Yeah, you get me

It's amazing to me

How every day

every day

every day

You save my life

Hello, Old Friend

On the upside of a three day holiday weekend when it's rained more than not and I've basically been in bed sick, I have caught up on reality TV, watched the Wedding Planner and several musicals. Not alot of excitement. I did manage to teach our last Sunday School class until next Fall and to go to a movie with my husband yesterday, but that's about as exciting as it's gotten. Feeling a bit better everyday, but this yuk has really knocked me out.

Would have loved to have used this time to do any number of things that needed to be done around here, but just haven't felt up to it. Besides, if I hadn't been sick I'd been at the Lake for most of the weekend. I did take the opportunity on Saturday to spend some time with an old friend-scrapbooking! Yes, before I fell in love with the wonderful world of mixed media I had a little thing for scrapbooking.

Shoulda known back then what was ahead since one of my favorite designers has always been Jenni Bowlin. Drawn to her use of vintage elements, I couldn't get enough of her signature style so I began subscribing to her "kit" club. Each month subscribers receive a collection of patterned paper and embellishments chosen by the designer herself. Slowly Jenni began to design her own products tailored to her esthetic-a delightful mix of vintage and modern. Now, most of the products in her kits are JBS exclusive products. In addition to her montly papercrafting kit, she also features a project kit each month as well as limited addition mixed media kits. See what I mean? I love her style!




Anyway, I took the opportunity in between naps to work on some things I had received in recent months from Jenni. I'm ashamed to say, I have quite a stockpile. At one time, I had challenged myself to create at least three layouts from each kit filling an entire album, but have since gotten derailed.





This one was a project kit I assembled for my Mom last weekend, but I didn't get a chance to share it yet. I like the way Jenni used the rubons to accent the photos. These are from her product line and go on "like butter"! I'm always amazed just how much she seems to get out of the kits she designs. Always lots leftover to use on future projects.





I first discovered Jenni and Heidi Swapp because they both had boys and there seemed to be so few layouts in the magazines with boy stuff. I like the way they both are not afraid to use traditionally feminine colors and elements for boys. Afterall, real men wear pink don't ya know!





I also credit Jenni with helping me to overcome my fear of journaling. Inspired by her, I have used song lyrics, poetry (even my own) and just a few words to tell why I want to remember a brief moment captured in a photo. In the layout above I chose this time to use a quote card I ordered from Rebecca Sower's etsy shop. You can find a link to her shop HERE. She and Jenni both use vintage elements in their work and I often get their names mixed up when I talk about them!



Even tho' I would've rather not been sick this holiday weekend and didn't feel up to doing much, I'm glad I seized the opportunity to revisit my old friend scrapbooking. We'll stay in touch thanks to Jenni.

Pitiful Timing

The start of summer beginning with the Memorial Day holiday is something I always look forward to. We had planned to head out to the Lake today for a brief visit with my family. I'd really been looking forward to taking a very big deep breath and enjoying a relaxing time of just hanging out together for a day or two.

Well, as most plans go (yes, I am often a glass half empty gal) I came down with an upper respiratory infection. Since I wasn't feeling up to travelling today, Brady rode along with Grandma and I've spent the afternoon in my chair under the quilt with ice water and a diet coke nursing my sore throat and cough. Not exactly how I had planned to start the holiday weekend.

I recently picked up Mary Emmerling's new book, Beach Cottages. In the introduction she writes, "If you have ever loved a beach house, you know it holds a place in your heart forever. " Ever since our family rented a house along Fort Morgan beach near Gulf Shores several years ago, I have longed to return to the shore. That trip affected all of us on many levels. A few years after our trip my parents bought a lovely house on Lake of the Ozark on a quiet inlet cove. Shaded by oaktrees and covered in hostas and other perinnials it's a wonderful retreat for all of us. It has all the necessary components of a beachside cottage- sun, water, laughter, flip flops, no schedules and all of us together. Like many of the cottages featured in Emmerling's book, Mom and Dad's place at the lake holds a fondness for all of us. We love being there all together. Hopefully, I'll be well enough to join everyone later this weekend.






As a consolation and to keep the beach theme going, fate brought me Rogers & Hammerstein's Carousel on TV this afternoon and my eagerly anticipated copy of LA Postmark-la petite livre arrived in the mail today. Now I'm just waiting for the meds to kick in and hopefully I'll be back on track for the holiday.







Have a wonderful holiday weekend-Happy Memorial Day!

sPRead Your wINGS and FLY

Our family had a wonderful day on Sunday. Not only was it Mother's Day, but it was Confirmation Day for my niece, Emily. I was honored to be able to participate in the worship service by being part of the choir. My vantage point allowed me the joy of seeing my entire family sitting together in worship singing, praying and taking communion. The highlight of the service was when we gathered around Emily as a family and laid hands on her and prayed that God would guide and sustain her on her personal journey of faith. I'm hoping she knew just how much love was surrounding her at that moment and felt the sincerity of our hopes and wishes for her to grow in God's love. Here are a few pictures from this special day courtesy of my sister-in-law, Julie. I managed to forget my camera!


<-------Emily with her pastor who did a great job not only teaching, but discipling as well. Thought it was great as part of their program they visited a
seminary, Catholic mass and synagogue.

<-------Me with Emily's other grandma. It was Janet's doing that I briefly stepped out of retirement for this special occasion. She is the pianist and organizes the choir at their church.

<--------Emily with her two godmothers (me and Julie's sister, Linda)

<----------this is the historic church where the confirmation took place. One of the oldest churches west of the Mississippi. Such a picturesque building. The stained glass is simple, but pretty. I wish it had been sunny so you could see how pretty they were.

<--------these two jokesters always seem to make me laugh. They kept laughing at me every time I teared up-which was often!

At Last

Tara Whitney recently began a Project of the Month post on her new blog. At the beginning of each month, she posts a BEFORE photo and describes the project she wants to finish by month end when she posts an AFTER photo of the completed project. She invited her blog readers to play along. Well if you know me very well, you know I have enough unfinished projects to fill an entire year of POM's (Project of the Month)! However, I thought Tara's new POM very inspiring and in that spirit Jeff and I have started trying to get some things accomplished around here.

At last one of the first projects is completed. YIPPEE! These shelves from Pottery Barn had been lying on the floor downstairs in our family room since January. Thanks to one of the fellas from Jeff's work they were finally hung up this afternoon. I love how they look! Going to play around with the layout of the frames, but that's what I like most about these shelves/ledges. It's so easy to have a rotating display and to incorporate three dimensional items along with the photographs. All of the photos displayed except the one in the green frame were taken by Tammy Heckel.

The light streaming through the windows downstairs was so great this afternoon I just had to snap a photo of my Brady boy. He didn't sit still for long-he was working on writing and drawing a cartoon among other things. Okay, I'm off to try and get some other things organized to see what else we can accomplish this week. Who knows, you just might see me posting a few finished POM's over on Tara's blog!

POM POMS

Just couldn't resist bringing these home with me from my mom's house earlier this week. The bush is just loaded. Man! they are spectacular.

Had my first quilting lesson this week, too. Silly, me. Thought I was just going to tear it up with the rotary cutter and get all my pieces cut in one night. Little did I know all the prep work involved in beginning a new quilting project. Managed to get all the strips cut for the first colorway and assembled three 6 inch blocks. WOO-HOO!!! Only 45 more to go! I think once I get into the groove it will go quicker, but want to do a good job so don't want to rush either. There is so much to learn, but I'm learning from the best. Hope I can do her proud.

I titled this post POM POMS at first because of the flowers. We've always called them snowballs, but I've also heard them called Pom Poms and lately I have been thinking about my Mom and how she has always been my biggest cheerleader. Sometimes without my knowing and often without me realizing it.

Recently, I had to attend a rehearsal several miles from our home. Since it was a bit of a drive on a windy road and I'd be coming back after dark my mom offered to ride along with me. We had a nice visit on the way to our destination as we recounted stories and events from years ago as we made our way through several small towns in which much of our family had lived. I was very nervous about going to this rehearsal as I have not sung and performed other than a few isolated occassions for some time and I think Mom knew the visit would help me to relax a bit. Once we arrived, I quickly got into place and began doing my thing. At one point, I looked out to see a very familiar site. There was Mom nestled into a pew about three quarters of the way back in the sanctuary quietly listening. Just being there for me. At once, I felt more at ease and confident. Just as it had been when I would look out and see her sitting and listening in the auditorium of our home church when I would practice for hours on end as a high schooler.

That is just one way she has shown her support for me over the years. There have been many times throughout my life that I don't know what I would have done without my mother. Always the voice of reason, always the teacher, always there for me.

Abraham Lincoln said, " All I am, or can be, I owe to my angel mother." Thanks for being my biggest cheerleader, Mom.

Happy Mother's Day!

P.S. Can't wait for my next quilting lesson. ;)

Marvelous May

It hardly seems possible, but we're nearly a week into the month of May already. Seems the more I try to savor the days the quicker they pass. I love May so I'm hoping it hastens a bit longer than precious April. Here are some of the things I love about marvelous May.

peonies in bloom

mine and my brother's birthdays

the first official summer holiday

our wedding anniversary

warm, breezy afternoons

cool, rainy mornings

hearing the bugs and frogs settling down for the evening

celebrations-proms, graduations, confirmations, weddings

garage sale season

dining al fresco

spotting a hot air balloon

buying flowers to plant and digging in the dirt

So, here's to each and every moment of this delightful month. Do you have a favorite month? If so, which one and why?

P.S. Just in case you didn't recognize the two kiddos in the photo above-that's me and my brother on our 2nd and 1st birthday's. Oh, and no clothes on me mostly likely meant that Mom didn't want me to get that chocolate icing on my clothes. :)

As long as I can remember, my brother and I celebrated our birthdays together as they are only four days apart. Today is his birthday so "Happy Birthday, Mike"!

45

Inspired by a recent blog post by the lovely Andrea Singarella of One Hundred Wishes, I decided to bake myself a cake in celebration of my birthday today. And it's a bigee-the cupcake and the birthday! 45.

forty-five.

10x4+5.

4 decades and a half.

45. (said in my best Rob Schneider voice)

This is the first birthday that it's seemed to bother me that I'm getting older. I'm trying to take the high road and follow Oprah's lead. Trying to embrace the whole aging gracefully thing. But I feel like she's yelling from the top of the hill, "Come on, girl! Move it! Let's go!" as I trudge upward falling steps behind with every step I manage to take forward. But trudge on I must. So embracing my inner Oprah, I'd like to share 4 things I've discovered about myself since turning 40 and 5 things I'd like to accomplish in the next few years before I turn (gulp) 50.

fOUR things I've learned since turning 40

1. the past belongs in the past-let it go

2. be grateful for the everyday and savor it

3. life is not perfect and neither am I-and that's okay

4. trust your gut-you know more than you think

fIVE things I'd like to do before turning 50

1. learn to quilt

2. visit a California flea market

3. plant a rose garden

4. start my own business

5. celebrate my 50th birthday in Paris (or New Zealand)

Home Sweet Home

One more of the CasaBella houses. Hoping my aunt enjoys it as much as I enjoyed creating it for her.

Got a little more brave with the beeswax and did some reheating on the house itself and kind of shrinking it away from the papers. Love how it seemed to darken and further age the areas I heated up. Interesting to just play around with it. Working on the canvas was a little more challenging than using the wood base, but I was happy to find the size and shape I'd been wanting to use for this project. This one is a little more like the inspiration piece, but proud to say that adding the quote was my idea. And I love this one by Laura Ingalls Wilder. And the emellishment on the door-mwah! had a hard time parting with that beautiful button. Another from the stash I scored several weeks ago. And the frill-well, from my pantry. Yep! a cupcake liner. It works when you don't have just the right shade of crepe paper.

While I was working on this piece I thought about the copy of Little Women that my aunt gave to me when I was a little girl. I must have read that a hundred times-and still have it. I remember watching American Bandstand with her on Saturday mornings when I was at my grandma's and she still lived at home. She always reminded me of Marlo Thomas-I think it was here hair then. Classic 60's and 70's hair-shoulder length with bangs and of course, the flip. She has it long again after many years of a pixie cut-so, so cute on her. She has the greatest laugh and smile, too. So happy for her to have this new home of her very own. A sweet nest for two!

The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men

You know how the saying goes. Yeah, I hate when things don't work out. But then again, funny how they do. Had been signed up to take a class at Red Lead yesterday and then it just didn't work out to get down there and back before school was out so... Spent my 2.5 hrs of weekly solitude running some errands and popping into a couple of my fav spots. Picked up the small pieces I was having painted at Robin's Nest. This one I decided to use in my teeny tiny laundry room.

And this one still needs a little work. Naturally, I had a debacle with the glass knobs so it's not quite finished, but this will help me begin to get organized in my studio. Sooner than later, I hope. Got this at the local junk store for $10-coat of paint and new knobs and ta-dah! Well, that's the idea anyway. Like I said, best laid plans...

And because I just can't help myself, my next stop brought me to Willow Lake for their Spring Sale. That Eileen, she is so clever and finds the best stuff. I need to find out how I can be her wingman on her next antiquing trip. Even the little ducks you pull out of the water for an add'l discount were vintage. And pink! Love it!

These screamed at me when I got out of the car. Love the blue glass and loved that they came grouped together on the carrier that helps lower them into the boiling pot when canning. They make a great centerpiece filled with flowers or just about anything. They would also look cute with vintage buttons or other small pieces stored in them. For the summer though, I think I'm going to keep them on my kitchen table or island with sand, shells and maybe a tealight or two.

And these pink linen napkins tugged on my sweater-at $1/ea, I thought they were a great deal. The color is divine! Need to have a girls lunch or something so I can use them. Hmmm...

For a little treat I picked up these. Going to send one along in the care package I'm sending to my friend in Ethiopia. She is an angel ministering to children who have been orphaned by AIDS or who face other daily challenges we cannot fathom. These are handmade by a local gal and was just one of many yummy soaps and bath stuff Willow Lake is now carrying. Too pretty to pass up!

If you're local, Eileen still has some great stuff left and will be open on Sunday this week, too! EVERYTHING ON SALE plus tasty treats and door prizes. Also, on my driveby's passed Oma's looks like the girls are in full Spring planting mode. Email me if you need directions to any of these terrific local shops. I linked to their websites if they have one.

BTW, I would be remiss if I didn't mention my brief stop at Raspberry Patch, too. The ladies there are so helpful and their enthusiasm for quilting is infectious. I was really just supposed to be window shopping for fabric to be used on a project my mom is going to work on for me. But ended up buying fabric for me to try and make my first quilt. Well, a wallhanging really. Here's a peek at the fabrics I selected.

Feel like I should wear a button: SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BOUTIQUES. :)

Whether you have plans or not-Have a great weekend!

Happy Earth Day

"The earth laughs in flowers." -- e.e. cummings

I love this quote and I always think of my Grandma Swan when I see it. She loved flowers. And all the little backyard creatures that came to her door. Just like Snow White, she would feed many of them from her hand-squirrels in particular. You know, she had a baby squirrel named, Jethro. At her house on Clark Street she had enormous hydrangea bushes. I think that's where my love affair with hydrangeas began. She always had African violets in the house and lots of potted plants on the porch or patio. This past Sunday would have been her birthday and so I thought it only appropriate to blog about her and her love of flowers and all living things on Earth Day. Boy, do I miss her. I spent alot of time at her house from middle school through college just visiting and hanging out with her. If I spent the night on Saturdays we always watched The Lawrence Welk Show, but she had very ecletic tastes in music from Jim Nabors to Elton John and Leo Sayer (remember him?) to Leonard Skynard. Oh, and Rod Stewart-one of her favorite songs was Maggie May. She was a high spirited lady with many a colorful story, but to me she was my grandma and made each trip to her house special whether it was for the afternoon or several days. Each time I see flowers in bloom or a little creature- especially a bluebird, I like to think she's thinking of me. She'll definitely be one of the first people I'll be looking for in Heaven. I'm sure she'll be puttering in a garden somewhere ready with a glass of iced tea when I get there!

Okay, enough of that. I'm crying as I type!!! Want to encourage you today to do what you can to be a good steward of the Earth. As a family, we have been recycling since we moved to a community that provides this service with weekly trash pickup. Once we got into the habit it is so easy and you wouldn't believe what a HUGE difference it makes in the amount that goes out to the curb to go to the landfill. We can still do more and right now are working towards changing out some of our cleaning products and trying to cut down on the amount of paper towels and water we use. I've stopped buying bottled water for at home and instead invested in a water filter pitcher. Just recently I switched to taking reuseable bags to the grocery store and Target and recycling what plastic ones do come home with me. Overall, just trying to be good stewards of the resources around us. Eventually, we need to make a decision about the lawn service we currently use and switch to organic. (Yes, I know. If you're really environmental you might have just lost faith in me there.) And in general, I need to reduce the amount of stuff that comes into our home. But we're trying to do our part and increase what we do to better the environment as we are able.

There are so many little things each of us can do to make a big difference. Awareness is key. We live on such an amazing planet with such diversity of plant and animal life. What a gift and privilege! I think the Native Americans have a wonderful perspective about Mother Earth.

"Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children."

PEACE to all who enter

Here's a little something I've been working on. This is the first project from the new CasaBella e-Zine which began last week. BTW, it's not too late to subscribe HERE. I'm getting a little better about using what I have and doing my own spin on things. Although this is still in keeping with the sample inspiration piece-I'm not that brave! Love all the texture and that charcoal pencil is like a magic wand. It gives depth instantly. Love that!

One of the new techniques from this issue of the 'zine was to use masking tape to pull away at the papers in order to distress the project. This was done after the initial layer of book paper was adhered to the base with gel medium. Very cool method, but on this project alot of that gets covered up by the house, but cool none the less and you can see bits of this and then I highlighted with the charcoal pencil.

Another new technique I tried on this was beeswax. Yep! just took a deep breath and finally tried it. Love how it blends everything together and gives a mellowness to the piece.

I was also able to attach the gold dove before the wax dried. fuN! Got really bold and scattered some mica flakes for some sparkle. I had been wanting to try this for awhile and really this was just to be a practice piece for a housewarming gift I'm wanting to make. But as I got deeper into it, I loved it more and more. So I decided, why not tailor this for my front entry. I kinda like how it came together.

Other points of interest-used vintage flocked wallpaper for the door-chose the yellow as I'm toying with painting the interior of our house a different color. We've had the same color (similiar to the wallpaper piece) since we moved here six years or so ago. So just in case I repaint, I want to remember the yellow. I do love it-see my dilemma?

The door knob is some sort of vintage button I got in the lot of buttons I bought a few weekends ago. There's a little rhinestone in the knob-do you see it? Knew they would be perfect for collage projects like this when a doorknob was needed. Fortunately, I have several of these to use on future pieces!

Since I collect "M's" I decided to use a letter rather than a number on the nest to represent our family. This is a felt one in "bella blue", of course and a little homage to the modern. And the phrase, well, that was inspired by my sweet husband who always reminds me that HOME should be a sanctuary. Yes honey, you are exactly right.

PEACE to you from our cozy little nest!

Great Balls of Fire!

We were abruptly woken up this morning by an earthquake. Yes! in the midwest and not California-can you believe it? Really a bizarre sensation. I thought maybe we were having a tornado when we realized EVERYTHING in our house was shaking. Seemed to go on awhile although it was only for a minute. Really freaked Cam out at his place-said stuff fell off a shelf even. I'm sure we don't have any damage, but for some of our family and friends you know I'm going to be checking our basement!

What a way to start the day. Happy Friday!

Spring Fever

Spring
When daisies pied, and violets blue,
And lady-smocks all silver-white,
And cuckoo-buds of yellow hue
Do paint the meadows with delight

--Shakespeare

Man! do I have Spring fever today! The weather here is absoutely gorgeous! Sunny, breezy and mid-70's. Not sure if everything is actually blooming more this year or if we've just been waiting so long for spring to arrive, but the ground is coming alive with all sorts of blossoms. My daffodils have been particularly generous this year and I've really enjoyed them. The redbud outside my window at work is now starting to bloom-one of my favorite trees. Can't help but get energized when it's SO pretty outside. Guess I'd better do something with that energy. Have so many things needing my attention not sure what I should choose first. Or how.
Draw straws? Throw a dart at my list? Eenie, Meenie?
Had a productive day at work so I need to carry that over here at home. Fingers crossed!



Hoping to work tomorrow night on a couple little art projects while Jeff plays golf.
The most recent Bella e-Zine has begun-Casa Bella.

Lots of fun home decorative projects in store and I'm already two behind! It's been a few weeks since the last one ended so I've been missing it. Being a part of these really keeps you motivated to be creative. I've kind of lost my mojo the last week or two.



Enjoy your evening! Guess I'll start with the laundry...