Your Questions Answered Part I

First of all I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your beautiful and encouraging words regarding my collage.You have blessed me once again!I also wanted to let you know that I will be selling prints of my collage….I will let you know...

Letting Go

Sometimes there are seasons in our lives that grow and stretch us more than others.Maybe it is my age.I don't take a lot of stuff anymore.I only spend my time with friends I cherish.I am much better at making time for my art and other passions.I am able to look at...

Through The Lens

I have loved taking photos each day for my 365 photography blog.It has been fun working with different textures and actions and learning a little more on Photoshop. I do not get much time to play…but when I do it is pure joy. Thank you for all of you that have...

Hands and Feet

 I truly believe that people are good.I know there are exceptions to this belief….but I think as a society we have shown over and over again that when we know WHAT to do…we do great things.When something huge and devastating happens like 9-11 or the...

Where This Woman Creates

Does this room look familiar?Up until last week my studio was in our unfinished basement. My husband had been trying to talk me into taking our dining room as my studio for over a year.He couldn't stand that the room was only getting used three to four times a...

An Open Book

I have seen this on a few blogs and I thought it would be fun.If you have questions….I have answers.I am pretty much an open book anyways.Do you have a question about starting a business, decorating, fashion, creating, homeschooling???? Ask whatever you want. I...

Be Transformed

Have you ever caught a glimpse of yourself in the mirror and thought….I wish I looked older?Have you ever been hanging out with your girlfriends…you look at each of them…and you are jealous of their sunspots and crows feet?Do you wish that...

Grandma Jeanneoli

My story begins back in October.I had just met my friends Lissa and Becky in Boise for Brave Girl Camp.We had only known each other through our blogs at this point.They had arrived earlier in the day and I was arriving at bedtime.We had been talking for 30 minutes or...

Mad Men

Dear Golden VintageI have a little bit of an obsession….with the show Mad Men. Timeless Vixen VintageFirst of all you have to remember that I grew up watching old movies and later always designing clothes inspired by the 30s, 40s and 50s.  First LoveMy...

Year of Possibilities

Not far from me there is an old, historic farm that is being brought back to life. Slowly the roofs are being repaired and the barns repainted.I do not know who owns this farm. I have no connection to this piece of land…but I can't pass the farm without...

Christmas In Colorado

This is kind of like Christmas in Connecticut:-)  OK, maybe not…but that is one of my all time favorite Christmas movies.Have you ever seen it?We had a wonderful white Christmas that was full of hot cocoa, playing outside, shoveling, playing on the piano,...

Vote For My Friend

The Homies voting is down to the six finalist.I am so excited for my friend Meg at Whatever. As in..whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or...

The Homies

 There are awards for all sorts of blogs, but no one ever pays enough attention to the shelter blogs, so we started The Homies. It's our way of surveying the blogosphere each year for the best new home design blogs and sharing what we find. It's not so...

From Our Family To Yours

    For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince Of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

It’s A Wonderful Life

This past weekend was full of pajamas, creating and lots of movies.We didn't shop or run all over the place.We created and made a lot of messes.We watched some of our favorite movies and of course we watched It's A Wonderful Life. It doesn't matter how...

Change of Pace

We all love a night out with the girls. (My beautiful friend Juli. I would like to point out that I was the only one that didn't dress up.  I didn't know…I was thinking paint + me = a mess)Lets be honest….we all NEED a night out with the...

Don’t Blink

…..or it will be gone!    I can't believe that we are a week away from Christmas. I always think that I will do things differently each year….and each year I realize that it all went by so quickly. I closed my shop earlier this year...

Vintage Paper Wreath

  I am so thrilled that so many of you loved the paper wreath!I got so many emails about how I made it that I am glad that I took some photos during the process.This idea is not mine.My friend Lissa had seen it somewhere and sent a picture of it to me because...

All Dressed Up

 On Saturday night we had our yearly progressive dinner with our neighborhood.We hosted appetizers and cocktails this year and we had so much fun.The house was all cleaned (thanks to the lovely cleaning ladies that I hadn't seen since the spring) and we had...

For As Long As I Can Remember

…I have loved papers.What child collected vintage books because they thought they were beautiful and smelled amazing..that would be me. I can not walk past a paper shop…it is truly one of my very favorite kinds of shops in the world.I am a fan of vintage...

A Girl Needs To Accessorize

  (originally $42)Today I am offering the discount on all my items that help you accessorize!This is through Thursday ONLY!These are the things that pull your outfit together and help you stand out.   (originally $56)Accessorizing is one of my favorite...

Today’s Deal

 (originally $52)The discount for Wednesday is on all my purses that are currently in stock.***remember that I can ship for you and everything will arrive wrapped beautifully*** (originally $28)I will show what their original price was and what the sale is for...

Shop Update

I just wanted to remind everyone that I am offering FREE SHIPPING in my shop until December 13th.The 13th will also be the last day that my shop is open until the New Year!I want to enjoy this amazing season with my family and get working on all the goodies that I am...

Small Town Girl

(Our family and my sweet niece)I grew up in a small town of 3,000 in rural Illinois.We didn't have a stoplight or any fast food restaurants.Any store we went into knew who we belonged to and the barber was always the place to go for a piece of candy on our way...

Pretty Distractions

image found hereWe had a pretty hard week around here.We are getting back to normal but it is amazing how things can change in a moment and you are scrambling to stay above water.The day after Thanksgiving I got a call from my husband that he was in the emergency room...

When Your Heart Changes

Mixed media collage by Becky Strahle at Farm Girl PaintsWhen your heart changes you see the world differently.You see yourself differently.You become stronger, wiser, braver, more compassionate, more lovely.When you see yourself for who you could really be….the...

Notes From a Recovering Perfectionist

(photograph courtesy of my seven year old)This is a story of a girl who loved to clean. Loved perfection. Loved order.This is a story of a girl that married a boy that did not love the above.This is a story of a girl that needed to let go of some control and a boy who...

Little Pumpkin

I had the honor of photographing my new, little nephew last week.He was only three days old.He is perfect and beautiful and the world will be blessed because of his life!! Abran's two big sisters.   Don't forget to squeeze YOUR pumpkins a little...

Be Choosy

I don't know about most of you girls out there…but I need my girlfriends.I need talks over coffee.Laughter in the dressing rooms.Whispering during the movies.Crying over nothing and everything. I have had friendships that I wish I would have fought harder to...

Silver Bella

 (One of the Bella's box of pretties) A year ago I read beautiful accounts across the blog world talking about Silver Bella and the creative experience they had.The photos were gorgeous and it sounded like the most incredible party of glittery fun!I signed...

New In The Shop

I was busy yesterday getting new things in my shop.I have added soooo many new things….here is just a peek…..       I will be adding a few more things today.I also wanted to let you know that some of your favorite items from the...

Head On Over

I am very tired and busy unpacking and getting new things in my shop (like I promised)!I wanted to let you know that Frenchie & Flea has weeks of amazing giveaways celebrating handmade.Today I am offering one of my ruffle totes 🙂 to the winner of their...

Silver Bella Sneak Peek Part II

It is 1 am and I am trying to wrap up some last minute projects for Silver Bella.I have tomorrow to finish and get packed.Thursday morning (early) I will head out for my 10 hour drive to Omaha….what was I thinking???Airplane….ship my items…..think...

A Little Girl Time

I have so much going on right now.I am usually really good at balancing a lot of things.This time there are so many things that I almost just sit and do nothing.I don't know where to start.Many months ago one of my best friends, Amy Jo, and I bought tickets to see...

Silver Bella Sneak Peek Part I

I am really excited to attend Silver Bella this year.This will be my first time and I am looking forward to the art swap I am a part of, the workshops and meeting so many talented girls.I will also be selling at vendor night.I will have all of the things in my shop...

How Big Are Your Dreams?

Brave Girl Camp has made me think of many beautiful things about my life and the dreams I have for the future.I started to think about how many people I have told my dreams to.Why don't we always share our dreams?I quickly realized how many people in my life...

Sugar Overload

I bet almost everyone in this country feels the same way…too much sugar!I can't believe how much candy the kids got this year.In the past I have even told them that I will buy them a new toy if they throw away some of the candy…it is for the...

Little Lovlies

Every once in awhile I love showing you little things that I find that are so lovely.I hope you find them as lovely as I do.I am also starting to really get excited for Christmas…what about you?Are you dreaming of decorating and baking?Making gifts and spending...

I Love Me Some Sparkle

I don't know if you remember my window seat.I posted awhile ago about my window seat makeover and how I was looking for a chandelier to hang above the seat.We bought a gorgeous chandelier a little while ago for our bathroom…and we have no motivation for the...