This Is Today

(photo taken this morning)Last night a friend of mine was able to get three tickets to see John Mayer.This was all very last minute and very spontaneous…for a not so spontaneous ME.It started to snow.Really snow.Snow so much that you could not see.The one that...

Haute Handbags

A few months ago I was approached by one of the editors of the magazine Haute Handbags.This is one of the magazines published by Stampington & Company.They wanted to feature one of my purses and have me write a tutorial. I was thrilled.I got my copy in the mail...

Love Slave

First of all I want to thank so many of you that left me the sweetest comments and sent me the most amazing emails!!As women it is so easy for us to relate to one another.We don't have to be going through it to feel so deeply for another that...

Anxious Heart

On Friday I went in for a routine yearly check up.During my breast exam the doctor said she found two lumps.One in each breast.It is amazing how the mind can go to so many scary places so quickly.Within seconds I had this imagine in my mind of what cancer looks...

Make New Friends But Keep The Old

One is silver and the other is gold.Do you remember that song from Brownies or Girl Scouts?I just had a horrible flashback of me…in a green jumper…with a sash full of badges…shudder!I just have to say that I like getting older.Not the crows feet and...

Dear Summer,

Dear Summer,I know you are still a little ways off..but…Last year you let me down.I don't want to be a complainer…but…I had plans. Big plans…entertaining plans…summer night party plans…and you rained.A lot! Many parties were...

Library Makeover

(new lampshades that will be in my spring collection) We take a long time to get things done around here…. A LONG TIME!In fact, the room I will be showing you still has tons of paint to touch up…but I decided that you can not really see it so lets go ahead...

Shop Clearance

I have been busy getting ready for my Spring/Summer Collection.To make room for all the new art, purses, aprons, skirts, dresses, prints, photography and jewelry….I am marking down EVERYTHING that is in my shop. I am also offering FREE SHIPPING.  Happy...

Seattle Grace…We Never Found You!

This is the final post on my weekend trip to Seattle…promise!Every little thing that we did was so much fun….but this day was just relaxing.Lissa truly did an excellent job of planning all these perfect and different parts of our trip.We were only there...

Seattle Part II

Well…. you all had a chance to take a peek at Lissa's gorgeous home.After all of your sweet comments I believe that Lissa now loves all of you forever!After Lissa picked me up from the airport we headed to Snohomish for a little shopping.I think we had more...

A Little Beachy, A Lot White and 100% Gorgeous

Becky lives in Minnesota and can have a hard time with all the gray, snow and cold during the winter.She was having an especially hard day when Lissa told her that we would come and visit her.I had NO idea about that deal!!!I received a voice mail soon after from...

Lay It Down

When this year started I chose a word to reflect what I hoped the year would hold for me.The word for me was FOCUS. I usually have too many ideas in my head about my business, home, children, friends etc.I find it really hard to focus sometimes and accomplish the...

Sleepless In Seattle

I am heading to Seattle tomorrow morning….EARLY!I am so excited.Not only will I get to play with friends the whole weekend…I will also be visiting a city that I have never been to.With my camera in hand I can't wait to explore.Becky and I will be...

Perspective Changes Everything

This is the post on dreams that I hope I can express the way I want to.I have the thoughts in my head and heart and I hope it all comes across the right way.I remember very clearly years ago having a bad day.Not a bad day in the whole scheme of things…just one...

Is It Just Me?

This may be the post when you wonder why you read my blog.Is it just me…or are there more prescription commercials than EVER!I am not a big TV watcher.Don't get me wrong.  I have my shows but I watch them without commercials.This weekend I saw so many...

Friday Favorites

Here are some of my favorites right now.I hope you enjoy this post…I always love hearing what you guys are loving too. I could drink coffee all day but I only allow myself one cup.  The rest of the day I really try to just drink water.  At night I...

Ask Yourself

This is the second in a four week series on dreams.Four weeks will not unlock all your dreams and make them a reality….I am just hoping that this series will get you thinking…which will get you acting on your dreams.This week I want to ask you some...

Dear Kelly,

Dear Kelly,Thank you for taking our daughter to the Daddy Daughter Ball for the past five years!Thank you for being the daddy that goes out of your comfort zone to bless our daughter. Thank you for every time that she mentioned how excited she was to go to the Daddy...

Obsessed

When I watch a movie I am paying as much (or more) attention to the house/decorating/landscaping as the characters and the storyline.He used to laugh when I would lean over in the middle of the movie and say, "did you see that wainscoting…did you like that...

Training Is The Opposite of Hoping

I am so excited that you are here!Every Wednesday in February I will be doing a post on DREAMS.Our beautiful, wonderful, amazing dreams!The first thing I want you to do is to truly open you heart and your mind to the dreams that are stored within you.Please do not...

Art Across The Alphabet

I wanted to share with you a book that I have loved and enjoyed with all three of my children.It is fun for the kids and easy for me to put the projects together.When each of my children have been around three years old we have worked our way through the book Art...

Final Q & A

  *Wondering what tips you have to take my Etsy shop to the next level. The best advice I would give to anyone that wants to be successful on Etsy is to take great photos. That photo is all people have to decide whether they can live without it or not. There are...

Your Questions Answered Part III

  Welcome back!*Other than Mrs. Ingalls, what did you want to be when you grew up?I am STILL dreaming of being Mrs. Ingalls!  Growing up I really wanted to be a singer, actress, artist or writer. *If you could rid the world of your greatest pet peeve what...

Your Questions Answered Part II

OK…the second installment of your questions. *If you could eat only one snack for the rest of your life what would it be?Serious?  One snack?  This is hard. Do I get to choose cupcakes and my butt won't get big? Because if my butt won't...

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...