that's what I like about you...

Here is what I love about etsy: you meet the nicest people. I've said it before, I love etsy because of the wonderful artists who offer such amazing products and the fact that these products are unique and are not mass produced. But I also love it because it is such a friendly place.  I have been selling lots of my Country Christmas NOeL Banners this season

and someone from Kansas saw them and contacted me to see if she could get one custom-made -- in orange ink and with the saying "We Still Do".  Now I didn't want to pry and ask what it was for, but in my mind I'm imagining an anniversary...anywho, I had a fun time making it for her and chatting back & forth about the details so I could make it just the way she wanted. I visited her blog and found out she is an amazing photographer too...the kind that takes those types of family portraits that make it look like each family featured is amazing and beautiful and fun as they

are standing out in a wheatfield in front of a rustic barn

or something. 

 I mailed her banner off today and thought, "isn't it nice that, even though we've never met in person, we touched each other's lives for just a moment in a lovely little way?"

xo

Sometimes when I watch the birds around this time of year I wonder if they feel the excitment of the holidays in the air...

these nests I've created are how I imagine those sweet birds would decorate their nests as they scurry around during this wintery, festive month.

joyeux noel to all!

 

xo

Christmas Goodies

This past week I've been busy working on lots of Christmas goodies for Bleu Bird Nest.

There are some new banners:

 one that reminds me of Sugar Plum Fairy goodness with all these beautiful colors...

and this sweet country Noel banner made from sewn vintage ledger pages.

I've also added new bird tags...

 this one is from an old vintage Christmas postcard I have...

and this one from an old French postcard.

And I made some lovely little birdie gift card pouches made from felt and vintage trims...

I had so much fun sewing these. The trims are all vintage and look so nice with the cream colored felt. I've had these trims for about a year and this seemed like the perfect project for them. Most of the trim is from Angela Harris, of Your Angil, who makes the most gorgeous trim tags.

Also added were some tags that feature darling little French girls getting ready for Christmas...

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These tag packs include hand-dyed crinkly seam binding ribbon and a vintage ledger sheet tucked inside.  I love these

softer shades for Christmas.

What I'm loving right now about creating
is that I've had the luxury of some long quiet
afternoons in our new cottage, with my little dogs
by my side.
We are getting a new heater installed {tomorrow}
and haven't had any heat all fall
{except a space heater & roaring fires};
I've been bundled up in cozy sweaters
sipping lots of warm tea and creamy coffee
while the dogs lay by the little space heater
or spend an extra hour or two in bed!

{little 4 pound Sugar Bella all warm and snug in bed}


And I love that Etsy is full
of so many wonderful artists and shoppers
with an appreciation for hand made
goodness rather than the mass-produced
objects that seem to fill the stores
these days.
Loving also so many kind
comments from customers who
are so encouraging!

Hope you are enjoying these days
of preparing for the holidays
& that you find quiet time
to savor the goodness of the season.

xo



in stitches

This week I got out my sewing machine because I've been thinking about sewing some holiday crafty projects with felt...before I could get motivated for those, I decided to do a little stitching with paper and I had forgotten how fun it is.

I started with these holiday tags that I made from some vintage photo images. Just simple and sweet, with little holiday messages stitched to the images.  I was inspired to stitch up the package topper as well.

Today I had a package of tags to ship out, and instead of the usual paper topper, I decided to stitch that too.  I love how this comes out because it doesn't have to be perfect. In fact the inperfections seem to add to the charm.

Now I'm thinking about doing more stitching with paper and I have so many ideas swimming in my head!

can't wait to get started!

harvest goodness

 harvest mini album kit

 harvest basket

 beautiful white pumpkins

 vintage salt & pepper shakers

harvest plates

vintage photo sheet

visit  Bleu Bird Nest for more

harvest inspiration....

ground gloves

I baked a couple of pumpkin bread loaves

today for my sweetie.

It is a beautiful fall day

here...sunny but cool;

a perfect day for baking.

As I worked along, I started

to think about the holiday season

ahead and imagine how it will

be this year in our new {old} home.

I remembered sweet times of baking

in past years...my

husband and son always so appreciative

of every little thing I made.

One of the sweetest memories that I hold so

dear was a time when my son

was about 5.  He came up

to me in the kitchen where I was baking

up a holiday treat. The counters

were full of spilled flour and spice jars,

and he looked up and said,

"Mama, what are those ground GLOVES??"

"Oh, sweetheart, those are ground Cloves!",

I said. "It's a spice that's all

ground up and it makes

things taste good".

We had a good laugh over that.

And from then on,

I've always referred to

Ground Cloves

as

Ground Gloves.

xo



spooky little shadow box

Cerri has posted this shadow box tutorial on the Joli Paquet site. It would make a wonderfully spooky addition to your halloween decorations! What a fun idea.

autumn tutorial

Head over to the Joli Paquet site today for my tutorial on making this vintage style autumn photo board!

I am also listing one autumn photo board KIT on my etsy site!

Fun and creativity in beautiful autumn shades!

sweet cousins

Over the weekend my niece came to visit from out of state. We had such a great time...shopping, manicures, eating out, watching TV, and lots of laughter and girl-talk! My other niece who lives nearby joined us also.  The three of us have started this tradition of getting together for a girly weekend and it is so much fun and a great bonding time.  On Friday night my husband took us all out to a local burger joint and my son joined us. Afterwards, he helped his cousins with their highschool homework. (I'm not sure how much work actually got done, but they had a great time visiting and playing with the dogs).

* * *

sweet cousins, good times, happy memories...

I love to hear them all laughing in my house

and having fun together.



Kits Are Here!

Today is Kit Preview Day for the fall kits over at Joli Paquet!! They are super cute. I am honored to be among these talented ladies. Head over and check them out. Kits go on sale Thursday!!

* * *

* * *

Here is my kit! It is a chipboard album for scrapbooking or journaling with a vintage halloween theme. A little spooky and lots of fun.  My kits will be available for purchase on Thursday in my etsy shop.

a black cat crossed my trail...

Head over to the Joli Paquet site for this darling tutorial from Jeanne!!

Isn't it just the cutest?? I LOVE black cats for Halloween.

getting in the spirit

I am so glad that October is here. Fall is my favorite time of year. I love the change of weather, slightly cooler days, and an overall feeling of winding down. For me, the "winding down" is all about settling in this year to a new home, a new neighborhood, and a new season of thankfulness and appreciation. And reflection.

These new trim kits are available in my esty shop, along with some other fun items for fall.

And along with fall comes a new season at Joli Paquet! A darling tutorial has been posted by Brandy...check it out & get inspired for some fun decorating ideas!
Kits go on sale October 14...can't wait!

welcome fall

Seems my whole summer has been taken up with our move...packing, unpacking, organizing, rearranging, and settling in to our new home. And though I love the fact that we have relocated to our new little cottage and I am enjoying our new neighborhood, I have missed the "artsy" and creative aspect of my life. The days when I get to spend hours creating with paper, coffee-dying tags, and getting lost in ephemera and ribbon...

Well my new "studio" is filled with unpacked boxes still, but I've managed to carve out one little corner where I can finally begin to get organized for fall creations. Better late than never, right?  I've got a whole new design brewing in my head for my new space. Mostly I am very excited to be part of the Joli Paquet blog this fall, where I will be a guest artist!  The Joli Paquet FALL 2010 event kicks off on October 5th with all new free tutorials and  includes Halloween and Fall themed kits for purchase starting October 14.

sweet memories

I have been busy getting things packed up for our move to the new (old) house.  This morning I was checking to be sure all the drawers were empty in my son's old desk because we are selling it. It's a bit banged up from all the use he's given it over the years, but still in pretty good shape.  When I opened the top drawer, I found this little hand carved message...he must have put it there quite a few years ago. I never knew it was there until this morning. It made me catch my breath, so sweet, so sentimental. Since I knew the desk was going, I snapped a quick photo of it.  What a sweet boy.

Here's a peek at the backyard over at the new place...

...and the entry way

lots to be done...but I'm looking forward

to making lots of new, sweet memories there.

anthropologie love

After a delicious lunch at a sidewalk cafe in the sunshine, my friend and I strolled through Anthropologie today.

Here is some of what I am loving from that amazing store:

dining room measuring spoons

biscuit jar

wingspan bottle opener

fleur de lys sugar & creamer

fleur de lys cup & saucer

lollia bath foam

vanilla & fig candle

rosebud strawberry lip balm

letter hooks

All of these items can be found at

http://www.anthropologie.com/