Hello Autumn

Even though they are predicting triple digits today and tomorrow there is hope on the horizon for a windy and rainy weekend.
Many of you know my love of Autumn and how I miss it something terrible here.
Usually October is the month I go home, back to the falling leaves and rainy days, crisp afternoons and smells of Autumn in the country. Unfortunately since I went home for 2 months this summer there is no going home for Autumn.
:(
So yesterday the number one mission was to decorate the outside as if Autumn had arrived here.
I was out til late in the evening, hanging falling leaves and burlap. Lighting pumpkins and putting up scarecrows.
There is more to continue on tonight but I am loving the start of things.
It is tricking my mind into thinking it is cool outside.
Well, at least I can sit indoor and look out and dream of it turning colder this weekend.
Welcome Autumn, I love you....

Baby Clothes = Big Boy Quilt

I finally started a long awaited project this weekend.
From the time I found out I was having my son I knew I would want to keep all of his clothes and blankets for keepsakes. But how do you keep a ton of clothes and blankets besides storing them away never to see but when cleaning out a closet?
So I started piling our favorite pieces as he grew out of them. I cut them all down into squares and began a memory quilt of his clothes. From the onesie he came home from the hospital in to last summers t-shirts. This will be an ongoing project using all his baby blankets as the backings and samples of his clothing as he grows year by year will be added until I have a full blanket for his teenage bedding.
It is really coming together easy and it is fun remembering when or where each item came from.
And how tiny he once was to fit into these things.
My son was a preemie sized when born so to see him go from having the smallest clothes swim on him to such a big boy now is blowing my mind.
I can't wait to give this to him as he gets older. I think it will be a great gift for his 16th birthday.

Skulls, Spiders and Spooky Letters

Spooky Letters
Skull Ornaments
I have been busy making some spooky fun today.
Halloween is on the brain and I couldn't stop myself from creating unique one of a kind items today.
Book bindings
Here is just a sample of the goods in shop tonight
Black widow clips

Spooky Spiders for Halloween

Black widows and silver glitter spider vintage clothespins new in shop today
Great for Halloween party decoration
Use them to clip gift bags shut, hang ornaments or decorations with them
Or just clip them to your Halloween tree.
So useful and fun with a little spooky touch.
Sold in sets of 5
click here for more info

My Dream Catcher

I love putting projects like this together
It is like a relaxing puzzle.
Finding just the right little charm or vintage token to add to all these lace pieces and doilies is just how to spend a peaceful afternoon while the child of the house dreams away.

Adding pockets to catch the love letters in and using all my edgings from my grain sacks.
The grain sack selvedge dangles long and holds little items like vintage silver bells and buckles
beads with pearls and clips to hang other things on to it.
Old zippers that go no where but add a dream of it opening something beautiful.
Vintage keys and cabinet cards all on a vintage book cover from the 1800's that has amazing numbers and script embossed on the cover and the binding

This is going to my shop so if you are in love head over to grab it.

Shop Update

Few new things tonight back in stock.
French Silverware paper place settings
And a beautiful ditty bag made from all vintage fabrics, laces,doilies and ribbons
if you have any questions or would like to see more click here

Happiness from Artbox

Have you ever been in an Artbox shop?
I think this is the happiest place on earth.
Filled with the cutest things that just put a smile on your face.

While visiting Irvine, Ca we stumbled into one late at night.
I didn't have near enough time to take it all in since it was close to closing time.
We were there for about 40 minutes and here is just a small sampling of things I came away with.

First of all can I say that I love this store, it rewards you instantly for shopping with them by giving you free gifts at checkout. YAY!!

This mushroom lamp is by far my sons favorite. He loves pushing the top and making the light come on. I have to keep it up super high so he doesn't break it.
He also got a sponge for bathtime that is a happy piece of toast, ADORABLE!!!

This little kitty face scrubby was a must have. How fun is it to wash up after long day with this little guy.

Oh so much fun this shop has to offer and I can't wait to get back one day with a lot more time to shop ;)
If you have one near you, pop in for an instant feeling of Happiness

Calming Pink

This week has and is so super busy that my head is spinning.
My body is aching from working long hours on clients items.
Working to meet deadlines. The Holiday shopping season has arrived.
Appointments are booked back to back and no time for making the items I had planned to make for myself.
Need unique and one of a kind creations for your holidays?
Leave me a comment, email or you can always visit my online shop

I can't wait to share with you the new grain sack foot stools I am working on.

But since I am on my way out I will just share a cute pink faux journal it is calming just to look at.
Enjoy your Wednesday!

Stars and Moons

Primitive style ornie just in time for Halloween decorating.

Need more just email me....

available for purchase here

Remembering POPS

Having lost Rudys father this year it was a hard on him not to have his dad for his recent birthday.
I got to thinking of what I could do to make it a day he wouldn't miss his dad but remember him on all those past birthdays.
So I contacted my brother in a special ops mission to paint Rudy's favorite portrait of his father as a young boy.
From a tiny picture on an iphone my brother was able to take the photo and turn it into a painting, finished in just two short weeks and shipped for Rudy to open on his birthday.

It turned out amazing and melted Rudys heart.
This painting will always be super special to have hanging in our home.

Shop Update

Grain Sack Bedspread just listed
Here

Shop Update

Victorian Christmas Stocking Pouch



Jewelry Holder

New in shop tonight
and stay tuned.

I am listing an amazing handmade grain/flour sack bed spread tomorrow.
You won't want to miss out.

Now I could live here....

Visiting California we decided to go to some places I had not been.

We decided to drive just a short way to San Juan Capistrano

OH MY! What a treat. Such history in this little area.

I died over the little shops in the houses and would love to live on this street.

It seemed as if I were on a movie set.

People in an Art Park painting the landscapes, it just seems so unreal...this really happens on a day to day basis here.

I want a house with a white picket fence and a tire swing...or blue trim and mailboxes to match but this one, the old couch thrown in the garden. LOVE IT!!!

We had such a peaceful and relaxing walk thru the whole town.

Taking in the Missions, shops and dining.

I could still kick myself for not purchasing a few of the wonderful items this town had to offer.

But it just wasn't about the shopping, it was about family on this day.

Time Away

Taking some time away is goooood
time to reflect on family and life.
And what is important

Grain Sacks and Union Jacks

Here they are, just as promised.
After a few years of collecting I finally had enough to make these fabulously full drapes.
I added some of my favorite antique fabrics as the patches for covering the holes.
(this is a vintage gas station shammy found it a thrift shop back home for .10)
I put them up last night but thought, hey I would love to swag them. When I did it revealed the ugly outside. Houses here are built so close together that you can see straight into your neighbors place. Ick, or the horrible backyards of all the homes that are neglected.
I thought," how can I open my drapes to let some light in but not see the ugly outside?"
After seeing Shabby Chic blog this week, I had to try a Union Jack drape.
Using old silk curtains I had and scraps of misc. fabrics it all just came together.
I LOVE it.It makes the room so golden and hazy. With as much sun as we get here it is nice to block it all out and make it feel gloomy, yet elegant.
I have pictures of the drapes open and shut. there are a lot, but I got a few different lighting shots for you to see.
Enjoy.

Grain Sack Curtains

Here they are, just as promised.
After a few years of collecting I finally had enough to make these fabulously full drapes.
I added some of my favorite antique fabrics as the patches for covering the holes.
(this is a vintage gas station shammy found it a thrift shop back home for .10)
I put them up last night but thought, hey I would love to swag them. When I did it revealed the ugly outside. Houses here are built so close together that you can see straight into your neighbors place. Ick, or the horrible backyards of all the homes that are neglected.
I thought," how can I open my drapes to let some light in but not see the ugly outside?"
After seeing Shabby Chic blog this week, I had to try a Union Jack drape.
Using old silk curtains I had and scraps of misc. fabrics it all just came together.
I LOVE it.It makes the room so golden and hazy. With as much sun as we get here it is nice to block it all out and make it feel gloomy, yet elegant.
I have pictures of the drapes open and shut. there are a lot, but I got a few different lighting shots for you to see.
Enjoy.

Sad Happiness

Today is a sad day...with that said, it is also a birthday in our home.

So I will wish a very special person a happy birthday on such a somber day.

Love ya babe!

On another note...

Curtains are finished and hanging but before I reveal them, I want to add one more thing to the window. I will be sewing again today to get this little extra touch added.

It was so nice waking up this morning to the glow of the sun behind the antique grain sack material. And last night it, we had a crazy thunderstorm and seeing the lightening glow thru them was so amazing, scary, but amazing.

Check back tomorrow morning for the unveiling of them.

It has been so great getting back to my sewing machine and studio to sit and create.

I have really been struggling lately to find the strength, time, and urge to create. But as a good friend pointed out last night, I had stated I wanted a break from business and time to focus on family. I am having a much better time and peaceful feeling of creating for my family right now.

I have put so many personal projects to the side for years, trying to keep up with my business.

Now it is time to drag those projects out and give them the love they deserve and that my family deserves

I hope everyone can find a little peace in their day today.