I finally encouraged her to open up an etsy shop. Check back this fall as she enters her final year of Ceramics schooling and adds more advanced, amazing pieces!
Monday, June 15, 2009
Fab Way to Start the Monday Morning
Just had to share my little bit of happiness from my corner of the world this morning. A cup of Joe in my new mug that a fab friend created herself. How amazing is her work!
I finally encouraged her to open up an etsy shop. Check back this fall as she enters her final year of Ceramics schooling and adds more advanced, amazing pieces!
I finally encouraged her to open up an etsy shop. Check back this fall as she enters her final year of Ceramics schooling and adds more advanced, amazing pieces!
Friday, June 12, 2009
T-2 plus 6?
The Sip N' Meet looming in the near future (two days). Literally 62 hours away & I am scrabbling to accomplish the mile long to-do list.
I am the epitome of a procrastinator. (I'm such a big procrastinator - that when I read this Inspired Room Procrastinators Unite challenge, immediately got excited, focused on my goals, made my list - only to push off the imaginary deadline so far, that I missed the challenge all together.)
So this evening, I was racing around like a crazy woman trying to finish up as much as possible to surprised DH when he arrives home from a long week of travel. With the help of Mum, I "staged" my own home. In moments of clarity, swapped 4 pieces of furniture from one room to another, takin' this, swapping that...here's a snapshot of the journey my furniture traveled tonight:
The house had evolved in the course of less than two hours. I have a theory on decorating styles (will blog about it later), but my instant itch to get it done hit me, and poof - I saw where the pieces of the furniture puzzle should all fit in my house.
So, T-2 - party being 2 days away had to change the plans. I talked to the fab friend of the Sip N' Meet tonight. Long story short, RSVPs are low, regrets high, meaning the party would be better if we moved it ahead 6 days.
Never what a procrastinator wants to hear, "You have more time"...
Pleasant Dreams!
I am the epitome of a procrastinator. (I'm such a big procrastinator - that when I read this Inspired Room Procrastinators Unite challenge, immediately got excited, focused on my goals, made my list - only to push off the imaginary deadline so far, that I missed the challenge all together.)
So this evening, I was racing around like a crazy woman trying to finish up as much as possible to surprised DH when he arrives home from a long week of travel. With the help of Mum, I "staged" my own home. In moments of clarity, swapped 4 pieces of furniture from one room to another, takin' this, swapping that...here's a snapshot of the journey my furniture traveled tonight:
Added the fab chaise, moving arm chair from master to living room. Wooden table went from living to dinning. Small table moved to Master (hold DH's suitcase when home), Chairs moved about, occasional tables swapped, "refreshed" and antiqued pieces finding a home...
The house had evolved in the course of less than two hours. I have a theory on decorating styles (will blog about it later), but my instant itch to get it done hit me, and poof - I saw where the pieces of the furniture puzzle should all fit in my house.
So, T-2 - party being 2 days away had to change the plans. I talked to the fab friend of the Sip N' Meet tonight. Long story short, RSVPs are low, regrets high, meaning the party would be better if we moved it ahead 6 days.
Never what a procrastinator wants to hear, "You have more time"...
Pleasant Dreams!
Monday, June 8, 2009
The Big Reveal
After much ado, here are the Sip N' Meet invitations that I sent out last week.(Sorry that portions are blurred - for protection of course - but, I hate the way it makes the pictures look!)
The first picture depicts the unjazzed-up invite, the second the final product.
Click To Enlarge.
The breakdown of the invites:
The base paper is from the Martha Stewart wedding collection boxed invitation set. I luckily found it on clearance at our "Wal-Mart of the future" for $3.50 a box. I picked a paisley paper up at Joann's and found inspiration for the invites colors from this.
I struggled trying to decide if I wanted a graphic design/picture, or just fancy letters. To keep the event less theme oriented and more friendly gathering at the wish of the new mommy, I thought avoiding the typical, darling baby illustrations was best. Also, with my recent obsession with fonts and the impact a great typeface can have, the picture-less path was the way for me.
After designing the invites in photoshop, I took the basic invitation and sent it through my canon printer at home. Once printed, I trimmed the bottom of the invites along the embossed scallop Ms. Stewart's invites provided (this turned out to be my favorite part!).
Using the paisley paper, I added a strip to the back of the invite, allowing the new scallop edge to really pop out against such a graphic paper. Used the remaining paper to line the envelopes - and Voila! Sip N' Meet invitations were born, stamped with the new LOVE stamps, and send to find their happy guest-to-be.
(P.S. - The sweet little baby's older sis just happens to have the middle name Paisley!)
Thursday, June 4, 2009
A Saturday Well Spent
Calligraphy-ing the day away...
Last Fall, Mums and I took a calligraphy class from Susie Melissa. Her work (pictured below), is divine and is used by biggies – even note, she has created menu cards for past presidents.
I loved the class, the overall “concept” of the class & what Susie Melissa was preaching. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m die hard for calligraphy. The class did however, bring me to the realization that traditional calligraphy, while gorgeous, is not in the cards for me. I cannot begin to travel down the road where I critique every letter that I write. I am already teetering the line of OCD/perfectionist, and I can-not open myself up to that amount of critique with regards to my handwriting.
I do, however, LOVE the way handwriting can look in a casual, calligraphic manner using simply their fancy pens. Striving for perfection is second nature to me, so realizing that the flawed rendition is still just as fabulous takes some coaching and reassurance from the mum. Pictured below are the works of three women I find very inspirational and blessed up to their ears in talent.
I worked on my dear friend’s invites this weekend. (Sidenote - My hands look like those of the guy down the street at Firestone, as the ink has stained the nail beds and nails of my right hand – by stained, I mean black). But, I am overall happy with the end result.
I keep telling myself, “Self, one day you will look back and say, wow look at what you use to claim was calligraphy – you’ve come so far”. So, in this line of thinking, looking at this as practice, and leaving the flaws will only aid in giving the appearance that I have improved years from now.
Sorry for the blurring – but here are a few snaps.
Last Fall, Mums and I took a calligraphy class from Susie Melissa. Her work (pictured below), is divine and is used by biggies – even note, she has created menu cards for past presidents.
I loved the class, the overall “concept” of the class & what Susie Melissa was preaching. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m die hard for calligraphy. The class did however, bring me to the realization that traditional calligraphy, while gorgeous, is not in the cards for me. I cannot begin to travel down the road where I critique every letter that I write. I am already teetering the line of OCD/perfectionist, and I can-not open myself up to that amount of critique with regards to my handwriting.
I do, however, LOVE the way handwriting can look in a casual, calligraphic manner using simply their fancy pens. Striving for perfection is second nature to me, so realizing that the flawed rendition is still just as fabulous takes some coaching and reassurance from the mum. Pictured below are the works of three women I find very inspirational and blessed up to their ears in talent.
I worked on my dear friend’s invites this weekend. (Sidenote - My hands look like those of the guy down the street at Firestone, as the ink has stained the nail beds and nails of my right hand – by stained, I mean black). But, I am overall happy with the end result.
I keep telling myself, “Self, one day you will look back and say, wow look at what you use to claim was calligraphy – you’ve come so far”. So, in this line of thinking, looking at this as practice, and leaving the flaws will only aid in giving the appearance that I have improved years from now.
Sorry for the blurring – but here are a few snaps.
(Does anyone know the word for the act of calligraphy? Webster is not fond of calligraphying)
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Sip N' Meet
A dear friend of mine recently gave birth to the sweetest little girl! I am throwing her a “Sip N’ Meet” (really a sip n’ see, but I had a cute rhyme for the invite. I will have several posts over the next couple of weeks as I prep. The up-side to the quickly approaching deadline is I am a procrastinator. Loud and Proud – I need that date looming over my head, holding my feet to the fire, to accomplish most things. Including actually decorating our home. This means, lots to do, little time. Whew – I’m tired just thinking about it!
No specific colors or theme, this way I will be able to utilize what I have. I'm thinking ,various soft, muted tones and pastel colors, giving off less of "baby shower" notion (not her wishes) and more of a gathering of friends for a joyous celebration of baby girl.
I will be serving drinks and sweets - cakes, cheesecakes, sangria, etc. It will be on a Sunday, mid-afternoon to allow everyone to go to lunch after church before coming over. Boys were not invited - sorry guys! - making the lighter fair acceptable. Her guest list included about 2 dozen ladies - give or take a few. I dropped them with the postman yesterday. I will have pictures of the invites (I'm thrilled with how they turned out.)
A girl's gotta start somewhere - so I scoured my coveted photo collection. Here is a inspirational photo collage...
Click to make ridiculously large.
No specific colors or theme, this way I will be able to utilize what I have. I'm thinking ,various soft, muted tones and pastel colors, giving off less of "baby shower" notion (not her wishes) and more of a gathering of friends for a joyous celebration of baby girl.
I will be serving drinks and sweets - cakes, cheesecakes, sangria, etc. It will be on a Sunday, mid-afternoon to allow everyone to go to lunch after church before coming over. Boys were not invited - sorry guys! - making the lighter fair acceptable. Her guest list included about 2 dozen ladies - give or take a few. I dropped them with the postman yesterday. I will have pictures of the invites (I'm thrilled with how they turned out.)
A girl's gotta start somewhere - so I scoured my coveted photo collection. Here is a inspirational photo collage...
Click to make ridiculously large.Top to Bottom,Left to Right:
Decor 8, Concrete & Honey
Kristybee, No Idea (sorry!)
Sunday Suppers, Sweet Paul
Decor 8, Concrete & Honey
Kristybee, No Idea (sorry!)
Sunday Suppers, Sweet Paul
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Lillian Ray's Lovelies
I have long loved the look of Lillian Ray's work - and when I spotted on the lovely blog of this fab lady (and hubby)- I couldn't resist passing the entry along.
Click her name above to peruse her etsy shop.
Besos!
Monday, June 1, 2009
Hiatus….
Sorry for the long departure from blog land. I have no excuse. No real good reason – except, it just wasn’t there. The magic, the finesse – whatever it takes to blog on a steady basis. That must be something I have not quite acquired.Have no fear – I’m gearing up to jump back in with lovely photos to boot!
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