from secret leaves

I'm so excited about these! They just came in and they are really so wonderful. I think they'd make the most extraordinary gifts. I can't remember when I've been this excited about a new product at Inspire Co.

There are three different types of books, all handmade by Secret Leaves in St. Louis, Missouri.

The first in the series is an incredibly unique photo album with black pages. The covers are so elegant, made from music books. The albums are decorated with ribbon and a wonderful vintage button or jewel. They will arrive to you with a tin of photo corners and a white pen...all you'll need to do is collect your photos and inscribe little notes. Wouldn't this make an incredible wedding gift?

The second type is a scrap journal. The pages are made up of all sorts of fabulous old papers including maps, envelopes, old letters, and more. All vintage and original. Just imagine how much fun (and how easy it would be) to tuck in your own treasures, photos, and mementos!

And lastly, we have books that are made from old book covers, rebound with loose papers, to make a fabulous and inviting journal. There are two versions of this journal. One is made with bright colored book covers from the 40s and 50s. The other is made from very old book covers rescued by Sharon and Ann at Secret Leaves.

I'll put them in the store early next week. Stay tuned. But, if you can't wait until then, shoot me an email and I'll give you pricing information, etc.

better today

I'm much better today. Much. I don't know what was wrong with me yesterday.

I still have a ton of things to do. The two big things are:

1. Prepare myself and house for Easter dinner (~30 people, big and small).
2. Get all sorts of things ready for the Paris Flea Market.

This year, Easter dinner (with both my family and Rich's) will be potluck. This takes a whole lot of pressure off me. I'm making a ham (think I'll just get one all prepared and nicely sliced). I'm also going to have some sort of hors d'euvres ready when people start to arrive...maybe a cheese tray with pate and nice crackers.

I'm going to take most of the furniture out of the living room and set it up with lots of tables, restaurant style. The dining room and living room are open to each other so I think this will be a good way to have everyone together.

I'm going to cover each of the tables with a simple white table cloth. I'll put daffodils on each table and some sort of pretty little favor that will double as the placecard. Maybe a dyed egg with their name on it? Or maybe I can plant some wheatgrass in tiny baskets. I could sprinkle in little foil eggs, maybe a peep, and a little flag with the guest's name? I'd better get started planting if that's what I want to do.
I have lots of raw materials for my kits that I'll make for the Paris Flea Market. I'll show you my progress as I go in the next couple of weeks. One of the things I'm particularly excited about is a kit for making glass dome paperweights. I'm planning on making the kits relatively easy to do with the fun being in the planning and designing part of it.

I'm at The Cottage today. The weather is so beautiful but the sunshine is tricking me into thinking it's warmer than it actually is.

These photos are of a display in the counter room. A bouquet of branches is hosting a party of nest baskets and charms (made by our ever-talented friend, Jean).

I'm going to shoot a lot of photos for Ann and Linda to put on their blog in the days to follow so be sure to look for them.

inertia

Okay, first...let me direct you to the wonderful new header my friend Mo just made for me! Just take a minute to take in that big, wide open smile. I've had that smile all of my life. I really tried to change my smile to something more demure, sophisticated and less dental. I can't help it.

Today I'm feeling very tired. I have a million things to do and it seems like all I can really manage to do is index them all in my head.

Here are just a few piddly things I must do today:



My friend Teresa turned me on to this nifty little thing that makes card catalog like thingies for you. Click here to make your own.

Hopefully, I'll shake this inertia...do more than just get dressed...and have something more interesting for you to read later. Maybe tomorrow will be better.

*********************
Adding a graphic, like the catalog card above, to your blog post (PC's)

1. Right click the graphic
2. Choose "Save Picture As" from the drop down menu
3. Select a place for the file where you'll be able to find it again easily. (perhaps your desktop)
4.
a. Upload the image to a server. Reference the address of the file you just added to the server in code that will look like this img src="http://addyourimageaddresshere", adding a < at the beginning and a > at the end..

b. Or Use your blogging program to add the image to your blog post.

Alternatively, yet not really recommended, you could right click the image, select properties, find the url of the image in that box. Then cut and paste it into the blog post in code that will look like this img src="http://addyourimageaddresshere", adding a < at the beginning and a > at the end.

It's really so simple but I think I made it seem difficult.

Spring NeSts!

The Spring NeSt is a harbinger of sunshine, blossoms, and blue skies. It is a celebration of the fresh and gentle rebirth of this, the first season...

Created by hand using raffia, specialty yarns, beads, a vintage millinery leaf, and a dried narcissus blossom, the Spring NeSt is nestled into a soft bed of lavender, rose, daffodil, and tulip petals for remarkably scented cushioning.

Click here to order yours, my friend.

button cards

These fabulous mini-collages are made by Stacey Bear using various vintage buttons. They're a sweet gift to include for your crafty friend. Glue them to a greeting card for an instant gift that your friend will appreciate and can use (if she can bear to cut the buttons off the artwork!)

Click here to see them all!

thank you!

Thank you all so much for my wonderful happy birthday wishes. They all came true and I had the most amazing birthday afternoon (the morning was a little shaky). I went to the Ritz Carlton with my friend Debbie. We had just the most magical time. The highlight was the piano serenade of happy birthday just as they presented me with a mountain of whipped cream and strawberries.

Today was wonderful too. Ann and Linda showered me with gifts and cupcakes and pink balloons.

I'm very lucky. Here's to 36 being a banner year for me. I think this is to be a year of big changes, a better self awareness and self love, and good luck all around.

happy birthday, me!

birthday eve

About a month ago, Heather alerted me to these super-dooper cute boots. I bought them right away and then sort of forgot about them. They are just $19 from Target!

They arrived at my doorstep yesterday! And I love them. There's something wonderfully liberating about donning a pair of rainboots. I splash right through puddles!

Today is my birthday eve. I have a full free day ahead of me which I plan to fill with creative endeavors. I'll break for a special lunchtime treat and a few orders.

Did I ever tell you that it rains (or in some way precipitates) on my birthday every single year? Well, it looks like this year might break this trend.

let's make something...

I have something very exciting to tell you. I'm going to have a booth at The Cottage's Paris Flea Market! It's happening Friday April 27 and Saturday April 28.

The Cottage's gardens will be transformed into a marketplace full of artists and antique vendors. Oh, and to make it even more enticing, our friend Lynn will offer wonderful French pastries. Last year, I just couldn't get enough of the wonderful lemon tart that she topped with a chocolate kiss. It was divine!

This is a little advertisement that I made to put in the Cottage.

I'm getting busy making all sorts of things to offer, including an array of craft kits. I'll have a table and chairs set up so that you can work on the kits right there! I think it's going to be a whole lot of fun. Do you think you can make it? I really hope so!

And oh, sweet friend Waisze, you asked where you should stay when you come?...I looked into it and it looks like it is just about the same rate to stay someplace as nice as The Norris House as it is the Comfort Inn and other motel-ish places. The Norris House is just around the corner from the Cottage, and it would be a fun way to enjoy the small-town charm of Leesburg.

easter tree

My friend Theresa sent me these pictures of the Easter tree she and her little ones made. Isn't it delightful? She used eggs from Target (6 for $1), broken tree branches, moss and an urn. I love it!

come-on-a-my-house

This little guy is the big dollhouse's guest of honor. Isn't he the cutest thing?

He's from my friend Debbie's shop and is made by Lori Mitchell. The welcome mat, complete with slippers, was made by Gina for Club Little House.

I have an appointment for a haircut today. I'm long overdue. And tonight, if the weather isn't too dreadful, I'm off to a girls-night-out party at the cottage.

For now, I'm just relaxing, puttering around, and listening to the '50s station on XM. Just now "Come On'a My House" came on. This is Seth, Maggie, and my theme song. We play it at my parents' house at top volume and with many repetitions, dance like crazy with plenty of dips and swirls.

Tell me, could there be a better theme song for us:

Come on-a my house, my house a come on
Come on-a my house, my house a come on
Come on-a my house, my house, I´m gonna give you candy
Come on-a my house, my house, I´m gonna give you everything

Next week is Maggie's ballerina themed birthday. I'm sure we'll play this song a few times before the weekend is over. Maybe I should make them dance cards that we can punch. Wouldn't that be fun?

charm galore!

Click here to get yours, baby!

more about the trip....

Hello, my sweet friends. Thanks so much for all your help in planning our trip. We've changed plans just a little. We're now planning to fly from Vegas to San Francisco and driving to Carmel.

I'm going to make a book to take with us with ideas of things to do and places to go, etc. I think that'll help us plan and make decisions while we are there. Oh, I'm getting so excited!

Our anniversary is May 3. It's hard to believe we've been married for 10 years.

I've been thinking a lot of what sorts of things I'd like to wear on our vacation. I definitely think a shopping trip is in order. I am thinking of keeping all of my clothes white, denim, black, and khaki...adding color with accessories only. It might sound dull but here is what I mean...



edited to add: I forgot to tell you were all the clothes, etc. are from!
Pictures 1 & 2: Gap
Pictures 3 & 4: Nordstrom
Picture 5: Macy's
Picture 6: Nordstrom
Picture 7: J. Peterman
Pictures 8 & 9: Anthropologie
Pictures 10 & 11: Nordstrom
Pictures 12 - 15: Anthropologie
Pictures 16 & 17: Nordstrom

a trip westward

For our 1oth wedding anniversary (coming up!), we are going to go on a little trip. We started planning it in earnest this weekend and we got a bit overwhelmed with all the little details. We decided to make an appointment with a travel agent this week.

We think we'll go first to Vegas. We've never been. We'd like to see Celine Dion's show and the Grand Canyon.

Then we thought we'd rent a car and drive to Los Angeles. We'll stay a couple of days there, do all the really touristy things like a studio and movie star tours.

Then we'll drive the Pacific Coast Highway up to Carmel, stay at Doris Day's Cypress Inn, and relax a little bit.

Do any of you have any suggestions for us? Anything we must see while we are in any of these places?

friday night sleepover

Our niece Kylie spent the night last night while her parents celebrated their 5th wedding anniversary. We had a wonderful time!

After dinner, we had a tea party. Actually a pink hot chocolate party. And what better than these cupcakes for such an event?

The grass is actually candy...I found it at Target and couldn't wait to use it. Did you know that they made candy grass for Easter baskets???

I bought this circus tent from Restoration Hardware on sale. It's still a bit expensive but, in a moment of weakness, I caved.

I thought it'd be a good thing for when our little friends visit. Kylie loved it. She immediately filled it with pillows and wanted to take her dinner there.

When the whole family (Rich's and mine) all come for Easter, we're going to set the circus tent up in the backyard, fill it with costumes and hoola-hoops and other implements of fun and the children will put on a show for us by the end of the day. Won't that be fun?

Hope you're having a good weekend, my friend.

drum table

My friends, Ann and Linda gave me a small round table to use as a stand for my drum. I had been using the drum as a coffee table but it needed a little lift...something to make it seem more table-like.

This stand makes it too tall to be a coffee table anymore, but I think it makes it a perfect whimsical side table. I haven't yet found to perfect spot for it. What do you think? Do you like it?

celebrate!

My birthday is coming up.

Maybe you remember from last year that I like to celebrate the whole month long?

We did lots of really wonderful things with my parents when they were here so I'm rolling that into the celebration list. Before the month is through, there's sure to be lots of cupcakes and sprinkles, virtual and otherwise. Just the thought of it makes my eyes twinkle. I really do love celebrating... and I love my birthday.

I was born on my maternal grandmother's birthday. That made it pretty special. It was also the first birthday of the calendar year for my family. And it is the first full day of Spring! Pretty special.

I've been fortunate all my life to be surrounded by people who are happy to help me make a big deal of my birthday. I think of it as my personal holiday. And I tell everyone I see that it is my birthday. I don't much care if it makes me seem a little nuts to the grocery store check-out lady.

I put together a few photos from all 'round as a sort of virtual birthday party for us.

Most images are from Mary Engelbreit's HC, with the exception of the muffin tin, party setting with yellows and oranges, cupcake liners (from Mathew Mead), and the wreath and petit fours are from Williams Sonoma)

creative flurries

Today, while the snow quietly whitened the lawn, I worked on wonderful new things for you.

This Springy new neighborhood is one of them! I'm so pleased with how it turned out.

I also finished up on these little cutie-pie flower girls. They are all dressed up in their prettiest frocks! I hope you like them.

Click here to see the new houses and the flower girls.



I'm so tired from all this creating...but boy oh boy was it ever fun!





Tomorrow I'm at The Cottage. If I can get my eyes to stop bouncing, I think I'll settle down and rest my tired head now.

snow? oh no

Unfortunately, my parents' stay came to a rather abrupt end. They left today. We didn't get a chance to go out for afternoon tea (scheduled for today).

There is a snowstorm being called for tomorrow. I don't really believe that it will happen. And I'm still stunned that they had to leave early.

I'm sitting here now, in my quiet house that is still fragranced with their scents and I miss them.

I have a project that I'm working on now. I'm hoping to show pictures by tomorrow.

jim dandy to the rescue

My mother is sitting here, next to the window, working on her sewing and singing her heart out. We're listening to the '50s station on XM Radio. They're playing long lost hits like "Jim Dandy to the Rescue" and she's remembering them all.

She used to work at Life of Virginia, coding punchcards. Every week when she got her check, she'd stop on her way home to pick up a 45 of the latest dance hit. And now, not at all dusty from all these years of not playing them, she knows all the words and most of the singers' names.

Here's the recipe for the 1-2-3-4 cake. So named because of its sequential ingredients. My mother wanted to tell you that she adds about a cup and a half of chopped black walnuts to the batter to make it into the black walnut cake. She also wanted to alert you that it might be hard to find black walnuts this time of the year. Most stores only carry them seasonally for holiday recipes like fruitcakes. She buys them in December and freezes them. They don't have a long shelf-life which is probably why they are not stocked year 'round.

Whenever there is word that my mother is going to make this cake for a bake sale, people clammer to claim them. They call her and preorder so the cake never really makes it to the bake sale at all.

happy day

My parents are arriving this morning! I'm so excited. We have lots of fun things planned, including visiting the Ritz Carlton for afternoon tea. I think that's the very best way to use my gift certificate.

I'm getting ready for them now. I'm going to venture to the grocery store to stock up on their favorite snacks and drinks. I'm also going to get fresh flowers to put in their bedroom.

My mother made a black walnut cake for me and brownies for Rich. Isn't that so nice? I can't wait to have a slice of that wonderful cake with a cup of tea with her. I think she just uses her 1-2-3-4 cake recipe, adding black walnuts to the batter. I'll confirm that with her when she gets here.

Even though she's made a 1-2-3-4 cake at least once a month for as long as I can remember, she still refers to a very old cardboard cut-out from Swansdown cake flour.

I'll have lots of stories to tell you about their visit, I'm sure. Just you wait. Lots of funny things happen to them.

a dream about a turtle

A few years ago, on a Sunday, I had a dream about a turtle. I dreamt that someone gave me a turtle as a gift. I wanted to loved it but I was too afraid of it. I liked it only when it was in its shell, like a rock. When it stuck out its head and looked at me with its eyes, I was sure it would get me.

I grew up with a marsh as my backyard. And I knew all about snapping turtles. Their necks were so long they were like snakes. And they did bite. And hiss. They were not shy, like the turtle in cartoons.

So, in my dream, I wished that I could love this turtle but I was really too afraid of it. This turtle seemed like a regular turtle, shy and nice. I just couldn't muster the nerve to be very near it.

When I awoke, I told this dream to Rich as soon as I woke up. I'm glad that I did because if I'd told him later, it wouldn't have been believable. That is because, later that morning when I looked out the window I saw a turtle crossing our neighborhood street!

I had not, and have not since, seen a turtle in our neighborhood. But there he was...my turtle. It was as if he'd walked out of my dream and right onto the street.

I often think of that dream and wonder what it could mean. What other gifts am I given that I'm too afraid to use? Is there anyone in my life waiting for love that I'm too afraid to extend?

How about you?