Happy Easter!

i love this...

Bottled History from Smith Journal on Vimeo.

Thought you might, too.

a homemade year

 

Look at this adorable craft apron I made! When I saw this project in Jerusalem's new book, A Homemade Year, I just had to make it. She offers it as a great party project for kids to make. Isn't that a great idea?

In her lovely new book, Jerusalem Greer invites you and your family to celebrate the year following the rhythm of the liturgical calendar. I love that idea! More than a collection of crafts and recipes, this book will serve as a guide for you. As Jerusalem shares her life experiences, the ups and downs alike, you'll see yourself and will be encouraged on your journey in faith. You, too, like me, will fall in love with Jerusalem's big open and beautiful heart. A Homemade Year is truly a treasure of a book, filled with captivating stories, amazing photos (taken by Jerusalem's sister Judea) and wonderful crafts and recipes to share with your family.

Good news, sweet friends: Use this coupon code: inspireco 

and pick up your own copy at an incredible discount (nearly 40% off)  

Click here to purchase.

that was fun!

 

You'll have to excuse the blurry photos...we were having too much fun grooving to a musical birthday card while wearing goofy sunglasses and celebrating my birthday.

p.s. Notice how skinny I am? 20 pounds down and counting...I'll have to fill you in on the deets of this ongoing diet. I did, however, eat a cupcake or two (3, if you count the one I just had with Alfredo)

42

 

42 years ago I was born on my grandmother’s birthday. My mother left for the hospital the day before with the birthday cake she’d baked for her mother unfrosted. On the way, she said to my father, "I hope this baby waits to be born on my mother’s birthday!" My father replied as he sped along the highway, "I hope this baby waits to be born at the hospital!"

 

(me at 3, left, with my sister Jessica)

 

Perhaps it was this auspicious beginning and perhaps it has to do with being born on the first day of Spring, but I have always, always held my birthday as an extra special, personal holiday. To me, celebrating my birthday is celebrating my life. An extra piece of cake. (With a huge sugary frosting flower on top, please!) An extra spring in my step. "Happy Birthday to me!" playing in my head. And a huge smile on my face. "It’s my birthday!" I tell absolutely everyone, followed by my age. 42 today!

 

i scream, you scream...

My friend Koralee has written the sweetest book...literally! It's a whole adorable book about ice cream! When she was a teenager, Koralee's parents bought a Dairy Queen. She became famous as "the girl who owns the Dairy Queen"...achieving instant popularity. She remembers treating her friends to elaborate ice cream concoctions that she invented with all the ice cream, sauces and toppings...her favorite? "a gooey marshmallow pineapple vanilla milkshake topped with mounds of whipped cream and a cherry or 3 or 4".

With a repertoire including creations like that, Koralee just had to write a book...and now we too can share in her ice cream adventures. Koralee's book is as beautiful as it is delicious, with sprinkles of happiness dotting every page. Speaking of sprinkles...homemade sprinkles? Oh yeah, baby, they're in there too!

And guess who you'll find on page 46?

Childhood birthdays spent at Farrell's inspired this little birthday treat...updated with sprinkle-coated cone-hats.

Head on over to Koralee's for a chance to win a signed copy of her book...or pick one up for yourself here.

And for more of sweet Koralee, look for her adorable project (and recipe!) in the Spring issue of Inspired Ideas, available now.

2 more giveaways!

Maybe since yesterday was St. Paddy's and all, you're feeling a wee lucky?

Head on over to Jerusalem's blog to enter her giveaway for a signed copy of her fabulous book, a sweet stack of fabric so you can make her project from Inspired Ideas, and a digital copy of Spring 2013 Inspired Ideas!

 And then head on over to Ashlee's blog to enter her giveaway to win a sweet little cloche, also featured in the Spring issue of Inspired Ideas.

Magpie Ethel

If you haven't yet discovered the magical world of Magpie Ethel, boy are you ever in for a treat!

Not only does she make the most amazing and adorable vintagey little characters...

She's a bit of a collector...

 

147 collections (and counting!)

are documented on her blog.

 

Look for them on the sidebar under "Collection Challenge" and be prepared to be knocked off your feet.

 

And just in case you'd like to start your own collection of Magpie Ethel Originals, head on over to her Etsy shop where she is celebrating her 1000th etsy sale with a special discount. (Enter the code BIG1000, all caps, to get 20% knocked off!)

 

And be sure to check out her blog where she is celebrating her 1000+ blog post with a giveaway. Leave a comment today on your least favorite Easter candy to enter!

 

Magpie Ethel contributed this adorable kitschy Easter garland project to the Spring issue of Inspired Ideas...

 

 

 

 

how do you celebrate everyday?

How do you celebrate every day? To help get us ready for my Celebrate Everyday Workshop over at Big Picture Classes, we are collecting your answers to this question. Head on over to the blog to leave your idea for celebrating every little day and you could be the lucky winner of a $25 Big Picture Classes Gift Certificate.

While you are there, check out my embroidered shoes, featured here:

painted bowl giveaway

I just love Jenn's painted bowls project in the Spring issue. I can't wait to snag some wooden bowls and paint some myself...

you too?

Or, how would you like to have one of the bowls Jenn painted? Here's your chance...

Head on over to Jenn's spot on the web, www.noodleandlou . Leave a comment on the giveaway post mentioning your favorite Spring project. And you could be the lucky winner. Drawing on March 20. Good luck!

nests!

The cover girl of the spring issue is my spring nest, which I absolutely loved creating! In the issue, I give you complete instructions on how you can make your own and I do hope you'll give it a try. I made a whole bunch of them and seriously can't wait to see the ones you make. You can use any combination of fibers to create them.

I made this one all from this super gorgeous (and a wee expensive) knit collage yarn...

This tiny nest was constructed with all-white fibers, including vintage lace.

I made a few others but I do think this one, the cover girl, is my very favorite...

 

 

You probably already have everything you need to make your own...except perhaps the instructions...found in the Spring issue of Inspired Ideas, available here for a mere $3.99. 

It's here!

I can't wait for you to see it for yourself...

Click here to buy the Spring 2013 issue of Inspired Ideas!

 



get ready...

Look for the Spring 2013 issue of Inspired Ideas tomorrow...

 

It's a good one!

furniture oggling

I don't need any furniture....I don't need any furniture...I don't need...

 

 

but, man oh man...aren't these great finds over at World Market?

bunny ears

Our friend Claudine is giving away printable bunny ears and she asked Alfredo to model them. Have you ever seen such an adorable bunny?

 

Everytime I put pictures up of my living room, I always get questions about the house pillows and the bird painting. The lovely house pillows are made by my sweet friend Catherine Thursby. And the painting is by the Winborg Sisters...find them here.

 

Okay back to work...hoping to get the magazine to you on Monday. It is soooo good. I mean, REALLY good. Can't wait to show you!

Alfredo's pigeon

Isn't this the cutest pigeon you've ever seen? Alfredo drew it on the "Don't Let the Pigeon Run This App" app.