Everyday Beauty

The Final Sale

Well, I wasn't planning to type this post until sometime early next year, but there's no time like the present I suppose.

Hmmmm....let's see. How to start? Let's just jump right in.

I've decided  to close One Hundred Wishes. It's been a very, very long time coming, and this is the time. I know it is. I want it to be. I'm ready. So, why is this so hard? Why am I sitting here with tears?

My little shop has been a labor of love every single day for me. Not always a smooth ride, but always a worthwhile one. I gave it everything I had and then some. It's just that I don't want to do this anymore. It's time for a change, time to slow down and find the me that's been buried under boxes for over 2 years now. It's hard because this feels like the end of an era for me, but this is the change I've been wanting for so long now.

I am so grateful for you, my dear readers, customers and friends. If you have ever left me a comment of support or placed an order with my shop, I THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. YOU are the reason it was a success. I worked my tail off sourcing just the right things and making it all look pretty, but without your support it would have failed. I hope I have brought a little bit of prettiness to your creative world through my shop. I've said it before, I never opened the shop for money, but to fulfill a dream. I have enjoyed it so very much, and the friendships I have found made it even more worthwhile.

I'm especially grateful to my dear friends Hope and Holly, who have always been there with an ear through the tough times and the wonderful times. They never judged me through the bad times, and always celebrated with me during the happy times. A mark of true friendship. And I have to say, it wouldn't be what it was without Hope's magical web design work {but you already know that!}.

More than anyone, the person who has sacrificed the most is my husband. Always believing in me and always helping me, he thinks I can do anything, and he made me believe I can. I don't know how I got so lucky to find him. I literally thank God everyday.

So, anyway....this is sounding like an Academy Award speech, which wasn't my intention. But I just had to say those things.

I will be keeping the shop open for a couple weeks or until the inventory sells out {I hope!}. Every item is on sale. There's a little bit of everything left in the store, but not a lot. After that, the NEW One Hundred Wishes will be a little teeeeeeny tiny place where I will sell the jewelry I make along with other seasonal handmade things or items I design myself. It will strictly be handmade and designed by me. The prize ribbons will remain, since I designed them and I do love them still. I still have several pieces of my Vintage Trinket Jewelry here, which I will list after this big inventory clearance is over.

Well, that's all I've got today. Thanks girls, as always, for your support. You guys are the best!

xoxoxox Andrea

Happy Thanks-a-Give

That is how my father-in-law says Thanksgiving in his broken Italian accent. It's hilarious, and somewhere along the line George and I have started saying it too.

Do you like my holiday table setting?

 
  
Just kidding!

We're in Ohio right now, and my mom is making a delicious meal that I can hardly wait to dig into! I'm so happy to be here with all of my family, and this year I'm feeling especially grateful for the many blessings in my life.

Happy Thanks-a-Give everyone!!!

{photo courtesy of Martha, by the way.}

Silver Bella Part II: The Projects

After last year's Silver Bella experience where I didn't come home with a single completed project, I was determined to finish them all this year. I usually prefer to listen more than talk anyway, but I was feeling particularly quiet in my classes this year for some reason....which means I got more done! So I'm happy to say I finished all 5 projects and really enjoyed all of the classes.

This is the necklace I made in Kaari Meng's class. She was so lovely, and I think everyone enjoyed meeting her. I love it when instructors encourage you to make the projects in your own style, which I prefer to do anyway. It only makes sense to put your own spin on it so everyone's project looks a little different and unique.

This is from my Lineage of Love class with Pam Garrison. Lots of people used old family photos which turned out so pretty. You should check out Lori's with all the photos of her grandparents. Gorgeous! I decided to use copies of some of my vintage holy cards for this one, and those soft pastels are so pretty.

 

 

This wreath was another class with Pam. Instead of an Advent wreath, I created a wreath I can use all year long. Pam's Advent wreath example was wonderful, and I was tempted to do the same, but we already have a big fabric advent calendar with pockets. The kids love to peek inside and find the treat for the day.

I used some rosettes from old prize ribbons and a bunch of old millinery flowers and laces.

Teresa taught this next class, Victorious Medals. I had fun with this one and added jewelry and more rosettes. Those fun award ribbons were part of the class kit. 

How cute is that one that says "Darling"?

Last but not least a Hodge Podge Journal with Rebecca Sower.  I can always find an excuse for a new journal!

I still need to put a photo in the center there....probably one of George and I.

I loved the classes this year!

The end! 

Silver Bella Part I: The Friendships

 

Well, Silver Bella was a lot of fun, and now that I've had 4 days to rest up, I am finally typing a blog post. This weekend gave a whole new meaning to the word exhausted. 

For me, Silver Bella is just as much about seeing old friends and making new ones, as it is about the classes we take there. This post is all about the girls. I got some good shots, but wish I had taken even more. We were too busy laughing and running around like crazy from breakfast to class to class to lunch to class to the room to freshen up to dinner...you get the point. Non stop. But fun!

The photo booth photos had us roaring. The guy told us you can fit up to 8 people in there. Um...that is not true! Here we are with 6 of us squished in that tiny booth. Top row: Suzanne, me, Tiffany. Bottom row: Lori, Jenn and Gabrielle.

On vendor night, everyone wore aprons. Beside me is my roommate Gabrielle, and then Lori, Jenn and Tiffany, whose room was adjoining to ours. We just kept the door open so it felt like one big sleepover. Talk about being with friends who "get" you. It was really wonderful.

Lorraine and Jenn in their aprons with shopping bags in hand.

Beautiful handmade aprons on Kelli, Cammy and Hope.

The ever-smiling Karla selling her wares on vendor night.

Jo Packham of Where Women Create was the keynote speaker, and just about everyone at my table was moved to tears by her speech. She is just lovely. Down to Earth, inspiring, upbeat and real. It was truly an honor to have met her.

Lori, Analise and me taking a break from our project to pose for the camera. I finally got to meet Lori this year. It was like meeintg an old freind for the first time.

 

Jessi and Jenn. {and I spy Shelly Kennedy in the background there. I was thrilled to meet her!}

 

Lorraine and Amy.

 

Me and Hope.

Me and Gabrielle.

 

Lori, Jenn and me {and a baby bump}

  

Getting ready to head out the door to dinner.

And by the end of the weekend, I think we all wanted to sleep more than anything in the world. I kissed my pillow when I got home. The photo below is a group of us who had done a book swap together. We created a keepsake journal for the photos and memories of the weekend. Jessi put it all together, and it turned out beautifully.

 
 
 Thanks for the great memories, girls! I'll show you the projects I made in the next post.

Gifts for the Girls

 

I wanted to make a little something for my roommate {Gabrielle} and my 3 friends who will have an adjoining room with us this weekend at Silver Bella {Tiffany, Lori and Jenn}. So, I used the same concept as the millinery eggs I make every Easter, except I used a ball rather than an egg.

I tucked some candies inside and wrapped them all up in tissue paper and ribbons. As you read this, I am already in Omaha, probably covered in glitter or at least glue. I will be back next week with pictures of the festivities!

Bye for now!

An Apron for Andrea

 

The theme for this year's Silver Bella Vendor Faire is "100 Aprons". Up until yesterday I didn't know what to wear. I thought maybe I could just wear one that I had {boring}.....maybe not wear one at all {party pooper}. I hemmed and hawed. My waistline is not exactly apron-esque right now, and I just wasn't feelin' it for some reason.

 

Then yesterday I sat down and just began. I don't know where the creative juices or the inspiration came from.  But piece by piece I stitched and stitched until it was done. I began with this piece {below} which was originally going to be a new blog banner that said "Everyday Beauty". I never got around to finishing it, but I loved the "beauty" part, so I incorporated it into the apron.

Stella Pearl's waistline is much smaller than mine, so I had to turn her and get some side shots.

the other side...

Just some favorite little things I attached.

All ready to go! Now, I must go finish packing and get some sleep. It's going to be a fun weekend!

 

The Dirty Truth

I just thought you should know, this is how my room usually looks! But thank you for the compliments. I appreciate that you guys get it, and if I could I'd have you all over to play. Although it would be awfully crowded in there!

It's always a bit of an obstacle course, but right now more than usual. I'm packing and preparing for Silver Bella {in just 3 days! Yikes!}, and since there's no room on any of the 3 desks, I've resorted to using the floor.

To answer a few questions that were asked about the room.....

Yes,  I have a baby gate on the entrance to the room. Sometimes I forget to lock it. Sam looks forward to those times and comes out with handfuls of ribbons.

I didn't paint the Ikea shelves. They came that color. I think they call it Birch. 

The color on the walls in Classic Taupe {by Behr, I'm pretty sure}.

I think those were the only questions asked. If I missed something, ask again and I'll try to send an answer.

Ok, I'm off to bed, It's 10:00 which is SO late for me these days. I went to bed at 7:30 last night!