Everyday Beauty

Country Living

 
I picked up the May issue of Country Living at the store today, as I was eager to read it and decided I just couldn't wait for my subscription issue to arrive. Why the excitement?
Well, my velvet bookmarks are featured in the Idea Notebook!

The Crafts Editor, Jourdan Crouch, contacted me last fall, interested in featuring the bookmarks, so I whipped up a fresh batch and mailed them off right away. It was great fun working with her, and I'm tickled pink with the whole feature and such a pretty photograph of the bookmarks.

If you look closely you will see that it lists www.andreasingarella.com as my website. I have been keeping it under wraps until I knew when the site would go live, but now I know. My new website will open on Tuesday evening (April 19), and I'm so excited to share it with you, my blog friends and faithful readers. This website is something I've wanted to do for quite a while now. Having had that domain reserved for 3 years, the time was finally right!

I will be busy putting the finishing touches on it over the next couple of days, and hope you will stop by on Tuesday to take a peek!

xo andrea

Kite Delights

 
Flying a kite is one of those happy childhood pleasures that never goes out of style. My children love to fly their kites each year when the weather warms up and the breezes carry the tails away until only a speck can be seen against the clear blue sky. It's almost magical to watch them soar.

 
Recently, some friends and I did a little handmade gift exchange, and I made them each a pretty kite sachet. It's basically 2 layers of muslin, cut in a diamond shape, with bits of old laces and trims sewn on the front side, collage style. Ribbon tails in the softest shades are streaming from the bottom tip. 

 
Something sweet for Spring!

 
I filled the kites with rose petals and they became whimsical hanging sachets.

 
It was such fun to make each one and just as fun to photograph them with all those candy colored streamers.

 
Makes me want to go buy a fresh spool of kite string and head to the park. It's a beautiful day here. I hope it's the same wherever you are!
 

Rose Petal Bath Soak

  

There must be quite a few things that a hot bath won't cure, but I don't know many of them.  -Sylvia Plath

Yes, Ms. Plath I couldn't agree more. I have to say, I'm a bath girl, not too keen on showers. And a nice hot bath needs a nice relaxing bath soak, no? I've been known to whip up simple homemade beauty products from time to time, and as it turns out, most batches make a bit more than 2 arms and 2 legs can use in a reasonable length of time. So, they're perfect for gifting to friends and family. 

Back in the day I made lip balms, hair treatments, scrubs, creams.....you know, before I had kids. But over the past year or so I have really started missing the mixing of shea butter, jojoba oil and beeswax, adding a few drops of essential oils and packaging tins of balms. There is just something wonderful about knowing exactly what you're putting on your body and being able to pronounce all of the ingredients. I guess I'm kind of a hippy that way. You won't find many chemical beauty products in my bathroom cabinets, no petroleum based lip blams in my purse.

 

Well, Sofia and I had a lunch date with Hope, Kelli and Cammy last October (see how timely I am with my blogging! I should have all the Christmas pictures up sometime in June.),  and I made a batch of this simple Rose Petal Bath Soak, filled 3 mason jars and added a few pretty packaging details for each friend.

I thought I'd share the recipe here, in case you're inspired to make some of your own. This recipe is not a science by any means. Feel free to add more or less of anything. Doesn't a nice long bath sound wonderful?

 

Recipe for Rose Petal Bath Soak
---fills 4 Mason jars---

*3 cups Himalayan Pink Salt {not only is it pink, it's also very therapeutic. Click here to learn more.}
*3 cups Epsom Salts
*1 cup Baking Soda
*1 1/2 cups Organic Rose Petals and/or miniature Rose Buds
* a few drops of Vegetable Glycerin {from any pharmacy}
* 1/2 tsp. Rose Absolute Oil {a friend from Bulgaria brought me back a bottle of Bulgarian Rose Absolute, otherwise I would have purchased only a tiny bottle, with such a hefty price tag. You can always substitute a rose fragrance oil or another floral essentilal oil, but Rose Absolute is heavenly and a little goes a long way.}

Here's to happy soaking!

Girl Time

 
Last weekend I escaped for a wonderful relaxing time with a group of dear friends. It was the perfect little retreat, and I loved every minute spent with these girls. Karla invited us to her home, and we spent the days creating together, antiquing together and eating cupcakes together. What more could a girl ask for?

 
Karla made us all feel so welcome, and didn't mind that we were snapping paparazzi-style photos of her studio. It is a feast for the eyes! We all walked in and just sort of stood there in awe, coveting the space full of beautiful things, with hidden treasures in every nook. See those cabinet doors? They are bursting with vintage hats...and that's just the very tip of the iceberg.

 
We crafted and crafted until our eyes started to cross. I don't think any of us could keep up with Karla though. She truly lives and breathes art, which is amazing to witness. Beth stopped by too, and joined us for a day of crafting.

 
We each made a miniature dressform from scratch using a really creative technique Karla taught us. I love how each one is so different from the next. So pretty all together!

 
We did some antiquing. I was obviously very excited with my purchases.

 
And Karla, Suzanne and Jenn were too...

 
We were all loving the Victorian Trading Company store. I didn't realize they had an actual store front. Did you know? A little slice of heaven!

 
We headed to Missouri for a visit with Carol, and got a chance to see her beautiful new (old) farmhouse. She set such a lovely Spring table for dinner, and once again we became paparazzi snapping photos of her gorgeous home. Cameras were clicking!

 
Really, I have no words, but it made me want to come home and redecorate my house. You can see pictures of the table setting in Carol's recent blog post. And Jenn has lots of photos of Carol's home and Karla's amazing studio in her recent blog post. It's worth checking out for all the inspiration.

I thought this was a sweet picture of Lori and Carol, in Carol's home.

 
Here is a shot of Heather photographing the pretty table. The best part about the weekend was that we all "get" each other and appreciate good design, good crafts, good antiquing, and good food!

 
And then we headed outdoors for fireside wine and laughter.
Such fun memories.

 
I hadn't been away from my kids for well over a year, and I came home feeling so REFRESHED, relaxed, inspired and ready to take on the world. How is it that a few days away can do wonders for your soul?
Thank God for girlfriends!

Spring Happiness

 
Happiness is.....

* the fact that it is officially Spring and the daffodils are on the brink of blooming

*playing in a pile of old millinery flowers

*getting organized and doing some good old Spring cleaning

*getting ready to go to a friend's house to play with a bunch of other friends

*watching my husband put a fresh coat of paint on the walls

*wearing a dress without my legs being chilly

*deciding which color to paint my toenails

* finally finishing up a handful of Easter Eggs topped with rumpled vintage flowers. {They will be for sale in the shop sometime on Monday. Maybe around noon EST. More or less.}

*Hearing the birds chirp, chirp, chirp as they build their nests

*feeling hopeful about all the good things that the warmer weather will bring

*what is YOUR Spring happiness?

Prize Ribbon Rosettes on Sale

 
Hello! There are some fun & exciting things on the horizon at the moment. Among them, I am in the midst of designing a new colleciton of Prize Ribbon Rosettes, and have marked the current collection down. They are only $6 now, originally $10. If there is a prized friend or birthday girl you know of who might just need a rosette, click here to shop.
Quantities are limited.

Thank you, as always, for your patronage of my humble little shoparella!

Pretty Pastels

 
Pretty pastels are everywhere in the house today. It seems I have projects happening in every corner. Quite a mess, but a beautiful one I think! There are painted eggs with pearly patinas, ready to be embellished. They will be in the shop in the next few weeks. Is anyone else thrilled that Easter is late this year? It's nice to have a little more time for Springtime projects and decorating.

 
A pile of Bella Notte swatches I got from a shop that closed last year. The colors and fabrics are scrumptious....velvets and linens, laces and damasks. I can just picture a little doll sleeping on top of these, kind of like the Princess and the Pea!

 
 
I can't tell you how much inspiration I get from these vintage Chalkware children. The soft colors, the lines, the patina. Love love love. Chalkware is one of those fairly inexpensive collectibles that really adds a vintage feeling to an area or space. This piece has been all over the house, but now sits on the buffet.

 
More inspiration. An old handmade pin cushion with lovely details, embroidery and soft-as-silk ribbon laced through the edges.

 
 
This rhinestone piece came from a flea market, where the seller told me it was a component for a headpiece that was never finished. I thought that was interesting.

 
And what would a pastel post be without a rumpled gorgeous old rose?

 
Spring is upon us, and I can't wait! Are you feeling the same way?

Once Upon a Dream ~ Registration Time

 
Hello Friends!

I am very excited to let you know that registration is now under way for Once Upon a Dream! This is the destination art event that Jennifer Hayslip is hosting in beautiful Asheville, NC this October. It will be quite the fairytale, I have to say, right down to the tiniest beautiful detail.

For those who have attended one of Jennifer's previous events, you know that they are so much more than a group of women sitting at tables together hastily making an art project. It is truly a weekend retreat in a charming city, visiting beautiful venues, creating with kindred spirits, eating delicious meals {that you don't have to cook or wash the dishes from!}, complete with shopping, relaxing, endless girl talk and more laughter than you can imagine. To top it off, we will be creating together outdoors, under the sun in the fresh air. Doesn't it all sound incredibly wonderful? Like a dream!

Visit the Once Upon a Dream Blog to get the scoop on the workshops {one of which will be taught by yours truly), the breathtaking venues, and every last magical detail. Space is limited.

I cannot wait 'til October, and I am looking so forward to seeing old blog friends and meeting news ones as well!

Hello Saturday

 
Well, I couldn't sleep, so I came downstairs {it's 3:30 am} and thought I would tackle something on the mental to-do list I've been writing all week. Deadlines, things I need to do, things I want to do. You know. I have sort of come to terms with the fact that there are about 2 million things racing through my thoughts at any given time, and I can really only do one at a time. Which one should I start first?

I made a pot of coffee and had a heaping tablespoon of Nutella {I know}, and here I sit with not too much to say. Just wanted to say hello!

So, hello! I hope it's a lovely Saturday for you! I know it will be be for me. I am so HAPPY to have my husband back!

{Large glittered Gothic letters are from Wendy Addison, a few years ago. I think maybe you can still call her in her studio and order things the old-fashioned wonderful way. If not, you can also buy them by calling here.}

xo

Blogkeeping

 
Well hello and hooray for Friday!

This blog silently celebrated its 4 year anniversary earlier this month. It's hard to believe how different my life was just 4 years ago. At that time, I had only one child, I hadn't even opened my shop yet, and hadn't yet had the pleasure of meeting so many of the dear friends and acquaintences I know now. I have packed a lot of pink and cream into those 4 years! I hope you've enjoyed this blog half as much as I've enjoyed writing it and sharing it with you. I know there have been times of frequent blogging, and then other times of lengthy absences. Like everything in life, it ebbs and flows, and I just sort of hold on tight. And I know there are about a gazillion new blogs that have popped up in the last 4 years, and the face of blogging has changed quite a bit. So, if you're still reading this one, thank you. I'm so glad you're here!

I have wanted to do a little housekeeping here on the blog, and today I thought I would do just that. Just a few things I've been meaning to tell you and some frequent reader questions I thought I would answer here.....

* Thank you always for your lovely comments. I so love receving your sweet messages and emails. I wish I could respond to each comment personally, but please know that I appreciate them nonetheless.

* If you leave a question for me in your comment, I will always reply with an answer directly to you, not in the comments section. It may take a few days, but you will hear from me for certain. I will totally admit right here and now that I am not the world's best emailer, but I promise I will get back to you.

* Beyond comments, lots of emails from readers come my way as well. I always do my best to respond with answers to your questions about where I purchased certain items, how something was made, how I started my shop, tips on how to make jewelry, what defines my style, etc. I believe in passing on and sharing information, and have formed friendships through this very process.

* I tend to get lots of questions asking where I purchased something, even when I've included a link for the source in the body of the blog post. I think my colorful words may have made this a bit confusing, so hopefully this will help clarify. I sometimes add a little color to my blog posts when the mood strikes me. Something like this, this or this maybe. But those are not links, just fun colored text. So, I have recently begun underlining any words that are a link. In this watermelon color. It's the only time I'll underline, so you will know it's a link, and any other colorful words are just words. I think I worded that as clearly as mud.

* A blog, any blog, is only a thin slice of the author's life. Since this is Everyday Beauty, I share with you the pretty things, the things that make my heart sing or at least skip a beat. I do not generally share the ugly, messy, sad, frustrating moments. There are plenty of them. Even though I try everyday to think positive thoughts, fill myself with patience for my kids, smile at strangers and just be happy.... not everything is always sunshine and roses. I hope readers realize that my life is as crazy and real as anyone else's. Just last week I had to Google how to get poop out of carpet. That was fun.....but not really something I thought I would blog about. But, look, now I did!

* I do not use Twitter. I am poor, at best, at checking Facebook. It's just not my thing, girls. There are only so many hours in the day, and I don't spend too many of them on the computer. I'll be happy to add you as a friend if you friend me on FB, but my FB activity is pretty low and very boring! Oh, and I don't text either. My husband doesn't call me Grandma Singarella for nothing!

* I do not "follow" blogs, and I couldn't begin to tell you how to follow mine. I get emails asking me "how can I follow your blog?" My answer is "I have no idea.... Just stop by whenever you feel like it!" That's my old-fashioned blog-reading method. Using a "reader", you can't see the whole look of the blog, the banner, all the prettiness. That's part of what I love about visiting a blog.... the entire picture, like a room all decorated and wonderful and cozy. I know I am definitley the oddball when it comes to this, as nearly everyone else seems to love "readers". Maybe someday I will, who knows. But not for now.

I hope I have clarified a few things and answered questions some of you may have had. If not, please email me! I will be happy to get back to you as quickly as I am able.

I'm looking forward to a wonderful {Spring like!} weekend with my parents coming for a visit and my husband finally coming home next week after being gone for the better part of 4 months. Been a looooong winter, girls, and I am so ready for Spring! Aren't we all?!