Everyday Beauty

New Look, New Baubles & an Online Workshop

My website has gotten a fresh and beautiful makeover (thanks to my dear and talented friend Hope), and I'm excited to show you all the newness in store! I'll keep the chatter light and the photos heavy here on the blog. If you'd like to peek, click the image on the sidebar.

ALSO!  I'm excited to be offering an online jewelry workshop to all of my customers! I hope this will be the first of several workshops I can offer you. Click the button on the sidebar and it will take you straight to the workshop page, which will give you all the details. You can also CLICK HERE for more information and to purchase the course. Teaching at workshops around the country has been a blessing to me in many ways: I've forged new friendships, learned from others, shared my creative journey with students, and been inspired by many along the way. I realize not everyone is able to get away and attend these workshops, and I'm hoping this online workshop will offer you a chance to learn the basics of jewelry making and inspire YOU to create your own beautiful pieces from home. 

A New Season

This picture was taken a couple days ago on Sofia's first day of preschool. And so another school year begins! I can hardly believe I now have a 3rd grader, a Kindergartener and a Preschooler. These three were so ready to get back to school and start the routine that Autumn brings. And as sad I was to send them off that first day, I must admit, these precious few hours (Sofia only goes half days, three days a week) have proven quite productive! The house is so QUIET. 

I've been cleaning, and getting organized and (gasp!) making jewelry! A few new pair of Ear Drops to start, and little by little I'll be adding to my shop as the fall continues. These will be in the shop sometime today. In this collection I used old religious medals, lots of rhinestones, chuncky Amazonite beads and some vintage pearls.

It's a beautiful mild day here today, perfect for a lunch outside. I think that's where my girl and I are headed after I pick her up from school.

Back to School Baubles

Well hello! It's been awhile. I hope you enjoyed Summer and all it's carefree days and beauty. We had a great time at the beach and hit just about every festival, parade and fair within a 5o mile radius. But, alas, all good things must end eventually. And so it's back to school for the kiddies and a little more "free" time for Mama.

I've been making time to create jewelry these past few weeks, and plan to have these pieces in the shop in the next week or two.

See you soon! Enjoy this day! :-)

More Hanging Hearts

Hello! I wanted to show you the pretty hearts I received in the exchange last week. The neutral colors couldn't have been softer or lovlier. It's always interesting how each person creates her version of the same type of thing so uniquely. This one (above) was made by Kerry Lynn Yearly , and each bugle bead was sewn on by hand. Isn't it beautiful? The one below, made by Michele Witchell, has some hand beadwork as well. Love the old pearls spelling out beloved, and that pretty cotton flower!



And this darling puffy eyelet one was completely hand stitched by Letty Worley. Though I don't know any of these women, I am happy to have one of their creations!

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?

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?

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

 
Sending a hug to you this Valentine's Day
{and a little vintage style of course!}

 
 
 
 
 
 

Foyer Faux Fir

 
Besides decorating the main green tree in the family room, I completely love decorating smaller ivory feather trees all around the house. In the kitchen we have the Sugarpum Tree, all done up in sweets and confections. On the buffet, there is a tree decorated with pastel birds and mercury glass pinecones. There's another little tree of just vintage bells {beaded, glass and metal} in the kitchen area also. And then there's this favorite little tree in the foyer.

 

It's trimmed with little bits and pieces of vintage goodies in a palette of pink, cream, pale green & yellow. It sits on a yard-sale-find chippy old table, and I placed it in an old hatbox which was first filled with yards of lace to cover the tree base.

 

A glass strawberry, milinery fruits, velvet berries and a floppy rose. Favorite things!

 

Some vintage glass here and there amongst ornaments from dear friends.

 

Sugared bells and a mercury glass starburst.

 

My mom came here to stay for a week, and almost every night we stayed up late and worked on a craft project. This pink ornament was one of my projects. She made a pretty red and gold one for her tree.

 

Mary tucked in some vintage pink glass balls. It's fun to discover unexpected things in a Christmas tree.

 

The Mary statue below is special to me because it came from Bosnia, where George and I once lived for a year while he was working there.

 

More random decorations.

 

I'm not sure this tree really has a theme...it's just a bit of a mish mosh of things. But it's a faux fir that I enjoy trimming year after year!
 
 

Twinkling Teacups

 
Every once in a while I get the urge to clean out cupboards and eliminate things I don't love or need or use. I should do this much more often....you know how it goes. So, a month or so ago, I began pulling teacups, saucers, bowls and dishes from the buffet and cupboards. They were stacked all willy nilly in there, and I felt so unorganzied. It had been driving me crazy for too long already.

 
These are mostly pieces I use pretty regularly or have displayed around the kitchen. I washed them and organized them {hooray!}. I had them all spread across the table to take stock and {hopefully} eliminate pieces I no longer wanted/needed/loved.

 
Not sure what I was thinking with that odd angle above....it seemed like a good idea at the time.

 
Wishing they still made souvenirs like this....

 
I'm sad to report I was only able to part with one lonely demitasse cup. Sometimes I wish I wasn't such a sentimentalist. I get so attached to things, which is silly I know. But they do make the everyday tasks and rituals a little more beautiful, right? To me at least. I can't speak for my husband....he hates that none of these things can go in the dishwasher!
I found this "A Present from London" cup & saucer at an antique mall in Ohio. When I look at it, I feel like it really should be in the hands of Rachell Ashwell....LOL.. If I had her address, I would send it!

 
Oh, well now at least the cups and dishes are all twinkling clean, organzied and ready to be used and enjoyed again. Now on to the rest of the house.

Support

 
Women are amazing. Really, we are. Born nurturers, we have the power to lift each other up and support one another through challenging, sad, and trying times. These past few weeks, my faith in the power of friendship was renewed once again. Not that I ever doubted my friendships, but I have been feeling a bit "off" lately, and it was the other women in my life who helped lift me up so I could see with a clear, fresh perspective. 

 
The support came in many forms....your lovely comments here on this blog, private emails from friends and blog readers, phone calls from old friends and new... and even a few cheerful surprises in the mailbox. Just good old-fashioned acts of kindness. How can I even say thank you? Words don't seem like quite enough.

 
On the other hand, I also tried my best to help some of my friends who are going through tough times themselves lately. We all go through ups and downs, triumphs and challenges, happy and sad days. It's nice to know we're not alone on this path through life. It's comforting to be able to relate.

Even a smile from a stranger can change someone's day. It's that powerful.

Today I wish for each of you....a smile, a hug, a bit of good news, a laugh, a phone call from a dear friend, and a kiss from someone you love.

{No, I don't wear these vintage bras, but I thought they would make the point of support in a pretty way! Aren't they beautiful?}