Everyday Beauty

Guest Curator on CRESCENDoh

 

Guess what? This week I'm the Guest Curator over at CRESCENDoh.com!

You can read my "Art Saves " story by clicking here. It's the story of the creative journey that led me to this point in my life, making jewelry and having a little shop....feeling blessed and grateful.

Also, every day this week there will be 2 featured blog posts that I hand-picked. These are other artists' blog posts from the past that have inspired me and stand out as some of my personal favorites.

I hope you'll take a peek. There are many inspiring Art Saves stories on CRESCENDoh, and it's such a honor to be a part of it!

Save the Date for An Affaire at Downton

 

Save the Date! I'm thrilled to announce I'll be teaching a jewelry class at Kim Caldwell's "Affaire at Downton" creative retreat in May, 2014. The details haven't been revealed just yet, and registration will open this fall. As a big fan of Downton Abbey, I can't think of a more beautiful theme. I hope you can join us for a weekend of art, friends, and fun!

Creatively Made Home

Well hello there! I think you will be glad you stopped by today. I know I am glad you stopped by today!

Have you heard about Jeanne Oliver's newest e-course, Creatively Made Home?

Well, you are in for a treat. Jeanne is offering this e-course, starting October 22nd, and it is jam packed with inspiring ideas, photos, videos and so much more.

It is a 5 week course all about creating a beautiful home that is not about perfection. It's about making your home a reflection of your heart. Don't you love that?

There are 5 creative women behind the course, and they will each be sharing pictures of their homes, tips, recipes, videos, printable pdf's and more. I can't wait to see it all!

Jeanne has also asked several other women to share a short video as part of the e-course, speaking about what is most important for them to have in their homes.

 I was honored when she asked me to be one of those women.

Because she's such a sweetheart (if you have ever met her you know how very true it is)......she would like to give 3 of my blog readers free registration to the course!

You will need to leave a comment though, otherwise how will I know you're interested?

Simply leave your name and email address
and I'll put you in the drawing. Easy as pie.

You can read ALL about it HERE on Jeanne's blog.

Here are a few teaser photos of the 5 inspiring women who are hosting the e-course, and the beautiful heartfelt homes they have created.

Jeanne Oliver

 

Tracey Leber

Sara Duckett

Kimberly Taylor

Jennifer Rizzo

Looks like a little slice of heaven, I think! So, leave a comment. I will draw 3 winners on Friday. I hope you win!

xo andrea

Finally

I have been wanting to take guitar lessons for as long as I can remember. George bought me a guitar two years ago...or was it three? I finally called and set up private lessons, and tonight is the first one! I'm excited and a little nervous too. Excited to be taking the first step in fulfilling this little dream. Nervous that I will look or feel like a fool. Sounds silly when I type it, but it's true. But sometimes you have to step outside your comfort zone and really challenge yourself. Put yourself out there.

I'll let you know how it goes!

Retreat. Refresh. Rediscover. Remember.

{photo by Tiffany Kirchner-Dixon}

Last week I returned from a trip to California, where I attended Kim Caldwell's fantastic event, An Affaire at Tiffany's. (The gracious Kim doesn't leave out a single beautiful detail at her famous art events!) Art retreats are special and powerful. I came home recharged, refreshed, and inspired. So happy to spend fun times with some of my dearest girlfriends, and to meet new friends as well. There's nothing like surrounding yourself with 70 creative women to give your own creativity a boost and help you reconnect with your artistic spirit. It was almost a rediscovery for me. Made me want to come home and journal and paint and fill my shop up again with trinkety treasures, baubles and bookmarks. Most importantly, on those days when my to do list is a mile long and I'm feeling uninspired, I need to remember how this feels... this wonderful feeling of friendship and connection and creativity. It can change one's whole perspective.

I already have some jewelry in the works and bookmarks nearly finished. Now, if I could only remember the log-in to my website. I know it's written down here somewhere!

Also, I finally created a page on Facebook for my shop. You can "like" it if you want by clicking here. I'll let you know when my shopette gets updated and hopefully I can keep the momentum going!

Birthday Bunting & a Bit of Reflection

This weekend I'll be celebrating 36 years of life. Gosh, I remember typing a very similar post talking about turning 32. That seems like yesterday, which is a bit scary. This past year has been all about change for me, in good ways. There was a time not too long ago, where I'd walk past a mirror and hardly recognize myself. Bags under my eyes, a neglected self with no spark, no twinkle in my eye. I wasn't sure how I got there, but I was darn sure I needed to get back to the me I loved, nurtured and recognized. We are all who we are, eternally, aren't we? Deep down, that ember never dies, we don't really change, but we can get so caught up in other things, feelings and routines that cloak us in a frightful foggy mess.

 Balance, balance, balance they say. I do believe "they" are right, whoever they are.

All this babbling and carrying on to say only this: remember who you are, who you love, who loves you, what you love, what you stand for, and what you believe in. Don't forget the little treats that make your heart sing. And don't forget to love yourself first. You will have even more love to give everyone else!

Happy Birthday to me.
xo

p.s. Oh, and the bunting was just a little something I stitched for Sofia's 2nd birthday party coming up in May. I think I should hang it up for my own birthday this weekend, what do you think? And George, I would love to order the window treatments for the kitchen windows and banish the old lace panels. Wink, wink. ;-)

Blessings and Beauty

A warm friendly HELLO and HOW ARE YOU? is the very first order of business, don't you think? So, hello! How have you been? I've missed you, and I've missed this place and all the sharing of friendships and ideas and beauty that used to happen around here. Gosh, it's been moons since I've typed a post, and naturally there is much to catch up on. In the past 7 months, we have moved twice, and been really up and kinda down and high and low and everywhere in between. But, {gigantic exhale} life is good, and my family of 5 is well adjusted here and happy as can be! We're surrounded by extended family and don't take a minute of it for granted. It has enriched our lives beyond words. We love our new Ohio home, and I'm happy to report that about 90% of the boxes are unpacked, which was quite the adventure, let me tell ya.

But, anyway. I have been waiting to begin again with my blog. Waiting until the time felt right, and it finally does. It feels like this is exactly what I should be doing at this moment. My craft room is all {pretty much} set up and I'm eager to start creating ANYTHING. I have been missing this part of myself, this creative part, and haven't felt complete without it. Each new day holds so many possibilities and opportunities if only we are open to them. I have not quite been myself for several months now. But something has changed, and I can feel the shift. A fresh new year will sometimes do that.

As I sit here typing, I am thankful for so many people, experiences, lessons, blessings. I have promised myself to stay nearer to those who are dear to me, and make sure they know how loved they are. Family and friends are everything. So, to all of you reading this, thank you for sharing a bit of your day with me here. Thank you for checking in on me from time to time. Thank you reaching out even when I wasn't. It feels so good to be back, and this would mean nothing without you!

Much love and happiness to you in 2012!

Thirty Five

 
So, today I turn 35. And it's funny because sometimes I still feel 16. Heck, sometimes I still feel 6. Do we ever really change? With each passing year, we grow and learn, of course, but the core of who we are is so solid. Deep down we always remain the same person with the same needs, hopes, desires, fears, sensitivities and loves.

And each year holds nearly infinite possibilities. We have no idea what is really in store for us in the next 365 days! That is a bit scary, and very exciting at the same time! I am making a promise to myself to remember to LIVE each day this year with passion, gratitude and kindness. With so much to be thankful for, life is just too short to settle for anything less!

Thanks so VERY much for your gracious comments, messages and emails about the new site! I'm so happy you like it. It was the perfect way to kick off my 35th year!

With Love (and balloons and cake), Andrea

Hello and Welcome!

 
I'm so glad you stopped by, and I want to welcome you to the fresh new look of Everyday Beauty. My friend Hope did beautiful, clean and detailed design work for me, as she always does, and I am tickled....well, pink! I've been wanting a site that combines my shop, blog, photos, and other little bits of my life, which is the reason why www.andreasingarella.com was created.

There are some new jewels in The Shopette and a new collection of Prize Ribbon Rosettes as well. Simply click "Shopette" in the menu bar above to take a peek.
Please note that all new orders will begin shipping on May 4th.

 
 
Some of the Bookmark Baubles featured in the Country Living article are also for sale.

 
One more thing...I am happy to be shipping internationally once again! I have missed my international friends and customers, and will now ship to Canada, Europe and Australia through First Class International mail (which will keep the rates lower for you).

Thanks so much for your support and excitement. It's always such a joy to hear from you and share pieces of my world with you!

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