don't forget...

to enter the necklace giveaway here and to have a super weekend!


I hope you see something beautiful.


Thank You all for the lovely birthday wishes.

where is edward scissorhands...

when you need him?  I can't draw or cut a straight line.  I blame this on the fact I am not really left handed or right handed, which I've discussed before.  The curtains in my studio have been bothering me, getting in the way and knocking things over when I open and close them.  This probably has more to do with my messy countertops than the curtains being too long.  I don't want to take the time to get the counters in order so I got all Martha Stewart on the curtains.

I just figured I could trim them up a bit now and properly press and hem them later - all would be well.  Easy breezy.

The right side came out kind of okay...

the left side...........less okay...

it's all in the details...

I think I might need new curtains.

DON'T FORGET TO ENTER MY NECKLACE GIVEAWAY!

giving back giveaway...

I've been having a great month.  Well, I've actually been having a great life - bumps and bruises along the way of course, but a fantastical journey for sure.

I experience joy and feel appreciation every single day.  I know how lucky I am, I really do.  I wish everyone could have my life - even the person who stole my Ipad last month.  Yes, I wish it for that person too, but only after they give my Ipad back - KIND of joking.

What can I do with all this joy?  I can give 2 of my blog readers a necklace, that's what I can do!  I will stamp whatever initial you like in this sterling silver disc and hang it on a sterling silver chain.  My shops are doing great, my birthday is coming up, I'm going to see the beach this weekend and don't even get me started on where I'm going next month!!  You see why I'm bursting with joy?

Just leave me a comment telling me what brings you joy and you're in.  No following or other promotional attachments - just spreadin' some love.  Tell your friends! 

I'll be back next week to announce the winners.

she read, she saw...

This is my weekly Friday feature. My daughter, who is living in Seattle while she is in school, sends me a favorite quote of hers and I try to pair it with a photograph I've taken. Hopefully, both pieces will be a bit more inspiring as a result.

"To be able to choose is a good that is independent of the wisdom of what is chosen."

 -Gerald Dworkin

Got a little funny with it this week, must be this flu - needed a giggle.Before you go, don't forget to enter my Sterling Silver Necklace Giveaway!

Have a great weekend - see you Monday.

things i love thursday...

This is day four. 

 

Everything hurts, temp is still over 100 and I'm really starting to get annoyed with the whole thing.  I'm also starting to stink but I brushed my teeth yesterday and that's something.  It's the small victories.

So, with meaty raw throat and a body that aches from head to toe I ask, what are you loving this week?

Don't forget to enter my giveaway (and thanks so much to those who have helped me promote it).

year number one giveaway...

I've been reading about them on other people's blogs for years now and I must say now that mine is here, I'm quite surprised, as I'm sure many of you were, to be in the club.  Today is my one year blogiversary. 

I have written 393 posts and except for the Monday Morning series, and a very small handful of posts, all the words and photographs in every post were created by me.  I think I am achieving my original goal which I talked about in my very first post. 

Thank You.  Thank you for coming by here when you have time, thank you for signing up to follow me and THANK YOU for leaving comments because we all know it's that interaction that makes it so worthwhile.  As is usually the case with me, I'm going to be pondering the path of my blog baby for a while - deciding where it should go from here, what clothes it should wear and the like. 

It is also the one year anniversary of my shop because I'm crazy and launched them both on the same day.  To celebrate them both - a GIVEAWAY of course.  I will make the winner a customized initial necklace in sterling silver with a vintage pearl bead accent.  This one is for followers so leave a comment here letting me know that you follow and if you blog about, tweet or facebook the giveaway you get another entry for each - leave additional comments letting me know (and THANK YOU so much for doing that!).

Thank You again, it has been a lovely journey so far and I can't wait to see where this virtual road will lead me next.

have a great weekend...

I'm sure many of you will be busy getting your holiday shopping, decorating, baking etc. together this weekend - I sure will.  The daughter is coming home in FOUR days so Andrew Henry and I are going to be busy little elves this weekend.  I'll leave with the some vintage Christmas post cards to get you in the spirit...

See ya'll on the flipside and don't forget to enter my necklace giveaway!

things i love thursday giveaway...

If you read my post yesterday you already know about my love of finding shells on the beach.  I love it so much I made these little charm necklaces with  sterling silver sand dollars when I got home to commemorate our trip.

I'm giving one away.  You don't have to be a follower, blog or tweet anything (though please feel free if you are so inclined) just leave a comment on this post answering the question - do you remember your dreams?

Winner will be announced next week - good luck everybody!

vintage finds wednesday...

Before I begin, let me give a Happy Birthday shout out to one of our four lovely women - Aliso Viejo!

Okay, shells are pretty darn old so I'm taking liberties here and using them as my find today.  We don't buy souveniers when we travel but do like to bring home something from the places we visit, usually a rock or some other such thing.  Of course while we were in Coronado over Thanksgiving, we collected shells to to add to a little collection I've got in my living room.

Here is some of our bounty from this Thanksgivings trip...

Is this color not gorgeous (to me it's dove gray, which is funny, but I'm not very good with color so who knows)...

Look how these 7 different shells just nest into each other beautifully, they look like a family...

We call these "butterfly" shells...

These are my favorite things to find - beloved sand dollars (only 6 this time around)...

These Sand Dollars inspired me to make a sweet little charm necklace that may or may not be a giveaway tomorrow................do be sure to check back in.

What do you bring home from your travels?