Bright Idea of the Week

I haven't posted a Bright Idea in a couple of weeks and since I know you've all just been sitting around worrying about when I might get around to it again, I thought I'd do it today to ease your suffering.

This is my shoe basket that I keep by my front door. I don't know about at your house, but at my house people are gently encouraged to take their shoes off at the door. Actually around here you don't even have to encourage because almost everyone just does it. I would never ask someone to take their shoes off if they left them on. Well, that's not completely true. I would ask people that I know very well, small dirty children and people who have obviously just been hiking during a mudslide. Oh, and family. But absolutely nobody else. Since I'm a "neatie" I decided to put this basket by the front door for people to toss their shoes in. It works great,but if we're being honest here, I'll admit that I am usually the one putting the shoes in the basket. It's still a heck of a lot better than having all of those shoes laying around.

Got Flickr?

I have been afflicted (or aflickr'd) with a new obsession. I am such an inspiration junky so this is a dangerous place for me. Thank goodness I have to go volunteer in Emma's classroom or I might spend the whole morning there. If you haven't had time to play on Flickr you should go try it out. You can make these mosaics here. If you click on the links it will take you to my flickr page where you can click on each individual picture to enlarge it and get more information. Enjoy!

Update: I apparently did something wrong so you can't click on each individual picture from my flickr to get additional info or see the pic larger but if you look at my favorites the should all be in there. I'll do better next time!



I'm blue...


Spring is in the air...



Muted Inspiration...

Valentine Inspiration...

A Little Corner of my Home

This is my study & one of my favorite spots in the house. It is where I get to spend time with all of you, so of course I love it! I designed this wall of built-ins and had my favorite Amish carpenter build them 2 years ago. I love finally having a place to keep all of my books. It's like my very own Barnes and Noble. There are 3 sections to the built-ins with the left and right being identical & having cabinets on the bottom. The left one holds computer equipment and software and the one on the right holds puzzles, games and toys. The middle section is left open at the bottom & is where we have the computer. This has worked out so well for us. This room is now a destination for our family and a pleasure to spend time in.

I wanted to post these pictures for Kim over at One Woman's Cottage Life who just picked this same color for her kitchen. It is Sherwin Williams Hearts of Palm and in my opinion is the perfect pear/apple green without being too lime. It looks great in all light and at all times of day. In my house this room faces West. Even my mother, who really dislikes green, likes it. Either that or she was being polite.

Blame it on the Barcelona

Pic from Donnabellas.com

Well, you can't even believe how excited I am. I just got my very first ever passport! I feel like Somebody. There is no stopping me now! Sweet Hubby is taking me to Barcelona next month. If any of you have any travel tips for that area, please post them. We are leaving on Feb 17th and I am just giddy with excitement. We will be gone for 5 nights and as excited as I am, I'm still nervous to be away from the girls for more than 1 night. Luckily they will be in good hands with Grandma.

This trip will be like the honeymoon Sweet Hubby and I never had almost 7 years later. I'm sure it will be worth the wait! This is such a big deal for me. Growing up we never took vacations because we just didn't have the money and consequently I grew up to be someone who didn't go on vacation because I didn't realize the value of it. I always thought that my money would be better spent on "things" so that I'd have something to show for it. A little over a year ago, after losing Sweet Hubby's father and our beloved 14 1/2 year old golden retriever within a week of each other, we packed up and took the girls to Disney. That trip changed my life. It was the best 5 days I've ever spent. Now, the list of places I want to see grows daily. I finally understand that the memories that you have of your vacations are priceless. I just wish it hadn't taken me so long to realize it.

In the Mail- From Across the Pond

I received the most wonderful package from my blogging friend Niki. If you haven't visited her blog, Nostalgia at the Stone House you are missing out. About a month ago we decided to do a little trade after she fell in love with my red and white Christmas cottage church and I fell in love with the beautiful fairies that she makes. What a treat it was to open this box that she so thoughtfully put together for me. I found myself just marveling at the fact that this box had been in her beautiful home in another country just days before. I love everything, Niki down to the tags and ribbons. The fairy is going to be keeping me company in my studio for many years to come, my very own creativity fairy. The fabrics and colors you used were just perfect. I couldn't have asked for a lovelier fairy. The magazines are beautiful and I am reading them very slowly, enjoying every word. I love the box with the vintage cards, the beautiful frame and the tiny cottage, so sweet! And the linens! I LOVE linens. I've decided to make a candlelit dinner for me and sweet hubby for Valentine's Day. I'm going to banish the girls, put up a small table in the family room in front of a roaring fire and have a romantic dinner on those linens! Perfect. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I've Been Tagged Again-6 Weird Things About Me

The Rules: Each player of this game starts with "6 weird things about you". Each person who gets tagged needs to write a blog post of their own 6 weird things as well as clearly state this rule. After you state your 6 weird things, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says "you're tagged" in their comments and tell them to read your blog for information as to what it means.
I was tagged by Julie so here are "6 weird things about me."

1. I can't walk by a picture that is hanging crooked without straightening it. I don't care where I am, that picture will be level before I leave.
2. I have 2 different colored eyes. One blue/one greeen. I personally like it but I can't tell you how many times someone has referred to them as weird when noticing them for the first time.
3. When I was little I ate fuzz. I'd grab hand fulls of carpet and shove it in my mouth and I had a doll named Baldy because I had eaten all the hair off of her head.
4. I pull weeds. Not just my own weeds. I've been known to weed my neighbors' flowerbeds while they are at work and I've also been known to weed flowerbeds while waiting for a table at a restaurant.
5. I'm paranoid about leaving the toaster plugged in. I'm afraid it will start a fire. I have no idea where this comes from. People all over the world leave their toasters plugged in every day. I can't do it.
6. I don't like for anyone to read my magazines before I have read them.

So, I hope you enjoyed a peek into my weirdness. Now, I'm gonna break the rules and not tag 6 more people because I think everyone has been tagged. If you haven't, I'd love to see your 6 weird things so that I can laugh at you behind your back.

Tummy- An Introduction

This is one of my 2 cats and (shh, don't tell anyone) my favorite. We rescued him 2 1/2 years ago from a no kill shelter where he had been living for 5 months. Before that he had been living on the streets for a long time when a very patient and kind hearted lady was finally able to catch him and bring him to the Humane Society.

He managed to get out of our house 3 months after we got him thanks to help from our other cat who opened the door, not shut tight by Emma (who was 3 at the time) and encouraged him to leave for greener pastures. He was gone for 6 agonizing weeks before we got him back. He was very skinny and very grateful. He is still grateful. He is no longer skinny.

He is my constant faithful companion. He is always by my side and usually in my lap. If he can't find me in the house he walks around crying in the most mournful tone you can imagine. Sweet Hubby thinks it sounds like he's saying "Mommy". This cat has even turned Sweet Hubby into a cat person. No.small.task. This sweet pudgy cat holds the hearts of our entire family in his furry little paws.

Crafty Tuesday

Since I discovered the blogging world, I find that I really look at things differently. I also am drawn to things that I was never drawn to before. I'm always wondering what I could make with something or how I could recreate it or how I can take something and repurpose it for my own needs. Do you guys do that too? These are some recent great finds from Michael's and from Archiver's. If you haven't been in there, run don't walk, and go see it. Make sure you have plenty of cash because you know I have self control, but I'm not sure you do.

This is the 2nd journal I made. I really like this one. I'm sure I will do several more before it's over. Y'all just let me know when you are tired of lookin' at them.

Emma's 1st day of kindergarten pages. I have to tell you that I have not been scrapbooking long so please go gently on my technique!

It Wasn't My Fault

Do you know what a "gateway" food is? Well, while going to Weight Watchers I learned that there are some foods that make us eat recklessly and lead to bad behavior. These foods are so dangerous that just 1 smell or 1 taste can send you careening into the pantry for more, casting aside all desire for smaller hips, to eat with abandon until there is nothing left and you find yourself sitting on the kitchen floor clutching an empty oreo bag. Scary, isn't it?

Well, if you apply this same concept to a store, then Home Goods is my "gateway" store.

I swear to God, I just stopped to look at carry on bags for a trip we are getting ready to take, but it can't hurt to just take a leisurely stroll through the homewares dept. Then I spotted this thing of beauty from half way across the store. It is sitting all by itself. Not another one anywhere in sight. It.was.calling.to.me. I was hooked. I had to go get a look at it. I'm chanting the entire time. Please don't be expensive. Please don't be expensive. In my hurry, I hit a sweet old lady with my cart. Sorry, I can't stop to see if you are okay. Please don't be expensive. Please don't let anyone get there before me. And then I get to it and hold my breath while looking for the price. $40. Crap. I shouldn't spend that much. But I really love it. I shouldn't spend that much. But I really love it. Then I look at the manufacturer's tag. Made in Memphis. Hey, I lived in Memphis for 15 years. It's a sign from God. I'll eat peanut butter sandwiches for lunch for the next 2 weeks. It's worth it. The possibilities are endless.

The top filled with some of my favorite stamps.

The bottom filled with some of my favorite embellishments.

Tagged by Meg (My Little Cottage)

A-available or single? Happily Married for almost 7 years
B-best friend? Really and truly, my husband
C-cake or pie? Why can't I have both? Strawberry Country Cake (Thank you Ina) and Peach Pie (Thank you Me)
D-drink of choice? non alcoholic beverage: Diet Rite Cola alcoholic beverage: Amaretto stone sour
E-essential item I use everyday? carmex lip balm
F-favorite color? All of them!
G-gummy bears or gummy worms? worms but I prefer the sour ones
H-hometown- Who the hell knows! I've been all over this great country but I've felt very settled for the last 3 years so I will say Fishers, Indiana
I-indulgence? Books and Magazines
J-January or February? February, it's closer to spring
K-kids and names? Maddie and Emma
L-life is incomplete without? My family and hobbies
M-marriage date? April 29, 2000
N-number of siblings? Well, that's actuallly a tough one but I'll say 1 brother that I claim and the only sib I share a mother AND Father with.
O-oranges or apples? Granny Smiths
P-phobias or fears? Fire and leaving my girls without a mommy
Q-favorite quote? There is more to life than increasing it's speed
R-reasons to smile? My life in general AND I'm going to Barcelona, Spain in 5 weeks
S-season? Spring
T-tag 3 0r 4 people Niki, Kristi, Cindy
U-unknown fact about me? I haven't spoken to my biological father in 21 years. Wow! I can't believe that much time has passed. Luckily I was raised from the time I was 5 by a man that chose to be my dad and treated me like his own.
V-vegetable you don't like? Brussels sprouts
W-worst habit? wanting everything just so
Y-your favorite food? anything smothered in alfredo
Z-zodiac? Sagitarius through and through

Shop at Home

Now, I think most of you think this term refers to ordering cubic zirconias from the Home Shopping Channel, but at my house it means making a trip down to the basement to shop from the Jen Collection. Tell me, do any of you have an area like this? If it didn't please me so much, I'm sure I would be ashamed of it. I know it would ease my conscience to know you have one too. I showed you mine, you wanna show me yours?

Book Review

Kim from Daisy Cottage left a comment on my post about my studio asking if I had read this book and it reminded me that I had never shared my thoughts on this book with you. I absolutely loved it! I wanted to just crawl into this book and create things I had never considered creating before. It was so inspiring. I hadn't even realized our very creative friend, Charlotte was in this book. I think I had initially read this book before I discovered her and her blog. What fun to peak into her studio. I love seeing where all of you do your projects. It is such a treat.

And this book. Wow. It is so inspiring. I love her style. I wanted to try just about every project in this book. I can't decide which to try first and you should check out her website too. In my dreams would I ever have talent like this. I highly recommend it.

Happy Reading!

Studio Journal

I've been wanting to try this forever and since the girls finally went back to school today I had some time to putter in the studio. I just altered a composition notebook to make this. I'm sure this is probably not a new concept to most of you but I'm usually a day late. I'm a fanatical notetaker and listmaker so I think I will make several of them for myself. Emma and Sweet Hubby have already put in their requests for one as well which made me feel, well just dandy! Emma informed me today that I'm the luckiest mom in the whole world because I have my studio. I couldn't agree with her more.

Edit: 1/10/07 7:42am
Directions requested by Joanne and for anyone else interested:
Here is what I did. I used a plain lined Mead composition notebook (less than $1) I used the cover as my pattern and cut the shape out of scrapbook paper. For this book I used 12 x 12 paper(Daisy D) and just lined the paper up so that it would fit right up next to the black binding although on future books I will try using a contrasting paper to dover the binding. I glued the ribbon onto the book using acid free craft glue under the paper and then attached the paper using an acid free glue stick. The metal brad (the paper studio) was an afterthought and since I didn't want it to show through the other side of the cover I cut of the metal tabs and used the craft glue to adhere it to the cover and then used a rub-on (American Craft) to decorate the bottom corner. I used a cardstock die cut (Daisy D)& attached to the front to label the journal. The last thing I did was to open the cover and place on a cutting mat, take my exacto and trim the paper to the exact size of the book cover and then repeat for the back.

Studio Snapshots

A double post today! It's a blogging first for me. Okay here are some in progress pics of the studio. Only those of you with vision are allowed to peak. I am happy with how far it has come since I started planning it this past December but we still have a way to go.

This is the work wall. The closet that holds all of my supplies is to the right. The wood shelves have a facelift in their near future. I'm going to paint the trim on my inspiration boards as soon as I decide what color. Sweet hubby thinks black but I'm not sure I want them to pop. I want the inspiration on the boards to be the focus so I'm thinking the same white as the trim in the room or maybe Martha Stewart Pudding Mold which is a pale grey blue that I want to use in here. Sweet hubby is going to put a 12" deep shelf about 1 foot from the ceiling that will run from wall to wall above this spot & will hold my jars of ribbons and what nots & I have an old peg rack that I'm going to rework to hold works in progress above the inspiration boards and below the shelves.

Sweet Hubby put these hooks on either side of the table. They are great for holding a trash bag, rags or my tool bucket when I'm working. He is going to add wheels to it soon so I can move the table away from the wall when I have a little friend working with me. I will be looking for a couple of stools soon too.

The daybed wall is to the left of the table. I'm going to make bolster pillows and shams to make it more sofa like. I also will be making window treatments but nothing too fussy. Maybe just some london shades. I want to either get a sconce to go on the wall between these windows or a floor lamp for reading in this cozy spot.

This wire dress form is going in the corner to the right of the daybed and is a gift from my sweet mom who volunteered it after I mentioned I was looking for one. I can't wait for it to be delivered next month. Thanks Mom!

This is the the wall with the closet to the right of the table that holds all the fun stuff. That is Little Miss Em trying to see if she has grown any in the last day.

A close-up of the sign the girls got me for my birthday that hangs above the closet.

This is the wall of shame right now. Hate the armoire and nightstand which will be moving to the basement soon. The cubby shelving from Ikea pictured below will be replacing it. It is 72"x72" and will give me tons of storage. The tv will eventually be replaced by a flatscreen version that will hang where that mirror is now.

These are the shelves that I found when looking at Donna Downey's very inspiring studio pics posted on her blog. She was so sweet to tell me where hers came from and I'm lucky enough to have an Ikea only 2 1/2 hours away. Well worth the drive, wouldn't you say? I will fill it with baskets, bins and boxes leaving some shelves open for stacks of fabric and some for display.
So there we have it. I hope I haven't bored you to tears. You can bet there will be more pics of this room in your future.

Bright Idea of the Week

I know we have discussed my obsession with paint decks and paint sample cards previously, so I'm sure it won't surprise you to know that I have all of the Martha Stewart Paint cards from her Sherwin Williams line. I got tired of having to dig them out of the ziploc bag that contains my loose paint samples so I created this homemade paint deck so I would have easy access, because let's face it, Martha Stewart paint cards are just better than other paint cards. They deserve to be treated in a manner befitting their stature.

Here is how this deck was created. Go to the craft store & buy a hinged metal ring that opens in the middle (Less than$2 for a pack ), go to your friendly local Sherwin Williams paint store and pretend you just bought a new 4,000 square foot house with all white walls & proceed to take one of each paint card on display ($free), take the cards home & punch a hole in the corner of each card, put them in numerical order and place on metal ring. Ta-daa!

Finally Creating Something

Well since my studio is finally starting to come together I have finally been inspired to do some projects. It is so much nicer to work on a project when you don't have to keep running upstairs for things you need. So far this week I have made this book for a friend of Maddie's who moved away last May. It took me long enough but it just seemed so overwhelming before I had my own space to work in.









Here is the cover














and a peek at the inside








I've also finished 2 two page scrapbook layouts. Here is one from Emma's 5th birthday party. I thought I'd get it done since she will be 6 soon!