number 3...

Happy September!

Thank you all for checking in to see how both my moves went!

I am quite settled in my new space at the shop and will be sharing some pictures real soon.

We also moved Jake into his dorm this past Sunday morning.

It took 35 minutes.

It took us at least 2 hours to move his sister in years ago! 

He is having a great time!

As for me ~ I am doing pretty good.

Most of the time.

I am keeping busy doing lots of projects for my booth and doing a bit of fluffing at home.

I don't think I ever showed you my Ramsign enamel sign I won in a giveaway from Faye a while ago...

Thanks again Faye!!

I live at #3 on my street but it is reminding me that there are only 3 of us at home right now  :(  .

See, I told you, most of the time.

Thank you for stopping by!

I guess I will go cheer myself up and be inspired over at Kathleen's White Wednesday!

joy...

I received the most beautiful package in the mail this past weekend.  I recently won a giveaway from Rebecca...

I have always wanted a handmade necklace...

Isn't it just lovely...

I took a few photos of it displayed on my whimsical cottage lampshade but knew where it should nest (when it is not around my neck)...

This is the gorgeous mirror I traded for with Maureen at the white show.  I knew it would be just perfect in my Paris Hotel Suite.

(Remember I put the old mirror that was here in my studio?)

I have my Grandmother's rosary hanging on an old column next to the mirror in the corner near my dresser and knew how perfect my necklace from Rebecca would look with it...

Don't you just love the detail on the mirror...

Alongside the perfectly chippy column... 

Both new treasures bringing more "joy" to my suite...

I have yet to paint this dresser and mirror white (which were both my Moms).  I do have another one of her dressers in my suite too and wonder if I should switch them as the old mirror matches the darker wood on this one better...

Do I paint everything?  Do I switch the dressers?

I am still on the fence I guess.

So for now I will just enjoy my new suite additions...

Thank you Rebecca!

Thank you  Maureen! 

Sharing my joy with Kathleen for White Wednesday.

Thank you for visiting!

forgetful...

Have you ever bought something for yourself (or win a fabulous giveaway) and totally forget about it?

I have...a few times.

If I buy something for myself and don't want Jim to find out don't need to use it right away I will put it in a bag in the closet.

And forget about it.

I know a few of you out there have done the same thing!

However, after a while when I am in an organizing mode and stumble across the bag, it is like I just bought something new for myself again!

And didn't spend any money!!

In the beginning of June I won a giveaway from Glitterfest!
  June is always so busy with school ending and summer beginning that this little bag got covered up in my studio as the lazy days of summer flew by...

Just look what is inside...

This beautiful Marie Antoinette soldered journal was created by the very talented Rita Reade of Mammabellarte.

I found a nesting place for it in my studio...

Thank you Rita...I love it!
Thank you for stopping by today...I hope you all have a wonderful week!!

she picked mine...

Now I am sure you all knew that the fabulous Fifi O'Neill was having a giveaway on her blog.  She was giving away 3 signed copies of her amazing book Romantic Prairie Style.  It wasn't just a regular giveaway where you enter and your name is randomly picked.  You had to send her a photo of how you displayed her book in your home.  I never thought I had a chance with all the talented ladies out there that take wonderful photos.  But guess what ~ she picked mine...

Can you believe it?!!  I am so excited!

Here are some other photos I took...

Fifi has hit the road and as she puts it "gone shooting" for her next book.  Another book full of beauty and inspiration from Fifi...sigh!!!

The crock was my Moms...one of my favorite treasures from her!

Congratulations to Tracie from My Petite Maison and Erin of The Painted Garden for being picked as well!

What a great week this is turning out to be!!

Thank you for visiting today!

christmas came early...

Do you remember when I told you I won Maria's giveaway over at Dreamy Whites?  Well I received my beautiful gifts this week and it was like Christmas came early...

Loving the color of the velvet ribbon!  I hated to open them but of course I did...

There are two beautiful stockings and a gorgeous table runner made from antique European grain sacks!  She also sent me a sweet little lavender filled sachet as well as a dried bouquet of lavender...

Thank you so much Maria!!  Would  you like to see where I put everything?  I thought, just for the holidays, the table runner would look sweet under the tree in my Paris Hotel Suite...

Then I put the little sachet with the brown paper packages tied up with string (secretly hiding a few of their favorite things)...

I made tags out of scraps of sheet music from other projects as well as adding some sparkly snowflakes to the packages.  The music side of the tag is displayed but when you turn it over...

 It shows who the gift is for!  My family thinks these brown paper packages tied up with string are just for show ~ hee hee!  The wonderful stockings are hanging from my Santa stocking holder...

I have the lavender in my craft room with all the treasures I am collecting for my kitchen mini makeover after the holidays.  Now these lovelies aren't the only thing I won from Maria ~ I also won a beautiful wreath from Wintersteen Farms!  Again, Christmas came early for me...

Jim helped me hang it on the beautiful old mirror I put over Santa's entry way...

Isn't it beautiful!!  It smells beautiful too!  I was so excited I had to go and light my candles...

I think it is the perfect finishing touch for Santa's entry way...

Of course I had to take pictures the next day when the sun was shining...

Pretty ribbon for hanging and pine cones to save year after year...

Thank you again Maria and thank you Jeff and Kelly from Wintersteen Farms ~ your beautiful hand crafted wreath is helping me celebrate the season!

Thank you for stopping by today!  I hope you can visit Debra at Common Ground where she is celebrating Vintage Inspiration Friday!  Have a wonderful weekend!!

christmas music...

Good Morning!!  Debra is hosting her Vintage Inspiration Friday again today at Common Ground ~ don't you just love  her new button...

Today my little holiday nest tour continues with a bit of a music theme.  I put this simple vignette together and my Mom's old music book was the starting point...

There is a little peek of my tree in the reflection!  I love the graphics on the cone don't you...

I wanted the vignette on this table to go with this sweet Christmas sheet music banner I put on my mantel mirror (which I do not use on my mantel!)...

  Each "flag" is a different Christmas carol and the edges are trimmed in glitter...

Another peek at my tree!  And yes, it sits right next to my ugly old computer table and chair (hoping to find new ones soon...still trying to talk the Mr. into the chair Hilary!)  Well, since I sort of showed you a bit of the desk I will share with you how I tried to make it look pretty for the holidays.  Above the desk on the message board I put the advent calendar I made for myself...

Then I took the old drawer with metal dividers out of my craft room and put it on the corner of the desk...

I added a few little flower frogs and some petite white bottle brush trees but I think it might need something else.  Any suggestions?  I am sure a bit of browsing through all the other VIF links over at Common Ground will probably give me a few ideas!

I hope you all enjoy your day ~ mine started off just fabulous ~ I won the beautiful giveaway over at Dreamy Whites!!  Thank you so much Maria!  Am I a lucky girl or what!!!

a little white and a big thank you...

Good Morning ~ today I have just a few little whites from my kitchen to share for White Wednesday like this new flour canister I picked up at Pier 1 to match my oil and vinegar cruets... While I was in my kitchen I noticed the simple, wonderful white photo that August will be sharing all month... Some of the photos in this calendar have had too much color for me. This one is just perfect for this wall and ~ um ~ yes, I am still looking for a new phone... If anyone knows where I can get an old fashioned looking wall phone like the ones they used to have in Pottery Barn I would appreciate your help! Speaking of help, does anyone need help in leaving hints for your honey to bring home flowers? Having this might work... Some guys just have to be told what to do!! Now I would like to say a big, belated "Thank You" to Jo-Anne Coletti of Vintage Rose Collection. I won a giveaway that Small Town Living was having and the prize was a collection of her note cards and postcards! When it arrived I hated to open the pretty package... It was just full of beautiful cards ~ images from her inspiring artwork and photos...

I think this one is my favorite... Just look at the back ~ too pretty to write on... I am on the hunt for the perfect vintage or vintage inspired frames so I can hang a few around my nest. Some will go right up on my inspiration board (which is still in my head until Jim makes me one) along with the angel wings and sparkly 3. Thank you so much Jo-Anne! In Jo-Anne's boutique you can find all this lovely stationary as well her original artwork and vintage finds. I wonder, with everyone browsing her boutique and looking at all the treasures over at Faded Charm for White Wednesday, will anyone get anything done today?!