Eye Candy

Saint Patrick's Cathedral

While visiting family in New York for Thanksgiving we decided to spend a few days in the city.  Every time we go to NYC, I fall in love all over again and this visit was no exception.

We visited all of our favorite spots and the boys even appeased Gracie and me by dropping us off at Tinsel Trading Company for some Christmas shopping.  As always, it was a crafter’s wonderland. 

While strolling the streets of Soho we stumbled upon Rachel Ashwell’s new shop, Rachel Ashwell ~ Shabby Chic Couture.  It was such a wonderful surprise because I didn’t realize that she had recently opened a new shop after closing her other one in Soho.  Shabby Chic Couture is just as breathtaking as her previous Shabby Chic stores.

As soon as I walked in I spotted her inspiration boards that I had seen in magazines.  She had the boards shipped to the NY store from California.  I could have spent the whole day just gazing at this beautiful work of art.

Gracie loved the vintage prom dresses and picked one that she wanted to hold on to for her first prom.
Sadly, with a price tag of $1,200, we had to pass.

No trip to the city for our gang is complete without a visit to Billy's Bakery.  So on our way out of town we made a quick stop in Tribeca and picked up a few yummy cupcakes for the ride home.

So much delicious eye candy in this amazing city.

Journaling

I love handmade journals.  I love making journals.  I love the whole idea of journaling.  The problem is, I have a really hard time filling the pages of these journals.  I have at least five or six journals I have made just resting on my pretty shelves filled with blank pages.  The blank page scares me to death.

I've mentioned to you more than once about how much I love Hope's journals.  Every time we get together she brings her amazing journals, and every time I whine to her about wishing I could journal.

While at Silver Bella it was no surprise that I took two journal classes.  The first class was with Rebecca Sower where we made our version of her Hodge Podge Journal.  She has such a sweet and kind soul and I loved taking this class and am happy with the way mine turned out.

Love all of the different vintage papers and textures.

The second journal class was with Anna Corba.  I have always admired her work and decided to make my journal using some vintage wallpaper and French post card.  I'm hoping to be able to use this some day when I make it to France!

Pam Garrison had one of her amazing journals in her Silver Bella class and I got to to a peek at it.  Being able to see her beautiful doodles and writing and her use of color just put me over the edge.  I really, really, really want to start journaling.  So, what did I do as soon as I got home from Silver Bella?  I, of course, made another journal.  This is the front:

and this is the back.

I am promising myself that I will fill the pages of this journal with my thoughts, my handwriting and my embarrassing doodles!  Can I count on you to hold me to that?!!

Her Bliss

I hope you will bear with me as I brag for just a moment about my sweet girl.

Saturday evening we attended an awards banquet honoring the county’s horse show teams.  It was a fun event and we were so thrilled when they called Gracie’s name as this year’s Reserve Champion for the county in the English walk/trot division for her age group.  She received a trophy and an embroidered sweatshirt, which she has been wearing (and has not removed) since Saturday evening!

It was just a year ago that our girl climbed up on the back of a horse for the very first time. Little did we know then that this would become her deep love and passion.  Over the summer she has moved on to cantering and jumping and in the words of her instructors, "Is a complete natural."

 I’m not sure where this will all lead, but as a parent, it is a wonderful thing to see your child find her bliss.

Bella Recap - Part One

I'm home from Silver Bella and am finally getting back into the swing of things.  My dear, sweet hubby did an excellent job of holding down the fort and getting the kids off to school on time and to all of their activities.  I even came home to a clean house and a sweet little love note. Now the laundry, that’s a different story.  

Let’s see, where should I start.  It’s so hard to relay into words what an amazing event this is.   The whole five days was a whirlwind of creativity, laughter and fun.  I met so many lovely women, got to meet up with some friends from last year (Melissa, Lisa and Karlene) and made a few new friendships along the way. 

Kelli, Jen and I roomed together this year which added to the whole experience.  However, we had too many late nights which is very evident in most of my photos. 

  

Hope is such a sweetheart and introduced us to many familiar faces, one being the adorable and talented Kari Ramstrom, aka Artsy Mama, and the oh so sweet and talented, Michelle Geller.

Our guest speaker was the lovely Jo Packham of Where Women Create.  She is a phenomenal speaker and one of those women who captures your attention immediately.  I think everyone agreed that we wish she had had more time to speak.

Vendor night was even more exciting and beautiful than I had remembered.  I was so happy that the three of us got a picture taken in our aprons that we worked so hard on together. 

The whole event was even more magical this year than last.  I have such wonderful memories.  Memories that will have to last until next year.

It's Finally Here

Tomorrow I hop on a plane and head for Omaha.  I spent the whole day collecting and packing my supplies for Silver Bella.  I made this tote bag in anticipation of filling it up with lots of treasures at the Vendor Faire.  There are so many wonderful vendors this year, and I have a few that I plan on making a beeline for as soon as I step foot into that magical wonderland.

You're probably saying, "Again with the drop cloth."

This is what my dining room table looked like just a couple of hours ago.  It is so hard to know what to bring as far as supplies.

Miss Alice was my shadow today, running from room to room gathering supplies.  I think the look on her face pretty much sums up the way my family is feeling about Silver Bella right now....Enough Already!! 

Have a wonderful couple of days my friends, and I look forward to sharing my crafting tales with you when I return.

Apron Stitching

I have been a busy girl this last week getting ready for Silver Bella.  I can't believe I will be leaving in just five days!  Every year during the Vendor Faire there is a theme.  This year the theme, which I absolutely adore,  is 100 Aprons.  I have had such a great time making my apron.  I used painter's drop cloth as my base and used a very old German lace curtain panel as an overlay.

I am a lover of all things lace so I embellished the pocket with lots and lots of scraps of lace.  I also pulled out my embroidery needle and thread and did a little stitching around the waist.

I made sure to include the beautiful rhinestone button that I picked up while antiquing this summer with Kelli, Hope and Gabrielle.

 

And of course no apron of mine is complete without a millinery flower.

Kelli and Hope came over last week and I pulled out old Bessie, my hubby's grandmother's avocado green sewing machine, (which I feel so lucky to now own) and worked on our aprons.  It was so interesting to see how beautiful and different each of our aprons turned out.  The making of this apron was by far my most favorite sewing project that I have worked on in a while. It's even better when you can get together with your good friends and make a whole day of it!

It's almost the weekend.......wishing you a lovely one.

Breathtaking

Why do I torture myself this way?  The other day I was perusing the Anthropologie website and came upon these beauties.  I literally gasped.  Goodness gracious I really, really want these babies.

Sweetie, I know I said that I wanted these for Christmas,
but finding the Winding Ruffle boots from Anthro under the tree would work instead and make me a very happy girl.