special delivery...

I was contacted regarding a "special order" for Maria, who loved my "birds of a feather..." journal. She asked if I could make some for her girlfriends in the wedding party so I quickly got to work on my first custom order.

All of my journals are one-of-a-kind, handmade and most of the time using vintage images or items, so I found this to be quite challenging. I thought they turned out pretty good -- I even added a small glassine envelope (I just love these!) to the back of each one with a little note tucked inside saying "love, Maria"

Here are some pics.

Here is the envelope included with the order: glassine envelope contains a business card and a copy of the "november's breeze" poem, tied with vintage ribbon and my signature "november's breeze leaf"

Here is the package "ready to go!" Special Delivery!

Congratulations Maria!

the score at the shore...

Here is Kristin with the ball (number 22).

The following weekend after vacation my daughter, Kristin, was invited to guest play in a college showcase soccer tournament in Greensboro, North Carolina ("The Score at the Shore" was the name of it). So Kristin and I decided to head off to North Carolina for some soccer and a "girls weekend." It was quite fun -- of course I wasn't running around in 100 degree weather either! I don't know how those girls do it.

The weather was great and the fields were just beautiful, it was a good experience. Below is a picture of a couple of the fields (I think there were about 16 all together).

lazy days of summer...

I'd like to think that the lazy days of summer have prevented me from posting...but I have actually been quite busy! I haven't posted anything since returning from vacation!! Looks like I have lots to catch up on and I'll get started by posting some vacation pictures.

Here is my "little model" Abby (my niece Abigail didn't mind posing for me, isn't she too cute!).

busy, busy...

I have been busy working on some new things that I'd like to share with you, some are available for purchase, click here to see what is available.

The journals have been quite popular so it has been hard to keep up with the demand (this is a pretty good problem to have!). I have also tried some new things -- Linda found these great paper roses at auction so I have put them in glassine envelopes (I just love these envelopes) wrapped with vintage ribbon and topped off with an original image from the 1920's, a pin has been added to the back of the image so that it can be worn or displayed. I also found some old prisms and have added the original images on the back, some are tied with the vintage ribbon -- I have really enjoyed spending time on this.

I have also been working on putting this little "inspiration to go" kit together -- filled with vintage papers, authentic german glass glitter, vintage buttons, vintage confetti (punched from old pages by little 'ol me -- this was not so much fun!), and lots more. What do you think?

i've been tagged...

I've been tagged by Kathleen at http://www.abeautifullifeforme.blogspot.com/ -- I’m so excited! This is my first tagging -- thanks Kathleen!

1. Where were you 10 years ago? Ten years ago I was still working at the Air Line Pilots Association for the Director of Air Safety -- I still miss all of my friends there (I do stay in touch with a couple). My kids were 5 and 3 -- wow! that is hard to believe.

Now I own my own business and work a lot from home, the shop is doing great and I get to meet lots of nice people.

2. Five items on your to-do list today -- Update blog, update on-line store, laundry (never-ending!), call my sister Linda, and design new card for Mom… I could go on and on and on, but you get the idea.

3. Snacks I enjoy -- fresh fruit, chocolate, and I just love french fries!

4. What would you do if you were a billionaire? Enjoy life! I would buy a beach house in Bethany and spend lots of time there and I would help out my family members. I’d also love to go back to school and take some graphic design classes.

I would love to spend more time with my family -- life is too short! Maybe we could all go on a cruise, I heard they were great fun!

5. Places I would live -- I love my home! In the winter I would love to go to Key West and when it gets warmer I’d like to spend some time by the ocean (I just love the beach!).

6. 5 bloggers I'm passing the challenge onto:

Aunt Pam at http://www.pamoverstreet.blogspot.com/
Carolyn at http://www.mountainmeadows.blogspot.com/
Betty Jo at http://www.digiscribbles.typepad.com/
The “chicks” at http://www.fourshabbychicks.blogspot.com/
? Not sure about this one

i saw red, part ii...

Here is part ii of the "i saw red" -- this picture hangs in my hallway (it was my nana's of course). These valentine's were sent to her when she was a young girl, they sure don't make 'em like this anymore! (It was hard to get a really good picture with them being under glass and all -- I tried!)

I was always fascinated by this picture when I visited my nana and I still enjoy looking at it everyday. It will always have a "special" place in my home and heart.

my wedding anniversary...

Happy Anniversary to us -- 19 years, I can hardly believe it! Kevin had to go on travel so I guess we will celebrate when he gets home.

i saw red...

Sara over at Sadie Olive has inspired me to join the "I saw Red" photo theme for this week, June 2nd - 8th -- the idea being to take photos of red things in your home or daily life and post them to your blog for the week.

Here is my inspiration, my Nana -- although this picture was taken quite some time ago I thought how pretty she looked in "red."

roses are red...

More pictures to share -- I'm just so fascinated with the flowers this year I can't help snapping these photos. I guess it could have something to do with my new camera, or the beautiful flowers I have growing in my back yard. So colorful!

big day...

My daughter has had braces since the fifth grade!! Can you believe it! She finally got them off and she couldn't be happier (at least for today!). Anyone who knows Kristin, knows that this is a BIG DEAL (remember that petition she was getting everyone to sign around Christmas?). This is one of the times I would reach to pick up the phone and call my Nana -- it still seems so strange that she wouldn't be on the other end. I sure do miss her!

Here is a picture of Kristin -- life without braces!! The first one is when I dropped her off at school and the second is a picture with my nephew Carter. Oh, and did I mention she got her learner's permit a while back? Yikes!!! I don't know how my parents survived -- can you spell STRESS...

party favors for abigail...

Linda (my sister) called me like two days before the party and said "do you have any ideas?" My reply "of course!" I immediately got in the car and headed out to Michaels and the dollar store to see what I could find on such short notice. This is right up my alley!

Well, I didn't find much at Michael's except some journals (Abby loves to write, what girl doesn't). So I decided to purchase one for each girl so that I could personalize each one. At the dollar store I found some cute little soap petals that I thought I could convert into name plates for each girl. I had such fun creating -- there was glitter everywhere! Here are some pictures to show you how they turned out.

Mission accomplished!

happy mother's day...

happy mother's day!

Hope everyone had a great mother's day!

Kristin had a soccer game (in the rain I might add), and she got a goal! Happy mother's day to me! Then I had my mom and grandma over for dinner, had some wine, played some cards...

how beautiful...

The flowers in my backyard are so pretty -- just had to snap a few more pictures to share.

love, nana

I think my Nana would have loved these beautiful flowers from my back yard -- they brighten my room and make me smile!