All Things Pretty...

Roses...and snow

Another expected day off due to severe weather conditions today...  

outside:  snow snow snow

cold: -40 degrees wind chill

 

 

 

inside:  sunny and bright

 

 

 

I felt  lucky  blessed to be warm and toasty in my home today,

surrounded by the things I love.

 

 

 

My camera captured a few pretties that make me smile.

 

 

 

Roses never fail to warm my heart. 

Artifical ones are beautiful as well...

but the real ones fill our homes with their fragrance.

 

 

 

 

Wishing you a warm and rose-filled day...

 

(I'm sharing with Blissful Whites Wednesdays at Timewashed...)

 

It's beginning to look like...Valentines!

Christmas is a month behind us and January is in full swing. 

Around my home, that means "time for love"

time for the reds, pinks, and peaches associated with February and Valentine's Day.

 

 

 

Time for hearts...and cherubs

 

 

 

and flowers...

 

 

 

...and fun.

I love this time of year!  Surrounding myself by all the vibrant, happy shades of red really helps wash away the "blahs" of winter (of slush, of drizzling cold rain, of sleet)...

What about you?  Are you surrounding yourself with the colors of LoVe?

Creative friends...

 

When I updated my studio recently (putting away the Christmas and holiday decor and displays) and started working on St. Valentine's projects, I couldn't help but notice how many pretty things I have received over the years from my creative friends.

 

 

 

I like to display these gifts according to the season.  The feeling I get is similar to the one I experience when I open the Christmas ornaments boxes each year....  lots of "uhhhhs" and  "aahhhs" and re-admiration of the details. 

I rediscover each of these little works of art.

 

 

The newest additions get their spot (this tiny quilt heart was a recent swap extra).

 

Tiny perfection.

 

 

 

Some of these creative friends I have never met personally... we have swapped through various groups for several years, but have never had the joy of meeting face to face.  

 

One of my goals this year is to "meet" a few of these special ladies.

 

 

Their beautiful projects surround me as I sit at my desk and create.  

 

 

Little beauties tucked here and there... and everywhere!

 

 

 

 

 

They are a constant inspiration for my creativity.

They make my heart smile.

 

(I'm sharing today with Beverly's Pink Saturday - it's been too, too long since I partied with these ladies!)

 

 

New look and new beginnings...

It's finally finished... my little blog has received a bit of a makeover!

While I loved the yellow/black theme I previously had, it really was too bright for my taste.  I'm more of a soft, muted, aged colors type of girl...  so off I went and paid a visit to the lovely Michelle of Shabby Creations.  

While I still have some fine-tuning to do - I am quite happy with how it turned out.  I think the softer colors will complement the photos of pretty things I so love to take and share. . .  which gets me to the "new beginnings" part of this post...

When I first starting blogging, I didn't really know what I was doing (I've improved just slightly in this area) - but I followed my heart when it came to the things I photographed.  I was a tiny bit obsessed with creating little vignettes around the house.  I would gather materials from my studio, items I had recently purchased at estate sales and second-hand shops -

 

 

vintage doilies & tattered laces , millinery, old books and ephemera,

 

 

my countless Limoges dishes, buttons, pearls,

 

 

 

 

 

flowers (lots of flowers!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

You know, pretty things.

 

Then I made a left turn at "Swap Lane."  I discovered this whole world of like-minded "crafters" who loved playing and creating with all their "stuff" -  I was in heaven!   I was busy making friends via swaps and art groups; meeting lovely, creative and encouraging friends.

My blog started to reflect this. 

My posts became journals of my swapping adventures.

 

 

 

 

 

Oh yes, there were still lots of flowers, laces and pretty things in the swap items I was creating...

 

 

...but my blog became almost 100% about crafting and not so much about just "pretty things" in my life. 

 

So "friends" - blogging friends, creative friends, swap friends, lover-of-pretty-things friends.... this year  .2.0. 1. 4.  will be the year that my blog goes back to its roots. 

 

I will be posting about all things pretty. 

 

Will you come along with me for the ride?

 

As my blogging world expanded, I never cared about how many followers I had.   I wasn't selling anything (hey, I forgot I had an Etsy shoppe!), or relying on followers for income, or endorsing any products.... (what was I thinking?!?) 

In fact, it wasn't until recently (now) that I even had an option for visitors to follow my blog.      Maybe I was naive, thinking I didn't need those followers - or that I wanted them.

So, if you enjoy visiting me and want to stay in touch, I invite you to follow me. 

I have officially entered the world of blogging now.  Hurrah!

To celebrate the New Year, the new look and the new beginnings, I will be hosting my very first giveway at the end of January.  Stay tuned.

Until next time,

 

 

 

Surrounded by whites...

I am completely surrounded by whites these days... 

the frigid Minnesota temps, 2 feet of snow accumulated on our lawns

(we won't see the grass until April, if we are lucky)

...and in my studio, piles of vintage laces, doilies, old wedding dresses... 

all the things I love!

 

 

A recent project was a "Winter Whites" tussie mussie created for a swap over at An Altered Place. 

It was the perfect way to use bits of gorgeous lace left over from other projects...

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was filled with yummy laces, pearls and other baubles for winter white creativity!

 

 

 

A pretty little "Snow Baby" fabric tag to tie to the tussie mussie...

 

...isn't she sweet?

 

 

She's all packed up and ready to mail to my swap partner.

I'm a tiny bit sad to see her go.... I may have to make a little sister tag.

 

 

 

Some pretties to start the year off...

I love walking into my studio in the morning...the sun shining through windows facing North, South and West... perfect for creating and for photographing.

 

When the temps are in the negative teens (-14 today) outside, the sunshine really warms the soul.

I ended 2013 with a creativity spree and  celebrated the beginning of 2014 by making some pretties...

 

 

 

 

I've owned these brand new lampshades for awhile... decided it was time to pretty them up with some vintage laces and millinery.

 

 

They look so sweet!   I added them as candle toppers (purely decorative, of course), but they will work best on a small lamp (40 watt bulb)...

 

 

 

wouldn't they be perfect for a wedding guest book table? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(They are now available for purchase in my Etsy shoppe.)

 

****************

I have many projects on my desk right now...  so I'm off to play!

Wishing you a New Year full of creativity and inspiration.