Today marks 7 years of marriage for Husb and me.  So many memories made, so many memories yet to make.  And we are only a couple of weeks away from the best part of it all...our beautiful baby boy.

New look, new direction

My old blog design was starting to feel, well, old. And dark. And, frankly, uninspiring. 


 So, I've redone it! All without hiring anyone. That's right. Photoshop Elements is my new best friend. 


 To find out more about the direction I've chosen, visit my About page. 


 Meanwhile, it seems many of the blogs I follow have posted studio pictures. Since mine is actually pretty clutter-free at the moment (it's never this clean), I figured I'd snap some pictures and share. Big thanks to my Husb for allowing me to deem this room as my workspace instead of his man cave. He truly is wonderful...or knows that I'd make a mess of his man cave with my sewing machine and fabric and paints and beading wire and errant threads and...

Cutting and sewing tables.

Chalkboards and inspiration pinboards.

Current project:  V-Day quilt.

Beautiful cross stitch my mom made for me.

Mom and Dad's high school pics.  

Antique typewriter is from a dear friend...his grandmother typed out her novels with it in 

the 1930s!

"Where We've Been" map.  Just a paper map glued to foam board...easy!  100 map tacks on Amazon for $4.50.

Where the blogging magic happens.

Hope you enjoyed the tour!  Time to get back to work.

I've been sidetracked...

So, yeah.  Valentine's creations have been put on hold.  The quilt with the embroidery (from my last post) will get done, but no such luck for the doll.  I got distracted...by awesomeness!

My older sister and my mom (and the rest of the fam) are flying all the way out to sunny CA from also sunny FL to host my baby shower.  I haven't seen them in over a year, so this is very exciting.  Because Husb and I have deemed 2012 "The Year of Frugality and Money Mindedness," I've had to plan hostess gifts accordingly.  Thus, I decided on handmade things.  Yay!  

I've also found a must-do project for the little guy that's coming in March...and I'm making a second for a good friend who has a beautiful baby girl.  

I found all my inspiration from these super cool (and three of my favorite) blogs:

 

Go have a look!  You will be inspired, I promise.  I'll share my completed projects as soon as the fam receives their gifts.  Can't spoil the surprise!!  

What are your favorite inspirational blogs?

*2012*

I'm not one to make grandiose New Year's Resolutions unless they are fun and attainable.  Therefore, 2012 is dedicated to starting and finishing all the kits I have collected over the past 6 years.  Yes, 6 years.  There are a lot of kits.  And being 7 months pregnant with my first baby (it's a boy!) is giving me lots of time to rest and relax and sew.

I'm currently working on all my Valentine's Day kits...I have 3.  One is finished, one is in progress, and one is waiting.  They WILL be done by February 14.

Heart Full of Love by JoAnn Mullaly

All three were purchased at The Country Loft and designed by JoAnn Mullaly.  I definitely stalk her patterns.  

What are your fun resolutions for 2012?

New Blog Coming Soon...

I'm starting a brand new blog!  I've got so much more to talk about than the stuff I make, so I decided to take it in a new direction.

I'm still working on creating my first few posts and finishing up all the design elements.  It should be up and running soon, so keep a look out for that announcement.

I hope you guys check out my new corner of the internet...I'm certainly excited!!

Thank you all for being so supportive, and I look forward to seeing you in my brand new space!

Inspiration really is everywhere!

I've always thought how nice it must be to truly find inspiration in the mundane.  Although this has happened a few times in my life, it seems that really artsy people find it on a daily basis.  In a garden, on the beach, mixed within graffiti on the side wall of a convenience store.  I started feeling like I was missing out...

Until I hit up the grocery store.  I saw the CUTEST motif on a product's packaging.  I knew I could make lots of different things using just this one motif.  Ornaments, embroidery, applique...

Cute, right?  I love the details in the bird, and the flowers are all different, bringing to mind woolfelt, beading, and buttons.  I came up with a multitude of projects upon first glance.  And what product was it on, you ask?

That's right.  A four-pack of toilet paper.  I immediately picked up a pack, checked out, drove home, and hurriedly unpacked the toilet paper in order to add the motif to my stash of ideas.

So, I guess inspiration IS everywhere, you just have to keep your eyes open and not pass up a potential gold mine simply because the product is in no way related to art (unless you're making homemade paperclay, of course).  

As an added bonus, the paper is lavender scented.  Double yay!

Ahh, nature.

While outside watering my bougainvillea, I noticed a spider dangling between our front steps. Upon further investigation, his intricately spun web came into view.  I've always had a fascination with spider webs, so I saw this as the perfect opportunity to get a photograph.  I lightly misted the web and quickly snapped away.  Amazing what those little creatures can create.  I was humbled and awed.

Last April, our neighbors had a cute mourning dove couple nesting in their potted palm.  After many weeks of incubation, Mama Bird hatched two beautiful babies.  I was lucky enough to get a picture of the family before the young ones took flight.

Nature is constantly supplying moments of perfection.  It's our job to slow down and take a moment to notice.