Kitchen Dreaming

While recently on a daytrip to La Jolla, I came across this oh so cute refrigerator in the display window of Fresh Produce. Isn't it the perfect blend of vintage and color?!! Of course, the price tag you see hanging on the handle was definitely not within my budget to hastily splurge on an aqua refrigerator. But...if I were to win the lottery or fall into some unexpected money...this refrigerator would definitely be sitting pretty in my kitchen!!!

Here are some pictures of my kitchen...my husband is still in awe that a single potholder from Anthropologie could be the catalyst for a room's color palette...that's why he's not the decorator!! LOL!!
And knobs from Anthropologie as well! Hubby had the second shock attack when the knobs cost about as much as the whole redo of the kitchen, but I think they give it that final perfect touch!

Now don't you think that refrigerator would look just PERFECT in here?!!!!!

Be Unique

This is the last piece in my 3-part canvas series. I was sort of tentative about it when I finished, but I think it's growing on me. I was attempting to "think outside the box" a little on this one and do something a little more altered...hence the use of the face I found in an Anthropology magazine.

I chose this quote because it exemplifies one of my personal core values...be yourself! I think a person's individual beauty (and not the physical kind)- I mean the beauty that comes from what your soul is made of- is what interests people and draws people of like values to you. When a person tries to be someone they're not, it leaves you wondering if they even know which version is really them! Our life is a journey of discovering ourselves and becoming comfortable in our own skin, and that journey is made easier when we know what our core values are. I suppose that's why there is so much beauty in mother nature...because a rose never tries to be anything other than a rose, so when it blossoms, it opens its petals to the sun with confidence and pure joy.

Have Purpose

This is the second piece in my "series" of canvases. I actually picked out the quote and completed it just before the earthquake in Haiti. Kinda weird...but I don't think there could be a more appropriate saying in their time of need. We all have gifts and talents that are granted to us and make us each unique. It's up to each of us to use them in a way that betters ourselves and the world around us. Every action, no matter how seemingly small, leaves an impact on other people's lives....for a minute, for a day, sometimes for a lifetime. Be purposeful. Reflect on how you can help another soul. Be there.....

Be Humble

I just purchased this book over the holidays called Be: Life is Here and It Is Now to jumpstart the upcoming new year with some positive thoughts and good vibes. Each left hand page in the book has a "be" statement(like beAmazed, beResourseful, etc) coupled with a quote on the right hand page. I've had a set of three long rectangular canvases that I've been wanting to make a set of related pieces out of so I thought I'd do three quotes from the book. This is the first one in my "series" for Be Humble:

(I got this sweet little birdkeeper girl image from an Anahata card I found in the same store as the book.)

This quote is a reminder to me of forces in the universe that are bigger than myself. Wonderous miracles occur; wishes manifest themselves in our lives; new people enter our lives, always with a purpose. These are some of the amazing things happening all around us, leading us toward peacefulness, a sense of calm, new adventures, clarity, personal growth, and a realization of our fullest potential. I try to think about the purpose behind the things that occur in my life and trust that even if I don't understand them now, their purpose will become apparent to me at some point down the road...along my journey of life.

All Through the House

It's looking jolly and bright! What is it about Christmas decorations that just brighten your mood and lighten your spirit? Like most of us would say, holiday ornaments and decorations remind us of Christmases past and memories of special times with our family and friends. They also remind me of the fun times I've had creating many of the mini photo albums and ornaments and of the people who so thoughtfully made some of them for me as well!!!

Here's a cute little Frosty created by Jennifer Murphy...oh, how I wish I could create with fabric and pom-poms as skillfully as she can!!

Here are the bottles I normally have sitting on my mantle. I recently saw a banner on a blog (maybe Rebecca Sower's?) in which they inserted little hints of this and that in each of their bottles to give it some holiday flair. I thought I'd try it this year and I like how it turned out!

Wishing all of you and yours a very Merry Christmas filled with warm spirits, love, and hope.

Angels Around Us

Jump over to Kim Hesson's blog and etsy store to check out some great wood cut ornaments! Here is one of them... a sweet little angel. She also has samples of a different angel cut out, a gingerbread man, and some miniature gingerbread houses.

The angel "spirit" of this cute darling must have been watching over me yesterday!! Sometimes it's when you experience something so scary it shakes you to the core that you realize the strength of faith and the comfort of guardian angels. I found this short poem today about what our angels do for us, especially in our hour of need...(author is unknown):

May angels rest beside your door,

May you hear their voices sing,

May you feel their loving care for you,

May you hear their peace bells ring.

May angels always care for you,

And not let you trip and fall,

May they bear you up on angel's wings,

May they keep you standing tall.

May they whisper wisdom in your ear,

May they touch you when you need,

May they remove from you each trace of fear,

May they keep you from feeling greed.

May they fill you with their presence,

May they show you love untold,

May they always stand beside you

And make you ever bold.

Take a minute to thank all your guardian angels out there...they're watching over you, keeping you strong, maintaining your faith, and sustaining your hope.

Crafting and Feelin' Groovy

I recently finished another project using one of Kim's wooden pieces...this time a wooden box. I have needed something cute to put my CDs in that I listen to while creating. As luck would have it, this box is the exact same width as a CD case! Given the purpose of the box, I then decided to decorate it with a sort "peace, love and rock n' roll" style. I used some images from Papaya to decorate the sides and give it some grooviness.

Speaking of music, I'm in need of some fresh tunes to groove to while in my studio. Does anyone out there have any recommendations of music they've been listening to lately??

Have a great week ahead...if you're here in southern CA, be sure to stay dry!!!!