A Forest Frolic

Inspire Co. - Inspired Ideas, The Christmas Issue

Grab your cup-a-joe, CLICK HERE and be prepared to be inspired...

I've printed several of the projects in Inspire Co's FREE Christmas E-Zine, and some of my Christmas gift ideas have certainly changed!

Can you believe these were made with mini cereal boxes (you go Amy)....

Swooooon :)

And I LOVE making wreaths, but have never tried a yarn ball wreath, oh my...

And a handmade felt playmat... 

I'm pretty sure some of the wee ones in my life would love this!

Which projects might you try this Holiday season?

Jamie :)

Studio Reveal ~ Post 1

I'm excited to finally share with you, some photos of the new studio.  I'll have to do this in a couple of posts because I realized after editing these photos, I had not taken any of my work desk and I wanted to show you the sewing nook up close.

This 'Urban Knitting' yarn wreath by KnockKnocking hangs above the sewing table I inherited when my Me-Maw passed away earlier this year... 

 

It has a bird that looks over the sewing table and lots of little vintage knick-knacks in the nest.  My Me-Maw was a bird lover, so it reminds me of her and makes me smile :)  I can remember sitting in her sewing room as a kid and watching her sew on this very table.  I haven't braved trying the machine inside yet, but I will.

This is the little area behind my desk.  I got this Mexican paper mache' doll on our trip to San Diego...I just love her glittery dress.  The Fall button flowers were made by KadyHope .  And I have my Me-Maw & Grandpa looking over my shoulder... 

This picture was taken in the late 80's and it's one of my favorites.

I got this tool bin at a cute little shop in The Plains, called Peyton's Place, and it's perfect for my paints...

Here are some of my punches, yarn, and fabric vintage wire baskets that I picked up at Luckett's Store...

...and my favorite troll from my childhood along with a bunch of supply jars.  The Elf girls came from a free printable of Easter Egg wraps found here (I just cut off the straps and glued them to the jars)...

You know I love my Martha!  The vintage tinsel Garland and pink trees I picked up at Paper Tales, in San Diego (swoon)...

It's the cutest paper crafting store I've ever seen.

Here are the built in shelves I drooled over when we were deciding to buy the house...

I knew that if this room became my studio, it would be perfect!  I was a little concerned with not having a closet, but I soon realized I don't need one with all the storage cabinets under these shelves.

This is the wall above the girls table...

They love the Elfins made by Vanessa Valencia at AFancifulTwist...

Artwork on the right (along with the other two beside it above) are by Vanessa and the deer print is by PaperSparrow...

I found this vintage crocheted doily at 'On a Whim,' a really cute vintage shop that has a pink silo with black polka dots outside...

Here is another glimpse at my embellishment center with lots of glitter, inks and ribbons...   

 

The vintage owl bank on top, I got at Goodwill, the tissue paper roses in Old Town San Diego; I glimmer misted and glittered them up, and the paper mache' ball ornament in the bottom left is my favorite ornament we got when we went to Mexico a few years ago. 

And more from San Diego...here's the 'Dia de Los Muertos' papel picado banners that I love so much.  This was taken before putting the art on the girls wall.  I was taking photos of some of the new banners I made for the shop too...

 

...and you can see my sewing machine with the little fairy lights which I'll give you better shots of in post 2 :)

This is my knitting and crocheting project basket that is right outside the studio in the parlor (you can see I have a lot of craziness going on)... 

And just some more frills and vintage lace...

I hope you enjoyed a look into my studio.  I'll be working on post 2 and hope to get that up soon...if I can get my messy work space cleaned up enough for guests ;)

Jamie :)

Inspiration: Rain

We are on day two of a gloomy and rainy spell.  But, I'm not complaining, we need it!  I'll be back late tonight with a rainy & funny story from our weekend camping adventure.  Until then, I hope that these pictures inspire you as much as they did me...

1. It’s raining for 6 days now, 2. Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain., 3. After the rain has fallen..., 4. Cannaregio Rain, Venice II

Jamie :)

Studio Snippets ~ Frills, Ink & Glitter

I've been wanting to share my new studio with you, but I've been procrastinating...yep, story of my life ;)  I've gotten many 'anxiously awaiting' e-mails (because you guys are awesome ;) so I figured I better give you a wee snippet to tide you over, until I can post the real deal...

Even though it's pretty much complete, there are still a few touches here and there I'd like to work on.  And...I'm having a hard time getting pictures that I'm happy with.

These flowers, I picked up on our trip to San Diego and I like them a whole lot.  I glimmer misted and glittered them up with lots of crystal glitter, even though you can't tell from the picture.  I think they made the perfect touch to this cabinet...

 

I love looking at others art & craft spaces...how about you!?  I recently picked up the latest issue of 'Where Women Create' and it has such inspiring articles and pictures in it...including a taste of Amy Butler's space...oooh la la ;)

I wanted to take a second to say thank you.  I appreciate the comments and e-mails you've sent and am flattered, even if just one of you is inspired by something I post.  I come here, to my little corner of the internet, because I enjoy sharing what inspires me, things we make, and tid-bits of our little life...and in that, hoping that you may be inspired too.  I've made some really great friends in the process and have been super inspired by your blogs and such too, which makes it all worth while.

Now, with that being said...I'm logging off for the weekend, because I have a really great family that is begging to have some super duper fun!  And I'm going to give them just that.

Jamie :)

p.s. be back soon to tell you all about it ;)

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland ~ Pop-up Style

We recently received 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: A Pop-up Adaptation' by Robert Sabuda, as a gift (thank you Aunt Ginny ;) and we can't get enough of it!  We love his books and have spent hours ooohing and aaahing over the amazing details.

I'll let you see for yourself...

 

If you look real close, you can see Alice falling down the hole (how cool is that)...

 

 

...details...

 

 

 

Off with their heads!

 

 

So, what did you think?  Robert Sabuda's books are so much more amazing in person!  So if you get the chance to snag one, you (and your kids, eh' hem ;) will be glad you did.

Jamie :)