inspireco

gkgirl, it's your lucky day!

2008-07-16T16:22:00.003-04:00

I used a random number generator which produced the number 101...

Come on down, gkgirl, you're the next contestant on the gift is right!

Congratulations!

Shoot me an email, will ya, with your name, address, etc.

{fyi: the Have Craft, Will Travel kits are sold out but I'll have a new version soon)

have craft, will travel

2008-07-15T17:54:00.003-04:00

I'm so excited to show you this new product. It's a Macgyver-like craft kit, filled to the brim with bits and bobs for crafting on the go. Just look at how much stuff is crammed in there...
This is the first in a series of these fun sets. $16...get yours here.

p.s. Perfect for Silver Bella and Art in Ashland and any of the other super fun craft workshops you're going to!

giveaway time!

2008-07-15T15:31:00.002-04:00

Just leave a comment here today and you'll get these sweet little tins (project idea from inspiredideas) ...
And guess what! They're filled with lovely things. One teeny tiny tin has about a spoonful of glass glitter. The other teeny tiny one has a few buttons. There's another with felt beads and another with felt flowers. One last one has just a few pretty things, including a little wooden girl.

Want it? Leave a comment here and the whole kit and kaboodle could be yours. Drawing will take place tomorrow (Wednesday) at 4:00 pm EST. Enter just once, please. Good luck!

my inspiredfriend Charlotte Lyons

2008-07-15T07:33:00.002-04:00

I am so thrilled to have Charlotte Lyons as my inspiredfriend. Click here to visit her page and, from there, shop her collection.

And click here to see the latest issue of inspiredideas.

Stay tuned...later today I will host a giveaway and I have a fun new product that I'm finishing up...something for crafting on the go!

stay tuned...

2008-07-14T22:33:00.003-04:00

The next issue of inspiredideas and my next inspiredfriend is on deck...check back in bright and early in the morning to see who and what. You're going to love it all! Set your alarm clock and I'll see you in the morning.

nothing much

2008-07-09T15:33:00.002-04:00

I am chipping away at my workload. I just got finished making something adorable...my fingers still stinging from the hot glue gun woopsies. I worked all morning while Baby made messes all around my feet. By the time naptime came around, I was as pooped as he.

My friend Pam stopped by to return a cakeplate. And how nice is she to return it full of fresh from the oven cake! I should save it for an after dinner treat but I'm so tempted to have a slice now with a cup of tea. Oh, how nice would that be?

She also brought the cutest little play kitchen set, after reading about me thinking about getting one for Babycakes. I can't wait for him to wake up from his nap and see it. He's not going to believe his eyes!

I think I should sweep a floor or unload the dishes or do something productive before he wakes up. Tick...tick...tick...any minute now and boom!

more rambling

2008-07-08T17:06:00.003-04:00

My friend Hope hopped in for a little visit today. Baby loves her so much and just today started saying her name. He says it just like he does "home", with his whole sweet mouth forming an "o".

We had a delicious lunch. I fixed my favorite kind of lunch...a plate of munchies! An assortment of cheeses and pickles and olives (for me) and crackers. We sipped on a lovely drink of limeade with a splash of tart cherry juice. Baby nodded off while finishing his meal so he went straight from lunch to nap without a hitch. While he napped, we chatted and silvered some shells. I ran out of the silver leaf so we couldn't finish. After the craft/naptime, we chatted poolside while Baby amused himself by throwing his toys overboard.

I really wish I had someone like Hope, if not Hope herself, living next door. I have nice enough people next door, but none of them willing to silver their own fingertips in the name of good crafting fun.

I got a call yesterday afternoon asking if we'd take care of a little foster baby for the weekend. She's a little 10 month old girl. I asked Rich and he agreed we could. What I forgot then, and suddenly remembered as I was brushing my teeth last night, was that I really need this weekend to get ready for the next inspiredfriend and inspiredideas editions! I'll need to get my act together the rest of the week. I'm flying solo tonight while Rich plays a pick-up game of ultimate. Is it wrong for me to hope for rain? Shhh...don't tell him I said that.

The photo posted is some of the very sweet new products Hope launched recently.

she does ramble on

2008-07-07T06:52:00.002-04:00

This morning I've fixed myself a "double". I have one of those coffee machines that only makes a cup at a time. It makes wee little cups...I think just 8 ounces. Today I pulled down from the cabinet a huge bowl of a mug and I made two cups at once.

I loved this nice long weekend. I cleaned my office so that it's not such a danger zone for Baby. I was thinking of getting a little kitchen set for him but maybe I'll just get a set of dishes and pots and pans and a tiny little cabinet to keep them in. He's just starting to do that sort of pretend play. It's so sweet to watch.

He had his first home-based visit with his mom on Saturday. This is very good because it's a step in the right direction and will help him transition back to her. They had a really great time and we stayed an extra long time when we came to pick him up, which is really great for the baby too.

In another month, the county social worker, Baby, and I are flying to California for a visit with the father. I'm just going along for the baby's sake. I'm dreading all of that travel all the way across the country for just one day of visiting. It seems much too much of a burden on poor Baby but this is how it has to do be.

We have lots of errands to run this morning...the library, bank, post office. We'll spend a little bit of time in the pool (which he loves so much that sometimes he just sits at the back door, with the curtain parted, pointing and saying quietly "P-uh". And while the baby naps this afternoon I'm hoping to work on projects for the next issue of the magazine.

This photo has nothing to do with anything...it's just a cute little set that I love. The wolf in bed has migrated up to the baby's room. He has a whole cast of characters that he says good night to everynight, including all the pictures on the wall. He even pretends to eat the cupcakes Jenny and Aaron made him. Too sweet for words.

beans spilt

2008-07-06T07:04:00.002-04:00

At last! I can tell you the Silver Bella secret...

I'm so excited!

happy birthday, america!

2008-07-04T06:36:00.002-04:00

Ever since September 11, I get all weepy at the words "Our flag was still there" in the Star Spangled Banner. Truly. When I sing it, my voice cracks.

Long may it fly, indeed! Happy Birthday to this great land we love. And thank you to the people who guard our liberty with their lives making sure that our grand old flag is indeed still there!

Have a happy 4th everybody!

tipping of the scales

2008-07-03T07:12:00.002-04:00

Okay, so even though Silver Bella last year was the best weekend of my creative life, when it came time this year to register, I had decided to sit this one out. I kept going back and forth, should I stay or should I go, and finally decided that I'd stay home and have a pajama party instead.

That is until I got wind of a surprise. A secret wonderful surprise that blew my mind. Something that immediately changed my mind.

I don't know when this secret will be revealed (soon, I'm told...and please don't ask me to spill the beans!) but if you were on the fence like me, I'm just sayin', perhaps you too should change your mind.

Hope to see you there!

a winner!

2008-07-02T16:54:00.002-04:00

Here are all of your names, and (drumroll, please)...
Lovie, my sweet friend, it is your lucky day!

order up!

2008-07-02T07:41:00.004-04:00

This morning I'm working on ushering all of Jenn's creations out the door and on their way to you! Thanks so much for all your orders. As of this morning, all but one little doll head brooch (poor Scarlett) has sold. Jenn is tickled pink!

I put each little girly girl in her own little box...don't they look sweet?
And while I was at Michael's searching for boxes, I spotted these darling charms.
Aren't they wonderful? I'm going to dream up something fun to do with them.

Hey, don't forget to sign up for the seashell giveaway...you're not too late! The drawing is at 4 today and I'll accept entries right up until then!

inspiredideas and a giveaway!

2008-07-01T13:39:00.005-04:00

There are lots of really fun projects to try in this lastest issue of inspiredideas! You can add real silver to seashells to make them even more beautiful!

Make this adorable little collage that's nestled in an altoid's tin! This project is courtesy of the amazing inspiredfriend Jenn Hayslip!

For your creativity journal project...a sweet mama bird delivering a special message to help feather her nest...

And an apron made from a lowly dishtowel? Yes, ma'am! This project is contributed by Angela Williams.

And just in case you're dying to have some silvered seashells but don't really care to apply the leaf yourself...today {might be} your lucky day. Add a comment here, my friend, and you might be chosen as the winner of this dazzling set of silvered sea shells...6 in all! Winner chosen randomly and drawing ends tomorrow at 4:00 pm EST. Be sure to post your name so I know who you are!

I'm going to add a giveaway every two weeks for every new update (on the 1st and 15th of every month!) Just another reason to tune in!

p.s. I am in the process of activating comments for the project instruction pages in the magazine. If you've created anything from past issues or just want to leave your feedback, feel free! Oh, and be sure to link to your finished projects there if you've posted it on your blog. It'll be a great for folks to see, don't you think?

inspiredfriend: Jennifer Hayslip

2008-07-01T08:26:00.006-04:00

I'm so excited to present my inspiredfriend Jennifer Hayslip of Eye Candy Creations. Click here.

please wait here

2008-06-30T17:23:00.002-04:00

We survived the emergency room waiting room. They're not kidding when they call it a waiting room (and I think they are joking calling us "patients"). It took about an hour and a half to get the form filled out. But in all seriousness I was worried that it would take all morning.

I've been working hard to get everything ready for tomorrow. This little picture is a sneak peek in case you want to guess who the inspiredfriend is this go 'round. Check back in tomorrow morning...should be up by 8:30 am EST (and quite possibly a little sooner!)

busy monday

2008-06-30T08:42:00.004-04:00

Well, we hit the ground running this morning.

First things first, I had to clean my very dirty kitchen. I'd made barbecue yesterday afternoon and had to dash out with it right away to make it to Rich's mom's 70th birthday surprise party. You can't be late for a surprise party. And then when we got home, I was too pooped to even look in the kitchen. I wish I'd remembered then how much I hate waking up to a dirty kitchen. What a terrible way to start the day.

The kitchen is now spic and span. Baby is surrounded by a sea of books and is leafing through them making funny noises. I wish you could see how he looks at his books...it really looks like he's reading them!

I have lots of work to do to get ready for the next inspiredfriend and inspiredideas...be sure to check in tomorrow! It's the S*W*E*E*T*E*S*T! Until then, this is your last chance to grab up a goodie from Catherine.

Somehow today I need to squeeze in a trip down bureaucracy lane. My file at the foster agency is "not in compliance"...one of the things missing is a form that must be filled out by a doctor everytime the baby has a medical visit. Three days after he came into our care, we had to make a trip to the emergency room. That silly form was the last thing on our minds. Unfortunately now, 6 months later, I have to go to the same emergency room and ask someone to fill it out. All of this just so his files are "compliant". It's so important that his file is in order that someone's job is on the line.

Maybe, by some little miracle, this task won't be as difficult as it seems. Maybe everyone at the emergency room will know exactly what I need the first time I ask and it'll be taken care of in two shakes of a lamb's tail.

Don't forget to check in tomorrow morning at about 8:30 am to see the update!

nothing really

2008-06-26T16:09:00.002-04:00

I was going through some pictures and found this one...it was taken just about a year ago using a tripod that needed to be adjusted. It's so hard to take a picture of yourself.

My hair is much shorter now but I'm in need of a cut again. And I'm in the market for new specs.

We're having a nice easy day today, trying to stay cool. Hope you're having a swell day too.

an opportunity

2008-06-25T18:17:00.003-04:00

If you sell crafting products or supplies and are interested in product placement in an issue of inspiredideas, please send me an email for more details.

catching up

2008-06-24T22:14:00.003-04:00

Seth asked me to take a picture of him today. It reminds me of one I took of him a couple of years ago with a strawberry stained mouth and him holding up a bird whistle. He has the same expression on his face in both, I think.

Can you believe he's 6 now? I think lots of you have watched him grow up these last 3years.

My parents and Seth are heading home tomorrow. It's been a fun visit, I'm happy to report.

The christening was on Sunday and was really a beautiful ceremony...very personal and sweet. Baby loved the water pouring over him and he was so gleeful the whole day. Well, except for one little tantrum when we decided he'd had enough cake.

Is it wrong that we had a Heaven and Hell cake (angel food and devil's food) for the reception?

Tomorrow I'll have to hit the ground running to catch up after playing hooky so much lately.

p.s. I found that picture from a couple of years ago of Seth that I referred to in this post. It's not really as similar as I'd thought. Oh, and you can see his short new 'do. buzz buzz. He told Rich that it was a number 2 cut. Then he went on to say he could've gotten a number 5 and he almost got a number 3...it took us a while to understand that those were settings on the hair trimmer his barber uses! Ha!

geezy pete

2008-06-20T07:21:00.005-04:00

Saucy's right! My father used earring backs, stacked with beads and then painted for the tiny finials on his icons.
Earlier this week, while blogsurfing, I spotted little felt houses on little felt hills nestled in teacups. I'm driving myself crazy trying to find them again. I tried looking through my history but it doesn't seem to be there. Has anyone seen them? And if you did, where oh where oh where??? They were so cute and I have to look at them again!

Everyone is still asleep (except for my father who's gone for a walk) Any second now, I'll hear waking sounds.

Last night, Rich had a game after work in DC. So, with free dessert coupons in hand, I decided to take my parents, Seth, Baby and me out for dinner. Everyone packs in the car, I go back in to the house to get a sippy cup and bib, set the alarm, shut the door. I get into the car and start looking around for my purse to get my keys out. Uh oh...it's locked in the house.

We thought my parents had an extra key but we couldn't find it. I called Rich and he told us to get our neighbor across the street to drive us to the Silver Diner and Rich would pick us up. Geezy pete, what a night!

It reminded my father of when I'd just gotten my driver's license and first car. I was 21. After leaving my parents' house, I stopped to buy gas. I left the keys in the ignition (I know, right?) and thought as I was shutting the door "If I'm going to leave the keys in the car, I'd better lock it so nobody takes off with the car!" Well, that made my father feel really great about all that money to pay for my college education, that's for sure!

Oh well. I could tell you a million more but I'd better get started with my day.

from my father's hands

2008-06-19T07:08:00.003-04:00

Of all the things my father has made, this is the dearest to me.

I asked him not long ago to carve a nativity set for me. While we were on vacation, he carved Joseph and Mary. He would've carved Jesus too then if he had the wood but there wasn't a source for that sort of thing there.

Next he'll make one for each of my sisters and my brother.

He's also trying his hand at making icons. Do you know what he used to make the little finials on the top? Can you guess?

My parents and Seth are visiting for a week. My sister Jennifer and her family surprised us and drove them here Tuesday night. We spent yesterday afternoon crafting, all of us, while the Baby napped.

I can't wait to show you what Seth is working on. He's here on the sofa now waiting patiently for me to see if they are dry up on top of the refrigerator. I can't keep him waiting too long.

He has a buzz cut for the summer...you should see it.

wrap around

2008-06-16T21:50:00.002-04:00

When I was little, my mother made almost all my clothes. My favorite thing she ever made me was a wrap around skirt. She made many of them, actually. My favorite of the wrap around skirts was the exact color of cream of tomato soup. I loved it for that reason.

I'd wear these wrap around skirts to school with shorts underneath. At recess, I'd whip off the skirt and tie it around my neck to wear as a superhero cape. I'd run around as if I were saving the world.

I wish I could see that little girl today, crazy hair and even crazier smile and, best of all, sparkle in her eyes. I'd tell her that her crazy hair that only the old ladies seem love is beautiful. I'd tell her to keep smiling that big smile as if she was aiming to win the big smile contest. And I'd tell her to hold on to that sparkle just as long as she can. I'd tell her that it's okay to be different...it's okay to be yourself.

When I saw this wrap skirt on etsy it made me think of my skirt turned cape days. I think I should treat myself to one. You can find more here.

mount st. laundry

2008-06-16T14:29:00.002-04:00

Today I'm tackling a mountain of laundry. This time I'm going to see it through all the way to the last sock. For months now, I've only done laundry by the load, chipping away at the problem. Today, I'm folding and sorting and loading and unloading all the day long. Would you believe I have at least 2 whole loads of pink clothes (mostly pajamas!)? That's a problem, I'd say.

I also went through Baby's chest of drawers, finally putting away cold weather clothes and anything that no longer fits. I put this off far too long, wouldn't you say?

Baby's napping now and lately his afternoon (now only) nap has been a few hours! Just the right amount of time for me to actually be excited to hear him wake up.

I made this collage yesterday during naptime. It's for a friend...just a little gift. I'm thinking of making more. I remember when my sweet friend Alicia made a bunch of collages and sent them out to friends. It was the nicest thing in the world to get that gift in the mail...and the best gifts of all are the surprise, for no special reason, gifts, wouldn't you say?

inspired friend, Catherine Thursby

2008-06-15T07:56:00.005-04:00

I'm so happy to present Catherine Thursby of Red Shoes as my newest inspiredfriend. Her style is fun and funky. I know you'll love it. Click here to discover all about her and to shop her collection.

The latest issue of inspiredideas is up, too! Click here to see it!