Simply Shabbilicious Magazine

It's here!  The spring issue of Simply Shabbilicious Magazine, created by talented Kerryanne of Shabby Art Boutique.

You can view the magazine for free here, or purchase a digital or printed copy here:

I'm so honored to be included in this issue, along with talented bloggers such as Susan from Must Love Junk,  Jennelise from Jennelise Rose, and Ewa from Minty House.  Kerryanne works very hard putting together each beautiful issue, and they don't disappoint.

Have a look...spring is coming!

Getting Personal

It's not often I share personal information here at the blog.  I'd much rather talk about decorating and crafts than myself!  Nevertheless, sweet Kris from Junk Chic Cottage has asked me to share over at her weekly Saturday Spotlight.  I really enjoy reading about other bloggers who I've come to know in this fun blogging world.  It's fun to 'get real' now and then.  In that spirit, I've included a realistic recent photo of myself here, clutter behind me and all.  Although I must confess that I had just returned from the hair salon, so my hair looks better than usual.  :)

Thanks so much to Kris and Susan from Must Love Junk for opening up the world of blogging with this wonderful way of getting to know each other.  Thank you for including me, ladies!

Noticing the Little Things

Lately I've been trying to take notice of the little things that bring delight, especially when the winter is cold and snowy.  Sometimes just minor updates to our space can give us a boost.
Here are some recent 'little things' that brought a smile...

1) getting my craft on by making this sweet Napoleon style hat for my Santos cage doll:

It was inspired by Donna O'Brien's creations in the winter issue of Where Women Create,

(my hat is placed on top of the magazine pages with Donna's delights)

and makes a whimsical statement in this corner of our living room:

2) seeing a dash of faded pink fabric in this other corner of our living room....

...along with a grouping of shiny candlesticks:

3)  enjoying the way the winter sunlight reflects off the snow into our living room windows:

4) adding a dash of spring roses to the living room shelf,

with this flea market needlework:

and paper flowers on the reindeer:

His look was inspired by Rachel Ashwell's Couture Prairie book:

Love this book!

5) noticing how my little girl piled her Tilda 'family' together on a chair.  So sweet!

6) putting a personal touch on some fabric for our sofa.  It has my husband's & my initials, the year the house was built and No. 4 for our family of 4:

7) admiring the grey shimmer in a new lampshade by the sofa:

These 7 little things are just details, but all together they bring great cheer!

I'm joining in at these great parties:
Grey Dey Thursdey
Be Inspired Friday
Feathered Nest Friday
Shabbilicious Friday
Blissful Whites Wednesday

Upstairs in the Attic

This past Monday was spent helping my Mom clean out her attic.  Oh, what memories it brought back.  She is a PACK RAT, and I do believe I've inherited a bit of that.  It was rewarding to help her clear out and purge, and I also got to take home some treasures.

For instance, this is the Christening gown my sisters and I were baptized in.  The little bonnet rests nearby.  Although the dress is yellowed from many years in the attic, it's precious to me.

Up close you can see the sweetest little pearl heart at the bodice.

We also found this old board with vintage wallpaper.  Pretty florals scattered about...

A couple of mismatched shoes we wore as toddlers...

Someday I'd love to own a vintage dress form for display in my own studio...a dream to hold onto.  In the meantime I accepted this old petticoat from my Mom, and will save it for that dress form.  It looks cute hanging from an old hanger for now:

With Valentine's day coming up, I'm starting to think about romantic creations.  Scattering supplies around always help fuel inspiration:

Perhaps I'll use this tea-dyed crepe paper and pink feathers...

...or this sweet lace trim I picked up in Paris last fall, as well as the vintage blue ribbon from Tracey's shop.  So much prettiness to create with!

I'll be sharing over at these great parties:
Be Inspired Friday
Feathered Nest Friday
Shabbilicious Friday
Blissful Whites Wednesday

A Quiet Winter

After all the merrymaking during Christmas, I often appreciate the softness and quiet of January.  The decorations are put away and all is laid bare, awaiting a fresh start or perspective.  This is a good time to purge those 'things' that are cluttering our homes and make new plans.  Truthfully, these steps can take me a while.  I look around at the emptied rooms and think - what next?  'Life' in our family takes priority and freshening up our home may get put on the back burner.
In the meantime I soak in the quiet atmosphere...

After our Christmas tree was taken away, this corner of the living room has returned to a place for contemplation and dreaming...

(these roses still survive since Christmas dinner!)

The cage doll received a shawl to keep her warm and nearby a bowl of yarn, crochet thread and pretty bits remind me to get creative.

It's a restful spot with the bright sunlight reflected off the snow shining through the window...

I kept a little bit of winter wonderland left in another corner:

The crocheted stars were moved here from our Master bedroom to adorn this arched window.  My little girl's ballerina finally got her headpiece (after Christmas, I must admit):

This Santos looks like a winter queen with her white shawl and soft skirt:

Our fireplace mantel is laid bare, other than this lingering white horse.  His adornments were toned down to a simple crochet star and vintage lace trim:

It's a serene time, yet with promises ahead.  Hope you're staying warm and making the most of January!

I'm joining in at these great parties:
Grey Dey Thursdey
Be Inspired Friday
Feathered Nest Friday
Shabbilicious Friday
Blissful Whites Wednesday

White House and Winter Wonderland

Happy New Year friends!  We're starting off 2014 with a big snowstorm.  The snow stopped falling late this morning, and now it is a glistening winter wonderland.  Looking outside, I'm reminded of how much I love winter when it looks like this.

I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas, reflecting on the miracle of our Savior born for us with joy and love.  This merry season always seems to go by much too fast.  
I had one last project to show you which I meant to share before Christmas, but time got away from me.  Nevertheless, I still think I can share it now....a winter white house:

I had transformed this white house from something quite different before I placed it in this little corner of our living room:

Are you ready for this 'before' photo???  I found the house last spring at the local thrift store for something like $3.  It did not meet my palette criteria, but I knew I could transform it:

I actually didn't mind the pink so much, but the green roof and red bricks had to go.  So I decided to paint it all white and add some glistening 'snow' here and there...

Next I bleached some tiny green bottle brush wreaths and added vintage tinsel to each.  They got placed on the front windows:

So keep a look out for these old village houses (this ceramic one was from 1982) at your thrift stores and don't be afraid to paint them to your liking!  I may keep this one out for a bit, since it still seems 'wintery'.

Speaking of winter white houses....take a look outside our home today:

Time to go sledding!

Sharing over at these fun parties:
Be Inspired Friday
Feathered Nest Friday
Shabbilicious Friday

Tilda Delights and Merry Christmas!

Dear friends, this will be my last post before Christmas and I wanted to wish you all a blessed, holy and happy Christmas.  Rejoice!

This time of year often evokes fond memories of our own childhood Christmases, sprinkled with beloved toys and fairy tales cherished for many years.  I thought I'd share with you my 'Tilda Corner', where I try to recreate that magical feeling.  The toy soldier and pretty ballerina were made using patterns from Tone Finnanger's "Tilda's Fairy Tale Wonderland" book.

They preside over a winter wonderland in this corner of our living room...

The Tilda wire tree is decorated with pretty Tilda boxes and papers, as well as some new Father Christmas figures...

Animals add to the whimsical scene...

I just finished two more projects from that book today, made especially for a sweet little girl in the family.  The deer hasn't received his antlers just yet, and the ballerina needs a headpiece, but the majority of the work is done - just in time for Christmas!

Not long ago I purchased the latest book by Tone Finnanger, called Tilda's Winter Delights.

The first project I tried were these cute Father Christmas figures:

Here's how they turned out:

I'm looking forward to working on more projects from this book...

(Aren't these chalet girls the cutest?  Can't wait to try making them)

Have a wonderful Christmas friends!  Here's hoping you have fun crafting this winter, too.

Sharing over at these fun parties:
Be Inspired Friday
Feathered Nest Friday
Shabbilicious Friday