Christmas Village: A Tiny Town on a Grande Scale

Are you all decorated for the holidays?  Can you imagine having the vision to arrange a village that is this intricate?  Look at how the icy steps lead your eye from the children building a snowman at the bottom right, up past the Christmas carolers, on to the church and its nativity scene and then all the way up to the grand building that overlooks the city.  The display is enormous - this is just one section that I framed and photographed.  I just love it!

My friend's Aunt Pam is the artist extraordinaire that created this masterpiece. She and I see beauty in so many of the same things and when it comes to decorating for Christmas, she is a kindred spirit.  

For more than twenty years, Pam has been collecting buildings, townspeople, trees and ice rinks (many by Department 56) with the sole purpose of delighting the eye.  A display like this is meant to be seen and I am grateful that Pam allowed me to photograph it so that I could show you.  My picture above captures only one tenth of her display, which runs the entire length of her living room and is a multilevel masterpiece.

Now take a moment and study this second picture - the scene from a different angle.  If you look way to the top you will see the same grand building and the church just below it to the right...See?  That is the same area shown in the first photograph, just from farther away.  Now do you get a sense of the scale of her work?  I could stand here for hours and let my mind wander.  This is a different kind of story-telling, don't you think?  Where your mind is allowed to wander through each vignette, gleaning what it can from the visual clues.

In my mind, I walk around this magical little town.  I skate on the frozen pond and then buy hot chocolate in the candy store.  I always climb the steps to the greenhouse and walk inside to smell the humid air scented with potting soil. I always have fun and I never want to leave.  

Sometimes stories are best left in your imagination - you can add to them and change things around every time your mind wanders around a Christmas village. Thank you, Pam, for inspiring us all. 

#gifttoall #holidayinspiration #christmasvillage

Laser Cut Wood: Holiday Inspiration

I bought this collection of laser cut wood decorations at one of my favorite craft resources, the Ben Franklin in Redmond, WA. This store is a "must stop" when I have crafty friends visit, because of their selection, knowledgeable staff and inspiring displays (with related products for sale nearby)...and their selection.

What I'm finding funny is that I love these thin and crispy wood die-cuts just as they are. I could glue them to place cards. I could string them into a garland. I could glue them to gift tags. So far, though, I just move them around my side board imaging their future. Aren't they cool? What do you think I should do with them?

Collecting Chelsea: Having Tea

The funny thing about this picture is that is a great illustration of how my mom's input always seems to make my work a little bit better. 

I have been taking photos of my collections on my iPhone so that I can have a visual index of the pieces I own with me at all times. It has been so helpful and I recommend taking the time to do it.

I arranged some of my antique china (the pattern is called Chelsea or Grandmother's China) and at the spur of the moment it occured to me to spell out EAT with some Ikea cookies that I love. I thought it was hilarious and was ready to go. 

My mom looked at it and said "No, No! Spell: tea" which was remarkable easy because its the same 3 letters - duh. She was absolutely right, of course. 

TEA is perfect and here is the beautiful image for your enjoyment.

My First Speaking Engagement in Washington!

My first public speaking engagement in Washington is just 2 weeks after I arrive as a new resident!

The Mt. Si Artist Guild presents local author Anne Reeves for a delightful journey into the small everyday inspirations that fuel our creativity. Anne is an accomplished speaker and author that can guide you on your own personal creative journey and perhaps publish your own book!

Saturday, October 15, 2016 starting at noon.

$12 for MSAG members and $15 for non members

Art Gallery of SnoValley 8130 Railroad Ave in downtown Snoqualmie, WA

Portland: Pendleton Woolen Mill Store is Exciting for Makers

We had the 4th of July weekend stretching out before us and our families were thousands of miles away. On Saturday morning, Dan asked if I'd like to take the 3.5 hour drive to Portland, Oregon for an overnight trip.

"Can we find the Pendleton Mill Store and get wool scraps?" When he answered yes, I started packing. I used the patriotic approach and packed pants, t-shirts and sweaters all in red, white and blue, figuring that I would match somehow. We were on the road by 10 am, looking for fun. 

A Facebook post stating "An impromptu trip to Portland! First stop, Pendleton Woolen Mill" ened up planning the rest of our trip. One friend Shannon in Seattle invited us to stop and see her at her parents' house to tour their large garden in bloom. My friend Souri in Michigan encouraged us to eat at her family's Thai restaurant in Portland and finally my friend, Marilyn in Tennessee insisted we set aside time to visit the Rose Test Garden that Portland is famous for. Our trip
was planned!

This was what inspired me to get in the car. Wool scraps! My mom said, 'Really?" when I showed her this photo, but I think I can do great things with what I found here. Pendleton makes beautiful wool blankets, clothing and accessories. 

You might remember when I told you about the Native American-inspired Print towels by Pendleton that my mom was collecting. They have stores across the country, but it is the Woolen Mill Store (8550 SE McLoughlin Blvd.) that sells Pendleton fabric by the yard, remnants and wool ends.

The store is huge and offers endless inspiration for artists and makers, as well as Pendleton enthusiasts in general. I spent ages choosing the strips of wool that I wanted to experiment with and I can't wait to get started. I promise to show you what I create.

Bouys: Let Color Float Your Boat

Color inspiration is everywhere and this month, House Beautiful magazine has featured a photo of vibrant lobster buoys for their By The Sea color palette. It has deep blues, bright red with stripes of yellow, pink and mint.

It reminded me of my own buoy images from a delightful trip to Maine in 2009. The buoys above are bright and new, ready to mark the daily catch, while the collection below show that they had been bobbing in the sea for years.

Did you know that the color and striping on lobster buoys represents each lobster man and his license. Each operation has their own matching buoys. Isn't that interesting? Can't you see me at the Secretary of State (or some such office in Maine) asking to trade for a better color combination as my signature? I mean, if I was given the brown and yellow combo (above) I would have wept.

Color is everything to me. Which color combo would you request? 

Blank Walls and Big Opportunities

Where have I been and what's going on? I have been distracted with finding and then setting up an apartment in Seattle.  Last year, many of my blog posts came to you from our darling room at a Residence Inn in a suburb of Seattle, Washington. Whenever I was in town, I baked desserts in my convection toaster oven and had a wonderful time trying new restaurants and writing about shops, sweets and treats I discovered.

This year we decided to put hotels behind us and set up a pied a terre - a small living unit in a city that is close to work. It has been incredibly fun having a blank canvas to decorate and I know that I won't be able to resist sharing some of my decorating successes.  Projects, artwork, design ideas...even apartment gardening. I find inspiration everywhere I turn when I am in the Pacific Northwest. And I've been having the most interesting conversations.

Are you looking forward to seeing what I come up with in this new environment? I am!

Seattle: Unexpected Farmers Market in Bellevue

There's nothing like driving to Joann Fabrics for inspiration and finding an active farmer's market in the parking lot! I bought  myself a Whidbey Island ice cream bar (butterscotch) and set out to choose a bouquet of dahlias. 

The day was warm, so I decided to take the flowers into Joann's with me, rather than leave them in the car to wither. I received a lot of compliments on the bouquet in my basket and I'm sure that it inspired others to go out outside and choose some flowers for themselves! It's not everyday that fresh flowers are brought to your doorstep. Take advantage of it when it happens. 

Tah-dah! Here they are on display in my room. 

Seattle: Uwajimaya: Japanese Store, Food Emporium, Inspiration Mecca

If you're a regular reader, you know that I love Japanese design and packaging.  Remember my sushi soap vignette? And how I enhanced all of those beautiful juice cans?  

When I heard that there was an enormous Asian grocery store called Uwajimaya, I couldn't wait to look at their selection of cans that I could use as floral vases.  I know, that's how my brain works.

So...I found 2 aisles that were perfect.  I settled on 5 different cans (2 whole fruit, 3 fruit beverage) and I will show them to you once I have enhanced them a touch and they are ready to be vases. And yes, I emptied the cans before I traveled with them to keep my suitcase under 45 pounds.

I loved taking my time and pouring over every last item in the kitchen section. Tea strainers, rice servers, herb choppers, ginger graters.  What a selection.

There is a really neat trend in lunch box food prep that I have always thought was very interesting - bento box lunches for kids.  (You may want to see some examples at the Just Bento blog).The tools shown above help home cooks cut and mold food into neat shapes.  Apple slices can be "cut out" with a cookie cutter-like instrument, so that the fruit slice is shaped like a cat with ears. Sushi rice can be molded into shapes, perhaps a teddy bear head or sheep.  It is a labor-intensive lunch, for sure but I can imagine that if it seems like fun to you (and your children) it would be a fun way to involve them in lunch prep and it would encourage them to eat their lunch.  I had never seen the tools in person and I was happy that I could take a photo to show you.

I also noticed this kit that helps you make a sushi cake! It is to look sweet, but it actually has savory, main dish-like items on it.  I find this entire concept beautiful and interesting.

Uwajimaya has a beautiful selection of foods in a very casual food court.  It was only 10 am or I assure you I would have eaten some of those tempura shrimp!

The grocery section had a variety of fresh fish, and by fresh I mean, still swimming in a tank! I have seen lobster sold this way, but never tilapia.  It was eye-opening.

Stay tuned for the beautiful can vases!

Inspired by the Sea

Ahhh...this is "Southern Living!"  I am lucky to have escaped the cold and I can concentrate on my photography and writing in this glorious place.  I bought a new camera last summer and I'm determined to become a Power User" - this is my first chance to try out some of the different settings and I love how this particular picture came out.  

I also bought a glass drill bit and before I flew down here, Dan and I drilled a whole bunch of sea glass (a combination of glass found on the beaches of Hawaii by my friend and a bunch found here in Florida by my dad - so neat!)

My grand plan is to make a collection of beach glass jewelry and offer a few special pieces in my Etsy store. (By the way, my Etsy store is in "vacation mode" (not available for shopping) until I  return from my trip and have a chance to upload my new designs.) Until then, I will design and create some signature pieces made up of sea glass and creativity. 

How can I not be inspired by a view like this?

Visual Vitamins: An Inspiration Board Brings Delight

I am loving my latest inspiration board because the images remind me of my friends. I see this every time I walk into my office and the exposure to it is so good for me. 

In this collage, everything looks beautiful together and blends with the pages I've torn from House Beautiful. You'd think one person chose all of these images to work together, but no. 

The bright purple and pink postcards of Paris are from Sue.  The John Derian giraffe card is one I bought when I was in New York with Kerry.  A scene from Monet's Garden was mailed to me by Melissa.  Most of the magnets are from Angie.  There's a Happy New Year card of Big Ben from Renate. And two postcards of northern Michigan I got when I was out galavanting with my mom.

This board is good for me - a Visual Vitamin representing both what I love and who I love.  Are you taking your visual vitamins?

The 12 Days of Valentine's Day starts today!

When's the last time you knew you were going to have fun for 12 days straight?  

I know, we don't often look at things that way, and that is precisely the beauty of celebrating the "12 Days of Valentine's Day".  It's a time when you do little things to show love for family, friends and while you're at it, yourself. Wear pink one day, make a cake, put out red placemats - everything counts when you are celebrating the fact that you love a lot of people. 

There is no set schedule; Nor is there a "number" relationship, meaning you don't have to sneak 10 Hershey kisses into a loved one's pocket just because it is Day 10 (but what a great idea!).  Nope, you just do what feels right (and fits into your schedule) on any particular day leading up to Valentine's Day.  When someone compliments your pink scarf, just smile and say that its in honor of the 12 Days of Valentine's Day.  If your neighbor questions your sudden gift of 6 muffins, cite your inspiration, The 12 Days of Valentine's Day.  Have fun with it.

Remember, this is a gift of the heart, so any gesture, no matter how small, will be appreciated.

#12daysofvalentinesday #valentinesday #valentine #celebratevalentinesday #celebrate

Shopping at Home: A bit of Hawaii in my fabric stash

You can imagine the size of my photo library...thousands of images of crafts, travel, roses and cookies.  It's my job to delight, right?  When I see something beautiful I try to capture with my camera.  Not every image makes it into the blog, certainly, but I do my best to keep my posts fresh and interesting, inspiring and beautiful.  

When I am surfing my own tidal wave of images, I sometimes find one and say, "Oh, I forgot about that shop etc."  This photo is from the swap meet in Honolulu and I just remembered that I bought 2 yards of the kiwi green fabric on the bottom roll! It has hula girls silhouetted in deep purple and it spoke to me.  But where is it? I must go shopping in my own house and find this fabulous fabric.  Maybe it will become a table runner to brighten up the icy white month of January.  This month is all about making something new with the supplies I already have.  That knitting stash isn't going to knit-one-purl-two itself!

How did i stumble upon this particular photo? I lived in Hawaii for almost a month with a friend and her husband (they had moved to Oahu for a job opportunity) in January 2102.  We drove around the island seeing the sights, but we also shopped at the grocery store, grilled dinners and made jewelry.  it was really fun. Now that it is January again, I get nostalgic for that wonderful experience and think back on all of the neat things I saw.  

You can read my posts from that trip by clicking in the CITY SERIES section in the sidebar of the blog.  Choose Honolulu, Oahu and Hawaii to see a variety of posts. They are beautiful!

So today I am inspired by Hawaii and my tropical stash. Do you have something tucked away that you could craft or sew with this month?  It will feel great.

Advent By Candlelight inspiration

Advent by Candlelight is a lovely church service and dessert event arranged by a church during Advent.  The purpose is to offer a quiet evening of reflection and fellowship for the women of the congregation and community.

Our church has "table hostesses," who sign up to decorate a table, provide dessert and invite their church friends (and special guests from their lives) to sit with them at their Advent by Candlelight table.  When there are open spots at the tables of 8, the Advent by Candlelight coordinator fills the spots with church members interested in attending.  

Guests usually arrive around 6 pm, check in and receive a name tag and then congregate over punch and light refreshments as the hundreds of women arrive at the church and connect.  At 6:30, members and their guests are given a candle and program as they file into the sanctuary and take a seat.

A short service typically consists of a choral piece, inspirational readings, biblical text and the singing of hymns.  The candles are lit and the attendees file out in silence and reflection.

The next 30 minutes or so are spent admiring the tables, all lit by candlelight. The creative table decorations are a fun outlet for the hostesses to inspire and delight.  Visual and edible decorations make everyone get into the holiday spirit.  

Every year, mom and I sit at a mother/daughter table with our friends from church.  This year we were the guests and were free to relax and enjoy the decorations of our hosts.  We sat at a darling Scandinavian-theme table of red and white.  There were birch coasters for the delicate metal candle stars; red striped ribbon tied on the napkins and paper stars scattered on the table.

There were tables with family heirlooms on display - look at this beautiful, what I believe to be German Pyramid, powered by candles.  

The Wise Men and Shepherds are on a wooden circle that is powered by the heat of the candles.  The fan on top turns and allows the procession to file past the nativity.  It is a work of art.

I love this next picture, framed so that you can see the candlelight from two tables.  This is the perfect occasion to use a candelabra. 

There is an inherent calm in a room filled with candlelight.  Everyone felt special and appreciated.  The hostesses did a wonderful job designing pretty tables.

A dreamy Winter Wonderland table hosted by a mother-daughter team, Micke and Linda.  I love their collection of churches.

Look at the roses in this elegant red and white table - this feels like a party!

I love the ring of Santas around this majestic gold bottle brush tree. It looks glorious.

What a night! I am proud to say that our table was a last to leave that night. We were talking and laughing far into the evening and we just kept our conversation going as we helped our hostess pack up the table.

Would you like to see some of the tables that my mom and I have decorated?
I hope these images inspire you to host your own Advent by Candlelight table next year.

This is our "Town with a Marshmallow Snowstorm" table.
This is our "Vintage Green & Red" table.
This is our "Gold Pineapple with Red Plaid" table.
And last year's "Vintage Ornament" table.  Such fun! I can't wait until next year!

Inspiration Board

Lately my inspiration board is much more about what I want to look at, than what I want to do.  It is unlikely that I will perform in a ballet with like-minded girls in sunset colored tutus, but I love this image from House Beautiful magazine so much (it was a page showing how to choose paint colors based on images you love - see the matching paint color dots below?) that I put it on my magnetic board, front and center.

I have pretty magnets (more magnets than images right now!), cards from friends, landscape drawings and floral bouquets.  This is what I love to look at and it inspires me all day long.  Want one of your own?  My white metal board is from Ikea and I found a similar magnetic panel at Ikea here.

Craft Show Find: Upcycled Grocery Notebooks

I saw them and I had to have them.  Grocery Notebooks.  I kid you not.  I was at the Leland Art Show last month and I wandered into Laura Wright's booth (she doesn't have a website now, but if I ever get it, I'll link to it here. Her phone is 231-624-0090, if you want to ask about upcoming shows).

Her focus is on paper goods and accordion scrapbooks, but she has started dabbling in these grocery notebooks.  The best possible upcycling, as far as I'm concerned.  She has taken the front and back of cereal boxes, cracker boxes and artisanal beer 6-packs (genius) and used the art of the packaging to make spiral bound notebooks.

She had me at the Rice Krispies (only $1 for the notebook!), but I soon started handing her more and more.  My mom was drawn to the sand dune water scene and insisted I get it to keep by the phone in my kitchen.  She was right, of course, it looks beautiful there and reminds me of Sleeping Bear dunes.  Notice that this was a 2-pack.  A narrow pocket notebook is displayed on top, mirroring the scene, and held in place by rubber bands.

You never know when you will find an artist that is doing something beautiful...and interesting.  Keep your eye out.  Laura Wright, bravo! 

Ribbon Based Flower Arranging

This ribbon and I have been waiting through three seasons for this moment. My Honey Dijon rose is blooming again and the plant is producing bouquets worth of blooms.  Up to this point, I have only been getting single buds, which I have happily tucked into larger arrangements, but now she is hitting her stride and I am getting great bundles of roses at once.  

Remember my (now internet famous) photo of a sweep of Honey Dijon roses?  You can't look for a Honey Dijon online without coming across my picture.  I am very proud of that, someone has to show the world delight, right?

Today's post is to remind you that sometimes your actions can be ribbon-driven. I had a lovely and unusual rose and I sought out ribbon that would make it sing. Now my beautiful 1/2 yard helps me make the most of this rose and it is just as important as a great throw pillow or good lighting.  Design is everywhere and this is an example of how having a master plan in your life can help you find the beauty of everyday moments.

This is my living room on a Thursday morning.  It makes me feel as good as it looks.  

Patchwork Sail

"If you're shipwrecked on an island..."  How many of us have heard that conversation starter?  The point of the question is to learn about the person; to see into their heart and find out what is important to them.

When I saw this small boat in a quilting shop in Shipshewana, filled to the brim with fabric, I immediately thought of the "stranded on a desert island" riddle.  Yes, this amount of fabric would just about do it.  I could make a patchwork sail and find my way back to civilization.  Or I could settle in and make a shabby chic beach tent.  

I started thinking about it and I would also need some : candy, music, cook books, lip stick, yarn and needles, my camera, a few Rosamunde Pilcher novels...

Staring at the Ocean

Lost in thought?  It's easy to be mesmerized by the expansiveness of the ocean.  I could show you a beautiful picture of the Atlantic from every day of my trip.  Some days it was bright blue, other days looked like a paint palette of gray and then some days had me running for my camera.

On this promising morning, the water, clouds, sun and sky seemed more like an "inspirational poster" than a view from a real life.  Sometimes "delight" is getting lost in thought.

It's So You

"And I have to have one of these, because it is so you."

The woman talking was a new customer at an art show.  I had never met her before and I hadn't explained anything in my booth to her, yet she seemed to feel very connected to me.  Did she read my blog?  Did she own my books?  Sometimes when you are an artist and you "put yourself out there," it's impossible to know the relationship you have with someone in their mind.

It was the end of the show and she was buying an armful of my petite flower arrangements in my hand-painted jam jar vases.  

And then she selected one of the vases that showcased an ANA Pineapple Sage DELIGHT jam label (shown above).  I had decided to design my own jam labels as if I had a jam company, had eaten all of the jam and was now repurposing the jar.  It amused me to no end and it was indeed my favorite vase.  But how did she know that it was so "me?"  A fun and flattering mystery.

What makes something in your house so "you?"