Alexandra Stoddard...

Alexandra has re-done her site, with lots of fun new pictures, some from the Country Living article. It's wonderful... Big Smile!!! Isn't she lovely.

Hand Painted Love Boxes... St. Patrick's Day Again...

Maybe it's because I don't think I have

a single drop of Irish blood, but I just don't know

which of these four boxes I should send out.

I did like the quote, so I made them all the

same that way.

Hand Painted Love Boxes... St. Patrick's Day...

When painting, it is good to get one or two holiday's

ahead. I finished these yesterday. If you click on the

picture, you will be able to see the detail on the

lids better.

Inside the message says:

May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow

& may trouble avoid you wherever you go.

Great News!!! April is back!

I got this note from April Cornell just this morning with wonderful news. April Cornell will be aprilcornell.com again in February. Hurray!!!

Hand Painted Love Boxes...

Love is a gift...

5 Random Things About Me...

1. I stupidly stepped over a red velvet rope to see a stuffed alligator just a bit closer. He wasn't stuffed.

2. I was in a tornado once and I still have several bits of the shattered car glass that it scattered all over my balcony.

3. I took down a drug ring.

4. In 7th grade I got a D in art.

5. The places I would most like to visit again are: Mykonos, Sorrento (pictured above) and Butchart Gardens.

I tag: Jenni, Boo & Sheesh

Wallace Stegner...

This is my favorite bit of fiction. It is a beautiful love story and would make an excellent read for Valentine's.

You Are Your Choices...

I finished this yesterday. It was wonderful!

"We should look at our life as a whole. The big picture requires that we take whatever pains are required to live a good life. We need to stretch our intellectual capacities in order to achieve excellence. " Alexandra Stoddard

Don't miss it!

Niki's Beautiful New Kitchen...

I left the house again today. It's amazing how social I've been lately. This has to be a record. I went to see my friend Niki's lovely Kitchen remodel and then we had lunch at the church with lots of friends.
As usual, my pictures don't show quite how lovely this kitchen really is. Niki if you read this, let us know what color that green paint is.
I understand that Niki's dad was both the general contractor and the entire labor force and that he did all this so fast while keeping her kitchen in good order for daily use. We won't see anyone top that again soon.
Ofcourse, I love painted wood and I love white, which always makes a clean slate. And, this kitchen is perfectly situated with large southern exposures, so it was just really beautiful in the middle of the day. I think the white cabinets put all that pretty light to better use.

My dad was saying to me that if you make just your own little corner of the world a more beautiful place, it lifts everyone. This is definitely one of Niki's talents, she makes everything more lovely and everyone she knows happier.

Bluebird Valentine...

Oriental trading sells these little bluebird beads and I love to tie them on to packages. They are so cute! See them here, or you can click on the picture to see a larger view of this one.

Mod Bod... How to dress Utah...

If you are planning a trip to Utah in the near future, this is what you need to have. Mod Bods are everywhere. This is the accessory needed to cover the little unmentionables left uncovered by low riding rises and such. You can also wear plunging necklines with ease because Mod Bod will make sure that you don't have a wardrobe malfunction. I have not yet become part of this trend, because through very selective shopping I have been able to avoid the low rises and the plunges as well, but now that they added some cute lace to the bottom....

This is a pretty cute little Valentine...

Hand Painted Love Boxes...

I did this pattern last year for Valentine's Day. This is the only one I made in these colors and I kinda liked how it turned out. Read about it here.

Land of Nod...

Land of Nod has some cute Valentine's Day ideas.

See them here. Candy dominoes anyone?

Pine Cone Hill

Pine Cone Hill makes the most beautiful things. Love these chrysanthemum pillows. See them here.

Daisies...

I always thought I liked white daisies best, but look at these. They are lovely. See them here.

Valentine's Movies...

I love this movie... I especially love the part where Richard Gere's character says...

I guarantee it won’t be easy. I guarantee that at one point or another, one of us is going to want to leave. But I also guarantee that if I don’t ask you to be mine, I am going to regret it for the rest of my life, because I know in my heart, you are the only one for me.

What is one of your favorite Valentine movies?

Magpie... A Love Story...

There is this magpie that likes to visit the window next to my desk. He seems to be in love with his reflection. He's a narcissistic magpie, you could say. At first his amores were rather alarming, to hear all the frantic fluttering against the glass right in the middle of your best concentrations, then they were annoying. How can he be in love with his reflection when the window is so dirty? He must have poor sight. Now, I just think it is a sad testament to the suffering of this poor bird's unrequited love. I guess he can visit my window if it makes him feel better.

Shelly Tribbey...

I love the bright and happy artwork of artist Shelly Tribbey who makes everything from tassels & pillows to amazing floral collages and beautiful watercolors. See her site here.

Conversations All Wrapped Finally Up...

Hurray!

Granny Chic... Moda Home...

Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion Magazine featured a darling Moda Home ad this month. While there are many stores that offer bits of this line, you can find much of it online here, atleast what hasn't sold out since the ad ran. I adore this stuff and most of it is very reasonable price wise. I think I may send an email asking when re-stocking will be happening, if I find out anything, I'll let you know.