Mind Control at Anthropologie??? Yea, that's it!

It all started innocently enough... I was having lunch with a friend. How much trouble could I possibly get in??? It was a fabulous lunch, full of laughs and good company (and the most decadent grilled cheese sandwich ever!) As we were leaving my friend said the words that will stay with me, haunting me forever...... “Hey, let’s go into Anthropologie.” “No problem,” I thought.” I can go in there... The store is great for window shopping, but I rarely find anything that looks good on me.” Ohhhhhh... if only I had known. My desire to actually interact with real human beings instead of sitting in front of my computer all day must have clouded my mind. I started picking up piece after piece... I grabbed my booty and headed to dressing room. Great.... No big surprise in there. Most of the stuff looked awful on me. And then I tried on the top that sent all sanity completely out of my head. A simple little top really. Probably no more that a yards worth of fabric in the whole thing. But it fit so beautifully. I held my breath as I looked at the price tag.

I looked again. And again. It was obvious I have not been out shopping in regular priced “trendy” shops in a very long time. What was I thinking??? I started reasoning with myself... “You've been working really hard... You deserve this... You haven’t bought yourself anything new in at least 2 months. I’m doing my patriotic duty and feeding the economy. (That’s the excuse I’ll give my husband if he ever finds out...) And so... I decided to buy the top. My friend had an appointment to get to, so she had to leave. (Traitor) She should have known better than to leave me in a clothing store unattended. “I’ll just look around a little more...” I thought innocently to myself. (Yeah, right)


First, I hit the sale rack where I found the cutest sweater. I know I will not be able to wear it for at least 8 months, but I couldn’t resist. Then I found another adorable top with the prettiest shabby roses all around the neckline. Before I could talk myself out of it, I grabbed my items and RAN to the counter to check out. (I won’t tell you how much each item cost, mostly out of self preservation should my darling sweet wonderful husband ever read this post.) But I will tell you, I have completely and utterly lost my mind!!!! This is what happens when you don’t get out of the house enough!!!!



Of course, I do LOVE my new tops, and now I’m going to need to make sure I get out once in a while so I can wear them!!!

Spring in the Desert

My dear friend Charlene gave me some very good advice yesterday. She said "Girl, come up for air!!!" So I decided to take a little time out from working (If you can call it that. I'm having to much fun for it to be called work) and share some pics I shot yesterday of my family out in the back yard. This is the love of my life... and my husband. (Just kidding!!!) I mean the love of my life and my dog Rocky.


And here he is with my sweet baby girl Jasmine. She was very interested in the tiny beep that the camera made while focusing. I was pretty far away and she heard every beep. (Those ears are pretty powerful)


I didn't have the shutter speed quite fast enough for this shot but I like it anyway.


I love the expression on Rocky's face. He's keeping his eye on Jasmine because she is notorious for stealing his sticks.


This morning I decided to go for a walk and shoot just a few of the homes with wildflowers in their yards. In the Spring these wildflowers are EVERYWHERE! Some homes have the entire front yard covered with them.




Well that's it. I'm sure things will slow down a bit soon and I will be back visiting everyone with vigor!! Thank you all for kind words of support for the biz and for those of you who did posts about my new design biz... well, I cannot thank you enough!!! Have a wonderful day!

Introducing...Valentine Design

I feel like I have been a bad Blogger lately. Many of you have left me sweet comments over the last 3 weeks and I have failed to respond to many of you. Does it help to know I have a good excuse??? I have been working like crazy on a new very exciting project.
(Well it’s exciting to me anyway) Many of you know that I got laid off of my job 3 weeks ago. I took a look around and decided now was the perfect opportunity for me to pursue some passions. I began this project for many reasons...
1. I love Blogging
2. I love the women who blog
3. I think we all want to have a beautiful blog.
4. I love being creative
5. I love to help other people
6. I like a challenge
7. I really needed a job!!!

And so my friends, I would like to officially open the doors on Valentine Design!!!

My concept for Valentine Design is to provide very personal one on one help with any issues that bloggers might be having. I really enjoy the detail work!! I will also offer custom backgrounds, headers and accessories as well as some pre-made backgrounds and some free stuff too! There are several pages to look at, all accessed from the Navigation Bar at the top.

I would really appreciate it if you would all go over there and have a look around. Then drop me an email with your feedback. I need to know both the good and the bad so I can fix anything that needs fixing.

Of course I would love to help any of you who would like the help! I can’t wait to get started!!!! If you would like to see a few of the Custom designs that I have done, you can go visit Dawn at The Feathered Nest, Shellagh at Ticking and Toile, and my dearest friend Devon at Blumensnapdragon. Devon is a budding jewelry designer and does some beautiful work. I know she would love you to visit and join her followers.
Oh, and one more thing... I would sooo appreciate it if any of you were so inclined to do a post announcing the new site. I think I'm gonna need all the help I can get to get the word out! Thank you my friends!!! Talk to you soon!

Cool Blog for antique images!!!!

While visiting some Twitter friends the other day, I came across this great blog that shares the most wonderful vintage images. He sells some in an etsy shop, and has some really cool compilation CD's, but you know... we love those freebies too! The name of the blog is artifacts-antiqueimages and you will love all the cool things that are being shared over there! Drop on by and say hi!!!!

Bringing out the bunnies!!!

It's time to break out some of my favorite seasonal decorating things. I made these bunnies last year and I had a really hard time putting them away. I'm actually a little late getting them out this year. I wanted to do a tutorial to show you how to make them but I just haven't had the time... (I'll tell you why soon!) But I can try to describe what was involved. They are really quite easy and very fun!


Both of these bunnies were made from those resin figures that are made to look like traditional chocolate bunnies. You can get them this time of year at JoAnne and maybe TJMaxx. I painted them and then used an umber glazing liquid to antique them. I also used a bit of sandpaper to give them some more wear and tear. The boy got a collar of brown crepe paper folded lengthwise to give a double ruffle and a piece of vintage tinsle. Then I covered a small wooded box bottom with paper and used the tinsle on that too. The basket was not hollow, so I glued some cheesecloth to the top and made some little eggs out of paper clay to go on top.

The girl got much the same treatment except I made a little skirt for her out of ribbon and little ribbon roses. She got a fur trim collar and moss in her basket and a tiny bit of mica flake for shimmer.


I didn't have to change the big bunny very much. I just added a rustic gauze collar around his neck.

This bunny was a lot of fun. He was also one of those "chocolate" bunnies that I painted and antiqued. I made the wagon out of an old tin. (Like for sucrets, or mints) The wheels were made by inserting a small dowel into store bought (Michaels) wooden wheels and gluing them to the bottom of the tin. I use a piece of heavy paper to cover the dowl as well for extra support. The fence is made from wooden popsicle sicks (or craft sticks as they call them in the store) I printed out the vintage seed packet from my computer, added the green moss and topped the wagon off with some tiny terra cotta pots from Michaels.


This bunny really just got a few paint changes and a coat of vintage mica flake. Bethany Lowe designs make some and you can usually find it at Christmas time.


This chick was already yellow and crackled. I added glitter AND mica flake to him. I made the stand from a cardboard box. (They sell paper mache' boxes at JoAnne) I printed out some vintage Easter postcard images and used them to cover the box. A little ribbon and lace trim, some moss and more little eggs (covered in glitter of course) and we're done!

That's my little Easter mini Tutorial. Hope you are inspired to go out and bring home some bunnies home for yourself. If you have any questions... email me. I'd be happy to answer them if I can.