Odds 'n Ends: Bunny Gift Card 'n Figs?

I thought I'd experiment with making a gift card.  

I ended up with this little guy and his Morning Glory necklace in Watercolor and a bit of glitter.

How do you like him?

(Glitter never shows up well in my photos.)

These are my 2 favorite subjects, bunnies and flowers.

Adding a bit of glitter is always fun too!

I added the polka dot scrapbook paper to the inside of the envelope.

I may have to put him on my Etsy

  

Little Things to be Grateful for:

What a great day today.....

I was reminding myself that there are lots of little things that happen throughout our day that we can be grateful for...

a man gave me an umbrella to use at the grocery store,

IT WAS POURING DOWN RAIN.....

the couple at the entrance smiled and said hello to me.....

a woman helped me rescue a birthday card I almost lost....
 and the man at our wonderful cheese counter is always interesting to talk to. He let me taste the Manchego cheese he was cutting, some Parma Prosciutto (for my figs) and we traded appetizer recipes for the figs (he saw them in my basket) I was serving on the 4th.  

I love figs...they are so beautiful too......

via

via

Mine:  Cut in 1/4's, but not all the way, stuff with blue cheese, wrap in a good Prosciutto (like Parma) and grill......

ohhhh so decadently delicious! 

Add a nice red and ALL is good with the world!

His: Cut in 1/2, drizzle with Olive Oil, serve with Parmigiano Reggiano and a drizzle of great balsamic. I'm going to try his too only with a glaze or reduction of the balsamic.

I'll let you know how they turned out.

Hope you all have a wonderful and safe Fourth of July!

Thanks for stopping by, 

Shari
Please Enjoy These Links:


Polish The Stars
Craft-O-Maniac
Polly Want A Crafter?
Sumo's Sweet Stuff
{Primp}
The Shabby Creek Cottage
The Brambleberry Cottage
Beyond The Picket Fence
My Romantic Home
Common Ground

Hi Everyone,

I know I have been posting and will not be for several weeks.

 I am getting my house ready to put on the market.  

I dearly love my home with it's high ceilings, great room with hardwood floors and windows all across the back to my deck with views of trees, trees trees. 
It feels like I am living in a tree house. 

But mowing 3/4 of an acre, all the beds, mulching and upkeep is getting to be too much for me. One concession may be more time in my studio, oh yes and no snow shovelling or mowing!!!
There is so much to do to get it ready I am quite overwhelmed. 
So I have taken my blog responsibilities off my to do list temporarily. 

I think it is time for some new beginnings. 

Please don't forget about me.
I'll miss you all

Shari

I will try to post some pics from time to time:

This years peonies in my favorite Haeger Flea Market Vase ($2.00)

Shari

A Little Gratitude Gift

HOW DO YOU CONVEY HOW GRATEFUL you are for a kindness?

It wasn't a huge thing that was done, it was just that it was done by someone I am not close to.

I was so touched by her random act of kindness.

Sometimes you just don't quite know how to thank someone for going out of their way.

I often feel that since I am an artist something that included my artwork would be appreciated.

So I made this journal for her.

Every detail was done with my feelings of gratitude.

I painted the cardinal on canvas paper with acrylics and collaged it on this beautiful scrapbook paper.

Added a few "santa claus"/dandelion seeds and handpainted pinecones edged in glitter, some vintage lace and a few vintage chandelier crystals.

I wrapped it up in lovely gift wrap...sorry forgot to get a pic.

Expressing and Feeling Gratitude actually motivated my own creativity. 

Ok now I suppose I am also grateful to this friend for inspiring creativity in me too so I received several gifts from her act of kindness.....Lucky Me! 

I am grateful that you stopped by too!

Shari
Links you should see...

Polly Want A Crafter?

Craft-O-Maniac

Coastal Charm
C.R.A.F.T.
Sugar Bee Crafts
Not JUST a Housewife
Savvy Southern Style
{Primp}
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Beyond The Picket Fence
The Brambleberry Cottage
My Romantic Home
French Country Cottage
Simply Designing
At The Picket Fence
I Hearat Nap TIme
Flamingo Toes
Common Ground

Thinking Pink!

I haven't posted in a while I know. I haven't for many reasons, mainly because I am busy getting my house ready to sell.....25 years of accumulated things and memories is a lot to go through. The task seems insurmountable at times. So much to do since I let some house repairs slide since my husband passed, so working hard to catch up. Some of my gardens beds have been sadly neglected too. 

Attending to my blog was becoming another anxiety which I think helped create an artist's block if you will. I think I need to find a new direction to take my blog...not sure what it is yet. Have been looking and studying many other blogs. I suppose as I am making big changes in my life, a purging if you will, I feel the need to rethink my blog also. In the mean time I am not adding blog deadlines to my agenda. I am, for now "SURPRISE BLOGGING" I will call it. Don't know when or about what but that's what I am doing....

So be patient with me dear friends while I "find my self" yet again. 

Today I am posting about PINK. Inspired by a blogger: How Sweet The Sound. 
She has a Link Party called, PINK SATURDAY (Pink Saturday Link) Party. 
And it is her 4th Birthday....Happy Birthday!

I found her through one of my favorite blogs:

Splenderosa (Here). 

Marsha was wishing the above blogger Happy Birthday and I thought I would join in the fun!

I love pink...it is such a happy color and 

I have a Pinterest board titled "Think Pink"

(HERE). 

The board title is from a song in the Hepburn/Astaire movie, 

"Funny Face"

You can see it here:

(Here)

I was motivated for the first time in weeks to post. 

This is fun and we all need a little fun in our lives. 

(Besides I had planned to carry all the deck furniture up to the deck today...in 87* weather....this is SO much more fun!)

So just some eye candy, fun and maybe inspirations for you.

 These are the Think Pink's I was drawn to:

 In the home..

Love Louie Chairs:

Love Retro

 

 Fun...

We Could All use a little Ewww La La:

Fun

Magical

These are NOT from MY Garden...

Sweet Dreams,

Sending Lovely Pink Wishes Your way,

Shari

Please Check Out These Links for More Inspirations:

How Sweet The Sound
Splenderosa

Beaded Appliques from a Vintage dress and Vintage Lace.

Why is it I find repurposing so rewarding but I do. Month's ago I was at my favorite place to find great vintage deals.  A small town outside Pittsburgh, a little place where people empty out there homes with wonderful surprises. A WHOLE house with every room filled with great finds at great prices.

I found these wonderful beaded appliques from a vintage dress. 

They have a whole room with vintage fabrics and sewing finds.

My partner in crime you have heard me mention many times, Heather from Larissa Hill   gave me these great bangles she found heaven knows where. 

She always find amazing deals!

It's funny one night I pulled out these appliques and lightning struck. I had fun experimenting a little before it really fell into place but I love when that happens.

 I added the vintage black lace to one and it all came together. Inspiration is so exciting sometime. I had so much fun doing these.

 Also just finished this one too. I decided on no lace on this one and I liked the contrast.

These will be on my Etsy  site.

You can see the more Bangles Here   These were inspired from a J. Crew catalog.

They sold out in less than 24 hours.

Please take a minute and let me know what you think and if you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me.

Hope inspirations come to you all the time,

Shari

Lots of Beautiful Inspirations on these LINKS:

Savvy Southern Style

The Shabby Creek Cottage

Beyond The Picket Fence

Delightful Order

The Brambleberry Cottage

{Primp}

The Common Ground

My Romantic Home

Freckled Laundry

At The Picket Fence

French Country Cottage
Simply Designing
Craft Envy
I Heart Naptime

Flamingo Toes

Derby Day Hats...So Beautiful...And Some Fun for Us!

I am having so much fun getting to know Marsha of Splenderosa.
Her recent post about Derby Day and fashion choices inspired me to do a post on hats for Derby Day. They can be so creative and beautiful.
Remember Audrey in My Fair Lady at the races??

I love hats, but have to admit I don't wear them much anymore, but when I was younger I did. My Aunt wore them beautifully and my husband loved it when I wore one, even a baseball cap!!! 

Yesterday while I was antiquing in a small town outside Pittsburgh for a jewelry idea I am working on. I saw these women who were enjoying their purple hat day out together.

 They were so cute. 

You could tell so much about them from their hats. 

One was very bohemian, one just added some shoosh to a visor, others were just cute. 

Rarely do I see a purple hat person who exhibits such lovely flare as one lady who had a lovely red, flowy sweater cape and a beautiful soft, sheer purple hat. 

Her make-up was done to a T and I loved watching her exhibit her fashion style. 

Hats can be such a wonderful opportunity to exhibit a fashion statement.

Thought  we could have some Derby Day Fun too. 

Marsha allowed us to vote for our pick for the dress she was wearing to Derby Day.

 It was such fun.

 I realize that some of us may not make to Derby Day in person we can certainly imagine ourselves there. 

Wearing a lovely dress beautifully made up, lovely jewelry, beautiful shoes (hopefully somewhat comfortable) and a gorgeous hat, maybe with beautiful custom flowers of silk, organza or some elegant fabric and OF COURSE with a ice cold mint julep in hand.

Let's have some fun, if I can borrow from Marsha....if you were to go which hat would you love to be seen in? What would you wear? Leave your choice in a comment.

It will be fun to hear about your choices and why!!

PS. I'll tell you mine at the end of my post.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

While I love the mystery of the veil of #4, I have been so into 40's and 50's movies for awhile which may have prompted me to pick the vintage Marilyn's #5.  Maybe it's that I've never seen this pic before and she just looks so beautiful.

Love the flower on the end of the rim. Just a bit of uniqueness 

 Have a great day Y'all! 

Shari  


Please enjoy these links:


Sumos Sweet Stuff
Making The World Cuter