Significance of the Name


My Blog’s name is a tribute to my Dad & my Husband. My Dad because he used to sing the song to me, "How 'd You Like to Swing on a Star?" It's about reaching for your dreams, you can stay where you are & be safe OR YOU CAN SWING ON STAR. Stars also refer to a difficult night just after my husband died. I was talking to him (I often do.) & said how I missed his "I Love You's". That night he gave me a dream... a gorgeous, bright blue night sky filled with thousands of stars, in the middle the stars formed an "I LOVE YOU"....such a gift on so many levels.

So "follow your own path, & don't worry about the darkness, for that is when the stars shine brightest”

Sunday, April 29, 2012

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



Sunday, April 22, 2012

I LOVE SURPRISES

I LOVE SURPRISES SO I JUST HAD TO POST that I just found a wonderful blog full of fashion, decor and so much more, even  recipes. It is a beautifully and creatively presented. Marsha's writing is interesting and concise. The whole composition to speak in artist terms is quite lovely and fun! My new goal is to make more of an impact with less pictures and more concise writing...so hard for me!!! Anyway, the more I do my blogging the more I love the whole blogging community. If the world were more like our creative blog community it would be a much better place!

AnywayI left a comment about how much I had enjoyed her blog. Actually I loved it so much I spent the better part of my Sunday afternoon going through older posts!  Did I tell you I am going to sell my house and I am supposed to be painting, purging and cleaning out my flower beds....this was just so much more fun though!!

The site is:

So I received an email from Marsha just a while ago to find that I had been given a random gift for my post on her blog. They are these ear rings from her line of jewelry:


Aren't they beautiful!

I am going to LOVE wearing these....if I can keep my 25 year old daughter from them!
My step son and daughter-in-law are taking me to Las Vegas in the fall and I just know I will get ohhhs and awwws when I wear these!!!

When you have time to really explore a lovely blog you should double click my link and enjoy.


Hope you all are having a great Sunday. Mine just got perfect...I just love surprise, don't you?  
I'm leaving now to celebrate with a nice glass of cabernet.

Shari

You can all tell I have to do a lot of work on that concise thing??!!!

Vintage Keepsake Boxes

I HAVE TO SAY I GOT THE INSPIRATION for this from Pinterest. 
I remembered I had some old matchboxes I could use...somewhere!?? 
Spent about a half hour trying to find them!!!!!
Someday I may get organized, yeah right!

 I can't tell you how much fun I had making these!

 I think I needed a break from painting and drawing and this did the trick!

These are Keepsake Boxes I designed from the old matchboxes my husband and I had collected from visits of Europe, New York and elsewhere....even special nights (those are still being hoarded. So I guess these are Keepsake boxes made from Keeksakes. 
I had fun adding vintage sheet music, lace and jewelry.
So many fun decisions....




 They will be great for saving treasured momentos or keepsakes. 

You could use these for things like.....

A keepsake place for your parents or mother's wedding bands, 
A keepsake for a lock of hair maybe from a first haircut or from someone you love (so romantic)
A keepsake for a First tooth after the "Tooth Fairy" retrieves it...
A place for a treasured piece for a jewelry like a locket...
A Gift box for a gift and that becomes 2 gifts in one..
A Favor to hold something simple and fun.
Add a ribbon and hang them from a tree....
Display them.




Each side of the matchbox exterior is covered with vintage sheet music and vintage lace.

Here are the top side of the three I did for my Etsy site HERE




The other sides......







Inside "Drawer".....











It was so fun and refreshing to break away from doing my regular artwork, especially when you are feeling uncreative. Hope you enjoyed the post. 

They are for sale on my Etsy site:

Happy Inspirations, Shari!

Please enjoy these LINKS for of More Inspirations:


Friday, April 13, 2012

Friday, April 13, 2007 - A loving tribute

5 Years ago today I lost the most incredible, thoughtful, fun-loving, loving man, my husband Fred. 
He gave me my dreams. He was full of great fun and made me laugh and laugh. A devoted father who was always there for us.



Many meals of steamed crabs with great friends....

 Absolutely Loved Coaching....


Best times ever were at the beach
 Dancing with our daughter when she was little......
Dancing with her at Bry and Jenny's wedding when she was big....

 All Star Game in Pgh.....one of Dani's favorite pics....
Sea Isle with the Scheimers....here with son Bry....teasing Fred cause Bry was taller...
 We meant on a blind date on a Friday arranged by a friend. 2nd date spent Sunday with he and Bry ending with dinner at Fred's and discussed marriage that night. A week later engaged, 6 weeks later married.....he came into my life quickly and after 22 years left that way too......


Miss You Honey.....I Love You in the Stars. (See Explanation Top of Page) 


Sunday, April 8, 2012

HAPPY EASTER!

I was watching an old movie, Easter Parade with Judy Garland, Fred Astaire,
 Peter Lawford and Ann Miller. I loved seeing all those beautiful hats. So I thought I'd share some of my favorites in my own little tribute to Easter Decor from My Pinterest for a little Easter fun. 
Have a Blessed Easter, Shari
 
GLAM.....

LOVE VEILS......THEY ADD A LITTLE MYSTERY....



No one wore a hat more beautifully than Audrey Hepburn. 
I loved all those hats in the racetrack scene from My Fair Lady!



They can be soft and feminine......

Or Daring and Bold....

 So very high fashion....I think they always take a little sense of adventure to wear them!



Or just plain precious........

Shari

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