La Mia Vita, La Mia Musa

Christmas count down...

  Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend.. I am finalizing store shopping for Thanksgiving.. I found some fun decorations for Christmas..some chestnuts for our dressing for the turkey bird..

  I wanted to share some inspiration for the season. I pulled out my Mary Engelbreit collection of magazines! I have everyone since day one..I'm actually sad that Home Companion isn't around anymore.

  So, I'm paging through and just had to share the many pages of true home decoration..art inspiration JOY!! 

 These pictures all came from my December 2004/ January 2005 issue of Mary's Mag....

  anybody notice the theme I have found? Wonderful bottle brush trees!! I love the collection of the ones on the mantle with the warm fire and mirrors..oh and how about the ones on the table..they make a fun center piece!

.. I will be sharing more pictures from the pages of Home Companion... stay tuned..

Ciao.
 
 
 

pillow talk...

 what's hot?..burlap... it's textured..weathered..

chic!!..

 Enchante'..enchanting isn't it? I love the vintage graphics... I found these lovely pillows here..

 I hope everyone had wonderful weekend! What do you think of burlap? Where have you seen it?

eye candy and some...

Well..found a fun video.. gosh, one can find sooo many on Youtube!! Just hanging out this Sat.

 ...just got back from a business meeting.. and searching for some inspiration to get the vintage mojo flowing..

Could do with out the 'heavy breathing'.. but anyone spy the huge letters in the urn? How about the Huge 'see through' clock' ...now, where would one put that?!!

Can anyone else spy any other treasures?.. gosh, we should make a game of it... oooh..do I see a giveaway in this? ...'I spy with my little eye'...a... this could be interesting!!

Want to visit their web site?.. found this one.. Atelier de Campagne..

a style fix...

 Need a style fix this Saturday?

  End of Summer blues?.. need a little inspiration for your self? Jade green nail polish?!! How 'cool' is that? Visit here for more...{photo courtesy of BellaSugar}

Or..for your home...

  {photo courtesy of chippingcharm, member of JunkMarket Style..} Light and breezy.. love the shutters! I am actually on the hunt for some larger ones to make a wonderful screen for my bedroom... Visit here.. for more Junk style..There are soo many talented "Junk Sistas" on that site!!

Have a wonderful and safe Labor day! Ciao Bellas!!

a tuesday...

it's Tuesday.. first day of school for the boys..

  I have to offer you this fun wooden vintage bin..available now in the shoppe..I have one that I have hanging in my kitchen...

  let your imagination run! wow..you could use it in a baby's room for diapers or other necessities... in the bath for towels and such..

  I never got to share the big puffy paper flowers we made in the studio!! I  have them hanging right over my work table...

  It really makes you smile when you walk in and see these big blooms over head!

Well..that's my Tuesday.. the other gal that started at the agency to alleviate some of the work load up and quit today... Summer is 'over'.. back to schedules and discipline... oh well..only 179 days left till Summer vacation!! Yay!

pardon me for some salvage style...

okay..my camera is ca-put... my cell phone just died this weekend.. a fender bender.. but uhmm.. pardon me for some salvage style...hey.. a girl's gotta get her junkque on!! Right?

  { photo courteous of The Salvage Sisters'.. by Kathleen Hackett & Mary Ann Young }

 I just received my lot of fun 'salvage inspiration' books in the mail.. I can't share my own stash { thanks to my dead camera}.... so I'll share some of what I've found from others.. This is a pink tattered prom dress given new life as a table cover!!

  { The Salvage Sisters' by ... by Kathleen Hackett & Mary Ann Young }

These clever ladies have taken salvaged drawers and re purposed them as a shelving unit!! Now, I don't know about you..but I've seen my share of loan drawers at flea markets... I have one on top a 'regular' shelf that contains bills and mail.. but never would have thought of creating a wonderful 'unit'

how cool is that?!!

  { The Salvage Sisters'..by Kathleen Hackett & Mary Ann Young }

This is a fun wreath created with the 'funny papers'! ..I've used my share of the comic section of the newspaper for wrapping paper..garland..even on cards..but hey this is a super fun creation that would look soo cute for a child's room..play room..hey, even the front door!!

  { Courtesy of Flea Market Style.. by Emily Chambers..}

Well..let's see.. how many salvage items can you spy in this pic?...hmm. the awesome chairs.. the lights along the wall.. oh yeah..there are two license plates on the wall..

Soo...what have we learned from these pics?.. When in doubt..don't throw it out!! Hey.. how else could you use a vintage tattered prom dress.. okay.. if it weren't for the holes..I'd probably wear it.. but how about as window valance? Pillows for a princess bed?

The drawers.. like I've said.. a table-top container for bills and out going mail.. ohh.lets say a holder for those wonderful 'pitch pots' you've been wondering what you would do with..And a shelving unit to die for...

The funny papers aren't just for catching 'Fifi's' presents...

Okay Bellas.. just wanted to share some inspiration this evening amongst the 'rain'..

Ciao!

some flowers...

wahhh! my camera is officially dead.. these pics were taken with my Dad's camera...

  This is the corsages that were given to family..aren't they pretty!! White and green.. orchids..miniature white roses.. {The pic is of mine...}

The bridal bouquet was green hydrangeas..and the brides maids had white hydrangeas.. the pic above is of some of the center pieces.. I just love the composition and texture of the roses...carnations.. hydrangeas..{of course... some 'Spotted Cow' on the side!lol!}

 What shall I doo Bella's?!! No digital camera!! I'm kind of paralyzed...

Lovin' the heat up here in the WI.!!! feels like home.. How do you guys deal with the heat?... I'm just soakin' it all in!!lol!!

XO

a floor...

You are going to have to wear a pair of these if you are going to come and visit... the floor is a bit..shall we say.. a MESS!

See..we've had to deal with ucky brown indoor/outdoor carpet in our kitchen for the past 8 years!! I'm sorry.. I just can't see the logic in this. Our house at one time had 100 acres attached.{all gone save 2 acres..= (   }..It was a real working dairy farm ages and ages ago..The farmer & the wife..kids running in and out. I can just see all the uck from the barns being traipsed in...why oh why would one put carpet down?!!!

So.. Mother's day weekend.. I just couldn't take it anymore! This carpet is history! Come to find out there ARE five layers of flooring here in this kitchen!! 5 layers! Talk about 5 layers of foolishness...

 Yeah, the carpet..then a layer of linoleum, then a thick layer of particle board, two more layers of linoleum..Okay, the kitchen isn't that big so I thought 'shoot, #1 and I can get this done..HA!

We were into ripping things up for about an hour..that particle board is like trying to rip up cement with your bare hands.. to heck with that! So #1 called a friend... This young man in the orange sweat shirt is a 'local' which means he has grown up around here on the farms and well, knows how to work!! This awesome guy helped us get the floor ripped up finally!! Hooray for 'H'!! You rock man! ... Its's amazing what the promise of all the pizza you can eat will do..lol..

Can you see it?!! It's the prettiest thing!! The 109+ year old wood floor is in amazing shape. There are a few oily ring stains.. but I only think it adds character.. they will eventually be sanded..and varnished..There are no holes, gaps, or bowed pieces of wood! I just love it!

So, for now.. please bring your flip flops.. careful the gap between the doors! Don't trip! But..ahh... can't you just imagine the history this floor has seen!

Ciao Bellas!

Women take wing anniversary...

Women take Wing is celebrating It's second anniversary.. Congrats ladies! I'm so honored to be a part of such an amazing group of ladies..

  I made this charm as part of a giveaway..

You can visit here...

I'm honored to have this chance to celebrate! Take Wing ladies!! Thanks so much Dori!

Ciao Bellas..

regal blue etsy store banner...

I have created some new banners..

 

 

 

Here is the one I just recently completed for an Etsy client...

  here is her fun blog...All Roads lead to Pecetto

And I just finished this one for another Etsy client...   Thank girls! You rock..

I've recently added a 'portfolio' page in the shoppe...I still have to upload all the creations I've made for folks... if you ever need a new banner..or logo.. I can even design business cards for you..just give me a 'holler'lol..