Vision for my bedroom

I don't know about you but my bedroom seems to be an afterthought as far as decorating and keeping it clean. I hope to change this. We have lived in our new house for over a year now and I still haven't painted over the old dingy antique cream color in there. I have been pinning a few images of what I envision for the space. I am still thinking white or light gray blue walls just because I need the room I sleep in to be very calm and restful. Maybe by talking about it and recording some images here it will help me get on the ball and make some changes. Cheap changes too. Like paint and using art/frames that I already have. The biggest cost I see having would be investing in a beautiful rug and maybe a chair.

 I love the above photo because of the whimsical sticks framing the bed. It's very impractical though, and my husband would hate it. The pillows are fluffy and inviting and the antique mirror is so pretty. This bedroom appeals to my grandma side.

 I love the circular gold mirror in this photo. It is classy and adds a little shine to the space. The black chair keeps the space grounded. I have a corner in my room that a chair like this would work perfectly in. An upholstered chair would be better in my opinion though. Also the wall color is spot on. Love this.

 This rug is so fun! It looks fluffy and so soft to step onto. I would love a huge rug like this under my bed but I bet it would cost an arm and a leg. I have two of each so maybe I could sacrifice one limb...

 This room is elegant and restful but a little boring? It needs a pop of color in the form of an accent pillow or something. Maybe some artwork or a brighter rug like the one below? I like the overall feel of this room though. It is clean restful and has some cozy elements.

I love this rug. If anyone wants to buy me one. That is all.

All of these pins can be found on my pinterest page. Follow me here

Happy Friday!

My Blogging Hiatus is Over

I'm ready to pick blogging back up.  I'm at a place in my life where I think I can handle some consistent blogging. Just to catch you all up on a few things that have happened in the past few years:

I now have two little boys: Sammy who is 3 and James who is 1.

We moved from North Carolina back to Tennessee

I stay at home with my little guys and I wouldn't have it any other way

I've been painting a lot in between naps, meals, cleaning, cooking, and playing superheroes

I feel like I'm in such a good place right now as far as my role as a mother and wife and also an artist.

I am still just one person with lots of dreams, ups and downs,  and more laundry than I would like to admit.

Here are some recent pictures of my world.

James as a newborn Nov 2012

James and Sammy Summer 2013

My worlds

Frosting this past week

James turns 1 

Recent abstract

Still life floral

In the works

I would just like to say thank you to all my readers who have not unfollowed me due to no postings for the past year and a half! I would love to hear from any of you to see how you've been!

Thankful for

I am thankful for....

God's grace
My son
My husband
The new baby growing in my belly
Lazy weekends
Spontaneous trips to the pool
Watching my 2 year old ride his new bike
The sunshine
The green green trees
My health
My family's health
Morning coffee
Peanut butter toast
Ice cream
Summer
Watching Sammy chase butterflies
Quiet mornings
Hot showers
The cool evenings lately
Watching my little boy grow
Watching my belly grow
Walks and Exercise
Fresh strawberries, cherries, and melon
People who buy my paintings :)

Two years old

I love my 2 year old boy. He keeps me on my toes, makes me laugh, makes my heart melt when he says I love you mommy, and I just want to stop time sometimes so I can engrave these moments into my brain. Here are a few things I want to remember.

- Everything you want right now has to be blue....blue bicycle, blue sucker, blue shirt, blue flashlight, blue eyes.

- When we ask how old you are you say" I'm 2 old!"

- You have really smelly little boy feet

- You ran for a half mile without stopping at the cape fear trail on Saturday. People were cheering you on and smiling at you. I was out of breath and wanted to walk! I was also so impressed with my little athlete.

- Ever since I bought a bag of dum dum suckers you have asked me for one every 10 seconds. I am about to throw the rest out!

- You refuse to try the little potty.

- you love lemoniade, broccoli, ice cream, pickles, olives, apricots, apples with no skin, and chocolate milk

- You insist on doing everything yourself, including pouring your own milk, stirring your own chocolate milk, taking off your shoes, climbing into bed, getting in and out of your car seat, and so much more. Your desire to be independent is sometimes exhausting but it is also admirable and I am so proud.

-You threw a tantrum in the post office the other day where instead of holding my hand your body went completely limp and you started screaming " I want to hit mommy with a bat!" over and over.....um thats not cool. I know we've been playing a lot of T-ball lately, but wanting to hit me?  I was sort of embarrassed I mean what two year old wants to do that to his mommy. I was also trying not to laugh. I took you out to the car until you stopped crying and then we went back in.

-You are more strong-willed than anyone I've ever met. You will be a leader someday.

-When daddy's truck pulls up you run to the door screaming "daddy daddy daddy!!!!!" Then you hug him and say I wuv you daddy.

- You like daddy's tools, his drill, his hammers, his phone, pretty much everything in the garage. The garage is also a dangerous and off limits place for you since you have no fear.

- You love robots, elmo, balls, running, the pool, and giant spoons from the kitchen.

Sammy you are the best little boy we could have asked for. You are such a gift and you made me a mother. I love you so so so much!

Life Happens

Taken a few weeks before we were sick, my kitchen is also my art studio so things are always messy in there!

I keep meaning to write a blog post and my mind is always so jumbled with a million other things that I can't seem to narrow down exactly what I want to write about.

We've been sick here for the past two weeks from sinus infections to tonsilitis and pink eye, my goodness it's been rough. The weather has been absolutely amazing too which makes it even harder to be sick. Now that we are muddling out of the sickness and the loads of laundry and the mess (since no one loves to clean when they are under the weather) I am hopeful that it is going to be a glorious weekend full of outdoor activities and maybe some painting.

Even though I haven't felt the greatest and I've had to spend many hours holding my almost 2 year old son (since that's all he wants when he is feeling ill) I have found the time to paint. Sometimes I feel guilty but then I remember that I'm not just a mom, I am a human being with passions and hobbies. The dishes can wait, the laundry can pile up a little more and I can escape into the canvas for an hour here and there.

Here are some of my latest paintings. All available for purchase too!

Punchy

Sherbet

Wild Flowers

Ruth's Roses

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I so appreciate your company :)

I entered a Juried Art Show

So I worked up the courage to enter into a local art show in my town. I entered two paintings. And the one above got selected for the show! There were 38 paintings selected out of 133 so I felt pretty good about it. It is at the downtown Fayetteville Arts Council until the 17th I believe if you are interested in seeing it or purchasing it. 

It is called Ruth's Roses (named after my grandma Ruth of course).

I think sometimes you have to be brave even if you are unsure of yourself. 

So I don't go crazy!

( this picture has nothing to do with this post, but I thought it was pretty)

Most women, mothers and non-mothers alike, rarely take the time out of their day to pamper themselves. I have been guilty of going an absurd amount of months without getting my hair trimmed or getting a pedicure. I have found the best pampering moments can be easily achieved in the privacy of my own home! Here are a few tips I have for you busy women and moms. Things I personally do to unwind and turn off the mommy brain.

1. Make myself a nice cup of green tea or Vanilla Chai tea with honey. There is something so comforting about a nice warm cup of tea in a pretty mug. I sometimes give sammy a little hot chocolate in his mug so he feels like he is participating in the festivities. 

2. Make a homemade face mask with things in my cupboard. My favorite right now is a few teaspoons of oatmeal mixed with a teaspoon of baking soda. It doesn't get any easier. I let it sit for about 10-15 minutes( as I read a book chase Sammy around the room because he stole the box of baking soda) then I rinse with warm water, exfoliating the dead skin cells off. The baking soda is perfect for sloughing off those dead cells and your skin will be glowing afterwards! I have acne prone skin so I wouldn't recommend unless I had tried it myself. 

3. Get Moving. Working out prevents me from being crazy. When I don't work out I am more irritable and discontent with my lot in life. I have a great life too! There are tons of workouts out there online, on tv, in magazines. My favorite thing to do though is walk or run out in nature and you can do it while pushing little ones in the handy dandy stroller. Even if I only have 10 -20 minutes I try to get my heart pumping and some fresh air. 

4.  A warm bath at the end of the day! Nothing is better for my soul than a warm bath. Add some bath salts or some bubbles (sometimes I even use the lavender nighttime baby soap from my son's stash!). Bath time is completely my time. My husband is in charge of the little one. I don't have to share the bathroom with anyone and I am a better mother because I get this special time to myself :)

Oceans, Rocks, and Clouds

My almost 2 year old son is the best, most fun person to hang out with ( when he isn't tired, hungry, or having a tantrum). We went to the park today and he says: Mommy push WAY UP HIGH" So I do. Mommy, Mommy up in the clouds! Big! So I tell him he is as high as the clouds and he believes it with all his heart.

Then off into the distance he sees a small lake. "Mommy the OCEAN!" And because I don't care if he thinks the lake is the ocean and I agree. He starts running towards it, telling me he wants to find a big rock and THROW IT in the OCEAN! So we find a decent sized rock and when we get to the mucky edge of the "ocean" he whips it into the water squealing with delight. Because there are no more rocks around he seeks out a pine cone then he's off running again. 

All the wonders of nature are more entertaining to this kid than any toy I could find at the store (except of course a new ball!). I look out at the "ocean" and up into the Big Clouds and I feel so much gratitude for this little boy and this place in time. I am lucky. These moments make the other moments of being a mom, the times when I feel worn and weathered and ready to break, worth it. 

Along the wall

Here are some of my paintings lined up against the wall. I feel like I am finally fulfilling that part of myself that has been ignored since becoming a mom. I had this voice in the back of my head for the past two years saying "You need to paint again!" But I just wasn't ready until now. Now all I want to do paint! Colors are swirling in my head all night. I am not sleeping so good anymore!

It is hard to find the balance between "me" time and being a mom. I know we all have that battle though.  I have to make sure that I am a good mother first and foremost. Most of my painting is done during nap time or after he goes to sleep. I also have to say that my housework has suffered since I've been picking up my paint brushes regularly! But that can always wait till tomorrow right?

There is a call for submissions for a local art show and I was thinking about entering a few pieces. What do you think? I am scared but somewhat excited to do it. I have until the 16th to decide. 

Hello it's February already? Say what?!

Wow the new year is already flying by. Sammy and I have been having a lot of fun playing outside (the weather this winter is so mild!), painting, and eating ice cream on a daily basis. Yes it's all about fun folks. We work hard and play hard.

This new year 2012 is going to be a great year. I can feel it. I have had these dreams marinating in my heart and I'm going to make it happen. I have started to paint a lot again. It is the first thing I think about when I wake up and the last thing I think about when I go to sleep. In fact, I have started to dream about paintings and colors. It is quite amazing and I feel rejuvenated. I bought a bunch of canvases and I am having fun experimenting with no expectations. My big dream would be for me to produce a series of cohesive paintings and to present them to an art gallery. Maybe by summer I will be ready for something like this. We'll see. I put it out there in the universe and now we'll see what happens. I have felt compelled to start another blog just for my artwork. I will be posting there a lot. I hope you join me on my adventure!

Fall Glory

The fall days last forever down here in NC.

We enjoyed a beautiful walk this past weekend.

My heart is healing. My body feels stronger. I am so happy for the life I have.

I love my little Sammy. He is the BEST thing since sliced bread.

I love my husband. He is the best thing since boxed cereal. And I love cereal. Right now I'm into Golden Grahms. I'm not like those moms who don't let their kiddos eat sweet cereals. Is it really that bad? I grew up eating a wide variety of cereals and I turned out fine. Well, somewhat anyways....

Thanks for reading my last post. After I posted it, I wondered if it was too much information, but then I realized the story I told could be help to others. Humans can only help other humans by sharing their hearts.

So here it goes...

I recently had a miscarriage. I found out I was pregnant in September. I was ecstatic! Never did the "M" word enter my mind. I started to feel horribly sick (a good sign right?). I had some really tough days where it was difficult to take care of my little boy let alone myself. I remember thinking oh i just want to feel normal again, no sickness! Now all I can think of is how I miss that sick feeling and if it would only come back I would feel normal again. Funny and cruel how the mind works.

We went in for our ultrasound at what I thought would be 9 weeks. I expected to see a little heart thumping away and a little bean jumping around. The look on the ultrasound technician's face said otherwise. "Can you see my baby?" ..... "I'm not allowed to say anything about what I see until I show the Doctor," she replied. My stomach sank. I knew by her tone that it wasn't good. She brought in the doctor, my husband, and son. My suspicion was confirmed, she explained that there was no heartbeat and that the baby died somewhere around 6 weeks but that the sac was still growing. I don't remember much else. I felt like someone had just crushed my family dreams. Why did this happen? Why did my body betray me. I had already carried a perfectly healthy baby to term. He was there smiling and driving his matchbox car on his daddy's shoulder.

I cried.

Then I tried to act normal. But I was still carrying around his baby. My dead baby. I had two more appointments that confirmed what we had seen at the first appointment. I was given cytotec to induce the miscarriage since my body was not starting the process. I didn't take it. A few days later on the 3rd of November I started to spot. "Ok God let's get this over with. Help my body to do this so I can move on." The contractions were strong, kind of like labor but not quite as painful. I still curled into a ball with every contraction and reminded myself to breathe. Then I started to bleed. Heavily. After an hour or so I started to think that this couldn't be normal. This isn't right. My husband asked if I needed to go to the ER. I waited a little longer and then as I stood up I started to feel light headed. "I think I we should go," I said. "This doesn't feel normal."

We arrived at the hospital somewhere between 10:30 and 11 pm. I sat down and they took my vitals. They told me I had to wait for a bed. I got up to use the restroom. I could tell I was bleeding through my jeans. I started to fall to the ground and black out. Nurses picked me up and rushed me to a bed. An IV was started and I started to feel better. I felt as if I was watching a movie of someone else's life. Not mine. I tried to act normal since my husband and my son were in the room with me. I didn't want my husband to be upset. The Dr. came in and explained that bleeding was normal for a miscarriage and a few more non comforting words. I was not reassured. I was passing large clots of blood and still contracting hard. After she examined me they forgot to hook me back up to the blood pressure machine for 2- 3 hours. They were going to check my hemoglobin and give me a rhogam shot and then dismiss me. The Dr. came in to check on my and noticed my blood pressure was not being monitored. She hooked it up and it showed 70/30. "That's not good. We can't send you home with that kind of blood pressure." She was angry with the nurse that was supposed to be monitoring me. Mind you, no one was checking on my bleeding. I was using my child's diapers instead of their pads because it was better contained in them. The doctor left to go call the Obgyn doctor.

I broke down.

I started to cry. Not only did I have to deal with the emotional aspect of losing a child, but I had to deal with this horrible physical part of it too.

I stopped crying, the new doctor came in and explained that I needed a D&C. They would get all the blood and tissue out of me so that my body would stop contracting and purging blood. Everything happened quickly after that. I was put under anesthesia, rolled into the surgery room, and the last thing I remember was talking about polar bears and strawberry rivers (the most enjoyable part of my hospital experience). I was also given a blood transfusion.

It has been a week since my miscarriage. I still don't feel 100%. I feel weak. I feel sad. I think it will take me a while to sort through these emotions. I know this happens to a lot of women. I know that they get through it and that they go on to have healthy pregnancies and babies. I want others to know that they aren't alone if this has happened to you.

I think the one good thing to come out of this is my strengthened faith in God.

I had a dream about my baby two nights after being in the hospital. I gave birth to my baby boy. He looked similar to Sammy but with lighter hair. They told me he was only 5 lbs. He was smiley. I got to hold him and nurse him. It was so real and peaceful. I also dreamt of my grandparents that same night and I was left with the feeling that they were all together in heaven.

Maybe God put me through this experience to let me know that He really exists. That He really is in control. And there are things that are going to happen in life that I may not understand, but I need to trust and know that it is His plan that is going to prevail. I have doubted from time to time, but I won't doubt ever again. I came across this verse a few days ago which really struck a chord in my heart.

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."

~Proverbs 19:21

18 months

My little boy is amazing because:

1. He gets up in the morning and tries to pick up all 10 of his balls and carry them out into the living room.

2. He knows all of his body parts and colors.

3. He knows where I keep the chocolate and asks for it about 100 times a day.

4. When he takes a bath the floor is completely covered in water and I might as well wear my swimsuit because I am drenched after the first two minutes of splashing.

5. He can catch a ball already! I think he is bound to be an athlete.

6. He can draw a circle...and draw on himself and the floor and my face.

7. He will toot and laugh super hard about it.

8. He likes salad!

9. When he is being tickled by daddy he keeps asking for more even though he can barely breath from laughing so hard.

10. He gets into everything and will try to run away and hide from me. Sometimes he hides so well that it takes me a few minutes to find him.

11. He loves the cats and tries to "ride" our Garfield cat Abner.

Five Minute Friday: Everyday.

This blog idea is taken from The Gypsy Mama.

Would love to hear your version of this topic. Just leave a link to your blog :)

There is comfort in the everyday. The 7:30 wake up of my baby boy who needs his milk and to be cuddled by his momma. Toasting toast and the dripping sound of coffee in the pot. Sparkling up the counters so I can see the light from the window reflect upon it.

Nothing like the hum drum of the every day. The sound of the dryer as the sheets and bleached towels tangle and go thump thump. Messy toys around my feet, the little voice that laughs and pulls at my tangled hair. Those blue eyes that love me unconditionally just how our creator loves us too.

Ah the beauty of everyday. The cats lounge in the sunshine on the floor. Thoughts about when to start dinner and when to fold the laundry and still squeeze in a few minutes to finish that good book. Then spills on the floor and kisses for bumped heads. There are stories to be read cat tails to pull and dump trucks to be driven.

Dinner comes, trying to teach the little one to fold his hands and say Amen. Daddy horsey rides, bath time and bubbles. Spreading out on the living room floor with a heap of blankets and pillows. Enjoying being a family. The towels still not folded.

Ah the everyday.

The beach part 1

I can still feel the saltwater in my hair as I get ready to go to the grocery store.

the salt I pick up off the shelf is unlike the salt I wish I could still taste on my upper lip

still hearing the sounds of my little one yell and squeel as he is collides with another wave

gripping his little hands I let out a "weeee!" along with him

tiny wide feet hit the sand, chasing sea faring birds and jumping into small pools left by the tide

sitting a minute to catch my breath, watching my angel boy scoop up a billion grains of sand as he stares in amazement at the glops plopping kerplunk back into the water

the sand fades and gathers once again to the bottom of the sea floor

bits of seashells and seaweed gather in piles from the tide that forever move in and out

feeling the breeze pick up and wrapping my ocean kissed boy up in a big teal towel

time to go in

these thoughts are now memories burned into my head

how beautiful

Mother's Day

I had a very nice mother's day. The first gift that Samuel decided to give me was a few extra hours of sleep! I would have been happy with just that but my husband insisted that we must do whatever I felt like doing all day so I obliged. I wanted to stay in my pj's all morning and sip big mugs of 8' oclock coffee (which I must say is really good coffee if you haven't tried it. The Mr. made waffles and scrambled eggs for us and my belly was satisfied and happy.

We had a nice afternoon at the mall where I picked out a new pair of Rainbow sandals (the comfiest sandals you could ever wear because they mold to the shape of your foot). Samuel can walk now, so holding onto my left hand and his daddy's right hand he marched along with us at a very slow pace, stopping to look up at big mall lights, signs, and other children. He is so much fun to be with. His vocabulary has taken off and he is trying to say so many words now. When he hears an airplane, a motorcycle, or a bird he stops whatever he is doing to look in that direction and he says "this?" And I say "Yes Sammy it's a motorcycle!" He then gives me the biggest smile. Knowing that I acknowledge what he hears/sees makes him so happy.

We had a delicious lunch in the downtown area where we live and we smelled the roses and geraniums as we walked by.

***SIDE NOTE: Sammy is really into "sniffing" now and he thinks smelling things is a fun game, especially if it is stinky! He loves to take my husband's socks and stick them in my face just to hear me say "Peeee yooooo! Stinky!" This game can last about ten hours if I let it, so sometimes I just hide the socks and move on to the next game.

We then headed home, to relax and enjoy the last few hours of our Sunday. I hope you had an enjoyable mother's day. I love my little family and being a mom is the best job/title in the world!

12 months

sweet baby feet -a few days old

To my dear little Sammy

I have been putting off writing this post because I haven't been able to find the words to express what you mean to me. I have started writing it maybe 10 times, and finally decided to just write and leave it as is.

You came into this world one year ago at 9:56 AM. A beautiful healthy boy with lots of hair, flawless skin, and alert blue eyes weighing 7 lbs 6 oz. Perfect. Your dad and I had no idea what we were in for. They joy you have brought into our lives is tremendous and we feel so very blessed.

This is one of my favorite pictures of you, so tiny with arms wide open.

Home from the hospital. So tiny. So perfect.

Birthday spread

The day after your birthday you took your first steps. Just a few. Then, yesterday you started walking. Like really walking! You marched from the kitchen to the living room with a cracker in your hand taking 28 big boy steps! It was amazing. You are amazing. You can now say Baby (in reference to the baby pictures on the refrigerator and in your books), juice -"uice", tree -"wee", peek a boo - "boo boo", chicken - "buck buck", puppy- "woof", horse- "erse", "more", balloon- "boon", cat - "eeeoow", and a few more that I cannot think of at the moment.

Ever since your grandma Barb came for a visit you have been obsessed with the birds outside. She taught you how to say "tweet tweet!" and to look for them flying up above. You are also aware of the many helicopters and planes that fly overhead and you point excitedly at them. You take a great interest in cars and trucks and you thoroughly enjoy making vroom noises.

On our outings you are quite the little ham. You smile and tilt your head at all the ladies and you act so sweet. You love facing forward in the shopping carts and you say "wee, wee, wee!" as your dad or I push you along. You make so many people smile and wave! It has to make their day to see such an adorable little guy having so much fun.

Other activities you enjoy include: pulling cat tails (not the plant), pulling everything out of cupboards and drawers, watching jeopardy ( an evening ritual here), pounding on the tv, trying to get the cord to the blinds, trying to open the toilet lid, getting into paper towels and toilet paper, singing Old McDonald (e-i-e-i-o!), throwing weeble wobbles at me, trying to hit me if I take something away (still trying to figure out how to deal with this!), turning on the dishwasher or turning it off, changing channels on the tv at the most inopportune moment, sharing crackers or juice with me and your dad, looking at books, playing tractors and cars, taking baths, and enjoying nature on stroller rides.

Samuel, you are such a joy. I love you. Your daddy loves you. And we look forward to the many memories to be made in the future!

Love,

Mom

This Moment

Bed Head

Idea from Soule Mama : {this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Thursday Things: St. Patrick's Day Inspiration

I have always been proud to be Irish. My maiden name is McGuire. You can't get much more Irish than that folks! I don't know why but I have always downplayed my French, English, and Polish background. Being Irish seems more fun somehow doesn't it? I think on St. Patty's day everyone likes to pretend they are a wee bit Irish, just so they can talk with a fake Irish accent and drink green beer. I don't think I will be doing the latter this year, but I will be celebrating with my little lucky charm ;-)

I put together a little collection of Thursday Things in celebration of this St. Patty's day.

Enjoy!

This enchanting photo print by smacshop takes me to another place, another land. I love it!

These pillows by ChloeandOliveDotCom are bold, modern, and very affordable. These graphic patterns are very "in" right now.

Antique brass owl + Jade = winning combo! Find this necklace from offbeet's shop on Etsy.

Although the weather is getting warmer we still need to keep those little baby feet warm! These springy booties can be found in handmadebabylove's shop.

Quilts are a necessity to create a warm and welcoming home. I am drawn to this star pattern. It looks like it would take a lot of hours to put together this intricate design by MurphysHouse.

And lastly, a Claddagh ring from nellyvansee's shop. It is an Irish symbol of love faith and loyalty. I thought you might appreciate a little education on the Claddaugh from Wikipedia:

The Claddagh ring (Irish: fáinne Chladaigh) is a traditional Irish ring given as a token of love or worn as a wedding ring. The design and customs associated with it originated in the Irish fishing village of Claddagh, located just outside the city of Galway. The ring was first produced in the 17th century during the reign of Queen Mary II, though elements of the design date to the late Roman period.

Now I leave you with an Irish Blessing:

May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rains fall soft upon your fields and,

Until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

On buying handmade and new items in my shop

purchase this banner here

Greetings!

Do you believe in buying handmade? I do. I was on etsy today and came across etsy's featured seller, Cathy McMurray and I was struck by her quote:

"Choosing handmade is choosing a slower way of life, one rooted in tradition and creative expression."

And I thought to myself, yes. This is true and this way of life is important to me. There is a huge movement to buy handmade. When you buy handmade you are getting something that was made with thoughtfulness, creativity, and heart. You are giving less money to the middle man and more to the person who actually put the time into making the creation. It is a good thing. Not to mention, you are getting something unique that you can't just go out to Target (no offense, I love going to Target) and get.

When you give your hard earned money to someone with a small business, you are helping them to fuel their passion! How neat is that? You get something fun and creative, and in turn you help someone to stay inspired and to keep creating beautiful things.

These are my thoughts on handmade :)

Also new in the shop are some decorative paper banners. I recently made this one for a friend's sister's baby shower.

purchase this banner here

I think it turned out really nice and I think it will add that extra something special to the party. Her sister can also use it to decorate her baby's room with it when they are done using it at the party. If you are interested in having a banner made for your next celebration, whether it's a birthday, shower, or just something beautiful to have hanging up on your walls ( everyday can be a celebration in your home)! Please let me know. I would love to work with you!

Hope your Wednesday is full of creativity and enjoyment!

Kelly