.....creAtiv life.....

seaside inspiration

2010-10-25T14:22:00.000-07:00

maybe it's because we used to live so close to the ocean in california or maybe because now we're close to the great lakes that look like oceans but whatever the reason my new favorite interior design trends are all ocean/sea inspired in color and theme. not the kind with everything covered in shells but in a more sublte "feel the ocean breeze" way!

i have a large collection of ideas and photos that go along with this theme but recently i have been enjoying the website and portfolio of the famous Sarah Richardson. she is a canadian designer and no stranger to anyone who's interested in interiors. i don't want to use the word love for everything but i love her cottage; the colors, the wood, everything and these are my favorites below. these are all going into my file for future ideas.

i noticed the birch log lap on the bedside table. i'm now wondering how to turn my recently scavenged birch log into one of those!

the cute chairs on the left long side of this table are antique bankers chairs. i want to find something similar and paint them the same way in a color that goes with my stuff.

cute . crAfty . creAtiv :: #1 crispy muffin wrappers

2009-08-20T14:35:00.001-07:00

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i wanted to start posting some random things that excite me. mostly small ideas that are just too clever and you wish you had thought of. i find so much online just browsing and why not share them here; after all this is creAtiv.life where we celebrate the gift of creating and how it enhances our lives and all those around us.

This is from marthastewart.com {of course!} i love these ways of doing simple things differently.

*check out how to do these yourself

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ruffly ruffles

2009-08-07T13:19:00.000-07:00

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Well the new shop is still in progress and so far so good. i've had my hands mostly in the beads recently and can't wait to showcase what resulted from that. amongst many other things in life i keep on with my designing and even got myself into even another project last night. sometimes i start things and then they turn into something else later and that is what happened yesterday. all of these new ideas i plan on having in the shop soon.

In addition to last nights ideas i got the singer featherweight out today so i could use the ruffler. that's the "mommy" commercial singer in the background there. the baby just gets to come out for the really good stuff! i took all this sheer organza ribbon left over from our wedding and ruffled up yards and yards of it to go along with current and later projects.

Doesn't it look delicious all piled up there. i can't wait to see it flowing across the other projects!

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2009-08-05T19:33:00.000-07:00

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something inspiring i found in my, well, inspiration pile!

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it's been so long!

2009-07-28T23:43:00.000-07:00

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exciting new things are coming!!

the shop is temporarily closed and getting ready for some lovely new items!

stay tuned for a new face to creAtiv.life studio and even more wonderful things once you step inside!!!

**wow, with that many exclamation points, it's gotta be good ;-)

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2009-07-09T10:53:00.000-07:00

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solvang, ca trip 4th of july weekend! we just headed over for the day before the crowds hit. the weather was beautiful and we had a great drive. i got busy taking shots with our minolta 5mpx point and shoot. here are some of the things i liked there...

so many beautiful flowers! we had just missed the big flower festival they have in that area. we went in search of the flower fields to get some good shots but unfortunately they were all gone.

i enjoyed all their cute benches. the "gossip bench" was at the Finnish cottages on the main road. that's part of my heritage that i unfortunately don't know much about; so i was interested to see what was there. this is a great day trip if you're in the southern cali area.

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all these things

2009-07-02T17:49:00.000-07:00

there are so many things i love :: beautiful colors, piles of fabric, the feeling of hand stitching, spotless white kitchen counters, my stack of new pillows, and so many other things that you can fill your house with. it's easy to get caught up with all these interests; especially when reading all the wonderful design blogs with all the beautiful imagery [decor8, modish, stylefiles].

with this in mind i decided to stop dreaming about what our abode could be someday and started concentrating what i can do today to make it into the best cozy home. so i've been whipping up a few simple little projects to feather the nest and as i continue i'm going to take photos and post them here. our apartment that i am so thankful for is going to become a main attraction. i'm going to focus on the little things that make it ours! i always tell my husband that i'm easy to please so i'm going to put it into action everyday and i'm going through all my little odds and ends to make the most of everything!

back to it...

2009-06-28T12:23:00.000-07:00

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well i'm slowly getting back into my little blog and design bubble that i was living in for awhile. i had to come up from it to get a breath of fresh air! sometimes creative inspiration can come like a flood and you feel so energetic and productive and then come times of nothing. you never know what will inspire you in life and it's not always under your control!

my husband was away for some time. to keep myself busy during this time i had lots of ideas planned. most of them didn't pan out or were untouched! turns out he's more inspiring to me than i realized before because in his absence i was a little less productive! i have the safe and relaxed feeling with him around that allows me to work on my interests.

well i'm thankful he's back; though he's jet lagged to say the least! because of his temporary sleep schedule right now we have been up enjoying the early mornings together with walks and special breakfasts. seems like we are really breakfast people huh!?!

it's a beautiful day here and the temperatures continue to rise! i look forward to getting back to making mosts of new creativness and a few things i've been working on.

enjoy this day where you are [rain or shine!]

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time away...

2009-06-26T13:02:00.000-07:00

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it has been some time since i updated the blog or added new goods to the shop. i spent some time away from here to refresh and get some new ideas. that's easier said than done but i am working on some new things as my inspiration slowly comes back.

some fun hand stitched surface design i did one afternoon to spruce up a boring tank top.

i hope to have some wonderful new art posted in the coming days/weeks! maybe if i announce it now then i will be inspired to do my new pieces!

have a great weekend!

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2009-05-31T13:07:00.000-07:00

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a small makeshift champagne brunch i shared with my husband at home several weekends ago!!! i also made some killer hash-browns, eggs with a bread-crumb crust, and my new special chili rosemary mayo! mmmm...

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i love to keep the blog updated with fun new things and make regular posts but life interrupts sometimes. and that's fine of course! new things arise and new priorities surface. therefore the posts may be a little more spread out for a short time but hopefully will be equally creativ and inspiring (?) as before !!

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yo yo's continued...

2009-05-23T14:19:00.000-07:00

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continuing with small pouches and the tradition of yo yo's; here we have both.

now in the shop! an easy, simple, durable, and affordable little tag along!

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new friend

2009-05-23T13:39:00.000-07:00

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i'm a purse girl. i love bags and sometimes the bigger the better. full of goodies that you never know if you'll need or not. a purse is like a companion where ever you go. but lately i am really enjoying a wide variety of small pouches to be carried in hand.

this is my little version of the sweet anthropology pouch.

this was a use whatever is available project so that's why the zipper isn't the right color. not my choice but that's all i have left in the zipper collection. i love this lacy print!

i do like it though and i think i will be trying a different look for my next one. that will be coming along sooner or later as well!

some uneven brown hand stitching inside. sometimes i like the purposely messy look.

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m&m love

2009-05-22T19:19:00.000-07:00

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a special friend sent these as our wedding gift recently! can you believe that they put pictures on these things! our colors were gold, ivory, and white so these match well! they taste so good too! i haven't been able to keep my hands out of them since they arrived. last night! thank you friend!

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a little stitching for me

2009-05-20T11:42:00.000-07:00

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worked on this the other night and also making progress on this.

some encouraging embroidery to brighten up the day!

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some wonderful things...

2009-05-19T09:54:00.000-07:00

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i don't tend to showcase fashion & accessories from other places on here. not that there is anything wrong with that but i tend to get lost in my own creating most times. but i definitely found something to gush about yesterday. i was browsing the accessories at anthropologie[a.k.a the best stuff on earth] and found this! there is something so simple and sweet about this and is quite possible the cutest thing i've ever seen.

*pom pom pouch from anthropologie

well as there is no budget for this lovely at this time i decided [with all due design respect to anthropologie] to make myself a little version here at home; just for myself until i can have the real one. i was so taken by their vintage ribbon and the one sweet pleat. the feelings of "why didn't i think of that" and "oh i really want that" all at once!

it may be a good idea to not browse this shop late at night when you're weak!!!

*here are a few more of my favorites from a.

so stay tuned for my own sweet little pouch!

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surprises

2009-05-18T14:09:00.000-07:00

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*yummy lunch surprise my husband brought home! spicy tuna sushi in a really cute box! he said he knew i would like that part the best!*

well as many have probably heard we had a little shankin' down here in the los angeles area! last night we experienced our first ever [hopefully but not likely the last] southern california earthquake. took me by surprise and wasn't even sure what was happening until it was all over! i read a few articles saying it was the biggest this year. all is still well around here but my senses are heightened now!

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fun blog!

2009-05-15T09:29:00.000-07:00

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check out blah to TADA!

full of those "why didn't i think of that" crafty ideas!

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2009-05-14T17:30:00.000-07:00

YO' YO'S

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a classic handed down from our mothers & grandmothers

that fits wonderfully into today's handmade world.

:1www.withatwist.etsy.com

:2by SouleMama on flickr

:3yo yo quilt from country living.com

:4www.TipToeStudio.etsy.com

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first canvas

2009-05-12T16:04:00.000-07:00

yup, my first "real" painting on a real canvas! + a little extra

happy mothers day weekend

2009-05-09T15:53:00.000-07:00

*i had to add this after the fact but this is the card i designed specially for mom for mothers day!

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......me.......................................................................my.............................................

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?

2009-05-06T14:18:00.000-07:00

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i don't know what to call it. it's my few favorite project. just finished.

looks great in the middle of the table, on the wall, and i'm thinking

of making them larger and in different types of arrangements.

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lost in blogs

2009-05-06T14:04:00.000-07:00

it's easy to do...the imagery that is out there and all the clever words!

these are some i just found and look forward to checking into more.

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ink on my fingers

i was intrigued by this site because of her "my creative life" series on talented creativ women.

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concrete & honey

some of the most beautiful imagery...a breath of fresh air
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odds and ends

2009-05-06T13:49:00.000-07:00

i've been slowly but surely organizing my studio and hope to have some wonderful photos of it very soon. here are a few shots of what you get when you walk in as of now! i can't believe how jumbled my supplies can get when i get so involved in projects!

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another new "in progress"

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pincushions/sachets/just for fun. will probably do more for something

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my very first quilt ever; started in high school many years ago.

finally ready for it's batting, backing and quilting as of yesterday!

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how does this happen?

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ah! what happened to the thread? can u beleive i didn't find any white?

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the temperature's rising...it isn't surprising

2009-05-06T13:31:00.001-07:00

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well i've read many entries on my fav blogs lately that speak of rain. it's quite the opposite here but i'm not complaining. just realistically bracing myself for what's to come! we should be glad for all our kinds of weather but we know some of it is hard to bear....no matter the amount of rain or sun we know we need!

despite the heating up i did dive into the baking breifly today to salvage our bananas and turn them into bread. will be a delicious treat ('specially after the thumb burn that went along with it!)

it's always something with me in the kitchen! first aid kit on hand?

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mini notebooks

2009-05-04T10:43:00.001-07:00

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...design, remind, draw, list....

..all original creativ.life prints printed on fabric covered mini notebooks

...mod apples & leaf vines in bright tones

...coming to the shop and also designer * thoughts mini notebooks as well!

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...saturday sale...

2009-05-04T10:37:00.000-07:00

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here's my little sale table from saturday! didn't have all my product available but i did have the most recent items.

these little guys were hanging out with me all day next to the lavender bushes! i was very brave and tried to make friends!

*fyi they're usually not my favorite!

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saturday sale

2009-05-02T13:42:00.001-07:00

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what a beautiful sunny california saturday we have had.

i spent the morning at my creativ.life table i had set up at a local estate sale.

made some contacts and thanks to those who purchased product!

i'll upload some pictures soon and i will have even more new items for the shop ready to be posted soon!

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spring cleaning

2009-04-29T17:35:00.000-07:00

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well today i tried to avoid the computer and even hand work as much as possible. (due to yesterdays massive eye strain headache)

so i devoted the entire day to spring cleaning! plus cookie baking, laundry, and a small walk.

snapped a few photos of the emmense amounts of blooming white roses in our neighborhood.

everytime i've gone on a walk this week i felt as if i was going to a wedding! aren't they beautiful!

...& a little splash of coral!

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start=finish? ;-)

2009-04-28T14:09:00.001-07:00

why do we insist on being so busy! i have so many ideas and projects going and so many things that come into my head that i can't remember which ones i've actually started and which ones are still just a dream!

mom and i always talk about how we get so many ideas right when we wake up in the morning with a fresh head. if you lay there for just a few minutes then the thoughts flood in...maybe that's part of the problem (making too many lists); well that happens to be my favorite part of the day! here's a few of those ideas...

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...a much larger endeavor that is yet to be fully realized!

...oh and i can't wait until this friend is finished! it may just be for me but i'll share the end result!

...my mother and i went through a whole ton of magazines that she couldn't keep anymore and tore out all the inspirations and patterns and the like that we wanted. not sure which pile was smaller in the end [throw away or keep]! i now want to file all these away in a lovely systematic way for my new studio design inspiration library (don't we all wish we had one of those!) we'll see how that progresses!

**oh my goodness...yes that's my studio table! i could never let anyone see anymore of it at this point! someday i have a goal to submit my pics to handmade spaces on modish!

*so thankful i have the time to do all of these things right now!

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2009-04-25T16:29:00.000-07:00

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i lOVE pRINTS!

i get excited about print everywhere i look! going shopping and browsing the silky blouses and beautiful printed scarves; scrapbook papers, quilting fabrics, graphics on store windows, floral, dots, tile motifs........ i love it all.

fueled by my passion i continue to pursue my own prints here in my studio.

here is a sample introduction (of more to come in the future) in the form of a designer stationary set!!

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because love notes, thank yous, grocery lists, and everyday to do's need to be jazzed up a little!

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and who wouldn't love the cute reusable storage envelope to boot!

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put some creativ in your life!

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shop updates

2009-04-24T14:39:00.000-07:00

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i finally updated with some new items that i had been thinking about for awhile.

also stay tuned the next few days for some exciting new paper goods and accessories. with that said i'm off to draw, sew, and photograph!

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desert blooms

2009-04-22T10:34:00.000-07:00

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::easter cactus blooms

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i'm back from a short trip to the desert and here is just a a little of the surprising beauty i found there

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troubles...

2009-04-06T14:49:00.001-07:00

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::i have a stockpile of ideas and items to get posted and ready in the shop so i can start really advertising this shop. i had many plans to be productive today and work on things i had in my mind and half done; but a few things have gotten in the way...

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::our apartment has less than adequate wall outlets and therefore where i have my studio space there is only one outlet available. plugged into that we have a 6 outlet device to hold internet plugs and all that goes along with my studio needs. the temperatures are rising here during the day and i have needed to keep the fan going in the sewing corner to survive. but when i have that going and the sewing machine and the iron; the breaker trips. can't wait to see what happens when we actually need the air conditioner in a few months!!

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::by the way my little pfaff hobby sewing machine that i have sewed into the ground since i purchased it 6 yrs or so ago has decided today to make an extremely loud clunking noise with every stitch. each stitch comes out fine but something is wrong inside! i love to fix things but not when it's the sewing machine that i want to use to make new things! so glad my husband is heading to NY soon and will be able to bring back my other industrial singer that is in storage. then the serious sewing will begin.

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::after the 3rd time losing power; i fear i may not be able to easily finish my projects today.

i'm traveling from the 9th of april until the 20th so i may not be able to finish my larger projects or get them posted in the shop until after returning.

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::this is getting a bit wordy! about my project today; such as it is! i managed to finish this small project you see pictured throughout this entry.

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::after toying around with alot of business card ideas; i finally settled on a design and completed it yesterday.

i was browsing through the wonderment on the amy butler site the other day and was looking at her free patterns. i found this pattern for the business card holder so i just whipped one right up to hold my new cards! i changed a few things; i have a hard time sticking to any pattern and i have even less patience for directions (though both of these are done so well on her patterns!) and i had to add a little surface texture as usual!

*yup, same little piece of blue fabric in recent posts. blue is finding it's way into everything around here!

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embroidery :: in pictures

2009-04-02T17:45:00.001-07:00

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::as much as i enjoy drawing, posting pictures, updating the shop, and doing other creativ things on the computer i sometimes tire of watching this screen. though i want to be done with this machine for the day, first i want to post some things to share as my blog traffic has increased recently. i have been busy with needle and thread as usual and i get so thrilled everytime i complete a new project that i just can't wait to share it with everyone.

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::i have a love for the traditional indian salwar tops. i picked up several in india when i was there and i miss wearing the entire ensemble as i did in india. so i took the existing tops i purchased and made a pattern for myself and started to make new tops. i honestly have to say that i don't wish to model too many things on here but please enjoy these pictures of the embroidery and applique i used to adorn my new fav top. i've been wearing it all day!!

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::enjoy this journey through a textural embroidered landscape!!!

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::embroidery - up close and personal, it's a whole new world!

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::ok now i'm off to stitch more surfaces!!!

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tidbits

2009-04-02T17:31:00.000-07:00

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isn't this flower precious? it's the colors of a sunset all in one little stem.

our friend brought this home to share with us. thanks!

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enjoy

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i sent out a reminder to many contacts but here is a little blog reminder:

until 12 am on april 2nd creAtiv.life is on the storque showcase page on etsy.

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green...lace...nature

2009-03-30T11:40:00.000-07:00

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every now and then i get restless with decorations and i need a change. i've had these wine and champaigne bottles saved for several months now because i knew they would be a good decoration sooner or later.

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these doilies were all hand done by my great-grandmother; whom i never met. i requested them from a large collection my mother has because i wanted to use them for a future project. in the mean time they satisfied my need for a new feminine look in the dining room. i think they look great over bare wood with a bit of nature mixed in. i think this theme done up a bit more would be fun for a spring outdoor wedding!

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...there's a little bird...

2009-03-27T17:01:00.000-07:00

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"...somebody sent

down to the earth to

live on the wind..."

-jewel "this little bird"

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if you go to etsy.com and you type in sparrow as the keyword search you come up with 222 pages with 4654 results!!

if you search jewelry : necklace : fiber and search sparrow; then you'll find this lovely little friend at the very top ;-) (just like that!)

no, you can just go to my shop!

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::...there's a little bird - necklace

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creativ thoughts

2009-03-24T19:42:00.001-07:00

i have been creating all manner of things as long as i can remember. i had a small plastic sewing machine at the age of 4 that my mother and i used to sit at for hours together. it never quite worked properly and caused us more frustration than productivity. despite that i have always enjoyed the handmade. in recent years the handmade craze has swept the nation and the world and has brought us wonderful opportunities that may have not otherwise been there for the closet crafters. things like etsy and an absolute plethora of gifted artists and bloggers bringing us the worlds most stunning design imagery from all designers can be so inspiring, exciting, & intimiadating all rolled into one.

starting my etsy shop recently has been something i always wanted to do but never got around to. it was a much thought of and finally achieved goal. the first sale makes you jump for joy and a few after that are just as exciting. the shop is filling up and my fingers and brain are always churning new ideas that hopefully are to be accepted by the handmade buying community. i've ben advertising wherever i go and spreading the word to those i meet out and about. these things take time but it's hard to not feel a little intimidated by this large, as it is called, blogosphere and "etsy" sphere (i made that up) full of unending amounts of talent.

i read some lovely advice here the other day that made me realize i'm not alone in the exciting and daunting world of independent design.

design and art is a continuous adventure and most definitely will never end. i'm so glad to be part of the bigger design picture now and still in awe of all of it around me but knowing that i'm just where i should be as an artist and creator is quite satisfying.

pendants

2009-03-24T19:14:00.000-07:00

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:: french knotty pendants

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these have lots of texture. the entire piece is made of french knots to start with, topped with an abstract sprinkling of beads and finished off on the back with a hand stitched and tufted backing. an internal wire frame holds the pendant shape and ensures proper hanging.

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more of these guys are coming. these are rather time consuming but worth the end result.

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::see for yourself!! go shopin'

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emerse yourself in spring

2009-03-24T10:46:00.000-07:00

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: i luuuuv lilacs

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new pouches

2009-03-20T13:06:00.001-07:00

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i always say this when i make something new but i am really excited about these. it's very rewarding to have such a functional product with great surface texture and refreshing and uplifting colors.

i've been a sewing machine to get these done. (haha, was that a pun? if so, non intended!)

all the top stitching is machine done with 100% rayon embroidery thread for a finished look and quilted texture. this picture below here is my favorite color combination. branching out into blue has proved to be a good idea.

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::ringlet applique pouches

now in the shop

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::fun details

the zippers i used in all these pouches are part of a vintage collection that belonged to my great-grandmother. the zipper pulls are small rings that were rapped in embroidery floss and attached with large silver-tone jump rings.

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2009-03-19T16:38:00.001-07:00

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...the long pauses in my blogging and new shop additions usually means i have been busy crafting new ideas or busy with a family event and the last few days i have been busy doing both. check the shop in the next couple days for some brand new accessories that you won't expect. here are some pictures for sharing from some recent small adventures.

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summer naps...

2009-03-10T12:40:00.001-07:00

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new in the shop

::peaceful winks resting eye mask

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this piece is so bright and happy! scheduling a summer afternoon nap to daydream is just an excuse to don this! i'm so excited to announce this and stay tuned for more accessories in this group. this is what creAtiv.life's products are all about; traditional techniques used together in untraditional ways to evoke the feelings of femininity and soft simple luxuries!

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this can be for you, a friend, or especially for the summer brides who have big things coming up and need all the rest that they can get. any bride would love to receive this as a bridal gift and it would come just in time for them to schedule some peace and quiet.

~one item is listed on etsy but don't be shy to grab one or two because many are available.

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pictured here with ::botanique white on white boudoir pillows coming soon

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...the little studio that could

2009-03-08T18:58:00.000-07:00

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things are building @ creAtiv.life

the shop is filling up and in full swing for spr'09!

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more sweet summer charms necklaces, botanique cards, and some new extra crisp and springy home items in progress as we speak!

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:: french knotty earrings

special request from gINA!!!

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etsy showcase

2009-03-08T12:01:00.000-07:00

funkycountrycrafts is in the showcase on etsy.com!!!

shop through the bags and purses section to find the FCC listing!

if you like a fun quilted country style check it out! one of a kind quilted country handbags!

*funky country crafts showcase*

ongoing quilt project

2009-03-06T11:18:00.000-08:00

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look what i rediscovered? a quilting project that i started when we were living on the east coast and i was spending most of my time doing things very "un" creative! i squeezed this project in during some of that time but as most of my larger quilting projects end up...it's not done yet!

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i didn't use a pattern rather i just laid all my existing scrap pieces on the bed and mixed them around until they all fit to make a rectangle; any place that needed some more color or to cover a space i added the top stitched pieces. each piece/row was sewn together then laid back out with the others to figure out where the next piece would go. kinda a puzzle quilt i guess!

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i have an intresting mix of fabric sources here. the lovely pinewheel floral is a Tracy Porter design (one of my faves), the ticking stripes are some basic calico's from the fabric store and the green plaid and the white eyelet actually are some repurposed shirts that i received free as samples!

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of course a sprinkle french knots here and there !

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i added some small little crochet applique pieces that also are embellishments snatched from a sample shirt.

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several pieces of this quilt are actually top-stitched over the other pieces. i'm hand quilting this which is why it's still not done and why it will still continue to take some time. i hope to do a little bit here and there when i can to get it moving along.

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fresh in the shop...

2009-03-05T12:39:00.000-08:00

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sweet summer charms

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:: heart locket

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:: glass bead charms

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:: gold filled barely-there chain, charms, and findings

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:: hand wire wrapped charms

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the dantiest of danglies

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*head to shop*

etsy family!

2009-03-05T12:25:00.000-08:00

the handmade craze has been sweeping the nation but my family has been at it for generations.

etsy is in the family! check out these two new shops from our handmade family.

my lovely sister-n-law ashleigh!

www.ForeverBeautifulYou.etsy.com

my mother who taught me everything!

www.funkycountrycrafts.etsy.com

always inspired by nature

2009-03-01T21:18:00.000-08:00

we took some time to enjoy a hike in the most gorgeous place the other day.

i sheepishly plucked these lovely specimens of nature from the state park.
i usually wish to leave nature undisturbed but i encountered such wonderful textures and shapes that i decided to take the tiniest snippet home for myself. beautiful tiny red berries, dotted twigs, fluffy dried blooms...
these made wonderful objects to photograph in the morning sunlight.
yes i know; i should take pictures of then in their natural setting right. well my husband is the photographer on hikes and likes to use the longer distance lens so its hard to always change lenses to get the close ups.
nature is the most creAtiv thing in this world and is always a source of inspiration. you don't have to be a big outdoor nature girl (which i'm not but admire those who are) to go out and explore. a simple strole through the flora and fauna whether it's the neighborhood yards or a mountain trail can be most refreshing and inspiring to whatever you do! enjoy!

just a little earring fun

2009-03-01T20:36:00.000-08:00

~feel free to click on photo to enlarge and enjoy!

these are like my lilt earrings but i beaded the entire loop on each. i'm not sure if i'll put them in the shop because these beads are limited as i bought them in new mexico some time ago. i've been wearing them around and they are great fun.

more cArds in the shop

2009-02-28T10:56:00.001-08:00

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i'll let the images speak for themselves. these are the new cards now available in the shop. i have to say i'm excited about these guys!

~please click on any photo to enlarge.

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can you see how lovely and shimmery these are? this is my favorite cardstock. all my cards are done on this loveliness.

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hutch project : color decision

2009-02-27T08:30:00.000-08:00

i posted some time ago about my newly inherited hutch that i planned on redoing. currently it is still waiting for it's makeover as i have yet to come up with a color dec

ision. it's slowly becoming another piling surface but i took care of that today and did a huge "clean" sweep of the house. now that everything is white glove clean ;-) i'm thinking about color choices and decorating ideas (hence my huge bathroom decor post yesterday!)

*what is it with women and decorating bathrooms!? my husband always wonders why bathroom decor always seems to take precedence over other parts of the house! you got me!* no big progress or wonderful pictures yet but i have some swatches hanging on the side to get me thinking and here is a few of my ideas so far!

these are the colors that i'm thinking:

1. i saw this green on some cabinets in a magazine and it's a pleasant surprise 2. cream - safe, won't completely get lost in the white walls, and will go well with the original black hardware 3. my favorite buttery yellow color of late (most likely choice) 4. yes blue! not my favorite color but i've been trying to branch out lately and this kind of light blue is of interest lately.

i'm going to add small under cabinet lights under the top of the hutch cabinet. this type is small and hopefully can be easily hidden. i like soft lights in the house that seem to come from an unknown source!!

2009-02-26T15:17:00.000-08:00

there's something about pretty perfume bottles, chandeliers, and the like!

these images are from the film "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day". after watching this movie, i loved the set decor and thought "how could i do something like that with a modern twist in my own bathroom?"

these are the colors and types of prints i would like to use. i did these prints myself so i would find something similiar or somehow use what i have created. i have a whole set of prints in this theme that i have been working on. that is a whole other project that i will keep to myself until the right time! perhaps i'll do a small project on the side in this area for the shop. something glamerous and vintage with a bright colored twist!
these photos of vintage style fixtures are from restoration hardware. the perfume bottles; i do have the two smaller ones but this picture is from pottery barn. these are difficult to photograph and i don't have the perfect home for them yet.

hopefully over the next few months if there is no moving or other events happening then i'll implement some of these ideas (except for never-in-my-budget dream fixtures from rh!) even though our bathroom is a less than desireable size and decorating it will prove challenging, i'll find a way to make something work!

hope this inspires you to think of your own way to find what you like and add to your home!

new notecards at creAtivlife.etsy.com

2009-02-23T17:00:00.000-08:00

...charming blank notecards now in creAtiv life shop...

lilt earrings

2009-02-23T15:33:00.000-08:00

orange you glad i baked you a birthday cake

2009-02-21T08:26:00.001-08:00

the special orange cake for my husband's birthday!

the frosting is cream cheese frosting with lots of

orange zest to get the natural orange flavor.

it sat overnight and it really soaked up the zest and had a nice flavor

kind of a marble-ish design on top with red frosting.

that's what happens when you don't know where to

stop with the frosting! but it turned out!

preparing. i have a smile on my face in the picture

but i was actually fighting with the melting! frosting!

lilt jewelry

2009-02-19T12:09:00.000-08:00

now available at creAtivlife.etsy.com

modern jewelry for everyday

light : feminine : contemporary

carefully placed bright seed beads slide along a warm gold background

.colors.

greene st : pink-berry : catch a cab : downtown

traditional memory wire brings freedom of motion to each bead for a ultra feminine feel

carefully handwrapped

tidbit

2009-02-19T09:47:00.000-08:00

look what i found in the dollar deals at michaels!!! 4 felt coasters. these are such a great idea and so ornate and only one dollar!

cOOK cOUTURE

2009-02-15T23:34:00.000-08:00

with a few small pieces of cotton that i had brought back from india and a little inspiration from Amy Butler's apron pattern from In Stitches i put this little friend together one saturday morning.

i felt the colors were appropriate to perfectly match my kitchen during wear ( ;-) very important) and also to get you into that happy baking mood! (i seem to have a new theme developing with my passion for buttery/creamy yellow colors! isn't it funny how sometimes you just start following a color without realizing!)

i tend to get over enthusiastic in the kitchen and this apron is necessary just in time for my big cake baking adventure for my husbands birthday. if the cake looks beautiful enough i may post pictures later! (don't laugh at my modeling, it needed to be shown in action!)

creAtiv life shop open!!!

2009-02-09T08:30:00.000-08:00

i am so thrilled to announce the opening of my shop over at etsy!

(see the sidebar link; top right)

this is very exciting for me and i have been thinking about and working on this for some time.

items in my shop will be:

home, accessories, paper goods, and jewelry

(and any little thing in between!)

currently available is my botanique card collection.

nature inspired illustrated note cards.

...COMING SOON...

Make A Home collection

accoutrements for the home

farmers market in february

2009-02-03T19:26:00.000-08:00

my hands have been busy with some new creations so i don't have any new projects to show.

but here's some colorful bounty from the beverly hills farmers market!

my favorite yummy yellow!

2009-01-29T13:28:00.000-08:00

little appliqued bird silhouette pillow for the bedroom.

my husband is so tolerant; i can't stop the coral and yellow!

tRIUMPH!

2009-01-29T13:23:00.000-08:00

*singing, dancing, shouting for joy*

i had lost my pen for my drawing pad for the last day and 1/2. after disappearing in the depths of the couch i didn't know what to do without it. you can't have one without the other!!!! well it's back and back to work!

Vintage LA

2009-01-24T16:21:00.001-08:00

i love to spend spare time browsing magazines, books, and other online blogs to be inspired and encouraged in my own projects. i recently saw this book in a store and put it on my list. i don't often buy books but this one could offer hours of fun and inspiration for many creative interests.

check it out here!

friends

2009-01-21T11:39:00.000-08:00

thanks everyone for your comments.

i always appreciate the input and feel free to always leave any notes.

i hope all my posts bring a little "creAtiv-ness" to your day :-)

silhouette

2009-01-21T08:30:00.000-08:00

i don't want to put anything on here that is too personal but this is borderline.

these are silhouette's/cameo's that i did of my husband and i from our wedding photos.

these give a very different mood than the other pictures of that wonderful day and they are a different kind of twist i think on the traditional type silhouette/cameo that people do.

it's finished!

2009-01-20T08:30:00.000-08:00

so for some reason i have a tendency to conjure up projects and ideas that are overly detailed and whose components and processes are very tiny and tedious; and then i wonder why i get frusterated or it may or may not turn out how i expected! humm...! as a result of being unable to control this i have created this piece. 100's of tiny squares sewn together from every color into this mosaic like piece. i thought this up because i wanted to turn as many tiny squares as i could into something that looked as if it was one continuous texture and not seperate pieces. i'm not sure i got them as small as i wanted but any smaller is almost impossible!!!

i wanted to make it longer also but i ran out of these particular scraps. it's about 1' x 1 1/2' and each square is around 1/4" to 1/2" square.

chair covers

2009-01-19T15:45:00.000-08:00

one more set of fat-quarter chair covers

thanks for the fabric nana! and i added one piece i already had...

2009-01-17T10:23:00.000-08:00

2009-01-14T22:47:00.000-08:00

watch later for more "hutch project" updates

2009-01-14T18:06:00.000-08:00

we've been busy with some family events but as soon as i get some more photos taken then i will have some more fun things to post.

coming soon!!!

overload!!!

2009-01-09T12:10:00.000-08:00

does anyone ever feel like your head is so overflowing with ideas!!! i can't keep up with myself and my hands cannot work fast enough to follow the creativ thoughts. colors, sewing, textures, photography, everything is mixing up in my head all at once!

so many ideas so little resources and time!!!!!

thanks to everyone who enjoys and follows my blog. it is a huge catalyst for my work right now!!!

a little color

2009-01-06T23:01:00.000-08:00

after being away for holiday traveling the fridge was bare; so it was time to shop. grocery shopping can be a creative adventure in itself. there is always a new recipe to try and new foods to find while shopping. i bought some key limes and blood oranges and tangerines with their stems on them because they were just so beautiful and happy. now i'm scouring around trying to find a recipe to use them in that doesn't require another trip to the store!!!

i had to cut the orange open just to see if it really was red. i see other people use them all the time but this is the first time they have been available to me! sure enough, what a beautiful color inside!

another toy

2009-01-06T22:57:00.000-08:00

this is my new drawing pad that someone special gave me for christmas. it is my new best friend and has created a revolution in my new adventures in illustrating & blogging. though i never buy them and i'm not naturally a gadget person, having the right tools is very important. stay tuned for what else it will bring!

kitchen gadget

2009-01-06T22:39:00.000-08:00

it's been so many years since i had homemade dried fruit snacks but my new "mini oven", i call it, has a dehydrate setting among many other options. so i decided to try out doing some apples for my husband since he recently discovered their greatness! it worked great and he loved them! my next idea is to make potpourri!!!

nature walk ?

2009-01-05T14:44:00.000-08:00

well living in the middle of the city makes it hard to escape on a good old fashion nature walk. the little bit of young country girl that is left in me still craves that every once in awhile and so i do my best. here are a few little inspiring nature things that i collected ona recent walk. obviously i don't pluck from yards but i figure whatever has fallen onto the sidewalk is fair game. here i have collected a bowl full of baby coconuts. yes these are the very immature baby cocnuts that have fallen form the tree. i have never seen these before; my husband, who is native to a tropical place, had to inform me. i also found this great branch all alone. i'm going to debark it, paint it and desplay it someway. and then these little spiny ball things. these are common in lots of places but i snatched a few for future photography or what not.

new title

2009-01-05T14:32:00.000-08:00

finally intoducing the new title! it took some time and deciding but this will be the greeting for creAtiv life for some time now.

2008-12-31T15:46:00.000-08:00

a little taste of the new neighborhood.

2008-12-30T15:22:00.001-08:00

the year is almost up, '09 is coming and instead of making resolutions i like to review the past year.

here are some of my favorite things of '08

*note; click image to enlarge

sneak peek

2008-12-15T17:35:00.000-08:00

at a work in progress!

the back can be just as exciting as the front!

scraps have littered every inch of the sewing area!

blooms bag trio

2008-12-14T21:53:00.001-08:00

this is a special project for me. i have had this in my mind for awhile and i finally executed this series recently. i have made these type of bags before but i was excited about this style that i call "bright on white". i had hesitated to post this since it is so springy but after editing my photos today i was very excited how it all turned out.

the petals are all appliqued with covered button centers and freehand embroidery detailing. each is lined with matching bright cottons. also the green zipper on the "pouch" is an antique zipper of my great-grandmothers that i received from my mother. i enjoy adding the special touch of old and new things together.

-jewelry roll for on the go jewelry organization or safekeeping at home of your precious pieces

-the pouch can be a cosmetic/makeup bag or a portable sewing project carryall

-the intimates bag is for storing those special garments that need delicate care.

i hope these will be available for others to bring into their home in the future.

blog update

2008-12-14T15:14:00.001-08:00

happy news, i recently have reworked some of the blog settings.

you may now click on each picture to immediately view an enlarged detailed version!!

title...

2008-12-10T11:32:00.000-08:00

retiring the old title...

stay tuned for the new one...

tile necklace

2008-12-10T11:15:00.000-08:00

this necklace is also made of an existing gold chain and some newly acquired beads. my sister-n-law gave me these recently as well so i decided to make something special and unique.

i'm not sure what these are called but they are the most beautiful sparkling variegated green combination. i put them together using the brick stitch beading technique.

enjoy the photos!

some projects you can't plan...

2008-12-09T16:07:00.000-08:00

i recently came back into possession of some old treasures that had been in storage away from me for the past few years. it's exciting to rediscover some of my old favorite things. i found some of my favorite beads and some jewelry my mother had given me as a young girl. i started laying them out and playing around with them together and this is the necklace that came about...

ingredients:

~itty bitty pearls i recently received from my sister-n-law

~three gold necklace chains

~swarovski crystals

~my favoritee cream color charlotte beads (cut glass seed beads)

~a bit of small ivory ribbon for bows

*i colaborated with my husband for the photography on this one

waiting...

2008-12-05T14:01:00.000-08:00

stay tuned, i've been working for half an hour to upload photos. seems things are slow going. i hope to get things posted by today.

embroidered napkins

2008-12-03T13:51:00.000-08:00

the christmas season is upon us as we have officially finished thanksgiving and entered december.

with all my projects lately i have been working with bright springy colors which i can't help with the view of palm trees and green grass from my sewing table. these are a little change of mood.

inspired by flipping through my favorite Williams Sonoma kitchen catalogue and dreaming of the holiday confections i wish to create.

i stumbled on these colors in my stash; they make me want to eat chocolate or learn to make red velvet cake to go along. i do think these napkins would be fun to use while eating my grandmothers out of this world snowball cookies this christmas; which i plan on learning to make.

*i added extra photos that are easier to see. i'm not satisfied with the sizes that this system lets you choose from.

i'm back

2008-12-03T12:10:00.000-08:00

well i wanted to keep this blog in full swing since i started but thanksgiving holiday time, getting ready for christmas already, and many of my own little projects temporarily halted my posts. i am back now and i hope to be posting new treats.

earrings 2

2008-11-21T15:50:00.000-08:00

i love french knots. i don't do much embroidery anymore but i want to put french knots on everything. some people have done rings in this same style so here is my earrings version. colored & gold beads & emboridery floss, stitched onto a gold disc inside and twill tape hand stitched to cover the back.

knitting needle earrings

2008-11-19T16:30:00.001-08:00

these are actually crocheted but i think they look like little knitted projects! i did these many months ago but just got around to photographing. they're light as a feather and fun to wear.

the safest place

2008-11-17T11:36:00.000-08:00

the last thing we are willing to do when we are kids is to make our beds or take a nap. but as an adult i can now appreciate a good nap and a well made bed. it doesn't always happen when you want it to but the reason i thought of this is because of my new bed. after a hard day, climbing into a good bed can be the safest place on earth.

this is the quilt that was beautifully pieced and hand quilted by my mother as our wedding gift. she also made the matching shams.

my favorite bright colors and the feel of hand stitching.

sparrow

2008-11-15T17:15:00.000-08:00

we've all seen these kind of birds everywhere. here is my little version. she's very happy on her little branch watching over the house for us! (branch and flowers are more transformed wedding decorations)

new blog face

2008-11-13T18:08:00.001-08:00

i am so proud to announce and unveil the brand new title for the creAtiv life blog; painstakingly and patiently designed by yours truely. check it out at the top here!

Fat quarter Fun

2008-11-13T12:27:00.000-08:00

i purchased these lovely moda print fat quarters at an idaho quilt store and patiently waited for them to tell me what they should become. here they are in all their glory adorning my IKEA table set! one fat quarter per chair. easy quick project. i think i will make more down the road and change them out seasonally.

*in regards to my photography disclaimer on this blog; i am delighted to claim these recent images as my own. we recently purchased the new Canon XSI rebel and we're both having a blast.

mySpace

2008-11-11T11:04:00.001-08:00

starting in a new place often takes time and patience to learn your way around. for me it is important to define my own space and to do that i spend time arrange the house "nesting", as some may say.hand embroidered tea-towels are a traditional wedding gift in our family. lovingly stitched by my nana and aunt. i have decided to use these as the anchor of the decor in our new kitchen. i didn't plan on red before but with our vintage style kitchen setup and white tiled countertops, it just all kind of fell into place.a line of coordinated pots and hydrangeas greet me on the way to the kitchen each day. a little brightness in an empty living room. i have many decorations to recycle from the wedding for our home. many posts should come later to showcase their spotlight during the wedding.

blueberry poundcakes were a good way of cozying up our new kitchen. one for me and one for my sister in law. the recipe is from the moosewood cookbook; one of our wedding gifts.

simply beautiful

2008-10-16T22:50:00.000-07:00

life has been very full recently. it's hard to summarize a time so full of new and exciting experiences like we have had recently. it's important to appreciate those small things that only come along here and there.

traditional english high tea service in our room on our honeymoon.

i'm not a tea drinker but this wasn't about the tea...

i love well presented food.

new beginnings

2008-10-13T14:23:00.000-07:00

welcome to the first entry of my new blog. with new beginnings of many kinds; weddings and honeymoon in our back pockets, it's time to settle down and find a nest for our next chapter.