Go Your Own Way

It's been a few weeks since I posted, and although I would love to tell you that I've been lounging on a beach somewhere or taking in the sights of some exotic locale during that time, the truth is I've been working instead...sigh!

In between working until 1 a.m. some nights, we've moved kids into a rental house, celebrated Mr. Tide's 50th Bday and generally been running ourselves ragged doing the things that life demands of all of us much of the time.  I know so many of you can more than relate!

I know the payoff for all of this hard work will be worth it, but man oh man, sometimes you have to stop and wonder don't you?!  But just as soon as I think maybe I should put a few pipe dreams on the back burner, I get a sign, a phone call or an email that tells me I'm on the right path.

And I'm fortunate to have friends and family who are right with me every step of the way saying, "do it your way and you'll be much happier in the long run," so I soldier on and hope for the best.

And I am also lucky in that this road I'm on, no matter how bumpy has allowed me to meet some amazing people, some of whom are heading in the exact same direction that I am heading.  One friend in particular is traversing the path right alongside me, and when I'm down and out she gives me a nudge to keep moving forward, and hopefully I do the same for her.

It's nice to go your own way, but it's even nicer when you have someone else who is going "your" way too...I think we all need that in life.

Friends, partners, and confidants who can take one look at your face and say..."I get it, been there, done that!"  Misery may love company, but I prefer company to keep misery at bay.

In a few weeks I will be selling my artwork online.  Oh, I've had a website for awhile now, but this will be the real deal...no foolin' around.  You'll be able to purchase stretched canvas prints and framed prints thanks to a partnership I've made with a wonderful online gallery.

Over the next few weeks, I hope to share with you some of the artwork I've been busy creating.  It's brand spankin' new stuff, and it's not like anything I've really shown you before, so I hope you all will enjoy it as much as I've enjoyed creating it. 

Below is a sneak peek at a few of the prints that will be available, and I'm working on some very cool printing and framing techniques to make each piece special.

In the meantime it's back to the grindstone for me.  I do come up for air every now and again and I'm still out there nosing around your blogs, though I'm often bleary eyed and not up to commenting, so for now lurking will have to do.

And when I'm a little crispy fried from long hours and too much time on the computer, well I stop to smell the lavender.  I can personally attest to its soothing aroma!

I hope all is well in your world, and thank you for providing me with the motivation and the inspiration to follow a path that makes me happy!  When you go your own way you go with the knowledge that whether you flop or you fly high, you'll be contented trying...and that's what matters, right?!

Pretty in Pink

Here's to...

a picture perfect weekend!

Busy as a Bee

The days are clicking by and I've been busy as a bee working on new artwork.  I've been burning the midnight oil because I have some very exciting news coming that I hope to share with you all by the end of the month.

I will be back soon to share some images from a wonderful local shop with you that I photographed last weekend.  Until then, here's a little sneak peek at some of the pretties in this gorgeous shop.  And if you're in the area, don't forget it's a Vintage Source Weekend! 

I hope all is well in your world!

Lovely Surprises

 

The past few weeks the UPS truck, Fedex, and our mailman's jeep have been paying frequent visits to our humble abode.  Between things I've ordered and happy little packages sent by others arriving nearly every day, it's been a little bit like Christmas.

Recently the lovely Tricia Rose of Rough Linen fame created her very own bread bag out of some of her beautiful linen.  After road testing the bag herself she offered to send a few out to her readers, and I was one of the lucky ones to receive one of her bags.

Now I know I've been mostly gluten free since January, but trust me, I will find a million and one good uses for this lovely bag.  And just having it makes me pine for Tricia's linens which are on my "most wanted to buy" list!  Thank you Tricia!!!

The next lovely package to arrive on my doorstep was one from The Polished Pebble.  Those of you who have followed my blog for any length of time know that along with my love for Rough Linen's wares, I share equal affection for Kelley and her amazing design talents!

Along with her design business, Kelley just opened a shop where she sells one of a kind vintage pieces and some of her homemade goodies, like soaps and potpourri.  Kelley was so sweet and sent me some samples of both her Lavender and Rose potpourris and to say they smell heavenly would be a bit of an understatement.

Each generous bag is filled to the brim with the scent of her Ojai Roses or snippets of the beautiful lavender she grows in the highly coveted yard of her California home.  Now my home can smell a tiny bit like what I image lounging in her backyard on a gorgeous summer day must feel and smell like! Thank you Kelley!!!

Last but not least are some documents I ordered from Oscar Naylor on Etsy.  Alwen, who owns Oscar Naylor was so wonderful to work with and helped find me just the right antique ephemera I was looking for.

These are beautiful vintage documents, many dating back to the 1700 and 1800s and I plan to get them framed to hang in just the right spot in my house.  And along with the items I ordered, Alwen gifted me with a few extra goodies...thank you so much Alwen, I will treasure these!

So as you can see, it has been like Christmas around here, with lovely little surprises showing up each week.  And with Mother's Day right around the corner I think there might be a few more surprises coming my way.

I hope you each have had a few pleasant surprises at your house lately, and for those of you who are moms, I wish you each a VERY Happy Mother's Day!

A Peony For Your Thoughts

Although the scent of roses is filling the air at my house right now because we planted 4 new David Austin roses this spring, it's the Peonies that have center stage in my front flower bed at the moment.

The first Peonies to bloom this year were some that I had transplanted from my childhood home before we sold it last year.  I really didn't expect them to bloom as we moved them in December and Peonies are sometimes fickle about blooming the first year you transplant them.  But I was pleasantly surprised to find they had blooms on them, even if there were only a few.

We have a large number of Peonies that were planted by the previous owners, and although they don't smell as heavenly as the older variety I transplanted, I still anticipate their lovely blooms each spring.

The first batch to bloom are always the creamy white ones, and they have such large blooms that you can see them from far down our private lane.  These pretty flowers welcome me home for such a brief period each year, but I love to see them gently swaying in the breeze as I pull into my driveway each time.

And I'm not the only one who is excited to see them each year it seems!  

I hope you each had a wonderful weekend, and that your week is off to a great start!

On Point

Well it's been a month almost since I last posted.  And during that time I've been very busy with work obligations.  I have been keeping up with many of you though, and I've secretly been spying on you through your blogs, just in a quiet hiding in the shadows sort of way.

 

I had thought that I might abandon this little blog altogether and simply gracefully fade away as I threw myself headlong into my work, but as a few of you predicted, I did miss this little bloggy place I've created for myself over the past 2 years.

And so while I was away dipping my toe into new waters and new ventures, I made some decisions.

1.  I will run my blog, it will not run me.

2.  I will post less often and not feel stressed if I can't find the time, even if it means weeks pass by.

3.  I will visit my long list of blog favorites and not feel obligated to comment on those blogs, and in return I hope others will understand and feel free not to comment here but just enjoy the images.

4.  I will not feel guilty if I am unable to reply to each comment or email...I will need a bit of help with this one as "guilt" is my middle name.

5.  I will enjoy blogging for the safe haven that it was meant to be and not for the hectic crazy place we sometimes cause it to become. (and I'll keep it going for you, Mom and Dad W)

6.  And I will live each day to the fullest, follow my heart AND my gut, and I will do the things that make me happy...life is far too short to do anything but.

  I hope you are all well and that life is treating you kindly.  Until next time...

  à bientôt