The pants that sparked an idea.....

It's no secret that I love the thrift stores, and recycling. It's how I find sweaters to felt and transform into pillows. So this past week had me poking my head in there to see what they had to Inspire me.
I brought my daughter along, so we naturally had to go over into the kids section to take a peek there too.
It was there that I spotted these amazing little red baby pants with an embroidered bird on them.
I about died.

Cutest .pants .ever.

Since I no longer have babies, I didn't

Need them, but felt I couldn't just leave them!

It was those little red pants that Sparked an idea!

I decided it would be a great idea to

Have a small rack of gently used baby and toddler clothes at my shop.

Most parents don't have the time to hunt for these beautiful clothes at the thrift shops because honestly, you really do have to look and sift through a ton of stuff.

But maybe I could do it!

So I started my search for good things.

Things with character, nice brands,

Good cloth and color.

I brought them home, had them freshly laundered and sweet smelling, pressed them and hung them up.

Some I've sewn little appliqués to them adding a little more character and fun.

It's a little idea I'm running with

Hope you like it.

It's those red pants,

They got me going, now if only they came in adult sizes :-)

Which reminds me, I'm working on some of those too, select adult sweaters with felt patches on them

Pictures to come soon!

so on that note,

I'm back to work, yes, even on a Sunday! 

thanks for stopping by and taking a peek  :)

Xoxo

Life, 10-3-12

 Most days I struggle to even get out of bed,
nothing but silly mayhem around me at all times ;-)

 but I blast myself out of there at 6 am and get busy.  creating messes and works in my studio.
every. single. day.
 it's a cathartic process for me,  and something I obviously need to do.  I love it.  it's what I am meant to do I 'spose.  

 

I've been very prolific and busy these days.  I basically gave up Facebook and most social media to focus on my work.  It wasn't that hard for me to give up those things,  I kind of got burnt out on them,  preferring to spend time with art supplies than reading about political stuff on there anyways.

Plus life with kids has become exponentially busier with my highschooler and little elementary school child.

the summer basically blew by but ended on a lovely note with our yearly end of summer vacation trip up north.

 what a difference in mood huh.....elementary vs. teenage angst ......ha ha  XO

Pink moons,  best friends, lake,  water, sunshine.  it's so good for the soul up there.  and a much needed relief from the everyday stresses of life.

We come back rested, revived and ready to start the school year with a sunny out look.

I switched Fiona to the downtown school that I actually went to when I was a child.  I love it there,  and am thrilled that we can walk to school every morning.  I love this hill,  pretending I live in San francisco for one little block :)

Jackson was lucky to win the lottery and get into one of the most desirable alternative highschools in the city,  so he's downtown too.  I love it.

I managed to also land myself a design client and was busy helping her decorate her house with custom paintings and handmade pillows.

I had a nice little team of creative people with me that made custom slip covers for her chairs and sofa.  along with one of a kind lampshades and lamps for her living room.

it was a ton of fun and something I'd like to do more of!  

 these are the lamp shades before......

 and the sofa before.....

 made little number appliques for her slip covered stools....

 ordered rugs......

 this is the sofa after. with a new linen,  down filled wrapped handmade cushion from my friend Karen Lucas......and custom pillows made by me....

 she also made slipcovers for these chairs out of a simple sketch that I made for her,  turning these old family heirloom chairs into a more functional modern piece of furniture!  Karen is AMAZING!
(the little flower pillow was made by me)  :)

 now this is a picture of the lamps before we had new ones made....

 and the lamps after!  with custom fabrics and colors that really tie the room together.

 new barrel shades for the chandeliers.....  so nice to add texture....drawing all of the elements of the room together.

 Little table arrangements made too with glass jars,  stones and baby tears.......

 I also made a custom painting for her entryway......

it was a super fun project,  and something I LOVE to do.  

however once that wrapped up I was back to the studio and making things for the shop.

 Pillows,  paintings,  and TONS of fairy doors produced....alongside my little sunshine creative who happily churns out her own brand of awesome...... good grief!

 this child kills me,  seriously.

but my son is just as cool,  he creates wonderful graffiti style pieces, and filmwork.  he's 14,  so he's not around me much....preferring his friends to his MOM,  go figure.
.......but that's o.k.

 because every once in awhile he does like to be with me, and actually wanted to hang out with me on a saturday night with his friends.  So I took the teens bowling.
  i'm lucky to have a boy like that.
yes,  I am.  :)

 So when I'm not wrangling kids,  teens,  birds, and dogs,  I am wrapped up in making stuff.

 

making things that make me laugh to myself.....like this one-toothed apple guy.  Does this mean I am completely crazy?   ha ha.  probably so,  but I sure am having a good ole time losing my marbles ;-)

in my saner moments,  you'll find me working on one more painting that will be heading up north  this weekend.

this one will be hanging in Wandawood hall on Elk lake.

escaping for the weekend by myself for some peaceful lake serenity.

or as my friend Angie likes to put it

'escaping to the healing waters of Elk lake'

yup,  that's what I am up to.

creating,  healing,  living.

thanks for taking the time and peeking in on my life.

I'm so happy you stopped by.

truly.

XOXOXO