marfa, marfa

It has been a while since I had looked through some of Martha Stewart's crafty archives for Christmas, so I thought I would go back through and take a look to see what sort of inspiration I could find. Of course I found tons.
*Sigh* I just love Marfa (as Miles calls her) and her crafty team...

Here are my favorites:


love the colors and simplicity of this. I am thinking I need to make some small circle garlands like this for my tree this year... This is simple enough the boys could help!

OK, just too adorable. Somehow I missed this craft along the way and just now discovered it.
Thinking this would be a great craft at a Cookie Exchange Party, and also as gift tags!

Of course when it comes to gift tags this is my favorite because I always love things with letters...
Wouldn't a whole row of faux wrapped gifts lined up on the mantle of the bookcase, with the letters attached and spelling out a word like MERRY or NOEL, look cute??

I already do something somewhat similar to this, but of course Martha's simplicity in this is divine. Her stylist make even the most basic craft look ingenious!

I did these cute little mitten clips a few years ago and used them to clip closed bags of cookies that we gave away as gifts. That was about 8 years ago, so I am thinking I can make these again for all the people who didn't get one back then. With all the changes we have had in the past 4 years, our world is so much larger- which is such a lovely blessing!

This picture I just love because. I don't think I will make anything from it, I just love the composition of the photo.

So that is my tour of Marfa inspirations. Who is inspiring you this year??

(oh, and stay tuned, I will be trying all your ideas for pipe cleaner dying next soon!!)

Etsy Oh My!

(fun vintage wrapping paper image, just cause...)

Today was a busy, sunny day and I wasn't home for more than 10 minutes in between shifts at the school, lunch with a friend, and other various errands, so I had not had any time to read any of my regular blogs or check in with the world via Facebook.... but every time I did manage to find a few moments to check my email from my phone I noticed I had banner orders. And not just one or 2, but several. After about the 4th order in one day I started to wonder what was going on, and why had the stars suddenly aligned my way, but the work and kids and husband interrupted and I just pushed the question aside, and chalked it up to good luck and went about my evening trying to keep the American economy afloat (i.e. shopping trip to Target.)

When I finally got home, kicked off my shoes and sat down at the computer I found a little gift of an email from Kara at McMaster and Storm with this in the Subject line: "Did you know you were featured on Decor 8?"


Guess who was on today's Etsy Take Five Tuesday feature on the Decor 8 blog??

My little Storia HOME shoppe and my humble little banners!

I feel so honored to have my work featured on such a great & fun style blog!!
Thanks Holly! You are the best and I really appreciate it (so does my Holiday pocketbook!)

all things jolly

.

It is November, the sun is bright and shining (please, oh please let it stay this way!) the air is cool and crisp, and I am excited to be officially in Holiday mode!

I love Halloween, but more for the fun of seeing everyone dressed up, for our annual Halloween Hoopla party and for the changing of the season that it brings with it than for any real nostalgic or aesthetic reasons. So while it was fun, I am happy - no giddy really - to be moving on!

This year, I feel a renewed sense of excitement and inspiration about the Holidays. I think it is in large part because there is less pressure on me creatively and time wise this year, than in recent years. Even though I miss having the space with my partner in Crafty Crime- Jeanetta at The Shoppes on Woodlawn, it is nice to not be overwhelmed this year as we kick-off November. To be able to sketch and come up with new ideas, and to know that I will have the time to make some of those little sketches come to life, and that when I do, I will not have to mass produce them in a few short weeks is heavenly. I can simply do as many as I want to do and that will be that.




Even though we are both doing a lot less this year, both Jeanetta and I agreed that we couldn't give up crafting together at Christmas, so we (as The Parlor Girls,) are going to be selling our crafty wares on at least 1 (maybe a couple of more) occasions in the next 6 weeks at some local holiday shopping events. I even picked up a few papers and other Christmas craft supplies today that I cannot wait to use to make some new banners, advent garlands, wall plaques and other goodies!
I also picked up some pipe cleaners that I need to hand dye, but I don't want to purchase big boxes of Rit Dye for the small amounts I am doing. Has anyone ever tried dying pipe cleaners the way you dye Easter eggs? With food coloring and vinegar? Thoughts? Ideas?

inspired to sit and...

dream, dream, dream...

Yet it is in our idleness, in our dreams, that the submerged truth sometimes comes to the top.

-virgina woolf

(original photography plaque by the fab Jenny & Aaron)

ZZ Miles

I mean what else is there to say?

paper, box, cute

You must go check out this post by my oldest (as in we have known each other since we were in diapers) friend Becca.

She has completely inspired me, and I now have visions of box houses dancing in my head...
I am thinking some Holiday versions are in order. In fact this may be the craft de jour for my our little Advent party we have every year...

re-arranged. again.

We finally moved the piano to the other side of the room and put the couch back on the wall.
I am loving it much more...


I think it is because of the Momma and Papa Bear chair arrangement where the couch used to be that makes a difference this time. The room has more seating than the last time we had the couch against the wall.

Of course there are still lots of things that have me wondering and things that I need to finish & find... Should I take the map down and do something lighter in feel, more whimsical?
Which couch will I end up with? How much longer can I prolong the life of this one (going on 12 years...)


For now though, the change was enough to satisfy my redecorating urges - I hope! - and I can let this room be as is till after Christmas. After all in just little over a month it will get it's Holiday Make-Over!

Golly I love this time of year!