*~*~*Happy Valentines Day My Lovely Cupids!!!~*~*

How sweet and enduring are these vintage heart candy boxes?

This beautiful ruffle pleated satin box and gold illustrated box were both $5 each at the antique market. 

I found them this past weekend. Perfect timing!

A little Valentines gift to me... from me. ;)

This my friends is a little gift from ME to YOU!!

 Valentines Digital Gift Tag Freebie!

*~*~* Love, Spoil & Pamper yourself today...you DESERVE it!! *~*~*

Candy Hearts Hugs, & Kisses!!!

XOXO,

Hello Friends!

For as long as I've been blogging I've always enjoyed sharing some of my wonderful vintage flea market finds or purchases that I've scored on Etsy & Ebay.

It's fun to share because so many of us ladies have the same undying love for vintage.

I feel like a lady can never have enough pearls. It's fun to layer them a la Coco Chanel.

This is a pretty pearl choker I found on Etsy.  It's totally gorgoues on and will look perfect with a little black dress.

If I don't wear my pearls with a dress I can always wear them with my apron and channel my inner 50's housewife. ;)

How beautiful is this aqua tulle net apron? 

The dainty details are exquisite!

For you ladies who loves poodles check out this fabulous 50's vintage lamp. 

I found it at an antique store a few months back. I didn't care for the lamp shade so I found two pink swiss dot lampshades on Ebay to replace it with.

The lamp looks darling on my bedside table and closely sitting next

to my boudoir pillow.

EEEK! Yes...I couldn't resist this pink powder puff pillow.

Girlie glam to the max!!!

This pillow is not vintage. It's brand new. 

I purchased it from Faire Frou Frou

The powder puff can be used by burlesque dancers as a stage prop as well.

 

Nothing screams spring~summer than these darling earrings. 

How cute these will look with a summery dress.

For my  kitchen I found this hand painted bowl on Etsy. 

Precious!

A few months ago when my friend Lori Oles was in town we visited an antique store where I found this terrifc pink pie storage cabinet. It was the prettiest pale pink color.

Just needed a little cleaning.

There was no room for it in my kitchen so I have it in my studio and it's a perfect little work space table for my children when they come to visit.

I also scored this seriously cute bunny cookie jar.

I found some terrific items to use in my studio and art creations.

These mini trays are perfect for using when working with jewelry, beads, little small items.

It came as a set of eight.

I LOVE vintage wrapping paper. 

Perfect to use for projects.

While shopping at the Country Living Fair last October I shopped a vendor who had an amazing collection.

These are a few of my favorites.

Fell in love with this Mother's Day wrapping paper.

How darling are the illustrations??

Last week my Mother and I stopped into a local antique shop just to browse and

my Mom found this super sweet children's book.

 She loves cat's so the cover totally caught her eye. 

Miss Sniff is such pretty kitty with an adorable name to boot!

More snippits of the charming illustrations.

(makes me wish more and more I could draw & illustrate!)

Eeek! Her name is Polly Pinks!

Adore!

Back in the day authors use to give their story characters name's like

Betty Bluebird, Sammy Skunk, Timmy Turtle, etc.

I've always found it charming. 

While researching how to write a picture book in today's world of sophisticated children's books the industry say's it's a huge "No! No!"

Basically from what I've read editors will reject your book in a heartbeat if

you name your storybook characters such as Peneolope Poodle.

They say name's like that shout "cute" and "lack of respect for the child listner". 

Blah...blah...blah...

My two cents on this....is poo on them!

I think it's darling and has a sense of nostalgia when naming them 

such charming simple names.

Again, that's why I plan to self-publish so I have complete freedom with my children's book.

Ok...off my SOAPBOX! ha! ha!

If this book couldn't get any sweeter check out this

one page.

She dreamed of pink mice floating around in pink clouds and pink trees......

I don't think I have to say anything sappy. The sentence speaks for itself. ;)

My last show & tell fabulous find are these gorgeous aqua curly feathers from Micheals craft store.

So pretty!

Perfect Tiffany aqua blue!  

(hint! hint! Ladies who are attending Kim's Affaire at Tiffany's event)

 Thank you friends for stopping by!

I always enjoy your visit and lovely comments. 

Miss Katie Kitty and I want to wish you a fabulous week! ;)

Finally!

Im happy to share some sneak peeks of my studio.

It's about 80% completed and has been a work in progess. 

I underestimated how much stuff I've accumulated over the years. Plus the process of  unpacking and organizing took longer than I had expected.

I didn't want to rush the process of making everything "just so" in my new space and with that I've taken alot of time making the space into the most heavenly inspiring place for me to create in.

Cheers! 

Happy New Years Friends!!!! 

Dont you just love the feeling of a New Year?

It's amazing how the first day into a new calander year feels incredibly different mentally.

As much as I love the holidays, I look forward to life getting back to some level of normalcy again. 

I think that's the time we tend to re-evaluate what our personal goals might be and what we strive to accomplish in the New Year.

Hmmm....what do I want to accomplish this year??? 

Well for one thing I am excited to focus on creating again.

It feels like ages since I've made time to sit down and create new pieces of work.

My creative soul misses it terribly!

With my new studio almost 80% unpacked and organized Im ready to dive in and start creating again.

(sneak peeks next week! Pinky Swear Promise!)

Studio home sweet home.

More fabulous goodness is lined up this year....

Im thrilled for the opportunity to be teaching at Karen Hillman Blue In Blue event end of March. 

It will be a cozy intimate group of creative gals in the heart of Texas!

Karen has a weekend full of lovely things in store for us.

The projects being #1! 

Superb!

I know there are a few slots still available so PLEASE join us!

 Psst! We have two shopping days planned for the Canton flea market!!!

Yipee!!

Click here for more information.

Shortly after Texas Im headed to sunny CA to attend my fourth Kim Caldwell

Artistic Affaire event.

Im in LOVE with the theme!!

Kim's event's always blow me away. Every detail is exquisite and her guest are pampered and spoiled like crazzy!

I always have a blast seeing my creative peeps and enjoying a little bit of the CA scene.

The biggest thing Im most anxious and looking forward to is FINALLY working on a project that has been brewing for the past three years now.

I've put if off long enough and finally Im going make the time to work on self-publishing my first children's book. 

It's one of my dreams to use my artwork mixed with photography (no illustrations) to create a beautiful and whimsical picture storybook. 

My story will be based on this pretty Kitty Kat named Duchess.

You will learn more about Duchess in the next few weeks. 

She wishes for a GRAND INTRODUCTION blog post.

When it comes to publishing a book fear has held me back.

Everytime I sit down to work on it I get overwhelmed. Plus, my mind races with the fears of "what if's".

Even tho' I've done alot of research I still feel like I know very little about the publishing world. The GOOD news to all of this is the self-publishing world has exploded and more and more writers are now turning to self-publishing.

There are so many reputable companies to choose from now. 

(If you, or anyone you know has experience with self-publishing a book and want to share your input,tips, or advice please email me. I would love to hear from you!)

Im SUPER excited and ready to work on my book. I told myself I must commit to this project that I've been dreaming about for so long.

The reward of being able to open my own storybook and read to my children is the dream of all dreams!

With that being said this is my motto for 2012.

Fabulous motto for ALL of us...wouldn't you agree?

I hope you too have a passion for something so big. Let's support each other in our endeavours and help make your dreams into a glorious reality.

Cheers to making our dreams come true in 2012!!!

XOXO,

**photo credits**

1st image tumbler

Disney quote pinterest