Design File

What do you suppose this is? An impressionist paint perhaps?

Well no, it is not fine art. It is a fine example of recycled art from none other than Anthropologie. They have the most amazing displays. They fascinate me as I try to figure out how and they are made. Do you remember the winter display I shared with you here?

Take a closer look. . . .what do you see?

Interesting flowers? But what are they made out of?

Well. . . they are recycled water bottles! The bottles are colored with paints, possibly when they are in their original state. (Insert a little paint and then swirl around inside the bottle.) Then they are cut into vertical strips from the bottom up to the bottle opening. (The opening then becomes the center of the flower!) Then the strips are shaped into flower petals. So simple and yet so ingenious! Gotta love those Anthropologie stores as they are always so innovative and full of inspiration. Hope your day is full of inspiration!

Heart In Hand

I'm sure many of you know about Rebecca Sower's efforts to raise money for the earthquake victims in Haiti. Many times when there is a tragic event like this, there is an immediate out-pouring of generous donations, which is so appreciated by the victims. And then as the news coverage fades and other news stories take over the headlines, the donations seem to taper off.

It's important to remember when catastrophes like this happen it takes years for a country to recover and rebuild.
While thinking about what I could do to help, I read that Rebecca was setting up a special Blog and Etsy Shop called Haiti by Hand to help those in need in that country. I let it stew in my brain for a few days and eventually came up with the Hope for Haiti collage above as my tribute to the people of Haiti. You can read more about it in the listing for it at the Haiti by Hand shop here.

There is a whole host of beautifully handmade items in the Haiti by Hand shop, as Rebecca shows in this mosaic she has made. I love that we are able to use our passion for art to help those in need.

Valentine Peeks

Guess what? The sun is shining this morning here. I can't even remember the last time I've seen it's cheery face, but it sure does put a smile of MY face!

I thought I would share a few sneak-peeks of some Valentine Swap projects I've been working on lately. I'll share the full photos with you as soon as the girls receive them.

Have a wonderful Day!

ROD Journal Swap

I told you that I have been making a new journal as a part of Mary Ann Moss' Remains of the Day class. These are some pages I made for a class swap. Everyone seems to have a different style, so it's fun to stir the pot and mix it up a little to add some variety to our journals.

I hope Janet likes these pages I made for her.

Longing for Spring

It's still January and I am already longing for springtime. I think January is the l-o-n-g-e-s-t month of the year! The weather here is cold and gloomy and gray. YUK! That's pretty typical for winter in the midwest, but please Mr. Sunshine ~ could you show your face every once in a while?
In an attempt to keep myself from completely going bonkers with cabin fever, I signed up for Teresa McFayden's Paper Romance E-Zine. Here is one of my completed projects ~ a shabby-glam notepad. Now I can't help but smile whenever I make out my grocery and To-Do lists. And the best part about this project is I didn't have to buy a thing to make it. I only used supplies I had on hand.

Let Them Eat Cake

Do you remember this post? A swap group that I belong to exchanged our versions of Lace Cakes in a Marie Antoinette theme. {These cakes are truly fit for a queen!} These are 6x6 pages that will eventually be bound into a book, but before I bind it I thought I would show you the beautiful pages I received.

Terri Gordon

Rhonda Thomas

Terri Hadji-Gauthier

Rebecca Allison

Debra Abel

Been Busy Crafting. . .

A gift for a friend.

Valentine Tags for Natalea's swap.

Hope you're having a crafty day too!

A Little French Respite

Last week I told you in this post that we were going to Chicago to see The Addams Family starring Nathan Lane. It was a quirky story line - different yet fun - and Nathan Lane was hilarious! Before the play, we stopped in at the darling shop pictured above called POSH.

This shop is one of my favorite boutiques in Chicago because it is like a breath of fresh air in the middle of the hustle-bustle of the big city.

All things French is the phrase that best describes the shop with new and vintage accessories for your home. The worn wood floors hold shelf after shelf of hotel silver, china, books, linens, etc.

The back of the store features a conservatory room with French doors leading out to a courtyard tucked between two buildings.

I think that courtyard is what makes this shop so unique because it's so unexpected in the concrete jungle of a major city. The owner told me that the building across the courtyard is an event space available for rent. During the summer there are many wedding receptions held there and they use the courtyard as an outdoor space for the overflow of guests. Dreamy!

Stacks and stacks of china pieces from hotels, restaurants and country clubs in creamy white or white rimmed in aqua or chocolate brown.

I love how they have plates scaling up the vaulted ceiling walls.

Do you see the teacup and saucer hanging up there?

This wood cupboard holds coronation memorabilia from France, England and Belgium.

Don't you just love the colors and trim on these dishtowels?

I just had to buy a set of them to take home.

As if the towels were pretty enough, they came packaged in this darling matching fabric envelope. What a bonus!

And some biscuits from Paris to munch on,

And some French rubber stamps from Cavallini and a pink composition book.

And I never leave without picking up a few French novels to add to my collection. I love the fleur de lis embossed on the spine of the white book. The middle book has a gorgeous blue marbled cover and the top book I bought because of it's beautiful embossed cover.

I already want to go back to POSH. It's good the shop isn't too close to my house or I would be there everyday! But now it's time for me to get back to work on my Valentine swaps.