Christmas came early!!!!!!!

Happiest girl ever! That's me right now...

After checking my mail on Saturday...looked in my mailbox and saw a Somerset magazine all wrapped up in it's plastic...but what caught my eye was the yellow sheet on the outside telling me I had been published, and here was my complimentary copy. So over-the-moon about it right now!

I had made this banner sometime late Spring or Summer and knew I was under the wire for the cut-off date but sent it in anyway.
Hoping....then I kinda forgot about it...only kinda...:)
Because every time I read ANY Somerset magazine I dream of being in it!
And now I am. So I'm encouraging all of you who have considered sending in your work to do so, because if I can do it, you can too. I'm living proof on page 148 of the newest Somerset Studio Gallery magazine.
So come on...send something in...you have nothing to lose and so much to gain..:)

ETSY coupon code savings.....!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving! I've decided to offer a 20% discount in my Etsy shop through cyber Monday at midnight PST. Just type in littlebeach20 for your discount in my shop if you've had your eye on anything.
And if you're one of the crazy ones who get out there tomorrow and mix it up, be careful!!!!:)

Unbelievable talent!!

So I was visiting Shari's website Plays with Paper (don't you just love that name?) and she had just introduced these darling little doll necklaces. 

I saw them and wanted one...I mean REALLY had to have one, you know?

Someone else left a comment on her blog that SHE wanted the doll...rats!

This is her back, finished in every detail, just stunningly cute!

So I did what any rabid fan would do, I emailed Shari and she said that she would be happy to make me a custom doll. My heart was happy.

I adore everything about this doll...(did you notice her "key" arms? And her little red maryjane shoes? And her sweet little hat? And all her ruffles?
Now I'll be the first to admit that sometimes I see an item and know that I can make something similiar, you know, but with my own twist and personality woven in to make it my own. This little doll, however, is way beyond my realm. I will treasure her and put her in a prominent spot in my studio so that she can inspire me whenever I'm creating.

Shari also included this darling Thank You card that she created. Yeah, that's another thing beyond my realm!

And check out this sweet little frozen charlotte she included with my package. I was thrilled to see this because I've only ever seen these on other's blogs or shops, never owned one of my own.
Shari, I can't thank you enough for making me my own special doll necklace.
If you've never been to playswithpaper
well, you must go see Shari's creations! You won't be disappointed..:)
Plus, she's having a giveaway....hurry!

Just listed....new victorian style glitter Christmas ornaments....

I love The Graphics Fairy website, have you  been there lately? She has the most phenomenal selection of images to choose from for your crafts. Today I fell in love with this beautiful snow angel trade card. I made a couple of copies so I could make some Christmas (or Winter) ornaments.

Of course I had to use my favorite fabric for the skirts. I also used german glass glitter and velvet leaves for their wings. They now reside in my Etsy shop...:).
I'll be back soon to share the most amazing package I received in the mail today. Hope you all have a lovely evening!
These both sold, thanks so much!!!

Glittered thrift store birds.....

I'd like to talk about birds but first thought I'd show a new pillow that I bought yesterday at Home Goods...of course I went in there to exchange a rug for my laundry room and walked out with this instead....isn't that always the way? The last time I was in there I was wondering why they didn't have more pillows that reflect more "current" tastes.
You know, burlap, linen....FRENCH?!

And then I spied this beauty...25"x25", huge and cushy. LOVE it.

In other news, I've been trying to create every day, some days big things, other days little ones, like these glittery birds. Using the above items...(don't you just love Twinklets? How can you not love something called Twinklets?)

Voila, my thrifted birds, which were kinda brightly colored for my taste (but the price was certainly right! Have you seen how much these cost at Michael's? It's a crime I tell ya).

Much prettier, don't you think?

This is how they started out...pretty, but bright. I like how they sparkle now and the colors are a lot more subdued.
So don't pass up those birds while thrifting, they can be made pretty with very little effort.
What will you make prettier today?

Do you speak a second language?

I don't, but if I did it would be this one! I came across this french dictionary this weekend at one of my thrift stores....it's called "Heath's Petit Larousse Illustre".  Published in 1922 and when I opened it I fell in love. Look at the illustration's...aren't they pretty? Each letter has the beautiful decorative pictures leading into that chapter.
Nerd that I am, I took it to bed with me so I could just enjoy the pictures. Maybe if I read it enough some of it will rub off on me?
Oh, if only.....

Well, journals seem to be on a lot of people's minds lately, because that is what I'm selling a lot of in my shop.
This sweet little girl graces the front of my favorite journal yet, just listed in my Etsy shop a few minutes ago. I just love that brown velvet flower on the front and it's the only one I had, but it seemed to go so well with her.
We're off to a football game tomorrow and a busy weekend.
Hope you all get some time to create something pretty!

Do you have a favorite, treasured piece of art in your home?

This is my favorite piece of art that I own......I've had her about 12 years.
I spotted her in a store (that sadly is no more) right before Christmas and told my dh that's what I wanted for Christmas, just this print. When I opened my present on Christmas morning I almost cried...he had gotten the wrong print! Thank goodness it was still there.

I don't know what it is about this picture that captures my heart so much, is it the pensive look on the young mademoiselle's face? The fact that she's probably writing a love letter in some small french cafe with her glass of red wine and her fountain pen? Notice her sweet black purse?

And the waiter behind her? This picture just speaks volumes to me! The funny thing is that I had  it a short time and then watched the movie "The Way We Were" and in one of the last scenes of the movie I spied this in the background....almost died! What are the odds?
Wish I had that leather banquette she's sitting at though....

Vintage scripture cards.......

So I found these scripture cards on ebay a short while ago and when I opened the box I gasped!

Aren't they lovely? The colors are stunning to me..muted greys, blues, pinks, reds, sepia.

The box they came is isn't too pretty so I may need to fix it up a bit.

I've had newer scripture cards that have come in plastic containers but these put those to shame.
They've obviously been very heavily used, which I just love. I haven't decided where I'll display these yet, maybe just in a pretty basket in my foyer...where would you put them?

Also, the wallpaper journal and CREATE banner that I listed in my last post have sold in my Etsy shop, I'll be adding more of each of those items soon.
Have a great week friends!

Some new Etsy listings......

So it's getting to be holiday time! Yay! My goal this year is to buy all hand-made, how about you? Today I listed the wallpaper journal above (it's huge, about 400 blank pages).

This album was also added, made with old ledger pages.....

I also added this logomachy glittered banner for your studio....happy creating!

I ~heart~ Fall.........

The weather today could not have been more perfect! Sunshine, no wind to speak of, and around 70 degrees? What? This is Oregon in November? OK, I can live with it...

This pumpkin was inspired after I read Elizabeth Maxon's blog and she showed a pumpkin that a friend had made for her. I love using my old ledger pages for decorative items around my home...it's a way of being able to preserve and enjoy them. So I took one of my faux pumpkins (black but the color doesn't matter) and then just used some mod podge to help me cover my pumpkin...the "leaves" are some old velvet millinery that I bought on Etsy a while ago.

This lamp needed some dressing up so I strung my felt garland around it's shade. World Market carries these felt leaves every Fall, last year I missed out on them...not this year. They're simple and pretty.

These are real leaves that are still left on my redbud tree in my courtyard..it's such a pretty tree. The leaves are heart-shaped and they turn these luscious colors every Fall.

Pretty, right? I hope you take some time to look around your home and make some simple changes to go with this gorgeous season. We're hosting Thanksgiving this year and I'm so looking forward to it...get to use my new brown transferware!

One of my favorite things........!

Well, while talking with my bestie the other day she had a question about a picture in my Etsy shop...I sell ribbons and she was wondering about this stamp set that was pictured. I stamped some ribbon then wrapped it around an old tag, then stamped the tag with the word that corresponded.

And I was able to do that because of this fantastic stamp set...it was a gift from a friend...and if you ever see one of these sets my advice is to grab it quickly.  If it's affordable that is, because I've seen these go for quite a bit.

It was produced in 1932...for classrooms. Let me tell you, you could have hours of fun with this set.....making up silly sentences etc.

The stamps above have actual pictures of all of those items on them, yes, even a picture of George Washington! I've seen many of these little stamps being sold separately which is kind of sad that somewhere along the way the set got broken up.....

But that's what happens with a lot of our beloved vintage items, right?

In other news I'm happy to report that all my Halloween has been taken down and that was quite a job....I'm thinking a pared down next couple of months are on my agenda. Not so much "stuff" everywhere. After all, I think the eye needs a place to rest somewhere. Plus it makes your items that you do put out stand out more, right?