Wren's Nest

New look

Well, it's a work in progress, but I'm changing things up a bit on this ol' blog. I liked how it looked, but was getting bored. I wanted a warmer, more vintage-ish look, so I found this sweet banner at Polly's site (she does the amazing Porch magazine along with Tracie - if you don't have a copy - head over and get one, you wont' be sorry!)

New look, new year, new ideas, new chances taken...tomorrow is the big day...I am officially opening my own little online shop called DREAMS OF FRANCE. I'll do a big grand opening post tomorrow with the website address and all, so please stop by. We have some lovely things to share and more on the way - some lovely candles by Vintage Home Lifestyle, necklaces made exclusively for us by my friend Christina Ecklund Iantorno and lovely towels from the amazing Teresa Sheeley, plus a little give away, so please come on by here tomorrow and I'll give you directions to the shop!!

Sachet Love

Here's what I was up to yesterday - trying to use my time being stuck at home with a sick kid wisely! I've been meaning to make these for a long time!! I have all these amazing fabrics and thought this would be a fun way to use some of them (there are a couple I just can't cut into!). These are lavendar sachets, large, medium and small ~ tied up with seam binding ribbon and something cute and vintage on top (depending on what I have available).

Here's another just waiting to get stuffed!!

So fun to make - I just put my computer on the Netflix "watch now' and watch 30 Rock or The Office reruns and off I go!! Enjoy your day!

Coming Soon!

Coming February 1st...
Header image by Alice at Painted White.

Sneak Peek

Exicting!!

OK, like two minutes ago I decided I would just do it and signed up to go to this lovely event!!

Yikes! Totally out of my comfort zone, since I'll head down to LA by myself and won't "know" anyone!! Though I feel like I know lots of you through your blogs and e-mails and all. I'm doing the Sunday class, so I have to decide if I'm going Friday to go to their Friday night event or just head down on Saturday...hmmm... do I rent a car, where will I stay and all that is TBD, but I signed up and that's the biggest thing!! And bless this sweet lady's heart - she's been very patient with me!!

It's so funny how our lives change and we become either more adventurous or less adventurous. I used to travel alone quite a bit for work - even to London by myself, but now, just going 1 hour by plane to LA is a big deal. Funny - I guess it's just that you get out of practice. So, here's to doing new things in the new year like I had talked about ~ I'm REALLY excited!!! (Plus this is two weeks after our school auction that I'm chairing and Lord knows, I'll need the break, so it's a little treat to myself, which makes it especially special!!)

Have a great weekend!!

Studio Redo

Well, not completely, and it will be a sloooow process (what with the downturn and all...) My studio started out as a sewing room - or that was the idea at least. Once I got moved in after the remodel (a couple of years ago - maybe 18 months) - I was so happy to have my own space and get off the dining room table, but then, all of a sudden I couldn't do ANYTHING. Totally unmotivated, I froze and then I felt guilty that we had included this beautiful room in our addition and I wasn't using it for what I was supposed to. I have ended up being able to create and do some sewing and other stuff in here, but it's just always felt like it was missing something.

So, lately, with some new irons in the fire...I've needed it to become sort of an office/workroom. I think this is on the right track. I have all kinds of big ideas, and I think they'll all happen, but with the "new financial reality" (years ago when I was in marketing at Schwab, during another recession, the company called the situation the "new financial reality" and took all the Alhambra water things away...I'm sure that really saved a lot...) - so my husband and I joke about that phrase - it might take longer than my little impatient soul would like. Anyway, I did get a new "desk" - it's a cool table with a recycled pine wood top and painted legs - I LOVE it!!

 

So, that was number one. I'm waiting for a new bulletin board (I have shelves above the desk now and feel clautrophobic - and if an earthquake comes, well, let's just say it won't be pretty...). We're also putting some drapes up on a couple of the windows because if it's sunny, I can't be in here from like 1 to 5. (You can kind of see that from the pictures - try looking at a computer in that sun!)

Here's part of the room from the door...I love that armoire - we've had that forever and it's one of my favorite pieces in our whole house.

Here I am under the shelves - I look nervous, huh?

 

So, now I need a rug and I found THIS perfect French-ish rug in Ballard Design - so now I'm saving up for that! (I'd get the taupe one at the bottom).

 

That's what I'm up to - some of it, anyway!! Have a great weekend!

Almost ready...

I've had so much fun making my pages for the Vintage Valentine Fat Book - these are almost ready to be shipped off to Dede - she will be making up the books for all of us and sending them back out. I have a couple more pages to finish off and then will mail them this afternoon. I can't wait to see what the books look like!!

The picture of the couple on top are my great uncle and great aunt (my grandma's brother and his wife) - they're so cute! The picture of the lady in the car is my grammy - the picture was taken by my grandpa - the irony is that she never learned to drive!! Some of the pages have old pictures (copies of old pictures, actually) and some have vintage images - I was sort of all over the map with them, but I'm pretty happy with what evolved for my first time doing anything like this!!

Enjoy this wonderful inaugural day full of hope and joy!!

Paper...

Working with paper - new to me. I LOVE paper and have always bought paper goods - scrapbook papers, folders, notebooks, all of it. What did I do with it - largely nothing! I scrapbooked for a while and all three of my kids have scrapbooks I started for them(well, sort of). My main "crafts" have been with fabric - quilts, pincushions, that sort of thing. So, in my resolution to try new things this year, I joined this fun swap. It's a vintage valentine fat book - so I have to make 16 pages to share and I'll get a book back. I started pulling fabrics, papers, buttons, stamps, all sort of Valentine-y stuff - very fun! I haven't looked at my fabric stash in a long time - wow - there's some pretty stuff in there! Here are some of the things I'll be thinking about working with -

and here's where I got some great inspiration~

Wow - there are some talented ladies featured in these magazines!! So fun to look at. There are so many amazing ideas in these issues (and all the issues) and I was so happy to know that the things I was thinking about for my pages weren't crazy - I was on the right track! Phew!  So, back to making things for me - it's been a while, but I'm excited to try working with all these fun materials all together!! I'll let you know what happens...

Check it Out - Part Deux

More fun things happening in blogland..

To celebrate the inauguration of our new President - Jamie from Simply Me Art will be holding a give-away - check out her blog for all the details. Jamie makes beautiful, unique jewelry and I'm happy to say I have several pieces! She also has an etsy shop . Don't you love the picture - patriotic bling!!

For those of you who love all things French (and who doesn't), pop on over to Rhonda's blog. She's hosting a fun event on Feb 16 and 17 for everyone to share all of their wonderful choses francaise (french things) and she'll be doing a giveaway on both days, so check it out (plus, this button is so cute!)!

 

Check it out...

My friend Kasey the lovely proprietor at Lola B's Boutique is generously having a give away on her blog - she's also got some amazing new jewelry in her shop...the picture is from her blog - the necklace - is mine (well, it will be...as soon as it gets here).


So, for the down low on the giveaway - check it out at Lola B!!