Blogging. How does this work?

I had dinner with some dear friends this week and they made some excellent suggestions for the blog. I'd like to incorporate them into what I'm doing here.

I started the blog because so many people ask me so many questions about how to do things. For some reason, I got the problem solving gene... to be fair so did my brother.

Here's the plan: I'd like to start theme days.

Monday would be DIY day. That would give you time to gather things for your own weekend project.

Tuesday might highlight what I'm working on this week.

Wednesday? I need suggestions. It's hump day, and we all need a pick me up that day.

Thursday is inspiration day. I need to dream on Thursdays in anticipation of the weekend.

Friday might be a cooking lesson day with pictures and recipes. Maybe that will inspire me to do something yummy over the weekend?

Saturday and Sunday I'm going to reserve for "Weekend Wanderings" - places to visit across the nation. That's assuming I make it anywhere any time soon.

So what do you think? Do you like that plan? Does it make you want to come back and read? Post your comments and suggestions below!

Inspiration Thursday! UK Wedding Flowers Magazine

I'm going to try to share something that inspires me every Thursday. Since there are many things that inspire me, I'm hoping I can keep this up for a while!

This week, I present the British magazine called Wedding Flowers. Available at Barnes and Noble and sometimes at Michael's each issue is a treasure trove of flower arrangements, wedding tips and snippets of real weddings.

Occasionally, I help friends with their wedding flowers and stumbled across this particular magazine when I was looking for a portable resource to show brides which flowers I was describing. Each issue focuses on a season - usually a season ahead - and gives layouts that contain new and interesting arrangements that follow the trends of that season. I've often found that this alerts me to trends a little ahead of the bridal magazines here in the US, which inspires me to make arrangements that are ahead of their time!

Every issue contains an article that highlights a particular aspect of a wedding. For example, one might have a section on wedding cakes. Another might have an article on scents for your special day. Others might talk about trends in bridesmaid gowns or new trends in favors. Each article, though, is beautifully laid out and truly inspirational.

My favorite section, however, is always in the center of the magazine - the arrangement

section. There are always flowers that would be readily available in that season and each is more creative than the next. Sometimes it's an interesting vase, sometimes it's what they put into the vase or the way they arrange the flowers in the vase. Bridal and bridesmaid bouquets often have interesting wraps or ribbons. And each is photographed on a white background so that there are no distractions from the beauty of the arrangement.

This month in particular, there's an article on the current trend of personalizing a wedding by using a variety of containers for centerpieces, such as old tins, teacups, tiny creamer pitchers or silver pieces. An example of this concept is later included in the center arrangement section. And at the end of each magazine is a color coded flower guide to help explain a bride's choices. It's helped me explain more than once the difficulty of finding a true blue flower!

So that's one of my creative inspirations. Do you have a magazine that inspires you? I'd love to know what it is! Share your inspiration in the comments below!

Sisters

If you're very lucky in life, you have people in your life who begin as friends, but end up as adopted family. I'm very thankful I have many women in my life who've adopted me just as much as I've adopted them. I've got many, many sisters at this point in my life and each brings so much joy, talent, wisdom and support to my life. I'm especially thankful since I started out with only a brother to my name.

For some reason, these sister-friends have correlated to different phases in my life - bringing my love an support as I've grown and changed. They've listened as I've grouched, cried and jumped for joy. And no matter how crazy my ideas, they love the crazy in me.

I had three women stand with me when I was married (through what one of them called the longest ceremony on earth). One is a friend from high school who went to my church, but with whom I bonded in typing class of all things. We sat together hacking at electric typewriters back in the 1980s and now we share a love of making jewelry - among other things. She's a horse lover (her first son's name is Brady if you ask her) and even though she didn't think she wanted kids, she was surprised with a little boy about five years ago. I was able to visit with her just last week. I LOVE seeing her with her son and I'm so glad God knew better for her life.

I've also got two college friends who've become sisters. To one, I'm Auntie Deb to her three boys and I CHERISH each one of them as if they really were of my own blood. They are precious to me as is their mother who has the patience of a SAINT.

My other college friend is the creative talent behind Milk Money Designs, a line I'll soon be featuring in the Etsy shop. Her name is Kat and if you ask her, anything "wicked" I've done in my life, I was probably egged on by her to do it. Her parents have become my adopted parents here in DC. Mama E has helped me through many a trial in my life and she makes killer stollen at Christmas (I'm still trying to master it despite her patient instruction).

Another is a friend from law school who is now a practicing attorney making her way in the big NYC. She's that friend who is so stylish and BRILLIANT - passed two bar exams in three days - sometimes I wonder why in the world she deigned to hang out with plain old me. But it works, and she keeps up with me even when I'm off in la la creative land bringing sanity and a dry sense of humor to my world.

Then there are my 10-40 girls. These are women I met many years out of school with whom I have prayed, laughed, cried and eaten for the past six years or so. We have a cook book to prove it. They know my deepest secrets, joys and sadness. They too are an incredibly talented, intelligent group of women who make my life so rich and who love me for who I am. I'm so proud to call them sisters too.

So why am I writing about all these women? Because Saturday all these women played a part in my day and I felt I should say thank you in a way.

I went to Mama E's house to catch up Kat, who's been living in Canada for nearly nine months now. She's in town visiting her parents and we'd planned a day together. Mama E has a GORGEOUS house and even more beautiful gardens full of flowering trees. I love going to their house if only for the peace that descends when you walk through the door and are surrounded with love.

As usual, I walked into the house, yelled hello from the door and was greeted by all with hugs and kisses. I was immediately offered food and tea and a seat in the newly-renovated kitchen that overlooks the back yard with an incredible flowering cherry tree. As I watched the sunlight hit the tree, I had to jump up and try to capture the light on the blossoms on the tree and other plants in the garden.

I'd taken along with me my camera - a fancy digital SLR that wouldn't have been possible without the contribution of many of the women listed above. Several of them got together for a recent "landmark" birthday of mine and gave me a check toward the purchase of that camera - a gift that's given me so much joy in the past several months!

So as I was out in the garden snapping away, I was thinking of all the women in my life who helped me get this wonderful camera for this beautiful day so I could capture the beauty around me. Later Kat and I shared news of the sister-friends from my wedding. How are they? What are they doing? Made anything fun lately? It was a great time to catch up and remember our times together.

As I left, I was glowing with the love of so many sisters who've filled my life with joy. And a surrogate Mama who's always ready with advice, hugs and love... not to mention a killer garden and the generosity to share that beauty with me. I am truly blessed. Thank you sister-friends for all you've given me in this life. You are the bright lights around me!

P.S. The photos in this posting are all from Mama E's garden!

DIY Bathroom Renovation - Tiling a floor Part 2: Laying the tile

You've pulled everything out of the room. You've cleaned the floor. You've laid the backer board. And you've collapsed in exhaustion. But now, you've rested your weary back and you're ready to proceed to the next step, right??

Well, get ready for the fun part. Laying tile.

Before you get your mortar out and actually start putting down your tile, I'd suggest laying it out first. This will give you an idea of the cuts you're going to have to make. It will also help you see how the design will lay out. Some people recommend starting from the center of the room and working out.

I usually work from the far wall and work toward the door of the room, but this is where laying out the tile before hand is important. Visualize how the finished tile will look by laying it out. You might not like the layout and want to change it. For this particular project, I started on one wall and worked over toward the other wall. Because the tile is small, this worked out for me and saved me having to make cuts on both sides of the room. Because I started on one edge, I only had to cut when I got to the other side of the room. Keep in mind too, if you have large tiles, how much of those tiles will be left at the threshold of your doors. Aesthetically, that could make the difference in where you start. You might also want to lay a chalk line to make sure you keep the tile straight.

Once you've laid out your flooring, it's time to gather your tools. I highly suggest getting a wet saw for tile cutting before you start laying it. It's a messy proposition, but it makes the job so much easier. And, of course, remember to always wear your safety goggles when cutting. The saw spits like crazy! Additionally, I use tile snips for the smaller pieces of tile.

You should also have your mortar for this step - you can find this in the tiling section of any home improvement store. To lay that mortar, you'll need a notched trowel (also in the tiling section). This trowel helps ensure an even layer of mortar, which is important in keeping the floor level so the tiles won't crack. Grab your level to check your work. You'll need spacers to make sure the laid tiles are even (see photos below). With the small tile I used for this project, I got spacers the same size as the spaces in the pre-laid tile sections. Finally, grab some rags and keep them wet to help clean up slops.

You've laid out the tile. You're happy with the layout. It's time to lay some mortar.

Work in small sections - I recommend no more than two tile sections at a time - and be aware of the instructions on the mortar you're using. Some need time to set up a bit before you lay the tile. Grab some mortar out of your bucket with your trowel and lay it out so that the notches touch your backer board and you're left with lines of mortar. I like to criss cross them a bit. Then lay your tile section out making sure it's evenly laid on the floor. Add spacers to the edge where you're going to lay your next section of tile and then lay the next piece. Make sure your spacers are tight against both pieces of tile - sometimes you'll have to shift your laid tile a bit to make sure everything's tight and even. Do this while the mortar is still tacky and before it's completely set up.

Keep your level handy to check every couple tiles you lay that you're continuing to lay an even floor. Again, that's important in the end because you don't want cracked tiles!

If you look in the photo above and below, you'll see that the tile against the wall and the side of the bathtub was missing part of the black center tile. Because it wasn't going to be covered by a trim piece and because we didn't want a pile of grout in that place, we went back with half diamonds
we'd cut from extra pieces of tile and filled in those spaces making sure they were evenly laid as well. It made the finished project look so much more complete!

Keep moving from one side of the room to the other (I work left to right) until you get to the door. Continue to check that you've laid the tile evenly. Once you've gotten to the door, you're done for the day. You've got to wait at least 24 hours for the mortar to dry - check the directions on the container for exact timing.

Next up? The wonderful world of grouting! I'd suggest finding a buddy for this one....

You are my inspiration... Yvette?

Photo property of circ

Can you name that tune?

I was thinking this evening about where I find inspiration. Sometimes I find inspiration in music, which could be why I know some pretty obscure music. Often I find inspiration in nature. You can probably tell that from the pictures I take. Sometimes the raw materials themselves bring me the inspiration I need. J calls it making something out of nothing.

Occasionally I stumble across a design that shows me I'm not alone in finding inspiration from the materials that make up the finished whole. The other day, I fell in love. I often look around other shops on Etsy to see how other artists are using vintage materials in a new way. There's a particularly wonderful shop called "circ" that uses vintage pins - that were individually beautiful - and creates a larger, more beautiful whole.

I especially like the Bluebird Necklace, shown here and in the picture above. The color and design are just spectacular and I am now on a quest to find my very own set of pins to make my own flower garden necklace. The true beauty of this type of piece is that no two will ever be alike! Well, that and the fact that it gives me an excuse to haunt thrift shops and estate sales... but that's another post altogether.

So where do you find your inspiration? From the flowers in the field, the mountains in the distance or a vibrant sunrise? From a compelling lyric or melodic phrase? Or do you see the beauty in a fellow artist's work? Wherever you find your inspiration, I hope you keep looking!

Falling behind?

It's been a couple weeks since I've posted and I guess it's because I've been falling behind. I'm not sure where the time goes and I'm really not sure how others manage to carve out the time it takes to run a business on the side and keep up a blog.

Since I'm behind on the business, I figured I'd share what I HAVE been doing the past few weeks. I work for an advertising agency. We do what's called issue advertising, which means I don't sell toothpaste, I sell ideas or concepts. Usually we're advocating for a piece of legislation, sometimes it's a candidate, sometimes we're helping a company with their branding or reputation. Theoretically, I should be better at branding myself, but I have found it's somehow harder when YOU are the product. Anyone with me?

I've spent most of the day working on a TV spot. This is pretty much the sexy stuff in advertising. I do a ton of print and quite a bit of online, but most of my days are spent just making sure the wheels are turning in the right direction in a campaign. So when I get to work on a TV spot, the day gets a little more exciting.

Because we're advocating for a piece of legislation, this particular spot is to tell legislators their constituents support the legislation. It should also let people know why we're advocating for this position so they can join our group if they're so inclined.

That meant going out with a video camera a couple weeks ago and shooting what people had to say on our issue. We had about 8 people who were willing to get on camera and talk about this issue - mostly just telling us what they think about it. We went through about an hour and a half of tape looking for exactly the right clips that would tell the story we need to tell in 30 seconds. This can become difficult if people are long winded because, quick fact, it usually takes 30 seconds to say 70 words.

Did I mention I've learned to liberally edit my writing in this job?

So today I spent many hours in a room with an editor sorting through the clips, trying to find just the right combination that would lay out the problem and the solution for our issue all ending with a rousing call to action. We're heading back tomorrow to finish what I think - at this moment - is very close to telling the story I need to tell. Sometimes, though, you have to look away from a piece in order to figure out how the puzzle will eventually fall into place as it should.

It made me realize that this is what I love about the creative process. You can start with a pile of random stuff and end up with something that makes sense - if only to you. And if you're lucky, you'll make a thing of beauty.

I'm probably justifying myself, but I think sometimes it's okay to fall behind. Because creativity can't be rushed. And the laundry is going to be there tomorrow.

I hope you'll be here tomorrow too.

Buttons... buttons... buttons....

To say I've had a life long love of buttons probably doesn't exactly convey the crazy little welling of joy when I "find" a new stash of these little jewels. I think anyone who loves buttons understands what I mean. It's somewhat irrational the temptation to take each find home, add it to your special button pile that's kept for only the best of projects. And forget looking on ebay. That's just asking money to pour from your pockets in waves... at least that's true for me.

The first place I remember treasure hunting is in my Mama's button box - the button box that was added to her mother's button box, that was added to her mother's button box, and on, and on. I come from a long line of button hoarders. I remember there being smaller boxes and prescription bottles where an attempt at sorting had taken place. Pearl buttons were with pearl buttons, six of the same button strung together with string and baby buttons gathered in a Sucrets tin. I'd pick through them and pull out the ones I liked best, sorting as I went (I'm more than a little OCD, I admit it).

Then there are specific instances I remember being with Mama and finding buttons that demanded a special outfit, or an outfit that demanded special buttons. One such sighting was in Asheville, NC in a yarn shop. They had these amazing pewter buttons with thistles that were something like $8 each. My high school budget certainly couldn't afford such an outrageous sum, and even begging garnered only 3 of these precious thistles that later found a home on one of Mama's creations. Then there were the special trips to G-Street Fabrics in Rockville, MD with their rows of shelves of buttons that completed more than one of my formal gowns and countless jackets.

These days I haunt estate sales and flea markets hoping to find that box of a lifetime - the one with the carved pearl, the czech glass, the painted glass, faceted jet - buttons that go beyond the brown and black of most button boxes. And after years of searching I remember only three sales that really blew me away. The best was the flea market in Fairmont, WV where I found two large boxes of buttons, one white, one multi-colored, sitting under a table offered for $10 for the lot. I snapped those up!

I'm often left relying on the kindness of strangers. I had a former co-worker who cleaned out her mother's house after her death who remembered I was "crafty" and offered me the leftovers of a lifetime of sewing. That gift included not only buttons, but yarns and notions and books on pattern drafting - all welcome additions to my collection.

Most recently, my mother-in-law heard that I was again collecting buttons to use in my jewelry design. I had finally found a way to incorporate my love of buttons into my need to create. She unearthed her golden tin of buttons collected as a child with HER grandmother by going to the local salvage yard and pulling buttons from discarded clothing.

So how about you? Do you keep your buttons in their original boxes? Are yours sorted in old prescription bottles? Did some of your collection come from your mother or grandmother? Did you string them when you were young? Do you design outfits around the most special of your collection?

Am I alone in my love of buttons? I doubt I am.