French Poppy

Seeing Red

Sara from Sadie Olive is having a little play along themed photography week. 

Please go check out her blog for all the details. 

Love this idea and all that inspires.  So if you love photography, this is a great way for all of us to get our cameras busy and play "i spy" RED. 

Sara's roses are so beautiful aren't they?

 

 

 

Here is a little peek of my "red" photography.  I know Sara gave a specific date, but just in case I can't post on that day due to working on Farm Chicks goodies I wanted to post one photo this evening.  I love all things vintage, even beat up old trucks abandoned on an empty street. 

Daily Diary:

How many of you are signed up for French Word-A-Day?   It is such a great way to learn a little french.  I know I am totally not saying the words correctly most of the time, but hey I try.  Today's word that was in my email box and the first thing I read this morning was: brouette (broo-et) meaning wheelbarrow!  Who knew?  It's fun to challenge yourself and try to use the word you learned throughout the day, even if you don't say it out loud, just say it in your noggin.

Today I was a busy beaver getting ready for the Farm Chicks show next weekend.  My accomplishments today: 

Sewed 7 pillows, and 63 mini sachets.  Phewww that was more work than I anticipated.  I wouldn't make a very good factory worker I don't think.  Now it's bedtime and my dogs are really sick of getting thread thrown on them and want me to stop sewing!  It was pretty funny as I looked down after throwing mounds of cut thread and letting it drop all over my Princess.  She was covered, it looked like someone sprayed her with crazy string. 

Now I am going to dream of pushing my little brouette down my rows and rows of lavender I have planted. Picking my lavender buds for my sachet sacks I made today.

Lil' Bitty Crush & Cards

Good heavenly stars...I have a itty bitty crush on Hell's Kitchen Master Chef himself Gordon Ramsay.  I don't know what it is about him, he is just somewhat sexy, not sure why,maybe it's that dashing British accent, and hello it's even better when he speaks french.  Yeah, he is not a very nice man on Hell's Kitchen, but watch Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, and you too will have a sweet spot for him, his finesse and humor.  I know, I know, I can hear my friend Lori saying, oh my gosh my friend is really quarky!  But watch this man make scrammbled eggs. Also, have a few new designs that I placed at my Etsy store for sale. 

 

Today:

Extrodinarily grumpy today, for no reason really, just irritible.  Ever had those glorious days?  Yep me too.  I went to aerobic class this morning hoping for more energy, but nada.  So needless to say I let my negativity control my actions for the most part all day.  I have major things to accomplish and was not productive today at all.  See this is what happens when you work for yourself.  You don't have the same sense of responsibility as you would if you worked for someone else.  The discipline is tough, because like today, I shrugged off everything that needed to be done and basically subjected myself to my negativity.  Tough goings today.  I did take my daughter to our local second hand store to scout out jewelry findings, and sighted a someone having a yard sale on Wednesday, kinda weird, because normally they are during the weekend.  But nothing productive was found--at either place.  I think a hot bath and a good nights sleep is in order--maybe my inner spirit will be more positive tomorrow. 

Walls of Love

I love art, lots of art, and in my living room I have a wall that has a few of my favorite artists hanging about.  It's nice to sit and stare and admire art when you just want a relaxing moment.  Like today, I had a busy day of getting catalogs ready to send to potential customers, ordering, creating, yada, yada.  And it's so nice to look around at my walls and get enjoyment from them.  I would say my home is beginning to be a bit eclectic.  It's just becoming a hodge podge of things I love. 

Ahh yes, let's all rejoice and be glad! 

Daily Diary:

Today started off reading an email from my tennis buddies, reminding all of us, which we all forgot that today was Tuesday after tennis brunch!  Great, I had to think quick, what can I take to the brunch, I have nothing prepared, it's 6:30 and I have to leave at 7:45.  I have chocolate and butter, of course I'll make brownies, with buttercream chocolate raspberry frosting!  My hair was flipping out everywhere on my head  so I had to take some time to flatten that ugliness out, while my brownies are baking of course.  Okay multi-task time; iron some clothes for hubbys work attire, cook some breakfast, and get ready for tennis.  Didn't have time to frost the warm brownies, they were out of the oven at 7:30, poor pan of brownies no time to cool.  Said a little prayer with hubby, and loaded my frosting, brownie pan, knife and plate into the truck and headed down the lane.  Made it to tennis five minutes before start time and realized that I totally forgot to brush my teeth!  How the heck did I do that.  Geez, I thought I was good at multi tasking, but when baking is involved nothing else matters, except of course my freaked out hair. 

Our little smorgasbord after tennis was quite yummy and filling.  The past couple of days have been hand to mouth, hand to mouth, I am stuffed.  We talked about the great wine tasting there was at our new winery that just opened in our little town.  

Time to go home and get busy with work stuff; I had some wholesale catalogs to get ready to mail; make some greeting cards I sold at my etsy store.   Visited with my mom today, but it was in the middle of her stories, so she wasn't very talkative.  As the World Turns was on my gosh, what was I thinking!  Carly and Holden are playing with fire on that show!  (those of you who watch the stories know what I mean) Back to work after our visit and errands to the post office, my at least every other day stop; I think they secretly don't like it when I arrive with all my packages.  Which by the way I love writing out all of my packages and seeing where they go to different parts of the world.  There are so many unique named cities out there.

Now I am nestled next to my little black chihuahua and watching the French Open.  Wishing I had married a chiropractor, because I could really use a neck adjustment about now.  But I guess a mortician/ real estate agent is okay too, he just can't pop my neck! 

Art on walls from left to right:  The Black Apple, Kayla Sheeley Art, and Joseph Blake.(love his art!!)

In Memory Of....

 

Frank Miller

This is my daddy Frank; he passed away when I was only 5 years old.  Sorry to say that I don't remember a whole lot about him.  I do have a few little memories of being on his shoulders and listening and feeling my breath and heartbeat keep in time with his footsteps.  I also remember going to Rock's grocery store where they had a bakery with the best cupcakes ever.  I think this is why I love cupcakes so much. 

So in memory of my father and to all of those brave individuals who served our country.  Blessings to you all!  And THANK YOU!

Cottage Charm Give Away!

Hi everyone!  Finally in between getting ready for the Farm Chicks show and housework, etc...I got my give away ready for Kim's annual Cottage Charm Give Away!  The only things cottage I have to offer are a tea dyed soft chandelier pillow and a set of 6 notecards.  The drawing will be on Saturday, May 31st. You have until then to leave a comment for all the give aways for this event, and if you don't have a blog please still enter just by leaving your email address.  There are some spectacular give aways going on there, so I hope you get a chance to enter them all! 

Thanks for entering!  And good luck with them all!  Ooo wouldn't it be cool to win like a whole bunch of them!! :)

quiet moments

i live in a pretty place, filled with solitude and peace.  it is a quiet area; primitive almost; which sometimes can be a bad thing, and sometimes a good thing.  when i look out at all of this, i get all twisted inside, conflicted and confused.  this is where i come from; but i don't know if it's where i am going or staying.

many times, especially lately, i have dreams, big dreams of leaving all of this and moving to a new different place.  letting go of everything i know, and going somewhere i know nothing.  my town is simple, not really a lot going on much of the time.  it definitely doesn't have much in the way of artsy things unless you travel a bit west to a neighboring town that has some like minded people.   i am happy most of the time in my peaceful tranquil place, but i know there is more out there that could offer more and give more.   what does your heart tell you?  are you settled where you are?  do you wish for change?  when i look out at our space it's hard to think of giving it up, but my heart is also being pulled by the ocean, now that is another piece of solitude you can't deny.

Spoiled by a Friendship

I certainly don't deserve it but I have it, a great friend who spoils me wonderfully.  This is Lori, she is one of my bff's since probably 7th, 8th grade, except I have known her forever.  We just were in different circles during grade school, but started a great friendship thereafter.  Lori is full of life and spunk, every bit of woman I wish I were more of.  She is spontaneous, a traveler, and fearless, I love that about her.  And to think she thinks of me on her little excursions, and saves her treasures in a box for me.  This latest box of goodies I got was a mixture of my birthday, Christmas, Valentines, and whatever holiday may fall in her box; and then she gave it to me, when she was ready too.  Although I think if she would have kept it a little longer, I could have possible cashed in a few more surprises. ((wink)). 

These are the treasures that were in my box, that came from all kinds of different places throughout the US.  That adorable little Santa came from Time Square, a wonderful cross necklace from another city, and one of my favorites of the treasure box, the Cupcake book!!  Love it!!  This girl knows me, and gets me and my quirkiness probably more than anyone.  I know if you met her you would be swept away by her charm and the sparkle she has for life.   I think it's pretty okay for two 40ish old women to still act like they are 16ish isn't it?  But this usually only happens when we are together.  Otherwise I think we may act pretty adult, well...maybe!! :)

*new spring/summer collection*

The French Poppy Greeting spring/summer collection of greeting cards available here.  For right now these are just available in single cards, but after the Farm Chicks show there will be boxed notecards available.   If you are at the show, the boxed sets will be available there. 

On another note; how is your weather?  We went from winter to summer, I don't remember spring, it's been close to 100 degrees here and to top it off, our air conditioning went belly-up!  No repair guys available on the weekend, so we have to tough it out until Monday.  Hopefully it will start to cool off, saying this as my fingers are crossed. :)  (((sigh)))   

feels like home

It feels good to have a messy work table with coffee stains, paint, ink, thread, paper, glue and gunk spread all over.  I really wish I were OCD about cleanliness, but I am not.  It would be spectacular to have clean all over when working, but it just isn't my main focus.  I feel good about my mess, if it were too sterile I don't think I could be in the artistic zone.  But I do wish I were more into cleaning up after myself.  Also it would be good probably not to spread my work all over the house, I need a central location, but can't seem to stay in one place while working.  I have to move to a different table so I don't miss certain tv shows, I work in the office area if I just want to listen to music, and then there is the outside table when I need some vitamin D.  I think I need a really big room for a workspace with a plasma tv, bose radio, and a small kitchen, yep that's it, then I would be pretty complete.   yes sir that feels like home.

New Designs

Just wanted to give a sneak peek in to the new French Poppy Greetings designs I have been working on for the Farm Chicks show.

they will be available in single cards, and in sets of 8 notecards.

I was thinking maybe a couple of them might look okay as art prints too.

 

or maybe postcards.  and no french poppy watermarks are on the prints, they look kinda funky, but it was for protection only for this blog.

I hope you enjoyed the little sneak peek.  There are about 5 more designs, but some aren't quite finished yet.  Okay, back to work...:)