What Inspires You Wednesday: Handmade

Small Equals Big Gift Guide Vol. 3

This week, there is no denying it. If you haven't started your Christmas shopping, you better get to it. It's coming and time waits for no one.   It's also time to think about what the holidays really mean to you. Do they mean fighting crowds in big box stores to find gifts that will be given over and over and over again. Or is it a time to find something more personal?

I'm inspired today by things that have been handmade with love so they can be in turn, given in love with an extra dose of thoughtfulness. There are so many artisans handcrafting beautiful things that anyone would be proud to give and happy to receive, and that to me is inspiring, especially at this time of year.

Here are a  few of my picks.

sources:

vase via nelle design

natural soap via kalamazoo soap co.

fingerless gloves via aurelia felt studio

pillow case via casa & co

white stoneware dishes via christiane sutherland

owl print via stone and violet

pendant light via lightfixture tamar

heart neclace via mimok

table runner via north country comforts

custom monogram spoon via sycamore hill



So, while you're wondering how you're going to find the perfect gifts to finish your list, consider handmade. 


Happy Birthday Garman


It's Garrett's birthday today and I, for one, am so glad he was born. I'm also glad that he ventured to America and landed in the Bronx, otherwise.....what are the chances we would have met?


He's the yin to my yang, the peanut butter to my jelly, he's Lindt chocolate truffle in my Christmas stocking (anyone from the Seacoast of NH will understand that last one, and if you've never had a Lindt truffle, it's far time you did....but I digress). The weird to my weird.


Here's to you babe. You 'da man'.

(note: we do NOT have that much snow at the moment, but we did a couple of years ago).

Happy Birthday Babe! Love ya.


Hope you all have a great day.

Ciao for now,

24 And So Much More

Just Us

Today marks twenty four years married for me and the G-man. I truly don't know where the time goes.

It seems like just yesterday. OK, not yesterday. How about last week? OK, not last week, but certainly last year. OK, maybe not last year, but it definitely doesn't seem like 24 years ago that we walked down the aisle. It really doesn't.

It looks like a long time ago, but it doesn't seem like it.

Here we are....newlyweds. G-man makes it look like a robbed the cradle, but I didn't.

I show you these two pictures to prove that I've been a crafty gal for a long time. I made my own headpiece which had beautiful opalescent beads on the front (that matched the sequins on the bodice of my gown) and a seriously 80s floral spray on the side.

I also spray painted the hats my maid of honor Tina and bridesmaid Robin wore. I'm not kidding. I spray painted them and nobody was ever the wiser. We also lucked out and found their dresses off the rack at Macy's and they both fit perfectly. They were meant to be.

I guess kind of like us.  We fit perfectly off the rack too. No adjustments needed.  We clicked right from the get go. 

We met when mutual friends Gavin and Nadege were going to see Rocky Horror Picture Show and we were all mashed into the same car. We've been together ever since.

It's been a pretty darn good ride so far.

Sure we're a little older.

Sometimes a little wiser.



We've made a lot of memories and have more to make.

We're a little heavier and have more wrinkles.

Mostly, we're just as happy as when we started and more importantly, happy to  be together.

Pretty much, we're still just us.

I wouldn't want to go through life with anyone other than you Babe.


We're at the end of more thundershowers. They're nearly done. It lashed rain. Wishing it would be kind enough to pour down on Colorado to stop the fire. 

Hope you all had a great weekend. Ours was full of yard and house stuff, a little swimming in the pool and breakfast at the 401. It was all good.

See you on the flip side.