Saturday: Week In Pictures

via batesmercantileco.

This Week Flew

Hey gang. Is it just me or did this week fly? Phew, it whipped right by in the blink of an eye. It was full. 

Got lots of work done, including shipping prints and products from Bates Mercantile Co. to far away places.

On my Speakeasy front (for those of you who don't know, I've owned my own pr/adv/marketing firm for 18 years) I spent time designing a new logo and business card for my client/friend Deb, among many other things.

Deb happens to be a fabulous photographer and will be shooting some of the G-man's Lia products next week.

Speaking of G-man's products, I added his small pedestal votive/planter to Bates Mercantile Co. this week (which you can also try to win in the giveaway). Love this one.

via Lia Artisan Concrete Designs & Bates Mercantile Co.

I also added this fabulous belt to our etsy shop...

via Bates Mercantile Co.

....and two new illustrations. This one makes me happy. I am not a morning person, but I've been known to say 'good morning sunshine' to people who are.  It's colorful, it's got dala horses, and it just makes me smile. I think it would be too cute in a kitchen, a kids room or nursery, or wherever for that
matter.

via Bates Mercantile Co.

This one makes me laugh. We've all said it at one time or another, but can you really imagine? It would be frightful.

via Bates Mercantile Co.

We also enjoyed part of Dublin family for a couple of days (more on that tomorrow).

Spent some time in the pool. Ah, sunset from the pool. What a way to unwind from the day. This shot did it's own thing, but I think it's pretty cool.

We got a little rain....ok, another lashing of rain. There was more last night, and it was a slower, steadier rain. Just what we needed.

Our brief encounters with rain made my phlox pop.

It also meant I didn't have to spend serious amounts of time watering everything. For this I am grateful.

Sunset Meadows

I get a better shot of Sunset Meadows if I actually get out of the pool.

I am eternally grateful for our sunsets.

I am also grateful that is the weekend. Working at my desk today. Gar's just back from errands and is about to start pouring some stepping stones for our friend.  Later will sure bring some pool time and 4th of July Chowda' from the freezer. Dang, I nearly forgot....I'm still hosting 'the party that wouldn't end'. It has been a busy week.

What was your week like? What's hot for today?

catch ya on the flip side,

Progress, Not Perfection

via lia artisan concrete designs

A Lesson To Learn

As you can imagine, we've both been quite busy with the launch of G's new business, lia artisan concrete designs.  In a short time, my husband has been testing mixes, testing forms, hand casting his designs, hand sanding his designs, hand sealing his designs. He has been making progress.

We can now safely say, he has inventory.

He secured another wholesale account last week, Rolling Green Nursery and will be delivering his order to Beth this week.  It made Beth's day that she was able to do business with a local craftsman. It made us happy that Beth not only placed an order, but was supportive of Gar's new venture in more than one way. She even offered Garrett the shipping supplies- burlap and packing materials- that come with some of the products she receives at the nursery.

There is of course, a lot more to do. At times though, you have to stop and think about how far you've come in a short time. 

Now, if we could only find an affordable shipping alternative for his products, which are on the heavy side, we'd really be making great strides. So for those of you who asked about getting your hands on some of Garrett's work, we haven't forgotten about you. We're working on the research end so that we can offer the best shipping options for our customers. 

Also, I've been waiting for paypal's new card reader 'Here' to launch so that we can accept credit card payments via our smart phones. Unfortunately, paypal seems to be taking their sweet time. We may just go with square since they're already up and running.

I'm in the midst of tweaking designs for his collateral (wholesale guide, business cards, brochure, etc) and that in itself is a lot of work.

Then there's the bookkeeping setup..........................ok, let's not go there today.

Let's just suffice it to say, we're happy with the progress. There is no sense in expecting perfection every step of the way because we're human after all. Who knew?

Progress. Yeah, I like the sound of that word.

It's shaping up to be a jam packed week. What's been happening in your world?

all for now,

Things I Found After the Party

Gems, Giggles & Geramiums, Oh My

Once again, what a fabulous party. The things the guests brought this time around, are no different than any of the link parties before. Awesome stuff people. Awesome.

My etsy friend and Treasury Island teammate Marci has a wonderful jewelry shop called 3Pearls. You should see some of her crocheted bead bracelets (how do you do that by the way? want to do a tutorial Marci??). That said, although she brought one of her crocheted lovelies to the party, that's not what caught my eye. When I popped by her shop again, I saw this beautiful tourmaline necklace. It's a favorite for obvious reasons.

via 3Pearls

Another one of my etsy friends and another etsy Treasury Island teammate, Kate- aka Miss Vintage, owns Storytellers Vintage.  She really finds some of the best stuff. Like this backpack. Oh the stories it could tell. 

via storytellersvintage

Classic.

via storytellersvintage

You know what's always been really fun about the link party for me? I get to see some familiar faces, but also make new friends. Here I was, making my way around the room when I ran into Giggles and Toots. Well, right off - LOVE the name. Toots is a thing in my family. We'll have to blame it on my Dad. He calls us toots. So I've come to call my nieces toots. In fact two of my nieces named their turtle Toots because of it. See why I love the name? Back to the party. Look what I found when I got to know Giggles and Toots a little better.

Cute sleeptime owl. What kid wouldn't want to rest their head on this pillow at night?

 

via giggles and toots

Or how about sweet dreams? This chenille this pillow is made of looks SO soft!

via giggles and toots

If you want to wake up your senses, then how about a little stroll through a perfectly wonderful Spring greenhouse thanks to Sweet Posy Dreams.

Lynette and I are obviously of the same thinking......I always use Geraniums in my window boxes and in my backstoop planter.  Love 'em and they shout Memorial Day to me, mostly because that's when I'm usually planting them.

The excitement of Spring. Something new each day. Scratch that. The excitement of a new house! Woohoo! So happy to find out that Paige at Little Nostalgia and her husband have found a new home. Moving from their condo has been on their list, but finding the right home in their budget seemed daunting. Now they can check it off their list. Another thing I love about blogging, is you get to share in these wonderful moments.  The bedroom redo that Paige was planning is now officially ON HOLD, for the best kind of reason.  Congratulations Paige!

via little nostalgia

I really enjoy these get togethers, exploring your blogs, your stores and getting know you all a little better. I hope you enjoy them too.

Elle Moss Photo Challenge

I missed submitting in time for the 'Into the Sun' challenge, but here's my entry/ies (I always find it hard to choose) for you guys to see. A beautiful day at the beach. In January no less.

Today's Elle Moss Photo Challenge subject: Three Things.

G-man just looked out the window and said, "It's lashing."  A very wet day here, for now at least. Hoping it clears up a little bit sooner than they expect. Guess we have to have the rainy days to make the sunny days that much better.

Enjoy the day, whatever it is doing, in your corner of the world and we'll do the same here.  What is it dong in your corner of the world? Is the sun shining or do you have your wellies on?  What's on your agenda for the day? Ours includes inventory for Lia Artisan Concrete Designs, and the projects on my desk for Speakeasy include bumper sticker and t-shirt design, ad campaign planning and bookwork.

Ciao for now,

Wild Thing & Freeform Friday

The State Of Things

We've been so busy of late, that I haven't had time to get out and play in my flower garden. It has now officially been dubbed Wild Thing.  One of the best part about gardens is, even when you don't have time, as the picture below illustrates....................

...........they still give you gifts.

Perennial geranium.

Bishop's collar. Well, that's what I've always called it but I'm not really sure and I can't find on the web, so perhaps not. If anyone knows what it really is, let me know.

Fern.

A seriously overgrown path with sedum and fragaria..........

....that will soon be a mass of little yellow flowers.

Finally, chives.

Weeded or not, a garden is a beautiful thing.

Elle Moss Photo Challenge

Today's theme is horizon.

It's a pretty good view to have.

Freeform Friday

It may have been the last dance for Ms. Summer this week, but it won't be the last time we all dance to her. RIP Donna Summer. Click here if you're reading via email.





It's a beautiful day here. I'm about to hang a laundry out. Supposed to be the same all weekend.  Tomorrow's the Preakness and I'll have to put at last a couple of bucks on the horse that won for me at the Derby, I'll Have Another.  I might have to try my luck at an exacta or superfecta (will have to brush up on those, but basically betting not only a couple of horses to win, place or show, but also the order they finish....I think) bet to make good on my bet this time, since he's now more than likely the favorite. Other than watching the race, I hope to get out and work at making Wild Thing a little less while. Gar will be working on increasing stock for Lia Artisan Concrete Designs. What's on your agenda this weekend?

Ciao for now,

Time For a Break

Not Nearly Enough

I tend to be a morning tea girl. Not a morning girl, but a morning tea girl. I like my Barry's Irish Breakfast tea.  Two cups please. I don't take a moment out of the afternoon nearly enough, and make a cuppa for myself.  I enjoy having other teas, but for some reason it just doesn't cross my mind.

Well, it did today.

White Heron Cranberry Apple Ginger organic tea. They're a local business. I've mentioned this tea before. It's a fave. Snappy, but not too snappy. Perfect.

So may I suggest that it's time for a break. Put the kettle or the coffee pot on,or get a glass of water. Step away from the computer for a few moments. Go ahead, recharge yourself.

Elle Moss Photo Challenge

Think it's day 8 of the Elle Moss 21 Day Photo Challenge. Theme today is 'Favorite Place'.

Pretty happy where I am. Right here at Sunset Meadows.

sunset meadows 4/8/2012

sunset meadows 9/12/11



sunset meadows 9/12/11

Have a gread Wednesday. I'm working on the list and organizing at the same time and Garrett is doing the same downstairs in his studio.  Going to go with the saying I posted on facebook yesterday, "let whatever you do today, be enough."

Love it!

ciao for now,