be yourself: live with passion

Freedom...

It's great to set aside a day to celebrate freedom.

It's a great day to acknowledge and be grateful that we are free to agree or disagree with each other and be outspoken about it...our freedom of speech...which is what we practice every time we blog or read someone else's blog.

It's a great day to acknowledge and be grateful that we have freedom to worship as we please...or not worship at all.

It's a great day to acknowledge and be grateful that each and every one of us who are citizens of this great country have the same rights granted through our Constitution.

It's a great day to acknowledge and be grateful to the people who sacrificed and continue to sacrifice for our country...freedom doesn't come without a price.

It's a great day to thank God for the many blessings we have enjoyed as a country.

It's a great day to wish you a Happy 4th of July...hope you enjoy time with your friends and family.

Let freedom ring!

Holiday Hugs,

Carol

P.S.  The lovely and very creatively put together decorative cone was a gift from my friend Bonnie, who used a mattress spring as the base for her lovely piece.  Thanks Bonnie!

July creatologie kit available for pre-order now!

It's the coolest totally made from scratch book...I have to say that it's one of my favorites to date!

I had so much fun building it...and I hope that you will too!

Check out my creatologie blog for more details...get your pre-order in...and start gathering your stories.

These kits are great for crops, weekend retreats, "staycation", vacations at the cabin, the beach or the shore...or just a great way to spring board your creativity at home.

insouciance.

I love the word.

But, more than loving the word, I love using it to describe a certain sense of style.  Whether in fashion or home decor, it's a style that I think of as carefree, almost careless, indifferent, and definitely not studied or planned.  When I think of this style, I almost automatically think of French Country style.

I love the mixing of elements in this image...the sturdy almost masculine ram with the gorgeous undoubtedly feminine white flowers.  The image is from one of my absolute favorite home decor books of all time, The New French Decor:  Living With Timeless Objects, by Michele Lalande.  I have literally spent hours studying the details in the photos in this book...not because I want to copy anything in there (and, even if I wanted to, I couldn't because so many of the pieces are French antiques and rare), but because I want my brain to absorb the elements and the style.  For, this is the look I love in my home...that comfortable, unplanned, carefree look that still exudes a sense of style.

Here's another fun one from the same book...incorporating vintage images into kitchen decor...love it!

Don't you just love the use of food and every day objects to enhance a vignette?  The eggplants totally make this one divine!

Then, there's Texas designer Carol Bolton, a long time favorite of mine.  Look what she's done with an old army cot, painted chair, stump, ball of string and handful of green onions...who would ever think of green onions in a shot like this?  I love her furniture...her pairing of different fabrics and trims just tickles me silly.  And, I love her liberal use of cheesecloth and gauze (all tea dyed, of course)...beautiful drape, inexpensive and oh so comfortable.

This image is from the book Designers in Residence from Victoria (Claire Whitcomb).

My copy of Comfortable Country by Enrica Stabile is well worn and much loved.  These images from the book demonstrate the effective use of everyday objects in designing your home...imagine the use of an old ironing board to prop up a frame or old photo or a woven bark knitting basket...so very cool.

I dream of someday having a studio that is large, open and airy...much like this sunroom, also from the same book.  I want a huge farmhouse table to stand in the middle of the room so that I can create from any side and so that I can spread out and make lots of messes :).

Oh, this room just inspires me to create!  I think an old army cot like the one put together by Carol Bolton would fit beautifully into this room.

Then, of course, there's the outside...I am always on the lookout for some of the vintage wood/metal French folding chairs like the ones pictured here.  I noticed that Ballard Designs had some on sale a couple of weeks ago but I really want them to be crackly and peely...and this shade of blue, which would be so perfect in my backyard.  This image is also from Comfortable Country. 

I've often thought about the ability of the French to demonstrate this sense of style with such apparent ease.  I wonder if it's something that's innate or taught.  Are people born with a certain sense of style or do they learn it?  I'd really be interested in hearing what you think about this...I don't think there are any right or wrong answers to these questions but rather, just our opinions...would love to hear yours. 

 

 

just wanted to take a minute...

...and say thanks to those of you who pre-ordered the Many Faces of White book kit.  Kits are on their way from my studio to yours.

I had two fabulous classes at Scrapbooks, Etc. on Thursday evening and Friday morning teaching the same project.  I love the creativity of the people who take my classes and buy my kits...and I love how flexible they are with projects.  I've gotten emails from many of you telling me what your plans are for the book.  The white book is going to be everything from a garden book, to a book to celebrate a granddaughter's First Communion, to wedding books, shower books and baby baptism books.  Then, there are books to celebrate moms who wore gloves when they were young and to recognize a group of cousins who wore always wore gloves to church.  Some are changing out the image on the cover to make it personal and some are adding another color (some have chosen pink, some aqua (that's me)...and some a bit of yellow).  Don't you just LOVE the creativity (and the flexibility this kit offers)?

I wanted to share a home decor image with you from the most recent Romantic Country magazine.  My heart went pitty pat when I saw this...I could live in this room and so could my white book...for sure :)!

Stay cool...and hope you have a fabulous Saturday.

Hugs,

Carol

Inspiration...for less than a Starbucks latte and bagel {with cream cheese}!

One of the questions I am frequently asked is if I run into a wall with respect to inspiration and ideas...kind of the equivalent of writer's block.  I have to say that while I seem to have an endless supply of ideas, sometimes I get stuck with the motivation part...which is what I need to follow through on the ideas.  It's at those times that I just need to take a break and get away from what I'm working on...most of the times, it involves a physical leaving.

On Saturday, I felt stuck.  I had a lot to do and just couldn't muster up the motivation to get things done.

So, I hopped into the Burb and headed out to do a little bit of treasure hunting.  I don't need a lot but for some reason, being around vintage and antique junque seems to give me motivation.

Of course, I can't go junking without finding a few things that I simply can't live without, right? :)  Here's what I found...all for less than a Starbucks latte and bagel...truly.

There are a couple of boxes of vintage dye (in scarlet and rose pink) which I will use to dye some ribbon and seam binding.  The little boxes would be darling even without the dye!  The buttons in the foreground are white and ivory glass and I found a bag of them.  There are a dozen Czech glass buttons on the original card (be still my heart), a pair of vintage Laguna bead earrings and the hugest (don't think that's a word but I still like it!) bargain of all-11 linen napkins (15"x15"), with embroidery and cutwork, in perfect condition...not a stain on a single one of them.

I don't know what inspired me most...the stuff or getting the stuff for such a bargain!

Either way, I came home energized and motivated...ready to get things done. 

I think that finding inspiration is a personal thing...what motivates and inspires one person may do absolutely nothing for someone else.  What are some of the things that inspire you?

Somerset Life has something to say about my white book kit...

I received the latest issue of Somerset Life in today's mail.  I wondered why I had gotten a copy since I usually buy mine at Barnes & Noble.  As I flipped through, I got a big grin on my face.  For, in the section called "The Art of Juxtaposition", some pictures of last summer's white book kit as well as a description of the kit were featured.  Using white in art was described as classic and sophisticated...and I would totally agree!

It really made my day to have the kit included in the issue...and it's always fun when it comes as a surprise! 

I've been busily kitting up this month's white book project...and it came to me this morning as I was putting the flower pack together that there are actually six packs in this kit!

There's a flower pack, a ribbon pack, a fabric/glove pack, a hardware/charm pack, a die cut & chipboard pack and a paper pack.

Seems to me that this is a six-pack you don't want to miss out on...a creative six pack with benefits to last a lifetime!

I've made a lot of kits this month due to the popularity of white books...and I do have some left. 

I also wanted you to know that this is the last white book kit that I'll be doing...it's the final project in the trilogy of the many faces of white that I've done since the beginning of creatologie.

You'll want to order your kit today...kits ship out later this week...indulge yourself in a project that is classic and sophisticated!  You most certainly deserve it!

Some things never change.

Since so many of you love to hear and tell stories, I'm going to tell you one.

When I was just a little chick, a Saturday during tomato and corn season would be spent at a farm in Doylestown (which, living closer in to Philly at the time made that the "country").  Present and accounted for would be my parents, my brother and my maternal grandparents.

Two brothers owned the farm and while the majority of acreage was used for the growing of commercial or "cow corn", there was a huge plot of corn and tomatoes reserved for the use of family and friends.  We got to pick corn and tomatoes from that plot.

We came equipped with lots of baskets and boxes...that was a given.  But Grandpa and I always brought along something extra...a cut glass, metal topped shaker...OF SALT!

Because, you can't go picking tomatoes without eating some on the spot, right?

I would trudge behind Grandpa...he would show me which tomatoes were ripe...I thought that he had some kind of magical gift because every one of the tomatoes he showed me were absolutely, positively delicious.  I would pull off the tomato, rub it against my shorts and take just a little bite...big enough to break through the skin and into the meat of the tomato.  Then, a sprinkle of salt, and a huge bite, with tomato juice dribbling down my chin.  Another sprinkle of salt, another bite and soon, the whole tomato was gone.  On to another one.

That began my love affair with fresh picked, vine ripened tomatoes.

During junior high and high school summer break, I can remember getting into it with my mom about what I wanted to eat for lunch.  For, every day, it was the same.  A sliced tomato (freshly picked from the garden), on white bread with mayo.  That's it...every day.  Mom just didn't get it...she had a fridge filled with lunch meats, leftovers, cheese...but no, it had to be tomato and mayo on white bread...every day.  A bit obsessive, no?

So, this morning, I was outside filling Fred's water bowl and came around the corner to the cherry tomato bush.  You have to understand that we don't have a huge yard and we've made use of just about every bit of available space so there's no place for a veggie garden, per se.  But, I have to have some vine ripened tomatoes, so every year, I put a plant in a pot and wait to see what happens.  Some years, we have a great crop...other years, it's pretty sparse...and then there are the years of the hungry birds!  OY!

Well, as I rounded the corner, what did I spy with my little eye?  You got it...a ripe cherry tomato.  Instinct took over...I plucked that little sucker, rubbed it on my shorts and plunked it in my mouth.  Yummmmmm!

Some things never change! :)

OK, while we're all in the storytelling mood...do tell!  Any behaviors from childhood days that haven't changed...we're dying to know!

A WINNER!

I let Random.org pick a number and here's the result:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

9

Timestamp: 2009-06-19 21:39:46 UTC

Number 9 is Terri K. who wrote:

"aaah. stories. they can be told through so many mediums but the one that seems to be my favorite is always through the tactile things- rocks or shells found on a weekend get-away, the menus from favorite restaraunts, ticket stubs from the movies or a play... ephemera always seems more 'real' to me and I am trying to include more of it in my little books and journals, in addition to the photos and journaling.

Posted by: TerriK | June 16, 2009 at 06:18 PM"

Terri, if you would email me your address, I will send your stuff out to you.

Congratulations...and thanks everyone for taking time to post! 

a little extension...

Your comments have been awesome...those of you who posted are definitely very talented in storytelling.  I've set aside time each morning and every evening to read them all and it's really been a pleasure!

Just knowing that so many of you enjoy the telling and hearing of stories solidified what I'll be doing as a kit for July...stay tuned.

I wanted to let you know that I'll be doing the drawing for the giveaway a few hours later today...I'm getting together with my cousin for lunch today...we tend to be somewhat spontaneous in when we get together.  It's usually a text or phone call that starts with "Are you free for lunch today?"  We are both free today...so the benefit to you is that you have a few extra hours to post a comment and be eligible for the drawing.

I wanted to share a little story with you about the gloves in this month's kit.  I was working on packaging them yesterday and it reminded me of the conversation.

There are a ton of white gloves...you can see them pictured here in the beverage tub.  I've never seen so many in one place before!

When I was placing my order, the lady from whom I ordered wanted to know if I'd be using these for a dance recital or a parade.  I told her that I was actually using them for book kits and that the gloves were for the front cover, there was dead silence...then she said, "Wow, I've never heard of that before!".

I must say, we are definitely helping expand the minds of people when it comes to repurposing things, aren't we?

I'll see you this afternoon...in the meantime, keep the comments coming!

How do you tell your stories?

Everyone loves a good story.

People have been telling stories from the beginning of recorded history.  Maybe the stories were told by drawings on cave walls, or maybe the village storyteller or bard gathered a group and told the story, or maybe the story was written and bound in the form of a book.  I actually read somewhere that the need for a good story falls just below love on the list of human needs...don't know about the factual accuracy of that but, judging by the numbers of books we have in our home, I know for sure that I (and Vern and Ash) LOVE a good story.

As memory artists, we are probably the most likely people to be the story tellers in our families.  There are so many ways we can tell our stories...through layouts, little books, blogs, photos on our walls...and I'm guessing that you can add many more to the list.

Through my quest for organization, I came upon a large bag filled with goodies...this was my teacher kit from when I taught the class, "Spinning Your Story", a 7 gypsies spinner loaded with a year's worth of stories.  All of the elements and papers are in black, red, ivory and kraft and there are 6x6 papers, 4x4 jenni bowlin papers, ribbons, LOTS of mini die cuts just perfect for the small rolodex cards, and, of course, rolodex cards in manila, red, black and printed manila (from 7 gypsies).  Then, there's a stack of transparent rolodex cards, journaling cards from 7 gypsies and jenni bowlin, 3 rolls of 7 gypsies gaffer tape, and embellies galore, all tucked into a funky cigar box.  There are even pictures of some of the cards that I did in my spinner...although I can't guarantee that every thing on the cards is included in this pack.

You will need your own spinner (you probably have one...or two...hidden in one of your closets :)) or you can create your little pieces of art on the rolodex cards and use them on layouts or in a mini book.  All I'm saying is that there's a lot of cool product in this package...with everything suitable to work on small surfaces.

It's been a while since I've done a giveaway...and with the discovery of this bag of cool product, now is a good time.

Here's all you need to do.  Just share with all of us your favorite way to tell your stories...or, if you're not much of a storyteller (no shame in that at all), you can share what your favorite way is to be told a story...books, movies, photos, etc.

Here are some of the products...the cigar box behind the paper and carded ribbons is filled to the brim with stuff you can't see...I think you'll be delighted with all of the bits and pieces.  For those of you who took my Spinning your Story class, these products would be perfect for adding to your spinners...or for a gift for someone else.

Just post a comment about your favorite storytelling mode...between today and Friday (June 19th) around noon, Arizona time, and one lucky winner will get some really cool stuff.

By the way, the Arizona sunshine and fronds from my monster fern as seen in this picture are not included in this giveaway...just sayin'.  :)

Can't wait to read your comments.