away

 

 

             
Out in the country enjoying a relaxing week before the temperature really drops and Winter arrives.  My parents have their wood stacked and are ready for cozy fires and the impending cold.  A heavy rain this morning left a beautiful and interesting fog. 
          

             

here's to you....

After 9/11 I was a fearless soul.  Deciding we can never know what tomorrow will bring, I set out to find more meaning in this crazy thing called life.  I left the stability and comfort of my job to open a store in Shab Row of downtown Frederick.  I called it, what else, apropos.  And there I sold my paintings, home decor items and also drove out to customer's homes and created one of a kind drawings and paintings for them.

While I only managed to stay open for two years, I learned very quickly the value of the dollar and more importantly, the meaning of life long friends.  To this day, I believe I was meant to open my store where I did to meet one of the most incredible people I know.

Shab Row is a lovely little area and it was thriving when I opened.  Just three row houses down from my little store stood another store, Evangeline.  The first time I went in I was overwhelmed with the smell of lavender, the vibrant colors and a woman with wildly curly, blonde hair running around speaking French like it was her job.  I was intimidated.  Apparently she was leaving for France the next day and was heading a tour. 

That was the beginning of a wonderfully fabulous friendship that has since blossomed into one of the most important relationships in my life.  Although we have a twenty year age gap, no matter how many years between us we relate on so many levels.  With a mutual love for art and creativity....we have spent countless hours in her store and back garden swapping ideas, plans...dreams.  Her store carries so much meaning for me....she hosted a sold out art show for me in 2006, the garden in the back was the spot for my bridal shower and it is a place I can go to breathe in lavender and always count on good conversation.

And so, it is bittersweet that after 13 years, Carol recently closed the doors of Evangeline and is setting out on a journey of her own.  She is moving to France.

We had a girl's night to celebrate all the wonderful things happening in our lives and simply had to share some photos.

Carol lives in a charming historic apartment in downtown

Her fabulous vintage sink

one of my paintings in her kitchen

Carol's vintage original Elf on the Shelf

the lights of frederick

tiara day

the canal

brought over my old college portfolio and talked about ideas

 

So, here's to you my sweet friend.  You are a source of inspiration!  May your travels bring you everything you have ever dreamed of.  Godspeed.

{ If you are interested in tours to France through Carol Etheridge, you must go here }

shut the front door

so stinkin excited my sweet man cut all of these boards for me to create "painting sketches" for my show next month!  I'm about to be a painting fool....creating whimsical, fun pieces. 

Beginning with this image I could not get out of my head of a lady walking her poodle through the city.

hmmm...could it be I am channeling my inner Rachel Zoe....looks a smidge like her. 

About 50 more vibrant city scenes to come.  Can't wait!

felt

Had a wonderful birthday dinner for my dad last night.  I pulled out my Grandmother's Aunt's coverlit from my linen storage and used it to set the table. 
Lovely and so nice to use for a very special birthday dinner celebration. 

 I have a HUGE amount of gorgeous linens...BUT have now decided to start using special pieces no matter how small the occasion...life is too short to wait.

And ofcouse it was nice to see my parents adore our baby girl...



BUT,  my post today really is about felt and a wonderful, HANDMADE, garland you can give to anyone (and make yourself !!!)  I know I have had a lot of posts lately on "crafty" things which really is not my thing...BUT...it is the Christmas season and I can say one thing:

 the handmade gift really is the most special 

I was in the doctor's office the other day and stole this Better Homes and Gardens mag that was published a year ago.  I was too honest to "steal" it so they said I could have it :) 

 And so I took their idea for felt (see below):

 

I cut the large pieces about 2" apart (with heavy felt) and the smaller pieces about 1.5" apart:

use heavy felt

threading them through....

Layer the colors and pinch the bottoms together...(put the smaller layer on top and larger on bottom)...

thread 6 pairs together

form a "flower"

spice yours up as you choose:

I customized mine by adding an "S" in the middle and having a "bullet" on either end

thread it through

and hang

frugal and fabulous

We live in a small abode but it is cozy and it is home.  We've decided to sit tight, ride the housing market crisis out and wait to move.  Until then, it has been "operation make use of every square inch of space we have" in the Sullivan household.  Which means I have sold unused pieces of furniture on Craigslist, donated odds and ends, rearranged and spiced things up some to change the mood of the spaces.

My sister in law gave us this piece of furniture below.  It came with a door on it but we removed it and used the wood for something its shape was perfect for. (more below)

We added shelves to the piece and painted it...good as new and tons of storage!

in process

I rearranged our bedroom and absolutely love it now.  Used the door from the cabinet as a base for a head board...covered it in batting and this fabric.  Found it at JoAnn's...40% off, a total steal.

But, it really needed to be secured more and screwed directly into the wall.  It also needed a bit of something else to make it less "vanilla" and plain jane and more custom.  I wasn't sure what to use to cover up the screws....until I found these vintage earrings at Den of Antiquity in downtown Mt. Airy:

a bit hard to see from the photo but they add just the right amount of sparkle...just took the backs off and hot glued them directly on the screws. 

Using the green earrings for another project I have going on...will post pic when done.