Glitter Girl

Saturday turned out to be one of those wonderful, magical days that you didn't know how much you needed until it was memories. I signed up for Elaine Tolson's Glitter Tea because my friend Christy told me about it; I talked my mom into going with me; then my friend Jill signed up; a spot opened up and my friend and Funky Junk biz partner Jennifer got to come; and right before we left, our junking friends Gladys and Celia Hanning invited us to carpool up to Addy, WA just north of Chewelah.

Everything about the day was perfect, the weather was sunny and just the right amount of snow was on the ground. Elaine greeted us so warmly into her home; little did she know what a rowdy group of crafting junkers we were going to be. I was so inspired by Elaine's decorations and vignettes around her home. Our big project table was filled with so many sweet touches like gift bags, and stamped paper on the work surface, and glitter...lots of glitter. I love, love to scrapbook and craft and Holly & Becky of All That Glitter shop in Spokane did not disappoint; in fact the project they set out for us to create was beyond what I could have imagined!

It took me awhile to get started, as it always does, but I so enjoyed visiting with my immensely creative neighbors...around the table was seated such an amazing, talented group of women, it was inspiration all in it's own right: Jennifer, Nancy, Karen, Erin (who also took the beautiful pics), Christy, Melanie, Tara, Debbie, Kelly, Shelley, Jill, Gail (my mom), Gladys, and Celia, thank you! With coffee in hand, I got started on my days work (play, really) and then it was time for lunch. The food was spectacular; tea sandwiches and cookies, fruit salad and cookies, amazing truffles, baby cinnamon rolls and cookies...perfect fuel for our day.

I figured that I spent my time in equal parts creating, talking/visiting people around the table, and eating. And yet by some magic I still finished my banner, and even better I love it. It's such a credit to Elaine, Holly, Becky and friends for creating a "Boho Retreat" that was approachable, fun, engaging and refreshing in so many ways. I came home happy, relaxed, very full and amazed at what I had created. I want to do it all over again; thank you Elaine, Holly & Becky for sharing of your talent and time and glitter and for creating a space and a day for glitter.

I Heart Hearts

I feel like I can breathe again. I did it. I made it through January. A month not without it's own beauty, but it's January. So, February, thank you. So nice to have you back in town. Bring on the reds and pinks to add to winter white. Throw in a holiday all about love, right smack in the middle of a thank-goodness-shorter-month. Give us all a reason to eat chocolate because it's just what you do when it's a month with Valentine's Day in it. Give us a reason to send a little card with hearts to that someone, or a whole class of someones. Romantic comedies, yes, sign me up.
So, welcome February. Here's to a month that fills my home with handmade hearts and vintage valentines. That inspires me to make cookies and pancakes into heart shapes for the little ones who shape my heart. To the month that shouts bright in the face of bleak, thank you. You rock. PS...I heart hearts.

Pink-spiration

This week Funky Junk work began in earnest. Well, I was supposed to get more done on the work day I had scheduled, but I just couldn't get started. Until my husband brought in my vintage table to work on. Until I searched through piles of boxes for some of the decorations I've been saving for my new, improved and huge office. Until I had a cup of coffee in my cute mug. Until I had set up pretty vignettes all around my work space so that my eyes had somewhere pretty to rest while I was thinking. Then and only then could I begin. I suppose I could have worked anywhere, as I often do, but it was far more fun to dream a little about the Where work will happen someday soon. This is the joy of Funky Junk. The imagining begins and ideas swirl, and I'm lost in a way that those of us who create live for.