keeping my dream alive

I am sure that this red door will be waiting for me to step inside.

I will find French treasures like this.

Morning. Yep. I will be enjoying this delightful start to my day.

1967 shot of the flag. Adore this picture.

1967 shot of Paris at night with a perfect glow.

I dream of going to Paris. I think of it daily. Oh, I have tried a few times and something has always kept me from realizing this dream. I have a very strong will and a knowing that I need to go to Paris.
I know that I will wish I lived there. Serious, I just know this. I have heard all of the stories about Americans that travel to Paris, none of them even cast a shadow on my dream. Nope.

So this week my mind is in France. It is traveling, eating, enjoying the flea markets, the simple smells of baked breads, the wine, the dancing in the streets in the evening, the walking and walking and realizing that I am in France.

I know this will happen for me one day. I must get a plan. A real plan and set it into motion. So any helpful tips on how to make this plan and for that matter dream come true. Please do not be shy just post away and let me know.

Most gratefully. Me.

http://pinterest.com/ top three photos from pinterest

Getting ready for our Cottage Sale

design my me 730 thursday design studio

It is time for our fall cottage sale. bonfire will be burning bright. antiques will be waiting and ready to find new homes. lots of fun items to hunt and find. yep. it is serious shopping. let's go.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=162057793887129

a few fall pretties

love the collar perfect for my vintage brooches

adore the big plaid style

super darling sleeves

Today was chilly. It made me start thinking about coats. I absolutely adore coats and jackets. I am drawn to them anytime of the year. I think I get this from my dad (he too has many many coats).

I am thinking this season I will sell a few of mine in our cottage sale this week. Give a few to goodwill and that will make closet space for a new one or two. Lately, I have been looking hard for vintage ones that are not wool. I cannot wear wool and I love vintage. This gets tricky.

So the hunt will start with the chill in the air and me having some closet space. Inspiration indeed.

http://pinterest.com/

creating in my studio on a sunny sunday

new logo created by me

in the studio this weekend working on projects. snow studio is a new adventure that i am doing in november with a sweet friend of mine. we will be selling handmade art pieces at a local cool store called guild for the holidays. that is the crazy part (saying holidays and creating snowy christmas items) i love christmas but, really just getting my head wrapped around it can be hard right now. so thought i would share a couple fun logos for today.

logo created by me

this is the logo i created for our last event we shared together. quite fun. i loved calling the art show cake. seemed random but, fit the sale for so many reasons.


i think tomorrow i will share my list of creative in the studio for the week and some new designs. yep, that is exactly what i will do. enjoy today!


http://www.facebook.com/730Thursday to see more of my design, art and illustration work.

so true

such a true statement thank you Elizabeth Kubler Ros

I will end my evening or should I say start my Saturday with these words. They are not mine but, boy they do hit home with me.


This weekend I will get out and snap lots of fun moments including style, music, friends and some other favorite things of mine.

the art of editing our home

one shelf holds so many sacred things

vintage bottle art by me

opening a drawer to find little treasures taking a break

As I look around our home I am noticing that I love to edit our spaces. I tend to always love the same sorts of things but, I like to move them around, give them new spaces to be in. I am not sure why I do this but, I love to.

 I love items that are broken and odd. Things that others would walk by or see as useless. I adore broken hands, pieces of jewelry, numbers and vintage type. I feel that having these odd little items around reminds me that things do not have to be new or perfect to be beautiful. Actually, the old and more life in something the better for me.

I am starting a new project in the morning. Creating items for a holiday event. I am focusing on using vintage book pages, torn fabrics, words and some sparkle. I look forward to seeing what comes of this mission of holiday.

Posting pictures of my creations in the near future.

nesting the layers in my world

birds just amaze me such art they build to live in

my love for paper and flowers finds this very nesty

style to wear in my nesty little life

thankful i know silly youth

Today. So much swirling around in my world. Work in the studio, creative for me that needs to be started, home to take care of, which leads me to the nesting in my life.

I am a big nesty girl. As I look around my studio, home, closet, the styles I pick all of them have the same thread running through them ~ layers, very focused layers.

Nest = Layers. I love taking something and layering it so many times until it simply takes on a new life. I do this everyday. Funny, how you can do something all of the time and then one day you realize you have been doing this forever.

Having layers and dreams written hanging around me just make me feel safe, alive and very anxious to create. Sometimes I wish that I could feel rested with no sleep so I could just keep creating. For now I will sleep and wake to create.

http://pinterest.com/

a no list day for me

design by 730 thursday = me

I think sometimes when we start our days, it is the list that becomes us. We turn into the list people. I am going to try for one day the 12th to not look at my list so much and just create. This will prove to be terribly hard for me I am sure. A good lesson. I will most likely feel scattered like I am forgetting something. Fun for one day, I hope.

I have mountains of work to do and lists that match perfectly. That list will be on my desk the next day too. I am going to just create. No answering the phones, yes, I will take my girls (dogs) out and pay very loving attention to them but, other then that just create.

I will let you know how this goes. I think I am needing a little writing about style too. I will get on that. Smiles.

http://www.facebook.com/730Thursday

dreamy muse in person, and in the front row.

madeleine peyroux and band

so there are days when the stars just line up. yesterday the little stars did just that for me.

here is my list of goodies that fell straight from the stars

• i found out that one of my goals is following me on twitter (helpful)
• inspiration hit for a gallery show that i am doing with my friend. title of our show Snow Studios.
• lunch was out of the studio.
• received an email from one of my favorite artists.
• arrived at the madeleine peyroux concert to be offered (on the sidewalk) front row tickets for a $10 per ticket upgrade. FOR REAL. There we sat dead center in the front row. total wow for me.
• headline artist who opened named Nellie McKay (wonderfully fresh) bought her cd, met her and chatted, gave her my tiny scissor knife so she could easily open her cd's for signing.

really just a lovely simple happy day. grateful i am.

today i got up super early for me 6 to crank on creative in the studio, so far all is snapping along just swell.

a shared lovely life

thanks to Amy Wagner for taking this picture of us.

today i am going to gush a bit. no worries tomorrow i will be back to my design obsessed self. 

i am feeling very grateful that i share my life with my hubby. the term "gets me" is overused but, really perfect for us. he does understand what makes me the artist i am. i think i am a rare blend of crazy artist meets very practical (at times).

i have a few goals for myself this year (better hurry up i know). i am actually giving myself until July, which will be my birthday. so my goals need to be met by July not Jan. Whew.

 anyway, i am working long long hours in my studio with one goal in mind. we will see. 

just putting the energy out into blog world.

no i will not share my goals just yet. they still seem like secrets in my soul and much to fragile

to put out there. just good energy i wish for from my blog friends, those i know are following me and those who read and have not signed on to follow. grateful for all of you.

thanks hubby for supporting me with my goals. you inspire, adore me, and make my life so very full.

oh and i adore you so very much.

http://www.amylwagner.com/

muses, music, madeleine peyroux

 

http://www.madeleinepeyroux.org/

i am most grateful that i have a muse that is always available for me to connect with = music.

from a very young age i have found that i can block everything in my head out when i listen to my favorite music, then i can create without much thought, it just spills out of me. 

i love jazz music lots. in my twenties i loved to listen to billie holiday, patsy cline, and dress all in vintage pretending that i lived in that era. really i guess in that sense not a lot has changed for me. hum. sometimes i think maybe, i was born in the wrong decade. 

i connect with the 1940's. i have noticed that in most everything i design and create,  i somehow figure a layer of vintage into it. 

most often you can recognize an artist by their style.

i am curious what others would describe my style to be?  i honestly never thought about that question before. kind of a fun one really.

so i have been listening for about 12 hours to jazz music and lots of madeleine peyroux.

she has such a sense of peace for me. i just adore how she phrases her songs. 

tonight when i rest i will be counting the days (only 2) until i get to go see her in concert. i am simply thrilled about this concert. yep. hubby and i will get all vintage and fun and go hear this talented soul sing. of course, i will write all about it. maybe even have a picture? 

if you do not know of her music. listen. i know you will find her full of soul, peace and just simply good.

here is a bit of info on her. 

 Madeleine Peyroux (born 1974, Athens, Georgia, USA) is an American jazz singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Peyroux (French pronunciation: [madˈlɛn pɛjˈʁu]) is noted for her vocal style, which has been compared to that of Billie Holiday.
Peyroux has cited Billie Holiday, Bessie Smith, Patsy Cline, Édith Piaf, Leonard Cohen, Johnny Mercer, Charlie Chaplin, Serge Gainsbourg and Bob Dylan as influences on her music.

french beauty oh how i adore

The company label on a linen document file…

“Jean François invents ten designs a day…

he was born on embroidered things.”

today seems the perfect day to write about beauty. the weather outside my window is amazing. the wind is perfect. i look around my studio and home and i see all sorts of embellished beauty. i have always been detail oriented. i love tiny things that make up a whole. i find that in the details are the secrets of my expression and art.

these ribbons are so so rich and i cannot imagine the time spent in creating them. i have lots of vintage ribbons, some just tiny bits. all of them have stories. i can remember where they were purchased, how much they cost, how long i have had them. yes, i am crazy about vintage textiles.

i know one day i will travel to France. until then i learn, dream and explore all the artistic souls that are French.

http://trouvais.com/2009/09/10/revelry/

if today

quote by steve jobs. design by 730 thursday.

I know that any given moment can change your life.

I believe that each day I wake up and get to have that day to be grateful.

I know that life is what we make it.

I try to treat others how I would like to be treated.

Be secure in your own skin it is the most attractive quality we can have.

Blessed are those who expect nothing for they shall not be disappointed.

Give of yourself freely and happily.

Create something everyday.

Tell the ones you love, that you love them often.

Life is not about things and money it is about the moments (the simple stuff) that make up our days.

Do not wait for the good stuff. Good stuff is all around us. Get it now.

These are beliefs I have and work on daily.

My hubby just shared this quote with me. I must say it is my new path. I adore this statement. I realize it might not be easy to do but, for me that's what makes this count. Change.
I am pretty darn good with it (I think).

A beautiful soul said this and I am most grateful.
http://www.facebook.com/730Thursday

a dear friend and his sale that makes memories come alive

a very large selection of silver fun

i adore tables that look like this

china, french yummies and more

this pair of chairs and their settee partner are dreamy

european linens blowing in the lake breeze

vintage black collections all piled up

even the bowls are styled. serious.

so I have this dear friend named Jim. he is one of the most talented designers i know. he can walk in a room and know exactly what is missing, what could be torn down and what can be built. i have been lucky enough to be friends for at least a dozen years.

tomorrow he is having a sale under a large white tent in his yard. we went tonight and of course immediately served a glass of bubbly in a pretty vintage glass. while strolling through the tables my past and history of knowing my friend all swam over me. i wanted to buy everything that connected us. well i could not do that. darn it. so i am feeling all sorts of love for times gone past, laughs we shared, decorating together, styles that we are over.

i am happy to see that like me my friends know what really counts to hold onto, people, relationships and truth. these are the most important of all.

you will need no luck to for your sale my friend. all of your pieces tell great stories just sitting on the tables waiting for new homes.

i did get a few treasures. yep.

a fun client project leaving the studio today

gift certificate design with custom everything

envelopes, stitched, vintage book bird pages, embossed, feathers, tie closure

combo sets

backs of gift certificates are sheets from vintage bird books

I adore clients who let me brand them with no limits. ADORE. I secretly search out these fine folks and then get them hooked on original artful design. Nice trick if you can get it. I find that being a graphic designer is wonderful but, I have such passion for papers, and fonts and sewn paper that whenever I can I use it.

I think these will do the happy dance for people who buy one. The shop I am branding and designing for is a wonderful bead shop in Excelsior. Birdstone Bead Studio. The owner is amazing and so very very talented. Like museum pieces she creates. So with that said I am trying to customize everything she gives out (business cards, signage, packaging) you name it I am doing it.

So these goodies will be delivered today. I sure hope it gets at least one twirl.

You can find more of my designs at this lovely little link
http://www.facebook.com/730Thursday

creating your own beauty

i trend towards the making http://pinterest.com/

my escape dream spot for today http://pinterest.com/

luckily today is sheer beauty outside. the trees are heavenly painted and the birds are doing their best to call attention to all of us to look up. well i for one am looking up and filled with inspiration. these are days when i say thank you to my little sun roof. yes, my car is over eleven years old and i still adore her and love driving her each time. yep.

escaping to the beach. not just any beach. one that no one knows your name. you can just read and look and hear the tumble of the waves. nice. nothing to hurry to, nothing to worry about, just a peaceful day me and the waves. nice dream.

today I have many many things to create. so i will dream and design with my windows open and the leafs a changing. the beach will come in time.

vintage kitch a part of me that is alive & well

this horse is just a ball. i love him. of course he is for sale on my etsy site.

after collection over 120 birds for my back porch i am selling some. it's time.

 i could not resist this one.

I have this love for vintage it spans a great many things. I also have a need for order, editing, not having too much stuff around me. I like good design, I love order, I like the sense of peace as I walk through our home. With that said it is always a challenge to have little things speak to you as you antique shop and thrift. Yes, it is very challenging. I have been fairly good at saying no you cannot come home this time to most things. Lately, well after I opened my little shop on etsy, I now say, Yes, you should come home and let me polish you up then live with you a few days. Sorry you will end up on etsy. 

I have always adored packaging items and wrapping and over wrapping and styling. So this etsy shop is right up my alley. Love it. I love wrapping and tucking in tiny surprises for the buyer. Really it is still so much fun. Okay, it has only been a few months. I think I am hooked for good. I am starting to add my handmade cards, envelopes and passion for paper items too.

I am grateful that my mind rarely rests. 

I am grateful I have several muses in my life that keep me twirling to my own voice.

I am grateful I am listening to my heart and passions. 

So for today it is all about being grateful and enjoying my today each little minute in it. 

Then of course, there is the fact that the weekend might bring a treasure home to be polished and listed.

oh and here is my etsy site just in case you are curious. have fun! 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/kellimay

adore good packages like these

love the buttons tucked under the stringhttp://networkedblogs.com/nU3sv

these colors are super yummy good

favorite greens all mixed up

stuck on color. finding these little gems to share at nifty thrifty dry goods site (link is above for shopping details).

i am super detail girl when it comes to putting things together. the more layers the better for me. the more unexpected tiny little touch that some folks might not even notice, adore.

each of these would be lovely to have. i am sure that i would just look at them all nested and arranged for some time before actually moving the tiny bundles and using. even so these would be happy in my studio i am sure.

what a beautiful way to say hello to Fall

amazing entertainment

cinderella pumpkins and yummy foods

ashford (niece) and hubby, adorable

lauren (niece) anja (neice) hubby me

what a crispy way to say hello to Fall. a lovely home warming party for our neices who are just precious. every little detail was so much fun to see and smell and eat. there was even a flame dancer wow.

super busy in the studio so i must rush. only so many hours of daylight. more later.

happy fall to you.