{ My MiNuTia }

What's in the box?

Isn't this a beautifully lovely box? What ever could be in it. I'll give you three one guess...

Seriously, isn't it a beeee-autifully gorgeous box? It has black legs on the bottom that I guess I didn't quite capture in the photo...okay, okay, one guess. Give?

A hat! A gloriously gorgeous hat from my sweet friend Kara Ward! Goofy posing aside...I really do love it! This could be the perfect "Bridge on Monday with a martini hat", don'tcha think? She tucked in a Birthday card and an apology for sending it late. Well, no matter. I love extended Birthdays!

Here's a close up of the detail that she added to this black vintage velvet ladies top hat.

Love that bird and naturally I am a sucker for the black and white and Anna Griffin pink anything. She said the bird is actually a Christmas ornament. Oh, she's good isn't she. Thank you Kara! I can't wait to see you at Silver Bella in November!

Right about now I am thinking I shall be forever labeled that hat girl. But with hat's I've gotten in the last month. Totally okay with that.

Tuneage

Dave Matthews Band new Radio City CD.  I've been walking around the house with my iPod, like an IV, injecting his voice into my heart and soul.

I know now that if I coulda, I woulda been a guitar player. My hero would have been Tim Reynolds, amongst many other great guitar players. And if I was a singer, my one for sure hero would be Dave Matthews. So filled with soul and just in his work 100%. You can hear it in his song, see it on his face when he performs, and you can feel it. I can feel it. Awesome. Legendary.

Sometimes when I have about had it in the car with the backseat crew..noisy fighting and all....I stick in a really good CD (like Dave Matthews) and declare "Music Appreciation" time and crank it up. When such is announced, there is absolutely no talking allowed. You just listen. You feel. You appreciate. It's a beautiful car ride on those days. Now that school's in session, I am sure I will need to do that soon.

Just gotta show ya this swell necklace I got this summer and wore today....a tribute to tuneage. And guitars.

So many cool charms on this necklace. The guitar pick, a lil hula girl with a silver chain skirt (that really moves), an airplane, crystals and so on. On the back of the necklace

is a cool lil guitar with little strings on it! It's by Lucky and I got it at Dillards...in case there are any guitar fans or music fans out there. After the intense week (website, back to school, sports every night) I had to get some tunes to take on the coming days of shipping orders. My treat to myself I suppose. Go fill yourself up with some good tunes this weekend! Sing along and strum along...what the heck.

On a biz note...oh my and *thanks* to everyone for the high fives on the updated site and products!! I'll be restocking what I can soon and adding some more cool things when they arrive! :) 

Laughter Amongst The Teacups

The newly revamped and restocked Paper Bella Studio is finished and ready to roll! I hope you'll check it out and see the newest Kit #15: Her Twinkling Teacups.

This teacup swag was an idea that'd been rolling around up top for a couple of years now and it only seemed to gain energy and substance. Remember that lavender love I wrote about in my previous post? Among other things, this Kit features lavender blossoms! 12 pounds of lavender blossoms later, and I still love it.Yup!

My sample is hanging from an old window pane in my kitchen and it seems right at home there. My Mom is planning a special tea party very soon, and so I've got to make one for her! It'll be so adorable on her front door to welcome her guests, or hanging from the chandelier above their tea table.

There are several new embellishments in the Provisions area. Those handmade mosaic journals I featured earlier, rhinestone buckles, buttons, and crowns, the "Shine" stickers, vintage paper packs, garlands and a few other fine things.

Here's one of the rhinestone buckles. There are square ones, too. Soooo sparkly...Swarovski crystal heaven!

Run thin strips of paper, twill, ribbon, seam binding and measuring tape through that buckle...sigh, they've never had it so good. The crown would be fabulous on your purse or lapel. It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that bling!

Lastly, a big shout out to my hubs, for all his hard work with the rebuilding and reloading of the site! Thanks Papa. Yep, he's definitely the Peach this Week.

But I Don't Like Purple

Earlier this Summer, I decided to declare a scent for our home. Not sure why but I felt it was high time to unify the majority of the scents in our house. For impact's sake I suppose. Better than mothballs...like my Grandma's house. Can I get an Amen?

I have been a long time lover of the scent of lavender.This herb is natural, long lasting and most of all relaxing. Even tried growing some in our backyard-but so far no luck. I use the lavender fabric softeners and detergents, especially nice on fresh warm towels. Shower spray is the perfect beginning to a day. Then there's an air freshener in the laundry area and upstairs.

Apifera Farms Etsy Site is where I got the raggedy fabric tied lavender stalks. That's Artist, Katherine Dunn's site. Love these bunches of lavender and her sachets, too. I tuck the sachets in my pillows on my bed-the perfect ending to a busy day. They last forever. Also use The Caldrea Linen Spray on the blankets, pillows when company comes-you know how it is-or when I can catch an afternoon nap.

But I think my overall favorite "lavender product" so far is the Meyer's Window Cleaner and the Countertop Cleaner. I actually look forward to using them! Going to get their handsoap and lotion next-heard it's great, too.

So there you have it....I still don't like the perfect color purple or the perfect color lavender...but I love the scent of lavender and will be a forever and ever fan.

Morning of Pieces

So it was a productive weekend pretty much. Here's a peek at what I did while the sun came up yesterday. Felt great, so I did it again today!

The house was silent and it was exciting to be creating as the day was just beginning. A mixture of feelings while I worked-oscillating between thinking I had "one up" on the world working at that hour, and also that I was making something new and it was coming together well. Course that's only after wrestling with this in my head for a couple day prior! Plus, I knew there'd soon be no uninterrupted time to paint!

My hubby bought me a new snazzy laptop yesterday. Yay! He's the Peach of the Week he is he is! Now we are trying to personalize it with my programs and such. It'll take a while and so many things I'll never have or find again, but it's a start, right!?

I am happy to announce that the Paper Bella site will be stocked with the latest Kit and some lovely new Provisions and will be ready for charming visitors Thursday, August, 23 at 7:00 pm, central time!

Yay, it's finally my turn on the computer

Such a pouty face and lump in my tummy lately. Missing my laptop soooo much. I am waiting to hear if we are able to at least get my files off of him. To do what with I have no idea...but it sounds hopeful at least. If I had the files from it and knew how to use them on this computer, well, then we'd be in biz'ness.

I have so much to fill up that ol' website with! As I eluded to previously, there will be new Provisions and the #15 Kit! Here's my new "Shine" Sticker Set. I can't wait for time to play with them! Just got them today and emailed Sassy twice and called her to describe them in detail. I think she's getting sick of me blabbing! Poor girl, she goes through all of this with me whether she wants to or not.

I am going out with a sweet dear old friend, Shari, tonite and I am going to take a pack to her. Can't wait to see her again. Hopefully I'll have more to share, soon!

Some Artistic Mischief

Something yummy landed in my mailbox the other day. It'll be on news stands soon. To get the details check it out over here!

Four things

Ya, hi! Firstly, I have to show you what a sweet friend gone and did...she nominated me for that "Nice Matters" Award.

Oh, that Dede Warren, she's a peach isn't she? She just made me smile big time. I think she's nice, too. In fact, I know she is. That's a big little word, nice, and it means a lot this day and age doesn't it? Thank you Miss Dede!

Secondly, I gotta tell ya about my son. Not the lover in the previous post, the older one. Seems he's taken a liking to cooking this summer. Trouble is, he's a perfectionist (like his Momma) and doesn't think he needs help in the kitchen and he clearly does!  Blah, blah, blah....long story short.

I came up with a great solution, and he and I spent Saturday morning at Supper Thyme cooking up meals to his heart's content. It was glorious.  Maybe once he gets good at it I'll let him go himself. It went well, uhm, except for his CAYENNE PEPPER in the eye incident. Oh, ouch!!! Burn! Here's what we had for dinner last night:

Maple Glazed Salmon and twice baked potatoes. Soon, maybe, he'll be ready to take on Clarice's Raspberry Gallette. A mama can only hope!

Thirdly, I had lunch with a sweet friend, Holly, today. A divine lunch I should say..martini and all. A belated Birthday lunch.

As if the lunch wasn't enough, look what she gave me. Is that not the prettiest wrapped gift? She said she decided to skip the glitter and used those teensy silver microbeads on the edges of the roses. I loved it so much and I didn't even open the present, I wanted a photo to share it here!

Below are the pix of the goodies I finally unwrapped...

This stand has 3 victorian hands clips. So lovely!! It's a brassy brown but she thought maybe I could paint it shabby white or something. I can't decide. I love it though! Here's the full piece.

She also gave me some great little treats in the left corner of the photo. Those abalone buttons are so great....love them. Thanks Holly!

Fourthly, I am about to be disqualified for the Nice Award. Not worthy. My laptop is a dead duck. This is where the cussin' (and disqualification) comes in. My %^$$##@ laptop is $%%$%@ing dead. This is my designing wizard, you guys. It's like my fourth child. It just died Friday night. I really don't want to talk about it. I need another martini.

Things that start with B

So I've been working diligently on new stuff for Paper Bella. I've been revamping the site, checking in new shipments, making a couple different kits and adding new provisions. It's been the most fun-seriously!  Have thoroughly enjoyed myself. Creating always feels good. Makes me feel so alive.

This is a peek at some of the goodies in one of the kits I'm almost done with. Love these old mother of pearl buttons. Those little smooth shinys are a true weakness of mine.  A box I'd been anticipating just arrived, too...to complete another batch o kits. Can't wait to jump into that one! Still have lots to do, but I'll have it all up next week!

These two got together to pick a random # for the drawing for Artful Blogging! Wow, that was quite a bash wasn't it?! The winner of the book is...Beth in Indiana! Congratulations Beth! Please email me with your address.

Lastly, I recall reading an email from a gal in Alabama hostessing a Shriner's Crop. I've lost the email. If you are reading this dear, please email me again.

Buttons, box, Blogging Book, bash, Beth....things that start with B.

Went to a Bloggin' Party, to reminesce with my old friends...

It's Wednesday, so, hello blog party goers! Kari (Artsymama) is hostessing a special blog party in honor of the newly released: Artful Blogging published by Stampington! Those who appeared in the issue are encouraged to share a technique or share something artful for this web party.

I didn't get a chance to make something to share darnit.  Hey, why do I hear chants "every party has a pooper that's why we invited you?" Do you hear that? I can tell you a couple things I would have liked to do though. Pretend to take a mimosa from the bar and mingle...

1. I love origami. I am really bad at it though! If you find yourself in the same boat, grab some paper and go to the new video project section on The Paper Source site: HERE!  Other good video how-to's there, too.

2. That Matthew Mead. He's just about all that isn't he? I've been wanting to make his Summer Lantern, well, all summer. When I do I'll get the simple instructions Here.  

3. School's starting soon. Get 'yer cool book covers of book covers. Download one here. 

Now, a treat to go with that mimosa. I have an extra copy of Artful Blogging and will give it away to a random comment maker, so get crackalackin! Comment subject: Fondess for origami on a scale from 1-10. Matthew's Summer Lantern love on a scale of 1-10. Kate Spades bookcover love, on a scale of 1-10.
There, the chanting stopped. I feel better.
Thanks for inviting me to the Bloggin' Party, Kari!