Tiptoe Through The Tulips With Me...

One little word:  Snapshot

A few months ago I had never taken my DSLR camera off of AUTO and it seemed so very scary to think in terms of F-stops and Shutter Speeds and exposure compensations, oh my...

Well, happy to say camera is no longer on AUTO and is most often on Aperture Priority these days with a fixed lens, 50mm.

Lots and lots of awful photos, failures and throwaways...

But every once in awhile a tiny little miracle occurs and I am able to capture a small slice of life, which gives me hope and encourages me to continue this quest. My constant "mantra" is progress not perfection.

Yes, my word for 2011 is Snapshot and my exciting journey of change and growth continues.



Happy Easter dear blongland friends

And may your view include beautiful spring flowers

xoxo

Catherine



How to celebrate a birthday...



Pick up your iPhone, call sweet daughter, and invite her out to play.

Sign up for, The Heirloom Collection, Series VII..."Bon Voyage", so graciously offered by Carol Wingert

Carol is the most amazing, creative hostess and offered an event unlike any other I have attended.

Arrive Phoenix International Airport, rent car, and hit the road, it's time to "power shop"

Oh the treasures to be found...

Presents for Mama, handmade by daughter, sigh

A lovely day indeed, time for sleep, yawn

Part deux, soon to come, our wonderful day at Carol's home

I see skies of blue, and clouds of white

The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night

And I think to myself, what a wonderful world.

Catherine



Spring skiing....

Packing check list,

The perfect outfit, check

Car's tuned up and  road trip ready, check

The perfect ski outfit, oh did I mention that already?

Back soon,

Catherine

The finale...

And so we come to the end of our Flea Market adventure.  The third and final Match Box was created for my sweet daughter, Cristina...

I used a vintage patter instruction sheet to cover the outside of the box and applied some glitter for pop.

Vintage pattern tissue was used to create the rosette, with a vintage flower placed atop the tissue.

Three little pink buttons adorn the end of the box.

And finally, I stamped an old Tim Holtz design onto tissue paper and afixed it to the inside of the box

Thanks for spending some time with me today, hope you enjoyed, My {View}

Catherine

Petite Inspiration Box Swap continues...

Flea Market Edition, part deux



Sweet Jennie, The Pretty Pekingese, was my second swap partner. She likes anything miniature, lace and ribbon, odd labels, bits of china and her favorite colors are blue, green and brown.

I enjoy vintage wallpaper and was so pleased when I was looking through my stash and found this "old" brown paper with green and white flowers.  Perfect.

Afixed a vintage velvet blossom and wrapped  baker's twine to finish.

Vintage "Flea Market" lovlies tucked carefully inside.

The inside is lined with vintage magazine and newspaper ads with a Hambly transparency over this layer.

Stay tuned...

XOXO

Catherine

Sneak peeks...

Spoiler alert

Once again I signed up to participate in Heather's Match Box Swap, Flea Market Edition.

My first partner is Kana and she loves robin's egg blue, pale pink and cream.

I covered her box in pale pink vintage floral wallpaper, attached a paper rose i glittered and attached with vintage pink seam binding.

On one end of the box I added a sweet vintage pink button with rhinestone center and wrapped seam binding around the outside of the inner box.  I wanted it to look like an old fashioned dresser drawer.

Here is a little peek at some of the treasures tucked away inside the box.

And finally the inside bottom.  I used an old victorian sticker, attached it to sheet music, tissue paper and some paper lace.

These little boxes are such a delight to create and I hope sweet Kana will enjoy...

Stay tuned for part "deux"

Catherine

Love notes in the air....

"Can miles truly separate us?

If we want to be with someone we love,

aren't we already there?"

~ Richard Bach

Today I sent off some sweet little love notes to my three grandchildren who live on the east coast, 

 while I am way far away on the west coast...sigh

Litttle bits of vintage this and that for the princess.

And a simple sentiment of love for the oldest.

Hearts, buttons and baker's twine for the middle munchkin.

Each card is made with Grandma's love and a little extra surprise as well.

Happy Valentine's Day!

There is only one happiness in life: to love and be loved.

George Sand