dashing

it's Friday & I'm nearing the time to leave this place, work...

from inspiration; <3

mood board

Inspiration! I'm in the works of making my own mood board but until then. Holiday on Monday is making for some great sales... lots of shopping ahead of me for this long weekend!

o mio babbino caro

Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini (1858-1924)

"O mio babbino caro", Aria (soprano) from the opera "Gianni Schicchi" (1918)

O mio babbino caro ("Oh my dear papa") is an aria from the opera Gianni Schicchi (1918) by Giacomo Puccini. It is sung by Lauretta after tensions between Schicchi and his prospective in-laws have reached a breaking point that threatens to separate her from Rinuccio, the boy she loves. It provides a contrasting interlude expressing lyrical simplicity and single-hearted love in the atmosphere of hypocrisy, jealousy, double-dealing and feuding in medieval Florence of Puccini's only comedy, and it provides the only set-piece in the through-composed conversational musical give-and-take.

Performed by Montserrat Caballé (soprano).

Libretto (Lyrics)
----------------
Italian (original)
O mio babbino caro
Mi piace è bello, bello
Vo'andare in Porta Rossa
a comperar l'anello!
Sì, sì, ci voglio andare!
e se l'amassi indarno,
andrei sul Ponte Vecchio,
ma per buttarmi in Arno!
Mi struggo e mi tormento!
O Dio, vorrei morir!
Babbo, pietà, pietà!
Babbo, pietà, pietà!

English (translation)
O my dear papa
He pleases me, and is handsome, handsome
I want to go to Porta Rossa
to buy the ring!
Yes, yes, I want to go there!
And if my love were in vain,
I would go to the Ponte Vecchio
and throw myself in the Arno!
I am aching, I am tortured!
Oh God, I'd like to die!
Father, have pity, have pity!
Father, have pity, have pity!

Interior loves

Here are a few pictures I found & I'm craving this style. Bathroom is clean and simple, love the openness. Book shelves are huge in my house & quite full- think I made need to play more with the stacking and rearrange some tid bits.

Looking for inspiration on how to use all my fun finds has been so fun. Its just trying to arrange everything that has been a challenge. Luckily my mom is a staging professional and leads with great skill and advice, which is a huge bonus.

Love this living room with all my heart! The couch, frames, trunk- so motivating! I also lovvve having some sort of space by the door to drop your keys, shoes, mags/mail... The pics below I thought were fun & gave the right amount of color.

Living in a city brownstone limits my space esp for someone who is a sucker at a flea market and antique finds. Anyway - I'm thinking my first step will be to paint all the room walls white... use it as my canvas. I'm going to keep digging for more inspiration. I hope to have something unique of my own to report back with.

burlap fun

My mom & I have collected quite a few unique burlap bags and this has been one of our visions. She has already covered over a dozen chairs for different projects and staging jobs, they've all come out great by the way. We also have made pillows and other accessories too. I've come across these chairs on a flea market website and I'm absolutely floored at the going price! I'm lucky and relieved I have such a crafty woman by my side because I'm sure I'd be paying the big dollar for it if in any other situation. Ahhh pays to be nifty =)

love vintage market sundays

We got to the market for the later half of the day, we enjoyed all the outdoor art, crafts, music. We met up with two artist-friends that had set up shop and chit chatted a bit about who has the best finds, most unique talent and well the rest just gossip. It was good to hear how well their art had been selling and made me give Greggers a big nudge of encouragement later (for he is my fav artist of all time) for doing more of what comes so natural to him. After the great outdoors environment we headed into my place of love, it sucks me in and I feel at home with all the vintage finds. Swear I was not meant to come in this world in the 80's. I snapped photos and took it all in, bought a few trinkets and felt my weekend become complete.. all while Gregg played atari, which almost made it home with us. I'm sure his fingers are crossed its still there next weekend. Well the wheels are def spinning on our holiday crafts and homemade items to come, the market really gave that extra touch of inspiration.

aries

-2 Things I heart Thursday-

My fave - Monogram letter C for me, of course!
&
The aries - Crafty Woman in my life!



excuse me i know i'm a day early =)
when does that ever happen

unfortunate mishap

martha with paw paw (above)
paw paw's grandson, ghengis khan pup (below)

LEHIGHTON, Pa. – Martha Stewart's chow puppy was one of 17 dogs killed in a propane explosion at an eastern Pennsylvania kennel.

The domestic maven wrote on her blog that she was "deeply saddened" by the death of her dog, Ghengis Khan, in Friday's blast at Pazzazz Pet Boarding, a kennel in the Pocono Mountains that breeds and trains show dogs.

Fifteen dogs were killed in the explosion, and two more died over the weekend.

The kennel was getting a propane delivery when the tank ignited, setting the pens on fire and injuring the driver, Timothy Kleinhagen, of Summit Hill.

Though badly burned, Kleinhagen managed to toss a cairn terrier over the kennel fence to safety. He was listed in critical condition Monday at Lehigh Valley Hospital.

"That man is a hero," said the kennel's co-owner, Karen Tracy. "My heart goes out to his family."

Genghis Khan was a grandson of Stewart's previous chow, Paw Paw, which died last April at age 12.

Stewart announced on her blog in December that she was adopting Genghis Khan, then 7 weeks old, calling him "very cute and square." She said she expected him to be "conquering his new territory in my home soon, with great charm and prowess. I'm also confident that Sharkey and Francesca (Stewart's French bulldogs) will be enamored with him."

It wasn't immediately clear how much time Genghis Khan had spent at Stewart's Westchester County, N.Y., estate.

Stewart also sent condolences to Tracy, who breeds and trains dogs that compete in shows throughout the country, including Westminster. Many of the dead dogs belonged to Tracy and her mother, Jean Ahner, who live on the property in Franklin Township, Carbon County, about 75 miles north of Philadelphia.

"My heart goes out to Karen Tracy and I am hoping for a speedy recovery for those (both pets and humans) injured in this terrible event," Stewart wrote.

Officials have said a spark or static electricity may have started the blaze, which remains under investigation but is considered accidental.

AmeriGas Propane Inc., which owned the truck that Kleinhagen was driving, has declined to comment.

♥ happy v-day

valentine love filled with sweets & flowers, a little inspiration from miss stewart

spell it out

Fun things to come with these. I am so hooked on Etsy, all I can do is shop shop shop. But its good shopping because its ME being CREATIVE again... I thought I was losing my touch for awhile with all the crazy around me. So here they are, the metal stencils I purchased, next is shopping for polymer clay & image inserts to complete such a cool project. When they're done they should look like the last few images...but with my own nifty twist.


Final goal will be to find a deep set frame to place them in & told ya, the "c" & "s" thing... its all around me, except him the real thing.

chow chow

its that time again

its tuesday.

martha stewart (who i heart)

thought it was time to picked out a new puppy, one of the above.

her chow, paw paw past away recently....

and one of these little guys will be the newest addition

i'm sure francesca and sharkey love their new buddy.

they're all so cute

how do you chose!?

halloween

Happy Halloween!

Stephanie and Christian Balloon Launch Provo, UT

sew what

Today's Sunday & I am really going to enjoy my day today. I'm working the next 6 days straight ugh! So to start, I used these photos to inspire my new project or one project that is coming to an end it is an old trunk rehab. I've scrapped all the old paint off, sanded the old rusty metal details and handle and took out the old paper lining . I've made some fabric up to line the inside with also some vintage wall paper to go in the inside bottom portion & all with some really nice fabric/ribbon trim. I need a new sewing machine in the worst way. My sister is the only one who can really get it going right...(wish you were here) So that has been my biggest delay. Anyway Gregg just ground some fresh Starbucks coffee beans (thank you mom for those!) well off to get some caffeine, chit chat time, eggs.toast.bacon time & then trunk time! Happy Sunday all!

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PS mom do remember (going back 18years or so) the push pin tomato... we had it way back on orchard rd it was in the sewing kit in the first floor bath linen closet... third photo will remind you :) I'm pretty sure that sewing basket kit started my curiosity for all sewing crafts. (there were also endless textile markets you & Nana dragged me to, I still remember the smell there...funny how now I beg for the company at those places)...once a nag always a nag ;)

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PPS gregg just crushed my childhood memory & told me everyone had a tomato push pin! well my coffee is getting cold...what a meanie-boom-ba-leanie

sticks & stones

I was out side in the back yard sitting at the patio set putting my wreath together, Henry at my feet chewing on a stick & Oscar laying on his back in the sun. I filled a ceramic pumpkin with ribbon, wire and scissors to help shape this wreath that didn't really get the time i wanted to give it...better to come. Its so peaceful and I start to really enjoy my day as I said lots of p&q today! Well the wreath goes up on the door, I do a load of laundry, then back to the yard to start a new project....I go to my car to get something and notice my passenger door is left slightly open, my glove box is open and spilled all into the seat and floor...then panic...my coach clutch with my i.d., money, etc.....GONE! Someone broke into my car last night! this is the worst feeling ever way to ruin ones day, huh? So report has been filed and nothing else to do than go back and try to enjoy the day....

b&a's

before & afters -- chairs

*where it all started. the before.

i asked the man at his yard sale in hanover "how much?" while one hand on the chair and another in my pocket keeping a five$ warm....hoping he wouldn't want more....he replied "Merry Christmas" then proceeded to carry to the rover. best x-mas gift i ever got in august.

after done in benny-moore paint with paisley fab.

*second before. i miss the orange but shep wanted it gone!

driving back to the 'rents house in newburyport after breakfast one sunday at www.fowlesmarket.com. yard sales were all around and so was trash on the curb for pick up. this chair was out with trash with a tag $2 from a previous days yard sale. i had gregg stop and thats when the women said "its all yours, keep your dollars!"

after. not proud. going to re-paint. keeping stripe fab.

*third before.

love the paint didn't mess with it much, its a pale yellow with teal green coming thru. $10 sale in an old, used furniture market.

after. seat done with hounds tooth fab.


the end, ciao!

dazzel

I've been using this as my pallet for all the new changes I'm making around the house. fabric has been so hard to find so I've been getting crafty using curtains & sheets as my fabric and making pillows and covers. I've only had luck at the fabric store for the chair cushions in the kitchen. I mixed a stripe, hounds tooth and paisley pattern on three mc oldie chairs that needed some help. Furniture in the photo also has inspired me, although I've always favored things to be a bit worn for as long as i can remember.

# 76

The Way I See It # 76

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The irony of commitment is that it's deeply liberating - in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life.

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--Ann Morriss

Starbucks customer from NYC. She describes herself as an "organization builder, restless American citizen, optimist."

lucy love

With help from green thumb Lucy, our window boxes are thriving! Gregg's mom was back home in July for a bit and sprinkled her love over at our house. Below you can see what a difference a months time made...now all we need is a bit of paint on the house and we're golden!

before 7/08:

after 8/08:

found it funny...if you look close, Jakes at the door in both photos =)

cSg homestead