Friday, July 27, 2012

i miss you!






I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer,
time keeps slipping away from me and even with the
best intentions to pop in with a short post I have come up short myself!
I miss everyone and can't wait to play catch up on what you all have been up to!

We are still adding markets and shows for the laundry provisions,
but I had an idea for the sachets after so many
customers said how much they loved giving my items as gifts
to friends and family.
So yesterday I worked on door sachets...
something pretty to hang from your door
or desk, something you can give a little squeeze to
that will help relax you through a hectic day!

These have been listed in 
and I am now making more to take to the market.

I am headed out to work myself, and really need to 
get ready but I couldn't wait to share something new with you!

Have a fabulous weekend!

love,
Theresa
xoxoxoo

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... my first party in way too long!




Saturday, July 14, 2012

a little of this, a little of that...

Let's start with this...

Last week I helped my good friend Julie put together a 50th birthday party for her husband, Tom.
She had so many great ideas for the decorations, the food and the entertainment so it was
an easy job!  This guy, Tod Parkhouse,  the caricature artist was a big hit,  
the guests, young and old alike were lined up for him to draw a silly picture of them.


Here he is drawing one of Max and Hannah


How adorable is that!!!  
GAAAAAAAAA!
It cracks me up every time I look at it!

Duane and I had ours drawn too, but nobody to take a photo of it happening,
Thank goodness for small favors!


Julie hired great local band to play on her beautiful wrap around porch
 while the guests relaxed on the  front lawn
visiting with friends in their lawn chairs.
Also a big hit!
(one day I need to take you on a tour of her gorgeous home)


I am so bummed that I didn't have more time to take some photos of the
decorations with my camera before the guests arrived.
 (I did take a few with Julies before I went
home to get mine but that doesn't help me show them to you now!)

anyway...

I made these chalkboard tags out of precut wood from the craft store
and them we used my new favorite tool, the chalkboard paint pen
to write on everything.
If you haven't gotten one for yourself yet and you love chalkboards as much
as I do, you must head to your nearest craft store
WITH COUPON IN HAND
cuz they aint cheap and I couldn't find any single pens,
you have to buy the set for $12.00
but go get yourself some,
I promise you won't be sorry!
I was able to use the 50% coupon though so I did my famous
Happy Dance as I walked out the door!

We also wrapped some vintage ice buckets with a strip of burlap and topped
them with huge burlap fluffy flowers and filled them with hosta leaves.
Julie also bought plain white paper napkins and stamped the corner
with cool vintage looking stamps.
Plus everything was in galvanized buckets or tool boxes.
She had so many wonderful details that I wish I could show you right now.

anyway...

now, here's some of that...


We have added some really colorful lavender sachets to the mix of 
our laundry provisions
and they are a big hit at the market!
All vintage materials, curtains, tablecloths,sheets, a pillow case or two,
and some mens dress shirts because Danielle said we needed something for the men.
She was so right!

and finally...


Oliver has decided that this large wash basin
is his favorite new hang out.

As I took this picture I had to laugh because we 
recently watched Jim Gaffigan, Mr. Universe,
and he talks about how we are becoming obsessed with taking
pictures of everything.  One of his lines is 'The cat is sleeping,
I should take a picture of him'
...and tweet it.

Seriously though, could you help but take a picture
of what we like to call,
"kitty in a bowl"?

I didn't think so.

Happy Saturday,
make it special!

love,
Theresa
xoxoxxo








Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Monday, July 2, 2012

Where has Theresa been hiding?


I can't believe that 2 weeks have gone by without a word from me!
Not a picture, not a party, not anything fun!


I just had to stop by today and share a little something with all of you,
it's not much, but it's about all of the creativity that I have
been up to lately.
I found this basket for I think 50 cents, 
(I know I'm the last of the big spenders!)
It was from the 80's, you know the kind, the ones
with  the geese and hearts on them?


a sweet friend brought me some of her pink lavender and she even
clipped some deep purple from her neighbors garden!


I was in the middle of making some chalkboard tags
for a friend for her husbands birthday party and the light bulb
went off for the basket makeover!
(more on the party planning later)

I grabbed a can of white spray paint,

(this is a bit sad too, but my neighbors have not heard the 
rattle of a spray paint can in far too long!)

after a couple of coats to hide the geese,
I gave the middle reed a swipe of chalkboard paint.
I think it's pretty cute, and has so many possibilities.
These were staged for you, so that I could take
mediocre pictures to share with you.
;)
I have been so busy around here that I haven't even picked up 
the camera to play lately and unfortunately no time
for retakes, so pretend everything is in focus o.k.?

What has been keeping me so busy, you ask?


We have been brainstorming and researching and marketing our laundry provisions.
This is Hannah at our first market in Grand Rapids.
We have been bringing the goods to our local market, since last season,
and have had such wonderful feedback that we decided to take it on the road.

The Fulton Street Market in GR. is a big market with
lots of fun people and a huge assortment of goods.
The stalls are permanent and under a newly built pavilion.

(read... I don't have to bring a table or tent)

We are in the process of finding more markets within a
somewhat close proximity to us to attend as well.

We have been working together as a family making soap,
filling lavender sachets and bottles of lavender linen water.
pretty much every day.
I can't tell you how much I love working together,
seeing Duane and Max and Hannah fill bags,
apply labels, and all kinds of other jobs, while I sew, and  
make linen water, etc.
It's all teamwork over here!

When we go to market it's usually Hannah and I, 
except our hometown market,
Hannah likes to do that one by herself.
I know that I have told you about her sales skills before,
but she just blows me away as I watch her talk to everyone who visits us!

So you see, you can call off the search team,
I'm fine... just making soap like a crazy person!

Thanks to Karen over at The Graphics Fairy
I found this pretty frame to make our
labels and logo.

That has taken up quite a bit of my time too,
coming up with the logo for our
t shirts, and all of the labels for our products.
Earlier in the post I mentioned that I haven't done
anything creative, I need to edit that to say that I really 
haven't made any new jewelry, or pillows, or redecorated,
...you know, pretty blog stuff!
So every time I thought I had a minute to write a post,
I had no fun photos to share...
I have missed you and hope to catch up with everyone soon!

Have a fabulous week!

love,
Theresa 
xoxoxoxo

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