Home-ly....

books always sustain me along my journey, here are a few favorites that I return to again and again....


I would like to thank all of you who left such encouraging and empathetic comments on my last post. They are so special to me and really went a long way....

So, I've been doing a little here and there type of stuff. Experimenting, making a few things for small orders, getting household stuff in order too. Had to take an impromptu trip to get a tag for a new-to-us car. Since we spend a lot of time around and about, hop on pop type short trips all over the place, I feel like I'm constantly packing, unpacking, cleaning, straightening, organizing. It is actually sort of soothing and methodical, in a way, and lends some grounding to this sort of helter skelter type existence.

I've still been experimenting with projects from Stephanie Lee's Semiprecious Salvage, along with a few other ideas using materials I have on hand like the bezel set marble pendant with the french text. I used to be fluent in French, now I just dabble with a lot of effort and a dictionary. This one reads, un autre or another.

However, it is difficult on my creative process. While I get lots of new ideas from coming and going, my process is usually long and difficult and to fit in these long creative jags amidst the constant flux of my life is even more difficult. It always has been. I don't really see it changing. I just always have to evaluate the process and try to make it smarter. Work smarter, not harder...that's what one particular professor always told me....

How do you fit your creative process into the time your alloted? How do you streamline your process?

Working on a post for tomorrow with a little something home-ly to give away for my 32nd birthday ;)

Look what wandered up today. I came home from the post office and this little guy was sitting in the middle of the driveway....looking like he belonged here. He's been hanging out here all day. He's still a young pup, probably 4-6 months, skinny, no collar, and seems to be good natured. Seeings how he was skin and bones and friendly to boot, I fed him. I know, big mistake. But judging from the neighbors, who keep a full size billy goat in a pen, I'd rather him be here if he decides to stick around. He'll get a full belly here and he's got plenty of space to run. He looks to be some type of redbone coonhound, plus a mix, no doubt, so I imagine he'll make a good farm dog. He reminds me of the dog in Where the Red Fern Grows....

Trouble the border collie seems to enjoy the entertainment of a new friend and showing his little buddy around. He liked showing him the pond and the stream and his frisbie. The little guy, whom we are calling Red Dog, now has an old blanket and a full bowl of dog chow in the barn. Maybe he'll move on tomorrow like an ol' tramp.

clean and sparkly with Thrifty Thursday

these cleaning gloves from JulieMeyer just make me want to clean! would also make a cute hostess gift...
Keep that kitchen clean and sparkly with these tips. Hint: you might save enough money for some new pretty tea towels and a pretty kitchen rug.

Baking Soda: Baking soda makes a great scrubbing cleanser. Baking soda is a mild abrasive and absorbs odor. Simply sprinkle (a pretty glass container with a perforated top makes it nice!) and scrub with a cloth or scrubbing pad.

Distilled White Vinegar: Mix with water and soap to make a great surface spray recipe below. Buy it in the largest container available to save packaging and money!

A Good Concentrated Dish Soap: I like 7th Generation Lavender Eucalyptus or CalBen Pure Soap DishGlow. They both smell wonderful, contain no petroleum based detergents or synthetic fragrances and can be used in conjunction around the house for a host of cleaning efforts.

This is a great all purpose cleaner, great from washing sinks and showers to floors.
Vinegar helps prevent mildew and mineral buildup if you have hard water.

My favorite all-purpose cleanser:
1/4 c. liquid soap or detergent
1/2 c. white distilled vinegar
2 gal. water

mix together in pail. and rinse well.

aloha!