I've been MIA for a bit, working in my studio, freshening my shop with a new look, didn't have internet connection for over a week, eeek!! etc...

But the biggest reason for being MIA recently is......I've been preparing for the arrival of my Sweet BF Cathy Scalise, you all know her from Treasured Heirlooms~Elegance & Whimsy!!! Cathy hails from the amazing New England area, and flies to West Virginia twice a year for a week at a time to spend it with little ole me! I'm truly a lucky gal!!

I love when Cathy visits, we shop, shop, shop, eat at great restaurants, laugh, talk business, and laugh some more! She's such a refreshing change from my day to day~same old, same old!!! I always say, Cathy brings sunshine with her when she visits..lol!

The first day Cathy arrived, we drove straight home from the airport to be greeted by a satellite technician.. thank goodness!! My internet has been out since last Sunday, and I was in a panic. What kind of a hostess would I have been if I couldn't provide internet service to my guest/BF!!? My internet is now fixed, phew!! And since Friday, it's been non stop shopping for us... It's rather funny to watch us..when we enter a shop filled with vintage pretties, both of us look at each other and begin to squeal!! We've traveled through tiny shops in Maryland, Va and even enjoyed browsing through the little shops in my area too~ I've taken a few pics of our fun today and couldn't wait to upload them for my post tonight... But to my dismay, none of the photos are salvageable...Boo~Hoo!! I will post pics of our shopping ventures though, I promise! We'll be out almost everyday while she visits, so I should get some great pics, fingers crossed~

In the meantime, I have to show off some of Cathy's latest creations that are featured in her shops... Aren't they stunning!!

Please stop by both of her beautiful shops, Treasured Heirlooms and Elegance & Whimsy to see many more of her gorgeous creations....Believe me, her shops are absolutely AMAZING! You won't be disappointed!

I'm Feelin the Love!!

Oh Spring... Sweet Spring!!

This time of year, there's a sweetness that can't be matched to any other. New life is sprouting up everywhere! The buds on trees are making an appearance, mama birds are preparing their nest for new hatchlings, and flowers are beginning to awaken from their long winter sleep.

I am feeling the excitement stirring within too.. What is this peculiar feeling I'm experiencing?? My senses are awakening...

I find I'm giggling with my hubby over things that just a few months ago, would have either gone unnoticed or warranted a 'slight Ha~Ha' at best.. and wait, what is this?? Did my hubby just toss a coy smile in my direction and ask me out for a dinner date? Yes, yes, it's true, romance is in the air! After almost 25 years together, Spring has once again performed her magic and sprinkled love dust in our eyes!!... ahhh, to be in love is the 'bestest'!! lol!

Love and romance is spilling over, in all aspects of my life. I noticed these sweet effects have influenced my newest creations, they reflect the enchantment, and exhilaration that fills my heart.

~Fluffy Ruffly Garland~ 'Giselle'

~Truly Thine~

~Birdcage created by 'lil ole' me~

~Faerie Glen~
So, as the love birds sing, and flowers bloom,

I will accept dinner with my honey and

embrace the butterflies fluttering in my tummy~

I'm squealing!! Lollishops has a new look!!!

I received an email announcing Lollishops "new look" yesterday. With my interest peaked... I quickly scooted over to see! Oh my gosh, I love it!!!

Sadie Lou is an amazing artist, and the founder of Lollishops ~ The sweetest marketing venue EVER!!.

She's continuously looking for new ways to show off the talented artists that reside at Lollishops... Well sir! Sadie has done it again!!

Being a 'Lolli' means so much to me!!

You see, I love creating, I have all of my life. After opening my shop, 'Rose Petals & Blooms' I focused all of my attention towards vintage items with all the Shabby~Cottage appeal I adored. That was all well and good, and satisifying at the moment, but I wasn't creating! ... Then I discovered Lollishops. Sadie Lou was taking applications for artists to join her sweet organization. Everyone was buzzing about the new venue, Lollishop buttons were everywhere I looked! Oh how I wanted to join! But, I'll admit, I was afraid I wouldn't be chosen, since I didn't have a 'creation 1' on my site that would deem me worthy of acceptance. Heck.. none of my creations were in my boutique!! I took a leap though and applied! Oh thank goodness Sadie saw my potential! She was quick to send my acceptance to Lollishops and I'm forever thankful for that! She didn't make me sweat bullets waiting for a reply either! Phew!! I'm so neurotic...lol!!

I can thank Sadie for inspiring me to begin creating again! She is responsible for Rose Petals & Blooms new life... I will always add vintage items to my shop, I simply adore them. But move over vintage, cuz now vintage has a twist!! I've added my own 'one of a kind' creations, using vintage bits and bobbles.

Being a vendor on Lollishops has motivated me to step up my game. Sadie and the other amazing artists at Lollishops inspire me daily. Now, everyday my mind is filled with new ideas for another creation! I love it!!!

Thank you Sadie for recognizing my potential and having faith in me, when my faith faltered!!

Lookie below, you've got to see this!!!... Here is the new look of Lollishops, and there I am, right on the front page!!! I've been featured!!! Somebody pinch me!!! I've come a long way baby!!!

Once you click onto the photo below, grab a cup of coffee, put up your feet and surf to your hearts content...

*Warning*.... Be prepared to oooh & ahhh, there are so many amazing artists featured at Lollishops, you'll want to set back a few hours from your busy shedule, cuz you're never going to want to leave!!!

Look for 'Rose Petals Fancies'... That's me!!

'Sadie Lou Who'!!!

The joyful march into spring begins, a cacophony of bird calls fills the blue skies, the trees show their fresh green buds, and the tulips start to poke their heads from the earth to face the sunshine. Colors are about to burst forth, and the earth will be new again. With fresh eyes, we are stocking our shelves with pretty greens, bright yellows, vibrant pinks, and beautiful blues. For the Boutiques at Make Mine Pink, spring cleaning is over, and we would love to show off our fresh new colors and exciting spring merchandise.

Please join us for our "March Into Spring" Shop Hop from March 16 through March 21, 2009. The shop hop is open to anyone that would like to participate (limit one registration per physical address).

Please register here if you would like to participate.

How to Play

Each of the participating boutiques at the bottom of this page has hidden one ( 1 ) Make Mine Pink shopping bag somewhere on its website. Find the shopping bag, and click on it to return to MMP and mark it off your list. At the end of the shop hop, depending on the number of bags you found, you will be entered into a drawing for prizes.

There is no cost to play. All we ask is that you enjoy yourself and take your time looking for the shopping bags—you wouldn't want to miss out on any of the fine products our boutiques are offering during this promotion.

Look at what you're playing for!!! Sweet Prizes Abound!!

Please join us... We're having oodles of fun...

I've spent another week on the playground, and I'm having a ball!

Since becoming smitten with the promise of Spring, I can't seem to take anything seriously, aside from playing in my studio and my shop.... All I want to do is create!! Much to the chagrin of my hubby, I should add... He's actually taking it pretty well. Although, lately, our dialog has gone something like this..

Hubby says...."Baby, not that I'm judging, but... are those the same pj's I saw you in two days ago?" "Baby...I don't mean to bother you, but that pile has sat at the door for over a week, do you want me to do something with it?" Baby... are the dishes in the diswasher clean or dirty?" "We ran out of silverware and glasses at least two days ago.."

Then hubby calls out to me last night, as I was blissfully creating in my little cubby/studio... "Hey baby, it's time to eat!" I unenthusiastically, pull myself away from my table, grumbling under my breath, that I only needed a few more minutes, and just maybe he could eat without me...

Stumbling into the kitchen, I thanked him for preparing dinner, saying..."Awww... Sweetie, that was so nice of you to make dinner tonight!" and he said..."Somebody needed to cook, we'd starve if I waited for you to make a meal"..

Okay everyone, did that last comment have a ring of sarcasm, to it?? Yea... I thought so too...oh well, he's probably right... So what's his point?? lol!!

I have tunnel vision and can't look two feet, past my creations. I'll tolerate a few cobwebs and boxes piling up in a corner any old day. As long as I can view them from my studio, "It's all good"....

~My new, original one of a kind creations~

A little spin on the tried and true, always sweet~Tussie Mussie

"Fussie Tussies"

"Purrrrfect"

"Rosie"

"The Birth of Spring"

~Please have a splendid week sweet friends~

I'm 55 going on 6...

Yes, I've managed to go back in time and want to stay that way for as long as I can... It's crazy how bright aqua blue, sweet pinks, darling yellows, chicks, peeps, bunnies, rabbits and oodles of sugar glitter can turn you into a child again.. Add colorful vintage millinery flowers, adorable miniature hats, decorated eggs, dear little lambs, precious baskets and you just might find yourself giggling and a lilt in your step!

I sincerely have Easter Fever!!

Yep! I do! My studio is bright and bubbly with Spring color.

The floor, tables and every corner is oozing with yumminess!!!

"Bunny Tussie"

"Darling Honeycomb Decoration"Glittered Egg""Bunnykins""Bluebird Paradise" "Sweet Easter Bunny Plaque" "Hippity Hoppity" Centerpiece"Lammie Cakes"

They're calling for snow today, but that's okay, I'll stay in my studio and dream of Spring flowers and Easter Bunnies~

Blushing Buttercream Pettiskirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

~Giveaway~

Click onto the link below for a chance to win a bundle of sweetness!!!



Blushing Buttercream Pettiskirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

Thank goodness for coffee!!

Let me explain the subject line~

You see, I was one of the lucky vendors to be in a Lollishop ad for the upcoming Spring issue of "Somerset Studios", the theme is beach/mermaid. Well...for whatever reason, I experienced the absolute worst "creative block", in the history of my creative blocks! lol! For the life of me, I couldn't find inspiration if it was right in front of me for a beach project!

Generally, when I feel like creating, I just wander into my studio. Then as I sit and stare at the piles and piles of materials in every corner and shelf, usually something jumps out at me and an idea is born. I think I put so much pressure on myself this time, when I knew it had to be beachy, that my brain turned to mush! tee hee..

After putting this project off for weeks, I was getting down to the wire, there was a deadline for a photo of the project and I was cutting it close, 3 days left...eeeeeeek! The morning I knew there was no time left to procrastinate, I wearily pulled my "slug like body" into the kitchen to prepare the strongest coffee, in hopes that it would jolt a beach theme from my brain. I was low on coffee filters and what few I had were a bit stretched out from my haphazard way of tossing them back into the cupboard. As I tried to reshape one for the coffee pot, I had a revelation... Hey, this one "kind of" looks like a clam shell! Voila!!! Just when you least expect it, an idea appears!! LOL!!

So, a short story turned very long, here is my rendition of the beach theme, introducing...
"Pearl"

Now, as "Pearl" rests upon her sweet bed, I'll go back to my studio and wait for new inspiration...

Have a perfect week my friends! Thanks oodles for stopping by~ xoxo