My family and I just returned home to steaming TX yesterday after a two week stint in the beautiful crisp mountains of Colorado. A home away from home, really.  Every summer we venture to our little piece of heaven on earth.  This year was particularly wonderful because my two year old, Ben was willing and able to participate in all the fun! We went hiking in the mountains, played at the pool, absorbed some Denver culture, went rafting through the Royal Gorge, visited a zoo or two and just spent time together around the table and outdoors as a family. Here are a few snaps from the trip. For a more complete documentation of the trip, visit my personal photographer and sister and best friend's blog at 

blink+snap

Larimer Street. Downtown Denver

Castle Pines Independence parade

maybe his favorite part of the day

a boy and his pup

this is me face to face with a giraffe 

at the Colorado Springs Zoo

monkey see ^ monkey do 

my favorite site. i mean a flippin bear 

was fishing inches from my face

ben's first horsie ride

he's a big boy today!

we can't really ever pass up a carousal ride

Garden of the Gods. fantastical.

inspired to decorate

my parents are in the process of building their dream house now that they are officially empty nesters. i was scooping up design and space ideas to email my mom when it occurred to me...i have a blog (that I have been neglecting).  i have this small hole in my heart for being so negligent with my posting. there actually has been some really neat creations that i need to document for everyone.  in all honesty, i am relatively crafty, but it takes a whole different energy to craft AND document.  so, mom.... this post is for you.  i am so excited to have the opportunity to work on this house project with you, and cannot wait to see the final results. here are some pictures around the blogosphere that i wanted to share with you today.  

i love this bed. this would be neat in one of the guest bedrooms. i also wanted you to take note of the shutters. isn't that a pretty grey??

the cabinets and window above the sink really caught my eye in this photo. and you know how i love a clean, white kitchen!

i think one of the spaces i am most excited about in my parent's new home will be the laundry room. for more than 15 years, they have been cramped for space in a launderette (I can't even call it a room).  now, they can launder in luxury!!

i could see using these patchwork tiles in the laundry room as well.

a grand entrance, indeed. ugh...those floors are to.die.for.

via delight by design

i'll be updating as i see some fresh finds. :)

inspired to decorate

happy space

I know I've been slacking on the blog posting lately. There have been a lot of new developments in the past week that have taken my focus from this hobby, and replaced with "real" work.. But don't fret, I have lots of pretties to share with you today. I have blogged before about my struggle to transform our office into an inspiring workspace.  It's a challenge when you're fighting for space with your husband's hunting gear, and miscellaneous papers and books.  After  having dinner with one of my favorite and most inspiring people on earth, I have decided to go minimal with this space. One thing that is absolutely necessary for any creative space is an inspiration board, piece, nook, whatever. This could be something simple like a jar wrapped in some beautiful leftover fabric to keep pencils or tape. It could be an inspiration board that displays beautiful inspiring pieces that relate to your next project. Or it could be a collage of photographs.  Whatever you need to make your space happy, and in turn make you a happy crafter. Here are a few inspiring spaces.

evie s brings us a very sweet hand woven letter for your wall or shelf. I love the floral detail at bottom. The simple things that bring me joy...

emily ley removed the doors to a closet in her office to make room for all the clutter. Even files can be cute if stored correctly.  I particularly like how she put her diplomas on the shelves in the closet.  Our diplomas are one of those items that  don't know what to do with. I don't want them on the wall, but feel guilty when they're stuffed in the closet.

emily ley's clean workspace. Love that framed cork board!

via green and graham. Storage for the knick-knacks

via lovely design

sewing nook via just something i made

Do you have a system for filing that works for you?  Filing cabinets are down right ugly. Do you have a marvelous alternative storing system for all your important, need to keep documents?

happy space

crafting up some fun

Hi ya'll.

I am in the process of crafting some sweet handmade goods for my soon-to-be 2 year old's birthday. 

I am using Paper Pastries guide to making stencil letters

Last week, while many on the east coast were snowed in, we were going through our own "snowy" days.  Ben was under the weather, I was exhausted from taking care of him, and to make matters worse, it was too cold and wet to play outside. We were stuck for the most part indoors.  Finding fun things to do around the house with a toddler is a challenge to say the least. Don't fret. I found a great resource to help us all keep the good times rollin indoors. If you're looking for fun craft ideas to do with your kids and toddlers, look no further than Pink and Green Mama

If you're thinking...

I have a two year old that pulls apart 

and basiclly destroys everything that I make. 

craft is no fun..... :-(

then consider this mama's response:

"Yes, of course we all run into the problem of the captain-destructo age of 2+, 
that’s how our youngest daughter got her nickname of Mini-Saurus 
because she destroyed everything my older daughter was playing with. 
I recommend focusing on sensory experiences 
and playing with materials 
rather than trying to actually make anything.
I think a lot of moms are in the same situation as you."


and...love is in the air

try making a simple fabric garland that can be reused for years to come. Follow this DIY from How About Orange

P.S. If you or someone you know have a studio or inspiring workspace, let me know about it. I am putting together a list of inspiring workspaces to feature on the ink crowd.  I am curious about how I can transform our office into a happy space that will stimulate creativity.  Where do you doodle, compute, get things done?? Share your ideas!

crafting up some fun

half full

As I sit here reading and enjoying my cup of joe, I am stunned by the silence in my house.  Last night, I had one of the greatest experiences in my life.  My sweet baby was up coughing helplessly, and he wanted his mama to come get him around 12:00a.m. We usually would get up and watch his little baby einstein video for a bit, give him some water and medicine, and send him off to bed.  Right when we sat down, I could tell he didn't want to have anything to do with the video. He was exhausted from coughing, and just wanted to curl up on my lap and sleep. Note: Ben is not the cuddler; never has been; thought he never would be.  We eventually moved over to the couch, and he fell asleep using me as his mattress for about an hour. My heart is fluttering.  Normally, I am counting the seconds until I can get back to my pillow, but I would have stayed like that all night.  

You're probably like, well awesome, but what does this have to do with a blog that is supposed to inspire my the latest and greatest news from the paper world?  

Well, I'll tell you. I have been soul searching a lot these days.   I have been thinking about what drives me...what drives all of us to get up in the morning and be productive.  A good day for me is a productive day --- days when I check things off my list.  Lately, I have a list growing faster than I check things off, and it gets over-whelming. Where is the balance? How do you do it all? For me, it's completing one task everyday to the fullest.  Last night, this moment with my sick baby curled up on my lap made me realize what I value most---quality time with family/friends. Furthermore, the challenge brought me joy and made my heart flutter. If what I do as a hobby doesn't make me full, it's time to get a new hobby. Am I right? Self- evaluation is one of the hardest, but most productive and honest things you can do for yourself. Knowing what you need to be full and functional is a good place to start.  

I was reading this article this morning from Specky Boy: How to Boost Your Creativity in 3 (or 7) Days. I am no graphic designer, but I took a lot of helpful hints from the article.

"Never let your work spill over into your personal time unless it is absolutely necessary."

"Make sure to challenge yourself, but don’t set yourself up for failure."

"It’s always good to build on existing knowledge, as it nurtures creativity."

For me, this translates into practice, practice, practice. And then STOP. And that means stop completely. I may stop a task, but still be thinking about color schemes and stationery designs in the wee hours of the morning. 

So, here goes today...

~Run 1 mile

~Cook dinner

~Organize my fonts folder

~Organize my blog pictures folder

~Write follow-up emails to clients

STOP

half full

it's ok to fail.

isn't that just the truth!

I love what I do. I am a mom, and sometimes the job is draining. Like, the past two weeks literally have put me in a creative funk.  When my kid is sick, I put all my free time into rest or reading.  So, blogging=fail. But, no regrets. I am thankful for the extra time (no matter how difficult) I have with my son.

Some exciting news...

My dear sweet husband purchased the Big Shot for me.  And yesterday I finally made it over to Archiver's to get some fun die cuts, embossers, and a letterpress kit.  

around the house, we cleaned out all the clutter. we donated a ton of stuff to Katy Christian Ministries, and I made a few updates in the kitchen and mantle.  The office is always a work in progress, but it is slowly getting there with the help of our PB storage system.  

My sister hand painted this cross for me. She got the inspiration from her church notebook. She is such an incredible talent!

 Our mantle got a little update.  we found this vintage window frame on etsy. i am reluctant to share the vendor because it was 2 months late, and they didn't respond very well to emails. But after all was said and done, it's lovely!

This little hand towel from House 8810 would be adorable hanging over my stove, and what a great idea for Valentines. Husbands...

{sorry about the image quality on this one folks}.  

A Lifetime Diary!

This is a perfect idea for all you people who love keepsakes, but don't have the time for scrapbooking.  This book can fit a lifetime of notes, pictures, artwork... How neat to have all your kids stuff one one fat book.  

So, whether you are are having a rockin productive week, or missing a few goals here and there, I wish all you inspiration seekers a blessed week. 

Please visit my facebook page to get details on how you can save on personalized plates and placemats for your little ones!

it's ok to fail.

paper and thread

There are very few stationery designers I come across where I am absolutely in tune with the work  and passion behind the paper.  When I read Lori's profile from paper and thread I was truly inspired. Ok, maybe a little more than inspired. I was oohing and ahhing, folks! She got her degree in English, taught for awhile, became a mother, and then turned her passion for paper into a thriving business. Sound familiar, (sans the thriving business part)?   This is one lovely lady, who has made her dreams a reality. She comes across as very serene and content. I like that. I oblige you to take a peek at her goodies.  

One of her creations in particular has become a "template" for Ben's 2nd birthday invitation. Her son is named Ben too, go figure!  I haven't settled on a theme, but I will be attempting a homemade crafty invite like you see here.

His theme changes everyday I feel, but I'm slowly settling on a few things. 

Here is her most recent creation. I adore the way she incorporates fabrics and "threads" into her work.

paper and thread