Having A Bit Of Trouble: Letting Go of Summer!

Hello!

Is it just me...or is it really difficult to let go of Summer?!?! I was looking at some photos from earlier in the year, and wondering why I didn't take more snaps of my garden in the spring when it was looking so wonderful!!! Now my yard looks like a deep fried crispy critter! :(

I'm trying to avoid pulling said crispy fried weeds...so I head into town to go thrifting instead! :)

I was so pumped when I found these little gems the other day. Aren't they sweet? I can't wait to bake some scrumptious goodies in them. What a fun set...I bet they're worth somethin' (as retro baking dishes are making SUCH a comeback!) but I'm not sure I could part with such fun vintage pieces. I know I'd never be able to find another grouping like them again! I wonder if there are more pieces? I'll have to start my homework online soon!

I decided to organize my doilies; my collection of pastels is starting to look a little bit like a 7 Layer cake! They just make me happy to look at them...again...having a difficult time letting go of that Summer sunny color!

The roses are coming to an end....I'd better savor them now while I've got the chance...

Hmmmm....maybe I'd better think about heading outside to pick some apples to fill up my new baking dishes...an apple crisp might just help me through the end of summer blues....????

In the meantime I'm gonna sit and stare at my doily stack...and try to feel happy about the change of seasons...I'm sure there will be some happy moments coming this fall....but as school starts tomorrow, I'm feeling a bit bummed to give up my kids to another year of school days. As much as I look forward to some well deserved time alone....I'm gonna miss my little munchkins!

I hope you can enjoy the last of the golden summer....

Trish :)

Scotland Yard: Dr. Housewife and Mrs. Design

O.K. so here I am again...the dork on the blog...the one who can't seem to stop snapping photos of insane groupings of ridiculous stuff! I can't help my creative self!!! Sometimes the creative spirit just grabs me by the neck and says "Hey you...yeah you....take that off the wall, mix it up with that piece of junk, throw in that thing you just thrifted the other day, and take a picture." Am I the only one that this happens to??? I truly do believe there is such a thing as

" Decorative ADHD"

and baby....I've got it!!!

I could be walking down the hallway with a load of laundry, planning our next meal, and suddenly before I know it I've dismantled a display in my home...torn up the boys' room looking for marbles (no, not mine), and then I wake up from some sort of decorative stouper in a funky position groping my camera!

Maybe this is more of a case of Dr. Housewife, and Mrs. Design!!!! Yikes! What a crazy woman I really am!!!!  I can hear my neighbors yelling out in fear..." Call Scotland Yard....they've let her loose again!!!!! Arrrrrrghhhhhhh!!!!"

Well, I woke up in  a bit of a dismayed state photographing this snap the other day...Suddenly I had travelled back in time to 1976; I was 3 sitting in an obscure strip mall...sugared up on Hickory Farms' Strawberry candies...awaiting a trip to Pay 'n Save....having to sit VERY STILL, getting my Silouette cut out by hand by some very sweet older lady. Amazing what our minds can hold in....yes...this little sweetie pie is me. I was cute then huh? :)

I'm so happy my mom thought to do this. I love thinking of me as 3. Sometimes I think I still am...3 that is.....I like to play with things to this very day. I guess you all will benefit from my desire to "play" as I will always try to have a camera in my hands trying to capture my "playful" ideas. This one is entitled "Trisha Time Travel".

Stick around....even I don't know what "Mrs. Design" will decide to do next!

Cheers!

Dr. Housewife...for now.....

;o)

Restyling Rummage For Fall on Flickr

Hi all! Just a little post on this rainy morning to inspire you for fall! I've been out thrifting lately gathering things for the new season. Some will go to the store (Grandiflora) and some will stay right here at home with me! :)

I just marvel sometimes what people will throw out and get rid of. I was at a sale the other day where I think grandma must've passed away and her family didn't want ANYTHING. It was kind of sad really....so many wonderful handmade doilies and paintings....I mean....look how great this needlework is!

Granted, I realize that this look isn't for everyone....and maybe I'm a sort of romantic about this kind of stuff....but if my grandmother was sitting in her chair crocheting or painting with oils....I'd surely keep something to remember her by!

Speaking of Rummage....have you taken the time to visit my group on Flickr? I've created a photo grouping called Rummage Restyled: The Eclectic Era. It is based on the thought that most homes these days are consisting of things from the past mixed with new items. I've gotten a HUGE response from Flickr members!!! There are SO MANY COOL photos on the site. I think you would really like to peruse through the photos from some of the leading designers represented on Flickr these days. I've accumulated over 200 members and over 1,000 photos!!! Not bad huh?

SO, go get inspired for restyling your rummage...these folks show you how....so there's no excuse!!! :)

I'll be heading down to Bellevue to Children's Hospital on Saturday for my second son. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we hope to find that the problems he is having are simple and easy to fix. Some of you know that our oldest son has health concerns already (let's just say we've spent alot of time at Children's) so we are already on a sort of overload medically. Praise the Lord none of it is worse....but still...if I know there are others out there who are praying...it just helps somehow. I appreciate it.

Cheers my dears...and stay tuned...I'll be posting more fun stuff soon! This seasonal change thing always really gets me going as a designer!!!

Trish :)

Going in Style....

Honestly, I would be lying to tell you that we took this car to market over the past weekend....I WISH!!! How cool is this??? I actually pulled off the road so we could get some lattes before we went junking, and this is what was in the parking lot! Other than the fact that there is a skull on the hood....you'd expect to see President Kennedy step out of the pub nearby and say "Hey! How d'ya like my Presidential Motorcade???? Sweet ride huh?"

Pretty great huh? La Von and Kim (my partners in crime for the day) are getting used to the fact that I must capture things for the blog....no matter how crazy they can be!

Get aload of those wings! We could've hauled a ton more junk in this baby!!! My poor workhorse Suburban (or "the 'Burb") was a bit jelous I might add....sad how much I make her work for the Grandiflora Cause.

That skull kind of cracks me up....it is a cross between Steampunk Noir, and Roadkill! Hee hee hee!

Ahhhhh, they just don't make 'em like they used to....

....well, actually this cool company that we saw at market earlier in that day actually DOES make 'em like they used to! Newgate clocks are lovely to the limit....but the price tag reflects. Too bad they are a bit over our shoppers' budgets....but just the same they were a pleasure to behold. It just goes to show that quality is difficult to come by, expensive to attain, but when valued....worth it.

I value your readership...and I welcome your comments. I hope you have a great day everyone!!!

Cheers,

Trish :o)

Such Sweet Things!

Ok, so we (my partner/sister La Von, and Kim our floor manager at Grandiflora) went to market this past weekend, and had to snap a few quick shots of some things we saw while we were there. Our local to the trade show in Seattle has a small area consisting of Vintage Booths. It is always so much fun after doing all our buying to come and browse around to see what other folks are up to.

This gals booth was called "Sweet Bee". I asked if it was ok to take a few snaps of the booth and ended up talking to the owners' mother who was covering for a lunch break. I didn't get the mother's name...but she was just so sweet! She said her daughter and son-in-law are the creative force behind this little masterpiece.

She also told me that she was the one enlisted to make every one of the pom-poms you see here!!! What a wonderful mother!!! (See Mom, we aren't the only ones who ask for help once in awhile!!! :o)

I thought their booth was very well done; don't you?

You can find Sweet Bee at Faded Elegance in Snohomish Washington where she's a vendor of the utmost kind. Very nicely done Rachael! We approve!!!   :o)

Update: See another blog post here: Grandiflora Home and Garden about our experiences at the show.

Well, I will be back with more about market soon!

Until then,

Cheers!

Trish :o)

Keeping Up With the Barns'....Pottery Barn's That Is!

So I found myself futzin' around the other day makin' stuff like this flower, when the mail man came...yes man...not carrier...He is Dave....the mail MAN. He doesn't say much; he nods alot and smiles sheepishly. he politely puts the bad bills etc. under something fun. He's a good guy. We always give him something great at Christmas, as we appreciate all that old fashioned service of mail actually being brought to our front doorstep, and hand delivered to our box. When we hear the click/snap of the mailbox the boys run and scream about who's going to get the mail first. Dave...he's a good guy....he always leaves a thank-you in our box the day after we give him his Christmas treat usually consisting of a large hand made Hammond's Candy Cane (picked out by the boys) and some Woods' Coffee bucks. It never says anything more than: "Thanks, Dave."  But still....he walks those extra 40 feet every day but Sunday to make sure we get our occasional magazines, invitations, and advertisements (as all of my billing usually ends up being electronic anyway).

But THAT day he brought me something I actually wish he hadn't. It was Pottery Barns' new fall tiny look book filled to the brim with all things Autumn....and all sorts of deadly crafts one feels tempted to tackle themselves with reckless abandon. DAVE!!!!!! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!!!! As if I didn't already have 10,001 things rolling around it my head.....I just didn't need to try and keep up with the Barn's too!!!!

Thankfully I own a shop filled to the gills with all sorts of great stuff just like what you see here.....so I don't have to pay massive amounts of shipping to get that horribly overpriced vintage "found" rake to my doorstep ( after all....I don't think I want to get that much revenge on Dave....nor do I want him coming to my door sporting a pitchfork!!).

However....I just fell head over heels for that handmade "Welcome" sign made "simply" notice "simply"....and thought: "HEY, I'm working with wire right now! Why couldn't I just whip this out ?!?!?! After all, the little look book says it's "simple"!!!!

I will never believe "simple" in a descriptive title again.  After about an hour of wire wrestling, bloody fingertips, and a frazzled patience.....this (above) is what I ended up with. O.K......O.K......it's not horrible....but it's not Pottery Barn sleek either. I suppose at least I tried....which is more than I can say for most (smarter) stay at home moms.

Now, I just live in fear: "What will Dave be bringing next???"

Happy Trails & Cheerio!

Trish :)

Tie One On!

Hi all!

 I've been a busy little bee...crafting up a storm for Grandiflora! I've also been away at market, and CAN'T WAIT to show you some photos of the displays we saw, and the goodies we found. However until I can get caught up....here are a few views of some sweet little tags and tie on cards I've been whipping up lately. Hope you like! :)

As always, thanks for being such loyal blog buddies! Hope you all enjoyed your weekend! I know I did!!!

Until next time....

Cheers!

Trish :o)

STOP!!! LEMONADE STAND!!!!

So....you're driving down the road, and you see this sign...

...you stop because...gosh darn it...those two little boys are just too cute with their little flags waving....and you remember how awesome it was when you were little and had your lemonade stand and people ACTUALLY STOPPED!!! :o)

Not to mention the fact that it's freakin' hot outside!!!!

90+ degrees in the shade?!?!?!?! Our Pacific Northwest bodies just aren't cut out for that kind of heat!  So you figure hydration is a good idea.

Boy these kids have it together....drinks, toys, complimentary candy?!?!?! AND they are giving 10% of all their money to needy children in 3rd world countries??? 

WOW!!! You're glad you stopped!

So, you take your drink and give them a "five" telling them to keep the change (which is good since they don't know how to make it anyway!) :)

And you head to your car, feeling good that there are still "normal" kids who do simple things to entertain themselves on hot summer days just like you did when you were a kid.

Many happy customers were served today by Tristan and Elliot...er....uh....

....uh...by Tristan. :) Apparently the drive to work doesn't develop in the 4th year...I've found that.it shows up sometime in the 6th! :o)

Well, in one (HOT) hours' time these boys raked in $20.00!!!!! A far cry from what we made as kids! The great news was that there are children in a 3rd world country who will be given medicine because of this effort. Also, the supplies were paid for, and the boys earned their entry fee to the local Fair!

It's rides, animals, and yummy food for us! Hope you get to visit a local fair too!

Well you lovelies....

Popsicle wishes and lemonade dreams!

Trish :o)

P.S. I think I'm going to start a fan page on Facebook...Stopping for Lemonade Stands ROCKS!

Wash n' Pray

This post is for all of you lovelies who've got alot on your mind these days...like I do. I hope the simplicity of this blog entry inspires you in some small way today. I have so much on my mind....and can't quite find the words to write them all down

When your day is done today...may you not only have clean dishes....but also find a tiny bit of cozy love and peace.

:)

Nesting...

No....I'm not expecting! Hee hee hee...I just wanted to share with you a little pastime I have. Nesting! First I need to:

Check the weather...maybe grab a jacket....or sunscreen, and a large bag for collecting.

I always make sure to wear some comfy shoes...as I never know how far I will have to go...

Walking in the woods is so pleasant and calming when you're stressed. I collect pinecones, twigs, and you never know what kind of photos I'll take!

I watch for empty nests when I'm in my dad's Christmas Trees (Yes, my dad owns a large Christmas Tree farm! ) I check back often to see if they are truly abandoned...and then I collect them when I've determined they won't be missed by any little birdie families. I figure the trees will be cut down eventually, and they'll be destroyed in the process anyway.

Ahh...being out in nature is great....especially when you have been smart enough to pack a picnic lunch and some hot coffee! :)

Sometimes I keep abandoned nests....they look absolutely fabulous under glass....and you can't beat them for giving little gifts in. Can you imagine finding an engagement ring in one of these as a young woman? Or using one to announce you're expecting to some eager grandparents to be? Ahhh....it's all in the presentation!

Well, I just thought I'd give you a little glimpse into my outdoor adventures. I always adore finding a new nest....but the best part is finding one that is actually in use by little birdies. I stand from afar as not to disturb it, and marvel at how they are so talented and industrious. Every nest I see reminds me of how I'm supposed to invest in my home and family....and mostly to remember how my Heavenly Father cares for me....and will continue to provide for me no matter what.

Blessings and Cheers to you lovelies!

Trish :)