hello there!
so here's a lengthy catch-up post from my part of the woods –

first, look at that pretty bird. sheesh do i LOVE my chickens. i mean come on, just the other day i was bringing them hot oatmeal and thinking what spoiled chickens i have – but boy do they pay me pay back in funny company. they all have such wonderful personality!
{click on this image to experience full-blown sass}

we brought their hen house up close to the garden this fall to be sure they're safe and comfy when it gets really cold.
hopefully they'll lay all winter like our past birds.

best part about them up by the house is they'll all come to hang
while we stack wood or do yard work.

here's miss D supervising...

and even using the nest box like a good girl...

what else can i say. they're awesome.

and speaking of awesome - know who's really awesome?
my friend christin kelley!
look at these fantastic mitcher's whiskey pedestal mugs she gave me for my birthday!


LOVE.

also, christin and i made the most amazingly easy DIY xmas gift project ever.
here's our little review...
hand-made vanilla extract


got these great glass flasks at reading china and glass for a $1 a piece!

(you could use any bottles but these were our most favorite)

then all you need is inexpensive vodka and vanilla beans!

slice each bean down the center.

next fill the jar with vodka and plunk the beans in!
(also you can make some cosmos while you work)


then you just let them sit in a cool dark place for 2 months.
perfect, cause that's exactly how much we have 'til xmas.
scary, huh?

so, we super duper recommend this DIY. it was so fun and easy and there was no mess to clean up in the end. plus. vanilla extract can be so expensive so anyone who gets a big bottle like this will be thrilled. i also plan to make an illustrated how-to tag so everyone who gets one can make their own once it's gone. how fun, right?
i'll post the tags and completed bottles once they're finished.

whew, ok that was a good catch-up – now back to work for me!
hope you're having a great day,
xoxoxoxoxoxox

LOVE this
happy snow-melting monday!
whew, that storm was kinda nuts, huh! we lost many of our ornamental pear trees and our power for about 24hrs or so. it was sad about the trees but definitely romantic with candles lit and just the fireplaces burning on saturday night. sunday we spent the day with friends sitting in their yard making snowmen and literally watching the snow melt. i think i got a sunburn from all the reflection. somehow the snow relaxed me and got me ready to jump-start this busy week.

also, as a nice little push –
2 of my calendars on poppytalk in their
calendar round-up part 3!



hope you're all safe and warm!
xoxoxoxoxoxox
that's right! hike on over to the shop for some savings!
{photo of autumn trail found here}
happy wednesday!
xoxoxoxoxoxo


happy friday everybody!
so, this morning i entered the 2012 world tour sketchbook project
and i must say that i'm getting pretty psyched up about it!
my theme is: fears and tears
(which i will have no problem with since this past year has been a serious bruiser). i think it will be specifically titled:
fears and tears – the infertile years.


then after january 31st my sketchbook along with thousands of others
will take a tour traveling from libraries to galleries and little pop-up shops
all around the world for the masses to view.

what a great idea, right? want to join in?
enter here by october 31 and get your sketches out there for the world to see!
xoxoxoxoxoxox





whew!
lucky for me – i'm super busy getting ready
for the holiday shows coming up this season.
want to come find me? here's where i'll be...

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philadelphia, PENNSYLVANIA


come find me in philly at the first annual holiday art star craft bazaar!

i'll be there in person with my usual booth buddy,
kimberly of chez sucre chez.
Mark your calendar: November 18-20.
Nov. 19th and 20th are FREE and open to the public.
Friday, November, 18th from 6-9 pm is a VIP Preview night.
(Tickets are $25 for the preview. Space is limited – purchase tickets here)

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providence, RHODE ISLAND


lucky me – all my work will be available
up at craftland's 10th annual holiday show!

i will not be there in person but i sure will be in spirit. they are soooo amazing up there at craftland i wish i was closer just to hang out! if you happen to be close or visiting family be sure to stop in and see the plethora of major goodness.
Mark your calendar: November 25 – December 31, 2011
They are open seven days a week 10am - 6pm. +
the store is open late Thursdays and Saturdays 10am - 8pm.

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and

fargo, NORTH DAKOTA


whooohooo! too bad i won't be there in person –
but again, definitely in spirit!
unglued is opening a pop-up holiday shop
in downtown fargo. now how cool is that?
Mark your calendar: Black Friday - Chirstmas Eve!
They'll be in downtown Fargo every Friday- Sunday til xmas eve. They also plan to have workshops and fun stuff for the kids to do so if you're in the area make sure to be there!

other than that i'll just be working away filling orders here in my little home studio.
here's wishing everyone a happy kick-off to the holiday season!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo



happy thursday friends!
well, the day is almost over and i still didn't get to craft it up like i planned
but i did get to put up a new inspirational/reminder print for anyone working their tail off trying to make something of themselves...


inspired by the tao te ching (translated by stephen mitchell) – one of my favorite books when i'm feeling like i need some direction. every chapter has such wisdom and i feel comfort in all of lao tzu's words. i really recommend the pocket version – so it can go anywhere with you!



hopefully blending it with some folk-style beauty will help bring the wisdom of lao tzu into 2011. crazy to think his words from 604 BC are still being put into practice – now that's some history.

oh and i almost forgot! can't wait to finish this project i'm working on...
it's going to be a ketubah! (traditional jewish wedding "agreement")



aggggg i can't wait – it's going to be be sooooo beautiful!
stay tuned to see the final piece...
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

so what was the big idea?... canvas calendars!
printed full-color canvas calendars
mounted on lightweight wood and strung up for hanging in your favorite place! i can't wait to try more and have a full-on crafty day this week –
i'll post more soon...









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xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
happy first day of fall and friday!
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just putting some new stuff up in the shop today in all this dreary rain –

the secret is love flat print - $20


if it kills me 2012 calendar - $20


pocket notebook - $8

hope these make you think of toasty fires and crisp and sunny harvest days.
now i'm off to craft up a new an exciting idea i had yesterday!
hope to post some picks of the process soon...
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

'tis the season!
now that fall shows are starting to start up and the inevitable holiday season is soon to follow, i've signed up for some great giveaways to get this party ball rolling...

check this happy giveaway from pretty much art!


stephanie's got me looking so good in her pretty giveaway!



and soon we will be sending my bless this print
along with a bonus folk garden thank you card
to one very lucky winner!


happy fall - my very favorite time of year!
xoxoxoxoxo
melanie
hello friends!
oh, i'm just so in love – check out this beautiful wedding photographed by adam barnes featuring my wedding witness banner! this is exactly how i dreamed of seeing my witness banner being brought to life. meghann customized it perfectly and set it all up so beautifully – i'm so blown away...


her flowers captured my heart.
the greens, yellows, and white are simple but so amazing.



perfection.


and this set up!?
the dresser and flip-flops – i just love everything.
check out her entire wedding featured on style me pretty!

so much thanks to meghann and graham for their fantastic taste and sensibility.
may you have all the treasures of love and life!
xoxoxoxoxoxo
ahhh back and refreshed from my mini vacation!
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just posting some love found upon my return...

super soft and clean treasury by bethberg


+ some encouraging feedback,

and lastly, a feature and a sweet little blog called adventures in love & happiness
(which as you could easily assume, i totally love.)
that's it. happy earthquake tuesday!
xoxoxoxoxox


new little art blocks over at the shop!
dutchy home sweet homes for all –



these are such lovely gifts for yourself or friends...
go ahead and collect them all!

hey there party people!
just catching up with some good news –
yellow umbrella just had their grand opening and i'm so happy to report that my work was received really well out there in bemedji, minnesota



happy, candy-coated shops like this
are such great vehicles for spreading the love!

plus they posted about me on their blog today –
thanks so much jen and jennifer - i am so excited to be working with you!
xoxoxoxoxoxox
holy toledo - it's been a while!
just a little update...

i just made a super fun wedding gift and wanted to share the details.

so, here's how they all start out - just a little pencil sketch...


and they end up like this...

danny wanted to include lyrics from the couples favorite song
(fleetwood mac/christine mcvie's – songbird)
and two birds of kauai - their fabulous wedding destination!
(the top left bird is a honey creeper and the bottom right is a tropicbird.)

i just even can't say how much i enjoy projects like this.
congrats, danny and sean!
xoxoxoxoxo