What?

Oh my goodness. I blinked and it was almost May.

I finally have a rhythm with my job. No longer is it my "new" job, I'm no longer trying to get caught up, and Easter is over, so everything is normal - as normal as it can be, working simultaneously with people and computers/equipment. :)

I'm really excited to be in a groove and ready to take on some new challenges. Maybe I'll actually learn what all the buttons on the camera do or how to actually use some of the programs I'm so fortunate to have on my computer.

Side note: this post will not have pictures because I lost the cable. Oh, the irony.

I posted my SOAK (devotion) on the NorthShore website last week (you can read it here) and it was really convicting. I have never been very vocal about what I believe. For the most part, I am shy and soft spoken; a peace maker and a people pleaser. But I realized that that isn't an excuse to not be vocal, but rather a strength to create deep meaningful relationships with people, and conversations about God will come from how much I care about them. Does that even make sense? Well, either way, I've been able to be more candid about what I believe with more people in the last few weeks than I ever have in my life. I admit I haven't shared my faith ala GOSPEL acronym and said "Do you want Jesus?" but I think the small seeds that I'm being faithful to plant are just the beginning. I'm excited that God is changing me and I'm realizing, even more, how important prayer is in my life. It's a place that I'm happy to be discovering and challenging at the same time.

I am a freelance designer now! Well, if you count one freelance job! It was a great learning experience and I'm looking forward to figuring out how to possibly make something of it. It was so fun to deposit that check, haha.

This is possibly the most sporadic post, and for that I apologize. If you want to see what else I'm working on, visit The Springs Church and NorthShore Student Ministries sites. :)

Birds & Flowers

I found this little guy at Goodwill today in a bag of things for $1.99. He came with a glass encapsulated doily-thing, a candle snuffer, and some tea light holders. A pretty good deal, I think. Although I wasn't totally sold on the terracotta finish he had. The color wasn't too bad, but as you can see he was marked up and a little dingy.

Armed with my trusty $0.10 acrylics, I went to work. I went for a coral, peachy color to tie in with a few pieces I have around the room.

See? Almost the same, just a little cleaner and a little lighter. But I like it much better!

At home, on my cabinet.

Looks like someone is ready for a cup of tea and a good read!!

I also have been making fabric flowers whenever I need an easy, mindless pursuit. I made some from a blue print, a maroon pillowcase ($0.25!), and today I bought a few napkins to try: coral and a shiny deep puce color, which is a lot prettier than the name suggests.

What is better than an apothecary jar full of flowers? Maybe chocolate. Maybe.

:)

Shoes!

I have some of the hardest feet in the world to fit. They're terribly small, terribly wide, and have terribly high arches. I also have thick ankles and calves. (*although I've started calling them vintage, because there is nothing better than a woman in the 40s with a mid calf length dress on and thick ankles with heels, believe me!)

So what does a girl with hard to fit feet develop a penchant for? You got it. Shoes. Oh the irony. I've had some pretty great finds recently though - especially secondhand.

These booties are so fun, leather, and I got them at Goodwill for probably $6. I love how the leather is worn and soft and how they remind me of the granny boots I had when I was 9. I don't love the vinyl lining on the inside of the opening, it's cracked and hard and did a number to the tights I wore them with. :/ But overall, I like them!

These boots. Let me say this, I've wanted tall boots for my whole life (well, for the last few years of my whole life) and never have been able to find ones that fit for a good price. Who has a few hundred to spend on boots? Not me. So I found these boots at Goodwill last week for $12. They are a few sizes too big, but that actually helps with the width. And they don't look like flippers. :) Leather again, and they are just a little tight on my calves, but I can zip them up and they don't look too tight. And did I say $12?!?!

 OK. I love the vintage shop Vintage Petals and I bought a skirt from there too. Ashley has such great prices and great pieces. These oxfords are probably the best things I've ever seen. (other than newborn babies, of course). The yummy brown leather fades from dark to chestnut-y and look at that heel!! Liz Claiborne, so not super old, but just wonderful. (slightly too small, but I don't care, I really like them!)

And finally, these are new, but I got them at Ross and I had been eyeing them for weeks.  These shoes just scream 4th of July picnic and I'm so glad I finally tried them on. This is the story. It was love at first sight but they had an abnormally high price tag for Ross. So I did not try them on (ignorance is bliss, right?) and walked away slowly. Saw them again and still, same price, same squeeze on my heart. Finally after the third (or maybe even fourth) time, I tried them on. And they fit. And they were the only ones left in my size. And they were leather. And Clarks. So they came home with me and I wear them occasionally around the house. :)

Fabric Flowers

I am in love. Not only are these flowers the best shade of pink, they are made from a worn out Charlotte Russe shirt that never quite fit. I'm so glad I thought of this top because I was bound and determined to make these flowers (I sort of followed this tutorial but mostly read it and then did what I whatever I felt like - which, by the way, is completely unlike me. I'm such a rule follower) and I would have made them out of some horrible scrap fabric I have and then I would never use them.

The first two I made stick out funny in the back, I did too much folding, I think. But the third is nice and flat and a little floppy and just J. Crew enough to make my heart flutter. :)



I added a felt back with a little band (an idea I read in a blog somewhere and can't remember where) so that I could use it in multiple ways:

Here is my floppy J. Crew-esque with a bobby pin. I would have modeled but it's my day off and I didn't even brush my hair. :)

It can also slip onto a head band! Which I totally love!

And my most favorite things ever (cardigans) become even more amazing with a flower! :)

What a wonderful way to spend my day off.

Thoughts on Creativity

Today I read an article about creativity. It was an encouragement to realize that with all the images around us, not to mention our own mind (conscious and subconscious), there really is no reason for creative juices to "dry up." There were some practical tools: journaling, drawing, working in a inspiring place, working when you're at your best, being realistic about the time your personal creative process needs, etc. The tips were great and helped me refocus because I feel like I'm in a creative slump; which is really not what a designer (amateur as I am) wants to feel.

But in addition to that, I thought about a conversation I had with my pastor/boss and our creative director/my best friend where we talked about creativity being a God given need. That all creativity is a reflection of Jesus, whether we mean for it to or not, since we are made in his image. God is the ultimate creative genius: can you imagine coming up with everything out of nothing with no one but yourself for input? Of course, that's taking it to a human level, but still, God's creativity is astounding. And I know that he wants me to be creative because 1) I bring him glory when I act like him (and the person he made me to be) and 2) my creativity serves to create an atmosphere where lives are transformed. It is and will be a reminder that he will provide a way and that my inspiration comes from him.

All that to say, I got an awesome briefcase/file case from Goodwill today for $4 that is amazingly vintage and full of nerdy goodness. I wish I had a laptop (choose whichever OS you like best, that way I don't offend anyone!!) with CS4 on it to put in this bag and be creative everywhere I go. :D

Even better Tuesday Treasure

Today, instead of thrifting, I was able to bargain hunt with my two favorite girls. My best friend and her 7 month old daughter were in town for a doctor's appointment and so we went to Target. :)

Spending time with them is a far better past time, they are the most fun and I love them terribly. And I got new running shoes, which I needed. Desperately. I realized the ones I've been wearing I've had since my freshman year of college. In 2003. Yikes.

I did manage to hang up my plates over my desk, so I'll show you those.


And a little closer:

Tuesday Treasures

I blame my dad. Or maybe I blame his Italian grandparents. Either way, bargain hunting is in my blood and I love, love, love it.

Almost every Tuesday, I go in to work, then go to a small group Bible study, and then: Goodwill. Yippee skippee! :)

I've been wanting to be a better blogger and I realized that I could document the things I find on Tuesdays. And then when they get placed, hung up, painted, etc I can post those too. So without further ado.

This mirror was 7.99 but I had a 20% coupon so that makes it 6.40. I think I'll hang it next to my desk by my bookcase.

These Currier & Ives plates are missing winter, but I LOVED the colors and the subjects too. And at 1.99 a pop (1.59 with coupon) they were a steal.

Spring:

Summer:
Autumn:
This little guy is sooo cute! I want a boy like this in real life. :)


These hydrangeas came in a basket that I wasn't totally excited about, but I like them in this box. It's almost a hat box, but held a teapot I got for my birthday.


Don't you love this as a pencil cup? I've been wanting a sweet one for the office and I think this is just the ticket! 0.75!!

I've been slowly and surely collecting flower prints in goldy frames. I have 2 others: peonies, and geraniums. I am looking forward to putting them on the blank wall next to my bed. Hopefully, soon, I'll have a nice arrangement. 5.99 - %20 = 4.79


I also got this print (which is 16x20 and still in plastic) for 1.99 oh I mean 1.60! :) It may go with my others, if I find a frame for it. (you can't really see it but there is a tiny ladybug on one of the leaves!!)


My favorite part of Goodwill is going through the books and getting books to read for smokin prices! I love pretty books, but for 1.99 or less, I will go with a not as beautiful cover. Especially since I just want to read these ones. :)

Of course, one of those is definitely vintage and I love that my vintage children's book collection is slowly expanding!


And that little owl? Goodwill find a few months back. He may be my favorite find of all time. Such a cheeky little owl.


And there you have it. Today's Tuesday Treasures. :)