{stamps around the world}

You never know what you can find that is whimsical and beautiful around your own home (or your wonderful mama's home, where today's post comes from). Inspiration is from Pottery Barn's fall window displays.

In a little box tucked away in a closet in my parents' house, we found a collection of old postage stamps from around the world.


I grouped them by color, set the resolution on my printer's scanner on high, and arranged them.

Blues...

teals...


and my favorite, which will definitely make a second appearance later this year.

{to honor a friend}

Tomorrow marks the first anniversary of a dear friend's "going home" ~ to heaven, not any earthly home. Joe's life is a demonstration of sacrificial love, and I will be eternally grateful for him. Though we still miss him and grieve our loss, it is a great thing to know that he is in Glory, with the Almighty Father.

My mind is often overwhelmed at the thought that my freedom has come at such a high price. And so my prayers and thoughts are often with the young men and women that currently serve, have served, and with the families and friends of those that have given their all. What a wonderful thing it is, to live in a country where volunteers are willing to protect...and what a humbling thought.




"For this country, this Warrior has stood the watch.
While some of us were in our beds at night, this Warrior stood the watch.
While some of us were in school learning our trade, this Warrior stood the watch.
Yes, even before some of us were born into this world ... this Warrior stood the watch.
In those years when the storm clouds of war were seen brewing on the horizon of history this Warrior stood the watch.
Many times he would cast an eye home and see his family standing there ... needing his guidance and help ... needing that hand to hold during those hard times ... but he still stood the watch.
He stood the watch for years, He stood the watch so that we, our families, and our fellow countrymen could sleep soundly in safety each and every night knowing that a Warrior stood the watch.
Today we are here to say 'Friend, the watch stands relieved. Relieved by those you have led, guided, and trained. You stand relieved. We have the watch.'"

To my dear friend Joe, thank you...thank you.

{the silver sea}

"Look at that sea, girls--all silver and shadow and vision of things not seen. We couldn't enjoy its loveliness any more if we had millions of dollars and ropes of diamonds."
~Lucy Maud Montgomery

{what is whimsy}

whimsy: an odd or fanciful notion. originating in the 1590s.

what a whimsical thing to be using such an old word, but such a friendly and happy word.

{my favorites}

I love having favorites of things...favorite movies, favorite snacks, favorite colors...and I love to have favorites in abundance. If I thoroughly enjoy something, it becomes a "favorite" of mine. I don't just have one favorite color, I have ten. But one of my favorite movies is "You've Got Mail." I adore that movie, and watch it frequently, so much so, that I can quote it all the way through. Having a movie that I am so comfortable and familiar with is, well, a comfort. It's a good movie to watch when I feel alone, or scared, or sick, or romantic.


"I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address. On the other hand, this not knowing has its charms." - Wouldn't a bouquet of sharpened pencils be lovely?

{colorful tealights}

If you cannot tell, I just love crafts and projects...and color...and color-coordinating...and elipses. And this week is no exception...


I decided to dip some tealights in colored wax as a simple, yet pretty display that still matches my apartment.


The result was quite striking.

{a bouquet of tassels}

I just love a new project. For a quick weekend project, I made a set of tassels. They turned out fabulously.


I think I might attach them to my Christmas presents this year instead of bows. Wouldn't it look lovely with silver wrapping paper?


Instructions can be found here

{we will remember}

On this anniversary, we will remember the sacrifice...

“Time is passing. Yet, for the United States of America, there will be no forgetting September the 11th. We will remember every rescuer who died in honor. We will remember every family that lives in grief. We will remember the fire and ash, the last phone calls, the funerals of the children. “
~ President George W. Bush

"We ask a lot of those who wear our uniform. We ask them to leave their loved ones to travel great distances, to risk injury, even to be prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice of their lives. They are dedicated. They are honorable. They represent the best of our country, and we are grateful."
~ President George W. Bush - 02 OCT 01

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
~ George Orwell

...and through a veil of tears, we are eternally grateful.

{who doesn't love a cupcake?}

My sister and I had a wonderful time this Labor Day weekend doing all sorts of crafts and projects. The cupcakes were the biggest hit with the family!

{a bit of wool. and acorns.}

Autumn has definitely arrived in the Pacific Northwest, and my craft inclinations have shifted from summer projects to fall projects.

Yesterday, I took a basket of wool roving, found in my closet...


several dozen acorns, found in the park...


and made these beautiful felted acorns, in all of my favorite colors...



instructions will be posted soon.

{autumn is here}

As soon as September 1st came, so did Autumn. It is still warm on occasion, but the nights are chilly, and the rain and grey skies are here. Still, there is incredible beauty in the changing of the seasons, and not all of the colours are the typically-thought-of reds, oranges, yellows and browns. Let me share what I saw yesterday on a walk around my favorite park...


beautiful greens...




incredible fuchsias...




deep purples...




blues...




and some very whimsical and fun textures.

{it is time to change to autumn}

I decided that since it is September, it is time to change from my Spring and Summer table display...


...to my Autumn display...


...Autumn is also much easier to dust, which is a very good thing.