weekend lights...

...icy candlelight, fading winter sunlight, giant Christmas display lights (from the car on the way home, note the lift bridge in back left)...all seen while out finishing up our Christmas shopping this weekend. Feels so nice to be done with that!

whirlwind...

{mara mi}

{mara mi}

{mara mi} {Triathlon, pre-race}

{fuzzy yellow caterpillar}

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Last weekend was a serious whirlwind...and I think I'm still recovering just a bit. A fun whirlwind just the same. Hub and I went down to the Cities for the weekend...and on Saturday morning, I woke up bright & early at 5 AM to participate in a Triathlon...I should qualify that and say it was a relay Triathlon...so I just had to run a little over 5 miles (no swimming or biking for me ~thank goodness!). I always love the race atmosphere where there seems to be so much energy and excitement in the air. Plus it was fun to do a team event with my lovely sister-in-law who provided me with heaps of encouragement and tips all summer long as we were getting ready for this race (she is an experienced Triathlete and this was my first one!)

After I recovered a bit from the race, then I got another much-needed knitting lesson from my aunt (I'm still working on learning how to knit these socks!) and was surprised to see my sweet cousin there too who I hadn't seen in ages. I think I got the hang of it now and may just have A finished sock by this Fall...only a year later!

Then, Mum and I bopped down to Stillwater to squeeze in a little shopping and we came upon a hip new shop called Mara Mi that combines paper goods, ribbon, etc with a cafe full of cupcakes, croissants, smoothies, etc... Really, what could be better than that? (Meanwhile, Hub was off golfing in the heat with his brothers.) We met up for dinner again at Mum & Dad's and of course it was fabulous as usual. Even my Grandma was there...a real treat to see her.

Sunday was church with Hub's family, followed by brunch at Tria, and then I took a jaunt across town with my sister-in-law & mother-in-law to Anthropologie. Coming back to my parents' afterward, my sister and her whole family were all over too so I was able to visit with them briefly before we headed back for home! Whew! I can't believe how much we were able to pack into one short weekend but it doesn't get much better than that!

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P.S. I just love a table full of pretty ribbons and trims! Wish I had a craft room big enough to have all my ribbon sprawled out like that (not that I personally have that much ribbon)!

pretty details {accessorizing}

Being that it's late January (something I keep reminding myself - we're almost to Feb!) and I've been covered up in bulky layers, sweaters, scarves, hats, puffy coats, boots, and whatnot for a few months now...I'm starting to yearn for more pretty, feminine things...even though it just isn't all that practical here right now, since its oh so cold and I'm always freezing!

But I found a very pretty hair clip a couple weekends ago, when Hub and I took a little trip down to the Cities and popped into Anthro for a bit. This little clip is just the thing to pop in my hair and pretty things up a bit, and still stay warm in a cozy sweater! It reminds me too of the past when women often wore pretty accessories, hats, brooches, etc...something I've been thinking I need to start including in my own repertoire of accessorizing a little more often. Of course being the creative-type, I'm thinking of making some things for myself, like this brooch I made last fall, and some hair clips using some of the odds and ends I have laying around. I might as well use them, right?

In the meantime though, here're a few pretty hair accessories/shops I've been eyeing up on Etsy:

missrubysue

heartoflight

this lovely vintage bun holder

a pretty DIY tutorial

and a sweet vintage brooch

oh and this one too!

Of course there's so much more, this is just the tip of the iceberg...

Happy accessorizing! :)

Charleston, SC

It's very tempting not to start this post with a "How y'all doin?"

After spending just a few days in the South, I so want to add a little twang to my speech! A little trip to Charleston, South Carolina was one of a few reasons I've been away from my blog for so long! Did you think I'd forgotten about y'all?

Hub had a work thing going on in Charleston and I had the good fortune to be able to go along. I don't think I've ever flown in the Fall before and it was so lovely, viewing all the changing colors of the trees from above. I was mesmerized and inspired! I've also never been to the East Coast, other than for brief layovers which really doesn't count.

The photo above shows a view from our hotel room. We stayed in the French Quarter, right near The Market where every single morning I watched people setting up their little spot with all their wares for sale. In the background of this photo, do you see the big, gray ship? Also every morning we'd wake to look out there and see a new ship docked there at the port. This one I believe was called the "Michigan Highway". Hub would look them up on his laptop to see where they originated from...Japan, Sweden, etc...I'm not sure what I expected Charleston to be like but I found it to be a pretty, charming old city for the most part...reminding me a bit of Paris (minus the palm trees) with all the historic buildings crammed together, pretty courtyards and tiny cemetaries tucked in between. There was also an abundance of restaurants and cafes every which way you looked. And we pretty much ate and walked our way all over downtown Charleston! One evening we ate at Hyman's Seafood with Hub's group where the most adventurous thing I had was fried tilapia and hush puppies. I know... I'm not very brave when it comes to seafood. They were trying to get me to eat a mussel, and I came close, but in the end there just wasn't enough garlic in the world to get me to do it! We came upon the bakery "Baked" on the day we arrived which I'd first read about here but had no idea they had a sister location in Charleston.

We went to peak inside and I was charmed...

...so I went back the next day for lunch! I will take quiche over mussels any day!

I also enjoyed my fair share of shopping on King Street while Hub was away...

Urban Outfitters was in this gorgeous, old theatre building chock full of pretty chandeliers and painted pink ceilings.

While walking through The Market, I chatted with a nice gal (also an Etsy-lover) who worked at this spot selling amazingly, beautiful framed butterflies.

One afternoon, we took a boatride over to Fort Sumter, where as the brochure says "where the Civil War began".

From the boat we had a better view of the stunning bridge that we could also glimpse from our hotel room window.

And on the way back, we floated right on by this enormous ship stacked high with containers. Hub and I were in awe...and we thought we'd seen large ships here on our little Lake Superior. Ha!

When Hub was finished with all his work stuff, we got out of downtown and drove over to Folly Beach. We love the beach and while others in Hub's group were off doing Plantation tours and spooking themselves by touring old jails, we headed straight for the beach! It was a hazy, gray afternoon and we enjoyed a peaceful, windblown time walking along the beach, digging our toes in the sand and feeling the warm, salty sea air on our skin. On our last full day there, we drove over that huge bridge to spend some time on Sullivan's Island and Isle of Palms.

We ate lunch out in the blazing hot afternoon sun at a little restaurant called "Poe's Tavern". (Edgar Allen Poe was supposedly stationed at the Fort on the end of Sullivan's Island.) We realized it was Halloween and sort of a creepy coincidence. I distinctly remember reading "The Tell-Tale Heart" in my English Lit class...not so much the story itself, but the creepy feeling you had while reading it! And just to add to the drama at Poe's Tavern, big black birds (not Ravens though!) were sitting overhead on the umbrellas and in the trees, flying back and forth, and I never felt very comfortable while we were there!

Afterwards we drove over to Isle of Palms to walk the stretching 6 miles of white sandy beach. I decided it was too, too hot to carry my camera while out on the beach so I have no photos to show for it. (I get a bit cranky when I'm really hot so I guess its a good thing I live in Duluth!) My arms were sunburned and we were wishing we'd brought swimsuits and towels to spend our last afternoon lounging on the beach. We walked barefoot in the water and watched wistfully as others were playing in the waves. Perhaps another time...we may just have to go back. But it's always so good to get back home, back into a routine, and sleep in our own bed! Even though our hotel had the most comfortable bed I've ever slept in while traveling, there's just nothing like your own bed!

More soon, y'all! ;)

Map Postcard {a tiny story}

While shopping at my newly found favorite antique shop down in the Cities last week, I came across a neat old postcard with cute little illustrations of a hunter, pheasant, deer, fisherman, etc... Of course I was drawn to it because it's a map of the region where we live. Plus it was in great condition and I thought it would be fun to frame and hang up in our guest room. And an added bonus is what's written on the back...postmarked in 1947 the writer starts out...

Dear Ethel,

You never said you liked map cards but I thought this one would be interesting...

She goes on to say...

Yes, I think Minnesota is pretty country but oh so cold in winter! Too bad we aren't all rich so we could go south with the birds!
I found it funny because who ever says they like "map cards"? Maybe in 1947 they did? But her statement about Minnesota winters and flying south couldn't be more true!

Yes, I know...I'm easily amused. ;)

and it even swivels...

I finally found the stool to accompany my drawing table. It has been a long time of waiting to find the perfect one, but as I’ve said before…I never rush these decorating things. So be it if we have to have a perfectly good drawing table sitting idle for months on end with no stool soulmate. I just don't like to rush things like this. Because furniture and such is something you have to live with for a while. And so I want to really, really love it. So I wait patiently for the right one to come along. Now at last it has and I do so love it.

I came upon it a couple weeks ago and knew immediately that this would be the perfect stool for our drawing table. I didn’t even think to measure the height. Hub and I went back soon after so he could see it too. Right away he said, “Yep, let’s get it. I like it.” So we brought it home and pulled it up to our table and guess what? It was the just the right height…no adjustments needed to the table or stool. Just like it was meant to be. Of course it needed some new fabric on the seat which is another whole silly story in and of itself…our first re-upholstering project the other night. It's certainly not perfect, but I think it looks pretty good for us first-timers.

So back to the swivel…this was an added bonus. I love chairs that swivel. I guess it reminds me of long ago times playing in my Grandpa Sig’s basement “office”, typing away on his typewriter and taking turns twirling each other around in his big, old wooden chair on wheels. And my favorite ride at Disney this year just so happened to be the Mad Tea Party ride, where you spin round and round in an oversized teacup while the entire platform of teacups is spinning as well. So it seems quite fitting that I would chance upon this lovely, swivel-y stool with its hint of Parisian-like style and vintage flair. A stool that has been receiving a whole lot of swivel-love from me already. And much more to come I'm certain.

Pretty Things {Windows, Signs, & Sidewalk Decor...}

My eyes were thirsty for pretty, inspiring, tangible things…the warmer climate in the Cities (no snow on the ground anywhere!) plus the plentiful shops and such provided just what this girl needed. Only problem is there’s always too little time to take it all in. Hub and I went down to visit family, celebrate Easter with them, and try to squeeze in a few other enjoyable things as well…things like shopping and eating at an old favorite restaurant. I’m so blessed to have my Hub who doesn’t mind shopping with me one bit at all. Nor does he mind (very much) running me back out across town on Easter Sunday to return a skirt I bought in the wrong size the day before. I know that sounds just wrong all around but we were only there for a short time so it had to be done! Yet he never complains…even if it isn’t what he really prefers to do…he just lovingly helps me along in life…I’m so thankful and could really take a lesson (or two or three) from him in this. I think that’s what makes our marriage work so well though…putting each other first, being more selfless rather than submitting to our natural selfish inclinations, and ultimately learning that it brings more joy to be this way than the other.
But without any further ado (or rambling thoughts on marriage), a few more photos from our busy Easter weekend…

{Anthro: I'm loving their "honey bee" theme for the month of April. I'm a lover of the month of April in general though too, being that it's the month of my birthday and I had received a bday card from them for 15% off my entire purchase!}
{Rick Rack: Rick Rack is pretty, no? I adore the tiny vintage kind and I hit the jackpot at a neat, new-to-me antique shop.} {Muffuletta: Hawaiian Blue Marlin & Homemade Ravioli, pretty food perfection...no food photos to show though, just the restaurant's cute sign.} {Vintage Deer + chocolate eggs: Better than an Easter basket. Mum found this cutie and knowing my fondness for deer, left it as a surprise for us on the guest bedroom nightstand. I just love those exaggerated ears!}
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P.S. I made some pretty tasty Pecan Bars to share for Easter and they were quite a hit. A few people have asked for the recipe so I thought I'd link to it here. They're quite easy to make...just don't mind all the butter...butter is better! ;)

Sweet Things...

{some "sweet things" in no particular order...}

Lunched at the Tea Room yesterday...a sweet lunch spot that is so calming and girly...sipping on White Peony Tea from old, mismatched china.
Delivered more sculpture picks/cupcake toppers to this sweet shop...(have I mentioned how much I love packaging things sweetly?)
Went into a quilting shop with Mum to look at fabric...neither of us "quilt" but Mum loves fabric for other things like potholders and whatnot...and I think she was trying to get me excited about my new sewing machine. We both came out with some of this sweet fabric above. I don't know what I'll do with it yet but it sure is cute. Any ideas?

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P.S. I discovered today that my Woodland Sparkle Mushroom Ornaments were chosen to be part of the "Woodland & Feathers" gift guide on Etsy. It is such a neat gift guide to peruse too, chock full of feathery, woodlandish things. See it all right here. How sweet is that? :)

Pinks, Reds, & Grey In Between

{Some Snippets of Life Lately...}

An Impromptu Card-Making Session...Yes, can you believe it? The Christmas decorations have just barely been stowed away for another year and already I’m busy on Valentine-y things (for this lovely shop). It's so much fun though…I love the simplicity and sweetness of Valentine's Day (especially after the complex and drawn out Christmas season). I confined myself to a color scheme of rosy pinks and seafoam/aqua-ish blues. This made me feel less distracted as I pulled out all my artsy materials (velvet ribbon, paper posies, paper...) in just those 2 shades of colors and went to town spread out upon the entire kitchen table, not sidetracked by all my other fun things in various other shades.

Trying in vain to capture a video of the Northern Shrike impaling a vole under our birdfeeder. I witnessed the whole scene today firsthand…from him stalking his prey, to him catching it and poking it several times with his beak, to him flying away with his catch in his firm grip, and then coming back for more. It was so fascinating and he is quite a cute "hunter" bird with his pretty grey body and black eye mask. I wanted so much for Hub to be able to see this as well…as he’s been trying (in vain too) to catch the very plentiful, naughty voles (they destroy our grass making dead grass mazes that appear in the green of Spring) using mousetraps set up under our deck and has had no luck. That’s ONE for the Shrike, Hub…ZERO...so far! ;)
Looking forward with eager anticipation to our upcoming warm weather vacation...I bought a new swimsuit from Target yesterday for the occasion. It is red-ish with tiny white polka dots. What do you think? More than anything, I’m so looking forward to feeling warm, moist air. The dry air has to be one of my least favorite things about Winter time…staticky hair I try hard to tame and ultimately end up just throwing on a hat or pulling it back into a pony tail...dry, cracking hands...the electricity of sweaters as I pull them over my head...and oh are we going through the hand lotion like crazy! We should have big vats of it by every door and each sink. Our vacation can’t come soon enough for me now!

Cute Tape

I found this big roll of tape last week while down in the Cities at Pulp Fashion. I thought it was so ridiculously cute. In really small print it says, "I'm looking for my bird." My first attempt at figuring out just what to use it on of course landed itself upon a homemade card...which I promptly sent off to Mum & Dad as a little "hello."
By the way...I googled the name inside the roll of tape "Shinzi Katoh"...and found out he's a pretty hip Japanese designer. Fun!

The Fall Collection

The Fall Collection: New LillyBonBon Votives at a store near you...featuring birds and owls (of course) and the latest cuckoo clock designs! Okay, so maybe they are not exactly at a store near you, but they are in ONE very special store that I truly love...Truly.

Sorry. I just simply couldn't resist writing all that jazz above about my "new fall collection." But I really did just drop off some of these new votives above, in addition to my latest line of Sculpture Picks (birds & mushrooms) yesterday at Truly. They had so many fun ideas for how to display my little sculpture picks that I can't wait to see/hear what they finally end up doing with them. Also, they are now having Cupcake Sundays (which is sort of ironic since my sculpture picks can be used as cupcake toppers too!). I'm not entirely sure what this "Cupcake Sunday" entails, but it sounds like fun...so if you are in White Bear Lake on a Sunday...why not stop in and check things out? Or if you're not in White Bear Lake, you can shop online at Truly where they also carry a selection of things from some of their other designers too.

Also yesterday, I had the pleasure of visiting one of my favorite shops, Rose Mille, located in downtown Stillwater. I love love love this stylish store for its combination of new & vintage things...French-inspired...beautiful things...clothing, trinkets, housewares, paper goods, and my favorite: cute crafting goodies...stuffed in old dressers and cabinets full of tiny drawers. It's almost like hunting through your grandma's attic and finding amazing little vintage things for craft projects. Not to mention you'll find THE BEST selection of ribbons & trims. Here are some of my finds from yesterday...

I also have a special place in my heart for Rose Mille because it was the very first store where I launched my very first LillyBonBon artwork. The owner, Michelle, really bolstered my confidence by her desire to see my things and her excitement to sell them in her lovely store. I remember it feeling so surreal at the time that this store that I had always absolutely loved and adored wanted to sell my things in it! Taking a little walk down memory lane, here are some old pics (from 2005) of my first beginnings there...

In addition to Truly, this is another store you must put on your list to visit if you are in the area. So beautiful! The owner also mentioned to me that she'll soon be adding online shopping to the Rose Mille website. I'm not sure exactly what kind of select goodies will be available online, but I know I'll be looking forward to this feature!

~Au revoir for now!