Its Just The Beginning

I think summer is making its way to AZ fast this year. I was at the Grandkids softball games today and it was so hot. The kind where you really dont feel so well and you know you got over heated.  So I just moved indoors to A/C! My friend Pat and I had appointments at Sephora for make overs. It was alot of fun, but I look a little too fancy! lol.  I did find this cute bug ring for 50 percent off and thought that she was pretty fancy too.

I have been working very hard researching all kinds of information on my new business venture.  So far I am still liking the name Bella Events. For the cafe area I am going with a little bit of an Italian flavor. I love happy colors and like muted tangerines, butter yellows and raspberry pinks. I have been collecting a few things I think will be perfect. I love dishes, serving trays and display plates. Here are a few that I have found.  I need to start fabric shopping and sewing chair cover and table cloths and runners.  Its just the beginning.  I am really enjoying this.

Have a pretty week and do something you love! I came to the realization this week that I have been working in Call Centers for the past 20 years, and I HATE it.  I am thankful to have a job, but what an Aha moment. 20 years is a very long time and a huge chunk of my adult life doing something I disliked so much.  Its paid the bills, helped me to raise my daughters and I have met some wonderful friends that mean the world to me. So there is always good, but at 52, its my time. Time to do what I love and go for it. So stay tuned, I will be sharing along the way. Pass on things I am learning and hopeful will be of some help to someone else.

Arizona Bloggers Luncheon

Yesterday I went to a fun event. It was hosted by Meri from Imagimeris. She creates the sweetest paper clay sculptures. They are so amazing and the ones she does for Halloween are my favorites! She had a few of us AZ Bloggers over for an afternoon of learning to make shadow boxes. We had so much fun. She had tables of supplies for to choose from. Lunch was unbelievable! She had prepared a Honey Baked ham and rostisseries chickens. There were amazing salads, fruits, cookies, brownies.  Soooo yummo! It was so nice to meet so many bloggers in person. There was about 10 bloggers there. It was a chilly, rainy day for Arizona. So it was nice to be inside, creating and making new friends.  Meris husband was so sweet. It was raining and he came out with an umbrella to walk us in when we arrived. Now that is a perfect hostess. Thank you so much Meri.  I thought I would share some of our finished shawdow boxes. Everyones was so different, but beautiful....in case you cant figure it out, mine is the pink one with the pink poodle inside. LOL

(it was a cloudy day, and photos are pretty dark, but you can get the idea:) )

Have a pretty day.  I have some very exciting news. I will be changing my blog in the very near future. As I have said here a few times I will be having hip surgery in May. Its from a birth defect and a little more detailed than normal. It appears it will be a longer recovery time. BUT... I plan to make the most of this time. I am working on a business plan to open a new shop. Its going to be a cupcake/bakery/cafe space for hanging out with your friends, but the main thing will be an event room for special parties like bridal or baby showers. I have lots of ideas and plans and think it will be so much fun to document the experience along the way.  I have researched quite abit, but the hardest thing so far is a NAME! But right now what I am thinking about is Bella Events.  What do you think of that for a name.  Cant wait to share more. Let the adventure begin...... :) 

Its Easter at Tillies Attic

The weather is so pretty. I love spring in Arizona. I get Spring Fever bad and its so hard to drag myself to my job. I would love to be planting flowers or sitting in a chair reading a book. I also love Spring decorations. I was at Tillies Attic this weekend and Spring has definately arrived there. Its so pretty. I thought I would post a few pictures. I also wanted to share some information with local crafters. Elaine from Tillies still has a few spaces for rent in the store.  If you are interested you can visit her at the shop or call her at 480 775-4342. The address is 1941 W. Guadalupe #111 Mesa AZ 85202. (SE corner of Guadalupe and Dobson)
I hope you all have a pretty spring day and enjoy some flowers!

 

Last But Not Least

Wow, what a gorgeous weekend!  I cant believe its already Sunday night. It was a busy weekend, but lots of fun.  Its hard to stay indoors and take it easy. So I may have over did it this weekend. I finally got some flowers planted on my front porch area. Now I love walking up to my door.  No garden, no matter how small is complete without a gnome. This little guy has been following me around for years!  I also got around to a little sewing. I am making bunnies and got this one completed.  There are more in various stages of completion.  It was overcast today and it was a little hard to get some good photos.

And last but not least, I am so happy to finally say my studio is done! Well, about as done as can be. I imagine it will always be evolving to some extent. I found this pink table cloth and chair cover at Bed Bath and Beyond. I even had a $5.00 coupon, so it was much easier and cheaper than sewing one. I got the glass display cabinet at a garage sale. I got the dress form and ballerina dress form for Christmas from my girls. Most everything I keep on this table is for display and I really like having different options. There is lots of storage under this 6ft. table.  I finally found some pink taper candles at Pier One, on clearance too, for the "chandelier". Some day I hope to have a big, beautiful real chandelier, but for now this makes me happy. Its officially my studio now that I have a sign to hang. I made this on my last trip to the ceramic painting shop with my Grand daughter:)  I have done my spring cleaning ~ planted my little garden ~ have completed my studio: I am ready to get to some serious creating now!  Now if I just could figure out this 9-6 job thing that is cramping my style. :) I am working on a plan about that, but for now I will get up and start my Monday, thankful I have a job to go to. I hope you all have a pretty week! Happy Creating.    

Spring Holiday Shop at Make Mine Pink

Starting tomorrow its time for our Spring Holiday Shopping event at Make Mine Pink. It will be running between March 13th through the 19th.  I have seen a few sneak peeks at whats going to be offered and there is some adorable decorations, accessories and vintage items to welcome Spring to your home. Its going to be fun and be sure to stop by during the week as many of the shop owners will be adding new items and specials throughout the week. 

I was out doing a little window shopping today, the weather was perfect and I feel a bad case of Spring Fever coming on :) Make Mine Pink Spring Holiday Shop

The Colors Of Spring

This is the time of year I love living in Arizona. The spring begins early for us. Its time to plant flowers and the sun is warm, but with a crisp feel to the air. I wish it would stay in the mid 70s everyday. I would never get tired of that.  If I didnt have my family and friends here I think I would be tempted to move to Maui :) I have a fairly large patio that I cant wait to plant a container garden in.  I cant decide if I want to have a mixture of colors with geraniums, pansies, snap dragons and many more, OR if I want to stick with a color scheme. My patio furniture is white and pink. I guess I will have to get out there and see what inspires me.

I have been working on some new creations getting ready for spring. Tomorrow its Make Mine Pink Friday. If your new to my blog, this is an event that  the shops at Make Mine Pink have every friday. Its a themed day of shopping. The month of march is "The Colors Of Spring".  Be sure to check out this link tomorrow to see what the different shops will be offering.  I am sure there will be lots of pillows, jewelry, garden art, vintage items, all with spring decorating in mind.  Each friday there will be new items listed. Ahhhh, Spring Fever has set in, but I must get going and get to work. I hope you are have a beautiful spring day too! Make Mine Pink Friday    

I love the Weekends

Its been a nice rainy spring weekend. Actually pretty cold and windy, but we see that so rarely in sunny Arizona that I love it!  I spent this weekend visiting friends and family and doing a little shopping. I really needed it. I am going through training at work and its been very stressful for me. The small dept. I worked in was sent back to the corporate offices back in MN. So our small group is training for a new dept. It will be ongoing for almost 4 months. I had just gone through training for that position last summer and was finally getting comfortable in my job. I have to admit at 52 I like change less and less. However the world is more and more fast paced and you need to be open to change. This causes stress to me. Then I stress about not getting the time I need to be creating and getting things listed on my website, etsy site and my space at Tillies Attic. When this training is over I go right into having major surgery and a 4-6 week recovery. I figured out  I better get my priorities in order. Of course I need and am very thankful for my job. My health has to be top priority for me too. I am just not going to be worried about all of the extras. Spending time enjoying life on my days off is my new way of de-stressing!  Not sure how much I will be creating in the near future, but I will enjoy it when I do.
I made a trip over to Tillies Attic and just had to share some new photos of the shop. It looks prettier every time I go in.  There is a new "tea room" decor area and its full of sweet items. If ya live in the Phoenix area, stop by sometime and visit Tillies. Its in Mesa on the Southeast corner of Dobson and Guadalupe and they are opened 9:30 to 5:00 Tuesday through Satuday. :)

I hope you all have a pretty week.     

I Love Hearts

There is something about the shape of a heart. Its curving and femine. Its always been a favorite of mine. Even back in school I used to dot my "I"s with a heart.  My teachers werent thrilled and I had to learn I couldnt do that in school, but to this day I will on occasion dot my "I"s with a heart.  I collect Teddy Bears and Hearts and since its Valentines Day I thought I would share a few I have around my studio.

There is even an artist none for her Heart art. Her name is Debbie Marie. A very good friend of mine is lucky enough to have two of her pieces and the colors are amazing. This is a photo from her website and if you get a chance you may want to take a look.  Art can leave an emotional feeling over the observer and I feel Debbies art is happy and optimistic. http://www.debbiemariegallery.com/

I hope everyone has a sweet Valentines Day. I have stuffed animals, balloons and heart shaped boxes of candy to deliver to my Grandkids. They are my Vanlentines this year:)