{Sun Prints Inspired by Nature}

Good Morning!!

How are you!?!?!?

It was a spectacular morning yesterday!

The kind of morning that just makes my soul sing:)

I poured my morning cup of joe and just took a little nature walk around the yard.

It's amazing what you can find in your own backyard.

It makes me feel proud because almost everything in it.....are things I planted with my own two hands.

and since I like to purchase the cheapest plants I can find...it takes years to see the pay-off!

Gardening can teach you a lot about patience.

I like to think that gardening is a metaphor for life..

to grow strong roots....you have to water plants well:)

In life....to grow strong roots....you have to nurture your spirit.

Follow your heart and spend your days doing things that truly make you happy....regardless of what you "think" you should be doing:)

In fact....just get rid of the word "should" from your vocabulary..:)

Live in the present and "just do" 

I am old enough now to know what my soul needs....

and I can tell you that I am a complete introvert that gets "my cup filled" by being alone.

by watching the day slowly unfold...

I am also a morning person...

I can't think of anything else I'd rather be doing then just watching the birds while taking a nature walk around my yard with my morning cup of joe:)

and if it's the afternoon....well then...it's with my lovely glass of vino.

I am completely inspired by nature....

the ebb and flow of life

 The flowers in my yard inspired me to do a little project that i've been wanting to do ...forever:)

 I am sure most of you have tinkered around with Sun Prints...but I never have:(
Maybe I was out ill in elementary art class on the day they did sun prints!!
But either way...how can you not be happy with art from nature powered by the sun!

 They were so simple to do:)
and I have no doubt i'll do more!!
Lots of ideas swirling in my head....

I ordered the sun prints from Dick Blick

and just a couple of hints....because the first ones I did ...didn't turn out:)

....be sure you are using flat items/plants/whatever...

just make sure they are flat...

I pressed my plants in a book for awhile to flatten them out:)

....be sure the sun is high in the sky....

the morning sun caused shadows and so the first ones I did were crazy looking:)

....don't let them process too long....

in other words....follow all the directions that come on the package:)

I am not always good with following directions

 Anywho...I just did 4 to practice and used flora from my yard...
but really you could use any flat item:)
letters...doilies...clothes.....whatever makes your heart happy!!

 I think they are so sweet:)
and of course you can frame them when you're done!!

I am just tinkering with ideas for our spare bedroom...I think indigo and white might be the color scheme i'll be going with:)
and these happy little sun prints will be perfect in that room:)

Happy...Happy Saturday!!

Now get out there and do something that makes your soul sing today!!

"The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about

the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly."       - Buddha

{simple life}

Good morning lovely Sunday:)
Hope you are having a nice time celebrating the day!

Good morning to soaking up all the beauty life has to offer.
Good morning to spending time at the beach.

Good morning to living a simple life and following your dreams!
Good morning to pretty little birds that inspire my work:)
You can find my sweet little bird cuff here....
Handcrafted loveliness if I do say so myself:)

Good morning to words that inspire.
I think I must have a million quotes posted all over every nook and cranny of my home:)
Everyday is an opportunity to have a good morning:)

Good morning to allowing yourself to quietly be moved by the beauty of nature!

Good morning to days filled with sunshine!

Good morning to simple little things to make!

Pick up your leather cuff and embroidery thread at your local Hobby Lobby and purchase your leather die here...
Decide on a pattern you like!
Punch holes and start threading!

Good morning to simple uncomplicated designs!

Sometimes simple things really are the best!

Good morning to a rustic and sweet little cuff bracelet that you made all by yourself:)

Good morning turquoise...oh how I love you:)

Hope you have a lovely and fabulous day with family and friends:)

“You've got to get up every morning with a smile on your face, And show the world all the love in your heart, Then people are going to treat you better, You're gonna find, yes you will, That you're beautiful as you feel" Carole King

{appreciate the day}

 hello.
How are you doing this evening??

Me...I am just plain content and happy:)
It was a lovely spring weekend here and I was able to spend the weekend doing everything I love the most!

Tinkering in the studio....
Snapping a few photographs....
Getting my hands dirty planting flowers...
and opening the pool!

I know...crazy...opening the pool in March in Indiana!
I don't care...it makes me happy! And sometimes....you just have to do what makes you happy regardless of what people might think:)

If you aren't lucky enough to see flowering dogwoods in all their glory....then I  might feel a little sorry for you:)

They are just the sweetest little charming flowers!

I get so excited when I see our little Dogwood Tree in the front yard starting to open.

Simple things really are the best!!

I snapped a few photographs of it's sweet little blossoms...some straight on and some at random angles!

You know what....sometimes things look better when you look at them from a different angle!

Such a metaphor for life:)

If you aren't happy with the way something might be going for you....change it.....or look at from a different angle:)

Spring really is just such a time for renewal of your soul.

Fresh air just does my spirit good:)

I don't need very much in life....

but a little time in nature...

some vino....

time spent with friends....

and a few other simple things!

it really is the simplest of things that can mean so much!

Just walking around my yard looking at the beauty unfold before my eyes makes me realize that even through the darkest of January days.....spring is sure to follow!

It's the cycle of life....

I'm convinced that...if we didn't know January...we wouldn't appreciate the sweet spring blossoms the way we Midwesterns do...

But if someone gave me a beach house in Florida...well.....i'm sure i'd appreciate not having to survive a below freezing January just fine:)

It's amazing the transformation that occurs once the weather warms...

and even without flowers to grace my patio...it still looks like a pretty happy place:)

It's not fancy...but it's all me!!!

I found these sweet little cushions at The Christmas Tree Shoppe!

I thought they were just so happy and just the right amount of sprucing to get my chairs through a couple more summers:)

I'd love to own a fabulous teak set......but.....for now i'll just continue to appreciate my little wrought iron chairs:)

L.C. was very happy to see the pool open....

She's a summer girl through and through!

I think with her arthritis winter is just hard on her:(

She's such a sweet soulful dog.

The kind of dog that can tell you intentions within 1 minute of meeting you.

I love that about her.

She doesn't need you....but if she likes you .....well then:)

 Hopefully soon i'll be building a cute little wood table to replace this one...I thought i'd get to it this weekend...but had to many irons in the fire and had to exercise a little patience....something that is not easy for me:)

Since it's not technically planting season yet...I thought i'd make a little happiness with some faux daisies!

Yep...just the right amount of happiness for the patio!!

thank goodness for pansies! I did get around to planting just a few!

I tell you...they are just the happiest flowers!

I like to think they are smiling right at me:)

Oh and I did start some zinnia seeds!! I sure hope they grow and bloom this summer!

We'll see....i've never hand very good luck with starting seeds!

But at least I try, right:)

I hope you were able to get out and just enjoy the simple things in life this weekend!!!!

“Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams."
~Ashley Smith