so i've hardly left my house this week. which has been great. i have my studio almost in order and the guest room looks better than it has in months. i just need to spend a little time finishing it up. i'm very close. and i can't even tell you how refreshed and light i feel with 3 huge boxes of stuff cleared out and an overflowing trash bag out. makes me want to do this throughout the house! but i just can't take the time right now. i need to get back to editing and making stuff. which i'm dying to do! i know i'm going to be making lots of stuff for CHA. i love this time of year with scrapbooking! love seeing all the new products!
yesterday, i did finally leave the house for a little outing. glue and kelly came to town and we went to inger's summer open house. stepping into her adorable shop is an instant boost!
i really like this piece.
she has such a vibrant, whimsical style! i bought a little something for my leah girl while i was there : )
after shopping, we checked out the new steakhouse in town. our town has a rough time supporting good restaurants. we always get excited when something new comes to town, and we try to get there quick before they close. j's steakhouse is in the location of the awesome mexican restaurant *casa azul*....which didn't make it. so as we drove by on our way to andy's (the italian restaurant that has stood the test of time), i noticed j's and we decided to change gears. i do hope they make it. the food was good and the atmosphere is really nice.
the building is so beautiful! gorgeous exposed brick and great tin ceilings. i thought the prices were fair for the amount of food too.
so today, i will finish my studio and i have to get groceries. tonight, we'll be setting up the garage sale. jared has old college furniture at our storage unit, plus i want to pull a few things out of storage for the sale too. i have a beautiful old vanity. the only reason i am not keeping it, is because it's dark wood and that's just not me. i figure it will be easier to sell it and use the money to get a piece that's already painted the way i like.
so as i finish things up in my special little room, i am thinking of this quote from a favorite old decorating book, "lucky is the woman who courts the muse at home, for in the process she provides a daily atmosphere for herself that is both stimulating and serene, one in which her creative talents can grow and flourish. such a place, described by louisa may alcott as "a little kingdom i possess, where thoughts and feelings dwell," answers the deep hunger of all those with artistic pursuits." that is my attitude when i work on my room. i want it to reflect who i am. i want to have a desire to spend time there. to create. i want visual stimulation around me. i want to surround myself with things that please me. things that have meaning to me. many of us have been taught to not indulge in ourselves in this way. i find that the more i provide myself with a space that's all mine, the less i am thinking of me. the less selfish my thoughts are. i am fulfilled and content. with this simple space. i am at peace in my space. and throughout my home really. it is a refuge. it's taken me years to get this. and it's not the perfect furniture or decorations. it's that it represents us. it's comfortable- not perfect. it's filled with not too much and not too little. but what it contains is us. stuff that we love. if we don't, it's gone. i'd rather have it empty than filled with things we don't love. wow. where did this all come from! my heart just took over and wrote that. i hope that your home is a refuge. i hope that it provides you and your family with a safe haven. your family nest. what could be more important on earth?
have a wonderful friday and God bless you!
that ladies shop is too cute! Love all the paintings!
that steakhouse look delicious! I want to go there when i come to NE... ( heck, if i ever do! )
hope you have a great sale! wish i was there to buy all your stuff! lol... you know i would!
have a great day becky...
Posted by: emma | June 27, 2008 at 09:00 AM
You are truly my breath of fresh air Becky! I just feel so blessed by you and your blog. I appreciate that I can come here and feel blessed. Thank you, God bless you, and enjoy your weekend!
Posted by: Maureen | June 27, 2008 at 10:03 AM
What a fantastic little shop!
Posted by: Tina | June 27, 2008 at 10:07 AM
love the louisa may alcott quote. thanks for sharing! have a great weekend.
Posted by: psmullican | June 27, 2008 at 01:57 PM
can't wait to get my new piece from Inger! :) YEAH! :)
Had a great time last night.
And you know that I am right there with you on the feelings about home. :)
no place like it, that's for sure! :)
-kelly
Posted by: kelly | June 27, 2008 at 07:45 PM
Oh, that shop is so inspiring!!
Love her stuff!!
Posted by: Linda | June 29, 2008 at 06:19 AM
Does Inger have an etsy shoppe? Her work is delightful!
Posted by: Kathryn | June 29, 2008 at 04:47 PM
I need a inspiration outing...I did not know that is what it is called.
Yea! SOunds fun!
Posted by: jodi | June 29, 2008 at 07:26 PM
Does your friend Inger have a online shop..? I just love her stuff..?
jane
freshpickedthoughts-jane.blogspot.com
Posted by: JANE | July 02, 2008 at 08:41 PM