Aspire to everything Inspired

New in The Shoppe!

Run, friends, don't walk...    holiday goodies, now available in The Shoppe!

The view from over here, No. 07

 
I like quilting.  Especially the old-fashioned art of hand-quilting.  There's just something about it that appeals to me.  But it takes me forever to actually get an entire quilt done.  I started this particular quilt as a Christmas present for my nephew Bradley.  TWO. YEARS. AGO.  As you can see, I've made fabuuulous progress.  Not!   

In the hopes of making better progress, I pulled out the quilt frame on Monday.  This beauty is now sitting in the middle of my living room and taking up all available space.  I'm setting a goal to complete it this year.

Because otherwise I won't ever get my living room back!

On the plus side, it's seriously cool to lay on your back underneath the quilt frame... it's a cool little Fort under there!  Anyone want to stop by for a picnic?

The view from over here, No. 02

 
Working on a large custom order for The Shoppe.  It's for a wedding - if you can believe it!  I'm simply tickled that someone wants to include my work in their wedding.  That's SO COOL!

Thanks for the opportunity and the order, friend!

The Summer Souvenir Box

Getting set for a summer vacation and I had the most brilliant idea that I just have to share.  Brilliant, I tell you!  (I know, I know, there's just no false modesty when these ideas hit!)

You know those 'photo/video storage boxes' that you're always tripping over at the craft store or the local Target/Walmart/box store?  Well, pick out a plain-jane box for each of your kiddos.  (We're pretending this is just for the kids, but go ahead and get one for you too - you know you want too!).  Call it the Summer Souvenir Box.  Then get set for Adventure and Fun and Out-of-this-World Creativity as each child creates their own box full of summer memories and treasures.  I mean, seriously, what could possibly be cooler?!

The difficult part is restraining yourself from decorating the box for them.  So to make it fun for you... maybe do a little personalization.  A simple sticker-monogram, perhaps? 

Or perhaps pick some pretty papers that match the theme of your summer plans and line the bottom of the box and lid...
 
 

Hand your little Summer Adventurer a few envelopes for storing things like ticket stubs and business cards.  Then keep an eye out for souvenir stickers and stamps they can use to decorate the outside.  Don't worry so much about the contents... Make a few suggestions and then watch the magic at work.  Maps, and museum brochures, favorite photos, and silly bits of this & that will no doubt make their way into the box.  I'm betting a pet rock will make it's appearance by August.

Completely Brilliant, I tell you.  One for Paris, one for London, one for the Grand Canyon...  I'm so excited to share these with my Summer Adventurers and can't wait to see how they decorate them and what they save!  And, um, I might need to stop back by the craft store and pick up another one for me.  Disney World... Bangkok...   What are you going to put in your Summer Souvenir Box? 

It must be Spring... Shoppe Update!

It's been a while, friends, but look!  Pretty notecards, fashionable writing instruments, the perfect notebook (we call that a "supply" around here)...   New goodies now in The Shoppe!

Oi.  No shoving there in the back.  There's plenty for everyone - Promise!  :-)

Check out all of the superlative stuff now at The InspiredStudio Shoppe.

This just in! Curious things in the post

My brother just emailed a rawther curious photo...  

 
 

Um, I might have had something to do with it.  Maybe.  But I'm not admitting to anything... yet.

The Drawers I couldn't resist

I mentioned the Newark airport, didn't I?  I probably didn't mention that I had a seven hour layover.  But don't panic, dear friends, because I did that on purpose (the layover, not the didn't mention).

Sometimes a girl just needs a few hours to take two trains and a subway in order to visit the Muji store on Times Square. 

This was one of those times.

Unfortunately, my carry-on bags were F U L L.  Both of them.  Somebody's birthday present and a glass milk bottle in one.  A computer and my notebooks in the other. 

Discretion was advised.  Only purchase what A) you really really want, and B) you can actually pack into these bags.

Right.  Well, with that in mind, let the browsing begin...

• Pens?   check!  Those will fit.
• Cool spiral erasers?  check!  Those will fit.
• 4x4 inch blank hardcover books?   check!  We can just squeeze in 2 of them somewhere.
• Small kitchen ladle?  Sure!  check!
• Handkerchief printed with a map of Paris?   check!  Bring it on - Paris will fit! 
• 5-drawer acrylic box?    Uhhhhhh....

 
At first, I just stared at it.  Thinking of all the possibilities.  Then... lightbulb moment!  I could put {gasp} postage stamps {glee!} in the drawers.  Just think!  One cent... Two cent... Three cent...

{GASP OF JOY}

Conversation with self:  "Oh.  Carry-on bags are full.  FULL, I tell you.  Right.  FULL means FULL."

Then I had this idea... what if I take all the odds and ends in my two carry-on bags, and packed them into the 5 drawers?  And consolidated almost everything into the backpack, leaving the handbag partially empty with just enough room for an acrylic box, a milk bottle, a mug, a pair of socks, a bag of choco...  well, you get the idea.  Would it work?  Possibly?

YES

 
{GLEE!}

of course, the only problem is that now I want another one.   Six cent... Eight cent... Ten cent...

[Are you suffering from acrylic box envy?  Do you need one too?  Well, guess what...  check-out Muji on-line!  And if you get one, you have to promise to tell me what you put in yours.  Because maybe I need to do that too.  Promise, yes?]

Sending you Sweet Valentine wishes, dear friends

 
 
 

And of course, the best Valentines come stuffed with a sweet treat... how about super delish bubble gum from Italy?

Only for you, of course, because you're simply the best, Valentine!

When inspiration strikes... aka. Meet Mr. Bear

It was late one evening in the Fall, and I was surfing the web, reading random blogs.  Linkety-link-link.  Hopping here.  Clicking there.  And somewhere out there in the blogosphere, I saw it.  There - in the midst of someone's images of home, a painting of a bear.  A rawther plain brown bear without any decoration or fancy embellishment, but standing unusually tall.  "Hmmm." I thought. "Interesting"  And on I went... linkety-link-link...

And then a phrase popped into my head:  Mr. Bear Goes for a Walk.

"Hah-hah!" I thought to myself. "Wouldn't that be funny?"

"Yes, wouldn't it??" I thought back.

These are the conversations that lead to little personal crossroads:  to DO or NOT to do.  That is the question one must ask oneself.  (And, yes, one really must use the 3rd person when having these conversations with oneself.  Just in case you were curious.)

And so began The Postcards of Mr. Bear...

Countdown to Christmas

Is it official yet?  Can we begin counting the days??  Pleeeeasse?

 
 
 
 

Mini envelopes.  Pretty inks and borrowed snowflakes.  Shiny red ribbon.  Homemade advent calendars decorated, stuffed, strung, and ready to begin counting...  Tomorrow!

I made two.  Too bad I mailed them both.  How will I ever keep track of the countdown myself??