Hometown Girl

Bring Me Flowers.

I haven't had fresh flowers in awhile. I found some pretty pictures to hold me over.

You can find all these images and more on my Pinterest Board.

Thank you for visiting. Be back tomorrow!

Susan

Thanksgiving Love.

I have one sick kiddo at home and a group of 20 coming in two days. I have the house almost ready. I still have tables to put up, things to iron & some cooking to do.

I took a few minutes to admire some Thanksgiving pretties on Pinterest.

Enjoy!

From talented Jennifer at Dear Lillie

From Lonny

 

From me :) Kids table last year.

I don't know if I'll be back before the Holiday so if I don't catch up with you. Have a beautiful and blessed Thanksgiving with your families.

Thank you all for letting me be a little part of your days. I love writing this blog and appreciate each and every one of you that take the time to visit.

xo

Suz

Outdoor Give Thanks Table.

I knew today was going to beautiful, in the 60's and sunny. Knowing these days are numbered I decided to create an outdoor table setting. 

I didn't purchase anything new. I clipped boxwood from our yard and Super Dad stopped to cut the long fluffy things I'd seen while out earlier this week.

I used my signature sheet music place mats which I noticed have become quite popular since I first used them here.

I whipped up a new runner with some burlap and painter's cloth I had in my sewing room. Everything else was borrowed from around the house.

Did I  mention that I nearly burned down the entire table setting? Yes, that's right. I had small candles next to the fluffy stuff in one of my smaller pitchers and lit one. In half a second the entire bunch of fluffy things was in flames. I heard my ironstone crack and I was certain the entire table was going to be lost. In a panic I reached for the nearby hose. I stood back for a minute hoping the fire would stop at the pitcher (since I really didn't want to douse the entire table). Thankfully it went out and I removed the pitcher and I was able to replace the centerpiece and finish the table! Even my pitcher was saved, Mr. Clean sponge took all the burned spots off and the crack appears to be minor.

Lesson here. Do not light candles near dry fluffy stuff.

Thank you all for coming by. My reader appreciation giveaway is sill open here.

See you soon

xo Suz

Today I am grateful for beautiful Fall days & my amazing Dad.

Linking to Southern Savvy Style, Wow Us Wednesdays.

Primp Your Stuff at Michele Raven Designs.

Between Naps on the Porch.

French Country Cottage.

Common Ground.

Glitter.

This time of year seems to bring out the glitter loving gal in me.

 

I love these gorgeous glitter dresses.

 

Pretty glitter eyes (if I had somewhere to wear this I would!). I don't think school pickup is the place :)

Sweet glitter ornaments.

Ornaments by Jeanne Oliver via Flea Market Style.

I'd love to know what you're loving right now!

I've been in a bit of a rut lately, please forgive me. I'm feeling better hoping my creative voice makes a return.

Thank you for coming by my humble little corner of blogland. I do appreciate each and everyone of you who visit.

xo

Susan

all images via Pinterest

 

The Little Acorn Project.

We were on the hunt again, this time for acorns. We were able to get some at my friend's house. Her lawn was covered in them. We picked a big bag, most had lost their caps but with my handy glue gun we put them back on in no time.

 

 

I got out my stash of vintage jars, filled them with small candles and added my acorns. Best part, my son and I got outside to enjoy a beautiful Fall day, bonus I didn't spend a penny!

 

I added them to the living room coffee table next to my jar filled with sunflowers. They make the room feel so earthy & cozy.

 

 

This little project is proof again that it doesn't have to cost you a lot to add little details that make a house a home. While I'd love to claim credit for this one I can't. As I'm pouring over those cattys (thank you PB) I take in every detail to see what I like and can recreate myself. It's sweet and simple and suits my style perfectly.

I have more details about the living room to share soon, it's coming along. As always I appreciate your visits. Enjoy the week and I'll see you soon.

~Susan

*reposted from last Fall.

 

Riding the Wave.

Do you ever feel like you are riding a wave? The peaks and valleys so to speak? Life is kind of like that. Highs and lows. I find my creativity is no different. Some days I'm overwhelmed by the ideas swirling around in my head, other days it's pretty quiet in that respect. Some days I feel like I can conquer any project and other ones I'm just lucky to get through the day. My interests come and go much like the seasons. My love of cooking, photography, decorating, creating all suffer from this same problem.

Maybe with the change of season upon us my love of cooking has emerged more than in the summer months. I want to be close to home, I'm in that nesting mode. I want things to be cozy and inviting. I often wonder if it's just me or many of you feel this way too? Today I want to sell every craft item I own. I want to redo my craft space and make it a true work space instead of storage for all my junk. A pretty, comfortable space where I'll be inspired. I enrolled in my on line design class and am anxious to get started. I think it will give me the confidence to move forward with my on line design services. Am I wrong to want to purge everything else?

I guess I'm just trying to decide what I want to do when I grow up! I have large groups of things I want to sell off like vintage slips, pins, ribbon, etc. and I will continue to add those to  Paperhillfabrics for the upcoming weeks.

I have reserved susanduane.etsy.com and think I may eventually close Paperhill once my inventory is gone. I got some advice when starting my blog about using my name as the blog url and I did not take the advice, I wish I had listened. At the time I thought it was rather indulgent to use my name, after all who am I? Anyway, years later it makes sense, you really are building your "brand" for lack of a better way to put it. Without much trouble I can do this on Etsy.

Geesh, am I long winded today! If you made it to the end of this post, thank you! If not, I totally understand.

I'll leave  you with some inspiration photos from my Pinterest boards.

 

 

 

 

 

I'm grateful for you!, thank you for coming by!

Susan

Holidays & Celebrations a Giveaway.

I was delighted to see the Table of Contents for the upcoming issue of Holidays & Celebrations where my little heat banner is pictured.

 

 

In honor of my inclusion I am giving away a copy of the publication to one of my readers.

Just leave a comment on this post and I will randomly draw a winner on September 1st (the date it'll be available in stores).

For extra entries, become a follower, a subscriber via Google Reader, Tweet, Facebook or post it on  your blog. Be sure to add an separate entry for each.

Thank you!

xo Susan

Pretty, Pretty, Please.

Some of my favorite pretty pins via Pinterest.

 

 

 I did a google search for airstream trailers after seeing this last picture (isn't this fantastic?). I didn't realize that they are pretty afforadble (at least the smaller ones) maybe that will have to do someday instead of the cottage on the lake. Then I could drive across the country and meet all your amazing girls!

I hope you are well and enjoying your week! I'm getting ready for my yard sale.

Remember if you live nearby I'd be happy to send you the info. Just shoot me an email.

xo Susan

Love.

I came across a blog this week.

Beautiful, heartfelt, words that made me stop and reflect.

Is this how I love?

Love is patient and kind.

Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.

It does not demand its own way.

It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.

It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Corinthians 1 13

Here is to a beautiful day!

Our company is still here so I apologize for my absence. I'm looking forward to getting the blog back on track but I'm not wishing away our last weeks of summer either.

xo

Susan

Tired & Inspired?

It's been a hectic few days here, lots and LOTS of baseball! We have an injured finger, a MVP medal and a runner's up trophy to show for it. Creatively I'm feeling, well, tired.  I've collected some of my favorite things from Pinterest that inspire. 

 

 

 

 

 

Bet you can't tell what color I'm liking today?

Have a beautiful day. I've got lots of catching up to do around here, wish me luck!

Susan