Oh the sweetest most thoughtful surprise landed in my snail.mailbox yesterday...with my name all over it!
The ever thoughtful creative friend of mine Miss B of the sure to soon make national attention Bella Bella Co. sent me the most divine feels like velvet stationery adorned with my name in the most beautiful calligraphy by the talented Ms. Danae Hernandez. Such sweetness!
I was so excited and swooning over such loveliness that I wanted to call Miss B to squeal with delight in her ear...I haven't her number so I must resort to thanking her with snail mail the best old fashioned kind. What stationery do you send a note of heartfelt thanks with to the extraordinaire herself? ...I'm hoping her own is acceptable because I surely can't send her my own handmade...that would be embarrassing!
...and just in case the front left you any doubt that she made it "expressly for me" check out her thoughtfulness continued on the back...oh so lovely sweet! Thank you so much Miss B for making sure I am sending out my handwrittens in high style!
Now because you are my friends and I know you have fallen in love with her talent too...get your fingers clicking to her site and get you some good old fashioned correspondence from the talented gal before she sells exclusively to some fancy paper shop leaving commoners to only swoon at her work in catalogs! Plus...every gal likes snail mail...I have a dear friend {yes ma'am you birdie...} who sends me the sweetest notes in the mail at times just because and the most recent to wish me & the doctor the sweetest of halloweens!
have you met matthew mead...well his creative touch at least? If you haven't met him yet {or maybe I'm the last to find him}...you must check him out! His new Halloween magazine hit bookshelves this month and I need to head to b&n to check it out!
this design idea is one that can hang around all year...a great little spot for inspiration...
A few things you won't find in the magazine {i assume}...FREE downloads of some precious pieces and parts to make your own spooky delights!! Check 'em out here...
I mean how orange, vintage-y, and adorable is this...
and this...this...and this...
{ all images borrowed from matthewmeadstyle.com ...top one edited by moi }
so if you remember...I obviously spend {too much} time on the phone...cell phone that is. Until I came across this hoot I didn't even realize that I haven't used "an old fashioned" headset in quite a while since we don't have a land line and haven't for years. {red of course!...gives it that modern day edge!} 
{ image borrowed from here... }
speaking of baubles...I thought of you friends last week while at ikea. { yep...we have one in our new neighborhood!! } I saw this and thought it would be a great substitute for those of you looking for a stand/tree for your baubles since you were all so complimentary of mine...
You can find it for a great price here... and probably even spray paint it a fun color if you need a little more punch than b&w provide!
{ image borrowed from ikea }
I came across this today...and had to laugh out loud! It is one of the nicknames hubby gave me going back to our early dating years. With a fish this cute and detailed I'm ok with such a name!
{ designed by kayte terry ...one creative gal! }
...because they need it. I don't share this to bring you tears, but hopefully to the foot of the throne. I ask on behalf of this tired and greiving family for prayers. Prayers of strength, of patience, of clarity, of less burden and blame, prayers of ...whatever prayers you feel compelled to pray.
My sister "introduced" me to this amazing family a few weeks before we moved. I was overwhelmed and touched by this family amazed that this isn't just their "story"...its their daily life and what an amazing testament of faith they are sharing with the world amidst their grief and pain. My sister said it best... "it is beautiful... beautiful how much one little life can matter... beautiful how deeply people can love... beautiful how God can bring so much peace!"
From her email I reluctantly clicked over and immersed myself in their story...their real life, everyday, trial of growing, birthing, burying, and living without their daughter, Audrey Caroline. I selfishly felt it was too much to bear and didn't read the complete story...I will one day soon because I know they have allowed God to speak to us all through their example and God's hand is evident in their life. But today...the story has grown more grief with the sudden death of their infant nephew and I pray you follow it and pray as much for this family as you can.
Her life...real, her story...heartbreaking, her words...humbling, her strength...inspiring, her God...streadfast... and so glad He's also mine!
Their story through video...
Video 1
Video 2
Video 3
Video 4
{ video borrowed from their blog... the song...written for their daughter. }
I have been saving this list to share...collecting as I found little pretties! I have decided to take a little break from the blogging world... until I return...I hope you enjoy this list of lovelies too. Enjoy!
lovely friend with just as lovely paperie here...
sweet friend with lots of paper treats here...
pendants with silhouettes here...
unique necklace here...
precious birdie here...
yummy odds and ends here...
sweet notions here...
precious here...
going green here...
lovely bits here...
precious stamps here...
she hearts pink here...
shall we have tea here...
she hearts crepe paper as much as me here...
glitz and glitter here...
yummy ribbon here...
must remember this for a bridal shower...
precious easter goodness here...
sweet goodness here...
I heart paper here... and I adore the littles also here...
{ just a note...I haven't purchased from all of these little spots, but thought you might enjoy taking a look around too }
Have you ventured over to Martha's Blog? She blogs...or someone blogs for her! I venture over from time to time...but haven't since the holidays...I had some catching up to do. Then I came across this post and realized...my silver collection will never top Martha's!
Can you imagine having this kind of "reserves" on hand for anything and everything you might possibly one day might just need? This is enough pedestals to display a new dessert every day all year and then some!
Then this post took me back to my days working in the flower shop...I heart curly willow and never knew it grew so tall! No matter the arrangement...I always think it needs a touch of curly willow! It gives fresh flower arrangements just the right texture among the petals and dried arrangements the best panache!
...take a venture over...its fun to get a glimpse at the other side.
{ pictures borrowed from marthastewart.com }
Every year...about January 1st I long for spring! This year is no exception...I still haven't put up my spring decor {...but there is always tomorrow!} Until then...I have continued to search and find spring goodies online...
I got an email today with exciting news on a custom J. Murphy bunny...adorable, but I will have to keep saving my pennies and stick to the reproductions for now! I love LOVE love her designs! I would love to have one of her beauties for each holiday...I only have Halloween thus far! Here is a reproduction that I think is just as absolutely precious!
...and how sweet are these spring littles by Nicol Sayre... They were part of her 2007 collection...I don't know how I missed them! 
So the Valetine's goodies and Easter treats share a storage box! It always means the same dilemma when I put up my hearts day glittered goodness...do I go ahead and bring out the Easter? Well...even though the snow has melted {for a day} it doesn't yet feel like spring around here. Not that spring ever feels like spring around here to this southern girl. It snowed last Easter...blizzard like conditions mind you!
So the question still stands...when does Easter come out...whether it feels like it outside or not! Until I can look on the calendar and find where Easter is this year to determine when it is "acceptable" I shall just stick to adoring the Easter goodies out there...
How CUTE is she with all her sass!?! Her crown seems to make her stance justified! And these...well I already scooped up a few of these to adorn my spring cupcakes!
{ love using these crown tickets dripped in silver glass glitter!
I got the latest issue of Country Living in the mail this week...not to downplay any of the others, but CL is by far my favorite magazine...if we are ranking! {see below post for proof that I do more than read magazines!} This issue is one of the best! It is chalked full of inspiring ladies who had a dream...or a thought...and "turned their passion into paychecks"! I was inspired by many, recognized a few, and was down right excited to find their wares!
No.1...Chandi. This very talented LA lady makes beautiful chandeliers...I should say exquisite! Her beauties are gorgeous! Check them out for yourself here...divine!!! Her advice: "the little imperfections give them life".
I recognized No.6 immediately...I sell her creative games on T&T. They are my favorite children's games with creative flair! I mean...who else encourages your children to be polite little piggies! Her advice: "you have an idea and it feels right, you can just do it".
McMaster & Storm...This precious Ohio store was featured you can find it "on the way to nowhere and out of the way from everywhere"! I "mapquested" and its still several hours from me...I will just have to wait until they open their web store, until then, I will be inspired through their blog!
PS...how LOVELY is this kitchen!?
{ top 2 images borrowed from countryliving.com }
So I can't say I have a "problem" per say...I just really enjoy magazines...really good magazines full of lovely eye candy to send my imagination soaring and my creative juices pumping! I have found another...a catalog actually! ...Tracey Porter...
I first noticed her line in her dishes many years ago. Then I noticed them at Target and in the last 6 months or so I stumbled across her gem of a catalog! Her catalogs are full of wonderful things and precious pictures of she and her family full of 4 little boys! I think she might be just as obsessed with chandilers as I am...they are flooding her catalog...so divine!!
I came across these shoes...I think I could live in these!
She has a blog too... head on over...be inspired!
{ all images borrowed from tracyporter.com }
I have met some wonderful souls in the blog-o-sphere and through T&T. My uber creative and awe inspiring friend Andrea is one of them! She has re-opened her doors since the birth of her 2nd little tadpole last fall. She has a precious web boutique...One Hundred Wishes. She invites you in today... so head on over and wish away!
I wasn't able to wander through until this evening...and sooo much has already sold out! Many congrats Andrea!!! I have my eye on so many things that I must narrow down my list of wishes!
{ picture borrowed from One Hundred Wishes }
Ever since the first time I stepped into Anthropologie that winter's day in New York City I was smitten! I just love this store. The clothes are beautiful...but pricey, I know. However, oddly that wasn't my favorite part. I have always been drawn to their visuals...the texture, colors, design mediums...I love their merchandising! I confess...I order their catalog for eye candy. I have not been impressed as of late...the lack of colors, "messiness", and bland feel has left me not looking forward to it arriving in the mail.
UNTIL...this little beauty landed in my mail box. First off...how can you not love the front...the style, the color palette, and the precious sweater. The inside is full of color, design layering, and cute clothes! I was gaining respect again! Then when the next one popped in my mailbox I was "wowed"! I was so impressed with the front and the whole way through...I love the fresh flowers! Just lovely!
They have precious coats this season...too bad I can only wear one at a time...at least my $50 gift card that I have been holding onto would make a small dent in the cost! If only I could decided on just one!
{ images borrowed from anthropologie.com }
Its no secret...if you know the girls in my family you know that we love {...ok, we are obsessed} with dishes. My mother taught us well...I already have at least 4 full sets of dishes {including the set back home under my brother's bed}...5 if you count my china. This is FULL sets mind you. My sister loves the dessert sets...cute sets of 4 in all different flavors and patterns...we lost count on how many sets of these she has. {This makes her the perfect hostess for tea parties} My mom...well...I think I lost count because there is no telling how many she has "acquired" since we moved away.
I have simply been smitten with this set since I laid eyes on it! I would be more than happy to have a new plate for all 12 days of Christmas...it would be worth the patience to have the entire set by the end.
I was headed over to their website to look at the set again...and came across these! Oh my! They are right up my mom's alley! They are the cutest and I WANT them! Don't tell hubby...he thought one set of dishes was enough!
I have forever and always adored Jen's designs! I feel so fortunate to have come across them and grow a friendship with her through our little boutiques. I offer her mommy cards and beautiful baubles at T&T...however, all good things must come to an end...even really good things! I was so sad when Jen told me she is closing her shop...meaning her designs of beautiful baubles were coming to an end.
So...as of December 20th Juniper Design & Ink will be closed. Head on over to her website and check out her beauties at sale prices! They are one of a kind...so when they are gone...they are gone! {and I am so sad that they are going to be gone!}
I know Jen can't hold up her creative juices so I am anxious to see what design medium she will be using next. This creative gal has many talents!!!
My dear friend Miss Lauren sends me the most PRECIOUS cards {the most recent over at the right}...just because, birthday, thinking of you, thank you, and some days for no reason at all {yes...I want to be like her when I grow up!} She laughed out loud when I asked her if she made them after she sent me the first one. Yes, I knew the answer...she doesn't like to craft, however, she has impeccable taste and a dear appreciation for those who do craft!
Well...she has never shared her Etsy find with me and I was more than appreciative to receive the precious cards! Ironically...the small world that it is...the "card lady" {as Lauren always called her} outed herself...accidentally!!! She became a reader of Have a Lovely {hi chelle!}. Lauren recognized her from a comment and put together the pieces for us all! Do you know how many precious cards I have crafted and create by Chelle and sent with love from Lauren! ...take a look at the pic below of my bulletin board.
{ I didn't get permission on outing Lauren's card lady...so hurry quick...head on over to check out "the card lady's cards" for yourself before Lauren finds out and I have to edit and remove the link on this post!!! }
ETA: guilty conscience leads me to remove link...want to keep my friend!!!
