Christy Sheffield

Happy*Loves 03.11.10

Hello everyone and happy Thursday. I apologize that I haven't posted anything in a few days but I have been a busy little bee with things that I can't share yet but hope to soon.

After several days of storms and rainy blugh weather, we have sunshine today in good 'ol Mississippi. Talk about spring fever! The kiddos will be on spring break next week, and I hope the lovely weather continues for them. Usually it is fuh-reezing cold but maybe not this year. Who knows? Our weather has been crazy this year with lots of snow, so maybe spring break will actually be warm.

Anyway, I thought it would be fitting to do a spring-inspired happy loves. After all, spring really is what is inspiring me right now.

1. Planting seeds. Love watching them grow from a little seed to a seedling to a full-grown plant. So cool. These are some of my cilantro seedlings I've started.

2. Blooming trees. They softly whisper romance to me.

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3. Spring colors like blush, aqua, and lemon.

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4. Bunnies.

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5. Garden parties.

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6.Secret gardens.

 

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7. Vegetable gardens.

 

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8. Cottages.

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9. Adorable garden sheds.

 

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10. Sunshine.

 

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Happy * Loves 01.29.10

This week I'd like to share some movies that have inspired me lately. This is not all inclusive, as I am a huge movie watcher. Just some of the recent ones.

1. Down with Love - a great nod to the wonderful Doris Day and Rock Hudson romantic comedies. I'm not a huge Renee Zellweger fan, but she does a great job. And, Ewan McGregor is, as always, charming.

 

 

2. Marie Antoinette - Such romantic clothes. Love the colors.

 

 

3. Pride and Prejudice - I love all renditions, but I have to say that I love the styling of the Keira Knightley version. And the music is absolutely beautiful.

 

 

4. Moulin Rouge! - Definitely out there, but such a great movie. Some people aren't a fan, but I enjoy the movie. Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor do a great job and I love the arrangement of modern songs. The sets are so elaborate, and I do love when Nicole Kidman plays a redhead. (REDHEADS ROCK! I am one, so I know.)

 

 

5. Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events - A children's story with edginess. Definitely not a Disney movie. While I would say that this movie does not do the books justice, I do like the stylization. I don't particularly care for Jim Carrey's overacting, but that's usually a given with him.

 

 

6. The Holiday - For the music. Good storyline, but the music makes me melt.

 

 

 
7. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Yeah, I watch this movie over and over. I can't help it - I love nearly everything that Tim Burton does, and this is no exception. When it first came out, I was appalled that anyone would try and redo the beloved Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, but this movie is delightful and a little dark at times. And,I love the oompa-loompas even more.

 

8. August Rush - Another movie with a beautiful soundtrack and sweet storyline.

 

 

9. Peter Pan - I love how this version focus more on the transition of child to young adult, which I find to be the them of the original story.

 

 

10. Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium - So magical. I love the character of Mr. Magorium - he's so childlike yet wise at the same time. This is a great story about believing. And, Natalie Portman's pixie cut is too cute. Plus, the main music piece is stunning.

 

BONUS: Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland - I know, I know. It's not even in theaters yet. But it's already inspiring me. I cannot wait to see it.

 

 

And, if you haven't seen the trailer, enjoy.

Happy * Loves 01.22.10

This week has been a long week as I've been helping my sister paint her new house. She's a first-time home owner and I'm so excited for her. Also, I'm super excited because...she bought the house next door to me!

Now onto what has inspired me this week.

1. Doilies

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2. Helping my sister paint her house has got me thinking more and more about the color scheme I want in my studio. I want it feminine, soft, yet still modern. This digital kit from Design House Digital is exactly the color scheme I'm going for: gray, pink, lime, teal, brown.

 

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3. Pretty mailboxes.

 

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4. Parson's mini desk from West Elm. I think this would be nice in my living room - somewhere we could keep the laptop or write a letter. But I would get my hubby to make it instead of spending $249 on it.

 

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5. Lily Pulitzer Home for Garnet Hill is so beautiful. I always have loved the bright colors.

 

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6. Japanese candies - simply because the packaging is so cute. I would never want to eat it!

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7. Vintage typewriters.

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8. Things sorted by color. Call me OCD but I love it. Nearly everything in my studio is sorted by color. I even sort my clothes in the closet by color.

 

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9. Matryoshka dolls. They remind me of my two mission trips to Russia.

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10. This Mary Blair illustration. For those who are unfamiliar with Blair's work, she did a lot with Disney back in the day. Her illustrations were and still are amazing.

 

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Happy * Loves 01.15.10

I'm so glad that I didn't put Thursday in the title of this weekly column because I'm a tad late this week. Oh well. I have an excuse because I've been getting ready for the re-grand opening of my etsy store. I've got a lot of great cards that I will be listing (plus a bonus for anybody who orders during the month of January) so stay tuned! I hope to open the shop on Monday.

Here's what has inspired me this week.

1. Funky nail polish. Anybody who knows me knows I'm not afraid of color on my nails. The only problem I have is keeping it looking nice. I usually end up with very chipped nail polish. Anyway, I especially love the Alice-inspired line that OPI is coming out with. Love the glittered Mad-as-a-Hatter polish.

 

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2. Paper dolls!!!! I've been looking at different ones for inspiration for my Petit Dolls class I'm taking and I am hooked. I always loved playing with paper dolls as a child. So easy to change. Of course, then Barbies came along. But, paper dolls are so economical. I'm really enjoying the free paper dolls on Liana Kerr's blog. You can print and cut them out for free. I am amazed that she draws and colors these herself. I also love that the outfits are based on what's happening in her life, whether it is a movie she just watched, a book she just read, or a game she just played.

Here's some of my favorites for the Sylvia doll.

 

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*Sigh*

3. I love my dog, Pedro. We have so much fun hanging out.

4. Cherry Blossom Girl's pictures of Paris in the snow. So dreamy.

 

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5. Miniatures. I've been checking out pictures for ideas for my dollhouse. Love these miniature goodies from Petit Plat by SK.

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6. Mermaids. Love 'em.

 

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7. I finally saw Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette this week. We all know the outcome of that story, so I was more interested in seeing the stylization of the movie. Wow, love love love the costumes. So pretty.

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8. I really love the cabinet card digital frames that Danielle Thompson released over at JessicaSprague.com, but I especially love how her team member Kirsty Neale used them on fabric to make a book and banner.

 

 

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9. Alisa Burke's painted egg carton organizer tutorial is a great idea for reusing instead of wasting. Plus, her art is fantastic.

 

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10. Mists!!!!

Happy Loves 01.07.10

I'm typing this as we watch the Bama/Texas game. Roll Tide. (My husband's family is huge Bama fans. Huge.)

Here's some things that make me happy this week.

1. Totally into the Legend of the Seeker TV series right now. I've been watching it online through Netflix. Really cool show, if you are into Eragon, LOTR -type shows. Plus the main actor is total eye candy.

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2. Ronda Palazzari has a great tutorial from November '09 on the Cocoa Daisy forums. Love the layering techniques using mists, paint, stamps, rub-ons, and stitching. Can't wait to try this on some layouts.

 

3. Googly eyes! Now we want to put some googly eyes on our aloe vera plants.

4. This layout from Ingvold Bolme makes me swoon. Gorgeous!

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5. Dresses made out of duct tape.

 

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6. pandas!

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7. Bakerella's creations make me squeal with delight. I would love to make treats like this, but I really don't have the patience for it.

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8. pretty embellishments.

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9. carolina herrara's new line really inspires me.

 

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10. I've really enjoyed reading the blog Art Cupboard by Diana Martin. Lots of inspiration.

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Happy * Loves 12.31.09

10 things that I'm enjoying right now:

1. chai tea. LOVE LOVE LOVE it.

2. I'm reorganizing my craft room, so flickr is always an inspiration. Just a few of my recent faves.

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3. dollhouses. I have one that was never finished, and it is on my list of goals for 2010.

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4. blythe dolls. I love seeing how women style them. it's like barbie but for grown ups.

 

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5. totally enjoying my les petit doll beginner class from Suzi Blu. totally behind on it as well, but that's okay. i <heart> drawing. Here's the beginning of my petit doll. Can you see I was inspired by Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland that is coming out in March?

6. i've been enjoying reading the tales of skunkboy creatures. I can't remember if I found her site through elsie or leigh-ann's blog, but I remember seeing her work in stuffed. love her creations.

 

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7. winter white. heavenly.

 

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8. all things kawaii (japanese for *cute*).

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9. fabric poms. I'm going to make some for my craft studio.

 

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10. cupcakes. yum.

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Friday Finds: Gardening Edition

My husband and I are working on a raised vegetable garden bed this weekend, so I thought that would be a fitting theme for this Friday Finds.

1. Arbor Day Foundation
2. Garden Romance Hair Flower Piece by Sweet Somethings
3. Sean Conway's Cultivating Life: 125 Projects for Backyard Living (by Sean Conway & Lee Allen Buttala)
4. Tip-Top Flower Pots (Instructables.com)
5. How Does Your Garden Grow Cross-Stitch by TJB Designs
6. Pink Flamingo Planter
7. Greek Salad Bracelet by Risky Beads
8. Terrarium Kit by Warm Country Meadows
9. Build Your Own Raised Bed (Pioneer Woman)

Friday Finds: Easter Crafts

After a brief hiatus due to a very crazy schedule and being sick, Friday Finds is back. This week I focus on some great Easter crafts worth trying. Plus all of the finds posted this week are free! Please be sure to leave the original author a comment if you like their tutorial!

1. Pipe Cleaner Finger Puppets on Craft Jr.
2. Terra Cotta Easter Baskets on Hostess {with the Mostess}
3. Vintage Easter Eggs on Sweet Life in the Valley
4. Bite-size Jelly Beans with Matching Favor Box on The Decorated Cookie
5. Homemade Marshmallow Peeps on Twig & Thistle
6. Easter Tree on Torie Jayne
7. Cupcake Easter Baskets on Bakerella
8. Chick Chic Bookmarks on Jenjerup
9. Pysanky Ukrainian Easter Eggs on That Artist Woman

Of course no Easter crafting is complete without a little Martha Stewart. For an added bonus, here's my favorite Easter finds happening on the Martha Stewart website.

1. Rich Chocolate Cake with Ganache Frosting and Truffle-Egg Nest
2. Egg Ornaments
3. Daffodils and Pom-Pom Chicks Basket
4. Flowered Easter Baskets
5. Candy Nests
6. Nesting Baby-Bluebird Cupcakes
7. Elegant Eggs
8. Doily Basket
9. Egg Creatures
10. Hot Cross Buns with Dried Cherries
11. Chocolate Eggs
12. Clover and Eggs Basket

Friday Finds: St. Patrick's Day Edition

With St. Patrick's Day just around the corner, I thought I'd show some luck-of-the-Irish Etsy finds.

1. I've seen a lot of stamped metal necklaces, and this lucky one by J.C. Jewelry Design is perfect for St. Patrick's Day. You can also order custom necklaces stamped with your children's names, husband's name, pet's name, or just about any 12-letter word you can think of.

2. Even Fido can get into the Irish mood with this awesome Celtic dog collar by Classic Hound.

3. I love the flower and feather headbands I've been seeing lately on J.Crew, Forever21, and Charlotte Russe. This get lucky headband from Miss Ruby Sue is pure loveliness (and the fact that it is on sale adds to its charm).

4. I used to never wear rings, but now lately I've enjoyed a little splash of color and personality on my fingers from nail polish to rings. This lime and emerald green cocktail ring from Bella Lilli is definitely full of personality.

5. I have always loved to wear flowers in my hair and did so frequently in college. If you don't believe me, check out my Easter photos. Handmade dresses + flowers in hair = pure goodness. Of course, I LOVE this green flower clip by Mandizzle. Plus the hair-do is pretty cool.

6. You can't mention St. Patrick's Day without mentioning a shamrock. This shamrock necklace from Notions by Nicole is the epitome of St. Patrick's Day.

7. This whimsical emerald gardenia necklace from Bionic Unicorn is neat but the price isn't. Still, it's beautiful to admire.

8. This hand-carved four-leaf clover stamp from Whimsy by Jess is divine. Her other stamps are simply divine. I'm supposed to learn how to carve my own stamps in the RVA online class I'm taking. Can't wait.

9. I can't devote an entire Friday Finds to St. Patrick's Day without an ode to the rainbow (and the ultimate quest for the pot of gold at the end of one). This rainbow necklace by Minty Fresh Fusions is too cute!

Friday Finds: Baby Edition

Sorry, this post is a little late. But, hey, it's still Friday, right? So, in honor of my new niece, Abigail, this week's Friday Finds will be full of stuff for baby.

1. This baby rattle / teething ring from mimishop is absolutely adorable. I love the simple, clean, and modern design. Mimishop has some other really cool stuff. I bought Amelia and Abigail a neat and beautiful owl with a music box sewn in that Amelia can hang from the crib.

2. I love Amy Butler and am definitely putting her newest book Little Stitches for Little Ones on my wish list.

3. Paper Source has some of the coolest stuff, and this handmade Little Lion baby book is no exception.

 

4. This hat from Heirloom Impressions is the CUTEST!!! Pandas are my favorite animals, so you can see why I love this!

5. For anyone interested in making their own bibs (for their own babies or as a gift), Precious Patterns has bib patterns that you can purchase for very little.

6. B is for Baby: 26 Projects from A to Z by Suzonne Stirling is one of my favorite all around baby craft books. Suzonne has cute projects for, you guessed it, each letter of the alphabet. I'll be posting a review later.

7. October Afternoon is a wonderful scrapbooking manufacturer with wonderful, vintage-looking papers. Their Ducks in a Row line for baby pages is the cutest.

8. In honor of my younger sister, Nikki, I have to post this adorable piggy pacifier clip by Fawn and Finch. (Nikki loves pigs.)

9. I made Amelia a little journal to "scrapbook" her pregnancy journey. The best journal I found was Waiting for Baby by Tracey Clark. I loved the in depth questions; plus there was plenty of space for photos.