little gi

brand new style studio is on it's way!!

thrilled to tell you that registration has started for the August Style Studio at Tarisota!!!  the class posts will start on August 8th, & run for 4 weeks through our private blog. it is a creating experience filled with information, tutorials, step by step instruction, inspiration and ideas.

this time round, we focusing on Home Decor & related projects, which has been so fun!  finally i've been able to create some pretty things that have set upon the "to create" list for waaaaaay to long.  a few of the projects i'm already planning on making for Christmas gifts as well, so i'm really feeling accomplished these days!! :)

and just as last time, there will be scrapbooking projects, sewing, embroidery, mixed media art, collage, art journaling...plus some fabulous giveaways! (one of which is handmade by yours truly :)  hint hint....think patchwork & applique :)

& remember that fabric pack i mentioned the other day? we will be using it lots in this "styling for home" studio too, if you wish to purchase it, it is available here. 

hope to see you "in the studio"!!!  & hope you have a happy friday too!

xoxo

gi

paper treasures...

tarisota's july collection, paper treasures, is a stunner...

my favorite colors plus my go-to trims seam binding & baker's twine (YELLOW bakers twine!!!) and these absolutely beautiful tiny little crystals. 

this one my be the favorite of what i created this time 'round.  the heart dawned upon me out of nowhere & i was so excited to try it.  love how it turned out.

 

tamar sent me some gorgeous white gauzy fabric with my collection (will check if/when the fabric pack will be available) & it makes the BEST rolled roses! 

 

i LOVE how this layout turned out too....love those colors, so sweet & bright & fun & summery.  i love this photo of kate...she is such a wild child.  her whole personality is embodied in that crazy hair! 

 

i LOVE those white sticker letters.  it was so fun to ink them, creating this gorgeous dyed look.  for the "f" & "r" i inked them yellow first (so saffron from stampin' up) & then changed my mind & wanted blue letters, so i inked the blue next (cool carribean from stampin' up).  i LOVE how it turned out....love that slight variation in color & w/ the green tone on 2 of the letters.  see?  the best things do come from mistakes!  lol!

 

i really loved the sticker sheet included this month.  think i used almost all of the stickers on it (& i've got plans to use the others in next month's style studio :)  & that bit of vintage paper under the seam binding was the strip tamar used to keep together the seam binding.  it was too good to go to waste :)

& again w/ that white gauzy fabric....LOOOOOVE that fabric, it was so fun to work with!

 

this was the first layout i created with the collection.  i think i always start w/ a simple design, kinda like a scrappy warm up.  & the pink paislee journal cards (they come on a 12x12 page) & those girl's paperie die cuts really made creating this page easy peasy.

 

 & there's that gauzy fabric again!  i layered it over the text patterned paper to mute it just a bit.

now go check out the rest of the gallery!  it's absolutely gorgeous!!!

happy tuesday!

xoxo

gi

it was magic...

you know those experiences in life that just knock you off of your feet?

the kind you were so unprepared for, and then wind up completely gobsmacked with how much such a tiny little thing could affect you so much?

well...say hello to our butterflies :)

they are absolutely magical....truly amazing....

we got the little caterpillars in the mail & watched them grow in a tiny cup.  then they crawled up to the top & hung like little possums and begun to form their chrysalises.  it was metamorphosis in a cup....kinda creepy & super cool...

we took them to the beach with us & i know everyone thought we were absolutely crazy.  we were kinda like a traveling circus, actually.  staying in a beach house with mike's brothers & sister & some friends (none of whom have children)...so it was like "yeah....we've got the 3 kids...the dog....the guinea pig....the 3 hermit crabs (again.....thanks uncle jeff for kate's birthday present...lol) & the 5 caterpillars."  they looked at us like we were completely out of our minds...

& maybe we are...just a tiny bit :)

but those caterpillars became part of our crazy little family :)

& we watched them each day....when they formed their chrysalises we pinned them inside their little net house.  & we waited...and waited....

& then on our final day at the beach they emerged....beautiful & amazing....

it.was.awesome...

the kids named each one (mark sanchez, drew brees, brett farve, flappy & marigold)...& we packed them up with the rest of our crazy family for the loooong 10 hour drive home.  watching them along the way as they got used to their new bodies....their gorgeous wings stretching out & drying....watching them attempting to fly.

the day after we got home, they had all gotten the real hang of flying & it was time to set them free....

i was unprepared for this part....

it was one of those moments when i felt God's presence in my life.  how much He truly loves me....loves me enough to create amazing, beautiful butterflies so i would smile...

we opened the door to their little net house...but they stayed put.  "c'mon guys!  don't you want to go fly around the garden?  there are some pretty flowers for you???"

so i reached in & they each crawled into the palm of my hand.  trusting me & letting me guide it out into that bright new world.

 

& then each one stayed for a little bit.  kind of timid to go....

& then they felt confident enough...and they flapped those gorgeous wings & flew.  they flitted around our deck & then out into the garden...then down the street...

we cheered them on...like the crazy people we are :)

it.was.magical.

absolutely, positively magical...

goodbye little butterflies!!!  be good!  be well!!!  we love you!!!

happy monday :)

xoxo

gi

savoring summer...

we just returned from a gorgeous week vacation at the beach and are easing back into the lazy, unscheduled, hot days of summer around here. 

lots of playing hotel & house...lots of swimming...lots of beach towels in the laundry...lots of quick & easy & fresh no-cook meals...lots of snipping black eyed susans for bouquets around the house...lots of "what day is it???"

i will be posting some craft stuff soon though as the latest tarisota collection is sitting on my craft desk waiting for me....and a new style studio launches on july 25th packed with loads more fantastic tutorials (just thought up another one while vacuuming this morning actually :)

but until then....it's back to my novel (reading "pigs in heaven" by barbara kingslover at the moment.  love her novels)

what are you up to?  hope whatever it is, you are enjoying it :)

xoxo

g

we love summer...

gosh i love summer.  

he cracks me up!!!  ry & "the guns"....he even does the whole kissing them like a WWF wrestler or something....hahahahahahahahaha!!!!

the kids have been drawing scooterville in the driveway again.  SO adorable!   their buildings are getting more elaborate & imaginative even...the dentist is a big tooth, the school an apple, the bakery a cupcake....they are having so much fun being urban architects.  kelly's house is a big flower in a flowerpot, kate's is a toadstool & ryan's is a basketball hoop.  so cute!!

they even will give you a tour ;)

we are also thoroughly enjoying postcrossing (thanks mel & tamar!!!), writing pen pals (i've even got a lovely pen friend for myself from the UK & she is just gorgeous in every way.  i'm REALLY enjoying corresponding with her :) & are now all set to start geocaching!!!

love love love summer :)

happy birthday U.S.A!!!!

& have a fabulous weekend!

xoxo

gi