Just Because It's Beautiful...

My first roses are blooming! I have no idea what variety this rose is, but it has the sweetest scent of any I've ever known. It smells like a child's sweet tart candy! (If any of you know the kind. please tell me.) Don't forget to click the pictures for a close up. I love the way it fades to yellow and cream at the base. God is an artist...

Mini Circus!

These pictures are from the Ringling Museum in Sarasota, Florida. They have a giant exhibition of what a production it was when the Ringling Circus came to town. You can view it from above and by walking around all sides. The lighting would even change to show it in the daytime and at night. Please click on the pictures and see the some of the wonderful details. These pictures don't do it justice!

First Etsy Sale!

Just this week I sent out my first sold item from my Etsy store to a lady in North Carolina! Very exciting for me! Since she was my very first sale, I decided to send out a couple extra items as a thank you. She ordered the shabby shelf but the framed quilt squares, mini ladder and framed picture are the surprises! I can't do that every time of course, but this was a special occasion. Now I'm hoping for positive feedback. I'll just keep my fingers crossed and check my email often!

Tiny Treasure

A family friend was at a garage sale and spotted this precious little room. Imagine my surprise when I got home and found this treasure in my mailbox! The outside is covered with bark and the windows give a perfect view of this dainty meets rustic, retreat. Scroll down to the last picture to find what really makes it special....

Isn't that amazing! What a lovely little inspiration piece! Thanks again, friends!

A Contest & an Excuse to Buy One More House!

Greenleaf Dollhouses has come up with a wonderful new kit for their annual Spring Fling contest! Isn't it great? I love how multi-purpose this kit is. Click here if you'd like to go to their site and see more views or even order one. It's laser cut and fits together beautifully so far. Last year I chickened out and did not enter the contest, but this year I challenged myself and took the plunge. I'm a nervous wreck! So silly of me, I guess, but there's time constraints (as I'm teaching full time, tutoring, finishing my masters and being a wife and mom!). Then there's people judging my work too. All very nerve racking but I'm choosing to have fun with it. Unfortunately, I have to keep the project a secret for now, but as soon as the contest is over, I'll go back and blog it all. Good luck to any of you who are entering the contest too.

For those of you who are looking for an excuse to buy one more dollhouse or kit, here's one my husband came up with. My husband practically insisted that I order this kit even though I have 3 already that I'm still working on (one is just finishing details). His reasoning: The reason I don't completely finish my houses (which drives him nuts) is because I love the process more than the end product. Therefore if I have a new kit, I'm more likely to completely finish one of my old ones because I have a current project to work on. How's that for logic? Let me know if that excuse works for you!

Sweet Butterfly

I finally figured out punch needle! Every other time I've tried punch needle (kind of like latch hook in mini), I just keep pulling the thread out as I go along and end of up with a chewed up scrap of fabric with holes punched all through. Pitiful. I must have used the right fabric this time though because the stitches actually held! I was just playing around with a scrap corner of a larger pre-printed cross stitch. It's rather sloppy and lopsided, because I was just stabbing away, waiting for it to become my usual mess. The fringy edges are from the backing fabric that I frayed a bit. It's a beginning, anyway!

If you'd like to see some real art and punch needle inspiration, you should really check out Katie Arthur. I love her Early American, colonial style work. Just click here to travel over and say hi :)

Kreativ Blogger Award

A big thank you to Mags and Rachel for kindly sending on this blog award! I used to look at those on other blogs and wonder, how do earn one of those? Now I know! :) I've been incredibly busy so my apologies for not posting sooner.

The rules

1. Thank the person that has given it to you.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who nominated you.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that nobody knows.
5. Nominiate 7 Kreative Bloggers.
6. Post link to the 7 blogs that you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs nominated.

Click on the names below to see each of the 7 blogs that you can visit;

all very talented bloggers generously sharing their gifts:

Eva

Les Carnets de L'Atelier

Cote de Texas

All Tiny Delights

Lisette

Donna

Lea

Little Daisy (This is a bonus- not a blog but pics too cute not to share!)

7 Things about Me:

1. I am an office supply nerd! Can't stay away from new pens and clips.

2. My parents were hippies; hence the name Daisy.

3. I love my work but it's very intense; minis are my emotional release.

4. I am not a celebrity worshipper.

5. I love watching recorded shows in the wee hours of the morning.

6. I am a chronic procrastinator.

7. I am an antique fanatic furniture but only own one item! How did that happen?