Beautiful Belle Inspiration...

I am a contributor to the on-line magazine Belle Inspiration.

It's a beautiful on-line lifestyle magazine made by the fabulous and lovely Mimi Bleu of Bonjour Romance.

I just did an article on how to make paper butterflies, like those in my girls' room.

Mimi lives in France and loves to celebrate "La joie de vivre" everyday; and her magazine shows it!
It's full of creative and inspiring ideas for living a beautiful and romantic life.

Mimi has generously agreed to giveaway a one year subscription to one of my lucky reader's! Just leave a comment on this post for one entry and join as a follower for another. I'l announce the lucky winner on Monday. If you win you get to see my latest article! :)

Good luck!
Jen

Very special guests....

Remember how I mentioned that I had had some really special guests last weekend? Well, I was very blessed to get to do a photo shoot with Country Living magazine!

I had the super-talented stylist Heather Chontos, the wonderful editor Barb Ovrutsky, and the amazing photographer Jonny Valiant and his assistant Nick at my house last Sunday.

 The were taking pics of my kitchen for an upcoming issue! It was so exciting and so nerve racking at the same time. When I saw their amazing portfolios and talent I told my husband, "I think I am gonna throw up." ..and I really meant it. I was so flippin' nervous. But everyone was so professional and fun that they made it easy.

I never thought that something like this would happen for me, so I feel so hugely blessed to get the opportunity! I was talking to a friend of mine who has also been in other publications and I said to her "I never thought  a year ago we would be talking about photo shoots and our homes." It's funny how things can happen. 

It will be in sometime after summer, I'll let you know when it's out... 

Jen

Knee-deep in notions.....

Visit me....

I am over here today...

Before and after... the doily chair...

My first thought was that I hoped I had spelled doily right...I  swear in all of my smartedness I had to look up the correct spelling on Wikipedia.

  Remember this chair  from last month?

The one I started making over and just lost my steam on.. I was just really uninspired to finish it...

and totally stumped.

I knew I wanted pretty, and I knew I wanted light.. and maybe stripes, but I was kind of floundering from there.

 And I swear every time I walked by it...it mocked me.

Really. It did.

I was finally pushed into finishing it because of some very special guests that were coming over... guests I am going to share with you next week... :)

I was very inspired by the boho kind of free spirit look I've been working on for my April Etsy store reopening...

Meet... the doily chair.

Serene blue, tan striped ticking. Lace. hand-appliqued Crocheted doily's. What could you not love?

I wasn't sure if I wanted to do  a separate cushion or not... and I really didn't have time, so I thought... what the heck! and just covered over the whole thing. I figured  I could always do the right thing and do a separate cushion  later. :) My chair, my rules.

That bit of fabric bump is where it tucks in the back, just ignore it. Darn kids untucking my fabric.

I hot glued trim  and lace on to finish the edges and she was ready to go.

Time to take  a seat and rest a bit....

Jen

P.S. I know I can't get back to all of you... but I  really enjoyed reading all of your comments from my earlier posts about blogging. I know we are all kind of in the same boat, so let's all row together...  I think we need a blogging Q and A post...

and you can hop over to Miss Mustard Seed's for more furniture inspiration and The Shabby Nest.

Things we learned at the blog girls gathering about blogging...

At the round table discussion of the blogger get together, there were a few very important points that came up in writing and growing a blog. Since you couldn't all be there, I thought I would share a bit of the information.

We talked a bit about the post I did last week about the stress of blogging; and  some other really important points.

-Use your tags and labels for your posts. That's how people randomly find you in random search engines.

-Use large or extra large pictures.

-Comment, comment, comment.

-Take  a break if you need one. Post when you want. There really is no pressure but what you put on yourself. Goals like "I am going to post every day for a year." might just do you in.. for nothing...

- To show or not to show your kids is a personal choice. Just keep in mind who is reading you.

-Blog about what YOU want. It's your blog. And when you want. No pressure, no obligation.

and ...

Be wonderfully and authentically you... in everything. In your words, pictures, thoughts and how you decorate. Because you are fabulous just as you are, not someone else. Blog about what you want. That is how you find people of similar interests. That is how they are drawn to you and you make new and wonderful relationships. Don't worry about what other people say. Just do your thing.  You might get an occasional negative comment. You might get crazy Russian spam. That's what the delete button is for. If they don't like something or are not happy;that's their problem, not yours.

When I first started blogging, I kept things light and happy and airy. I posted projects and crafts. I thought that's what people wanted to see. I didn't think they were interested in me or my emotions, and the mundane crumbs of daily life. Who wants to hear me complain?

But what I found is the more I have been myself; the more I have found true and lasting friends. I have found more of me too.  That is what makes all of the difference in blogging, not being popular. Yes, there are blogs that have made it really really big, but is it worth it? What is the right balance?

And finally....Ignore the damn numbers.

Following is great because it's an easy way for people to subscribe, but don't let it affect your every day.

When you gain a follower be happy you have found someone else who is like-minded. When you lose one, shrug it off and realize if they aren't interested in what you have to show and say, it's not worth worrying about them.

  

and blog happy.

Jen

Fabulous blogging girls....

I met some wonderful, amazing women on Saturday.

  Heidi was sweet enough to help co-host and open her gorgeous home on Saturday for us.

  It was so nice to be able to talk with women of similar interests; and be able to talk about the nitty-gritty of blogging.

 We had some treats and chatted. 

 Alison, Tracey, and Kathy

 Monika, Elizabeth and Carrie.

 Suzanne and Joy

 Jeannie and Penny

 After eating and getting to know each other, we sat and had a round table discussion about blogging topics. It was great to get fresh views on topics.

 There was a gift swap with some good things. Everyone went home happy with a little something.

It was so great to finally out faces to the virtual names.  Ladies, thank you so much for coming and making it a great time.I am already looking forward to next year!

Jen

Thoughts and cabinet cleaning....

I have to admit; my thoughts have been constantly occupied by the events happening in Japan. A lot. My thoughts and prayers are with every single one of those people and I am praying diligently that they are able to get everything under control very soon. I know all I can do is donate, but I wish I could do more.

   Sometimes when I feel restless and helpless, it helps me to get involved in a project.

I cleaned out and dusted my hutch in my kitchen. I arranged my mismatched coffee mugs. I  am a hobo coffee mug girl. I have about 20 from the thrift stores and none of them match at all. But I like a good solid mug that cups well in my hand.

  Don't look too closely because my plates don't match either. I've tried for matched plates and then one gets broken.

  These 4 fancy cups from Anthropologie were my splurge last year and an attempt to have some matching mugs for when people come over.

  They are so pretty... I never use them. 

 I have all of my shelves lined with cotton canvas. I hate putting dishes on painted wood. This way it blends in and keeps the paint from getting nicked or wet from a damp dish.

 I was going to  dust the items on top of the hutch, but, well....  laziness took over.

It was nice to have it all cleaned and organized for spring.

If you would like to donate for the devastation in Japan, The Red Cross can tell you how to donate.

Jen

The stress of blogging....

There have been rumblings.....

Lately, I've been reading a lot about people  and a lot of postings wondering what is going on in blogland? It seems like visits are down, posting is down, and top-notch, very talented bloggers are dropping out.

I'm not an expert by any means, but as I approach my 4th year of blogging there's one topic that not too many people talk about.

Blogging is stressful.

Most people get into blogging because they have things to say and share. They want to be heard; maybe they were a lurker for  a while and decided to finally gather enough courage to jump in the pool. There is excitement with the first post  and the very first comments; but as time wears on,  that initial honeymoon stage wears off and the reality sets in. 

Blogging is stressful. 

I've had many good friends stop blogging over the last few years, many of them more popular than I ever will  be. Many of them happily come back after  a bit of a break, but, some of them don't. 

I think with blogging, there can become all of this pressure to produce and write.  It can go from fun to work. Almost like  a second unpaid job. And even though many times the pressure is self-imposed, there's a feeling of not wanting to let the readers, your friends down. As it mounts, there is the realization that for the most part, you are putting out all of this work for  little or no monetary compensation, and there is still a real life to live... on top of that with all of it's pressures and problems with family and relationships and work. And when someone's blog grows really quickly, more quickly than they can imagine; the pressure can mount even more. People want interviews and pictures and guest postings, and they have  a question, and all of the while, the kids are beating the living tar out of each other in the kitchen over the last chicken leg.

Blogging is wonderful.

Blogging is stressful.

I've always been a "slow and steady wins the race" kind of  a blog. I feel blessed that I've grown a bit more every day, little by little. I love blogging. I love writing. I love my readers.  I adore them. I wish I could have more time to respond to  comments and chat more. If I could do it full-time and get paid really well I would in a heart beat. I am immensely thankful for every opportunity that blogging has brought me and every new friend that I have made. I think God lead me to blogging when I needed it most. I found it at a very lonely and uncreative time in my life.

Blogging can be uplifting and gracious.

But there's real life. Blogging can be expensive.

Projects cost money, and I think sometimes there is an underwritten pressure to "keep up with the joneses" when it comes to creative blogs. I've felt it myself. 

When I started blogging there was all of this back and forth about selling-out over having an advertisement free blog. For me it came down to running ads because I needed the money to do the projects.  I am all for making the most of what you have, so if you need to run ads to keep going and make ends meet, have at it. 

It's your blog. You gotta do what you gotta do.

At times, I've contemplated quitting. Life gets to be too hard, too complicated, too worrisome and blogging can  be a chore. I think a lot of bloggers have felt that way. There were days when I couldn't wait to post, and there have been days of "post- dread" where I have no idea what the H-E-double hockey sticks to post about. 

I think it comes down to balance, and figuring out where blogging really fits in to your life.  If it doesn't fit, so be it. You need to do for your life what matters most. 

And live your life as it matters most.

The thing is, while blogging is stressful it can also be a joy. It can be a great way to connect and share. It can open up new opportunities and new horizons. It can bring success and new creative ideas. It can be about so many wonderful things....

 if you can find the right place to fit it into.

Jen

Inspired words....

Words inspire me. I've always loved words. Whether I am reading or writing.

I have a secret stash of poetry I've written that will probably never see the light of day.

Words.

(This word has been on my mind this weekend for those living in Japan.)  

I keep my words and picture inspirations stuck on the door to my mini-studio. It's the one cool door in our house. Sometimes I'll stop in the middle of whatever I am doing, and I just gaze up at them, and then peek out my window. Sometimes they take me out of the rut  I'm stuck in.

Two women who inspire me with the use of words in their work is Kelly Rae Roberts and Jeanne Oliver. They have so much power in their art. A sentence or even just one word can convey and entire world of emotions. I also admire them because these women aren't afraid to go after their dreams, no matter how big. 

In this artful journey; I am slowly learning to "use my words" too. 

And not be afraid of where the road takes me.

Jen

 

Party highlights...

I can't believe how awesome the party was! I am still trying to get around to everyone. It really got me in the spring mood. We had  a peek of sun today, but it was just a bit. Supposedly, it's going to be around 70 in Chicago after St. Paddy's day... I can hardly wait.

I decided this year to give up Sugar and sweet baked goods for Lent, so if my posts get crabby in about a week you'll know why. ;)  Coffee with out my sugar just isn't the same. I was about 3 hours in and already wondering what I was thinking....

I am so happy that warmer times are right around the corner......

there were so many great spring ideas, here is just  a sampling...

There was this awesome family room refresher at Restoration house.

 And this lovely spring nest and branch at Craftberry Bush.

This really cute PB inspired Easter Tree at The Shabby Chick

I adored this spring mantle at My Uncommon slice of Suburbia

And this amazing kitchen makeover at The Empty Nest.

 It's a wannabe decorator's life re-did her bathroom and it's gorgeous! I need another mirror like that!

And I love the makeover for spring on this cabinet. The wallpaper is gorgeous!

Stop by Maison Decor to see how she did it.

I hope it's warmer by you and spring is much closer! If you haven't visited all of the links, make sure you do. There are a lot of clever a talented ladies with great ideas!

Happy Weekend!

Jen