Andrew Wyeth

July 12, 1917 – January 16, 2009

Snow or sun the weekend offers ...

While I plan a weekend outdoors with sun, many of us are digging out of snow or just staying in to stay warm. Truth be told, I envy you.

I long for a day in the house. I long to make a pot of veggie soup and bake some bread. I dream of popping a movie into the dvd player and cranky up the fireplace.

Yes, I could do those things, but years of guilt overwhelm and I find myself making lists of pulling weeds, or sweeping pathways or simply a good winter cleaning and airing out the house.

Glass half full? Glass half empty? One never knows ....

In an effort to make your day buzz a little faster, consider these links for free games, movie downloads or other diversions of the winter weekend ahead.

• Netflix: If you are already a member, take advantage of the movies that you can watch from your computer now. Thousands of possibilities can be watched NOW, no need to order your dvd and wait for the mail to arrive. If you are not a member, consider this small extravagance. Prices range from five to twenty dollars per month.( Cutest hubby and I have been a member for years, and I find myself watching movies when I am working late in the studio .....a great time to watch something just for you.)


• Blogspot: Start a family blog. Gather your holiday photos, create a theme and start a blog to document your family and to share with other family members. Blogspot offers free blog space with easy features to add photos, film and more. Sites such as The Cutest Blog on the Block and others offer free backgrounds for instant whimsy.


• Design an online photo album: Shutterfly and others, provide you with the ability to upload your collection of photos into a book format. You choose the papers, style, font and captions. Email friends and family a link to your grand work. If Auntie Mae likes it so much she can purchase the real thing, to hold in her hand and treasure. What fun!


• Play some online games. Trusted sources from The History Channel, The Disney Channel, and m&m's offer free games that are family fun and safe.

Snow or sun, enjoy the best your weekend has to offer and have fun!

i adore this painting from kay crain. run to her site to play and purchase!

Mr. Smith truly goes to Washington....

Who is minding the White House? As of yesterday, it seems it is Michael S. Smith. Mr. Smith has truly gone to Washington and has been named designer for the White House. Known for his sense of style and ease, Michael S. Smith may be just what this grand lady needs. A blend of comfort and style. Regal yet real.

Good-bye to "karate chopped pillows"! Count me in on that one.

If your house needs a bit of primping too, wander to your favorite book store and stroll through a copy of Elements of Style or Houses. Mr. Smith plays with your imagination and inspires. A nice diversion on a lazy afternoon when you are playing the "What if" game in your head.

What if I could re-do this room? What if I inherited ....you know the game. ...enjoy!

Missing in Action ...

Just popped in to say hello and saw that we have not chatted for two months. We have missed the holidays completely. How did we all survive? I hope the New Year finds you happy and safe.

Just when you thought you were rid of any thought or chat of holiday magic, I appear. Annoying as ever, and in the mood to remind you that Valentine's Day is just one short month away.

I love Valentine's Day. It is my favorite "real" holiday of the year. I find Valentine's day a treasure of hours filled with surprises and delights. It is a chance to say hello. Express love. Devotion. Friendship. Passion. Fondness. Flirt. Or simply a day to have fun to surprise.

One need not be in love to celebrate this day of hearts and flowers. One need only to be present. Be a part of your surroundings. Relationships. Friendships. One need only to interact with people to count ourselves among the pack. If you find yourself an active member of any group, family, office or race and you too can find someone to surprise on this day of hearts and flowers.

With all world chatting about money (yikes!), one does not need to break into that frozen block of credit cards, buried deep beneath that awful non-fat, non-dairy delight in the bottom of the freezer either.

Leave the credit cards on ice, and play in the thought of some new choices to amuse this Valentine's day .... here are a few cheap thrills to get you started ...I will post more ....

• When running through T or your favorite grocer, keep an eye out for their collection of silly kid valentine cards. You know the ones that are oh so kitchy or stupid silly? Gather your favorites week by week and when your collection is large enough to annoy, but cute enough to over joy .... fill a mailbox. Paste them on a bathroom mirror. Pop in briefcases and lunch bags, tape them to steering wheels and ipods ....Anywhere and everywhere your family is ...fill their spaces with these silly little notes of love that cost mere pennies. They will remember this always.



• Gather a few "hearty" gifties from your favorite drug and discount stores, fill a small gift bag and tie this treasure on an appropriate mylar balloon. Box and send to someone away at school, away on business or down the street. This little bit of nonsense will let someone know that you are thinking of them.

....spread some love and enjoy!

Chrissi B! a new thought on Christmas ornaments....

I know I have been chatting a bit too much about Christmas lately. I am sorry, but the simple thought of the holidays, it's planning and plotting have me a bit consumed lately. I am a schemer. I am a planner. I do not leave to chance the purchase of wraps and ribbons, cards and gifts. I plot. I plan. I explore. I gather.

I search out the best of what I need, and I build and play. This Christmas I find myself working with new colors and new ideas. In an effort to play a bit with an idea, I find myself painting mini canvases ....Mini canvases everywhere. My idea is to have mini works of whimsy decorate our main tree, our mantle and our table.

Work with me here, people. This idea may sound good in theory, (they all do), but can it work? My first obstacle was finding the mini canvases ....Dick Blick to the rescue. Love them. Mini blank canvases are sold in packages of 5 for under $5. Love it! These small wonders may be used as gifties for kids to create. Tied on packages as gift tags, or used at dinner as place cards. Let your imagination be your guide. If your artistic endevors find you wanting, consider adding bits of bling, buttons and ribbons.

For years I have created small Christmas trees that hold more than lights and gifts. I have tied dozens of mini picture frames onto a four foot faux tree. Photos of those who are no longer here to celebrate, and those who simply cannot come to celebrate are tied with simple ribbons and care. It has been our way of remembering family and friends at Christmas. Frankly, this side tree is my all time favorite to decorate. Each photo is a memory, each face is a treasure. Since the tree is not real, it can easily carry the weight of frames and mementos.

Small picture frames are easily available, and they do not have to match. In fact, I think the tree looks better if the frames vary in style and size. I mix woods with crystals, baroque with modern. Simple white lights, and a few other oddities like my grandfather's childhood teddy, my dad's toy truck ...tied into the sturdy branches and I am done.

So, start thinking about what you would like to do this Christmas. We still have time to paint a few canvases. (Great gift for grandparents!) Frame a few small pictures and create a new Holiday tradition. ...enjoy!

Chrissi B! Today's etsy find is from L Young's Studio ...

Running to etsy the other day in search of a bday gift, when I found today's great discovery. So if it is Thursday ....It must be etsy.

Today's find has me just loving the work from L Young's Studio. One click, and you will love it too. Initially, it was Lori's Initial canvas that caught my heart. I have a huge love of letters and fonts and found her work amusing. Small canvases hosting clean images with clarity and color ....Good stuff. All good.

A Texas inspired wonder, found me searching for wall space, while the Queen Bee Notes, had me making lists. Gifty ideas danced in my little head. Oh the credit card began her happy dance, and my holiday list began to dwindle. Love it.

While shopping, please peek at the lovely charms. You are sure to find several tied to baskets at my house this year, but really ....I would love to see them decorate a foyer tree or a mantle. Let your imagination wander and please ...Explore L Young's work ....enjoy!

Chrissi B! a trip to Lowes and life is good ...

Cutest Hubby and I spent the afternoon working through closets. In an effort to get through the holidays with ease, I have decided that I must have clean closets. (Don't ask me how I got this utterly insane notion, I have no clue ...)

Old magazines, filled with of ideas, gone! Old catalogues, gone! Shoes, purses, sweaters and more ...All gone. There will be pick ups of furniture and techy goods. Bags and bags of household items and clothing, will find new homes.

New homes all around. I am sure someone will love that new printer that makes too much noise for me, and that red designer purse that is just a tad too big for me to carry. What was I thinking?

Pre-holiday season is a great time to gather some finds from your home and pass on to others. Your "almost new" coat may provide needed warmth, and those out grown toys and games may make the perfect Christmas for a child in your community. ....enjoy!

We found great closet organizers and storage at our local Lowes, check it out.