Pint-Size Fashion....

Brace yourself for unbearable cuteness. Between the children, their clothing and the magical photos, I'm beside myself. Absolute enchantment. Adorable! Can you tell that I'm smitten?

You can find these charming clothes at Escargot.

Wayne....Cutest britches. Ever.


Dotty... A darling little shift dress.

Hunter...Every fine young man should have this hunting jacket.


I hope you enjoyed these wonderful little wiffit photos, brought to you by Escargot.

Thank you for dropping by, sweet friends...xo

Busy Hands....







Petticoat Boot Ruffle.



Yes, my hands have been very busy these days. My mind has been going a mile a minute. If only my hands could keep up with my mind....That would go right along with my idea of a perfect world.

My designs are sort of moving in a different direction, yet they are still very much the style of Fringe. How that happens, I have no idea. I guess it's because these designs, like all my others, come from my ideas...that is, they all originate from the same place...

Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to visit...xo

Wow Factor...

Office Space Extraordinaire

London


Madrid



Stockholm



Thanks for visiting, lovely friends....xo





Wishing for Spring...



For $100, you get a custom, beautifully made sohomode tea dress. So amazing!


Wishing for spring and dreaming of flowers, sunshine and mild breezes...that's me. Why? Several reasons, but the most urgent one being these enchanting tea dresses by the magical seamstress and fashion designer, sohomode. I love everything she makes. These dresses are the perfect cross between vintage and modern. Now I ask you, how fabulous would they look with a little tattered cardigan or shrug...? I want one for every day of the week...

Thanks for visiting! xo




Poetry in Song ~ A Series

My second installment in the series Poetry in Song is Fields of Gold. This song moves me deeply. The pureness of Eva's voice, and the tenderness of Sting's words make this piece a favorite of mine. I love how Sting sings this song as well, but in a different way. I hope you will enjoy listening to it...



Fields of Gold

Written by Sting
Sung by the late Eva Cassidy

You'll remember me when the west wind moves
Among the fields of barley
You can tell the sun in his jealous sky
When we walked in fields of gold

So she took her love for to gaze awhile
Among the fields of barley
In his arms she fell as her hair came down
Among the fields of gold

Will you stay with me will you be my love
Among the fields of barley
And you can tell the sun in his jealous sky
When we walked in fields of gold

I never made promises lightly
And there have been some that I've broken
But I swear in the days still left
We will walk in fields of gold
We'll walk in fields of gold

Many years have passed since those summer days
Among the fields of barley
See the children run as the sun goes down
As you lie in fields of gold

You'll remember me when the west wind moves
Among the fields of barley
You can tell the sun in his jealous sky
When we walked in fields of gold
When we walked in fields of gold
When we walked in fields of gold

~Eva Cassidy was taken by cancer in 1996 at the age of 33.

Sting, the songwriter and original singer of Fields of Gold, said the following about Eva's cover of the song:

"A lot of people have covered my songs. And it's a strange emotion, you know, because your own songs are like your own babies. I mean you might hear someone reinterpreting them and maybe you don't agree with what they've done. But this version was just so pure, so excellent, that I was deeply moved by it, and so happy that she covered it. Eva's is one of the best versions of my song I've ever heard...There is something about her voice - a quality - that you can't really put into words. It's a magical quality. People respond to its purity. It suggests something ethereal-- something unattainable."

~ I hope you enjoy each day to its fullest. Thank you for stopping in, dear friends...xo



A Man with a Dream....


For Martin Luther King, Jr., life was brutally cut short. We can only imagine the good he would have done had he lived his natural lifespan. To me, he was a person of courage, faith and deep love for humanity. To honor him, I have listed some of my favorite MLK quotes. It was hard to narrow them down, but I feel these quotes are for everyone: every walk of life, every race, and every faith. I hope they bring you as much inspiration as they bring me.


Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.

That old law about 'an eye for an eye' leaves everybody blind. The time is always right to do the right thing.

The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.

We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.

Whatever your life's work is, do it well. A man should do his job so well that the living, the dead, and the unborn could do it no better.

A lie cannot live.

At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love.

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.

I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.



Thank you for visiting, friends...xo

Fresh Fringe...






A Pocketful of Posies. This trio of posy brooches is the latest addition at Fringe. They are oversized, flirty and full of little details. Also, they are extremely versatile. They can be worn as brooches; one, two or three at a time. If you're into extreme accessorizing, wear all three at once. They can be worn as a necklace or choker with the velvet ribbon that's included. Also as a sash or belt. You can attach them to coats and jackets, blazers, scarves, totes, sweaters or blouses. They would be stunning swept up in an updo too. I chose these colors because I felt they had so many wearable options. They will go with just about every color in your wardrobe.

I love them most for the romance they inspire. Feminine romance in a Pocketful of Posies....

Thank you for taking the time to drop in...xo

What I've Learned in 3 Years...

The Sweetheart Scarf. The scarf that started it all 3 years ago on Etsy.

Well, dear hearts, today is my 3 year Etsyversary. Three years on Etsy. It’s hard to believe! I’ve come a long way, baby. It has been a HUGE learning experience. I apologize for the caps, but I can’t begin to tell you how much I’ve learned as a result of Etsy. I love Etsy. Thanks to Etsy (and an insane amount of work), my life has changed immensely. My brain cells have multiplied too (that’s my story and I’m sticking to it). Three years ago, I never would have imagined my life today. A blog? Twitter? Over 800 Etsy sales? People all over the world wearing a Fringe creation, taking a little piece of me along with them on their journey. Impossible! Yet true. I have so many plans for the future of Fringe as well...

I would like to share some of the things I’ve learned in these past three Etsy-filled years. Everything I've listed are things I've learned from positive as well as negative experiences. It's a heartfelt, honest list which I hope will help you in some way. Also, please feel free to add to the list (I love lists!) if you like. I would just love to read anything you have to add.

Some of the things I’ve learned in the past 3 years on Etsy

1. How to work a camera and what makes a good photo.
2. How to edit a photo.
3. How to have an organized file system on the computer.
4. Take pride in your work, and remain true to yourself as an artist. Your work will be appreciated.
5. Don’t under price your work. Pay yourself for your time investment.
6. You can have very meaningful friendships online, even if you haven’t met in person.
7. The artistic community is filled with original artists that have exceptional skill and overwhelming kindness.
8. If you are original and successful, you will be copied. At least, there will be attempts to copy you. As my husband has said to me many times…"another one…baby, you’ve arrived”.
9. Following through with #8…copiers are not artists and are not original. They have no respect for art and lack the creativity and integrity needed to be truly successful. Therefore, they’re not worth your time.
10. Shipping is way easier if you print out your shipping labels at home. Endicia is invaluable during the busy holiday season. Oh my yes.
11. How to be somewhat computer/internet savvy.
12. As you grow as a person, your particular art form will grow as well. It can be a constant cycle of learning and growing.
13. You can be as successful as you wish. All it takes is a huge amount of work. There are no shortcuts.
14. Nothing beats being your own boss.
15. Blogs can be a fabulous venue for expressing yourself in any manner you wish.
16. The only road to success is the high road, and you can only get there through hard work.
17. Have confidence in yourself and never give up on your dream, your goals.
18. Only listen to those who give you positive input. Ignore the negative.
19. If the creative juices aren’t flowing, don’t try to force it. Just relax, they’ll come back when they’re good and ready to.

I’m sure I’ve forgotten many things. I may be adding to my list as I remember. I hope you know how much I appreciate all of the support I’ve received from you all. Thank you a thousand times over.


And thank you for visiting…xo

Haiti Relief Fundraiser...


Hello dear friends. We are all heartbroken over the Haiti devastation. It's so frustrating to know we can't help the pain of the victims. However, we can do something. The lovely and compassionate Jen Wallace of Indie Fixx came up with a wonderful idea yesterday. Artists can donate their creations for silent auction. All proceeds go to the Red Cross Haiti Relief Fund. It's worthwhile, and I feel that everyone can donate something. No matter how small, it will make a difference, and trust me, you'll feel fabulous when you contribute. My donation is the Double Down Cowl shown above. It's one of my most popular designs. It would be a perfect gift for yourself or someone you love, and most importantly, you would be contributing to a terribly important cause. The auction bidding for the Double Down Cowl will close at midnight tomorrow, January 15th.

Thank you for giving me your time and attention, you lovely people! xo

Apples to Apples...


That's the name of my favorite new board game, Apples to Apples. According to the box, this game has been sold to more than 3 million people. That means the odds that you've heard of it before are pretty good. Still, I had to let you know what a hilarious and fun game this is. I found out about it over the Christmas holiday when my brother came to visit. He bought the game for us. We played it over and over again and laughed our heads off. I highly recommend it to you. It's simple to learn, and everyone has a fair chance of winning. For ages 12 and over, 4 - 10 players. Check it out!

I thought this post would be quite appropriate since we started a new family tradition of Friday game night. It's a great way to spend a Friday evening with the ones you love, and kids especially love traditions. Another high recommendation from me to you...


As always, I'm thrilled you stopped by....xo

ABC, Easy As 123...


A while back, I ran across this A - Z questionnaire on the lovely Bliss blog. I thought it looked like fun, and it was list-like, which as you probably know is something I can't resist. So here they are, my A - Z questionnaire answers. I hope you enjoy them, and perhaps you will play along.

A. Attached or Single- attached.
B. Best Friend- my husband.
C. Cake or Pie- lemon meringue pie.
D. Day of Choice- today!
E. Essential Item- it’s a toss up between my computer and flip flops. Ok, I pick computer.
F. Favorite Color- turquoise.
G. Gummy Bears or Worms- gummy bears, but I truly love Swedish Fish.
H. Hometown- Redondo Beach, California.
I. Indulgence- really good champagne.
J. January or July- July.
K. Kids- yes.
L. Life isn't complete without....my morning coffee.
M. Marriage Date- July 21st.
N. Number of Brothers and Sisters- 1 brother, and he’s a love.
O. Oranges or Apples- apples, especially green ones.
P. Phobias- deep water, high places, small places, big crowds. Yeah, I’m messed up.
Q. Quote- “What fresh hell is this?”
R. Reason to Smile- I have a room full of yarn. That’s just one reason, I have many.
S. Season of choice-summer.
T. Tag Three- I don’t like tagging. So anyone who wants to do this, please do so. It’s kinda fun.
U. Unknown fact about me- I love to dance.
V. Vegetable- snap peas.
W. Worst habit- Diet Coke, I’m trying to quit, dang it!
X. X-ray or Ultrasound- both. Isn’t science amazing?
Y. Your Fave food- this is a tough one. I love all kinds of food, the spicier the better. And soup! I love soup.
Z. Zodiac- Libra.

I think I need to do an A – Z for Reasons to Smile. Yep. That list will be coming up soon. I am not satisfied with just one answer for that one….Don’t you just love lists…?

Thank you for stopping in, lovelies…xo

Let's Laugh Our Way Through 2010...

That's my boy!


Every time my brother comes for a visit, he brings a bag of tricks. This bag consists of all types of wacky hair pieces; wigs, moustaches, eyebrows…all of them very silly. He almost always catches us off guard, walking into the room looking completely ridiculous. It’s all great fun, and my son loves to take part in the goofiness. I guess that’s pretty evident from the photo above which was taken this past week while my brother was visiting…

I wanted this light-hearted photo to be a symbol of my New Year’s wish for you…I hope 2010 is filled with light-hearted laughs, warm and meaningful relationships, the best of health, success and prosperity for all of you. I have some quotes I would like to share with you. Each one a message and perhaps a mantra for the coming year….

Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.
~Hal Borland

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.

~Oprah Winfrey

For last year's words belong to last year's language.
And next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning.
~T.S. Eliot, "Little Gidding"

One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this: To rise above the little things.

~John Burroughs

I think in terms of the day's resolutions, not the year's. ~Henry Moore


As always, I’m so grateful you stopped by for a visit....xo