The Rose ~ My Tribute to May Flowers

And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful
than the risk it took to blossom.
~Anais Nin


I would like to begin my May Flowers Tribute by thanking Roxana, a talented and intelligent woman who is beautiful both inside and out. Roxana, dear friend, I’m so honored and grateful that you invited me to join this wonderful collective blog tribute. Thank you.

I had originally planned a completely different post for this tribute, but life took a dramatic turn recently, and I decided to make this post far more personal.

I chose the rose as my flower. Why the rose? I have a very simple reason, I chose the rose for love. The love of my husband, Ron, and the history of us. The history of the rose is long and well documented. I could tell you it’s many historical and present day meanings, but I would rather tell you its meaning for me. This is a tribute to both the rose and my relationship with my husband.

A Red, Red Rose
by Robert Burns

O my Luve's like a red, red rose
That's newly sprung in June;
O my Luve's like the melodie
That's sweetly played in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a' the seas gang dry:

Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi' the sun;
I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands o' life shall run.

And fare thee weel, my only Luve,
And fare thee weel awhile!
And I will come again, my Luve,
Tho' it ware ten thousand mile.

This week, I realized with crystal clarity that the rose has been symbolic in our life together. In what way? Let me count the ways...

Ron sent a dozen red roses to me the day after our first date.

The meaning of red roses
love
beauty
romantic love
I love you
passion


My wedding bouquet, his boutineer, and our wedding cake decorations were
all made of lavender roses.

The meaning of lavender roses
love at first sight


And finally, when we bought our first home together, the home we live in today, Ron planted a rose bush. He’s planted one for each year we’ve been living in our home. We now have 13 rose bushes along one side of our backyard. It’s become a beautiful and symbolic rose garden.



There are many quotes about roses. To me, they are lovely sentiments, and some are even rich with messages of how to live your life:

Won't you come into the garden? I would like my roses to see you.
~Richard Brinsley Sheridan

I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck.
~Emma Goldman

There is nothing more difficult for a truly creative painter than to paint a rose, because before he can do so he has first to forget all the roses that were ever painted.
~Henri Matisse

If I had a rose for every time I thought of you, I'd be picking roses for a lifetime.
~Swedish proverb



Stop and smell the roses.
~American cliché


This last sentiment, stop and smell the roses, is a cliché that is easily cast aside. For me it’s extremely significant and from now on, an important part of my life. Far more so than ever before. That cliché is what made me rewrite my May Flowers tribute. I wanted you to understand its immense message. Those five words are words to live by.

Nine days ago, we came horrifyingly close to losing my husband. If he had been on one of his frequent international flights, or in a far off country as he is so often, he most likely would not be with us today. The idea of which scares me so much I have to push it out of my mind. As it happened, he was home and we were able to get immediate medical help. He is recovering more each day and we’re confident he’ll have a full recovery in 6 weeks. My husband is young, athletic, fit and eats a very healthy diet. Yet I almost lost him.

Now, each day, there are so many moments when he does a little thing…hugs our boy, cracks a lame joke, holds my hand…a hundred little things…and I think, this moment is a gift. The thought that nine days ago it came very, very close to being an entirely different, tragic reality causes a physical ache in me. Something so painful to think about that I barely let it reach my thoughts before I force it from my mind. A ghost of a nightmare that never was.

The impact of this incident was such a complete shock. It took me three days for it to sink in, and it's still sinking in. It has forever changed the way I look at life. The realization I came to is this. Life is delicate and precious. It’s the ultimate gift. Live each day as if it were your last. Appreciate and enjoy your loved ones. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Take time every single day to experience and reflect. Be good to yourself. All of these clichés sound familiar, right? I’ve said or thought them a thousand times. Until I was faced with the very real possibility of losing Ron, their meaning was abstract.

Dearest friends, if you only take one thing away with you from this post, let it be a daily reminder to stop and smell the roses. Write it on a slip of paper and put it where you’ll see it each and every day…In a world filled with shades of gray; this is one true black and white.




The Beginning (not The End)
xo








A bump in the road...


Hello, dear sweet friends...Perhaps you noticed that I didn't do my weekly Turquoise Tuesday feature this week.

Due to circumstances beyond my control, I will be away from my blog and other such things this week. I will miss you while I'm gone!

Please come back to see me on Monday, May 31st. I'm going to be doing a very special May Flowers tribute blog post. I truly hope you'll stop by....You all just make my day with your wonderful, kind comments!

I will be checking in once a day, at the end of the day, to see if there are comments or messages...My email address is on the left side of this blog too, if you want to email me.

In the meantime, have a beautiful, wonderful week. Please remember to enjoy each and every day with the ones you love.

Until next Monday....take care....xo

Kumite!




Hello and Happy Friday!

You may recall my mention of the Annual Karate Tournament that took place last Saturday. Do you remember? It's a big event around here. I wanted to give you the update. Our boy came in 3rd place in the Kumite division. Yes, he did! We are so proud of him. Here you see his bronze medal...Such a thrill for him! In case you're not familiar with the karate term, kumite is sparring. He went against a kid that was about three times his size in the first round. Nerve wracking!

That was our big news...What do you have going on this weekend? It's another busy one for us. Saturday is filled to the brim with chores and errands. Sunday we have another casual barbecue here at the house. Hopefully, the sun will be shining. It's quite unpredictable here this time of year, known in these parts as May Gray.

I hope you all have a beautiful weekend, and make many happy memories...

Thank you so much for visiting, dear ones...xoxo


Turquoise Tuesday...

Hello and Happy Turquoise Tuesday, sweet friends! How is your week going so far? Beautifully, I hope. It's a bit of a crazy week for me...not enough hours in each day.

This week's focus is on one particular item. An item I've admired ever since I first set eyes on it. The Tie Front Coat/Dress from 13threads. It's so dreamy! I love everything about this piece. It's versatile, and the perfect length. The vibrant color is so eye-catching and attractive. I can't say enough about this design. Classic, sophisticated, sexy, and lightweight enough to wear year round.

Actually, the entire shop is filled with exquisite pieces, so consider yourself warned...


Front Tie Coat/Dress from 13threads

In case you missed last week's Turquoise Tuesday post, click here.

Thank you for visiting! You always make my day that much happier...xo




Mad Wood Skills, Part 2...

Hello, wonderful friends and Happy Monday! I hope you are all doing great! Did you have a good weekend?

Do you remember the post I did a while back about my boy and his skill with the wood lathe? The pens? In case you missed it or would like to revisit the post, click here.

I wanted to let you know that today he is listing the first ones in his shop, Suspicious Pie on Etsy. I admit I'm a proud mama, but truly, he is unbelievably talented with the wood skills. He makes each pen completely by himself (I plan to do a little video of him in action on the lathe).

He's given them as gifts to family members, and let me tell you, they are very meaningful gifts. These pens are keepsakes. Because they are refillable, these pens will last forever.



The Pen of Optimism

Made from zebra wood.

The Pen of Optimism

Made from olive wood.


The Pen of Optimism

Made from purple heart wood.

He will soon be adding letter openers, key chains and magnifying glasses to the selection.

These pens are so special. The perfect gift for Father's Day, graduation, his and hers wedding gifts, and birthdays. The handsome wood gift box is included in specified listings.

Thank you so much, dear friends, for supporting me and my son with your wonderful, kind words of encouragement. It truly does mean a great deal to both of us...xoxo



Swedish Fish - Beware...

Good morning, darlings, and Happy Saturday! I hope you're all having a wonderful weekend so far...

I have a confession. If you were on Twitter yesterday afternoon, you may already know what this is about. I went a little overboard with the Swedish Fish. Oh yes. Maybe more than a little overboard. It was more like the last train to Yum Yum Sugary Sweet City. It wasn't pretty. I was sitting at my desk yesterday afternoon with this bucket (ok, tub) of the Evil Fish. Goofing off on Twitter. Friends, it's a recipe for disaster.

To be honest, I was expecting to feel remorse and guilt accompanied by a major sugar hangover. In reality, I feel great. Don't get me wrong, I do realize it's not good to eat one's weight in Swedish Fish, but the past is the past. Let's not dwell, right? Besides. Who are they kidding with "A Fat Free Food" and serving size 7 pieces. Really. Ok, so it's fat free, but we all know that doesn't mean anything when it's pure sugar. Sheesh, talk about enablers. And for the love of humanity, who can eat only 7 at a time? Clearly not me.

I didn't eat them all. Not yet. Perhaps I should have just to get it over with...I think I'll put them in the freezer. That should slow me down. Since I obviously have no self-control right now. It's 9 am and I'm thinking of the dang Swedish Fish. Evil, evil fish.

Crime Scene Photo


Did you notice the photo is a little blurry? Well, it's probably due to the fact that all the sugar was making my hands shake (just kidding, kind of)....I really should have paid attention to the DANGER sign.



This Week's Shop Update...

Happy Friday to you all! What a whirlwind week this has been. I hope you're having a great start to your day, dear friends.

Yesterday's shop update went off without a hitch (phew!). This week’s collection is diverse. Contrasts, textures, whimsy and romance. I can't choose a favorite, but there are some new little details, like the butterfly on Flying Flower Capelet.

I realized after my pieces were complete that I must really have Spring on my mind because four of the six items have a flower brooch. And Cloudburst is flowery in shape too, that makes five out of six!

Flowers influence me greatly, as does nature, so it's really no surprise that I incorporate them into so many of designs....

I hope you enjoy browsing through my new pieces. They were made with a great deal of love...

I have included five of the six new pieces here in this post. If you want to check out all six, click here.


Saddle Tramp Capelet
Urban prairie. Rustic chic. True Fringe style.

Flying Flower Capelet
Romantic. Feminine. Sexy. Whimsical.

Couture brooch. Elegant. Contrast.

Cloudburst Brooch
Textural. Vintage accent. Fluffy. Fun.

Moonbeam Luxury Cowl
Delicious raspberry color. Linen sculptural brooch. Oversized magic.


So, there you have it....the result of this week's flurry of Fringe activity!

Are you planning anything for the weekend? We have a busy one again. Tomorrow is the annual Karate Tournament. A big, big event for my two fellas. Both R and the boy have been in karate for years so the tournament has been a part of our life for some time now.

Sunday we're having a get-together here which will include a barbeque. I just know it all will be over practically before it's begun! I will remind myself throughout the weekend to stop a moment and reflect on how fortunate I am, and how important it is to live in the moment.

I hope you have a weekend filled with special moments...be sure to make some happy memories!

Thank you so much for coming by...I'm so happy you did...xo



Coming attractions...

Hello, lovely friends! Happy Thursday! I hope you are well and having a beautiful week....

Today is one of my favorite days of the week. It's Fringe shop update day. Yippee! As you may recall, last week's shop update was a tad stressful due to unforeseen computer and lighting difficulties. This week's update has worked out wonderfully. Although, you know the old saying, "There's a reason for everything."...? Well, I found a pretty good reason for last week's "problems". They allowed me to realize that afternoon updates are really quite perfect. So there you go, you never know what your little bumps in the road will lead to. Perhaps a wonderful discovery.

So, on that note....

Today's shop update will begin at 4pm PST.
Click here at 4pm PST to see it live.

I hope to see you there, darling dears! For now, I will leave you with this little sneak peek at coming attractions...



Thank you so much for stopping in....xoxo

P.S. to Brock Street ~ I'm working on the pony pillow. I haven't forgotten! It's requiring a refresher course for invisible zippers...xo


Turquoise Tuesday...

Hello and Happy Turquoise Tuesday, lovely ones! This week's focus is on greeting cards, note cards and postcards. Need I mention all the choices there are out there in this great big world? I decided to just give you examples (fabulous examples, I might add) of cards I found on Etsy.

As I say each week, I love all of these items. They're incredibly clever and unique. What better way to say "I'm thinking of you" than to send a card? With today's endless array of ways to say hello on the computer, this is (to me) by far the most special way. Who doesn't love receiving a note in the mail? It's romantic, meaningful and ever so delightful.

Fat Ninja Akimbo postcard set by Interrupt. So cute. So deadly.


Antique Cars notecards by Frantic Meerkat

Topography handcut card set by Crafterall

In This Poignant Moment Of Finality, The Vibration Of Atoms Sounds Like Singing.
Notecards by Mincing Mockingbird

Bookworm greeting card by The Spotted Sparrow


Cowboy birthday card by Sweet Beets


I could have added many more to this collection just from Etsy alone. Which means I'll have to do another Turquoise Tuesday post about stationery, right? Yippee!

I hope you are having a great start to your week. I'm already losing track of my days. Busy, busy!

Today I'm really focused on preparing my shop update for Thursday. I also have a very special custom order that I'm getting ready to start on.

The weather is glorious today. I have the windows wide open, and all the birds are tweeting their little heads off.....

Thank you so much for taking the time to drop in, dear friends. You know it means a great deal to me...xo


Oh my, yes...

These sock garters are, to me, exactly right and perfect.

I want them in the worst way.

Major pangs of desire, the kind that I know I won't be able to resist...


Summer Lace Sock Garters by SWANclothing

They are available in different colors.

She makes them custom fitted just for you.

Also, she has a tutorial to show you how to make the sock stockings!

Again, major pangs of desire.

Thank you for visiting, lovely friends, and Happy Monday...xo



Happy Mother's Day!

Hello, dear ones! If you're a mom, Happy Mother's Day, if you're not, Happy Sunday!

I didn't think I'd have time for a post at all this weekend. It's been one of those weekends, but alas, I saw this monologue by Betty White from her spot on Saturday Night Live and thought it was perfect for today. What better way than a Betty White stand-up routine for celebrating this special day? A little laughter can go a long way for all of us, and who doesn't love Betty White? She's a marvel. So without further adieu....Ms. Betty White!




If you want to see what I wrote about last Mother's Day, click here.

Thank you so much for dropping by for a visit. You make me smile...xo

This Week's Shop Update...

Hooray, it's Friday! I hope you are all looking forward to your weekend. As you may know, yesterday was my shop update. I have to say, it was slow going, and I worried it wouldn't go through due to my computer issues. However, I did manage to complete my update...yay!

This week's new items are a mix of different styles. Hopefully, something for every style and taste. There are bright colors, soft colors, elegant designs and rustic designs. I have included five of the seven new pieces here in this post. If you want to check out all seven, click here.

My goal is to evoke a smile of delight and perhaps desire with these photos...

Vibrant and fresh. Scarf, shawl, or if just using the ribboned posy, choker or bracelet.

Sexy. Sensual. Flirty. Deep blues and violets.

Soft. Feminine. Urban Prairie. Rustic Chic. Muted colors.

Old West meets Urban Prairie. Butter soft linen. Hand stitched and crocheted. Vintage charm.

Edgy and Undone. Urban Decay. Chocolate. Vintage components.

There you have it, dear friends.

There is also a new cloud brooch, but I still have a little detail work to finish. I will try to finish today, but we will have to see how it goes. If I can finish, I'll list it a little later. The new color is simply delicious!

I hope you all have a beautiful weekend. We have so much to do, that I just know our weekend will just fly by...

Thank you so much for popping in for a visit! I'll see you again soon...xo

Coming attractions...

Good morning, dear ones! I hope you're all doing great. As you may know, Thursday is my newly designated shop update day. This is my third week of such updates, and I have to say that I love them. It keeps me focused, and the designs have been wonderful to work on.

Previously, I have had the updates first thing in the morning, but this week will be different. Due to a series of unexpected delays and occurances (such as poor lighting for photos at my regularly scheduled photo shoot time, and internet connection trouble today). Among the new pieces will be a Key Lime Pie, a truly wild Wild Ride, and Pieces of Me...I will leave you with this little sneak peek snippet of something I'm quite excited about. I hope you will be too...

So today's shop update will be at 4pm PST
(that's my story, and I'm stickin' to it)

I hope to see you then, lovely friends! Have a beautiful day, and thank you so much for stopping in...xoxo

Turquoise Tuesday...

Hello, wonderful friends, and Happy Turquoise Tuesday! I hope you are all enjoying your week so far.

This week's focus is on turquoise inspired interior design. I feel that turquoise can be a beautiful addition to your home's decor. Whether it's an intense saturation, for those of us passionate about color, or a subtle accent placed in just the right spot. Turquoise is at once invigorating and calming. That's what makes it so special, in my opinion.

This appears to be an outdoor bar area. I adore the lighting and the stools, both neutral to show off the gorgeous turquoise wall. I can envision myself sipping a refreshing cocktail...third stool from the left. See you there!

This is the perfect set for a Mad Men office, is it not? Don Draper, Don Draper, where for art thou, Don...?

This kitchen! I love everything about it. It's sort of rustic and chunky and substantial. A wonderful gathering place for friends and family...

Here's an example, a beautiful example, of how you can add turquoise by means of accent pieces. Don't the vases, lamps and the little turquoise splash on the chairs absolutely steal the show? Your eye can't help but go straight to them.


To me, this bedroom seems very restful, deep turquoise and all. I'm in love with the drapery. It's such a rich, delicious turquoise. Look how beautifully they show off the dark wood floor and white woodwork.

There you have it...this week's edition of Turquoise love...I hope you enjoyed your visit.

Thank you so much for stopping in! I always love reading your messages...xo




Say "Rabbit"...

Queen of Tulips, original painting by Blue Dog Rose



Happy Saturday, dear friends! I hope your May Day is filled with delights and that you will remind yourselves to stop and smell the roses amidst your busy days.

I want to tell you a story...a small bit of my past that I should have told you about yesterday as it was the last day of the month. You'll see why in a moment...

When I was in junior high, I had a wonderful English teacher. She was strict, but not harsh. She was organized, but not rigid. She was not the most popular teacher. However, Mrs. S was the perfect teacher for me, a girl who loved reading, writing, and order in a chaotic life. On the last day of every month, she would write one word on the top of the chalkboard. That word? Rabbit. Then she would remind us that if the first word we said on the first day of the month was "rabbit", we would have good luck all month. She seemed unruffled by the few cynical young teens who responded with not-so-muffled, slightly scornful laughs that would ripple through the class. There was not a laugh from me though, a very young girl who seriously wished for good luck. To this day, I still say "rabbit" when I wake up on the first day of every month....and I think of Mrs. S. I'm quite certain that when she wrote that little word and developed that somewhat silly routine, she had no idea that she would seal her fate of always being remembered by one young girl in her classroom...me.

We have a busy weekend planned: A birthday party for our boy's buddy at a pizza joint, followed by a sleepover here. I used to call the sleepovers "stinky boy sleepovers", but since the emergence of Axe Dark Temptation I need to come up with a new name (any suggestions?). Ah yes, Axe Dark Temptation....I must do a blog post about it.

Have a beautiful weekend and thank you so much to taking time out of your day to come by...xo