{My Art Space}

So, bare with me, this is kind of an ongoing process. This is my art room. I would be lying if I said this is where all the magic happens. This is where PART of the magic happens. If I can be working on a project that I can take to the couch or sit on the bed and do, I'm there. This is where the sewing and storage goes down.

I bought this table on Craigslist for $100 and got to work painting right over the ugly country blue legs and oak top. I know what you're thinking,... it's awesome. You're right, it is, thank you! It's the perfect spot for my sewing to happen.

A few weeks ago I added a little red table lamp, wonderful black & white toile-ish chair and these wall shelves for some storage. It's coming together.

Since our house is uber tiny, this room also doubles as a closet/office. Since this used to be a guest room, everything blended a little nicer, but instead of storing my husbands clothes in the dirt dungeon basement I decided he could keep that dresser. ;) On the wall that I am shooting from is currently a leaning shelf/desk that will be moving to the other side of the dresser. Along this new empty wall will go a new piece from Ikea. It is black at the moment, but I'm working on making it white. What piece of furniture ONLY comes in RED or BLACK?? Only Ikea. It's really hit or miss there sometimes. It's insane to paint a perfectly good, brand new piece of furniture right?? Well, I'm gonna let you in on a secret. It's a good one, so please don't spread it around,.... I"M CRAZY. That's what I do, potentially ruin brand new furniture. I LOVE it.

Poor, poor Cecilia. She HATES our new dog Jack and has been hating our other cat Audrey since we got her,.... A YEAR AGO!! Cece has become the upstairs cat and Audrey the downstairs cat. Since the arrival of Jack, Cece ONLY stays in the art room. It's the only place she can go where Jack can't get to her and serve her up for dinner. She's good company though, when she's not trying to lay on the quilt that I'm stippling or the fabric I'm cutting.

I'm about to go cut into that lovely pile of most delicious fabric while you all are wishing you were too. ;) This is soon to be/currently ongoing/one of like I'd say 34 WIP's hexagon quilt. :)

XOXO -Jessie

{One Year Blogiversary GIVEAWAY!}

I can't believe it has been a whole year since I started blogging! I've realized that as I get older, the years go by soooooo fast! Sometimes I'm grateful, and sometimes I'm just trying to keep up. So,.... one year ago I was writing my first blog post, learning about my new camera, remembering Cabo and our wedding,.... oh and painting. :) I have come a long way since then. I am currently writing my 115th blog post, working more and more with my year old camera, remembering South Carolina (and still, our wedding) and continually re-arranging. :) But I am also doing things I never thought I would be if you had asked me a year ago, like being featured in a magazine, Quilting (here, here, here, here, here, here and here too!) becoming God Parents and becoming fur parents (again!).

In celebration of my blogiversary and as a thank you to my loyal readers, one lucky winner will get a cute set of handmade crochet cotton dish cloths and a copy of The Harmony Guides, Basic Crochet Stitches, 250 stitches to crochet. I have recently gotten back into crochet (like I need another hobby) and this giveaway is inspired by the most recent Craft Hope project. I made a ton of these cloths while I was out at the beach and decided that they were so adorable, everyone could use a set.

(please note that the actual cloths in the picture will be mailed out for the current Craft Hope project, but the winner will receive 3 identical cloths)

Leave a comment, let me know what you were up to a year ago, or last weekend,... or yesterday and I will be picking the winner at the end of the day, Wednesday June 30th. (My apologies, but only US readers please,.... still love all my international readers too though).

xoxo

{And The Winner Is... }

Drum roll please.......

BROOKE from Earthmonkey Mama!!!!! Congratulations Brooke! Thank you so much for reading my blog and for entering my first ever giveaway! Brooke, please contact me with your mailing information so I can get your Claire Box on her way!!

(and thanks to my Mr. for doing such a great job mixing up the names and drawing!)

Hee hee,... as I walked away, he said, "Congratulations to Betty!" Me: "BROOKE!!" Mr: "Oh, oops" .... nerd.

{Happy Magazine Day Giveaway}

In honor of my magazine debut, and rolling in the new year, I have decided to host my very first GIVEAWAY!!! I appreciate all your beautiful comments, I read every single one. I can't tell you how silly excited I get when I get an email telling me someone commented on my blog. I keep thinking that I am probably the only person that really even looks at my blog (pretty pathetic right?? I look at my own blog???) Its exciting that I have readers and I am thankful for all of you.

This is the sweet little Claire Box. I was reading The Time Travelers Wife when I finished this box, hence the name. Miss Claire is 7 3/4" in diameter and 4" in height. The box was painted white, decoupaged with coordinating paper squares and embellished with ribbon, feathers, paper flowers and rhinestones.

I almost ALWAYS make one of these to give a baby gift in. I like to think that the child will have sweet little treasures in one of my boxes on a shelf in their nursery. I have also used them for Christmas gifts and sometimes I use them AS the gift. You could just put it right on your own shelf and keep whatever you like in it.

Oh Heck,... I'm going to include a copy of Romantic Homes,... its a sweet little magazine, you probably want to win this one! ;)

SO,... let me know how many readers I actually do have! To enter to win the Claire Box, leave me a comment, just tell me something fun that will make me laugh. Become a follower and leave another comment letting me know that you are following and I will put your name in twice! I am going to leave the comments open until January 5th, announcing the winner of Miss Claire, Wednesday, January 6th. OH.... don't forget to leave an email address, blog address, some way to contact you when you win! I'm really sorry to my international readers, but right now I can only ship to the United States, Canada and Mexico. I love you though,... I am working on the best International shipping,... please don't hate me.

Good Luck!!!

{Romantic Homes, February 2010, Page 12}

That is where you can find MY BLOG!!!!!!! No,... I'm not even kidding you! MY little blog is in a MAGAZINE! To say that I'm excited,... that's an understatement. I was approached in August or September by Jacqueline, the Editor of Romantic Homes magazine about featuring my blog in their "Sites We Are Loving" article. UMMMmmm yes please. :)

Another blog, Nest Decorating & Designs by Tamar has a spread in this magazine, which is pretty crazy, because I THINK that is the first blog I really ever read. I remember just oohhing and aahhing over her blog and wishing that I could have a blog as pretty and inspiring as hers. It's a little surreal to be included with her in a magazine. WoW..... just wow.

AND I didn't even know the magazine was out yet! My Mom called me Sunday night and said she was looking at my pictures in this "Romantic Homes Magazine" :)