It isn't the size of the gift that matters,

but the size of the heart that gives it.

~Quoted in 'The Angels' Little Instruction Book'

Maybe it's my age and the place I'm at in my life.
Or the effort it's taken to get to this point.

It could be the gentle souls who surround me,
including the furry, non-human ones following me around all day.

Or perhaps it's my work-in-progress
of releasing unconstructive things in my life that bring me down.

For all the above, I truly could not be more grateful.
My heart is in a good place these days.

A Happy Heart.

SPECIAL DISCOUNT only for my BLOG READERS!

To save 15% on all items in my store now through Monday, November 29th,

enter the coupon code HAPPYHEART15.

http://www.happyheartstudio.etsy.com/

Really getting into the holiday spirit over here...

Getting ready for some jewelry and gift sales coming up,

so I've been making some fun appreciation gifts

for teachers, friends, hostesses, hairdressers, bosses, co-workers...

and all the folks on the gift list
who deserve a little rememberance this time of year.

It came this way, I promise...

(crunch crunch)

Not too long ago on a late Sunday morning, my friend Sarah and I met at Starbucks to catch up, over a couple of steaming pumpkin spice lattes. Sarah is a professional model and fashionista, jewelry and accessory lover, and an all-around fantastic human being. In the midst of all the caffeinated chit chat, a creative brainstorm formed, and our idea finally came to life last week!

Collaborating with a wonderful photographer in Milwaukee, we had a photo shoot featuring Sarah modeling jewelry and accessories from Happy Heart Studio (made by me)! Here is a sneak preview from our shoot. Isn't she adorable?

In this photo: Happy Heart Studio ring

http://www.happyheartstudio.etsy.com/

Here is model Sarah Pointer's website:

http://luxxiroyale.com/

Photography by:

http://www.lightworksimaging.net/

Just Like Hollywood, Baby

Sam, Buddy and Pablo


I've been babysitting my three nephews for a few days, and we have been busy, busy, busy. So many projects, not near enough time. Today we had a photo shoot in the play room with some of our star stuffed animals! Didn't my 9-year old nephew do a fabulous job on the photo editing (above)? Loving the SPECIAL EFFECTS...

He even helped design this blog post. Did I mention he's a boy genius? And that he's sitting right beside me as I say that?

We also made the name collars our stuffed models are wearing.

Guess who received a bracelet that says "BEST AUNT EVER"? (blush, blush)

Your work

is to discover your world


and then with all your heart


give yourself to it. Y


- Buddha








I recently read my Grandma's high school diaries from cover to cover (that's one of them in the photo above). I feel more connected to her now that I've had a glimpse of what her life was like before marrying and raising two daughters (my mom and aunt are in the black and white snapshot). Grandma's diaries were mostly about her daily activities and happenings, like the day they got electricity in their house, fishing and weekend camping with girlfriends, and the first date with my Grandpa. As I savored every word she had written, I kept wondering if her life had turned out the way she wanted it to. I never thought to ask her that. With all my heart, I hope it did.

"Find happiness within yourself.

Then share yourself with others"

- tag from a Yogi teabag (don't you just love those?!)

Here's one of the newest additions to my online store. I've made a collection of fabric flower pins, using mostly vintage fabrics from my Grandma's attic that I didn't have the heart to throw away. I've been wondering what to do with my Mom's 1960's-era high school dance dresses and Great-Grandma's early 1900's quilt that is brittle and falling apart.

So I came up with my own version of this hot fashion trend I've been seeing all over the stores and magazines. It was great fun to find a new use for these old dresses that my cousins, sister and me used for dress-up at my Grandma's house!

First Snowfall

Anyone who knows me well,

knows that I'm not a big fan of anything to do with winter -

the cold air, ice and gray skies

that keep me out of my garden for six months of the year.

But I have to admit that it's kind of exciting

when the first snowfall of the season arrives.

I awoke this morning to huge white flakes falling outside my window.

So today I'm staying in my fleece jammies, drinking coffee,

and making holiday items for my store!