{Just Hop, Skip and Jump}

you wanna make new friends? {Meet Meryl, Moira, Abe and Bernadette} just "hop skip and jump" but don't fall. :-)

{ the fun is in the detail }

this morning: some of my prints had to be embellished with beautiful fine glitter and then packaged. it's one of my greatest passions. wrapping things. Is that sad? oh well, anyway i take a lot of time and pride in selecting just the right string and the perfect card etc. The last bit of detail is the tiny paper flowers and rhinestone. I know it will all be torn apart as soon as it arrives but i also know it will make my customer smile before they get to the good stuff. :-)

So, while i was busy with all that my daughter Sienna, decided to do her own pretend wrapping and packaging and i looooved the result.

Have a lovely day ladies!

{it's all so simple}

The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.

- Hans Hofmann

morning my lovely friends. may you smile today and may your day smile back at you.

via: paulmassey photography

{fast forward}

morning! i know it's only Tuesday with still so much on my to do list for this week. and i am already late for my daughters playgroup and dance class...but when i saw these images via delicatessen + via maryruffle i had to fast forward to the weekend and all i wanted to do was count seashells and feel the sand between my toes.

Wishing you a week full of ocean treasures!

{j.un.k.}

ok, i admit it. i am a junky. i find beauty in old vintage things and enjoy brushing the dust off it all giving them new life and making them unmistakably my own. if there is a junk yard or flea market, chances are you'll find me digging thru the beautiful heirloom treasures. so last weekend i was a happy camper when i found a vintage children's rocking chair with an interesting story a beat up bench from way back when and a rickety old desk... however, i need inspiration when it comes to finding unconventional decorating and organizational tips... because sometimes, when looking at empty walls and open shelves, i am simply overwhelmed.

so here are my picks for you to enjoy:
{bottom image}: Obrien and Schriddle Frames via designaglow
plus i was simply delighted when i found loads of inspiration via visualize + designmilk + sweethomestyle

{a happy day}

yesterday, a day full of silent suns.

my birthday.

8:30am (sparkling blue eyes are singing happy birthday to Mommy - a brand new version)
9:00am (coffee in bed from my sweet hubby)
10:00am (blueberry pancakes + more coffee)
11:00am (a tall handsome orchid - such a poser)
11:30pm (a special gift - the sweetest fairy picture from my little girl)
12:00pm (a phone call from my long time friend Stefan from Germany)
12:20pm (the phone keeps ringing with sweet voices wishing me a happy day.)
1:00pm (package arrives from Germany:-) a George, Gina & Lucy bag)
1:30pm (a late lunch with friends, some shopping)
3:00pm (my best friend Dolly called from Germany- i miss her)
4:00pm (still talking to Dolly and her amazing daughters who really want to see Sienna)
5:00pm (opening more gifts and playtime with Sienna)
6:00pm (a promise from my hubby to get out of town next weekend)
7:00pm (my dear friends Rachel and Jonathan are watching Sienna for a few hours-
i am forever greatful)
8:00pm (shabu shabu dinner with the hubby and hot sake)
9:00pm (enjoying the best meal ever)
10:00pm (time to pick up Sienna. more good times and more wine. she was a good girl. so they say:-)

and today my dear friend Jen will stop by with her incredibly cute girl Julia. our girls really miss each other since Jen moved to Manhattan Beach. i miss both of them. we are taking the girls out to dinner. i am excited to see them.


(sienna really wants to be her big sister i think, she loves her so much. )

thank you to all my friends. i can feel the love.


images from here

{hold that thought}

...the courage to be just me.


make it
a
good day
my lovely friends.

make it different

sweet

challenging perhaps
painful

let it pull you out from the inside
let it give life to you

make it
yours.

make it belong to you. just you.

and let love in.

images via overflowing + restartmyheart

{don't chase your dreams...}

I love contemporary, new cutting-edge design, but even more so i love old (new to me), vintage things. i'd trade the most sophisticated steam shower for a long soak under the stars any day. i have always been in love with claw-foot tubs but this one with a hand painted design inspired by the sea made me swoon. and the kitchen with those seaglass colored appliances rendered me speechless...enjoy your day!

"Dont Chase Your Dreams..

CATCH THEM"

{images:coastal living}

{one smile at a time}

well it's been a long year, nearly two to be precise! although i have not written about it there is a lingering need to somehow shout if from the roof top and lose the weight of it. (a post on my blog will have to do for now)i have always used writing things down as a therapeutic activity. especially now that the worst part seems to be over. i have been battling a debilitating and sneaky immune disease this past year (and a half)... i've been in and out of doctor's offices more than i can count and i've missed nothing more than being healthy. i've missed waking up with a smile on my face and with a purpose. being able to fully take in the little quirky smile on my daughters face when we play hide'n seek. i have missed being able to do everyday things with my family and friends. and for the past 6 months i have missed being creative, being outdoors and taking pictures, painting, drawing! my shop is aching for new art work.
i do hope this is over for good... i am smiling again {one smile at a time}.

and i swear from now on you will never ever hear me say again "i don't have time" .. you gotta make it!

for the meantime just wanted to say thank you to all those who have been so supportive of my blog and visited despite my infrequent visits to yours!! thank you for your loyalty. sending you lots of love!

.....5-4-3-2-1 ready or not here i come!

{image from here}

{papier-mache}

papier mache is a very cute online childrens magazine that comes out twice a year. it is worth checking out with beautiful photography, introductions of quirky art, shops, gift ideas and trends you don't want to miss. Enjoy!

glamorous.magnificent.strange.unimaginable. {enjoy your weekend}

“ Everybody has a secret world inside of them. I mean everybody. All of the people in the whole world — no matter how dull and boring they are on the outside. Inside them they’ve all got unimaginable, magnificent, wonderful, stupid, amazing worlds…. Not just one world. Hundreds of them. Thousands, maybe."
— Neil Gaiman

{http://weheartit.com/entry/474342}

kreative blogger award:

i just learned that I received the "Kreativ Blogger Award". Thank you Elisa! I was honored to receive this award from Elisa, she is a very talented and creative artist who inspires me everyday. Her blog "peskycatdesign" is delightful and fun. she makes the most beautiful bags. you must check out her Etsy shop, for the most unique creations!
Being given this "Kreativ Blogger Award" means I must now choose seven things I love and seven blogs I love. So here we go: (and this time i will try to obey the rules - and only list "7" of my favorite blogs!)

seven things i L.O.V.E.:

1. my family. getting to know our "little girl". watching her blossom, take on the world and chase her dreams. watching her smile her infectious smile. looking at her sleeping. hearing her say "mommy love you more"...just listening to her.
2. my amazing friends.
3. making a mess with paint and basically just making a mess out of most things.
4. eating (anything!) (OK, i am not crazy about chopped liver:-(!)
5. anything that makes me smile (when i don't feel like smiling).
6. the texture and taste of a foreign place. (i love traveling anywhere new)
7. unpretentious people.
8. saffron scented erasers

oops! i broke the rules again. i really ment to list just "7".


seven blogs i L.O.V.E. :

i am glad i get to pick another 7 of my favorite blogs (in addition to the 20 i picked below:)

1. mati rose
2. MoniqueDuke
3. Anmutig
4. Zest & Thyme
5. Restee Reveuse
6. Everyday Possibilities
7. fine little love

The above blogs are created by wonderful people who do wonderful things that inspire me! They are all nominated for the Kreativ Blogger Award by me and are welcome to list their favs as well. You are all welcome to use the Kreativ Blogger Award logo as well!

one lovely blog award:

i am delighted to announce that the fabulous Sasha from "Everythingfab" and the fabulous twin sisters of "BOWQUET" have both given "A Bit of Whimsy" an award !!!!!! The "One Lovely Blog Award! "Now it's my turn to pass on the award by sharing all the fabulous blogs that inspire me...!! (thank you Sasha!!! and thank you to the Bowquet sisters!!! )

i gratefully accept the "One Lovely Blog Award" and in doing so i will post the Rules of Blog Award Acceptance:

1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.

2) Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered.

now it's my turn to spread the love:

i hereby award the following blogs the “One Lovely Blog Award”…and i broke the rule too. I am passing the award to 20 amazing blogs - just because!

(in no particular order)

{Blossom}
{by-geisslein}
{Thursday Sweet Treat}
{Cre8iveJuice}
{4little men}
{Hindsight}
{this is glamorous}
{Villa Anna}
{Tea For Joy}
{Pesky Cat Design}
{Evoked}
{a mad tea party with alis}
{Q's Daydream}
{MadeByGirl}
{Absolutely Unique}
{the b-line}
{Rediculously Awesome}
{Moments of Pleasure}
{i love moonshine and piffle}
kelly rae

under the sky:

what's on the agenda this weekend?

i have canvas art in the works that needs to be finished. finally!

for some reason i never just work on one piece at a time. i always have 3 different projects going at once.

oh, i almost forgot the best part of this weekend is our picnic in the park with the kids.

one of siennas' friends is having an outdoor birthday party.

no rented clowns, moon jumps or donkey rides,

just a fun filled day under the sky with delicious food.

we may do a treasure hunt "dora style" or pretend we are taking a trip to the south sea with pipi longstocking.

either way i know the kids will have a ball.

i looove picnics :-) see you monday!

{pics 1+2+3}

this is the idea:

a dream lighter than a cloud. go get yours.
{idea2lifestyle}