~need a little getaway?~

Happy Friday my friends!

yep, it is definitely my favorite day

of the week.....love my Fridays....

and guess what?  the sun is peeking out

from the fog....it's gonna be sunny today!!

yay!! :)

well, we're winding down here at the Linen Shoppe...

only a few more orders to finish & then it's

r*e*l*a*x*

and I think that's why I'm so drawn to this

today....this escape....

~*~

because....

~we've had a lot of Christmas....yes?

~we've seen a lot of crafts....yes?

~we've got our lists written, shopping

done (what?? I do?), been crafting away,

decorating away, baking & fluffing,

wrapping & stuffing....and now....

....we need a little break....

we need a little nap....

right here....

with the window open...

and the soft breeze drifting in...

with the faint smell of lavender....

ahhhh......

and maybe a little bubble bath?

and a little toe painting?

those always go hand & hand with me...

bubble baths & toe painting....

oh wow....take a look at those travertine floors

up there.....oh my....I cannot get enough

travertine!!! 

ok...can you be in love with a sink?

because I seriously am....{and there we have more

travertine too...ahhh....}

shall we make a 'fresh from the garden' salad?

because it's the middle of summer ya know?

add a little fresh herbs?

we can sit in here....or

here

or here...I'm thinking we better go out here....

and soak up a little sun.....

when we're done eating our lunch & sipping

on lemon water....

maybe we'll feel like reading a great book...

or thumbing through several hundred

magazines....

or pinning a few pins...hee hee

{now, I'm trying to keep the techy stuff

outta here on this little getaway ~ so

I'm thinking we're unplugged...all the way...}

I know scary...

but who needs to be pinning when we can

soak up this view??

and breathe the fresh air?

I'm thinking a little walk would be perfect about right now...

maybe there's a cute little market down

the road....where we can pick up yummy stuff

for dinner? 

some fresh bread?

and cheese & fruit?

{I could be perfectly content eating baguettes,

cheese & fruit...forever...period.}

maybe there's a darling little hole in the wall

antique place....to browse about....

and when we're all tuckered out...

and ready to come back...

we'll make some dinner here....

and then relax by the fire....

ahhhh......

I don't want to wake you up.....

I'll just quietly sneak away~

and wish you a wonderful weekend....

xoxo,

Shellagh

{images}



~the best of the best Christmas crafts~

Hello hello!!

It's Wednesday a.l.r.e.a.d.y.....

crazy how the time is speeding by!

I have pinned & pinned & pinned

a bizillion Christmas craft ideas...

I'm hoping to have time  s  o  o  n   to

play & create....

here's a few that made the A list....

cute angel wings....

wouldn't these be sweet hanging on the tree?

I couldn't find a template for the wings....

but I think you could almost trace gently over

your computer screen, no?

probably a big no-no for sure....

otherwise maybe free hand it?

sticking with the book pages, newsprint theme

how about this darling little birdie ornament??

I love the little doily & button...

so cute!

here's a similar bird template you can

print & trace....

you can also go here to get it:

what I really really reeeaaallllyyy

want to make are these little bird ornaments....

this is from Lulu's tree

at Dusty Lu's blog

they are just precious ~ but I'm thinking they

would be quite time consuming & I need

a lot. of. them....

but who knows?  maybe the urge will

strike & I'll give it a whirl....:)

so what else is super cute, you ask??

I love this wax paper garland!!

so easy & looks dreamy on a tree

don't ya think?!

and how about wax paper garland

mixed with little paper birds??

ok...actually think that is button garland (down below)

but either way...cute!

ya got a lot of buttons in a jar somewhere?

I know you do....:)

this is the sweetest little button star....

I have no clue how they made this one, but

I'm thinking....cut a star out of super

sturdy cardboard....spray paint cream

if you like...and hot glue the buttons on!?

wouldn't this make a nice gift as well?

love all the different vintage buttons...

are you still with me??

are you bored yet??

ok then ~ just checking....:)

who has made these clay tags?

definitely want to try...

and can't forget about my cones....

so easy & darling...

AND cute to hang

a.n.y.w.h.e.r.e.

ok I lied...now just a couple more!

got little ones??

I thought these were too cute!

and lastly cute little candy cane hearts.....

wanna make these too...

my goodness....too much to look at & make huh?

well I'm off to take my daughter Madi

to Drivers Ed...yikes...yep she's got

her permit now & is practicing

practicing....:}

~*~

hope this inspires you to get crafting!

head on over to here

and here

to get instructions &

such!

Happy crafting & creating....

xoxo,

Shellagh



~a glimpse of Christmas at home~

Hello everyone!

Happy Monday to you :)

I had fun decorating a little

over the weekend......

we've had our tree up & decorated for a week

now but not too much else......

but I finally had some time to "play" and

it was so much fun!

I really didn't want to "think" too much ~
just wanted to let it flow....

so I opened all my bins &

grabbed a little here & there

and started playing around....

robbed the Linen Shoppe of a display

stocking....thought "hey, I know where

some cute stockings are ~ might as well

use them!"

climbed & tugged on branches from our

cedar tree for some nice greens to play with....

and mixed it up w/ a little glitter here & there

I started with my front entry table....once I got

it done, I was motivated to keep going....

I actually did a lot on my front porch, but

will have to show you pictures another

day ~ because my camera is really acting up!!

I got this cute bundle of books from

Michelle at Petite Michelle Louise

I replaced the floral ribbon with

the red plaid for Christmas

she has the cutest little Etsy store~

head over if you haven't been there...

you won't be disappointed!

I actually had this old enamelware bowl

in the goodwill pile not too long ago....

{I know a moment of sheer insanity...}

Mr. T & T snagged it out & gave me a tongue

lashing!! ha ha not really but he did snatch it out of

the box! 

I swapped out the antique blue striped

grainsack, on my sofa, for a red striped one....

I love the touch of red this year!

I made up this little "believe" pillow ~

thought it so fitting for our girls...

those who don't "believe" don't get any presents

from Santa...right?

I remember my mom never would admit

the possibility of "no Santa" to me...

n.e.v.e.r.....

I've never admitted it to my kiddos either ~

they've pretty much cornered me & said

"Mom, we know..."

"know what???" I say...

they just laugh & go on with their day! hee hee

I just remember how depressing it felt when

I knew for sure.....

it definitely put a bit of a damper on the season

for me....but that only lasted until I had my own

children.....and what a joy...to have Christmas with

little ones!! :)

my little Allie....still wonders about Santa....

although I think this will be the last year

for her....it's kinda hard for a kiddo to believe

when all the kids on the school bus tell them

"it's your parents!!!"

argh!!!  I wish they'd stop!!

my camera completely pooped out after this

shot....so this is just a snippet of our tree....

it's pretty simple along with the rest of our decor

this year....a little red, a little white & cream

a lot of homemade ornaments of the kids'....

little school pictures glued onto construction

paper & such...

I love it!

almost forgot to show you this darling

little postcard I picked up last week....

the little "frog" is so teeny & adorable!!

it's probably less than an inch wide!

I was sold instantly, although I'm sure

I paid too much.... ;)

I hope you're all doing fantastic &

merrily going about getting ready

for Christmas!

xoxo,

Shellagh



~simple swedish decor~

Hello there!!

I didn't make it for my Monday post....

I was buried in linen & grainsacks....

my life is a little  i.n.s.a.n.e. right now

filling orders in the Linen Shoppe

we are a "2 man" show but even with my

super ninja sewing girl......I have been swamped with

cutting, image transfers, & everything else that

goes with running a business....

I do feel very grateful for my little business though,

and thank you all for your support :)

due to my current state of craziness,

I think I'm leaning towards a more simple

look for Christmas this year....

I really like this home ~ and it's simple

touches of Christmas here & there...

I have to tell you though ~

the notion of decorating my kid's rooms

flew right out the window when my little Allie

(well not so little...age 11)

was so excited to show me the lights she

put up in her room......

she was begging me to come look....

uh oh...I'm thinking in my blogging brain....

.....and here's what my little sweets came up with....

oh, you like the JB poster???

no, it's not for sale....don't even think about it!! lol...

so I walk in & she's got a very nice string

of lights starting from her doorway ~

across her closet....

to the top of her dresser~

and bed....to the JB poster & beyond....

and the best part??

the special fashion in which she attached

them to the walls....

yep, that would be priority mail tape...

.....such a nice touch....;)

hee hee....

what to do ... what to do....

I kissed her on the forehead & tucked her into

bed and told her it was beautiful....

walked out of the room and thought

okie dokie.....

guess I won't be showing that on the ol'

decorating blog...hee hee hee

 these are the moments to remember huh?

would you like a little more eye candy?

{and not the 11 year old variety!)

I love these yummy drapes....

with the simple wreaths tied w/ ribbon...

and the look on this kitty's face is so funny!

like...what are you doing????

love this little chandy....

that would probably be easy to make huh?

well sorta....ok, not so much but I bet

there's some amazing blogger girls

who could whip it up in an hour or so!

btw...where do these very cooperative

kiddos come from?

you know the ones who don't put up

JB posters?

or green strings of Christmas lights?

oh I'm only kidding.....I love love love

my kiddos & their amazing decorating

talent.....;)

Hope you're having a great week!!

xoxo,

Shellagh

{images via skona hem}