Author: renrev70@gmail.com

You can make it big enough to hold your cell phone, ID, some small change, mints, chapstick, keys and look chic at the same time….embellish it with your favorite flower or other cutouts.

                                                                  Red leather neck pouch
Several years back…like 15 years ago, someone gave me this little two toned neck pouch bought from a local flea market.  Little did I know how much that pouch would go through !  I loved it!  Perfect for the gym to throw my gym card, ID and car key.   Hiking, walking or for just hands free shopping, I used that little pouch for everything, until I decided to Upcycle!  And began cutting up leather jackets and making these essential little neck pouches.  I cut strips of leather for the neck strap which makes them super soft and comfortable.

And I thought you could only crochet with yarn! 🙂  The other day I was visiting with some friends, one of who also makes jewelry and she suggested I try crocheted jewelry.  Originally she said to use metalic threads which I did but I wasnt getting the result I wanted so I thought about using wire…and wow! I love it!!! So here are some latest creations 🙂  Enjoy!  and get some wire and try it out!!!  Theres alot of suggestions online and some great online tutorials if you Google it….

Do you sometimes feel lost? Like your just coasting along in the stream of life? Sometimes, speaking from my own life’s journey, life throws its twists and turns and puts you off track so to speak….and you wind up feeling like you’ve lost your direction. But there comes a time when you have to just STOP! and look at life with a new outlook…look at life as “seeing the possibilities”. For me, I usually come to those realizations while taking my walks in solitude when its just the sea and me.

Im always amazed when I stumble upon bits of driftwood brought in from the tide….it stirs my imagination….how long has it been adrift? where has it been? what was it before? was it part of someone’s beloved home? part of a ship lost at sea? a grand tree toppled over by a storm? or as simple as a tree house that housed a child’s precious laughter and memories….

Whatever it was years before…it is now something precious to me…some people find driftwood and cast it back into the sea ,seeing it only as a worthless piece of wood….but for me? I grab it, analyze it, inspect its grain , color and texture and see it as having possibilities. It inspires me.

Perhaps it can become a precious piece of art or simply just be a treasure to sit on my shelf and be a reminder of the turning points in my life….where I realized that no matter what waves of hardships I battled and whatever storms I had to weather, these have made me the person I am today and that life is full of possibilities and new beginnings.

(Driftwood at Moonstone Beach, Cambria, CA)

http://www.etsy.com/listing/71285173/driftwood-from-moonstone-beach-cambria

Driftwood
Broken by a storm, freed from my roots
I flow toward destiny where
new adventures await,
anxiously.
No longer a bystander of a rivers journey
but baptized by nature’s resilience
as I float, glide and fly,
joyfully.
My journey has shaped me uniquely
chiseled by jagged rock to beauty
whitened by the sun,
brilliantly.
Life no longer passes me by as I travel
napping in shadowed pools
dancing with the spray,
gratefully.
Where will my adventure’s end?
Does it really matter as
long as I’m still here,
naturally.
Author unknown

Here are some awesome creations from some Etsy artists who have the same passion as me 🙂  Enjoy!

“Driftwood”

http://www.etsy.com/listing/70802901/driftwood-bench

http://www.etsy.com/listing/34160152/rose-quartz-and-adventurine-on-driftwood

http://www.etsy.com/listing/45118829/natural-driftwood-sterling-silver-long

I am so glad to have you back! I get excited every time I see a new post by you on my dashboard 🙂

Hi all my fellow bloggers and faithful followers 🙂  I know its been a while since Ive posted new stories or anything!  Ive been dealing with some family health issues for the past month and have relocated…so needless to say, Ive been tied up! I miss writing and posting so Im back now!  If I go missing in action for a while…..you will know why 🙂 

Well I have since opened a couple new etsy shops this month and hope to be busy creating and having fun in my new sewing room!!!  Its awesome, my parents graciously gave me the sunroom!!  Windows all around with plenty of natural sunlight overlooking to garden 🙂  So stay tuned to see what all this natural sunlight inspires me to do!!!  Heres a few pix of random things from the past month….spring time is rapidly approaching so Ive been doing a little “gardening with fabric”  🙂  

This was the family motto of the owner of  Southern California based, DaSweetZpot.  If its SWEET and it hits the SPOT, you will find it at DaSweetZpot , where they take the ordinary and turn it into Extraordinary….

I just love businesses that have such a wonderful history, a history with Real roots….her story begins with a root, a root passed on to her from Gremma…lets take a glimpse into her story and see what inspired her to pass on her wonderful heritage….of delicious condiments honoring her Italian roots.

It all began with her Gremma.  Gremma would be in her kitchen, telling stories of her family, of how she was one of seven sisters, all born and raised in Bella Calabria. Her great-grandfather Giuseppe, owned land, and as each daughter was married, he parceled the land, made a home, and turned over a part of family crop to his new son-in-law. One received the sheep, another the pigs, the other the olive trees… Gremma and Nono were given the grapevines.

Each “sister” decided to find a new beginning in the new world.   As each sister left their Calabres home, they snipped a piece of the vine, as a remembrance of their roots. “You don’t know where you are going if you don’t know where you came from”, was the family motto.

And as she says….”I have a long way to go before I get to be “Gremma”, but when my daughters get married, I too will snip a piece of vine and pass the family tradition to them… until them, I offer our heritage to you!”

In addition to her wonderful jams and jellies, glazes and sauces which are made with the finest seasonal fruits and vegetables, homegrown or found at local Farmer’s Markets……have you ever heard of a POTATO POUCH!??!?!

You take a potato, put it in the pouch, put the pouch in the microwave, and in 3-5 minutes (depending on your microwave) you have a moist, baked potato.  DaSweetzpot holds the original so go to her store and check it out! You will not be disappointed! 

And thats not all…DaSweetzpot specializes in PARTY FAVORS for weddings, family reunions, baby showers. They will even create customized ones for you!

So why go to the local market and buy something ordinary that you do not even know the story behind….rather visit http://www.etsy.com/shop/dasweetzpot …..and have a taste of Italy from someone who knows where she came from and where she is going……

http://www.etsy.com/listing/60941474/california-cabernet-sauvignon-wine-jelly

http://www.etsy.com/listing/66579698/bella-calabria-linguine-pasta-spinach

http://www.etsy.com/listing/52135660/italian-santa-rita-plum-jelly

http://www.etsy.com/listing/56192561/bing-cherries-jam

http://www.etsy.com/listing/56187214/chocolate-merlot-fudge-topping-forget

http://www.etsy.com/listing/66606254/baked-potato-bag-microwave-vegetable

http://www.etsy.com/listing/50137405/personalized-favors-for-wedding-bridal

The Giveaway:

 
One lucky winner will receive a $25 gift certificate to DaSweetZpot.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/62255543/i-caught-a-glimpse-original-illustration

A couple days ago I wrote about taking a break to STOP and look out the window…this morning while browsing Etsy with my morning brew, I found this wonderful artist who says “Art is the core of my being”. Then I read her comment for “I caught a Glimpse” and it really captured the essence of what I was thinking, “I am going through a bird phase at the moment – sometimes in our busy lives we see birds as we drive to work – or look out our window – but most of the time we don’t REALLY TRULY notice them”. Here is samples of an artist who truly does appreciate her surroundings….enjoy the inspiration and beauty of her work….

http://www.etsy.com/listing/63437314/the-guardian-of-dreams-cardinal-original

http://www.etsy.com/listing/62837851/this-moment-original-illustration-art

http://www.etsy.com/listing/60683107/the-wisdom-we-acquire-original

http://www.etsy.com/listing/50010620/like-a-bird-on-a-wire-inspirational

http://www.etsy.com/listing/45154340/when-i-see-you-again-original

Thank you Studio3ten for your inspiration of the day!
( http://www.etsy.com/shop/studio3ten?ref=pr_shop_more )

(more…)

Mr squirrel eating a fig off the tree

Isn’t it true…sometimes we get so wrapped up with ideas and work and all the things we have to do, that we forget to take a break?? Beleive me I know…I can get so “involved” with what I am doing that before I know it the sun has come up and gone down again and all the neighborhood is sound asleep!

enjoying my begonia! he comes everyday and nibbles it…

We have to remember though that so much of our creative juices get inspired from the things around us….especially the outside and all its inhabitants 🙂 So…that being said….STOP, walk to the window and grab your camera and see what all is going on while your busy busy busy…here’s a few pix from my window from the past couple of days…this is a daily routine…

I am working and I here a thump…I look out and there’s a squirrel digging up my plant! and doing a little gardening himself! or my machine is going and Mr. Blue (the blue bird) is sitting out my window on the fence looking at me…and “yelling” (thats what it sounds like to me!) at me…since I think my machine sound drives him crazy…he will stay there until I get up and go talk to him 😉 Now its your turn…take a moment and enjoy your surroundings…you may even make some new friends! furry or feathery ones that is!

I think he’s full now….

ya him too, too stuffed to run away now…

monarch butterfly

mr blue

red hat guy from my walk on the beach a little further outside the window 🙂

hummingbird taking a break from humming, enjoying the ocean air…

sandpipers at play..

Enjoy the day!!! Remember to take a breather, even if its only ten minutes, it will rejuvenate you and your work performance will be ten times better!!!!!

Something Teal, Pansy Bridal Sash

http://www.etsy.com/listing/63335242/something-teal-silk-bridal-sash-pansies

I just read a great article called “Make Something Every Day” on Etsy Blog (http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/make-something-every-day-11501/?ref=fp_blog_title) Very inspirational. One of my favorite suggestions: “A daily project is like a marathon. It’s a ridiculously daunting task, but making an original creation every day gives you an incredible sense of accomplishment. It also forces you to push beyond your mental and physical barriers (especially the ones you’ve erected for yourself). You’ll be amazed at what you produce and what you learn about yourself in the process.”

my garden

So I thought to myself..”what do I want my daily challenge to be? what fascinates me and inspires me to get chaotic in my studio??” and of course it always seems to go back to nature…my garden, the birds in my garden..all of it! I love my flowers, I am always taking pictures of them when they first bloom…the colors are just so amazing and beautiful….and somehow I cant help thinking about fabric when I look at them..the way the petals fold and turn…..so! Here is my challenge….everyday, make a different flower.

one of my favorite bouganvilla….would be gorgeous if I could figure out how to replicate that!

an amazing morning glory ….

bright pink petunia

a whimsical fragrant nemesia

Okay….so here we go…spring time is hitting the studio!! Lets see what comes to fruition! so far I have had a poppy craze and a pansy stage….now time for some little lobelias, petunias, bouganvilla, maybe some iris….hmmmm the options are endless! stay tuned! and oh by the way..Im still dreaming of that wonderful picture I posted the other day and of the inspiration for some earrings dripping with colorful gems…just need to make that trip to the local bead shop!

Have a great one!

Something Blue Silk Pansy Bridal Sash
http://www.etsy.com/listing/64808280/something-blue-silk-bridal-sash-pansies

http://www.etsy.com/listing/64812301/something-blue-bridal-silk-pansy-sash?ref=v1_other_1