Feelin' Beachy...

It was a beautiful, warm week this week; a nice, sunny day gets me into a beachy groove... This time of year, it feels good to go into the living room and see soft colors and pretty shells.


Even SweetPea the cat likes the comfortable and casual beachy decor...



Here's the 'ol coffee table loaded with my favorite magazines and lots o shells...

Can't get enough of those shells! My boy, Buttons loves to lie in the sun in the courtyard--even when it's 90 plus degrees outside...

I saw the most beautiful picnic basket topped with a pile of sea shells the other day at a craft show in Brea; now I'm on a search for a picnic basket to make my own. It was just gorgeous, but I just couldn't bring myself to shell out 80 bucks for it!!!

I'm having fun making our home into a little sea cottage oasis; a place to rest and retreat. It's nice to have a place where I can be myself, let my hair down and let it all hang out (so to speak..).

Time-out for Travel

We're back from visiting relatives for 9 days in Arizona and attending some spring training games; it's so good to be home in my little "Sea Cottage". Before we left, and friend and I went to a craft show and I purchased a sign for my entry way....

Here's a closer look...

I was so in the groove for a little change that I got out my other sea-inspired decorations!

The two oil paintings were done by an artist in Laguna Beach...

I like to put shells everywhere!

And hang color-coordinated coats and sweaters in the entry...

Ahhh, some words to live by!

And a pretty wall hanging I got at the Rose Bowl fleamarket last winter...

One of my old favorites from my sister Shell...

I'm so glad Spring is here; now I feel like it's time to lighten up a little bit and enjoy the beautiful flowers and fragrances and warm sunshine. This is my favorite time of year, before it gets yucky hot!

Beads and Buttons

I've been collecting and accumulating beads and buttons for some time now because just love to put them together in folk-artsy ways. These pictures were taken awhile ago to enjoy just how cool they look together...

Every year there is an international bead show in Santa Ana, so for a few years now I've picked up several strands there, and there are African bead sellers at the Rose Bowl Fleamarket that I like to buy from, and we even stopped at Quartsite on the way back from Arizona after being exposedto a huge variety of beads at a killer bead store in Scottsdale, where I also had to purchase a few strands... Whoa, girl!!!

I collect old western concha-like silver buttons to use for the clasp at the back; just love that little detail since sometimes I get into a "cowgirl" vibe also--down to the concha belts, bolos, and boots--yehaaaaw!!!

A lot of the buttons you see are from my dear Mom's collection that she saved and I think quite a few were passed down from my sweet Grandma's collection. Having them on the necklace amongst the beads has a special meaning--of times past and a wistful longing for the simple life...

My good friend, Fran, owner and artist of the fabulous craft stamp company Stampendous travels worldwide and sometimes asks if she can bring me back anything from her travels. "Beads are small", I utter sheepishly... She brought back the flat ceramic beads from Africa and also some from France which I still have in my special stash... What a great friend!!!

My other passion is to look for interesting beaded necklaces at yard sales and such and reassemble them into fantastic art pieces!! It's loads of fun and there's nothing like it for a person that adores a cultural, folk art, earthy embellished style. I'm all about celebrating life and the gift of creativity--each person being free to express what's in their heart...