luka bella

LukaBella has been removed..........move on.

A feature on TCB is chosen solely on craft, decorating or artistic inspiration. I do not do a criminal or civil background check on anyone. I do not look for prior DWI, theft or other conditions. To my knowledge, no one I feature falls under these guidelines prior to being featured. I do not base my features on race or gender. I do not care what religion or political party a feature holds. I do not check for blood type, parenting skills or how educated a person may be. My purpose is to show that no matter what you come from, we can all be creative.

Sketch This

You know what Saturday is right? I can hear all the cottage gals thinking........"hmmm, yes.....it's thrifting day"..........WRONG!

Saturday is National Scrapbooking Day! Yes, we have a day. It's another excuse for scrappers to congregate, scrap all day, eat m&m's, drink diet coke and did I mention scrap all day?

With this national holiday coming up, I thought maybe you'd like a few sketch ideas for all those layouts you're going to get done. Or perhaps you're new to this hobby and you have no idea where to start. Following a sketch is a great way to get your creative juices flowing. They are also a great way to step out of your regular design box, shake things up a bit.

I have featured a couple of sketch blogs in the past, but today Sketch This is my feature. Miss Janelle Richmond is quick with getting you hooked up with new sketches weekly.

There are great ideas not only for layouts, but for cards. Remember Mother's day is coming up. Maybe you should make a card this year? Like this sketch below.......this would be nice for Mother's day and it doesn't look too complicated. I love it.

You could have fun with these two. Use some coordinating paper and BAM!.......you've got yourself a master piece.This site has a design team, so with each sketch comes several ideas. I love seeing the same sketch done 8 different ways. Very interesting to see different perspectives.........keeping your mind open.............hmmmm, sounds like life doesn't it. We're all so different.......but so much the same.All the sketches could be adapted for layouts or cards. Nothing like being crazy.Love miss j. richmonds work!

Too bad I won't be scrapping this Saturday. SHOCK! HORROR! My in laws are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary and I have to go. Gawd I hate being responsible........but if I come down with a cold..............

The Style Sisters

Monday, Monday, Monday........I'm on a roll.



I found The Style Sisters not long ago and was instantly drawn to the cake plates..........or maybe it was just the thought of cake. (which by the way I am so addicted to the fat free sour cream angel food cake!.........with strawberries......)I love cake plates and believe it or not, I don't have one. I have thought many times that I would just make my own. So that's my new goal for my summer yard sailing........find the perfect plate and dish / vase for a cake plate. Love this idea.

The Style Sisters are fun, easy going and ready to help. They love a good DIY project, so now you know why I like them. They are WAY more braver..........is that a word?........they have more guts than me......you know what I'm gettin at.

Like this chair.......she decided that she would just recover it herself. Now that's guts. She shows the finished product on her blog. I think that would give my husband a heart attack if I started taking furniture apart. Not that he would be completely surprised though.Here's another chair she re-did. It was pinkish. Then she added this little skirt. So cute. See, you don't need those expensive designer chairs.........just find some older ones with great lines and paint......paint and paint!

Love the practical ideas I found on their site. A gift wrapping station......perfect. This reminds me that I need to finish mine.

And this table below. Isn't it beautiful? I have that topiary......I knew I liked them. I need a long dish like that one with the tomatoes in it.

Style Sisters is somewhat new, so you know there are so many great ideas to come. I can't wait.

You won't be disappointed........have fun.

edited to add: I have had a few comments wanting the recipe to the sour cream angel food cake. Yes it's true, I usually bake wonderful desserts from scratch........snicker snicker....... Well I wish I could say I baked it, but we buy it from QFC.

May I have your attention please?

I am going to declare my commitment to posting a new blog EVERYDAY this week.
Yep.......I'm gonna post a new blog M-T-W-Th-F.........I have not even looked at my schedule this week, I know we have two baseball games this week on W and Th........7:15pm.........I don't think I have any other appts.........it's not newsletter week........so it's looking good for you guys.

But what I want from you..........besides lots of comments everyday........what I want from you is advice. If you own an SLR camera.......like my fancy pants Canon Rebel XTi........yes I am gloating........but if you own a fancy pants camera of your own........WHAT LENS or lenses do you have? What is your favorite and what kind of shots do you take with it?
I am getting ready to buy a lens..........with my blogher money..........so see, I have all those obnoxious ads on here for a reason. I am furthering my creative side.

And don't miss the quick and yummy recipe on my personal blog.

My Romantic Home

Have you been there? I know she is wildly popular, in fact I have been visiting her blog for over a year now. Cindy's blog, My Romantic Home was one of my first crushes. One of the firsts I had to check daily. That's why I was so shocked not to find her on my link list when I was re-organizing a few things. I didn't see the featured blinkie on her site........I even emailed her and had to ask her if I had featured her.......how embarrassing is that? Especially since she knows I love her.......I feel so badly........I'm sure I have told her a long time ago that I was featuring her........But the past is the past and we are moving forward, our relationship will be fine.

She was recently featured on The Snooty Woman's club and I was shocked to read that she does all this amazing decorating in her apartment! APARTMENT! How cool is that? She has taken control and worked magic at creating the most wonderful romantic environment to live in.

What I love the most is that she re-purposes furniture and shops thrift stores to create all this beauty. Like this Armoire ........

BEFORE....... icky shiny wood.

AFTER.....

I say paint all your wood! Yeah! My husband is not in agreement. He comes from the old school of leaving a piece in it's natural state......or at least the way it was purchased. Whatever! We have an old vanity that was his grandmothers. It's an old brown wood.......it is screaming to be painted. He won't let me........yet. Claiming that it's an antique and it was his Grandmothers. It's so valuable.........that's why his mother was ready to take it to the dump before offering it to us. Anywhooooo........And just so Cindy's spruced up armoire doesn't feel lonely.......here is her Craigslist find ($125) She says it isn't done, but she couldn't wait to dress it up. Looks good to me. And this bed. I love it! I have seen so many of these with the high Queen Anne sheen that makes me want to cringe..........sorry if you love yours, but it's just not my style and I can be somewhat opinionated or I tend to make statements before thinking. Plus as long as it's not in my house, I really could care less. But add some paint.........it's perfect. And the pup, look how sweet. And all that shabby bedding!

This looks like the perfect place to spend time reading magazines.......Like Romantic Country........which she was featured in! Yes, she was! She admitted to buying several copies and then telling the clerk she was in the magazine.........I thought that was such a cute story because I can see myself doing the same thing, except I would probably go a step further and get one of those car magnets made for my car door.This blog world is so so good for learning. I learned from Cindy about this rub and buff stuff for distressing furniture. Who knew? She has it on her blog with this before / after post. You can see the after below........can you see the darker areas? That's from the rubbing stuff. Can't wait to try that stuff. I have SO many projects for this Summer. Or for when the damn rain stops. We finally have a nice day today, but of course it returns to rain for the week. Gotta love the NW.Even her outside is romantic. I have been looking for a climbing rose forever. I'm so glad she named it. See?..........you learn things on blogs. Whenever I go to a nursery and ask for a quick growing climbing rose, they look at me like I have two heads. I know they're out there and now I have a name. Stop by and check out The Romantic Home. She has recipes, lots of before and after furniture projects with all the directions, lots of photos with so many great ideas using thrifted items.

Enjoy your Saturday!

So Proud

I am trying to warm up after being at the ice skating rink all afternoon......birthday party......so what better way to warm up than to sit at the computer...........I just spent the last 2 hours updating a few links. I don't know why I didn't think of this before, but I am shakin things up. Now when you click on a past feature.......the links on my left side bar, it will take you to the original write up that I did on them. You wouldn't want to miss my sarcastic, whining, jealous entries.........and sometimes I say nice things about them. I am slowly working on this list. I started at the bottom and I am up to mid June of 2007........well of course, because we haven't gotten to June 08 yet. Dang there are a lot of features. Whew weee.

So if you're new here, please take a little bit of time to sift around some of the past features.

Jackie Land!

Jackie Land is full of gasping eye candy and great adventures. She lives in beautiful Colorado where she has been able to find the most rewarding shots. She also has a photography site for more viewing.Jacquelyn Lee Photography.......WOW! You know it's girls like this that either make you really jealous, or really inspire you. She's both for me. As most of you know, I received my first fancy pants camera for Christmas. I have taken one class and I only own one lens, so I am limping along trying to take amazing shots.......just trying to learn something everyday about my camera and my skills. Seeing shots like Jackie's makes me giddy. She has so many shots of things we might just walk by. But she sees the beauty in the simplest thing and makes it an amazing piece of art...........I'm just happy to set my ISO correctly.

Jackie's mom is Teresa. I'm sure some of you know Teresa. She's that warm, beautiful, lovin life woman from Texas. I love her.......she always leaves me the most heart felt comments........the girl has got the gift to gab and I would love to be her neighbor, her shopping partner, her friend. I am sure she's the kind of friend you have belly laughs with regularly........so it was no surprise to see this daughter of hers with so much talent. She obviously has her mothers zest for life.

These photos are so simple, so beautiful. I saw some of these berries on a bush on the side of the road. I thought about picking some for my table arrangement, but dang..........I didn't think to photograph them. I love it when you look at things differently because of someone else's view. Isn't that what art is about?She has such a talent for photographing animals. The colors are perfect. I can imagine this would be precious to any dog owner of their baby. I love it when someone takes a funky chair or sofa and arranges their subjects on it for a great photo op.........but I have never seen one with a dog. This is beautiful. The blue carpet, the green chair the color of butter on the walls, they all compliment that cute little pup.You know how I love a red door. She has organized her site into categories. The Vintage series, the Nature Series and the Alpha Series. These doors are from the Vintage series..........Stop it........I can hear you thinking "duh Kim, we knew that." This one.........THIS ONE...........is the most amazing shot EVER! I want to know what lens she used. And because she has an Etsy shop........just started one....... I also love all the alphabet photos. What a great gift for anyone. Everyone loves the letter of their name. Can't go wrong there.

Thank you Jackie for your view through the lens. I know I will be a better photographer because of it.

OK, TCB readers......do what you do best.

giveaway alert........

Because she's cute and more talented than me, I just thought I would pass along a give-away from Kim Wheeler's blog, Endless Possibilities.....She has launched her new site Small Words. She was a feature of mine a while ago. She does those amazing monograms. She would love your feedback......and for your feedback, she is having a give-away. Gotta love that!
Women helping women...........love it!

Our Green Globe

Our Green Globe is written by a friend of mine. I actually know her...........in real life, not just blog life.

Funny how we have our blog friends and our IRL friends.......wouldn't it be great to have a big Today's Creative Blog conference? But it could be a Vintage Flea Market........OH YEA!

Teri, the blog owner of Our Green Globe is a beautiful girl. Of course she lives in Oregon... I met her years ago when our boys were babies. She used to take my classes pretty regularly, but life happens and schedules change, so I hadn't seen her for awhile. When I did run into her, she was telling me about this jewelry designer she is working with and marketing......Ananya Studio......fair trade jewelry helping women around the globe. She has big dreams and follows through. She's always up to something. The jewelry is pretty nice too. We also both discovered that we are bloggers! So of course I have to feature hers. She has a wonderful blog that is all about being green. She features several other green blogs with creative ideas, clothing, products. She really does think globally and it makes me think that I really should be doing more.

Her blog is full of a variety of things, you never know where she'll take you. This above photo is from a site that will take part of your old favorite t-shirt and re-purpose it for......say.......a baby t-shirt. Cute! What a great idea. This has me thinking about all the other items you could make with your older clothing.......notice I said think.......because we all know I don't sew. But I can think.

We've been admiring stones since.........well the stone age........but I haven't seen anything like this before. Teri found the artist and featured her on her site. You'll have to visit to see more.And who can resist these baby booties? Are these not the cutest little shoes you have ever seen? I am thinking they would come complete with that great crackle sound that babies would like too.

I told Teri I have the best blog readers EVER, so go prove it to her and visit ......you may as well leave a comment too. Oh, the best part........she has a link for you to click if you're interested in being featured. Wouldn't that be great if I did that? She's much more organized than me.

I just had to mention...........

Sweet Julie who lives in a converted barn....over at Equus Villa is having a contest that pays $100! I know so many of you have the talent she needs. Perfect contest for that person who is just dabbling in design, maybe a stay at home mom who would really appreciate a crisp $100 to go antiquing with, or grab a massage.......or head to lunch with all her favorite girlfriends and I suppose some of you may even want to go out on a date with your husband.
I also want to apologise for not being able to get around to all of your comments. I was chatting with a friend of mine about all the blogs she loves and she mentioned that she doesn't visit one blog anymore because she had asked a question a couple of times and didn't get an answer. She is not easily offended, but that got me thinking. I hope none of you feel ignored. I try to make it around, but it's hard. That certainly doesn't mean I don't appreciate your feedback, comments, tags........Dang it, I know I was tagged last week or so. I'm sorry. But I'm sure I've done that tag before. Am I off the hook?

I have received a few questions about the blinkies.

The Robin's Egg blue blinkie is for anyone who has been featured. Shawn designed the blinkie for me a few months ago, so there are a few earlier featured bloggers who don't have it on their site........I know typepad is difficult to get it posted........If you have been featured, but don't have it, contact me. I'll get you the code.

Then there's this beauty. Everyone and Anyone can have this!!! I love this one! It's stylish, cute, happy..........I think everyone should have one of these. In fact, all you have to do is copy the code on my left side bar and post it on yours. I know with Blogger, you add it as HTML/Java. Typepad.........ahhhhh, something about a widget.

In the future, I may start commenting in the comment section in response to your comment......so if you need feedback from me, look there.

Lost Button Studio

I've spent my whole day organizing my closet. I was thrilled to get rid of 3 large bags of clothing. I can't believe I had that many articles of clothing that I no longer need.......actually that's not true.......I just can't really wear them any longer. Stains......along my bust line..........but hey, I should look on the bright side. At least they weren't along the stomach area.

So after being consumed by a mess, I was instantly drawn to this beautiful site.

Lost Button Studio. Love that name..........LOST BUTTON STUDIO.........I love her banner header even more. Simple but such a statement.

Jessica's site is clean, pure has several different labels of topics to keep you entertained for awhile. I get the hint she is a very organized person....... but it works for me because it just means more great ideas to come on her blog. I bet her closet isn't messy and I doubt she has stains on her shirts.

Speaking of ideas....... How cute! Who doesn't have a pile of photos that needs organizing? Even if you are a CM guru, I'm sure you've had a stray stack of photos that need some attention. Love the tabs. Very cute. She shows a tutorial on this.......CUTE! Makes me want to do this project just for the tabs........who cares about getting organized........but it would be nice wouldn't it?

Jessica is a jewelry designer. She sells her treasures on Etsy. Some of her jewelery reminds my another feature I had awhile ago.........my dear friend Treva's stuff.

I'm not much of a jewelry wearer, but that doesn't stop me from admiring it. But after seeing this below.......this makes me want several pieces of my own so I can display it like that. Isn't that cool?

This little number caught my eye. You know how I love armoires and I love them even more when they're distressed. This one is stunning! This one was made by her husband! WHAT?! I would die if my husband could make furniture! That poor man would never have a day off.To return the favor she..........she bakes! Get your mind out of the gutter people.....we all know to keep a man happy you must feed him. She has lots of baked yummies on her blog and lots of other yummies. I think I'll try this gooey popcorn recipe, but I doubt it's going to get me handmade furniture. But my husband did make me a leaf insert for Katherine, my table. I guess that kind of qualifies.Then I may need to take a bath. She's got a recipe for homemade bath salts. Very cool, and what a great gift idea.

I hope you enjoy her site. Make sure to let her know how you found her. Don't be shy.

Joys of Home!

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway! I'm sorry I couldn't send a book to everyone........if I was Oprah, I would.......really I would. I love Oprah more than Donny. Shhhhh, But don't tell him, because I'll deny it.

It is finally Spring here in the NW. It's 70 degree's today! Spring means GARAGE SALES! I love me a garage sale. Finding something for that perfect project is so much fun.

I found the perfect blog that gets me all excited about finding salvage materials.........making that one of a kind project!

Joys of Home! She likes making things out of old doors. Well, that's all I needed to hear. Old doors! I LOVE old doors. I wanted to make my head board out of one. I searched for old wide french doors for 2 years to make a dining room table out of...........but then I found Katherine, my table. I dream of making a hall tree with an old door.......but I don't really have the space.........I'll find it.

So you can imagine how excited I was to find her blog.

I would love to see more of her home. Love these old suitcases. I have 3 I bought off ebay a few years ago and it's so funny because some people really don't get it. I had a neighbor think I was just using those until I could find an end table. He's a guy, so I didn't judge him too harshly. Love the shutters too. The plates with numbers really caught my attention. Yep, I love them.And look at this. This was a built in piece in their dining room. It was outdated, crooked and too deep. She changed that. Very cool. She has a small before photo on her blog.

Joy's blog is new, so she is just getting started...........I can only imagine all the cool photos she'll be posting of all the treasures in her home. She's got a natural great style. Go leave her a comment demanding more. We want more!

And the winner is..........

92

Summer's Camp!

Summer's Camp is the Winner!

How thrilling!

I'm so excited.

Happy happy Blogiversary GIVE AWAY!

WOW!

Happy Blogiversary to me! Today's Creative Blog!

Give away details below.

Last year on April 9th, I was sitting at my computer catching up with all my favorite blogs, soaking up all the inspiration. Being the American that I am, naturally I wanted MORE! I wanted more ideas, more cool blogs to look at, to read, to connect with. Being the spontaneous person that I am........within that 5 min of trying to search for MORE..........I thought "hey! I'm going to start a blog and feature a different creative blog EVERYDAY!" So I did.........TBC was born starting with a good online friend of mine Nancy Jones..........but as you may have noticed, I couldn't keep up with the daily posting. I thought I could if I just posted the blog, not adding anything else. But I liked adding my own 2 cents.......knowing a bit about it, researched it, tried to get to know who each blogger was........and let me tell you......that takes time. And time is not on my side most days. Being a fitness professional ......(who needs to lose 40lbs)who leaves the house everyday at 6:15am, a mom of a busy 3rd grader, a PTA board member who does the newsletter every 2 week, a school volunteer, a bargain shopper, a wife....... Some days, I just don't have the time. At first I felt guilty, but quickly gave that up.


The goal of this blog is to inspire. To make you think outside the box, whether it's being creative, or helping you believe that you can try something new.


I have LOVED the community we have created. I could not have done any of this without YOU! I have met so many like minded women. We are all creative in our own way, it comes in so many different forms. I am continually blown away with the talent that's out there.


Thank you!

As a Thank you, I am giving away one of Amanda's books. Just leave a comment telling me what your favorite creative talent is and I'll pick one tomorrow (April 10th) at 8pm pacific time, using the random number generator. I would choose one earlier, but I have to work the snack shack at the ball field. :)

Soule Mama

I can't help it! I just can't! I must jump on the band wagon and mention this amazing book.......which means she is today's feature! Amanda Blake........SouleMama just wrote the most amazing book. I can't wait to get my hands on one. If you have kids, or grand kids, or you know someone who has little one's, you really really should send them a copy. You will look like the coolest, hippest person alive. Speaking of cool and hip....That must be her middle name. Amanda Cool Hip Blake Soule.

How I wish she would adopt me. Her house looks like the ultimate learning, creative, warm and loving environment for any child..........or adult for that matter.

She is big into embroidering. It's so cute to see her little ones sitting quietly, concentrating so hard on a project. Talk about hand eye coordination. I guess that beats those Dressy Bessy dolls........remember those? Or am I showing my age? Dapper Dan and Dressy Bessy........you don't remember them? Anywhoooo............... Amanda's take on using thread is a bit more creative......and well.......hip.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this idea. Having children draw your own calendar! Brilliant! And so educational. Home school mom's........are you paying attention? Wouldn't this be a great way to teach something about each month? Love that.

This below.......looks very educational, but creative at the same time. Looks like using art to learn Zones? Flower interpretation? Love how it gives you a feeling of no boundaries.........and really? Isn't that what art........being creative is all about?

These kids have got it made! Pottery Barn has nothing on Amanda. I remember my son's first pre-school. It was at Warner Pacific in Portland (Oregon.............just thought I should clarify since Amanda is from the other Portland......didn't want her to get all excited) His pre-school was very hands on. It had an art room with all materials ready. They didn't believe in stopping a child to put a smock on. They wanted the child to be able to create with out boundaries. Amanda's place reminds me of that environment. That was such a great pre-school. How many times have you tried to get dinner ready with little one's under foot? It's certainly not a Donna Reed moment is it? I swear that's why Kraft Mac and Cheese was invented.......or why pizza parlors started delivering. But of course Creative Mother of the year has a solution! Why oh why didn't she live next door to me when my son was little! I could have used her help. She gives her little ones all the scraps and they get to create their own recipe. Great idea.........I usually tossed the tupperware in the middle of room for him to play with..........good times.I found this photo from her flickr photos. I love buttons! She has so many great shots of images that look creative.........inspiring. Because I love what Amanda is doing..........and because tomorrow is my Blogiversary..........I will have a surprise to give away. Shhhhh.......I bet you can't guess what it's going to be. Wait for it..........wait for it........