My Weblog

Mad Men

Dear Golden Vintage

I have a little bit of an obsession....with the show Mad Men.

Timeless Vixen Vintage

First of all you have to remember that I grew up watching old movies and later always designing clothes inspired by the 30s, 40s and 50s. 

First Love

My husband and I watch every episode.

I love the clothes, behavior and they are always making little references to things that are current faux pas. 

Posies For Lu Lu

I laugh every episode at something that wasn't funny in their era.

First of all....who EVER smoked that much?

Seriously!!!

I didn't grow up with smoking parents...but this has to be extreme.

Posies For Lu Lu

Sometimes I think I have emphysema after watching an episode....especially the first few seasons.

I will be so bothered about Don Draper's behavior that I almost take it out on Kelly and all men in general.

Swanky Vintage

The best is when I am thinking about the dang show all day and want to talk to Kelly about it as if THESE PEOPLE ARE REAL!!!

Thank goodness for the break.

I needed to emotionally regroup.

Anyone else addicted to the show?

If you have never seen it....go and rent the first seasons...and you can thank me later when you take up chain smoking, tacky decorating and putting a tracking device on your husband!

Our next party is going to be a Mad Men themed party.

I will be Betty Draper..of course and Kelly will need to buy a wig for Don Draper hair.

I better start buying the candy cigarettes, making the deviled eggs and mixing the martinis.

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Thank you everyone that has been checking out my new photography blog.

I am already having so much fun and I love that so many of you have decided to do it too!

 

Year of Possibilities

Not far from me there is an old, historic farm that is being brought back to life.

Slowly the roofs are being repaired and the barns repainted.

I do not know who owns this farm.

I have no connection to this piece of land...but I can't pass the farm without looking.

I have stopped more times than I can count to admire the possibilities and see how they are restoring it.

I think it is so beautiful that someone has chosen to take the time and energy to cut, nail, paint, sand, rebuild and plant over tearing it down.

I am excited for them.

Excited for the possibilities of what is in store for them.

When I look at this farm I see beauty and I can imagine all that it will be someday.

For some reason I am drawn to this farm in a way that I can not even explain.

The possibilities I see in this old farm parallels my excitement for the possibilities in the year to come.

The dreams, goals, commitments and plans that are being made and the ones that are still just quiet in my heart.

This past year brought so many new adventures into my life and I truly believe that this year will be more amazing.

I am excited about where you will see my work.

I can't wait to share a series on my blog all about your dreams and making them a reality.

I will be offering classes and will be teaching for the first time this year!

I am also expanding my services as a decorator and stylist.  This is an area that has grown so greatly over this past year and I am excited to see it grow even more.  

I will also be focusing more than ever on my collage and canvas pieces.  I can't wait to reveal my newest creations.

My heart is so full from all the relationships I have made the past year and how they will grow even more this year.

I have trips to see friends, trips to shows and even a trip to France that has me excited beyond words.

For all those that have encouraged and inspired me this past year...I hope I am able to bring a touch of that light right back into your life this coming year.

There are so many more things that are in my heart to share but I will hold them close for now.

I love possibilities.

Whether it is in an old farm house being restored.....rekindled friendships.......creativity that is springing back to life or just knowing that each day we are given is an opportunity to grow and change.

I wish you the sweetest of new years

It is FULL of possibilities!!!

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I would love for you to visit my brand new photography blog.

I will be capturing one image a day for the next year.

I hope you will join me on this adventure and even play along.

You can find me at www.jeanneoliver.blogspot.com

Christmas In Colorado

This is kind of like Christmas in Connecticut:-)  OK, maybe not...but that is one of my all time favorite Christmas movies.

Have you ever seen it?

We had a wonderful white Christmas that was full of hot cocoa, playing outside, shoveling, playing on the piano, snow covered trees and movies.

Christmas Eve was at our home and Christmas day was spent at my sister's house.

 

Early Christmas Morning.

After opening presents we headed to my sister's home for the rest of Christmas day.  Of course we stopped at Starbucks!

I hope you all had a blessed Christmas.

I can't believe that this year is coming to an end.

Tonight my little family is heading to a local hotel for swimming, movies and room service.

Tomorrow I will post on some of the exciting things coming in 2010 (can you believe that) and some of my hopes and dreams for the year.

Have a wonderful and safe night!!!

Vote For My Friend

The Homies voting is down to the six finalist.

I am so excited for my friend Meg at Whatever.

As in..whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

Don't you adore her already????

Her blog is so gorgeous!

She has great posts on recipes, family, decorating and photography...with a little bit of everything else thrown in.

 

I am sure you know who she is...but if you don't go and check her out....and go and vote here!

On a side coveting note...I am in LOVE with her home and rarely drool over anyone's home. 

 

Go to her site and click on the photos of her home on the left sidebar.

Drool, swoon, covet....go ahead....we will all understand.

(the bathroom is one of my favorite photos)

The Homies

 There are awards for all sorts of blogs, but no one ever pays enough attention to the shelter blogs, so we started The Homies. It's our way of surveying the blogosphere each year for the best new home design blogs and sharing what we find. It's not so much a competition as a celebration of the richness and awesomeness of shelter bloggers around the world. Join us, share your favorites and check out the ones you don't know.

There are five categories and none of our blogs or past winners are eligible. The prizes? $50 to the winner of each category and lots of traffic as we publish the five winners in a big congratulatory post across our network on January 6th. We want to elevate good home blogs, see who you love and gain awareness for the home niche.

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Isn't that what blogging is all about? 

I feel so blessed by the amazing women I have met through blogging.

The daily source of inspiration and unexpectedly....sweet, sweet friendships.

Nothing thrilled me more during the month of December than receiving so many beautiful Christmas cards from the women I have come to love.

So whether you vote for my blog or another favorite of yours...go here....and encourage and support all those lovely blogs that inspire, encourage and support you!

From Our Family To Yours

 
 

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince Of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

It's A Wonderful Life

This past weekend was full of pajamas, creating and lots of movies.

We didn't shop or run all over the place.

We created and made a lot of messes.

We watched some of our favorite movies and of course we watched It's A Wonderful Life.

It doesn't matter how many times I watch it...I always cry...ALWAYS!

My kids just watch me to see when the water works will start...that is a little annoying I might like to add.

What a sweet reminder though....each of our lives is precious.

Each of us touch another person's' life.

The world would not be the same without each one of us in it.

What a beautiful and powerful message.

Did you hear that???

The world is better because of YOU!

YOU touch another person's life.

YOU make someone's heart happy!

YOU bring joy and laughter and love.

It is amazing to think that little acts of kindness can bless another so much.

Maybe it is something as small as a smile, a phone call, making time for coffee.

Maybe it is big....like forgiveness.

One of my favorite lines in the movie is when Harry comes home at the end....George is standing in front of a table full of money that friends have given him....and he toasts his brother, "A toast to my big brother George. The richest man in town".....and it wasn't the money, the gifts...it was friends and family that he was talking about.

It is so true.

It won't be the gifts under the tree...it will be the people around it that truly make us rich!

Now go and watch it for yourself!

Maybe your kids will stare at you too and wait for you to bawl!!!

Change of Pace

We all love a night out with the girls.

(My beautiful friend Juli. I would like to point out that I was the only one that didn't dress up.  I didn't know...I was thinking paint + me = a mess)

Lets be honest....we all NEED a night out with the girls!

The usual plan is shopping, a movie, or dinner and drinks.

My friend Keri put together a night out that had us all meeting at an art studio and painting.

(our super sweet instructor and the painting we would do behind her)

There ended up being 14 of us that showed up for the class.

We first had drinks and appetizers and then started painting.

(This is Keri:-))

I was able to catch up with my sweet friend Juli and pretend we were Bob Ross...paint happy clouds...wispy, happy clouds.

I wish the painting would have been more challenging but it was still fun and it was definitely a change of pace.  

(one of the girls did another painting that was on the wall and it turned out great...I love that she did her own thing)

Wasn't that a great idea???!!!!

Today I stayed in my pajamas all day, created tons of new jewelry and watched Christmas movies with Kelly and the kids.....it was the most perfect, relaxing day!!!!

Don't Blink

.....or it will be gone!

 
  I can't believe that we are a week away from Christmas.

I always think that I will do things differently each year....and each year I realize that it all went by so quickly.

I closed my shop earlier this year but I still was shipping out the last of the orders today.

I was also working on something today that has a deadline of tomorrow that I can't wait to share will all of you.

It is time to SLOW DOWN. 

Time to be intentional each day of what we commit ourselves to.... to remember...REALLY remember why we are celebrating this amazing season in the first place!

 
  

We have had such a fun week of cookie making, ice skating with friends, playing the piano in the nursing home and all the secret creating and shopping.

 
 
  We will be spending most of this weekend creating and wrapping.

On Sunday we are taking the children to see Little House on the Prairie and Melissa Gilbert plays Ma.

I think you all know how I feel about Pa deep down in my heart of hearts:-)

Vintage Paper Wreath

 

I am so thrilled that so many of you loved the paper wreath!

I got so many emails about how I made it that I am glad that I took some photos during the process.

This idea is not mine.

My friend Lissa had seen it somewhere and sent a picture of it to me because she thought it looked exactly like me!

Thanks Lissa!!!

I went to work right away trying to create one for myself.

I took four different vintage books.

I rolled up the pages in groups of threes and then tied them with twine.

I had quite a pile going and then did more....and more...and then some more.

Once I had rolled and tied all the pages I began hot gluing them to a grapevine wreath.

My son thought I should be tying them to the wreath but that sounded like a little too much work:-)

I am loving how it turned out and it compliments our Christmas decorations perfectly.

I will continue to use it long after the garland and tree have been put away.