Charcoal + Red = Etsy's Front Page

I have had an exciting morning!  As you know, I love putting together a weekly treasury of Etsy finds, and this morning the charcoal and red treasury reached Etsy's front page.  Very fun!

I so enjoy curating treasuries to become aware of just a few of the amazing items that you will come across on Etsy, to stay creative in considering how items inform one another in a list, and to appreciate the connectedness of meeting other Etsy sellers.

I hope you have a lovely afternoon!

Tuesday's Treasury: Charcoal + Red

I'm definitely starting to think holiday, and so here comes a new treasury with yet another color combination!  Enjoy!

Monday Update

Dear Reader,

I hope you had a fantastic Thanksgiving and a lovely long weekend!   The pace of Thanksgiving (and the weekend following) was ideal for us this year - very relaxed and fun. And, certainly, we enjoyed more than enough yummy food!

Today feels like the beginning of the next season for me.  I spent little time thinking toward Christmas this weekend, and now the "to do" list definitely reflects the start of this time of year.  By the way, today (November 28) is the final day for you to enjoy 15% off in the shop using the coupon code: THANKS15.  Please consider taking me up on this offer!

The next weeks promise to be busy but full of festive moments, and yet I hope to be mindful of Advent - a time of anticipation, a time of waiting, and a time of reflection on the arrival of the babe in the manger.

Happy Thanksgiving!

"Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today."

- Now Thank We All Our God
words written by Martin Rinkart (translated by Catherine Winkworth)

I hope that this day is a wonderful opportunity to be with family and friends and to express gratitude for the gifts in our lives.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Tuesday's Treasury: Teal

I love teal these days, and so here is a treasury with beautiful finds centering around this color!

Shop Restocked + Coupon Code

Dear Reader,

I hope you are having a lovely start to your week!  I think the next days will go by quite quickly in anticipation of Thanksgiving.  We have the pleasure of being hosted by my husband's parents at noon and my parents in the evening - definitely shaping up to be a lovely holiday!  I'm looking forward to time spent together with family and time to relax with my husband and son. 

You may have noticed that the shop is filling up a bit more than in the past months.  And along with a restocked shop, I have added a coupon code good for 15% off effective now through November 28: THANKS15

I am looking forward to this week and a time to pause and give thanks for the many gifts in my life.  Indeed this has been a year to remember.

On the Menu: Baked Oatmeal

These days I am constantly on the lookout for new ideas for a substantial breakfast. I'm not usually a big breakfast eater (granola bar or toast would be just fine), but I've made an effort to make better breakfasts with my preschooler to make certain he is well-fed before the morning at school. This is my second recipe for baked oatmeal that I have posted. Always nice to have options!

Happy Friday!

Tuesday's Treasury: Treasuring Thanksgiving

I'm getting very excited about Thanksgiving, and so this treasury seemed to be a perfect theme to think on this week. 

Tuesday's Treasury: Pale Gray

I love pale grays in general and especially during the colder months of the year, and so this treasury was especially fun to arrange. 

Craft Show Recap

Dear Reader,

I hope that your Monday has started well!  After a number of posts and references to the craft show, I thought a quick recap would be in order.  Here are a few highlights from the day:

• Meeting some very kind people who expressed interest in the blocks
• Seeing some wonderful family and friends who stopped by or sent a "thinking of you" text (including a visit from Jill who stopped by with her less than week old precious newborn - impressive, right?!)
• Spending time with my mom, mother-in-law, and dear friend Kara who all helped with the booth - many thanks to each of them!
• Talking with the two fabulous women with booths close to mine, both very talented women who seem to juggle their businesses and family life very well

The word that comes to mind in all of this is gratitude.  I am thankful for the family and friends that support me in this endeavor.  Thankful to have found a good creative outlet for myself.  Thankful for people who would enjoy giving the blocks as gifts to their family and friends.  Did everything go just as planned this weekend?  Not really.  And yet, all of the highlights point to a positive experience well worth the effort.

Thanks for reading! 

Jenison Christian Fall Arts and Crafts Fest

Dear Reader,

Happy November!  Hard to believe that autumn is moving at this pace!  We had a very full and fun day yesterday as my four year old enjoyed the festivities that come with Halloween.  His preschool class held a fall festival party, and then we geared up for trick or treating and receiving many costumed kids at our house last evening! 

Turning the calendar makes me realize that in a few short days, I will be participating in the Jenison Christian Fall Arts and Crafts Fest.  If you are a Grand Rapids/Holland local, please consider attending.  Here are the details:

Date: Saturday, November 5

Times: 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

Location: Jenison Christian School (my booth is located in the gym)

Number of Booths: 120(!)

I hope to see you then!