june!

Hah! It's the first of the month and not only do I  have a calendar ready to go, it's framed and I had to pull it OFF the wall to take this photo.  This is epic people, epic.  I am so incredibly excited about this month though that it's little surprise the calendar is done.  We have family coming all the way to little Cyprus to spend time with us, some fun trips, social outings, and probably a few changes.  It's just a lot to look forward to.  Plus, I'm using June as my prep month to get a whole slew of new cards, prints, and...wait for it...calendars ready for YOU!  That's right, come this fall, there's going to be a 2013 calendar for sale.  Oh...I'm excited...I really am!  Anyway, we're just kicking off a three-day weekend here.  Mr. F has to work clear through it but that doesn't mean there won't be fun!  Happy weekend, friends!

thankful thursday: librivox

I have been known to watch the BBC production of Pride and Prejudice more often than should be admitted to.  What is less known is how many times I have similarly watched their productions of North and South, Persuasion, Emma, and Sense and Sensibility.  While I am an Austen junkie, my addiction to these films is due to a far more practical reason; they are easy to work to.  

I'm home by myself a good chunk of the time, which as an introvert, I'm perfectly content with.  But I like having noise of some kind to keep me company.  I have learned through much trial and error that no matter how much I may love music, I don't work well to it.  My mind gets distracted by any melody and collection of lyrics.  Give me talk radio or an audiobook and I work much more fluidly with great inspiration, focus, and determination.  Thus my love of Pride and Prejudice.  It is long enough that I don't have to worry about switching out the disk and has a steady enough flow of dialogue that I am not tempted to look at the screen.

But every so often, a girl needs a bit of variety.

A little while ago, my friend shared the podcast CraftLit with me.  It is a blend of craft talk with chapters from the book du jour being read to you.  I opted for their other broadcast Just the Books.  As its name implies, on this podcast I could listen to the books without the interruption of a debate on knitting needles.  I listened to their offering of Pride and Prejudice and revelled in Austen's words as I worked.  Once I was through the book, I craved more, but the podcast had little offering at the ready.

Enter Librivox, a podcast audiolibrary of classic literature at the ready.  The books are all public domain and are read by volunteers.  Honestly, it was a dream come true to find this!  Books I have been dreaming of reading but don't have the time to devote to sitting down with the paper in hand are now available to me.  From The Phantom of the Opera to The Iliad, this podcast has it all!  Best yet?  A healthy collection of Austen as well as my favorites, the Anne books by Lucy Maud Montgomery.  I now have ample material to keep me working for days and months on end.  Thank you, Librivox, for making all of these wonderful books available to so many!

heating up

{denim: ralph lauren, tank: target, belt: stradivarius, skirt: target, baubles: gifts}


I don't feel dressed in t-shirts.  There, I said it.  I just don't.  Doesn't matter how well the shirt fits, unless I have a cardigan or a blouse on, I feel underdressed for any occasion.  Such has been my dilemma lately as I try to get ready for the simplest of outings.  The weather is getting warmer by the minute and I sweat all the more.  You would think  I'd content myself with just a  tee, but no.  I still need layers.  And a popped collar.  I need to find more short sleeve blouses I'm comfortable in or this is going to be a long, long summer...

the new duct tape

hot glue is becoming my cure-all for home improvement projects.  a frame breaks?  hot glue.  wobbly chair? hot glue.  but this has got to be my favorite hot glue use to date.

this is our silverware tray.  it was the cheapest one our IKEA had available when we moved in.  I snagged it and have been using it ever since.  it fit perfectly except for one thing; it slid back into the drawer.  not a huge deal, but with all the sliding, it cut back on the space I could use in the drawer behind the tray.

enter hot glue.

one day while I was taking an afternoon break and polishing my silverware (yes, that is a break for me...I find it relaxing.) I realized the tray was empty for the first time in awhile.  I snagged it, flipped it over, and dabbed on dollops of hot glue to the four corners of the tray and a few staggered around the middle.  I let it dry while I finished polishing.  when I put it back in, guess what?  no more sliding!  it stays in place!  plus it saved me a few bucks since I didn't have to go buy one of those non-slip pads for the drawer. geen-yus!  I'm a big fan of cheap options to make life a bit easier.

just because

...I really love this photo.

Happy Memorial Day!

drawing inspiration

{from top, zara, local store, ikea}

Just wanted to share a little bit of what has been inspiring me lately as we go into the weekend.  All of these images are from my errand running.  Apparently I am totally into bold, geometric patterns right now. I have been daydreaming of how to use textures like this in my own work, so look forward to the results in the next few months.  With no Memorial Day to look forward to and a lot of church meetings, Mr. F and I will be sticking close to home this weekend and catching up on work.  And you know what?  It sounds kind of nice! But, if you're going to a bar-b-que this weekend, be sure to drink a root beer and eat a good burger for me.  Happy weekend everyone! 

sunday chic

blouse: j.crew, thrifted. skirt: wal-mart. shoes: macy's. belt: stradivarius.  bracelet: gift, garage sale.  earrings: gift.

I really struggle somedays to get dressed.  Nothing feels right, a malady which absolutely baffles my husband.  My bed will be covered in skirts, dresses, jeans, sweaters, and whatever else I can pull out of my drawers.  Inevitably, all I need is a shirt with a popped collar and I'm good to go. Embracing my preppy side makes me feel so chic and sophisticated and ultimately more like myself.  This last Sunday was no exception to that.  I put on my navy blue polka dots with my pearls and could not have felt any prettier.  Sometimes you just have to go with the tried and true.