a wedding, an anniversary and a spoiler alert!!!

So much has happened in the last week and it is bitter sweet to see it all be done.

My best girlfriend in the world got married last weekend... what is it with weddings that turn me into a blubbering idiot? I think the people at the wedding who didn't know me thought I was lamenting my former girlfriend, watching her being married to another. I was just so happy for her, she was glowing!

Without boring you with a bunch of photos of people you don't know I just wanted to share the sweetest wedding cake... Isn't this so whimsical?

My DH and I escaped to the "vines" this weekend and it was amazing! Our 13th Anniversary is Monday so we decided to go to the wine country and celebrate (sans kiddos.) It was wonderful. We so easily forget how important it is to get back to why we decided to share this life together and time really does fly by. We spent a couple of nights at South Coast Resort and Winery and did nothing but relax, eat good food, and drink really, really, really good wine. Oh the sweet nectar of the vines...

We even got to meet Master Winemaker Jon McPherson! It was such a treat! He was the nicest most unassuming man ever, and what he knew about wine would knock your socks off!!!

He was so sweet, he even took me antiquing! And for a guy would would rather act as a human speed bump on the I-5 than do this, it was a super sweet gesture! Here is a photo of La Maison Rustique this weekend... those girls are amazing!

He also carted me out to Matilda's Mouse but we didn't get any photos while we were there, but it was equally as wonderful with Enya playing in the background while we shopped... I love places like these!!!

A view of the Vineyard from our villa and the mountains beyond...

Our Villa in the vineyard (it's the one furthest to the left)

SPOILER ALERT!!! IF YOU ARE ALISA. . . do not read this next part until

after Marie arrives!!!

I participated in the Marie Antoinette Swap hosted by the sweet Maria (of the Junk Drawer). We were to take a canvas size 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches and break it up into twelve squares. Other than following the theme of Marie Antoinette, this was all we had to do. Well, I did break up my canvas and it looked much like an Easter Quilt, UGH! But with much tweaking and totally straying from the directions, I came up with this...

Alisa, this is your last chance to turn back...

The vintage paper is and original scan of an early 19th century French birth certificate. It dates back to 1816 and was used because it refers to “Marie Antoinete” in the center of the document. Could this be the Marie Antoinette, the Queen of France who died an untimely death 23 years earlier… probably not, but it is fun to think so! (got it from an etsy shop)

The old jewel is an old broach I got from and estate sale, the trim on the crown is something I actually bought at an old barn sale… loved the color. The crown is adorned with fresh water pearls. The French cologne label is a little item I bought at Silver Bella Vendor night and at the top of the canvas, it says “Let them eat cake” in French.

Finally, the Marie Antoinette image in the center was created by Hope Wallace of Paper Relics and embellished by me. (I love her work!)

Well, that is it in a nutshell. More later!

~xo

silver bella anyone?

I cannot believe it! I am all signed up for the Bella again in November and through the grapevine I heard that it over halfway sold out in the first 13 minutes of posting registration!

So glad I got in when I did!!!

I signed up for some really great classes and honestly, I still feel like I want to take more classes. Here is a picture from Teresa's blog of snippets of the classes offered.

More than anything else it will be fun to be with my extremely talented girlfriends again!!!

Here we are from last year:

I cannot wait to see who will join in... will you be there?

~xo

old friends and sweet maija

This weekend was so wonderful! I got to spend time with some old high school friends. Normally that isn't such a big deal but when you live 2,600 miles from your high school, getting more than one of them together is a really big deal (at least for me!)

Spending time with them was so very precious. They are links to my past, people who know where I came from and who really get me. Pretty cool.

AND...

A huge thank you to Maija... just look what she sent me for being a runner up in her giveaway!!!

too sweet, thank you so much!!!

~xo

my dearest...

today when I got home, my sweet husband gave me this

he knows how much I love Gerber Daisies

~xo (especially to my sweets)

a few last thoughts on la petite maison blanc...

I know... it is a lot to take in, but it really was amazing! There was so much that happened that I had to chunk it out so that I could share it all. There was just no way to fit it into just one, two or even three bloggings. These are my final thoughts, and photos of that wonderful event.

(i promise!)

The three muses: Pam Garrison, Teresa McFayden, and Amy Hanna

My canvas house swap partner (Nancy Anicich) and I The canvas she made for me

I got to meet Jenny Doh! Pinch me!

I caved and bought a piece from Amy Hanna! I love it!!! (the photo does not do it justice!) I only wish I could have gotten them all. The hardest part is deciding which one...

Dinner at Cheesecake Factory (clockwise starting in far left corner ~ Cheryl, Suzanne, Natalie, Jessi, Heather, Jenny, Joanna, and me) It was sooooo good!!!

Like we didn't see enough of each other... is that possible??!! We (a few of us die-hards) drove out to Temeclua to this sweet barn sale called La Maison Rustique. The ladies were all so sweet, they had treats out for us (cookies, pastries, and mimosas! yummy!!!) and it was quite the reception! My little antique-r Anna joined in on the fun too... she got a handful (or two) of vintage cracker jack toys. Thank you to the lovely Linda, Sherry, Joy, Rita and all the ladies who were so hospitable to our little gaggle of girls that day!

It was a bittersweet day, it was still full of good friends and fun surprises, but in the end, everyone went back to their little nook in the world. Until next time ladies...

~xo

a spring maiden's crown

Stephanie Mayor made this crown for me in the Spring Maiden Crown Swap hosted by Bryanna Lenan for Kim's event. There are no words to describe the beauty but I do have to say that Stephanie told me that she has never made anything like it before. This girl should go into business... It is beautiful! Thanks Stephanie!!! AND thanks Bryanna for hosting! (by the way, Bryanna has a cute account of how the swap went down on her blog, it is true, I did squeal when I found out that this crown was mine!)

the front

the back

the happiest girl in all the land

~xo

artists, friends, and a little white house

After an event such as the Paris reception we had the highest hopes for the following day and they were met and surpassed with exceeding standards. Kim outdid her self again with her La Petit Maison. From the minute we entered the building, we were transported to another time and place where we left the business of the world at the door, only the softness of creams and whites surrounded us and we had no place to be except with good friends. It was just what I needed.

checking in, getting our table number and giddy to see what lies ahead

Up the stairs we went, finding hints of what was to come

When we walked in to our main crafting room, this is what we found

my seat

ceiling adornments

Kristen Robinson's vintage chandelier

the room was abuzz with excitement and everyone was impressed with the fantastic decor.

I love this shot, i think Kim got it... look at all the cameras out and where am i headed you ask? shopping, of course...

We made garland with Pam Garrison, creative house canvases with Amy Hanna, and Milagros with Teresa McFayden. I was a happy girl for sure!

me, Jenny, Teresa and Joanna

my Milagro

me and Jenny crafting away

my table Natalie, Jenny, Cheryl, Jessi, me and Joanna

The crown swap, oh the crowns!

I will have to post a really good close up of the crown I received coming up soon, it is just stunning!!!

More on this later.

~xo