HOLIDAY: Merry Christmas

Wishing you and all your loved ones a very Merry & Happy Christmas!!

We are on our way to Arizona for the next few days then I will be back in California.... hopefully, having lunch with MaryJo!

See you soon, xx mwah~callie

Image found via a field journal there are sweet Christmas idea's posted there, go see!

Under the Weather!

Sorry, I have been missing....
I am not feeling very well.  I don't get sick very often and I have had a raging head ache that is causing me to get dizzy, blurry vision and then very very very queasy! and queasy = throwing up which I did most of the day yesterday!

I will be back in action hopefully, Wednesday. I miss you all!

Need to get better before I fly to California!!
xx
callie

via tumbler

Christmas is almost here!! eeeeeee kkkkk!

found via the lovely Christina 

who found via Design*sponge

Yes, that is excitement then an acknowledgment of fear...... 
I am so NOT ready for Christmas here! I have only purchased one gift (an ice cream maker for my dad!)


                   As you can tell, I haven't even had time to blog or visit my favorite blog to read!! I have been working long hours then making crochet wraps that I sold for a "Dreams for Kids" Charity event. I do this every year,  I sell items and donate part of the proceeds to the charity my work supports for the Holiday Season.  I usually sell about 5 or 6 items BUT this year!! 
THIS YEAR I decided to make two specialty items as a pre-order: a alpaca blend triple wrap cowl in purple and a wool blend "Queen Collar" wrap (or princess collar for little girls) and guess what I sold 10 triple wrap cowls and 15 Queen collar wraps and 1 princess collar!! so I have been very busy! I should be completed today with the last few items .  I also had about 10 crochet grocery bags that sold right off since everyone at work is getting really green! which makes me smile:) 


Anyway, I hope to be back to my favorite reads and blogging some really good posts that you will enjoy. AND I do hope I get my tree up today, it has been sitting in the dining room bare and neglected!
Over the next few weeks, I will be working on another blog with a friend. {Hope to reveal right after the holidays!! So, please keep a look out!}  


Wishing you all a wonderful weekend! and keep warm!
xx
callie

QUOTE: Atmosphere of Peace

"Everything in a bedroom should contribute to an atmosphere of peace"

~Billy Baldwin

quote  image

This room is nothing but cosy and comfort! What room in your favorite room in your home at the moment?? Mine is my bedroom, ready for hibernating through this freezing winter!

Have a wonderful day!!

xx

callie

ARTIST INTERVIEW: Christine Pagliaro

I would like to say, "I am very excited about posting about my friend Christine!"
        She is amazingly talented and she has agreed to let me interview her for this post.

Her work is on exhibit at American Artworks Gallery.
 Located in Forest Park, Illinois.  They were looking for Pastel Artist and found her through her site.




I know your background is Architecture, but what other education and training have you had?
I also attended The school of the Art Institute of Chicago and Columbia College.  I have always been an artist at heart.


What is your earliest memory of producing art?
age 7


Where is the most inspirational place you have traveled?
 Italy! Tuscany and Rome. (note she had a sparkle in her eye!)


What medium do you mostly use?
Pastels is my main medium but I began photographing at age 15 after taking a class in high school. Which became another outlet of my creative side.


It's really excited having your artwork at American Artworks Gallery. Can you explain their mission of supporting artist such as yourself?
They support and promote artist a bit different than a gallery, it is much like a co-op where the artist comes in and works so many hours a month promoting their work.  They support "American artist in a living wage" {meaning most of the money goes to the artist.}


I love your pastel work! That peony is amazing. (see below!)
I finished that piece recently for a friend, she commissioned me to draw her favorite flower.  


So, you do commissioned pieces?
Yes,  I am also doing a pastel piece of a beloved pet that I should be done with soon and I am working on a house from an old photograph where the individual grew up in as a child. 


Thanks Christine!!
And if your near Forest Park, do pop in at the American Artwork Gallery, they support many different artist and of course, you can see the beautiful artwork of Christine's!! You really have to go see some of her large landscape pieces of Italy! Stunning!!


XX
callie

DIY: Martha Stewart Snow Globes

Martha Stewart snow globes

DIY

I am so excited to see my nieces over the holidays!! 

Christmas is so jolly and cheerful with little children running around.  I usually do a few crafty things with them, last year we did ornaments this year will be doing snow globes and Martha Stewart makes it so easy!!  I love snow globes and these are going to be darling!!

 What fun crafts are you doing this year with any children in your life?

xx

callie

DESIGN: David Collins

I love this house!
     Designed by David Collins
The colours, the simple background, the amazing textures.
What's not to love?
              Oh, and I can't forget to mention the amazing photography
by one of my favorite photographers, Simon Watson

Enjoy the loveliness!
         xx callie
  ps on Wednesday I will be posting my very first interview with Artist Christine Pagliaro!  be sure to stop by!

MAGIC: candle light

"The magic of candlelight, the most subtle of all,

is an exquisite addition to any and all lighting"

~Robert Kime, Architectural Digest

photo: Nicolas Matheus

I have posted this image before, but I just love the romance of it!

It's so cold out that I a dreaming of somewhere very tropical and romantic 

and this is it!!

Have a wonderful day!

xx

callie

New Dress!

Hello, I have been so busy I haven't been able to post lately.  I am keeping my fingers crossed for some me time very soon!  I need to catch my breath!
Today, I have been frustrated ...... I tried to post this morning and the photos keep importing wrong!  They look right on my computer then they are side ways when they come in. Not what I am wanting this post to look like..... then I missed my train by 1 minute. Totally sucked.

But on to the good part, here is my new dress from Apart Clothing.  Sorry, all the other photos would post correctly and the ones that did are not the best photos! Which is part of my frustration.  I have to say though, I love this dress! I want one in black now too!!  So comfortable and I have been getting heaps of complements on it! I have to say a huge THANK YOU to lil bee and to apart clothing!
There clothing is great quality and the style is very much me! I hope to load up my closet with more of their clothing!!  {the gatsby mini dress and the modernist dress are definitely on my wish list!! oh, and I adore this vest and this lovely coat *sigh*  I need a BIG raise!!}

Hope you all are having a wonderful day!
xx
callie

FREEZING: Winter Coat needed

Land's End

Down Coat

I woke up yesterday with it being in the minus degrees!  

It was flipping cold! 

          no Frigging Freezing!!!!  I have decided that I need a down coat with hood!

This one looks warm! 

I also need a new pair of jeans. Any suggestions?  I want skinny jeans with a bit of stretch. Would love to hear from you on your favorite jeans.

Keep warm!

xx

callie

AMBASSADOR: me! APART clothing!

A few weeks back there was this amazing give away on the lil bee!  I was so excited while looking through the APART website, I completely lost myself in the amazing clothing!
                      that  I forgot to go back and comment, then I remembered the next day and went back quickly!  Which I am so very happy I did!  Everyone won.

  and They asked me to be an ambassador for their clothing, which I happily accepted.
I received my gifted dress and I am wearing it today for a really important meeting {huge presentation to all the senior executives at my company} and I will be wearing it to a Holiday party on the weekend.  Next Wednesday I will be posting photos to show you the two completely different looks with one piece!!

I love the look and style of all the clothing {so me} so head over there and take a peak at their
           shop-the-looks section as well as their wonderful selection of dresses!
              
and a few of my favorite pieces:
Chiffon Houndstooth Babydoll and Infusion Leather Jacket  *swooning over this jacket**

  Portrait day dress and the faux fur reversible vest

This week is crazy for me, so I won't be able to visit my favorite reads until the weekend! I promise to come visit soon.
Have a great Wednesday!! we are almost to the weekend
xx
callie