The Opening

Ok, for those of you who haven't seen this photo on my Facebook Fan Page, here it is, my photography and me at the opening of ALL NATURAL @ Markeim - Group Photography Exhibition of unretouched natural photography.

I am humbled to be among so many amazing photographers and the work they displayed... wow!  I am looking forward to taking my older son to see all of the stunning photographs.  I was kind of disappointed to not have brought him, but I never can tell how an almost eight-year-old will fare on a Friday evening.

If you live or work close enough, I encourage you to stop by Markeim Arts Center by March 1st to catch a glimpse of this work.  Photoshop has nothing on this exceptional unretouched photography!

Next week I'll be introducing the new line of Original Photography Note Cards to WoodstreamPapery - first up is the Peonies Series 1-5.  They'll be available as sets of five or ten cards as well as individual note cards.

Please remember to use coupon code:  VANZANT for 10% off your order and 15% will go to my son's elementary school PTO to help fund programs for the children.  The code is valid in both of my shops.

Thanks again for stopping by, I appreciate your patronage and support of small businesses like mine!

Have a blessed week!

~Nicole

Weekly Top 5 - Pretty Things

But first a little update on me...

In the adventure that has been my life for the past six months, the latest unexpected health issue has been an appendectomy with a surprise hernia repair - I got two surgeries when I only thought I was getting one!  If you're counting it was surgeries five and six in five months.  Now I'm home, recovering, resting, taking it easy.  Crocheting to keep my mind sharp.  Appreciating the outpouring of help, meals, and prayers from our family and friends.  We could not get through all of these past months without the support of others.

As a thank you to my wonderful customers for your patience during this latest recovery, please use code FALLTHANKS for 15% off your purchase.  Code is valid through October 14th.  The catch is that your package will not ship until October 15th. 

So now onto my Weekly Top 5...

Decorative Linen Pillow with Vintage Lace & Burlap Roses

available from DixieByDesign

How pretty is this pillow?  It's perfect for the guest room, the family room,

or a pretty addition to your favorite chair that you sip coffee and read a great book!

Black Raku Teardrop Sparkle Lampwork Earrings

available from DLAbeaddesign

Hmm... wouldn't someone love to find these tucked in a stocking on Christmas morning?

Vintage Cuffed Bracelet Silver

available from PeaceOCake

Isn't that etching just lovely?

Caramel Apple Jam Harvest Preserves

available from BiscottiQueen

Yes, this food is very pretty!  And delicious, I'm sure!

Retro Metro Tote

available from Dawn Hernandez, 31 Consultant

Purple is still one of my favorite colors!

Thanks for stopping by to read & check up on me and the weekly top 5!  I hope you have a blessed week!

Nicole

What's new and linky party

flower no.081 upcycled pink cashmere and vintage button

Yesterday I finished a cowl, headband/earwarmer, and neckwarmer (think close-fitting cowl) in orchid tweed.  They're so fun!  Bright and cheery and ready to be added to your wardrobe soon!

This morning I'm nearly finished a cowl in marble tweed - think looming grey cloudy skies - at least that's what I think when I work with it.  I can almost imagine wearing it on a cool day in November to get the kids to the playground one last time before it is just too cold to enjoy being outside unless you're under the age of 18 (or whatever age that was when I figured out that being outside in the cold just was not for me).

I'm going to move on to the bamboo blend and merino wool blend yarns later this week.  I have all of these designs swimming in my head, I can't wait to let my hands make them come to life!

This week I'm participating in a linky party with Life's Jewels on String - I hope you'll stop by and check out the other Etsy shops - great finds - and stop by my shops, too!  Coupon Code OPEN20 is good for 20% off everything except gift certificates - valid in both shops through July 31... links to my shops are to the right ------->

The Fall/Winter Collection will be live the last week of August... stay tuned for more details!

Thanks for stopping by!
Have a blessed week!

Nicole

Reopening & Restocking & Restoring

As you can see to the right of this post, WoodstreamPapery is open!  I plan to reopen WoodstreamDream in the next week.

I spent part of today adding stock to WoodstreamPapery, but there's still so much to add, many more hours of work... I could use minions just about now!

On the last two days of June we celebrated my husband's birthday and my younger son's birthday. Now we're into July and the weather is [still] blistering.

Doesn't he look so excited?  The photo in the background I bought from another Etsy shop.

He's a lover of all things train related, so I thought some art for his bedroom that would

last a long time would be a big hit and it was!

I'm getting new items made for the fall, dreaming of sweater weather as I stitch ... Today I crochet for the first time in weeks, my arm is not in agony and I'm so glad!  I have items from the past several months that need photographing so they can be listed.

I'm still in healing mode.  There are still several tests that I'll have this summer and a whole lot of doctor visits, but I pray that there is no more slicing and dicing, as I have been regarding my springtime experiences this year.

I'm so very grateful for all of the prayers, help, and support over the past few months.  It will be a while before I can do things that I want to do and wouldn't have thought twice about if I hadn't had four surgeries. There is furniture to be rearranged, boxes to be packed and hauled to Goodwill or stashed in the attic, and lots of watering at the patch.  That last one sounds easy, but that hose is a beast - very heavy and long - and I cannot haul it to our patch by myself just yet.  I rely on my husband to join me so that I can take up some of the slack that my dear friend has been towing since mid-April.  I look forward to being able to just do the things I want to without thinking about if I should.

It will come.  I have faith that little by little I will stop feeling the aches and pains and soreness that's plagued me during these periods of recovery.  Every few days there will be change for the better.  I will be restored to full health.  These are just temporay.

Thanks so much for stopping by and reading!  Have a blessed week!
Nicole