A Happy Little Update

Most of you don't know this, because I come across so jolly, but December found me sad and totally burned out. The barn sale sucked the life out of me this year. I was feeling worn and worthless. I guess the universe got tired of my sad ploddings about and sighing, becuase all kinds of amusing things started to happen.

 This is from the flower contest I helped Lynn Vale Farms do. Here's the link.

And I haven't told you about most of them. So that's what this post is. A little hit of all the happy things that happened to me, the fun things I have been able to accomplish because of the happy things, and a few things I threw in just for good measure.

So back to December for a second. 

I don't know if you all know this, due to my lack of a "favorite blogs" bar on this page (I am planning on remedying that soon-ish), but I LOVE the blog Young House Love. Have you guys discovered them yet? John and Sherry Petersik are this cute, early thrity-something couple in Richmond who started a blog to show their friends and family the changes they were making to the house they had just bought. Here's the "About us" page. It totally shows you what they're like and you'll see why I love them so.

This is on their instagram page here

Anyway, I have been an avid reader for about 2 years now, and this fall they published their first book. It's chock full o' good, simple, cheap decorating ideas. So of course I had to get it as soon as it was announced. So I preordered it on Amazon, in June or July, and then waited....and waited....and waited until it was released in November.

And it was totally worth the wait. I used an idea on the first page to add some color to the back of my display cases that DK(explanation of who this is here) forbid me from painting.

Yes, yes, I did actually shoot photos for a tutorial, but that will come later.

And along with a book, comes a book tour! So I ponied up the $29 for a copy of the book (a gift for someone else), a glass of Diet Coke (everyone else got champagne, but I don't drink), and a warm cozy place to meet the Petersiks in downtown Washington DC. It was totally worth every penny.

They are just as nice in person as they seem on their blog. They even got happy for me and my line mate that  we had become "line friends".

The same week I got my copy of Young House Love, I also got my equally long awaited copy of Miss Mustard Seed's new book Inspired You.

I could write a whole post about how much this book brought me back to life, but Jami at Freckled Laundry already wrote the perfect tribute. If you are even thinking about buying this book, read her comments here.

Instead of gilding the lily, I'll just take you with me to The Empty Nest in Warrenten, VA, where I got to help at the book signing! Janet's got a great write up and way better pics here.

L to R: Me, Marian Parsons (Miss Mustard Seed), and Janet Metzger, owner of the Empty Nest

Terrible picture of me, but oh well. Can't pass up a claim to fame.

I had to steal Janet's pic of me getting my book signed. Thanks Janet!

 There is nothing quite as humbling and exciting as hanging out with your heroes. Marian was fun and gracious and happy to talk about paint finishes and running a booth at Lucketts.

 

It was fun to see her meet old friends

 

and find treasures hiding in Janet's lovely store. 

It amazes me as I meet more and more people I "know" from reading their blogs, just how many of them are "my people". It makes me braver every time I realize they started just like me. So thanks for the excellent example and encouragement Marian, John and Sherry! I am totally inspired by you all.

OK, that's enough of my "Claims to Fame." 

Since all of this happened, I have been a busy girl. 

Miss Mustard Seed inspired me to make a chalkboard to bang out ideas for this blog.

I even used magnetic primer so I could hold stuff on with magnets. But that's another post.

Reading Inspired You also got me off my butt and I re-organized and moved my office. I still have a bit left to do, but I am totally in love with it. 

Can't you just see me in my super comfy, pretty, old wooden chair, typing this right now?

This is substantially better than where I started in this post, wouldn't you say? Remember this?

And here's a peek at what I have been doing in the studio.

Remember when I told you I was getting itchy to play with my exacto knife? Well there you go. 

More on that piece later. Or hopefully, sooner.

And one last happy bit of news. 

My friend Karianne, of Thistlewood farms got PUBLISHED this week!!!! She wrote the funnest post about what it's like to find your writing and photos in a major magazine in this post here. Hillarious and happy. I'm sure I would do the exact same thing. I am still wishing I was there to jump up and down with her. As it was, I was reading the post on my elliptical trainer, and I almost fell of because I did do a little jump for her. 

You. Go. Girl.