Never, Never, Never Give Up! (Winston Churchill)

I could start this out as in a really happy way, but I'm not feeling too happy, and I can't fake it. So, this post is for me as well as you!!

Have you ever had one of those weeks where NOTHING went right? Well, this has been mine. I've literally wanted to crawl into the bed and not get up until next month. I know this sounds like a "Debbie Downer" but I'm being real and authentic ... and it does get better.

So, as I looked for inspiration for today's Freebie Friday, I realized that I needed to motivate myself and I, hopefully, will motivate you as well.

Because, while I did have a really bad week (fridge water hose sprayed all over the kitchen, ruining 20 tiles drying on my table (as well as the drywall behind) ... 20 tiles having to be redone ... again because the weather didn't cooperate, 20 tiles still not drying because of the weather ... yada yada yada), I can report that I can find some good in all of this.

I refuse to give up! I truly do. So, while nothing seems to have worked well, I can say that I have persisted, and I will keep persisting til I get everything worked out. So, today's Freebie Friday is a little pep talk for me, and for you if you need it!

*Personal use only, no mass production, but please feel free to direct anyone to my blog to download their own copy. Just click on the picture and then right click to save to your computer.

So, I'm gonna put "my big girl pants" on (as my daughter says) and get back on the saddle, and get those tiles done!! Whoo ... I feel better already, and am smiling again.

I hope you have a beautiful weekend mes amies, and that it is better than my last few yesterdays!

J'adore my followers!
Au Revoir,

Lorraine

What about Marie and Money?

So, today is Brag Monday, once again on the Graphics Fairy's blog (see her button to the left), and I wanted to do something a little different this time. Most often I tend to post a piece of jewelry, or one of my coaster designs. This time, I decided to create something that "I" needed, rather than something that would eventually end up in one of my stores.

So, what to make ... what to make? Well, I have this little problem ... or rather a little bit of a big one. I have paper clutter like no one's business. It seems as though just as soon as I get my papers under control, I get a whole bunch more in the mail or create a whole bunch more that need to be filed. And, as I now am self-employed, it is absolutely crucial that I keep my financial papers in order. You wouldn't necessarily guess that I have a problem, because I'm really good at hiding them in beautiful storage boxes. But, "I" know that they are just thrown in there until I can't put it off any longer.

So, I decided to psychologically trick myself. Who better than Marie Antoinette to put a smile on my face as I file my store receipts? I mean, the irony is absolutely perfect!! I love all things french. I even sympathize with Marie, and love that her style "Iconishness" (is that a word?) is still just as prevalent today as it was when she was alive. But, let's face it ... she wasn't known for her thriftiness or her attention to financial details.

So, I've created a financial journal and proceeded to design and create the cover for it. Now, I don't think it will be as difficult to file those business receipts away. I'll look at Marie and think ... "Wow" I'm really on the ball. No one is going to chop off my head now that I have this receipt put away in the proper place. LOL!!

So, here are some pictures of my brag entry (many thanks to the Graphics Fairy for her beautiul graphic of Marie). I hope you enjoy. It isn't necessarily overly embellished, I tend to prefer complexity in design, not in a lot of doodads. But, I'm rather proud of her, if I say so myself.

and here's another angle:

So, I must ask ... What tricks do you do to motivate yourself into doing those things that you don't want to do? Oh, do tell!!

Au Revoir, mes amies. A bientot (until next time).

Bisou Bisou,

Lorraine

"I WANT LUXURY!"

Over the past several months, as I've been investigating and researching vintage couture, I have been increasingly aware of how relevant many of the designs are, still to this day. It is mind boggling how truly beautiful and proportionate style can maintain its beauty, throughout the ages. And, as my mind tends to wander from one idea to the next ... I started asking myself ... why do we become so attracted to fleeting styles, when often they aren't something that we could see ourselves in 5, 10, or 20 years from now. I mean, I hope I'm not the only one who looks back at her school or younger pictures and thinks ... "What was I thinking?" And, I have to admit, many a time my mother would say she couldn't understand my fashion choices ... to which I thought she just didn't understand what was "au courant." And, as much as I hate to admit it, she was right!

So, my mind bounced to the next thought ... why do we accept less than the best when we look to fashion? Many would say, well, I can't afford this, or I can't afford that. But, one thing my grandmother did teach me was that you don't have to have a lot of clothes, if the clothes you have are right for you. Once again, they fit your proportions well, they are made with good fabrics, and are well cared for. But, we tend to live in a very consumer driven society where the seasons and fashions change at the drop of a hat (pun intended). And, many of us feel that we have to have the latest, even if the latest isn't really what works for us!

So, I've decided I'm going to go through my closet and ask myself the question ... "Will I wear this 5 years from now?" If the answer is no, then what the heck is it doing in my closet? I've allowed myself to be influenced by a fashion blip on the fashion timeline, and I don't want to do that anymore.

Once my son (who was 9 at the time) asked for a CD player for his very own. Now, this is the child who broke every one else's CD player in the house. So, I told him he could either save up his money to get one, or, he could use an old one that only played the radio and casettes. He was immediately irate and emphatically yelled "I don't want that ... I WANT LUXURY." Needless to say, I had the hardest time not cracking up!!

But, now I find myself thinking (in caps) I WANT LUXURY!! That doesn't mean that I want the most expensive or fanciest clothes or accessories. But, I want ones that fit right, I want ones that feel wonderful to the touch, I want ones that make me feel beautiful!

So, in keeping with that thought, I created today's "Freebie Friday" with just this idea in mind. I hope you enjoy!!

As always, this is for personal use, and not to be mass produced in any manner. However, you may always refer people to my blog for them to save their own copy. To save, click on the picture, and then right click to save to your computer.

And now, here comes my challenge ... check your closet and ask yourself the same questions! You're beautiful and worth having luxury!!

Have a wonderful weekend mes amies!!

Bonsoir,

Lorraine

Brag Monday Entry 09/10/2012

Bonjour Mes Amies,

It's been a little while since I posted, but I have been out of town off and on, and now I'm back on track!! I wanted to share my Brag Monday entry with you which is held at the Graphics Fairy (see her blog badge to the left in my favorites column). I have had the bezel for this necklace for quite some time, and have been waiting for inspiration to hit. And, Voila, while looking through the Graphics Fairies free clip art, I finally struck paydirt.

I've been doing quite a bit of studying lately about many of the illustrations that I use in my jewelry and graphics art. And so I have been spending a lot of time back in history, at least in my head. So, what better decision than to go farrrrrrrr back in time and use a royal coat of arms? Since I absolutely adore French history, British history, truly just history period, for that matter, I thought this would be a fun design to work with.

I have to admit that I have read so many classic novels that center in one historical time period or another. And, many a time I have wished I could have lived then ... only with air conditioning and good hygene. I'm not too picky, am I? So, if I were to live in a historical time period, I would definitely want to have been royal, or at least from a noble family. They couldn't have promised air conditioning, but I would at least have had a shot at wonderful fashion and better hygene!

So, here is my entry. I wanted to create a piece that would work well with Autumn tones, as I cannot wait to get into my sweaters and Fall clothes. Let me know what you think! If you were to live in the past, which time period would you choose, and why?

Au Revoir, mes amies. A Bientot!!

Lorraine

I've been Featured on Zazzle!!

Okay, sometimes you just have to toot your own horn.  One of my designs is being featured on Zazzle's "Best of" page.  I'm so excited and rather humbled.  It's such an amazing feeling when you have been working so hard creating, and you finally get a little recognition.  Once again ... I encourage you to find a creative outlet.  The rewards are endless for your spirit.  And, sometimes, you even get rewarded for it too!!

Here is the design that I won the award for:

Click on the picture to go to the site