seasons doings...

It has been cold here in Chicago.  And when I say cold I mean COLD!  With the holidays in front of us here are some of this seasons doings...

~Christmas touches have been added around the house....I got these great brass candlesticks from this Etsy Shop
~I've been picking up evergreen branches from around the neighborhood to use for my winter planters (more on that in another post)
~Planning out this years Advent calendar activities
~Prepping for Thanksgiving.  I'll definitely be setting these up for the kids' table this year....

source here

and making these for dessert...

source here

~Working on Christmas lists and Christmas cards....

What are you working on for the season?

Have a wonderful weekend friends!  

MAKING Mondays.....a bit like fall

Well, it's not officially fall yet but you would never know it by the temperatures we have been having in these parts!  It has been chilly!!!!  The slow cooker has been running and homemade bread is back in the oven baking.  On days like these I like to sit back and listen to a bit of this...

And when I'm not listening to a bit of that I like to start adding touches of the season to cozy up our little home.  I had seen some Halloween villages in some magazines and thought it would be cute if I made my own for above the coat hooks.  Just black construction paper and tape.

I have a thing for plaid!  After I sewed this pillow my son helped me stuff it and he is so very proud of it!

My fondness for vintage bird prints comes from my grandma.  I was able to track some down HERE for a reasonable price and then just framed them up for the mantle.

And the backyard construction is making progress! Have a look out the kitchen window.....

Not done but we have somewhere to sit now!  

Happy making, baking, and growing friends!  

calendar cupboard

Our first bean is heading off to preschool this year so it's time to get organized!

A year ago we took out the walls on our first floor so that we could use every square inch of this place.  There was no room for a desk, but we did put in an end cupboard for storage.  I knew the day would come when we would need a calendar cupboard.  It's only about 5 inches deep and has been a complete mess up until this week.

 I have researched systems and figured out that I'm kind of loosey goosey!  I'm not a chart person.  I can't have things mapped out to a T because I just don't roll that way, so I opted for areas where I can scribble, erase, hang and house a calendar to keep track of important upcoming dates.

Here is the cupboard before...

And here is our new calendar cupboard...

I painted the back wall with chalkboard paint and hung mini cork boards from Target.  Each kid has there own nook in the cabinet for their papers.

The clipboards are for my many lists.  I found a fantastic shop on Etsy with very cool stationary....Skel

And of course my bean has her spot too!

linking up with...

Cozy Little House
House of Hepworths
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Jennifer Rizzo
An inviting Home

Etsy Please...

Mindi is an inspiring person.  She is a busy mama to 6 kiddos (yes I said 6) and she finds time to make pieces for the home and garden using mainly recycled materials.  I read Mindi's post about her "no more crumbs toaster tray" and knew I had to have one!  When I received it I was so impressed with the craftsmanship and overall design of the toaster tray.  Her work is awesome!

Her stories of how she reuses materials to make her beautiful creations will warm your heart.   You can feel her love to create through each and every one of her projects.  So it is only fitting that the name of her blog is My Love 2 Create.

 I just wish she lived closer so that we could grab a coffee and then I could have her teach me a thing or two! 

In this day and age of mass produced goods, it is always wonderful to find artisans who are making conscientious decisions in their work!  You can check out Mindi's amazing Etsy shop here

I hope you will find the time to jump on over to her blog and see what she's up to!  I have no doubt that you too will be inspired!

Etsy please

It's a wonderful thing when you meet someone cool and their work is just as lively and awesome as they are.  My friend Tanya from the blog Bead and Needle has an amazing Etsy shop full of outstanding one of a kind creations that I am over the moon about!

Bead and Needle Etsy Shop-jewelry and clutches
{for more of her work go Here}

Etsy please

I'm bringing some Etsy to the table!  Here are some of my finds that I've been smitten with! I hope to spread the love for these wonderful shops...enjoy!

1. Jaysworld-vintage books

2. Pillow Talk and More-pillow covers

3. Trendy Ties-ties for little boys

a THANK YOU and a WINNER

THANK YOU!

I wanted to start off by saying that this ride has been awesome!  For everyone that pops by or follows me, thank you!  You are all top notch talents with amazing creative skills and I feel honored to be a part of this journey with you!  Your comments lift my day and push me to raise my own creative bar.  A final thank you goes out to Vicki from 2 Bags Full for organizing this amazing party! Vicki, you rock!  I'm so excited for what lies ahead!

Thanks for coming along for the ride!

 via-Gardening in Heels {original source unknown}

WINNER!

We have a winner in the Garden Diaries giveaway! {No joke that I wish I could send everyone a little something!  Think it's the teacher in me!} 

The person going home with this outstanding print from the talented Elizabeth Guzaldo is......

Sandy from French Laundry 132!

Congrats to you lady and thanks again to everyone who came by!  Maybe we will do one of these again so we can spread some more love!  Peace!

My Garden Diaries Giveaway!

Welcome to My Garden Diaries!  I'm glad you popped by! My name is Nicole and I am an artist with a love for the garden and design.

As I was thinking about how to describe my blog for the Grow Your Blog Party at 2 Bags Full, I got some insight from my 3 year old.  My daughter said to me today, "Mom, I like fancy things and not so fancy things."  I chuckled and proceeded to tell her how wonderful it is that she likes all kinds of different things!!

I like to think of my blog as a collection of all of the many passions that inspire me to create.  My Garden Diaries is a mix of gardening, design, art, dIY projects and the list goes on!  Though I started this blog journey in 2011, it wasn't until the summer of 2012 that I committed myself to the process.  Since then, I can honestly say that it has been a beautiful experience.  Being a part of the blogging community has fueled my creativity and inspired me to do more!  And I'm just getting started! 

 

So there you have it!

I want to thank Vicki at 2 Bags Full for hosting the party and for giving us all this opportunity.
 I'm excited to not just GROW my blog, but to make connections, learn, and get inspired!

The GiveAway

The giveaway is near and dear to my heart.  I couldn't think of anything better to giveaway than a  stunning print from my sister Elizabeth's collection. 

A word from the artist...

Elizabeth Guzaldo

This print is part of a collection called Dormant.  While I appreciate the hope and renewal of the greens and blooms in spring and summer, I have found an understated silent beauty in these sleepy plants doing important work and I hope you will too.

This print has been professionally printed (12x12), is in a shadow-box frame (20 1/2x 20 1/2) and is the 3rd of 100 prints. 

To Enter

Anyone can enter! And that means ANYONE!

This is the easy part....Just leave a comment on this post and
 your name will be entered in the Giveaway. That's it!

The giveaway will close January 31st and the winner will be announced February 1st right here on my blog.  Your print will ship as soon as I receive your address.  

So get those comments rocking and I hope you'll come along for the ride!