Red Shoes blog

it's official!

  I'm turning into an old man.
it's seems now that all I do is either talk about the weather,  my health,  or what I ate for the day!
  maybe that's what happens when you get older.
but sheesh! please tell me I won't become boring!!
  Seriously,  I have spent the first part of this week at various doctors offices trying to figure out what is going on with me.
  My immune system and allergies are out of control, from those obscure face rashes, to definite issues with food,  mixed in with a  potentially life threatening allergy to bees.  so nice.
  I spent tuesday getting tested for WHICH bee I am allergic to.
  getting poked in the arm about 24 times.
 of course I reacted to the most common ones, the hornet,  and yellow jacket.
you know,  the ones that live on my deck ALL Summer long,  and at my shop in the garden. 
sure,  the ones that could potentially kill me.
ridiculous!
  I get to start "bee venom therapy" on monday!  whoo-hoo! 
I'll be in a doctors office for 3 straight hours every week!
But life is always an adventure here!
They also took about 15 vials of blood to try and figure out why I am ALWAYS so tired and spacey.
  Yesterday I actually flaked out and left my car keys in the ignition with the knob turned,  so my battery was completely dead.  Ian had to jumpstart my car.
  wow.  
 I told my sweet friend Jenn, to keep an eye on those milk cartons for my missing brain.
 because yes,  my brain has officially vacated my body.
  So When I am not flaking out, or trying to figure out what the heck I CAN eat,  now that I joined weight watchers,  and have to count those silly little points that rack up in NO time.....you'll find me talking about the weather,  and how great it is to see signs of spring!  
  Needless to say,  not much crafting got done this past week,  but we DID get some great new product in to the shop that I would like to share with you!
  SO without further adieu......
here you go!



pretty little rugs in 2x3's and 3x5's in lovely colors and floral patterns!



pretty little basic pillows to mix in with your funky patterned ones (or not)


pretty little gardeners soaps in wonderful fragrances like lemon and clove,  sweet pea, peony, red poppy, tea rose, and hydrangea!   oh my!

a nice assortment of little cotton dish towels that come in a trio pack.....

pair that with a nice soap.....

and you have a wonderful hostess gift!
  Nowadays more and more people are staying home or just visiting friend's homes instead of going out on the town,  so wouldn't that be just the cutest little practical thing to give?
 I certainly would love it!

we also have some lovely french style modern ticking table cloths,

and lovely cotton sheeting ones as well in vibrant florals.....
perfect for easter tabletops,  or festive spring get togethers!

we also have a couple vintage inspired rabbits and easter-themed goodies,  but not a ton......we've sold out of a lot of it already.
  So on that note,  I am off to add some product to the website,  and hope that I can keep my sleepy eyelids open for a wee bit longer.
  thank goodness I have a friendly mailman who brought me my afternoon earl grey tea....
lets hope it kicks in stat!
  Hope all of you are well,  and please don't give up on this ole gal,  I promise I'll be back to exciting times soon.....
 fingers crossed!
xoxoxo
 

 

kooky spring!

O.k.,  this weather has been phenomenal!  
We have spent so much time outdoors,  it's been heaven!
breathing in that fresh air,  throwing open the windows......

feeling those fresh breezes coming through....
in fact,  I just had to buy those little glass bottles of  italian sparkling water  just so I could put fresh daffodils in them.   I also even loved how they looked in my cabinet....feeling all european-style.  yes,  i'm weird like that.   and after I was done decorating with my grocery supplies....

we enjoyed playing in the park,  walking the dog....riding our bikes.
in fact I am such a slap-happy spring weirdo that when I have been on my walks I am so dang giddy to be out the simplest of things start to take shape,  and the imagination runs wild.
you may just see a simple stick lying on the sidewalk (click on the image)

but I see a stick person walking,  really just sashaying about because they're so happy it's sunny and they can RUN,  or salsa
dance on their little stick legs.
in fact,  wouldn't that be a cuute little project for kids?
gather up some twigs and add faces to your stick people out of clay,  or paper?   fun,  free,  easy,  cheap.

and so goofy too!   hee hee.
  Now because of all of this spring weather,  I have been feeling pretty creative,  and trying to work on new things.....so the past couple of days I made these little paintings that are ALMOST finished.

  tiny little pastoral house paintings on wood,  then layered on mini canvasses.  i'm still tweaking them,  and still figuring out if I like them.  but so far,  so good.







what are your thoughts?
  I am still thinking about all sorts of other goodies too,
but frankly I am a little tired.
  with all of this warm weather,  comes the socializing.
and you know how I like to be a little ole social butterfly....
so some late nights were had.....we spent a tiny bit of time inside our friends Irish Pub the other day......emphasis on TINY amount,  because who wants to be inside when it's GORGEOUS outside,  but hey,  when you have a VIP pass to get in,  you gotta at least show up for a pint  right?   ;)  hee hee....



men in kilts,  irish dancers,  bagpipes,  OH!  it all makes me swoon.....



 i love the older fellas in their finery,  with caps on and ties,  and their nice wool vests!  So great!


my friends work SOOOO hard on this day!   I feel bad for them....
but some of them seem to really get into the spirit of it and just try to make the best of it...even though it's a LOOOONNNG day for them!

  We got out of there before it got crazy and headed home to the little people who were SOOOOO excited to see what those sneaky leprechauns left them,  and they were not disappointed!


my bigger child was just happy to wear green,  or pinch people who didn't have it on,  tattooing himself up irish-proper...




naughty boy!  ;)
 I actually made corned beef and cabbage,  and it was delicious!
 never did THAT before,  but it was easy!
just boiled the meat for a tiny bit,  simmered it on low for 4 hours,  then the next day I coated it with a little barbeque sauce and bourbon,  and stuck it in the oven the caramelize for about 20 minutes,  and voila!  that was it,  SO GOOD!
  Now that St. Patty's day is behind us,  (i'm back to eating SALADS!) :(  
BUt I can say we are officially into the spring mode,  beautiful things arriving daily....
FULL of springtime goodness......

a lovely little pile of wonderful goodness from Moodswing studio!

kristen,  You KNOW I love IT all!  XXOXOOX

with young tender wild things sprouting inside and out,  you can NOT help but feel cheerful!




green, green, green everywhere!








pretty spring colors.....

buzz,  buzz buzz.....new things flying in......
speaking of flying things....
even the birds are chirping more now.....happy to feel the sun on their feathers!
hello!  Pierre and Tulip!
chirp chirp!

oh yes,  I am officially insane.  I can't help it,  it's what spring does to us folks cooped up in the wintertime for so long!   hee hee!

 So come on down and see what new stuff we have in.....
beautiful spring tableclothes,


 linens,  towels...
pink poodle bookends!  doh!

and pink piglets

more is coming I promise!
  In fact,  so many people came in today JUST to Chit-chat!
I got absolutely NOTHING done,  but it was GREAT!
  I love talking to people!
 In fact,  this older couple came in,  never been in before...
the man asked me (as I'm working on my computer)  if I liked my mac.  I said "yes,  but I am struggling with this photoshop program"  and the woman said,  "well you're in luck!,  he teaches PHOTOSHOP!"
  Whoo-hoo!  am I not the LUCKIEST person!?   you see,  all you have to do is be friendly,  talk to strangers,  and YOU TOO may learn something nEW!  in fact he also showed me how to use my fancy-schmancy camera!  and taught me about ISO settings and lighting!  it was awesome!
  In fact,  Had I known these little things before,  those dark pub shots would NOT have been blurry.
  it was due to bad lighting people,  not alcohol consumption.
really!  seriously PINKy-Swear!
so when I play around with my new knowledge,  there will be more shots like these

instead of these....

but you know I had FUN!  and this picture looks "arty"  anyways
right?!
  SO on that note,  I am off to head home for the day.....
wondering who will walk in my door tommorow,  because one thing's for sure,  my life is ALWAYS an adventure!
hope yours is too!
xoxxooxoxo

Townie Goodness

 There is something pretty darn neat about being born and raised in a cool town.
 over the years you meet so many fun and interesting people!
 This town is full of them that's for sure,  and I am so happy to be able to say I know some of them!
 It's one of the many perks about having a store,  all sorts of people walk through your doors,   telling you little snippets of their lives,  sharing good stories, the sense of being "connected" to your town is such a nice feeling.
  the other day I was able to experience something so cool it opened up a whole new world for me,  right here in my own community!
  My sweet friend Myra told me about this little  "breakfast salon"  called the "Selma Cafe".
 Every Friday morning from 6:30 am until 10am you can drop by
Jeff and Lisa's house on Soule blvd. near Eberwhite school,  and have a phenomenal breakfast made entirely out of locally made FRESH goods,  that have been gathered from only a 30 mile radius from their home.
  The whole premise is to support your local farmers,  eat good food,  and meet your neighbors all in a very loving and relaxed atmosphere.
  I have to tell you I was smitten as soon as I walked in the door!
  the signs all point the way.......



they also have a "self-serve" area for those of you that can't make it.....on the honor system,  gotta love that.


so the deal is,  you come in,  make a suggested donation of $10-15 for breakfast......or $3 for coffee and biscotti.
the funds go directly to the people making or growing the food,  i.e.,  your local farmers!

sign your name tags,  and Come on in!

here you'll meet your goofy friends who also happen to roast their own delicious organic coffee right here in town!
  I can honestly say  john's coffee is so good I can actually drink it plain black,   and this is coming from a girl who likes her coffee kiddie-style.  with cream and sugar. LOTS of it.
yeah,  it's that good.

when you walk in,  they have this great big open style kitchen that is the hub of activity......gather around the island,  or grab a seat in the living room,  or at one of the little tables they have set up around.


and prepared to be dazzled in a very down-to-earth comfy sort of way!
you will be offered a warm cup of goodness,  and your order will be taken from a set menu that is delicious!


after you place your order your meal will be prepared by a guest chef of the week!

you sit down and relax,  talk with friends,  meet new people....

big and little....

 when your food arrives,  the clouds part,  and angels sing,  because YES,  it is THAT delicious.
 
the insides of your omelet reveal tender young wild things....

grown fresh from a farm in chelsea.

and SO cool to see the chickens that produced your eggs running free in the back yard,  right smack dab in the middle of TOWN!

 it's so great that Ann Arbor passed an ordinance allowing you to have back yard chickens in town!
  Of course Ian already told me "Cathy,  don't EVEN think about it!"  but of course my wheels are already turning!  hee hee!

 oh well,  a girl can always dream right!  ;)





mmmmm you can almost smell the home cookin' can't ya?


and the local teas a-brewin'

they also have a little "store" there so you can take home some of the yummy goodness to keep that nice feeling going...

 It was such a nice experience I can't even begin to tell you.
and my friend,  photographer extraordinaire Myra,  also surprised me with a little book she had custom made for me,
from pictures she took a while back of my kids.
it brought me to tears!
  her photography is amazing. 










some of the pictures so poignant they kill me....

 I know I've shown these pics before,  but this book was new to me,  and I couldn't help myself.
.......truly overwhelmed by the gift.
  SO!  If you are local,  Myra is definitely worth hiring for your photography,  she is a true talent,  and a very FUN,  and sweet soul!  xoxoxo


she was able to capture my kids in a beautiful light....
so different from the random every day that I get to see! ;)
hee hee!






he's a morning person just like ME can you tell!  ha ha ha!
so on that note,  I am off to walk the dog,

what?  Huh?
:)
 and get the kids out in the fresh air,  to explore my cool town!
 if you get a chance,  check these things out too,  you will NOT be disappointed!

  see you soon!
xoxoxo



 
 

In Bloom

I'm not gonna lie to you and tell you I haven't been in a funk for a LOoooOONg time now,
  All of this rain, and yucky weather,  not to mention the rotten economy,  and people repeatedly asking me how the shop is doing,  yadda,  yadda,  yadda.
  well,  eventually it's like chinese water torture and I can no longer TAKE it!
  In fact my mood has been so brutal lately that I spent some days in bed this week.
  I never do that.
 buy Shoooeey,  it felt great!
Great to just lie there and do absolutely NOTHING but read a book,  or a magazine,  and catch up with all of those scary ghost shows I DVR.  ha ha ha!
  Well people, you can only do that for so long in my world....
  So today, I felt the clouds parting,  and the fog lifting.
Slowly but surely.
  Sometimes this happens to creative people,  and regular old fashioned folks too,  and it's tough...but you CAN get through it!
  The Shop is plugging away JUST FINE by the way,  i'm not going anywhere......we have lots of new merchandise coming in,  and more lovely things coming in on the Horizon.
 We will weather this storm,  just like generations before us.
 So don't worry!
  In fact,  my ONE suggestion to people out there,  is if you want to dig yourself out of a depressing black hole,  STOP WATCHING THE NEWS!  START thinking positive,  and maybe as a country we can start this whole collective consciousness of positive thinking,  and maybe some good things will start to happen!
 funny thing is,  I never watch the news anyways!  ha ha ha!
but that little tid-bit was for those of you that DO.
 O.k.,  moving ON.   (you know how I like to keep it real here folks)
  SO! The sun has been out,  and we have been spending more and more time out doors.  it's been fantastic!
  MUDDY mind you,   but great nevertheless.

 the dog even has a spring to her step

 I will say,  thank Goodness for little dogs,  you can just whip them into the kitchen sink when they get muddy, which of course is every,  bloody SECOND you let them out these days,  but HEY!   i'll take mud any day over freezing temps!!!

 WE have enjoyed having the sweet sunshine on our faces....

and playing at the park

or creating in our bright and cheerful new living room...


 in fact perhaps it was that little girl of mine that helped me come up with my new creation......she is a perpetual source of inspiration,  and seriously SO full of life and happiness,  I have never seen anyone quite like her.

  She will look at the sunny side of things at ALL times,
today she found a heart in her pizza crust

here,  let me help you  (gosh I love photoshop!  ;)


 So today, being surrounded with all of these happy little people,  I started with something new........
working with a combination of materials,   wood,  paint,  canvas,  glue, paper,  and even a torn up tin can!

  I started to make some flower-people-canvas-thingeys.
maybe you'll think they are weird.
but I was actually kind of excited about them.
excited that maybe,  just MAYBE I am crawling out of my creative stalemate.
 So happily working along,  this is what I came up with....

layering vintage text on canvas,  and painting wood, the flowers part made out of a tin can that was cut and layered with paper.  (my Mom would KILL me if she new I wasted 10 cents on that returnable,  so SHHHHHH!  don;t tell!   :)
  I actually used 3!   lordy lordy!   



can you tell I'm pretty happy with them?  hee hee!
 but PLEASE,  be honest,  tell me,  do you like them?
or are they weird?
go ahead,  I can take it.


I liked laying in my bed.   ha ha ha!  :)


 Now after I made these two,  I had to pick up kids from school,  and headed out to run some errands,  namely getting the kids some new clothes because they're growing like weeds,
can I tell you there is NOT anything cute and exciting out there for girls right now.  unless you shop online.
that Miniboden is TOO die for,  but I was going cheap today.
just a few t-shirts,  and shorts.
  So while I was at Target picking up peanut butter,  and toilet paper,  I wandered over into the accessories aisle, 
and scored myself some really cute earrings for DIRT CHEAP.

for $8.99 are they not the cutest little things?
mind you, it's not that I want to encourage buying from these  big box stores,  but sometimes I can't help myself.  (im sorry)
  so of course,  after I accessorized I needed a tiny bit of makeup,
and found this adorable new line over there called
"pixi"
the name alone is adorable,  so I had to buy some.
eye-bag concealer of course.

i go through gallons of that stuff!  ha ha ha!
after all i'm in bed all day.   JUST KIDDING!
anyways,  this comes with a little hi-lighter and some eyebrow
pink glowing stuff,  so I am thinking it's gonna work some pixi-magic type thing on me,  we shall see.
  anyways,  came home after the shopping extravaganza,  and finished up my last flower girl-kooky-canvas thing......
so now there are 3.





with TEETH!   hee hee.
 so that's THAT!
 I am done for the day,  it's only 1:16 in the A.M.!
but Hey!  I accomplished quite alot today,  and am thrilled at the rusty wheels starting to turn again.....
  I hope all of you out there are doing o.k. too!
 Just Know we are ALL in this together,  we WILL get through it!
  SO remember to try and look at the silliest of things,  take time to smell those flowers,  peak under those muddy leaves,  and see the new things sprouting.... there is beauty in the simplist of things,  and we have SO much to be happy for!

(or on the other hand, you could give yourself that extra day in bed,  I promise I won't tell a SOUL!  :)
xoxoxoxoxo




 

feelin Springy!

I have spent the past few days rearranging the shop and adding new product to the mix,  enjoying changing the shop over into a nice a restful spring pallette.
  I will say that it's kind of a departure for me,  removing the color,  and going for more sedate tones,  but it's kind of nice to shake it up once in awhile!
  So right now I have transformed the front of the shop into a kind of French garden-style feel.
more linens,  and browns,  robins egg blues,  and serene tones.
I kind of like it!



turquoises, browns, patinas,  it's all so nice and soothing.
reminds me of earth,  and fresh things sprouting, so happy to see the fresh green grass again!

birds eggs are always a welcome sign.










and because you know I can't COMPLETELY remove the color from my life,  I am working on some pretty little linen pillows

and I changed the rustic room over to a simple "red" room.
clean, simple,  fresh....



 Also still working on tweaking my own living room at home,  and since it's clear i'm into clean simple graphics,  I have been playing around with what to put on that wall above my couch.
  So I made a simple painting.....

just messing around....

love those numbers....


and that;s about it for now!
so stop on by,  see what's new in store, and come smell the freshness!  we have our lovely lilac candles burning,  and the windows open with fresh breezes coming in,  it's SO nice to
be able to do that finally!
  more goodness is on the way too in the way of new product,and lovely table linens,  so keep your eyes peeled!
as always,  thanks for stopping by!
xoxoxo

Happy spot

Is it bad that I left a pot of soup boiling on the stove and totally forgot about it?
 yes,  that's what life is like these days,  running,  rushing,  twirling,  you all know the deal!
(don't worry,  i caught it in time before the house burnt down)
 So These past few days I have been trying to find my Happy spot,
soaking up as much sunshine as I can

 because,  yes,  it's still 17 degrees outside, and although it's sunny out, my face wants to crack off and shatter when i walk from my house to the car.

So inside I am surrounding myself with beauty and color.....

painting, sewing, thinking....








my faithful companion by my side

some projects have proven NOT to be worthy of my attention ANY LONGER!,
or passed my intense quality control,  so I am moving on now to fabric,  and house pillows.
 we need some spring cheer in the shop,
so it's my goal today to work on that, in the few remaining hours I have left before getting the kids.

 but I will say that we have been getting in some absolutely WONDEFUL things these past few days,  with MORE on the horizon,
like gorgeous table linens,  and lovely jewelry,
but for now I will leave you with a few pictures of what came in yesterday in VERY limited quantities.....
i could faint they are so cool!  (insert imagining me doing a little Happy dance here.)

you know how I just love that red or swiss cross!

do those just not transport you to someplace that screams
"SUMMERTIME"!
how about it photographed like this......

or this

with fresh picked flowers from your garden,

instead of faux flowers on a 20 degree deck.
shhhhh,  I did NOT just say that!
 mentally I am some place tropical, and that's where i'm staying all day today!
  thanks for taking a little peek over here,
and stay tuned for more goodness to come soon!
xoxoxo
oh,  and please feel free to click on the above pictures to see them ALL in their big, glorious, colorful FULL sized image-selves for those of you, like me, that need that extra little burst of color!   ;)