Red Shoes blog

re-coup, re-group, re-focus, relax

  Well I am finally coming around after a LONG and tiring Art fair week.
  We had a nice turn out,  but it was slower than last year of course due to the economy.
 regardless we still had a TON of fun,  seeing friends from out of town,  staying up until the wee hours of the morning,  eating bad art fair food, don't you just LOVE things on a stick!?  ha ha!
  OH,  and seeing great Art work of course!  :))
 We just Love the whole vibe of the Art fair,  so all in all it was a great time.  However,  I am still a tad worn out from it all!
 Of course Right after the fair,  we went straight into swim championships!  at the pool 6 hours a day!  2 days in a row.
 
my poor son was sicker than a dog,  but still wanted to participate.  he did well overall despite his illness.
  Fiona was a champ at her first ever swim championships!
my girl,  not the least bit nervous or afraid.
  where again did this child of mine come from?  she certainly can't be mine!  ;)

won her first trophy ever.  SO exciting for her!

wrapped up with a swim banquet....

and only 2 more weeks of Club wolverine left for my son till fall.
  So this week we are just decompressing from the past weeks events and just taking it easy.
  tending our micro farm...
 
tomatoes almost ripe for picking!

watering the flowers


eating fresh bounty from local farmers markets...yes,  I'm cooking for a change!  ;)


some art inspired from the garden.......

playing with the dogs.....

and my house....



and the shop...


wrapping up the last special orders for the week, and trying to catch up with emails!  OYE!
the next couple of weeks I might be heading down to North Carolina with my family where I can NAG my friend in PERSON. to make more yummy goodness for the shop  :)

oh how I love the number 5 necklace she made for us!
so much so,  this one stayed home with me!
but there is more of her fabulousness at the shop,  so come take a PEEK,  it's awesome!
 We also have some adorable,  and I mean ADORABLE little mini plaques from my other wonderful sweet friend Jenn that came in during art fair,  some take a peek at them too,  they will add that little something sweet you need to your walls!
oh and last but not least,  I will be spending some time
digging out my daughters bedroom.

she is a wild one I tell you.
I am tired just thinking about it.
so on that note,  I am off to blast myself out of a cannon.
hopefully to someplace magical and peaceful.
oh,  who am I kidding,  I like it just fine right here.  ;)
hope you all are well!
thanks for checking in!
XOXOXO



 

art fair sneak peeks

As promised.....here are a few things I managed to finish this week...click on photos to see larger...

mosaic pots.....one kids chair with recycled wool pillow and chair pad.

2 crooked house pillows!

and some bird and flower pillows

 that's about it for now, I didn't finish all that I had wanted, like my little domed worlds..

and some other things..
 but there's always next week and beyond....right?!!  :)
o.k.,  I'm off to bed!
early start tomorrow and it' all so exciting!
come visit!!
the vietnamese iced coffee is already brewin!
XOXOXO

Art FAir Mode!

  Whoo-hoo!  Art Fair starts tomorrow morning (wednesday July 15th) at 10 am! and runs until saturday the 18th!
they have already started closing off the street and the sights and sounds of Art fair will be happening soon!
  So needless to say we are in high gear wrapping up the last minute goodies......
I am still strapped to my sewing machine finishing up some last minute things that I have up my sleeve.
 I would post pictures but feel it may jinx me and I won't get them done! ;)
  SO I will leave you with a couple photos of merchandise we just got in and have down at the shop.
super cool stuff I tell ya!
 the shop is LOADED with new goodies,  and things keep coming in last minute of course,
but that's how it goes here!
 We also have tons of stuff on sale all conveniently placed in one room!  so stop by and see!
  anyways,  hope you like what new things we just got in!
 if I am lucky and finish up,
I might give sneak peeks later at what I am making,  you just never know!  ;)
 











oh o.k.,
ONE peek!  :)

my faithful little helpers at my side always!

 little stinker

 and old faithful

 one chair and pillow done!

more coming soon!  so stay tuned!  :))

XOXOXOXO!!!!!
 See you SOON!!!

Christmas in July!

Step right up!  I am selling tickets to the crazy bus!  ha ha!
                ShOOOEy!  summer is busy isn't it?
                          oh my word.
 
anyways, Phew!  thank you all very Kindly for the nice comments you left on the last post!  I would have written you back,  but someone has to drive this thing!  ;)
you are ALL so very sweet and I thank you so much for that!
  I am just popping in quickly today because I am strapping myself to my sewing machine to work on a few goodies I have up my sleeve before art fair next week.
  But I wanted to let you all know we are having some big sales down at the shop this week!
  we have brought up our christmas stock and are selling some REALLY cute things for cheap!
  we also have marked down a ton of other stuff as well,  I am in purge mode getting ready for what we have coming in next week, and oh boy is it cool!
 so stop on by and snag a deal or two before it's gone!
  have a great Tuesday!
 I'm back to sewing!
   yippee!!!!

on being succinct

O.k.,
I have decided as a rule, partly because I am reading the "elements of style" by StrunK and White and brilliantly Illustrated by my favorite Artist Maira Kalman I might add,  to start to keep this blog BRIEF!!
  I know It may be a stretch for me,  because I love to ramble on and on.
but I think mostly you come here for pictures,  and inspiration not voluminous amounts of words.
  SO instead of chewing up this blog with silly little stories,  I am going to try and keep things to a minimum.
now I will still tell stories that are too hilarious NOT to share,  but my goal is to be brief, and well,  more succinct.
maybe this will enable me to post more frequently,  who knows.
anyways,  that is my goal for today!
whoo-hoo! 
Funny how that was The Longest running explanation now wasn't it?
Strunk would be rolling around in his grave!  ;)
 anyways!
without further dribble...
here are some fun things we have gotten on to the shop THIS week!

I am especially fond of the book
"I was a really good mom before I had kids!"  hilarious!


beautiful paper products

itty bitty precious note cards

cool little camera shaped photo albums...

french journals
plus we have gotten in a  fresh shipment of liquid french soaps,  and some of the great French lotion that has been on backorder for awhile.
  I have also started working on some new things,  in between shuttling kids here and there...

some kooky dolls,

kids soaps,
and Pillows!
Art fair is coming up soon,  so i am working frantically behind the scenes to prepare for that!
  So on that note,  I will wrap this up!
how did I do?
I know,  I know,  still a mile long,  but at least it wasn't as bad as usual!
 a girl has to start somewhere right!?  :)
have a great fourth of July weekend everyone!
the shop will be closed this saturday so we can celebrate the country's birthday,  but we will re-open again on monday!
yay!
XOXOXO