searching for a schedule

being at home this week has kind of felt like a vacation.  that being the case i have to tell myself that this is not a vacation.  i'm supposed to be using this time to figure out what i really want to be doing with my time.  of course we know i want to spend as much time with lilly-lu as possible.  watching her grow and develop is going to be a God send.  working out and getting back to a healthy weight should also be on my priority list.  with all this being said i'm afraid my blogging is going to be a little sporadic until i can figure out a schedule.  

i will try to be good and post daily but i can't make any promises for the next couple of weeks.  i leave you with a little picture of my lilly-lu and her first trip to the zoo.

meet her kitty, Bosley.  she loves her kitty and he goes everywhere with her.

until next time...

monica

sunday afternoon project

for my best bud's baby she asked if i could make some letters for his playroom which was being done in Where the Wild Things Are.

of course i leaped at the opportunity!  she wanted a set that were made like the ones i had done for my lilly-lu.  here are those.

she wanted the same theme but different colors and no girly bugs.  so, here is what i came up with...

                            

i started with a nice navy blue acrylic paint.  

then i semi-mixed the navy paint with some cream paint so create a swirl of colors.

it made a lovely shade of dutch blue.

then with a medium brush i brushed it with a heavy hand making sure it didn't go on too smooth. (the messier the better)

i let that dry and then sponged on a timber brown acrylic paint and kind of wiped and blotted at the same time.

the goal was to make the letters look like they were old and covered in dirt.

after the paint was completely dry i hot glued moss all around the edges.

some places i made the moss real thin and others i would just clump it on.

after the glue is good and dry i raked my hand lightly over the moss to knock most of the loose pieces off and then filled in the gaps with more moss.

after the moss was pretty stuck i went back and added some rust dyed raffia to pull in the other colors from the book.

i think they turned out pretty good and she loved them!

until next time...

monica

penciled art

recently my employer annouced that they were closing down our entire department.  this means i will have no job as of friday.  don't cry for me just yet.  i am excited to get the opptunity to stay home with my lilly-lu and work on my etsy dream. 

so, this leads into why the post...  my friend was cleaning out her cube and came across some sweet little drawings her son had done for her many years ago.

he would be mortified if he knew i was posting these. 

his momma loves Dr.Pepper

not sure why he drew this one but ain't it cute.

i love childhood innocence.

until next time...

monica

threads of color

i love color. 

sometimes my mood requires soft blues, peaches, and seafoam greens. 

other times i am feelin' saucy with cherry red, sun-blaze orange, and carribean blue. 

nothing brings a day full circle like a pile full of color. 

here is my array of embroidery thread that i rewrapped around spools made from toilet paper rolls.  

i am very excited to start using them with my glovelies.

until next time...

monica

i'm awesome!!! no you're not dude don't lie

i heard this hilarious song on the radio last week and i can't get it out of my head.  if you have not heard the song I'm Awesome by Spose then go listen to it!  it is so funny.  i would have linked the music file to this post but i couldn't really find a good one.  a tad dirty but i think its the actual music beat and not the words that i truely love.  it reminds me of Office Space which is by far one of the funniest movies ever! 

i love the above scene in the movie.  it reminds me of my former job. 

go watch the movie and then listen to the song and you'll know what i mean.

until next time...

monica

shopping local is the thing to do!

local shops are the best.

if you don't live next to any, shop on etsy.

today i heart shopping local (and i don't mean the mall).

Vintage Red Band/Stripe

COFFEE CUP/SAUCER

Hotel / Restaurant Ware

Coffee Bean Burlap Bag Costa Rica

this would make a neato-pillow.

Mini Chalk Board Tags,

Plant Marker, Place Cards,

Price Signs, Wine Charm

Re-purposed

Crochet pattern Spring Bloom hat

i know these are very random picks and they don't really have a theme

but i think its important to shop local. 

i live in East Texas and these picks are from local artists on etsy.

so go ahead and search your area for some fantastic finds.

you'll be surprised how many artists live around you and how

easy it is to help support your community.

until next time...

monica 

Lá Fhéile Pádraig

since today is the fantastic holiday of Saint Patrick's Day, lets get inspired with everything green.  i love this holiday, and not just because it represents my favorite country, Ireland.

a little history lesson, Patrick was born in Britain in the 5th century.  he was kidnapped and inslaved in Ireland when he was 16.  he escaped and returned home and studied to become a priest.  once he became a Bishop he said he was called by God to return to Ireland to save the Irish people.  he converted many to Christianity.  tradition says that he used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity.  wearing a shamrock or shamrock-inspired designs symbolized your devotion.

what a beautiful lesson.  so now on with a few of my favorite green things.  these, of course, are etsy finds.

Flight

Leaf Stencil TShirt

Sage Pixie Hat

Fleur Filigree Headband

Street Lights Feather and Button Clip

Lambswool Spring Green Marsh

Envy -  Flower Headband

WenchHussyFloozy Changepurse

Arden

In Her Rebelious Youth

Five Butterfly Vase Midori

Flying Sparrow w/Leaf Necklace

Hand knit Leaf Wrap

i hope everyone has a safe and happy St. Paddy's Day.

until next time...

monica

this old house

old house 1, originally uploaded by monica doyle schiller.

i love this old house. i took this photo in San Fancisco when my hubby and i visited his sister in april. we had the most fabulous time. if you have never been to SF i suggest you go.

until next time...

monica

i heart my toes

i looked at my feet today and realized that i have been ignoring them.  i guess thats what happens when you have a 4 month old.

i personally love my feet.  i think they are perfect.  i love my crooked toe that i broke during my Senior year cheerleading tryouts (which i made by the way).  i think it gives my feet character.

my toes are perfectly shaped.  my arch is so elegant.   is it wrong to brag about your feet?

i took this picture sitting in a roof-top bar in San Francisco.  i looked down and thought, "oh my, my feet are so lovely."  i especially love these shoes.  they are fabulous!  they go with absolutely everything.

don't worry, i don't have a foot fetish.  i just think my feet belong on the cover of magazine is all.  thanks for listening to my friday jibber-jabber.

until next time...

monica

team edward

oh the world of Twilight is oh-so-amazing!  yes my fellow friendly feathers...i am her.  that annoying girl that squeals with delight over compassionate/charming/sexy vampires and hunky werewolves.  the girl that imagines herself into the fantasy world of forbidden love.   (not the evil ones of course, just the love-sick ones found in teenage novels) 

                                          image from fan-pop

i read these books at super-sonic speed all right in a row.  of all people, my mom, turned me onto this saga.  i could barely contain myself as i had to force my eyes to slow down and not get ahead of my brain as i read. 

how is that an individual such as Stephenie Meyer can suck you in just like that?  i had to take a small break during the reading of New Moon.  my heart was bursting with emotion as i felt like i was living in Bella's shoes; writhing in pain because my beloved Edward left me. 

am i crazy?  am i a complete loon?  i know i am not the only love-sick-vampire-groupy out there.  yes i'm talking to all yall out there....you know who you are.

i have to say that i was not as impressed with the movies as i was the books.  of course i am obsessed with the printed word and love book clubs, books stores, and anything "book" related.  even my love of coffee and tea is just an eventful reminder of my devotion to books.  do i really drink coffee for its eye-opening characteristics? i think not my friends.  am i a lover of the kindle?  not so much....  the printed word is my escape...my own personal heaven. 

so thank you Stephenie Meyer.  thank you for giving me my heavenly escape.

until next time...

monica

welcome to my lair

i try most days to get a blog entry out there.  of course that doesn't always work.  each day i can't help but go over and over in my head what i want to blog about.  i try really hard not to hope for new followers but everyday i open my dashboard and think... "please oh please let someone care about what i type."

so today i decided to blog a thank you.  so thank you my friendly followers.  even if you don't read me everyday i appreciate the following.

since i didn't post my etsy favorites yesterday here they are today...

1. Mia Beads

2. little brown bird

3. Sophie Isobel Designs

4. Sweet Pea Totes

until next time...

monica

puppy love

i was going through some photos taken in the last few years and i ran across this sweet photo of a memorial to a lost puppy.

i took this in Hot Spring AR at this fabulous little b and b, Lookout Point.  this little statue said so much. the worn-down collar etched with the name Chester was just too much for my wee heart. 

Lookout Point Lakeside Inn has so far been my favorite bed and breakfast that we've stayed at.  its' so inspiring.  it's located right on the lake and has the most fabulous breakfast.  go check it out, you won't be sorry.

until next time...

monica

4 month old angel

whenever i'm away
i keep you in the small of my heart
the small of my heart
whenever i'm away
i keep you in the small of my heart
the small of my heart

small of my heart 

my precious angel turns 4 months old today. she is so perfect and such a blessing. 

happy 4 months my chiquitita

whistle while you work

boy what a week last week!  my corporate job is currently coming to an end at the end of march so i am preping for the newest chapter of my life.

i am hoping that i will be able to open my etsy shop by may.  oh my goodness now that i see it in type it seems so close!  i am so terrified and so excited all at the same time.  i currently can't post any photos of what i'm working on until i am confident they are just right.  i'm feeling a bit overwhelmed but i think that is good.  thats my passion boiling up i believe. 

wish me luck.  i have some projects for a friend that i will be starting tomorrow and i am so stoked to get a jump start.  photos to come...

until next time...

monica

i love giveaways

oh i love blogs that giveaway fabulous prizes.  the anticipation of it all.... the excitment... oh swoon. 

one of my favorite bloggers, oh, hello friend, is having a huge giveaway this week.  hop on over and check it out!

until next time...

monica

my own voice

i have always admired those around me that could speak and make the world shut-up and listen.  many times i feel as if my own voice is drowned out by those.  i have realized the only person drowning out that voice is myself.  i should write and just be glad that i am able.  i should not look for a huge following and just be glad i have a few. 

i have recently started following a new blog that i think is brilliant.  her name is marta and she has started a blogging workshop.  she completely gets me!  everyday i wake up, brew my morning cup-o-joe, and get all gitty because i can't wait to read the newest entry.  i feel like she is talking to me and trying to help me be the best blogger i can be.  another great thing about marta's workshop is that it teaches you how to blog for business.  i don't mean adsense.  i mean your own business.  like i am totally dreaming about my future etsy shop.  she is giving me the courage to not just dream it but make it a reality. 

i should be a walking billboard for marta.  go me!

until next time...

monica

all the pretty things...

lets celebrate the great day of tuesday by looking at some favorite etsy finds of mine.

jimena's shop ~ hotdog necklace

lou and lee ~ Betty's bunch headband

Anika Easter's Shop ~ Baroque Birdcage

i know one doesn't have anything to do with the other but i just adore these items.  they are whimsical and sweet.

until next time...

monica

lovely package exchange

i am super excited to be a part of the lovely package exchange hosted by oh, hello friend.  this is such a fabulouys oppotunity to meet new friends and show off your handmakin' skills.  so all yall bloggers out there join in get something lovely in return.

until next time...

monica