Nice is nice

The French Riviera, or Cote d'Azur, is known for its captivating scenery, Provencal culture and cuisine, charming villages and overall joie de vivre (joy of life). As one of the most alluring regions in France, it's the perfect destination for travelers in search of extraordinary food and wine.

Stunning water of the Mediterranean

The French Riviera has year round temps in the 70s!

I stayed in the medieval village of St. Paul de Vince 15km north of Nice.

And a room with a view

On my way to Monte Carlo

No one comes close to European architecture

And no one makes coffee like the Europeans!

I definitely fit right in

Au Revior, France. I will see you again soon!

Distressed "Home made" Journals

Hand-written journals have always played a major part of my life since I was a boy.  I'v used everything from a composition book for fifty cents to some of the most expensive leather journals on the market.  Finding the perfect journal for yourself or a gift for someone else can be a challenge.  Most products are only basic black leather {which I have many}, and after a while, everybody ends up having the same thing.

Here is a neat way to personalize even the dullest store-bought journal on the market and to tailor it to your liking by adding your own personal touch.  These journals also make great gifts and encourages and actively promotes the lost art of journal writing.

These store-bought journals are made with a hard-cover cardboard and are perfect for tailoring.  Cardboard or chipboard lends itself well to glue, stamps, and tape

-Add washi tape to create a faux spine for both the the inside and outside of the book.

-I glued a glassine bag to store keep sakes

-Customize by printing your own text from the computer, stamping or adding lace.

-Glue a mini envelope onto one of the pages for small items. I use mine for business cards and scrap paper.

-Distress the edges with stamp ink and a paper towel for a vintage look

I'm big on keeping receipts.  They commemorate that special place or meal you shared with a loved one.

-Glue a library card pocket or create your own pockets on the computer and print with your favorite font. {This way you are not bound by commercial rubber stamp fonts}.

-Use a mini food paper sack and glue a printed sheet on top.

-Also, you can use specialty scissors to create a custom fun look.

-Washi tape for faux spine

And finally, use distress ink and a paper towel to give your pages that vintage look.  You will always have a commemorative treasure that no one else has and something to remind you of the wonderful events and memories in your life.  

-Customize for a particular travel destination

-Customize for a particular season or event

-Leave pages blank for adding pictures or autographs

Try it!  Enjoy.

Vintage-Inspired Frames

Who doesn't look forward to the fall season?  The temperature in Dallas is 101 degrees today but that didn't stop my creativity.   These vintage-inspired frames are simple to create and add a bit of nostalgia to any room in the house.  Enjoy!

I found these store-bought frames for cheap and took the backing and the glass out.

Then tie jute string creating your clothes line for art that you plan on displaying.

Be sure to pull and tie your knot to where you can pluck the string like a guitar.

I added some old stamps and inspiration stickers using a glue stick {left over from my teacher days}

Add your favorite photos and/or creations. Hang anywhere.  

Mason Jars

I came up with this cute idea just this week.  Even though I am no longer teaching, I still enjoy being crafty and giving others free gifts.  A friend of mine is moving to a new office so I decided to make a unique gift for her and two others in my office.  It's filled with fun office supplies, which you can never go wrong.   The great thing about these is you can personalize it to that specific friend or loved one.  In this case,  they like to travel, so I took some decorative paper and cut it to size... then just curled it inside the jar.  And the best part is that it is unique to them.  The items inside may be store-bought, but the time you put into it is what counts.

Here's what's inside.  Most everything was found in the dollar shelves.

Use washi tape for everything!  

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The jars also make a decorative piece in the house as well

And always hand-make your tags or card.  Stamp it with their initials and/or something they love

It's Christmas Tide

I hope you all are enjoying your winter so far.  The tree is up and of course, the cats are curious.  I was so happy to try out my fireplace!  It adds to the vintage nineteenth-century feel of my home, which is what I was going for.  

Christmas is a season of praise and thanksgiving.  The time prior to Christmas is referred to as Advent.  The liturgical season of Advent marks the time of spiritual preparation by the faithful before Christmas.  The historical origins of Advent are hard to determine with great precision. In its earliest form, beginning in France, Advent was a period of preparation for the Feast of the Epiphany, a day when converts were baptized.  As you travel through this season, do random acts of kindness. Sit. Reflect. 

A New Place

I can't believe it's been almost a year since I moved to the Dallas area.  It's been an adventure exploring new areas and new ideas.  Temperatures are more extreme than Houston {hots are hotter, colds are colder}.

I was so happy to discover this hidden gem of an apartment in my same neighborhood.  They were built in the 1970s...{older places just have more character, don't you agree?}
I waited for the right unit to open up...top floor, wooded view, fireplace. And sure enough, it did!

Many times {I included} find it difficult to be patient.  Many of us have the mentality that everything should be "microwaved" in to existence on our terms....we want it now.  But when we wait, and when we reflect on what we really truly desire, then, more often than not, we receive even more good things than we wished for!  King David waited almost thirty years before he was crowned...that's a lifetime of shepherding.
These are some quick iPhone snapshots...

I can't wait to use the fireplace! {About five more months until it gets cool...again...waiting}

The cats came right out and embraced their new surrounding with open paws

Annabel kept smelling this area of the fireplace...what could be in there!?

I found this kerosene lamp for only $5!  Doesn't it give the place a French atelier feel?  Or perhaps a New England seaside cottage?

Spring Colors

Okay, maybe spring has not completely sprung just yet {low 30s for Dallas today} but we can still enjoy the colors that spring has to offer.  You can find spring colors anywhere...even in your own home; just take the time to look.  Where are your spring colors?

Here is a spring poem written by a child...it's simple, and honest.

Spring is here,

Spring is here,

Goodbye snow,

Flowers grow.

Birds and bees,

Leaves on trees,

Spring is here,

Spring is here.

Spring colors on my music

Spring colors in my book

Spring colors on my coffee

Spring colors on my food...

I made fish tacos the past two days.  I tried it with tilapia and then catfish...definitely liked tilapia better.  Here's the recipe...let me know I you decide to try it!

-blacked tilapia

-diced organic tomato

-julienne red cabbage

-organic avocado 

-chopped cilantro 

-creme fraiche

-white corn tortillas

-blue corn chips

-lime and orange to garnish

These coffee stickers were from a place I used to frequent back in 2004 called Diedrich Coffee 

{it was a small chain} and they truly believed in the art of coffee.  Not only was their selection of coffee from all over the world, it was a wonderful place to sit and read for hours on end. Sadly, they were bought by Green Mountain in 2006 and all stores were either re-branded or closed down.  I was so happy to have saved this bit of ephemera.

Cat Postcard

Happy Easter!!
Browsing the antique stores here in town last weekend, I came across a vintage postcard from the 1950s.  I was able to scan it and create my own fun postcard to give to friends and family.

Look at the artistic detail and thought that was put into creating this masterpiece.  And I LOVE the name of the airline!  Air travel like this is a thing of the past.  But this piece of unique nostalgia is a reminder of how it used to be.   

I created a vintage look to the back of the card with a Western font.

Then I decorated a glassine bag with stamps and washi tape.  I think it makes a great gift in of itself!  Perhaps for a going away party or a honeymoon?  What do you think?

Have a blessed week,

Chris

Calling Cards

Calling cards were first introduced in France in the early 1800’s and caught on throughout Europe and America as an important social craze. The height of the popularity of the calling card era coincides with the reign of the Victorian Era.


I created this replica of Baby's First Steps once used as the perfect gift for any parent or guardian who wished to preserve the memory of their baby's growth and progress. 



I made the sleeve from a glassine bag and added the stamps and ornaments myself.



I also created one for baby's first tooth.  



And on the back, there's a spot for baby's name and date of the event.  Enjoy!