Okay, we are rounding the corner of our week long studio tour today.  You can go here and here to see the first two parts.


This area is designated for paper projects.  There are blank tags, paper scissors, small bits of ribbon and loose buttons in the pretty containers on my blue painted table.

Welcome back for part two of my studio tour.  If you missed part one, you can find it here.


We are continuing on from the desk along the same wall today starting with my art cart.  I bought this a couple of years ago at IKEA and love it.  I could actually use a couple more around the studio.

I thought it was about time I shared a tour of my studio with you since it is probably the place in our home that is most reflective of who I am and the area that provides me a safe shelter in life's storms.


My studio/craft/sewing room has been in just about every room in our home but I love it's current location most of all.  I am upstairs facing the street with a view of the nearby foothills and shaded by our large California Ash trees.

I've joined a group of ladies on facebook who are over 40 and fashion conscious.  It is just the most amazingly encouraging group and proof positive that you can reach those middle-ish years in style.  I also love that these are real women in all shapes and sizes and they are all beautiful and kind and inspiring.


The group has upped my accountability to get dressed in more than pj's or sweats (on most days) and to continue my walking on a consistent basis. I thought it would be fun to share with you on Wednesdays what I've shared with them the previous week.


Most of the photos are just selfies taken with my smart phone so they may not always be the best quality but hopefully they will still encourage you to have fun with fashion and remind you that you are worth fixing up for.  As silly as it seems in the midst of all the worries of the world, I do feel better when I take the time to get dressed.



Okay, I'll step off my soap box now and wish you all a great Wednesday and to all of you who have served or loved someone who is serving or has served, Happy Veteran's Day and thank you for your sacrifice to our country.

xo, Patty

I am happily spending my days in full on nesting mode now that our temps have finally taken a dip. There is just something about the cooler and shorter days that makes me want to hunker down and spend time in the kitchen.


I have decided this will be the year of soup and bread making.


I got started on Monday making this knock off of the Olive Garden's pasta e fagioli.  I loved it but my husband said it was just okay.


I also made this pizza bianca recipe that I found on Edie's blog, life in grace. Another good one that I will definitely be using as my home made pizza dough recipe from now on.  It was quick to put together and makes a good bread for any soup you make.


This week I am going to be making Chicken Tortilla soup.  My husband likes to have a bread or sandwich with soup or it really isn't a meal to him, so I'm open for suggestions.  What sounds good with chicken tortilla soup?  And while your thinking about soups and breads, what are some of your favorite recipes

Happy Friday and have a wonderful weekend.

xo, Patty

Sometimes it seems I have so many irons in the fire that I just need to stop a minute and take stock. Maybe make a few lists and breathe a sigh of relief and gratitude for what I've come through and note the progress I've made.  I'm sure you feel the same way.


Today's post is just a little catch up, a recap of things that I shared in October and what progress I've made.

- I am still walking nearly every day.  I have been taking Tuesday and Sunday off mostly because they are the days that I have commitments fairly early in the morning.  I've even come to look forward to putting on my walking shoes and hitting the pavement.

- I went through a bit of a dry spell creatively last month but finally sat down and whipped up these little Christmas ornaments for a swap I'm involved in.  I think they turned out cute and may even offer a few in my Etsy shop later in the month.

- In continuing my intentional living I decided to purge one bag of stuff every day for the month of November.  I'm thinking a plastic grocery bag is a good size to fill.  It will either be trash or give away.  Wish me luck with this one.  I love the idea of less but am not always so good with the follow through.

- I have put myself on a personal spending freeze for the entire month of November.  Ouch, it's only the second and I'm feeling the withdrawals.  I think I finally have to face the fact that no matter how much purging I do, if I keep bringing stuff home I will never clear the clutter.

- I shared how I want to be more intentional in the time I spend with my husband.  We have decided to read the bible together.  We have chosen the book of Galatians and will each read a chapter a day and then discuss it the next morning over coffee.  This is huge for us and something I've prayed about for a lot of years.  (I'll share more on this another time.)


That's about it here.  How was your October in review?

xo, Patty

Can I just say how excited I am that it is November?  Well, I am so very excited.  It was a brutally hot September and October around here but there is relief in sight.


Because November is finally here.  You know how a lot of you feel about October?

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers." Anne of Green Gables

Yada, yada, yada...(as we swelter away in triple digit temps).

That's how we Southern Californians feel about November.  The temps will finally take a more consistent dip and the evenings and mornings will get down right chilly.

Swoon...


I think November is in a close tie with February for my most favorite month.  You see, February is for us like May is for you...but then that's a story for another day.


Happy November my faithful friends.

xo, Patty