The Butterfly Collector

She Wore Yellow!

Inspired today by the mini roses on my back garden wall, by SARAP's very pretty photo print called Lemons and "When Life Gives You Lemons" fabulous apron by Red Button!

Spring Favorites!

In love with Spring Colours... here are some Flickr favorites for September! See where all these beautiful images by wonderful creative souls came from here!!!

Gilt Edge!

Golden Sunday Treats ...to adorn thyself ...Gold Beaded Rhinestone encrusted butterfly Headband from byme

for the wall "A Bit of Paris" Art Print by Artquirk

and for the kitchen ... this great tea towel with golden font from Materialistic!

Exploring the World! or three things I like today!

How To Be An Explorer Of The World by Kerri Smith.
I'm about to purchase this wonderful book for my little Birthday Boy who is two next week! It looks like a wonderful adventure!

The Art of Marc Chagall
Wow Marc, where have you been all my life? I've glimpsed his work, but never studied it or spent the time to admire. Things have changed and I'm taking notice! Love this work called Equestrine.

The creative mind of Gustavo Aimar
I love it all .. the colours, the illustrations... love, love, love!!!

True Love Treats!

Some things I truly love today! ...
One of my favorite photographer's Elle Moss has created a new book, Alice's Garden containing some of her latest still life work. Click over to her blog to see more!

I adored Woody Allen's film "Vicky Cristina Barcelona". It was witty, fun, sexy and thought provoking and made me want to jump on a plane! And lastly I truly love this photograph by Yvette Inufio, in fact all her shots are gorgeous. You can find her at her Etsy shop and her profile statement alone is worth a visit. It ends with this ..."I definitely think there are two kinds of people: those who walk in a hurry through life and those who stop and notice every detail on the way."

Pink and Pastel In Love !

I'm working on some Pastel Mixed Media Paintings and a search through my favorites turned up these beautiful inspirational images. Its been forever since I've written here and I really miss it! Time just for me is a precious commodity around here, but I love watching my little boys grow and I am working on my art as often as I can. I have learnt some big lessons this year already. For one ...To stop rushing and being stressed and to do everything in its own time. My mind and body are better off for it, my family is happier and I am living a more calm, balanced and happy life! And I am making Art that makes me happy, content and comes from my heart and spirit!
Above ... stencilled lace floor from My Marrakesh, Below gorgeous book styling by Rebecca Thuss

Above ... Pretty by Marmee Craft , Below Birds found at Cherry Blossom Girl and also Below a Collection of Pastel Flickr favorites from Elle Moss! Happy Wishes for a Calm and Pale Pink Monday!

eclectic soul!

Oh wow, I think I am finally over it! Our home's interior has been living very calmly in beachy aqua and white for the past four years. I think it may have been an attempt at adding some serenity to the toys scattered all over and the little bits of lego that are everywhere! Well finally I have decided not to fight against the tide of toys and accept they are here to stay! No I'm not giving up serenity, but have decided to embrace my eclectic side that is always trying to break through! Its time for some more colour, some creative expression, some more of me, no longer will the colour explosions live only in my paintings! Inspirations for my new decor include one of my favorite artists ... Frida Kahlo , also from one of my favorite flickr contacts to visit ... eclectic gypsyland! Doesn't everyone wish they had a gypsy caravan in their backyard or is it just me?

Wistful Wednesday!

I'm patiently waiting for the wind to turn this wistful Wednesday! Its incredibly hot this Summer's Day and we are looking at heading to the beach a little later. In the meantime here are some favorite finds for today!
Above .... She dreamed herself a Cypress Grove by A Fanciful Twist!

Lets Read Print by Yaelfran

And Biking Robot by Winborg Design

My Christmas Gift Secret !!! ( Or how to get what you really want for Christmas from your Partner and how to Save the World from Unwanted Gifts!!!)

Today I want to share my secret with the world of how I always receive a gift I truly want for Christmas from my husband and help save the world from unwanted gifts at the same time!

I let one of my girlfriends in on this yesterday and she told me I should let every woman in the world know and I agreed!...

Now I know my husband is like most of the guys out there who leave it to the last minute, who take a good guess but don't always get it quite right and sometimes truly has no idea what to get me as a gift!

He has given me some great surprises , but over the last few years I have developed a foolproof way of always receiving what my heart desires!!!......

ITS SIMPLE, ITS FUN and YOU MAY GET MORE THAN ONE!!!

You know when you were really little and you would write a letter to Santa and make a list of all the things you wanted for Christmas, well that's exactly what I do now except that letter is now addressed to my partner!!! I list five or so things I truly would love to receive! I give it to him a few weeks before and he picks one off the list and I still get a Surprise on the big day.

Sometimes I have been a very lucky girl and been given a few things on the list! He appreciates the mystery and confusion being taken away and I love that there is still a little bit of a mystery to what I am going to receive. We now do this for most occasions including birthdays and anniversaries too!

I have fine tuned this over the years though and here's some more tips to making it fun and easy for him too! ... 

1. Remember it doesn't need to be expensive! ( especially in these economic times!) Some of the things on my lists have been books, magazine subscriptions, favorite chocolate, movie tickets we can share, a facial or a pedicure voucher, gift vouchers from my favorite stores, CD'S,  a donation to a charity,  beautiful notebooks or stationery, handmade goodies or art prints from favorite artists on line! All varying in price and usually under $50!

2. Give Directions! Tell him where the store Is!, Where It is in the store! OR  Where it is on the website!

3. I avoid asking for clothes, but if you think your partner is up to it then write down sizes, descriptions, store item codes and colours!

4. Make it easy and make it fun for him ( ie. send him to a book or music store where he will enjoy browsing) and he will want to keep doing it when he sees how appreciative you are! ......

On Christmas Day there are no disappointments, no returns to make to stores, no re-gifting and no waste! Just a perfect present that you really wanted!!!

I now do the same thing for him too and I think it would be a great thing to do next year with the whole family as a Kris Kringle event. Everyone will receive one special thing that is truly wanted at a limited monetary value and the family will save money, time wondering what to buy and waste too! We could even donate some of the money saved to a charity or community organization! And to make it environmentally friendly we could use only recycled paper and cards and then recycle them again!

They say that many presents given in the world are un-wanted, exchanged, re-gifted to others or returned soon after the silly season is over. I say lets make a change to more positive gift giving and a less greedy, wasteful future! 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Butterfly Collector!

Images ... wall tree found here!,  stockings found here!, tree and baubles found here!, blue bon bons found here!

                

                 

 

Let's Stay Inside and Play!

Fabulous Inspiration board from Sonja Ahlers

the cutest room found here!

And gorgeous Antique Botanicals found via Anastasia's Flickr Page! If you feel like a treat watch her flickr favorites as a slideshow! I just loved watching each and every one!