There's no place like home

Last week I sat down at my studio desk and prayed to the paper crafting gods for easy-flowing inspiration to craft and complete a housewarming gift for my niece, Jennifer.

I love the completed project which, I must say, came together without a hitch (and without a trip to the craft store).

'Love builds a happy home'

The shape of the house was made with a food product box, taped together then covered with old text & mod podge.

Then the fun began!  This and that from my hoard of paper, ephemera, and fabric. The chimney, a wooden spool from Grandma Dorothy's sewing basket.

After a fun night with Jenny and husband, we went to the Junk Salvation show in Hillsboro, OR where we found (and bought) treasures to adorn our homes. If you love funky junk/re-purposed old stuff and antiques, Junk Salvation is having another event June 21 and 22nd at the Puyallup Fair Grounds.  I recommend it. It's a chick thing so have your husbands stay at home.

photo courtesy of athingforroses.blogspot.com

In closing, I want to say something about creativity.  Quite often people comment about how creative I am - as if even a smidgen of creativity evades them. I STRONGLY disagree. We all create in some way. Arranging furniture to create a comfortable space, choosing a menu that not only includes choices from different food groups but involves color and texture, plopping flowers into a pot to sit on a deck, doodling absentmindedly, color coordinating bathroom towels to match a shower curtain, gardening, sewing... the list is endless.

courtesy of leoniedawson.com

Rearranging boards on Pinterest is not a creative endeavor. Creativity spawns creativity. Rearrange a shelf. Move around your decorative pillows. Grab a paint brush and paint a dresser in a bright color. Hang a picture or two. Put a vivid flower into a vase, place it on your window sill and contemplate its color. Move the vase to a different spot, testing the influence of its presence. You cannot get your creative juices flowing without first sticking your toe into the pool....