The last Saturday of April each year is a big celebration in our little town. This will be the 16th year that we celebrate 'Greening Up the Mountains', a festival held in downtown Sylva, to welcome spring and the beautiful colors it brings with it. We get really excited when that lush green slowly creeps it's way up our North Carolina mountainsides.

   Strengthened by its early roots as an Earth Day celebration, the festival includes a focus on environmental protection, sustainability, and promotion of local businesses and civic groups. Our tiny main street fills with around 11,000 people who come to experience a talent show, craft demonstrations, musical acts, a 5K run, a kid's stage, fun storytelling, inflatables and great food. Adjacent to the festivities, our Farmers Market will be open until noon with beautiful cut flowers and plants, homemade jams, soaps, and fresh veggies.  

One of the sponsors of the event is our hospital, Medwest/Harris. They are undergoing a big project -- The New Generations Birthing Center. We are all really excited about this $3 million renovation project of the mother and baby section. There are big plans for the Birthing Center which include increasing the number of available labor and delivery rooms, implementing new technology, new furniture and fixtures, and offering a specific operating room for Caesarean sections. {Remember last years '70's Gala' that raised $60,000 for the renovation!!}

I was asked to paint a little photo op board for the hospital to use at the festival. I propped it up in the backyard for it's own photo shoot yesterday before delivering it to the hospital.

If you are at the festival, make sure you stop by, stick your head in and smile for the camera! Then visit their facebook page to see your cute baby pics.    

We are deep in the throws of our planning for this years Gala {our BIG fundraiser} at Harrah's Casino in August. Any guesses on what this years theme might be??? 

One week ago we were shocked at yet another attempt to defeat us...us...all of us. As children of God, we are all wonderfully and beautifully connected -- those in Boston that suffered unspeakable pain, those that are enduring the loss of a loved one, and those that ran, swiftly, toward the explosion. Towards it. They ran towards and into the chaos.

We are all connected.

They did this to us. Yet another unneccessary act of cruelty.

We are all terribly affected. We are all saddened. And we will continue to pray for Boston. 

(artwork via Lisa Kokin)    

Hope your weekend was wonderful! We had loads of warm sunshine which led to lots of happy dogs running laps through the neighborhood. We aren't quite to 'barefoot grass running' yet, but I think we are so darn close. And you know the best part of the week after Easter??? Cadburys are 50% off!! I just can't explain how happy Cadbury Eggs make me and I'm certainly not going to admit how many full-priced Cadburys or how many half priced Cadburys my lips have enjoyed in 2013. Let's just say that I have a few more hidden in the house and just that knowledge makes me incredibly happy.       

Know what else makes me incredibly happy??The amazing talents found at The Black Apple.

Peony Print

Pansy Print

Shirley Poppy Print

Emily Winfield considers herself a 'curiosity peddler and picture scribbler'. With several published childrens novels, custom dolls, and paintings in her portfolio {not to mention over 23,000 sales in her etsy store!}, I say, she's quite amazing and incredibly humble. Last month she released her newest series, Out of the Woods.

Boy and Bee

Little Mr. Beekeper is from this collection and it may just be my favorite. How adorable is that rosy cheeked little sweetheart ?? {and take a look at the bee wallpaper behind that cutie}. Don't you just want to take him to get some ice cream and ask him about his day??? 

Masked Evaline

Wild Rose

To see lots more of Emily's artwork, visit her etsy store here, and to read her blog, click here.

{Fyi--my spoon flower turned out so great!! I need to run to Dollar Store to get a vase and then I will show you the final product.}

Part of what I love about my job is there is nothing mundane, nothing day-to-day, and nothing predictable about my schedule. Currently, I am working on an outdoor rustic spring wedding, an enormous mountain home remodel, a huge Gala fundraiser at the Casino, a waterfront home in Florida, and then, of course, the important mom stuff of dealing with spring break, Jack's driving lessons, the Prom, sports schedules, and a too-soon Graduation. It's enough to make my head swim and to feel a little multi-personalitied {new word}. It appears that Seletti knows exactly how I feel and made a hybrid dinnerware collection just for me.      

Perhaps it doesn't appeal to everyone, but I love this crazy combo of eastern and western styles merged together. I tire of china patterns faster than T. Swift changes boyfriends, so this idea of mixing it up is seriously doing it for me.  

All of my personalities are wishing you a wonderful Easter weekend!!