James Stewart-Payne is the outgoing, gregarious creative behind the shop, Peacegoods. And, she just so happens to live just a few miles down the road. She shows her sweet wares at our Jackson County Farmers Market each Saturday, among other venues. James says 'I believe that art should be inspiring, invigorating and glorious and should not be relegated to just one's wall. Therefore, that selfsame inspiration and fine artistic execution is found in everything I create, from aprons to wall hangings to pin cushions or a child's plush toy. Bringing heart and art into one's life and home.'

In James words: 'In this little shop, you will find exquisitely made toys, owls, and children's wear for your little people. For you, we have bags, studio gear, from journal covers to pincushions and artist's rolls, as well as aprons and sweet sundries. There are also fabulous creations for your home as well: pillow covers, placemats and table runners, art for your wall or your shelf, among the many offerings. Each day I create and craft something beautifully and uniquely made. And my creations change daily. One day I may be inspired to craft tea cozies. Yet the next day may find me elbow deep in wool making goblins or pincushions or perhaps monster hats. It does change. Each day is new. Each day presents itself as a new day to explore, connect and create.'

 (peacegoods}

 {peacegoods}

 James creates lots of dolls, but refuses to make the same doll twice. They are all one-of-a-kind, so if you see one you love, snag it! 

{peacegoods}

Have you seen Rue Magazine May edition? This online magazine is getting better and better! One of my favorite articles featured the home of the one-of-a-kind designer, stylist, writer, public speaker and blogger Valerie Hart.

How fun is the framed collection of the Hermes bags {etsy!} hung on the upholstered green walls in her bedroom?

On her blog, Visual Vamp, Valerie gives us a behind the scenes of her bedroom design and she shares the sources for the fabrics and furniture that she used {the rugs came from Wal-Mart!! She used 2 smaller ones to create 1 large one.}. High style on a low budget--who would have thought??

When I first saw the photos, my eyes went straight to those fabulous monogram pillows. I love, love, love the font she used and the clever interpretation using the '&'. 

No symmetry on this gallery wall!! It's whimsical and eclectic and just fun.

To see the article in Rue click here. And to see Valerie's post on her sources click here.

{images 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 - photography by Sara Essex Bradley }

In a few weeks my baby will be 14.

He has always been an old soul. Soft spoken, few words, crazy smart and incredibly kind. Ever since the day he was born and his eyes looked into mine, he was a mama's boy, which I have openly encouraged to the nth degree. He knows that I reside in the palm of his hand. He has always given me the sweetest compliments and endures the barrage of endless kisses and enormous bear hugs that his Gigi {my mom} continues to smother him with. He has no problem, even at 13, loving on his mom in front of his friends. Sigh..... 

He kisses me good-bye when he leaves in the mornings and hugs me upon arriving back home. At night, we all sit together on the sofa and watch TV and often he will gently pick up my hand and give it a soft kiss. Yeah---he's kinda awesome. {And nobody is allowed to tell him about this post. Deal?}  

Last night we were on the sofa watching TV. I was typing on the computer with my right hand and scratching Jack's back with my left. He turned and looked at me and softly said 'Mom'. I half-heartedly replied with a 'hmmm?' and glanced over at him. He delicately placed each of his hands on my cheeks and looked at me intently. We locked eyes. Raising his warm left hand from my cheek, he took his pointer finger and lightly traced a line from my right eyebrow straight across to the left. His eyes following his finger as it then sweetly and gently traced around my lips and then rested back on my cheek. My heart was pounding, it was so full of incredible immeasurable love for this sweet, sweet boy. I was thinking fondly of the luckiest of all girls who will one day have her face held by these tender hands.

We lock eyes once again, our faces only 18" apart. And with barely more than a whisper, he again says 'Mom?,' 

 'Yes, Jack?' I reply, just as softly.

'You look old'

pause

pause

{Maris begins uncontrollable laughter} 

'Seriously, Jack?????? You are just now coming to this conclusion?????!!!!!' I ask.

'Pretty much' he offers, drops his hands, and gets up off the couch.      

Did I mention his cunning sense of humor? Yeah....there's that.

This best be signed 'love, Jack' on Sunday.

{image going home to roost via etsy}

But seeing this bench only continues my hanky-panky with Mr.Chiang Mai Dragon.

'Good stuff' is right.

*I have Caitlin to thank for keeping this reptilian romance hot and heavy* 

{because this is a family blog, I'm going to resist explaining what the addition of the nailhead trim is doing up in here}