~Monday Mosaic~

Happy Happy Monday to you all!

(Also Cyber Monday!)

I hope all my American fellow bloggers enjoyed their long Thanksgiving weekend!

Silly bakers:

Our new dog is fitting in well:

What we did:

*Thanksgiving at our place- thanks to the in-laws*

*Lots of movie watching*

*Got all of Christmas shopping done!*

*Lunch date at Coho's with the hubby*

*Photographed 80 new items for my shop, listed another 34 new online so far!*

*Still breaking Lu Lu into her new home, she's adapting well!*

(for those who don't know who Lu Lu is chk here.  Our new rescued dog!)

*Healing my back- taking it easy!*

*Found some killer deals on boots! 2 pairs!!! Will post pics soon*

*Finished "Picture Perfect" by Jodi Picoult*

What a fun yet relaxing weekend we had!

Sometimes it's just nice to sleep in, relax, and just do nothing.

I feel like that's what we've been doing all weekend, and it's GREAT!

To express how I feel after all of our relaxing time:

Simplicity

How was your weekend?

Were you able to relax and enjoy life?

Pssst also made a new button for my blog!

I'm all about button love and exchanges, so if you take mine (on sidebar) i'll take yours:-)

~Fabulously Free Giveaway~ & ~Mosiac Monday~

Happy Monday!!!
So a little *Mosaic Monday* to prepare for our giveaway

1. orange and blue ... i love you, 2. Not a E-mail, 3. Sweet preparations ♥, 4. a few of my fav. tools..., 5. Lady Writes the Blues, 6. Free vintage black and white postcard texture for layers, 7. And now ... I have to find the words, 8. for marie, 9. AIR MAIL, 10. approved by the postmaster general, 11. Valentines Card 2009, 12. 388 and 392, 13. Would You mind getting the mail?14. Not available15. Not available16. Not available

Don't you just love good ole mail?!

I do! Way back here I posted "Operation Snail Mail". 

Go chk it out and join in! I have a few pen pals I gained from this, and love it!

Ok so speaking of love letters and mail . . .

***Another hand picked Fabulously Free Giveaway***

Hosted by TJ from the adorable Etsy shop

Ink and Iron

(LOVE letterpress card)

Me:"What influenced you opening your Etsy shop?"

TJ: "I opened my Etsy shop just to test the waters with my products to see if anyone would buy them. So far, so good!"

(you're hot-letterpress birthday card)

Me: "Where do you gather inspiration from?"

TJ: "Gosh, inspiration comes from everywhere. A car driving down the road, a photo online, clothing, a phrase or expression of speech, music, basically from anything I see or hear. You never know when inspiration will hit you, so when it does write it down!"

(we're a great match-letterpress anniversary card)

Me:"Give us 2 words to describe your personal style"

(Ring Box-letterpress engagement card)

TJ:"contemporary and classic"

Me: "What are your top 3 favorite shops/online stores?"

TJ:"j crew, theory, piperlime (I know, not super original, but it's the truth!)"

(happy face-letterpress birthday card)

Me: "What was the BEST handmade gift that anyone has ever given you?"

TJ: "I don't think I've ever gotten a handmade gift!"

Me: "Tell us a little bit about your creative process."

(XOXO infinity letterpress card)

TJ: "My creative process starts with an inspiration. I run a lot of my ideas by one of my besties to see what she thinks. If she thinks the idea is worth pursuing, then I move onto brainstorming ways to execute the idea. Once I've decided on the best solution, I usually got through quite a few revisions before I get to the final design or illustration."

 

Me: "What is your favorite item in your shop, or your top-seller?"

(letterpress birthday card-great sentiment)

TJ: "My favorite product is the birthday dots card. It has such a special message."

Me: "Besides your wonderful items in your shop, what are some of your other creative outlets/hobbies?"

TJ: "Some of my hobbies are running, working out, and recently I'm getting into photography (although I have no idea what I'm doing yet!). I also love horseback riding and flying, but I haven't been able to indulge in these pastimes lately."

Me: "What do you want others to get out of your items/shop?"

(when adam was lonely-letterpress marriage card)

TJ: "You know, it's a lot easier to buy a greeting card from a store front, so I really appreciate when someone makes the effort to order a card on Etsy. Since they took the time, I really want my customers to be happy with the product; I just want them to be happy."

Me: "Is there anything else that you would like to share with us about you or your fabulous creations?"

TJ: "Just that they're all handmade with love!"

The Giveaway:

~Win $25 worth of her lovely product!!!~

To enter:

(please use a seperate comment per entry!)

*Go visit Ink and Iron and tell me your fave item (1 entry)*

*Tell us what kind of card you would like to see in her shop (1 entry)*

*Be a fab follower of my blog (1 entry)*

*Be a fan of Memory Bean Designs on Facebook (1 entry)*

*Favorite Ink and Iron on Etsy (1 entry)*

*BLOG about this giveaway (2 entries!)*

So many ways to win!!!

***Giveaway ends midnight PST Monday Aug 8th***

Winner will be picked randomly:-)

Ready, set, win!!!

P.S. if you haven't read it yet, chk out my "August Charity Spotlight"

***MWAH***

~My Secret Garden~

Gardening Fun
Originally uploaded by memory bean designs

The rains stopped for one day here . . . so we could work on our yard!

I am now the proud owner of my own little Secret Garden . . .

*My corn "field"*

*Swiss Chard, Peppers (jalapeno, yellow, green, etc), Peas, and Spinach*

*Leeks, Walla Wall Onions, Beand, Cucumbers and Radishes*

*Our grape plant is finally producing!*

I soooo want a tree swing in my garden!

(source)

This is how happy I'd be in mine:-)

(source)

The Swing:

"How do you like to go up in a swing,

Up in the air so blue?

Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing

Ever a child can do!

Up in the air and over the wall,

Till I can see so wide,

River and trees and cattle and all

Over the countryside--

Till I look down on the garden green,

Down on the roof so brown--

Up in the air I go flying again,

Up in the air and down!

~Robert Louis Stevenson, The Swing

(source)

Oh there's just something magical about gardening.  Watching things grow from a small seed into something beautiful, OR edible! (yum!)

Anywho I am a happy gardener, and will keep you posted on my little farm.  I can't wait to just go grab tomatoes, lettuce, and everything for a salad right from my back yard!

Any of you have a veggie garden? Any gardening tips??

Hope you all are having a fabulous weekend!

I am off to a work retreat at a cabin until Tues

(this will be the longest time away from my hubby since we married! 2 nights, sad! But I am bringing his t shirt with his cologne on to sleep with lol)

And when I get back . . . I will pick the winner of the Heather Evan Smith Giveaway!!!

"God's Acre - Original Signed 5x7 Fine Art Photograph"

So if you haven't entered . . . do it!

~Tamara Nicole~

"Earth laughs in flower."-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

And . . . RAIN

Spring Rain
Originally uploaded by memory bean designs

So we've had extremely warm weather for Seattle lately (like 60 woo hoo!) and super sunny.

Yeah this morning we had rain! Ok and I'm alright with this, it's Seattle anyway and that's why it's

SO GREEN

out here and gorgeous, I can't complain:-)

.

1. {dare to dream - explored], 2. *s.p.l.a.s.h.i.n.g*, 3. Rain puddle..., 4. .singin'., 5. Day 353/365--Happy (Rainy Day) Bench Monday!!, 6. You Contain Me, 7. Perfumery, 8. Colors of Heaven !!, 9. "Lluvia de Arcoiris", 10. red drops, 11. Rain Boots!, 12. ~ Double Decker ~, 13. october child. libra sun. autumn lover. ♥s rain.14. Not available15. Not available16. Not available

Using our weather as inspiration . . . I found these lovely rain photos. I totally want to go buy some cute rainboots and an adorable girly umbrella!

ACTUALLY I've been searching high and low for red/white polka dot rain boots, sooo sad they're all sold out EVERYWHERE.

And I'm all about my red/white polka dots, how sad :-(

So votes please!!! Which of the following do you think I should get?

Enjoy your Wednesday!!!