Some New Favorites - Friday Finds

River Deep - Ziegfeld showgirl mixed media print from Velvet Morning - $13.00

This week's Friday Finds are handmade goodies pulled from my Etsy favorites. These are just some pretty handmade pieces that I stumbled across this week and wanted to share! Enjoy!

You and Me - photo encaustic from Miniature Rhino - $25.00

Wildflowers handpainted, upcycled mug from Deeds and Petunia - $10.00

Olive everyday hobo style bag from Nuwong - $17.99

How I Do It

If there's one statement that I hear more than any other it's "I just don't know how you do it."

I've got three kids under 6, a husband who travels often for work, a big house, a big yard, a garden and a business that is growing by leaps and bounds.

My days are full of child care, cleaning, filing orders, developing new products and artwork, internet networking, business paperwork and all the usual household chores. Anyone who hears about my life and the things that I get done in one day, always utters those words... "I just don't know how you do it."

Just between you and me, I've got a secret weapon. No, it's not coffee or some illicit substance that gives me massive amounts of energy to get through the day. It's much simpler than that.

It's momentum.

Pure and simply, once I get going I just let the wave of activity wash over me. It seems that the more I get done, the more energy I produce to keep going. As the "done" list grows, my brain and body just kick in to top off with even more things to add to the list.

I fight the urge to sit down and take a break because it completely stops my flow of work. I find that I feel like taking a break not because I'm tired but more because it feels like a reward for finishing something. I've realized that I'd rather move on and get something else done than give myself a pat on the back and a rest on the couch!

Momentum gives me power.
Momentum gives me focus.
Momentum gives me energy.

But when I'm done... I'm. Done.

The excitement that I'm finding by accomplishing so many things in one day just feeds on itself. When I'm lying in bed at night, exhausted, my brain is still going... excited about the list of things for tomorrow.

So that's my secret. Momentum. I get motivated (as difficult as that may be sometimes) and then just ride it through, keeping continual momentum.

It's what works for me. What works for you? How do you do it?

** Photo by Kelsey LoveFusionPhoto via flickr Creative Commons

Houndstooth - Friday Finds

Houndstooth Hobo bag from cindymars7 - $45.00

Maxwell Romper from Fables By Barrie - $98.00

Houndstooth pom from Pom Love - $6.00

Houndstooth Toddler Necktie from Baby By Stevie - $17.00

I love the classic lines of the houndstooth design. Do you have any really great houndstooth pieces of know of some cool listings on Etsy that might work with this theme? Put your links in the comments so that we can all check 'em out!

Have a great weekend!

History Of Us

The Lovers from Meadowlark - $7.50

Paris Exposition Necklace from Precious Pastimes - $28.50

Notre Dame photo print from Lesley Sico - $10.00

French Love tote bag from Cubist Literature - $15.00

Galeries Lafayette photo print from Cucumber Soup - $11.00


I went all the way to Paris,
To forget your face.
Captured in stained glass,
Young lives long since past,
Statues of lovers every place.

I went all across the continent,
To relieve this restless love,
I walked through ruins,
Icons of glory,
Smashed by the bombs from above.


Inspired by Scoutie Girl's We Scout Wednesday feature and the classic and haunting beautiful Indigo Girls song, "History Of Us."

Confessions of a Bookworm - Friday Finds

I Am A Bookworm print from vol25 - $20.00

I recently read a shocking fact. Amazon has reported that the sales of their electronic books readers outnumbered their sales of actual books. Wow.

As an avid reader, I'm saddened to hear this! There is nothing like the feel of a book. I love to see font choices, experience the feel of the paper and the smell of the pages.

So, just to inspire you to go out an actually buy a beautiful book, here's a collection of gorgeous book accessories.


The Tempest - leather bookmark from immortal longings - $4.99


Dreaming Ophelia bookplate set from Stiletto Heights - $6.00


Reader's Diary from Green Chair Press - $10.00


Custom Initial Bookmark from Arete - $7.00


Looking for some great books to read? Check out http://www.goodreads.com/ for fabulous book reviews and an online place for you to review books and record what you've read and create your own "to read" lists. It's a wonderful resource for bookworms!

Also, sign up online to receive coupons and great discounts at national book retailers like Barnes and Nobel and Borders. I often receive emails with fantastic sales and coupons for generous discounts.

Looking for more Etsy goodies for book lovers? Check out the bookworm finds that I curated for Etsy's blog, The Storque!

I hope that you can set aside some time in the next few days to snuggle up with a good book! Have a great weekend!

My Favorites - Friday Finds

This week I'm highlighting just a few of my recent Etsy favorites, like this ring from Antebelle. Located almost right in my backyard here in the Philly area, Antebelle's design aesthetic is so lovely. $12.00
Aliette offers these delicately designed earrings featuring her simple and stunning original art. $25.00

I'm starting to become obsessed with plant stakes and this one from Monkeys Always Look is just perfect for my growing collection of african violets. $12.00

Julene offers these amazing, intricate laser cut papers. She only has a few listed in her shop but does do custom orders. I was thinking how wonderful it would be as a wedding gift using a portion of the happy couples' wedding vows. Wow! $65.00

Vintage items used in jewelry is such a hot trend right now and I've seen many that I love, but this ring made from an old typewriter key by Fringe Lore is the perfect gift for any writer, book lover or purveyor of vintage lovelies. $45.00

Want to see more of what I love? Visit me here!

Do you have any beautiful things that might be perfect for a Friday Finds? I'd love to include it! Drop me an email... thepaintedlily@hotmail.com

Have a great weekend! :)

A Week By The Sea

I've become obsessed today with the idea of renting a cottage by the sea and hiding out for a week of quiet and solitude... maybe even a whole summer.

I'm so obsessed that I'm finding myself closing my eyes and envisioning this "dream house" on more than one occasion today.

I've even perused online sites that offer beach rentals and homes for sale in beachy areas.

I tweeted about this idea and immediately was getting responses from others chiming in about how wonderful it sounded!

I'm dreaming of a small cottage with a long drive, lots of shade trees and beautiful blooming flowers. I'd like it to be in a cooler climate, north of where I am now in Pennsylvania. I'm looking for whitewashed walls, a pretty porch with a swing and romantic bedrooms with flowing, pastel curtains.

It's just the place to help me relax and completely recharge my energy and creativity.

There's no way that this fits into my current financial situation but just the thought of this cottage is getting me through the day and probably the upcoming weeks. Every business opportunity that comes my way and every sale that I get for the rest of the summer is going to get me one step closer to this dream.

It may be summers and summers away for me but it's my gift of enthusiasm and peace to you today.

Close your eyes, smell the salty air and feel the sea breeze on your skin...

A special thanks goes out to Tara at Scoutie Girl for her We Scout Wednesday post about the gift of enthusiasm.

Photo credit - RCP PA via Flickr Creative Commons

An Old Fashioned, New Age Way To Communicate

In this age of texting and emails, the art of the handwritten letter has been all but lost in the rush of technology.

That's why I was overjoyed to find a small project going on (in a secret location), spearheaded by two artists named Lenka and Michael. Their goal is to send a handwritten letter to every home in the world.

They've started with Polish Hill, PA and now have their eyes set on a town outside of the US, to secretly barrage with lovely, personal, quirky and wonderful handwritten notes.

Lenka and Michael are looking for funding to start on the next step of their project. Visit them here to see their fun and inspiring video. And, feel free to make a donation and become a supporter of this super cool idea!

What a fun way to connect people and get a community talking and interacting with each other.

I, for one, cannot wait to get my letter!

Photo credit - A.Drian via Flickr Creative Commons

Jade Green - Friday Finds

Gloriously lovely jade bracelet from The Shag Bag - $16.00

An original painting delicately adorned with freshwater pearls from Amborela - $36.00

Beautifully shaded stoneware berry bowl with drainage holes from Fox Pots - $39.00

Pretty and airy, bamboo/silk blend knit dress from Eronica - $125.00

Beautifully eclectic fine art print from Lesley Sico, featuring soft and sweet items from her apartment - $10.00

Hope that you enjoy these delicate and delicious jade beauties! Have a fantastic weekend, my friends!

A Nice Cool Breakfast Treat

We can thank Ree from The Pioneer Woman for this great, cool summer treat. This morning I was wondering what to have for breakfast since it was so hot already and nothing seemed appealing. So, I took her suggestion from a tweet I saw this morning and had this. So incredibly delicious!

I took about 4-5 heaping tablespoons of soup cream and mixed in about 2 teaspoons of sugar. You know, there was no measuring... so use your best judgment!

You could also use brown sugar and cinnamon with apple slices or fresh peaches, since peach season is almost here. (And how exciting is that?)

We ate ours with fresh, organic, locally grown strawberries. It was so fresh and yummy and perfect for this heat wave. Even the picture cools you off, huh?

And speaking of locally grown fruits, I'm visiting a new farmers' market in my area tomorrow afternoon and I'll be blogging about it later this week! Check back here for more info and maybe a few sneak peek pictures!

Have a great day!

Crafty By Nature Outdoor Craft Market

Nestled in and among the tall shade trees at Shupp's Grove Antique Market in Addamstown, PA you'll find Crafty By Nature, a monthly craft gathering featuring local shops and artists. This beautiful, park like setting is the perfect backdrop for the lovely handmade pieces you'll find. It's a great way to enjoy the outdoors and to meet artists who create lovely and thoughtful pieces.

Pamela Flapper Hat by Like Clochework $40.00

I traveled about an hour to get there and it was well worth the trip! I've known about Crafty By Nature since it's first week, over a year ago. I was scheduled to have a space there last June but we got rained out and by the time July rolled around, I was holding my brand new baby boy! So, this was my first trip there and the weather was wonderful this time around.

Crafty By Nature is the brainchild of Alex, owner of Hello Bluebird in West Reading, PA. That's a whole 'nother blog post, people! Too much coolness in that shop to speak of now!


Birds ponytail holder set by Peachy Tuesday - $8.00

July 4th really felt like the perfect day to visit Crafty By Nature. What better way to celebrate the freedoms that our country allows us than by meeting and supporting fellow indie artists? These are the folks living the American dream of making your own way and following your passions to make a comfortable living for you and your family.

It was inspiring to see that so many artists brought their families along with them! Behind almost every booth was a little playgroup, girls making their own artwork, strollers holding sleeping babies or a group of little kids playing tug of war. It was such a family affair, which was so appealing to me. It really speaks to the laid back "personality" of this event. All are welcome, creativity and energy abound!


Vintage book journal by The Fancy Lamb - $16.00

I met some "web friends" there in person and had a lovely stroll with the kids through all the crafty goodness. We also enjoyed browsing the antique and thrifty section of Shupp's Grove. Fresh squeezed lemonade and hand spun milk shakes finished off our wonderful, sunny day.


Hammered botanical pendant by Laylabelle - $39.00

I highly recommend a trip to Crafty By Nature if you're in the area. It's a must see of the spring and summer season here in Lancaster County.

Visit Crafty By Nature on Facebook, Twitter and on their blog.

Dancing With Angels

"Your Last Gift To Me" by Stiletto Heights - $18.00

Altered art charm bracelet by Jezebel Charms - $69.00

Leaf crowned angel by Elizabeth Frank - $350.00

Silver wing ring by HappyGoLicky - $45.00

Angels' Tears necklace by New Fashioned Whispers - $29.00

Absinthe Mysteries - Friday Finds

Oh, the mysteries of absinthe, that magical concoction! These romantic finds celebrate all that is absinthe!

Choklit offers these amazing cuffs (pictured above) made from dupioni silk with a delicate frayed edge. The absinthe color is amazing, the cuffs are gloriously delicate and the styling of this shop's images is breath taking. $86.00 pair

This gorgeous wire wrapped necklace from Glitz Glitter would be a pretty accessory for a night on the town or a day at the mall. So lovely and versatile, a portion of the proceeds from the purchase of this piece goes to the American Cancer Society. $22.00

What a fabulous color, texture and pattern on this handmade corset from La Belle Fairy! Constructed with the highest attention to detail, the corset is made from green silk brocade fabric and has been detailed with grape cluster gold lace. It is a work of art! $375.00

Simple, clean and delicate design are the highlights of this lovely feather fascinator made by Metro Gypsy. It's deep, iridescent greens are paired perfectly with the sparkling Swarovski crystals. It's a small way to make a big statement! $4.00

Spoil yourself with this delicious creation from For Strange Women. The Absinthe lip balm is 100% natural and handcrafted from shea butter, cocoa butter and beeswax for ultimate lip protection and healing. But it's the flavor of this delicious beauty treat that will keep you coming back for more! $6.00

Have a delectable and delicious holiday weekend! Hope you enjoyed these romantic and reminiscent Absinthe lovelies!

5 Reasons To Buy Handmade

I often wonder what holds people back from purchasing handmade goods. Is it fear of poor quality? Is it because of budget issues? Is it because they think handmade goods are tacky or lacking in style?

But, I don't need to convince you to buy handmade. If you are here, then we are of the same tribe! We understand the upside of purchasing handmade pieces. So, how do we convert the masses who might be a little more apprehensive?


I've put together a few little nudges you can throw out to friends who might not be on the bandwagon with us. These are just little thoughts to keep in your backpocket until the perfect time arises to drop them into conversations with friends.

1. Handmade pieces are generally pretty unique. They are the kind of things that you can't find in major stores. It's the upcycled dress that turns everyone's head. It's the fabulous, one of a kind piece of jewelry that your friends will covet. It's that avant-guard piece of artwork that you could never have made by yourself in a million years. "Handmade" is head turning, conversation starting and totally hip and cool.


2. Buying handmade directly supports someone who is running their own business and trying to make a "go" of it. They may be struggling. They have probably invested a lot much time and money into their passion. They may have a growing family. Your purchase gets them further along on their path of success. And who doesn't love the feeling of success? How great is it to give that to someone?

3. Buying handmade supports artists on so many levels. If you're an artist, you know that each sale brings you so much for than the monetary benefits. Each sale validates you as an artist and let's you know that you're on the right path. I'm reminded of Sally Field's Academy Award acceptance speech. "You like me! You really like me!" It's an unparalleled rush.

4. Handmade items are usually made with better quality control than things you could buy at the big stores. Yes, sometimes it might be a little more money but the quality is generally going to be something that makes this item last for a long time. I grew up with handmade items and have even passed them on to my children! My kids are playing with handmade toys from 30 years ago. Talk about passing the test of time!


5. The handmade pieces of today are not the handmade pieces from your grandma's time. At a local craft fair you're going to see fewer crocheted toilet paper cozies in the shape of pink poodles and a lot more quirky, humorous screenprinted tees. You'll see fun, fabulous and thoughtful toys for your kids. You'll find a huge variety of eco-friendly homegoods that fit perfectly into your new, green lifestyle.


And you're not just going to see passive Grannies sitting around knitting booties! You're going to mix and mingle with some of the most vibrant and creative minds in the arts industry. These folks are out there, in the trenches, making their dreams come true and making amazing items for people just like you. These are the movers and shakers of our generation!


Just a little side note, I'd die to have the crocheted toilet paper cozy in the shape of a pink poodle that I remember from my grandmother's bathroom about 35 years ago. Also, I've seen some incredibly cool and hip grandma's knitting at craft shows. These gals have it goin' on!

There are so many reasons to buy handmade. As believers, we can take it on ourselves to teach others the benefits of supporting artists and buying quality, awesome, handmade pieces for themselves. It brings nothing but good to all.

So, get out there and get talking! The handmade revolution starts with you!

All photos are from the fabulous Handmade Mart in Silver Spring, MD. Find out more info about their shows here.

*Photo credits - All photos copyright Dots, Lines and Polygons via Flickr

Magnets by Sweet Paperie
Bags by Penelope Parker
Monsters by Charm City Craft Mafia member Cotton Monster
Street Scene at Handmade Mart
Debbie & Kim, Handmade Mart organizers
Soap by 8th Street Soap Kitchen