::thankful::

In the midst of a changing year, it's important to remember everything that 2010 had to offer. I'm eager for 2011 to bring motivation and a fresh, new face as I continue to pursue my passion, explore the world, and share new experiences with the ones I love (new and old). Due to life's many circumstances, I wasn't able to share enough of 6 petals. This blog has been an outlet for inspiration and learning. I'm so grateful to have found others that share a love for vintage, graphic design, creativity, nature, style, entrepenuership, interior design, and handmade crafts-- there's so much talent! Through various shows and events, 6 petals is so thankful for all the support this year and lucky to have met such great people in the process.

I'm very thankful. Thanks, 2010. Hello, 2011! Dear readers, I hope you'll stick around for what the new year brings :)

Things I'm Thankful For print by Laura Berger (via Pikaland)

::6 petals is ready::

There are big things in store for 6 petals in 2011. Stay tuned :)

photograph by Hawes Photography

::i'm dreaming::

After 25 years, I finally experienced a white Christmas. Thank you, Santa.

images courtesy of wehearit

::chilly hello::

For this Florida girl, 30 degree Virginia weather has been chilling my bones. Luckily, most of the activities take place indoors. I'm not counting running from the boutique to the car as an outdoor activity...although that my be the only exercise I'm getting while on vacation.

I hope everyone is off work and enjoying time with friends and family. Now, time to get back to the Christmas music and a nice glass of Prosecco.

image from weheartit

::snowflake color inspiration::

I'm headed to Virigina next week, so I'm getting ready for frigid temperatures {and lots of hot chocolate}.

images from 20x200, color swatches by me

**EDIT: Hey guys, sorry for the delay on more simple gift wrapping ideas! I'll be busy this weekend with cute tutorials, and I can't wait to share them with you all.

::free printable gift tags::

image courtesy of Camilla Engman

With all of the gift buying, it's easy to forget about the gift wrapping. This is one of my favorite parts of giving presents. I've always helped my mom wrap family gifts {mostly hoping to sneak a peak at mine ;) Unfortunately, she's a very good hider!}

There are so many clever, and rather simple, ideas for making your gift look even more special. Have no fear, I'm here to help.

First up, are free printable gift tags from Swedish artist Camilla Engman. There's something about Scandinavians-- they're all so darn creative! I stumbled upon her beautiful blog and can't wait to tie these beauties on pretty boxes. I'd use hemp or decorative twine (available at most arts & crafts stores). For best results, print on white cardstock for better quality and stability.

Download these adorable gift tags here, too!

::weekend inspiration::

Here's to last minute decorating...

::pretty room::

There are so many great things about this room...

photo courtesy of Apartment Therapy

1. I love the use of a sofa or upholstered bench at the table. Growing up, my mom had a blue, wooden bench at our dinner table. It was so easy for the kids to slide in and eat up. And, mixing the white painted chairs with the dark wood table and hardwood floors provides the perfect contrast!
2. An antique, wooden table adds so much character. The long, thin table is great for small spaces like this studio!
3. A rustic chandelier completes the room. Using candles (though not superior for lighting an entire room) is so much more appealing than incandescent light bulbs.
4. Mix-matched frames and wall art, and placed somewhat randomly, make it more personal.
5. Fresh flowers are a must! This little bit of nature is pretty and provides wonderful aroma.
6. Skip curtains and valances to let in more natural light.
7. A cozy, neutral colored couch, perfect for snuggling up and watching a good chick flick or reading your favorite book ;)

Oh, and it's Friday. Woohoo! Have a wonderful, relaxing weekend everyone. Thanks for reading :)

::born free::

Love Free People.

::handmade, vintage, local::

I'm stunned that Christmas is right around the corner. Everywhere I look there are bright strands of colorful lights, plastic reindeer, and Evergreens on top of mini vans in route to their new home. So, of course, I'm getting excited to shop (it's true, I haven't started my Christmas shopping yet). And who could forget the inevitable 'Tacky Christmas Sweater Party'. You can't hate a theme party. Get ready to spike that hot chocolate {peppermint schnapps does the trick}...

To mix it up this year, I've decided to add a few limiting factors to my Christmas purchases. I vow to buy only gifts that are:

1. handmade - crafted by me or someone else for a one-of-a-kind gift
2. vintage - the dictionary defines vintage, "of lasting interest and importance; venerable; classic"
3. local - there are a handful of shops I can count on in my area. Gotta support local businesses :)

You see, I've been planning this for a while. With 6 petals, a slew of super talented Etsy artists and vintage sellers, and a few local stores, I'll find the goods.

In the meantime, here are some favorites that fit into these three categories:

handmade goods

{Like this pink flower crocheted necklace from 6 petals Etsy shop. {{more to come}} }

vintage goods

{Like this "Eever-so-pretty" ceramic creamer. Will be in the shop SOON.}


local goods

1. m.marie for holiday dresses, handbags, jewelry...everything --my sister will thank me ;)
2. Lasater Flowers & Gifts for some holiday (flower) cheer!
3. This one's on my Christmas list...Groundwork Yoga. Om.
4. La Vida Dolce. They have the neatest gold reptile cast mold ring of all time, I need it! Did you hear that Santa?!
   

Here's the catch: having everything wrapped by Dec. 24th. My Christmas cards are made, so that's a start!

::it's getting colder::

The weather is finally agreeing with the season here. It's a nice, brisk welcome to December. Wait, it's December?!

I'm always looking for inspiration, and I love finding new artists. I stumbled upon Camila do Rosario's Flickr and fell in love. Her illustrations are so beautiful. I envy her ability to put such emotion in the facial expressions of these beautiful, feathered girls. Not to mention the detail in their exotic garb. Now, wrap yourself up in a comfy throw blanket, pour some hot tea and take in some color inspiration:

That one's my favorite-- the "what are you lookin' at?" face.

Images courtesy of Camila do Rosario's Flickr. Color swatches added by me.

How's your Christmas shopping coming along? I haven't started, but I have an ace up my sleeve. More on that tomorrow ;)

::6 things i'm thankful for::

1. A supportive family that I can laugh with until wee hours.
2. Great friends that I can laugh with until wee hours.
3. J
4. Wonderful supporters, readers, and followers...thank you!
5. A clean bill of health.
6. Mother Nature :)

::pick me up::

Needing a little pick me up this afternoon.

all images courtesy of weheartit

::patterns::

Recently, I stumbled across these gorgeous Turkish rugs from Dhoku. I've been looking for the perfect living room rug to make my place a little more cozy. One of these pretties might make it's American debut.

Of course I love the antique patchwork styles.

The uneven designs in the neutral-colored rugs below give it a handmade feel, perfectly imperfect. And, the blue reminds me of ocean waves. And, who wouldn't want some waves in their home? I've got Costa Rica on my mind...

::creating::

6 petals is busy getting ready for the 3rd Annual Junior League Merry Market. A special thanks to Meghan of m.marie for the push ;)

Merry Market is a huge fundraiser put on by the Junior League of Greater Winter Haven. It supports local projects that will strengthen the community and build stronger families. One such project is called "A Mother's Voice." Members of the club take time to meet with mothers and grandmothers who are incarcerated. The members sit down with her, record her voice as she read a childrens book, and delivers the story on a CD to the woman's children so they are able to hear their mother's voice.

6 petals is happy to support such a great cause. With the holidays quickly approaching, it's important to take time and focus on the things that matter. Life throws fastballs, curve balls, and splitters.

Spread the love, anyway you can. Here are some easy ways to make an impact in your community:

• Toys for Tots Drop-off. We all know this one. This is a great way to give a child a new toy that his/her parent's may not be able to afford this year. You're likely to run into a donation site when you're out doing weekly errands.
• Donate non-perishables to a local food bank. Feeding America is a powerful network aiming to solve hunger issues in the U.S. Find a local food bank close to you, and next time you're in the grocery store throw in some extra canned vegetables and powdered milk. If you're feeling strong, you can read real stories of those in need.
• Donate old sweaters and blankets. Winter is right around the corner and so many rely on second-hand stores to stock up on warm gear. It's also a great time to make some space in your closet.
• Volunteer. This one is usually overlooked, extremely powerful, and so rewarding. Your local Chamber of Commerce or Red Cross can help you find a volunteer opportunity that's perfect for you and/or your family.

Oh, I turned on Extreme Makeover Home Edition for the first time in a long time. Cried like a baby. I love when good things happen to such deserving people. Let's do our part to make others smile. :)

::b&w beach::

Home is where the beach is.

I know it's mid-November, but that's why I love The Sunshine State. Here's some warm love. Happy Friday.

::a little christmas cheer in november::

Anthropologie has done it again. I love the creativity...

{Click on the image to go to their homepage to see this adorable video of their Christmas ornaments.}

::color wonderful::

A couple weeks ago J and I ventured to the famous Chalet Suzanne, which is around the corner in Lake Wales. We went with little knowledge of the place, but J had heard it was a bit "vintage." That's all he had to say to convince me. And, I wasn't disappointed. This place has so much character!

I took out the camera to get some pictures of J skydiving. Yea, they even have a drop zone. After he jumped and landed (thank goodness), we went to check out the cute, little Inn rooms and soup cannery. We sampled mushroom and broccoli soup, walked the rest of the area finding more and more cute things, and fed turtles.

{J, such a daredevil}

They feed the turtles leftover bread from the restaurant. They were fearless.

xo.

::this one's for the ladies::

Actually, no need to keep quiet about it. Shout it from the rooftops. More details to come-- lots of exciting things happening at 6 petals.

Don't worry, I'll fill you in as we go...

::studio table::

After visiting my hometown last weekend, I was excited to pop in to petite surprise. I'd heard about it from mom who happily picked up some items earlier this year. The shop owner, Molly Stracuzzi, and I played soccer together in high school-- I had no idea she shared the same love of vintage, antiques, and marketing!

I've been wanting to create a work table for my studio. I'm currently using a vintage sofa table but it's too tall and narrow. The plan: to use an old door and add natural wooden elements for legs. Luckily, I found this beautiful idea (to give me a better visual) and decided to look for a great pair of wooden saw horses. And, of course, found the most amazing pair, but with a $725 price tag, they're a bit out of my budget.

Oh, well. A nice piece of glass to top this old, blue wooden door from petite surprise, and attach the saw horses and it's done. A girl can dream...

It's a beautiful store, Molly! So glad I could stop by. For more about petite surprise, you can check out the blog.

saw horse image from Factory 20

::girls night::

A few of us got together to wine and dine...with arts and crafts time, too. Here are the girls hard at work making their own version of 6 petals vintage toy block photo holders.

Perfect to hold photos, business cards, table card settings, and recipe cards. These handmade, one-of-a-kind blocks will be available for sale in the shop soon! {Not the blocks the girls made, of course. Those are priceless.}

And, while you're here, take an extra second and follow 6 petals on Blogger/Google Friend Connect, Bloglovin', and Facebook. Because, you know, you gotta stay updated :)

::eco-friendly::

Green is sexy. For real, it is. This website provides tips to make an impact of our environment. They aim to spread the word and make a difference. "Green is sexy is about tiny changes, big impact."


Trendy or not, there's no getting around the fact that being eco-friendly/green/energy conserving/whatever you call it, isn't just about using less water and turning the air conditioning off when you're not home. There are so many things people can do every day to make a little difference. Don't get me wrong, I drive a car, wash enough clothing for 3 people, and love a nice, long, hot shower in the mornings. But...it's easy to do a little and make small changes in your daily routine to conserve. We don't all need to resort to tree-hugging communes. Although, I'd support you if you wanted to (looks pretty cute).

This is a major foundation for 6 petals using a mix of new with vintage items, recycled wood, remnant fabrics, and found treasures. There's no doubt that the quality is excellent and the visual appeal adds character and charm.

GREEN TIPS from 6 petals:

• Buy organic cleaners and health/beauty products. My father's has been hounding me for years about the dangers of Aluminum Zirconium, which is found in the popular antiperspirants. And, most soaps are made with detergents that can even be cancerous.


• Invest in a good water bottle. This one is a big pet-peeve of mine. Too many are purchasing cases of plastic water bottles only to be thrown away as quickly as thirst is quenched. Choose to refill and save money (and look good doing it-- there are so many great designs to choose from). Or, bring a glass to work instead of going through multiple Styrofoam cups at the water cooler.


• Buy local and/or handmade. And, pay attention to what you're buying. This reduces waste from expensive packaging and shipping costs, and it's a great way to support your community.


• Do something outdoors. My love of camping and hiking lets me enjoy the more simple things-- Mother Earth amazes me. It's cheap, good exercise, and fun with the right company. Read a book in a hammock, bring your knitting needles to a local baseball game, doodle in your sketch book in the park, or ride a bike. Just relax once in a while without a cell phone, computer, radio, television, or iPod.

Share your green tips, too...

::that girl's got lungs::

The great part about Thursday is that we're one day closer to Friday. Here's a taste of what I'm listening to, and what I catch myself humming most days.

I made an attempt to watch this year's VMA show. As soon as I turned to MTV, Florence + The Machine was beginning their live performance. {Weird, I know...I didn't think they played music anymore either.} And...Whoa. This isn't just your average pop star with autotune. She's good. Really good.

Shortly after hearing them, I didn't stay on that channel and remembered how much I dislike MTV.

images courtesy of florence + the machine and BBC, video youtube