absent lately.

It’s moving week.  Tired. Busy. Excited. Sad to say goodbye to dear friends and the city that has been our first home. Wondering  how we acquired so many things.  Looking forward to a new city with lots of offer. Looking forward to being around my mom, brothers, sisters, and little nephew.  Looking forward to the land of ten thousand lakes.  Excited about what is next… whatever that may be.

Friends, I’ll be back soon.

picnics, little birds, and rain drop letters

Three new prints added to the shop this week.    If you like leisurely, dreamy, sunshine-filled picnics, bright little birds, and ever wondered what would happen if raindrops were letters of the alphabet being dashed out of a salt shaker… then, please, be sure to take a look.

“ Etched with Beginnings”

“Sing me Sweetly Bird”

“Rain Sounds”

Hope your weekend is bright, cheerful, whimsical, and romantic… and all together delightful.

coffee related

 

{source}

{source}

{source}

{source}

{source}

{source}

1.  I have a new love: espresso.

2.  I kind of, really want that tattoo. 

3. We are in baked good heaven, because a wonderful lady from our church brought us a whole bunch of day old goodness from Panera.  Delicious.

4. I feel like the packing is at a stand still, next week will be crazy land central station packing mode nation.  (that was for my husband.)

5. When applying for a job, is it appropriate to include:  You obviously need me for this job, you really do.

moving sale!

So, we’re moving in approx.12 days.  It’s exciting.  It’s bittersweet.  It’s coming soon. 
Here’s how you can help… visit the shop, make a purchase  and enter the code ‘movingsaleparty’  in the ‘notes to seller’ section and you will received 20% off.
*The 20% will be refunded to you within 3 hours of receiving payment.
*Sale only applies to shop purchases.
Sale ends Thursday, March 18th, 2010.

Remember, you can follow our new adventure here.

9 etsy favorites

={click the image to visit the link}=

this moment brought to you by

I took my new computer out for coffee.  We are having a wonderful time.  We invited our  dear friend, mr. caramel latte.  He’s good company.  We also invited our friend She & Him station on Pandora. 

Before coffee, we browsed a couple of stores, because there was a very serious matter to attend to, it’s called:  Mommy needed a new dress.  Don’t worry, I solved that problem.  I also realized once again, that forever 21 and I have gone our separate ways, the distance may be  irreversible.  I decided to keep having birthdays and give birth to a child, while 21 decided they were not at all interested in compromise. Oh well.  As Bobby D. says, the times they are a changing. Oh Bob.

Now, I’m here, loving this moment.  Moments like this are rare.

P.S.  I must address that this entire moment was brought to you by the incredible Mr. Moore, who is home with the napping baby boy, that I adore.  Thanks Mr. Moore.  You’re my favorite.

for the next few weeks

There may not be many new paintings or projects shared here for a little while, because sadly, the art supplies have been packed.  And what is even more heartbreaking is that the art supplies are pretty much the ONLY things that have been packed.  Oh my. Oh my.  15 days to go. Oh my. 

So, if at any moment in the next two weeks, you think… I bet Liv could use a caramel macchiato or a cinnamon dolce latte, some more boxes, and some entertainment… You are correct, my friends.  That is exactly what I need.

Oh and one more thing.  This pillow.

{myadobecottage}

PS. Speaking of Paris, I really wish my baby sister would post some pictures from her weekend visit to the city of my dreams.

the two things that changed my life

Two new little wonders have recently come into my possession.  Frankly, I’m not sure how I functioned without them.  I’m serious.  I love them. 

1. cute little netbook.

The husband and I aren’t really fighters, at all, but it’s very difficult for two busy artists/bloggers to both be sharing one computer, especially when we’re both home all day.  Actually, it’s impossible and irritating.  I wouldn’t recommend it.   So, he did some serious scouting and we found a remedy to that problem.  Enter my little netbook:  cute, affordable, almost sort of looks like a mac, which is a big plus.  I mean, if you can’t have a mac, you can try to pretend, right?  I really love it.  Not to mention, the battery life is insane, like seven hours.  Now I spend days making fun of my husband’s computer because it has to be plugged in every 1.56 hours.  He makes fun of the fact that mine only has Windows 7 starter… but then I win that argument with one word: Vista.  EVERYTHING IS BETTER THAN VISTA.

The only downside… if we’re not careful, we’ll end up spending the rest of  our evenings on the couch, in front of our computer screens, watching the office…. and then we won’t remember the last time we actually spoke to each other.

that’s a bit extreme, I know.

2.  Italian coffee maker

Let’s just say what’s not being said here, regular coffee isn’t always strong enough.  It’s just not enough.  Since, I still have to just dream about enjoying a latte from the fancy espresso machine that I sadly don’t own yet, this will help ease the pain. 

In fact, after finishing this post, I’m going to make some espresso, because the clock and my head are telling me it’s about that time.  Obviously, this little beauty (mine is actually red) won’t be replacing my beloved French press, but it will bring a whole new joy to our lives.

What items have made your life more fun these days?

new in shop

Paper Collage Series, set of 3 prints.

news.

{source}

Earlier this week, we turned in our thirty day notice for the apartment.  The apartment that we only planned on renting for the extent of our one year lease.  The apartment managed by a company that is anything but professional, respectable, and efficient.  The apartment that we stayed in because the rent was very reasonable for three bedrooms in an old house, oh yes, and the husband lost his job, a year ago.

The apartment with loud neighbors, drafty rooms, no bathtub – just a huge shower,  and cute old fireplaces that suck up way too much heat.  Even though, we are delighted to be moving and even more delighted to sever ties with this company, we’ll probably look back on this time and remember more good than bad.

 

We moved in three weeks before we brought our little boy home from the hospital.  This was our first home as  family of three. We fell in love with him here and fell more in love with each other.  This is the place where he learned to hold his head up, to roll over, to crawl, to walk, to run, to climb and to fall.  This is the home where he learned to laugh, to scream, to say, mama, daddy, bop, ball, bear, book, more, elmo ‘mo,’ hello, what, and we are convinced that one day he said, “Am I your mate?”

 

Here, I learned how to knit, to bake bread, to decorate and redecorate on practically nothing.  I ground coffee beans twice a day, sometimes three  (oh the amounts of coffee we consume). We filled our little home with second furniture from friends, yard sales, and the free section on craigslist.  We covered the walls with lots of art, that we got at a really great price, because conveniently, we make lots of art.

Today, we started packing, which I love because it means a change is coming and I get to give away tons of things, but I also dislike it because, well… why do we have so much stuff?  I’ve almost convinced my husband to get rid of almost everything, doesn’t that sound exciting??

**If you’re interested in learning more about our next step, go here.

we have a winner

Seriously, all of your comments were extremely sweet and so encouraging.  I never intended to turn this giveaway into a ‘say- lots-of-nice-things-about-olivia-fest.’  But, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Also, I was really excited to read about all the creative endeavors that you wish to pursue.  Here’s what I think:  DO IT. DO IT. DO IT.  If you try and it doesn’t turn out like you thought, you’ll probably discover something new along the way.  Pursuing creativity will always be worthwhile.   I’d love to hear about your progress and creative journey, so please let me know how it goes.
And now,  we have serious business to address, the winner of the scarf & postcard giveaway…
I used random.org, so the choice was completely unbiased… and random.org told me to pick number six. 
Number six is… Kalah Riley!!
Kalah, e-mail me your mailing address, so that you can get a fun little package in the mail.

Because you need art on your walls…

I added two new prints to the shop. 

I’d be delighted if you’d stop in and take a look.

Announcing… a giveaway

• Because I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time.
• Because I am making beef stew for dinner.
• Because I am very excited about something.
• Because Where the Wild Things Are was released on DVD today, and we heart  that movie.
• Because I have too many scarves already and I don’t really need to keep them all.
• Because I like sharing.

I’m delighted to announce my very first giveaway on this blog.  I was thrilled with the response that I received from my scarves in my etsy shop and through direct orders.  November and December turned my little fingers into fierce knitting machines, but it was worth it.  Thank you to all of you for your orders.  You are wonderful.

The scarf season is over for now until fall,  even though it’s snowing today, which is strange for Tennessee.  However, I have these two cozy,  little cowls which never found new homes.   So, I want to give them away.  This week’s giveaway is “Cozy me Navy- cowl.”

 
And, just for fun, I’ll include two postcards from my shop.
 

Here’s how to enter:

• Visit my Palette Theory Shop, just because that would be so nice of you.  Come back here and leave a comment telling me your favorite item in the shop.

OR

• Leave a comment sharing one creative endeavor that you would like to begin this year.

AND for additional entries:

• Share about this giveaway on  your blog,  facebook, or facebook, make sure to include the link in your comment.

You have until Friday, March 5, 2010 midnight to enter.  One entry per person. I’ll announce the winner on Monday, March 6th.  So be sure to follow The Saturated Palette to see if you are the winner.

my gift to you this monday morning

Sometimes, I think I’m funny.

… sometimes I think I’m super funny.  For example, last night past my point of exhaustion and reason, I said this little gem of wisdom about babies growing up…

“Basically, you have a baby, drink lots of coffee so you can be awake to take care of that little baby… and then the baby lets you actually get some sleep for a while… and then BAM, your baby is practically all grown up.”

Yes, I did use BAM.

Happy Monday, you’re welcome.

my little boy is growing up.