Terri Conrad Designs

A moment of contemplation

Con-tem-pla-tion: thoughtful observation, meditation on spiritual matters, intention or expectation . . .

Perhaps it is the weather (gray and cloudy), perhaps it is the still small voice beckoning me to be still, be quiet, and listen - perhaps I need a week long vacation at the beach; but I feel introspective and contemplative today. Do you have days like this?

lovely photo by ~ Karin A. Photography,

Rarely, do I get personal here on my blog, but I confess there is a weariness that has taken up residence within me. Oh, not to worry - I do not. I am simply aware of its presence, like a quiet friend sitting beside me, telling me . . .hmm, what is it telling me?

What must I observe?

What must I meditate upon?

What do I expect or intend?

Perhaps, it is its presence I must observe

Perhaps, I must meditate upon and take time to connect with God - He misses me, yet He is so gracious when I permit loooooooong absences of time between visits

Perhaps I need to evaluate what I expect and intend (instead of being focused on what ever challenges I have faced and am facing)

When I do meditate, and take time to connect with God, I feel more like this bright, happy, oh so colorful flower   lovely photo by ~ Karin A. Photography,

That, is a good feeling.

I received this quote in an email the other day and it really struck a chord with me - does it you?

"You cannot bring what you want to you if you are feeling stress. Stress or any tension at all is something you have to remove from your system.

You must let the stress go - it is the only way you can bring what you want. The emotion of stress is saying strongly that you do NOT have what you want. Stress or tension is the absence of faith, and so to remove it all you have to do is increase your faith!"

So, as God calls us to do,"... I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Just today, I shall exercise my fath, make it BIG and STRONG and I shall be like a mustard seed, knowing He will take care of my every need - yours too.

I created this little something to share as my reminder:

 

For the Love of Vintage . . .part deux

Just a simple & sweet hello today and to share with you (per the rare chance you haven't already heard) that Holiday with Matthew Mead is coming back for Holiday 2010. The book will be sold online via his new website - and limited quantities will be sold and delivered straight to your mailbox this October. So, head on over to Holiday with Matthew Mead.com and learn how Matthew wants to include YOU (and a chance to have your home featured in the magazine!)
Head on over to see what all of the fuss is about. Discover what Holiday 2010 entails and how you can get one without the usual seek and search. Who knows, perhaps you will even find yourself in the pages of the magazine!

******************************************

Do you know what else Holiday 2010 has to offer? Comfort & Joy by Terri Conrad Designs.

We are so excited to have holiday gift & decor added to our product offering. Shipping will begin in July - feel free to email us with wholesale inquiries now though. We all need a little comfort & joy right now and I hope you find what you need right where you are today.

xoxo

here's a little something especially for you (for your personal use only - this is shared from the goodness of my heart, and not to be used for any commercial gain on the part of the user - thank you)

 
 

Feel free to visit our web site to purchase our Classical Garden scrapbooking papers, and vintage inspired art like our French Laundry wall decor.

 

For the Love of Vintage . . .part one

hello, hello dear friends, 

For the love of vintage . . .

 so many of us have it, you know, a passion for the past. I'm curious about the lot of us - haulers, pickers, re-inventors and re-creators of the past, in the present.

It's a thought I've been pondering for some time. As I go about my ever increasingly demanding days driven by modern appliances, technology and deadlines, in the recesses of my mind, I've been pulling together thoughts to share with you, and looking forward to your comments about this fascination for the past so many of us share. I suppose this love makes us somewhat kindred spirits. I hope you think so.

*******************

My love for all things vintage began when I was a child. My mother loved antiques, and I would search shops and antique stores to purchase little spice tins for her kitchen. Over the years, I've purchased pieces for my own home that are, in my opinion, far more valuable than any contemporary piece of furniture I have in my home. I treasure every antique tea cup, side board, armoir, carnival dish and tole tray and daydream about whose hands each has passed through, what ship my English armoir came over on and the hands that penned the notes on the vintage post cards I've collected over the years.

Before I began my licensing career, I would create my own home decor because, well, I couldn't find anything in the marketplace that quite fit the image I had in my mind. Now, I am so fortunate to license my art and product concepts to some some of the best manufacturers who produce and distribute the products making my (I guess you could say, fresh vintage) designs available to all of us. The pretty little glass bottles and glimpse of the photo frame are from my Botanique collection (some of you crafters may better recall it known as my "Inspired" scrapbook paper & products).

In the days, (maybe) weeks to come, we will be looking back, exploring this love affair with the past - chatting with some lovely ladies and learning about their passion for the past as well.  

Time traveled, worn & weathered (I sometimes feel that way, do you?) but oh so beautiful . . . that's part of the allure for me, and I try to re-create that in each piece of contemporary furniture or picture frame I paint, and in the art and products I design. 

 

Please share with me about your passion for the past and your Love of Vintage . . .(you could win this Terri Conrad Designs "Believe in Your Dreams" stone plaque) a random selection will be made from the comments, and the winner announced in my next post.

So many exciting things going on behind the scenes, busy creating lots of new art and getting ready for Surtex. Some lovely ladies have graciously shared their thoughts about their love of vintage and when we meet again, I will share some of them with you.

Til then,  have you picked up your copy of Flea Market Style? Positively scrumptious, and you will not consume a calorie -  I promise!

Remember to leave your comment for your chance to win.

In the meantime, get yourself a hot cup of tea, or freshly brewed coffee and visit a few of my favorite places:

Restyled Home (Linda MacDonald)

Barn House

Juxtaposition Home

(p.s. visit here to view this lovely shoppe

Watson Kennedy

xoxo

Spring is in the air . . .

Soft, sweet . . .

and oh so welcomed

Spring!

************

Celebrating my daughter, Jessica's, 13th birthday this weekend.

Are you ready to brighten your heart & home?

Our blooming fruit & floral prints are available to purchase here

May miracles shine in your garden this blessed spring weekend.

xoxo

terri

Pixie Dust Wishes

Our new Botanique collection is front & center at Ma Mason.

If you're a retailer - or you know of a retailer in your community - who carries Terri Conrad Designs, let us know. Send us an email with your photo of our product merchandised in your shop and we'll feature it on our blog, with a link to your website, or blog if you have one. We will certainly give a warm shout out to your store.

These desk top magnet trays are just the best! I use one in my office to hold important things I don't want getting burried under all my paperwork, and one in my kitchen to hold a recipe (on the rare occasion I cook!) or important notes.

this note, however, written by my little Katie-boo needed to be captured on the camera

Gotta love a little glitter!

May pixie dust sprinkle on your garden today and all your wishes come true.

P.S. we will be adding some of our new gift & decor to our website - come visit us for that oh so special gift for mom

Window Shopping at Giannetti Home

We were going to post something different . . .but when you see living beauty, you simply must take a moment to breath it in and let it rest in your soul -

Window shopping with Giannetti Home

 

LOVE this chair

 

and the lush greenery & rich patina

 

Lucky for me this beauty is a short trip down the 405 freeway
a field trip is in order for moi!

*****************

Visit Gianetti Home
located at 11980 San Vicente Boulevard, Los Angeles CA
Our Hours are 10-5 monday thru friday

Please call them for more information

310-826-2407

Make a Virtual Visit

Velvet & Linen

and it's Proprietress - Brook Giannetti

Revisit Home Work Designs

Hello, hello dear friends - I am still in the hunting/gathering phase for my home office re-design project. I did come upon this

and fell, simply, purely, unadulteratedly (is that a word?) in love! First, it reminds me our Feather Your Nest Collection, second, I have a closet niche in my home office, and third . . .need I say more other than, "this is positively delicious."

While we have not yet secured a wall paper license for our Feather Your Nest collection, I am wondering where I can have some printed up - just enough for this small space - do you know?

We do have some lovely little decorative accessories, picture frames & storage boxes in the market - some of which may be purchased on our web site

 

We heart these concepts too - clip boards hung pretty all in a row can hold project notes and daily deadlines, and cable or heavy jute can be strung across a wall space with small clothes pins used to hang art in progress, showing collections as they bloom into being. Believe it or not, currently I print out each pattern & motif and tape them to my wall or just throw them out on the floor telling all passersby to "watch your step!" Then my sweet little Shayna (the English Creme Golden canine kid) comes and lays down on the art.

Not much else new to share today, just wanted to say hello to you. If you want to see a few more creative spaces, and inspirational beauty, visit visual notes - very pretty.

I must get to my studio (which is in reality my home's designated dining room - but who uses a formal dining room these days) as I've got lots to create before Surtex, working on another new collection, all illustrated and painted the good old fashion way, and completely whimsical.

Happy Day - joy to all