Terri Conrad Designs

Fall, created (okay forced!)

Happy Monday and hello friends - with temps still pushing triple digits (can you believe it!!!?) I am forced to create fall in and around my home this year.  Doing so, I am reminded of forced bulbs, ya know where you convince a spring bulb that it has slept throught the winter months and you encourage it to awaken into a full spring bloom? I did just that this morning - bringing a touch of fall into my home . . .

       

  

This was such a quick, easy and rewarding concept to create! Drybrush a terracotta pot, fill it with florist's foam and top off with spanish moss.  Trim fall fauna and sprigs (the real thing if you're fortunate enough to actually experience fall where you live) and tuck into the pot.  I even used a few branches collected on my morning walks.  Then tie ribbon around the mouth of the pot.  I love juxtopostion so I used velvet & sheer ribbon with jute.  I created a tag using art from my Classical Garden collection.  Voila! a bloomin' beautiful pot that smiles at you each time you walk by.  I purchased my fall sprigs from Beverly's.  I would love to see your version.  Take a photo and share it with us here (email pic to terriconraddesigns@ca.rr.com with a link to your blog or email address) and we'll share your creation with our readers.

I find it so fulfilling to be able to create concepts, and design pretty little things for my home and to give as gifts, as well as create the art for home decor, gifts, and paper products that my licensing partners manufacture. I really need both to feel complete and whole in my creative process.

I came accross these little pretties this morning and want to share them with you

from Lori Gentile - she created this oh so pretty banner using my new Inspired paper crafting products (see Webster's Pages for all Terri Conrad Designs' paper crafting products)

 

and this gorgeous wreath from Audrey Pettit

These talented women always bring joy to my heart when I see their creative expression with my products.  Thank you Lori and Audrey.

Last week was a full week with devoted attention to art and design planning for a project I shipped out to my agents' office Friday afternoon.  While I relish the intense focus and preparation of such projects, I also look forward to the refuling process . . .creating tactile concepts, connecting with you, writing, and reading (if even just a snippet of a good morsel). It's been too long since I've pulled out one of my daily devotional books and read an excerpt while having my morning coffee (Starbuck's Houseblend).  Today, I read from Iyanla Vanzant's Until Today, where I was reminded that we all come into this life with a promise,  gift, a passion and a deep heartfelt desire.  Comforting and reassuring words certainly, but when we get so caught up in our day to day demands, responsibilities, challenges and basic stuff, we tend to not even think about what these may be, nor express gratitude for each.

With my next post I am going to offer a very special opportunity for you to do just that . . .until then, give yourself a moment (okay two or three) to ponder these questions:

(1)  what promise did I come into this world with?

(2)  what is my gift?

(3)  what is my passion?

(4)  what is my deep heartfelt desire?

Until then may you enjoy divine expression of your sweet self, and your creativity.

TTFN and xoxo

Terri

Living Acceptance, Hope and Rememberance

This past weekend I was priviledged to participate in a Longaberger Horizion of Hope luncheon hostessed by my uber talented friend Tina Decker. The day was perfect - a light crispness in the air, a taste of autumn, friends gathered, and the most wonderful fete provided by the best caterer (whose card I requested but cannot locate as I write - oh phooh!).

      

  Gifts a plenty and gorgeous centerpieces were auctioned off to raise funds in rememberance of our friend Susie Smith who fought with courage and grace, but was taken all too soon this summer following a three-year battle with breast cancer.  

   

(Please visit my website to puchase "Bella Fluer") 

   I was asked to speak at the luncheon and spoke about living acceptance.

Anne Morrow Lindbergh tells us that “If you surrender completely to the moments as they pass, you live more richly in those moments”

  It's true, isn't it? For my fellow New Earth readers, we're accutely aware of the blessings that come from living in the present. Though not always an easy endeavor, when we live in acceptance with our present circumstances and surrender to them we begin to relax, change the vibration of our energy pattern and the rate of our heartbeat.  It is then that we open ourselves up to change, good change - and free the joy that is inherent in each of us to bubble to the surface. And I ask you, who doens't want (and need!) a dose of bubbly joy?  Good stuff I tell you!

  In sharing my thoughts on living acceptance and surrendering to our circumstances I was reminded of the serentiy prayer - and share this with you

  Maybe this meets you where you are with your own circumstances, or you know someone who may be touched by this simple yet beautiful prayer. My desire today is that you receive a bit of hope, and pass a bit along to some one else.

  May we all be reasonably happy today no matter where we are, or what our present circumstances may be.

  blessings,

Terri

Autumn, Autumn, Who Has Autumn?

We've been enjoying (I say with question) a prolonged season of summer with triple digit temperatures filling our days. I long for the days when . . .

Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree. Emily Bronte 

Our trees and their leaves don't quite know what to make of it. I am looking forward to colors of crimson, dark gold, and varying shades of warm brown - soon, oh so soon I hope.

I opened my door last weekend and found this wonderfully aromatic and delightful broom perched on my front porch, a gift delivered by a dear friend. Oh where shall I fly?

The broom is infused with cinnamon and now my home, at least, is begining to feel like and offer the fragrance autumn. 

 

My little vintage rolling pin (previously published in Heart & Home magazine) is available in a one of a kind paper crafting kit in my boutique.  We also have a Christmas kit with a darling 1930' red & green rolling pin.  Oh the possibilities that can be rolled out!

 

 And here's a peek of what's to come in my boutique

    

Is this little girl adorable or what?  I just love the expression on her face. Each picture frame is designed with a 7-step process, hand painted, collaged with my designer papers, and signed by me. We'll let you know as soon as they're available.

Finally, I want to extend a great big THANK YOU to Sara at http://tweaksanddesigns.blogspot.com/ for making this new blog possible.  Talk about word of mouth advertising, Sara's got that covered.  You simply must visit her blog where you will see the many blogs she's "tweaked and designed."

Sara, your exceptional work speaks for your fabulous reputation.  I wish I could have you working with me full time.  Thank you again.

Time for me to resume creating - lot's on the drawing board, okay, it's actually in my head at the moment and needs to be poured out onto my drawing board.

P.S.  If you have yet to place an order for my new "Hello! Beautiful" collection of paper products, get your sweet self over to Webster's Pages - orders ship in the next couple days.

xo

Terri