Terri Conrad Designs

"What Does Your Heart Desire," she asked

What does your heart desire? I enjoyed a conversation with a very special person yesterday (thank you, Cindy!) and was given a very special gift as a result of this conversation - a renewed sense of freedom, and my-oh-my if that doesn't open the flood gate to creativity and artistic expression, I don't know what would.

What would happen if you gave yourself permission to be what what ever you want to be; to receive your heart's desire?

I was window shopping (on the internet) this morning and saw this

at French Freak . I heart this conservatory and yes, it is my heart's desire for studio space attached to the back of my home! The lush & lovely over sized back yard is also my heart's desire - a safe place for my daughters and their friends to play, for Shayna, my beloved canine kid to frolic.

Isn't is so fabulous to imagine - "Cogito, ergo sum" (otherwise stated . . .)  "I think, therefore I am"

I simply had to stop the presses of creation of art as usual, and create a journal entitled, "What Does your Heart Desire," she asked. (paper by Terri Conrad Designs® for K&Co. with vintage ephemera, french lace and red pompom)

Isn't is so fabulous to imagine - "Cogito, ergo sum" (otherwise stated . . .)  "I think, therefore I am"

I'm thinking, I'm thinking, I'm thinking. How about you?

What is your heart's desire?

Sitting in the Shade, Sipping Lemonade with a Friend -

Hello, hello dear friends,

I want to sit with you & sip sparkling French Lemonade - (Trader Joe's) - will you join me? Maybe we can nibble on some cheese and bites of strawberries, apples, and we must have some chocolate.

I feel like I need a bit of a breather, a slowing down of sorts - exhale.  So I am taking moment to feed my soul by peeking in on the creative places Where Women Create (Jo, I love your magazine!), as well as some other inspiring places (virtually anyway).

Some we like and think you may too are

ABC Home

Anthropologie (naturally!)

Designing DNA

Lovely Clusters

Modern Country

It's fabulous, when these beautiful resources may not be in your own neighborhood, that you may still visit from the comfort of your home. Of course, all the senses are tapped when really there - but, window shopping via the internet is a warm & cozy alternative.

We've been receiving quite a few email inquiries of late for wholesale accounts of our products. Because most of our art is licensed to manufacturing partners, it is through each of these partners our products may be purchased wholesale.

Retailers who wish to purchase Terri Conrad Designs' gifts & home decor and stationery products wholesale, please leave us a comment here, or feel free to send your email inquiry to sales@terriconraddesigns.com and we will be sure to have a sales rep contact your store right away. Of course, if you see our products in your local gift shop let us know -

Our just released Vintage Fruit collection for C.R. Gibson:

Always feel free to send us a note, leave a comment here, and to visit our website to purchase our children's canvas art, and heart & hand crafted pieces such as our one of a kind "Cherish" for the little honey bunny in your life

beautifully packaged in this box -

merci et ayez un beau jour

Charmed, Enchante, It's a Pleasure . . .

indeed it is!

I discovered this hidden (to me) little vintage beauty today -

and with the click of my fingers on google, found and read with interest, Sarai's take on the magazine. Sauri writes, "It’s hard to find much information about Charm, but I read somewhere that it developed out of one of the many film magazines of the 1930s until it was eventually incorporated by Glamour (in the 50s maybe?). Starting in the 40s, Charm dedicated itself to the “BG,” which stood for Business Girl."

Well, Sauri, I think I may join you in your fascination with collecting vintage CHARM. Look at this woman's waist though - does she eat (I ask as I take another bite of my glazed doughnut).

It's fascinating to see how times were, and are. Each decade seems to carry with it a certain visual aesthetic, do you agree?  Remember the 80's (ahem, think I care not to).

A fan of 1940's fashion, I am, however. Oh, and those 1940's kitchens . . .love them, especially that gorgeous red stove.

What decade of fashion and design is your favorite inspiration source?

 

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Oh my . . .my husband just handed me a package that arrived in the mail today, addressed to me, and I know what it is, I know what it is. A book by a very special, and truly talented lady. This will receive its own special introduction in my next post.

In the meantime, if you're looking for my "Lovely" Valentine's Day collection with K&Co., you can now purchase it here.

 

Have a bloomin' beautiful day!

Good morning, good morning -

we have two special announcements to share with you today . . .

Cat Kerr of In the Light of the Moon and

Marie of Lost Bird Studio are both winners of our Valentine's Day give away. Congratulations! 

These are two very talented artists and I am delighted to have been introduced to their work and their blogs.

Cat & Marie, please email your shipping addresses to us (terriconraddesigns@ca.rr.com) and we will send your gift. Congratulations again - hope you enjoy.

Terri Conrad Designs® is crafting & creating lot's of lovely & inspiring things especially for you - and I am personally excited to share what is coming your way...soon, oh so soon!

P.S. our ribbon is designed using paper from our "Sweet Life" paper collection with K&Co. It, as well as our Valentine's Day paper are both available at Michael's.

Til we meet again -

Hello Beautiful!

Hello Beautiful!  You are, you know -

 

Happy Valentine's Day from my heart & home to yours

Create Love with Me . . .

I love this quote by Anais Nin, "There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."

We are, when we open ourselves up to the universe, to God and all that is waiting for us, filled with greater freedom. Do you agree?

"Love Blooms . . .

 

when you are near"

and because I like being near to you, the many, many beautiful & creative women who express yourselves so eloquently thru your chosen medium, be it scrapbooking, paper arts, collage, painting, and/or simply and most importantly the art of being a woman -  I want to share this as another Valentine's Day give away, from my heart & hands to warm your heart & home.

Please leave a comment on my blog, post my "Love Blooms" pic and/or the pic of "Truth & Love"  with a link back to my blog, inviting your readers to do the same.

Two selections will be made tomorrow night and posted Monday morning.

Thank you for drawing near and introducing me to your blog, and your creative world - I have already visited so many I would have never known were out there had you not left a comment here.

Love indeed blooms, when you are near.

Terri Conrad Designs® is Crafting Something New to Give to You

Hello, Hello dear friends - do you know how much I appreciate each and every one of you? Many of us have become familiar with each other through the craft community and you have watched my career bloom from its seedling days. I want to express my deep appreciation for you, for your creative hands and hearts and look forward to many, many more opportunities to create, cultivate and communicate with each other.

You know, I love tactile design as much as I love creating art for your heart & home (have you peeked at my portfolio lately?) so without further ado, I present this to you - to win

"Truth and Love" heart & handcrafted by me. This one of a kind piece is 100% authentically Terri! From the lovely vintage style frame, the paper (my Feather Your Nest collection), to the concept and I want to give this to one of you for Valentine's Day.

For your opportunity to win:

1.  post my "Truth & Love" photo on your blog, and/or community sites with a link back to my blog - the more places you post the pic and my link, the more entries you will receive - I know you may want this for yourself, but sharing the good news always brings back something good

2.  leave me a comment (it's always so good to hear from you) providing the link where you posted the pic & give away announcement.

Leave a comment each day if you like, we are all about cultivating friendship. One entry will be selected and announced on Valentine's Day.

 *********************  Good luck!  *****************

 

We have so many wonderful things in the works, and lots of new art to share, seeking to Warm Your Heart & Home with Terri Conrad Designs®

I just received these samples from one of my licensees - I love my Hello Beautifu! collection - hope you do too.

 

My daughter Jessica immediately claimed these for her room - after all she was my muse and inspiration for this collection. 

The custom canvas may be purchased on my web site.

That's all for today, mes amies - wishing you peace & joy til we meet again.

Serve one another in love . .

Let us not love with words but with actions and in truth.

~1 John 3:18

Love with action - it's a verb!  How many ways can you think of to act in love? I'm referring to Agape love - the kind of love that is described as the feeling of being content or holding one in high regard. Agape Love often represents divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing, active, volitional, and thoughtful love & kindness.

I had the experience (twice!) this week of people acting in Agape kindness on my behalf (thank you John, and Jeanette). It was a wonderful feeling to be the beneficiary of someone's time, generosity and experience. It's encouraging, and it is reassuring. It really does fortify one's spirit.

Imagine if we each chose to act in love in 5 different ways, with 5 different people each day what a day we all would have. I'm gonna try it, how about you? I'd love to hear about acts of love you initiated, and or were the beneficiary of.

On another note, I spent a little time tidying up my studio and reorganizing a bit - this box (see the one on my messy desk) once housed a flat iron (my almost 13 yr.old) daughter talked me into buying. It has one of those fun magnetic closures on it. Well, ya know I just couldn't toss that baby - I could re-purpose such a find.

I wrapped it up with some of my Feather Your Nest scrapbook papers, adhered a little metal bird, and voila! A new candy box (aka ink storage). Nothing too fancy, but fun & very practical.

My desk was constantly full of paint supplies, pencils, brushes and other various goodies, and I had no room for any tactile design unless my desk was clean (which is never!). So, I decided to take the majority of my design tools & toys and dedicate this vintage lovely to tactile design only. I'm happy, and I've been extra creative. It's the simple things - and I didn't spend a penny - oh except for the way too expensive flat iron for my daughter.

Visit with a Friend

Sometimes we are fortunate enough to cross paths with another who touches your heart in a such a way you know they will be a friend forever . . .

Please visit my dear friend, and gifted artist Diane Knott

I know you will be delighted you did so - she has something very special to share with you.