Sugar Shop

Anthropologie Love

Oh Anthro.... it's been a while since you made me want to call on you but today... with this email, oh my! I think this struck me because the entire inside of my house is painted this color and I'm tired of it. But these wonderful pops of color made me think I just need to add some .... well.. beautiful pops of color! Ahhh don't you love inspiration! Happy Saturday guys!

Cooking Light Magazine YUM!

Yum! Picked this up at the grocery store yesterday. I'm on the second recipe tonight. Easy peasy and oh so tasty!!!

Looking for Bugs

When I was a little girl we spent lots of spare time on the ranch and I loved it, loved that my dad never worried about us getting dirty. There is something so free about being allowed explore, look for bugs... to get as dirty as you want as a kid.The clothes will wash (or not... that's why we don't wear good ones at the ranch). Sometimes life is about exploring, not worrying about being messy. Right now I have so much going on that everything feels messy... my house, my office, my car... but I'm not going to worry about that because I'm exploring, lots of new ideas for my photography business,fun things here on this site for you guys... the mess can always be cleaned. 

I always wonder about the kids that were never allowed to get dirty, what was that like for them.

Were you allowed to get dirty or did your parents always worry about keeping you clean? I'd love to hear your stories!

 P.S. I'm almost finished with the Crochet Trim tutorial, hope to have it up by Friday. :)

XOXO

Dena

Crochet Trimmed Cuddles

I have been crocheting a lot lately. My grandma used to do this on blankets, towels and pillow cases only her trim was very lacey.... I like it a bit more chunkey. I have seen some pretty pillow cases around blogland and it reminded me of the baby blanket I had done a couple years ago (the cherry one ).

I decided to make some more up, they seriously fun and would make great gifts!

 

I love the ranch and all our old weathered wood. I love knowing that some of it was built my grandfather

or great grandfather. It's home to me.

 

 

Doesn't the fantastic Sandi Henderson's fabric just belong in this setting? So fresh and pretty. I want to make an entire stack from her gorgeous prints. Oh I just wish I had all her new stuff. It makes me happy...makes me want to make stuff and photograph it at the ranch!

There doesn't seem to be much around the web about how to do this... would you like a tutorial?

 

 
  

Hope everyone has had a great weekend! I'm off to figure out what to make for dinner!

XOXO

Dena  

 
 

 

Adventures of Petey the Sock Dog

2 years ago I created This Post about how Petey the sock dog came to be. I made him from the book  

Sock & Glove (which is an amazing and fun book if you don't yet have it). 

Then I posted about how I traumatized the boy

Petey has been seriously loved by my little boy for the last two years. This both surprised me and melted my heart. Surprised me because he has never been interested in stuffed animals of any sort. Oh I tried from the time he was a baby and bought dinosaurs and monkey etc....nothing, if it didn't have wheels he wanted nothing to do with it. 

The boy will be turning 8 tomorrow and just the other night as he jumped out of been to go get Petey from the family room to sleep with him he said "Mom, I'm gonna love Petey forever". Heart...Melted. I lay there on his bed holding the second Harry Potter book waiting for the boy to brush his teeth so I could read our nightly chapters and I thought about his upcoming 8th birthday and silently prayed for god to slow time down as I know it's only a matter of time before Petey becomes forgotten (a la the toy story).

Then I also remembered how about a month ago the boy stated to Steve and I that Petey should have a wife. Really how many more birthdays will I get to make stuffed animals and silly fun things? 

Yesterday..... Petey's wife was born

Say hello to Petunia

She's much cleaner than Petey so I think he'll get a bath today

But I think he will love his new wife don't you?

 

 
At least when the boy stops spending so much time with Petey, Petey will have Petunia to turn to. :)  

I re-upholstered a vintage couch

When I decided to redo my photography studio I was exited to only re-use or re-do either vintage items that I purchased or items that I already had. My own personal room make over. And the really fun part... it was MY studio. What I mean by this is, it wasn't my house where everything is various shades of brown. I think we have used every shade of Ralph Lauren Suede paint (every brown shade that is) because the husband is uncomfortable with anything that isn't neutral..... and I am seriously over brown. So I spent the first few weeks pouring through books and wandering through some amazing "Mood Fabrics" style fabric stores in San Francisco.

So I figure that I would share the redo's along the way. The first project a sofa and love seat. (I haven't finished the love seat yet)

 

 
 The inspiration was a picture of an Anthropologie sofa that I had seen. The one thing I should have done (and still can do) is purchased new cushions as the originals are worn and smooshed as you can see. Let me know if you would like a more detailed post on how I recovered this old couch. 

XOXO

Dena

So... I have been spending a bit more time over on facebook. I put a new little badge over to the right if you'd like to add me as a friend. Fun stuff!
XOXO
Dena

Happy New Year Blog Friends

These are the Frasier Kids... They rock!

 

I promise to get back to crafty things here ....soon!

I've been crocheting alot.

I like it! I can do it while I'm sitting next to the husband

He likes it 'cause he can put his feet on my lap and watch football or Mythbusters or Top Gear.

 

He doesn't like it when the yarn tickles his feet though.

Wink Photo Shoot | Commercial Photography Bay Area

This was such a fun shoot for a company called Wink. If you are pregnant or having a baby you'll want to check them out!

 

 

From their website...

"Introducing your "own little secret" to feeling beautiful, Wink, Intimates for Mom™. A discreet BFF that helps put how you feel about your body, and your self, back in your hands.

Wink is the revolutionary maternity and post-partum slimming system that keeps you feeling comfortable, in control and virtually glowing, through the most important days of your life."

 

Hope everyone has a great week!

xoxo

Dena

Pumpkin Day at the Rooney Ranch

Every year my dad grows pumpkins for us to pick and carve on Pumpkin Day.

 

Dad and Marcy set up tables on the patio so everyone can carve.

 

 

My niece came home from college for Pumpkin day. Yay, love her! I also love the view of Livermore lights at night from my dads house.

 

this little guy here was Boba Fett. He doesn't have his mask on but you get the idea.

 

 

Hope you all had a Happy Halloween!