Announcing...."Heidi"s Homemade Christmas Swap"....

Hi Ladies, I am here today to announce my next swap...."Heidi's Homemade Christmas Swap"!......You know my philosophy is "Living a wonderful life, with less money, less time & in less space",...so that is what this swap is all about!.....The spending limit is $15.00 & one item has to be "homemade"!.....We are all creative people, so just think of the possibilities!....I am suggesting we concentrate on sending one nicely made item, & if you have a bit of money left over add a few more charming tidbits!....

I know you hear me say all the time to make your swap box as pretty as possible for your partner! Take a little time to wrap each little thing!.....Color coordinate the wrappings & ribbons to your partner's favorite holiday colors!!!....This is all about making your swap partner feel special!...We all have so much to do at this time of year, so sending a off an exquisite little box to your partner would certainly make her day!!

I also have tried incredibly hard to make sure each of you who participates, is treated well & is not left without a swap box. I think overall the swaps have much gotten better, but there are still those who do not take it seriously. Please DO NOT sign up if you are not going to see this swap through!!!.....And even though I hesitate saying this....swaps are a bit of a "gamble", so please no complaining!.....I simple cannot control those people who prove to be flakers!

If you would like to participate in my "Heidi's Homemade Christmas Swap".....Here's what you do!......

Here are the rules...
* please e-mail me @ heididevlin@gmail.com if you would like to join!....
* please also fill-out & e-mail me the information sheet that is listed below....
* deadline for signing up: November 15th, 2009
* swap box must be sent by: November 30, 2009
* partners will be announced on November 16th, 2009

Information Sheet
---------------------:
*Name:
*Mailing address:
*E-mail address:
*Blog:
*Hobbies:
*Favorite holiday colors:
*What is your Christmas Style: ( shabby chic, modern, country, etc.)
*Likes & dislikes:
*Candle scents you enjoy:
*Religious ?:
*Would you like an international partner:

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"Listening".....

Dear Friends, How are you all?....I have been so seriously absent from blogging!...Not sure exactly why?....I guess a number of things have contributed to my lack of posting!....Of course work has been crazy, with Etsy orders coming in daily, which is wonderful, but certainly something that takes a great deal of time!......Then the "time of year", which means Halloween preparations for school & home!....as well as a few birthdays added to the mix!.....And then the everyday,.... "exercising", or at least trying to!....grocery shopping", "planning meals" & of course the continual "stream of laundry"?...

I know I am sound like I am complaining, but actually I am very happy for all that is going on around here!.....I love that we have 3 generations living here, under one roof. I love how in this little house, you can hear what each of us is doing all at once....I'm cooking in the kitchen, Andrew is playing in his room, Mallory is in the garage sewing.....Holly is at the kitchen table working on homework & Ter is at the computer in the office.....I can hear each of them....the click of the computer keys.... the flipping of textbook pages....the hum of the sewing machine....the sounds of a 5-year old's imagination.... & the boiling water on the stove. What "music" it makes....a "symphony of household sounds".....How I adore the arrangement of it all.... & the people creating it.

The message here today is...I am really excited about getting back to my blog & visiting you all...but once in awhile,... we all need to take breaks & "listen to our lives".

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"Crowns, Roosters & a Bit of Christmas"!.....

*"Crown/Message" pillow.......so, so pretty!.....you can personalize this pillow with your zip code, a monogram or even a child's brithdate!

It is the last week of October, which I can hardly believe!??....Where does the time go?.....We are taking this week to prepare for Halloween, which at our house is quite a big deal!.....Baking "cut-out cookies" in the shapes of bats & pumpkins,...."sewing costumes".... "decorating" inside & out & "watching lots of scary movies"!!!

And in the mix of all this creativity, I have also added lots of new pillows to my Etsy shop, "Heidi Devlin Design"!.....I have hand-stenciled some amazingly pretty "crown designs", along with a charming "rooster" pillow & darling "Santa" as well!.... You must come take a look!...I will be continuing to add new things this week & next, preparing for the upcoming holidays!....Such an exciting time of year!....

I would like to wish you all a wonderfully "spooky" Halloween week.... & at the same time, please take a moment to come take a peek at what's new in the shop!!.....Your friend, Heidi XO

* "Santa" pillow.....so cute & somewhat "retro"!

* "Paris/Crown" pillow.....such an interesting design!.....so pretty & just a bit French!!

* "Judy's Rooster" pillow....."Country" at it's best!.....

And my "SOFA" pillow......so simple, yet so charming!

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"Today at Our House"......

Hello Friends, It is Friday once again!....Today at our house it is all about "decorating for Halloween"! We made a vow at the beginning of the year that we would decorate in a more timely manner! Even though stores have had Halloween displays since August, we decided to try & resist & stick to our plan,....since some years we were almost tired of the holiday before it had even begun!.....So now a week before the big day, our family is so excited to begin! We are adding lots of Martha Stewart "paper rats"...a must with a 5 year old grandson!...Lots of "spider decals" adorning windows & mirrors!...eerie "cobwebs".....& armloads of "pumpkins"!!....This is the day we have been waiting for!!!!....Excitement is in the air!.....Afterall, the "prep" is half the fun!....Off to decorate with wild abandon!!!.....Love, Heidi XO

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Autumn "Whites"......

I'm sure many of you will agree..."white" is beautiful in Spring, Summer, Fall & Winter!....Sometimes , especially at this time of year though, we have a tendancy to give only the warm colors the proper attention. ......turning our backs on "white". We gravitated to it in Spring & loved how crisp it felt in Summer,.... but somehow forget how versatile & lovely "white"can still be when Autumn arrives!.....Look around your homes for pieces of white that are hiding out in your cupboards or stored away in linen closets!.....& bring them out!.....Mix your "white iron stone" with white pumpkins & berried branches!......drape your "white slipcovers" with cozy quilts & colorful textured pillows..... & even consider painting thrift shop finds like old urns the color white & filling them with beautiful bouquets of wheat or dried hydrandeas!.....You will be pleasantly surprised how adaptable & "Fall-ish" white can be!

When using white in "cool weather" you must also remember to use pieces of white that are very textural!..... soft fluffy rugs, Irish knit pillows & even architectural pieces that are aged & interesting..... I have a pair of old candlesticks where the white paint is chipping & for some reason I love them more than ever in the fall & winter months!

So Ladies,...... in amongst all the incredible color that we are enjoying now in October, remember the color "white". Whether it takes "center stage" in your rooms, or you have just "hints" of white here & there, it is important to realize how this classic color can take on any season & look as inviting & charming now as it did a few months ago!.....

I encourage you to run out & purchase an armload of "white pumpkins".....

Or simply show off a fabulous collection of "white dishes"!.....Whichever way you wish to bring the "Autumn Whites" into your home, will be the right way!.....Happy decorating!......

Love, Heidi XO

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"So Simple....So Charming".....

I have been absent from blogging for days & days!?......I have seen nothing, but the 4 walls of my garage workroom!.....I am very content working out in the " studio" on all my projects, but find myself a bit more caught up so have decided to emerge for the day!.......

Earlier this morning, I was looking through a few of my old Country Living magazines & came across this picture. I thought it was just the most darling idea!....using a "transferware teacup" as the "scoop" in your flour jar!!!....I just have to copy this idea!....I already have everything displayed in large glass jars, but will definitely be replacing my tin scoop, for a tea cup like this!.....Thank you Country Living magazine!! I just treasure easy ideas like this!!

Letting you all know too that my newsletter, "Living Little with Heidi" will be sent out tomorrow!...Finally!!!!!!...more than a little late I'm afraid!...

O.K.... off to whip up a bit of dinner......Pasta?.....Waffles?.....Chicken?.....???????

Wishing you a fabulous little Wednesday evening!......Heidi XO

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"Nini/Andrew Days"....

So busy concentrating on this drawing!...Is that a precious face!

Today was a "Nini/Andrew day"....a day spent just with me & my grandson Andrew. Even though we both live in the same household & I have the privledge of seeing him every day, it is nice to once in awhile have an entire day to have the house to ourselves! The girls were at school, my husband at work & since Andrew is home from kindergaten this week it was just he & I!

We started the day by making "chocolate cupcakes & peanut butter blossom cookies"! Believe it or not, not all the batter was eaten!...some of it was actually transfomed into some sweet treats! We also decorated the house with Martha Stewart decorations, "spiders" on all the mirrors & windows & "little black mice" gracing all the baseboards!....We went in the back yard & found a bare branch that we made into a "Halloween Tree", with lots of "spiderwebs & black widows"!...How proud we were of that!..... Then after a lunch of "tuna & saltines", we got cozy on the couch & turned on "Coraline" with the 3-D glasses & all, until it got a bit too scary for us both!!

What a day it was!.....How fortunate I feel to have this little man in my life!...He is a blessing to our family & makes this "Nini" so very proud!.....I love you Andrew!...& I love "Nini/Andrew Days"!.....

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A "Pretty Pink Room".....for Pink Saturday!

Happy Pink Saturday!......You know me & lovely interiors!.....I never tire of a well-put-together room!, especially one in "pink"!.......All these different pink shades combine to create such a confortable, yet enchanting space!......Enjoy this first Pink Saturday of October!.....& thank you Beverly @ How Sweet The Sound for hostessing!.......Heidi XO

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