Are we there yet?

Two more days till moving day... I am frenzied, It's the details that keep my head spinning...

You know the proverb..."little foxes spoil the vine..." Well they do.

I have millions of little details spinning in my mind...

but let's just stop for a second and admire this beautiful little fox.. ain't she sweet?

Ok ... now onward.

tick tock... its getting so close!

Busy busy busy.

I have been busy... but it is going to be so beautiful... so unique, it will be worth all the busyness!

Three days and counting.

XO.

Fly.

Yet another sneak peek of things to come at Magpie...

This is an original by me... I am doing a collection of these amazing inspirational quotes...

This is my all time favorite.

Fly little birds!

Help a brother out!

Ok ... I need to explain,
I have spoke before about my brothers, recently this one.
He's a great dad, and great pilot, and all around good dude.


What a lot of people don't know is that the economy is whoopin our servicemens behinds too.

(A little backdrop...
I rent a home from a local Airman who bought it when the market was "hot" and now he needs to be nimble, it is a win win for us. )

There are hundreds of servicemen in the same situation ...namely my little brother.
He is now in Altus, OK with his family but several years ago in CHARLESTON SC when the real estate market was hot, hot,hot he "invested" in a town home where he was stationed, a ton of people did this it was a no brainer.

Alas... the bubble burst and it did not care if you faithfully sacrifice ALL for your country.

SO this is what brings me to this shameless post and request for help...

How you ask?

Two ways.

1. If you know any families in your area looking to rent ... encourage them to check military bulletin boards for rentals by service people ...they do so much for us and deserve first consideration... wouldn't you agree? Simple. Takes a few extra minutes... what a practical way to show support.

2. Below is a link to my brothers townhome in Charlseton... they have not had a renter for a few months and have refinished all the flooring and pay a fabulous management company to maintain it... but it does no good empty.

SO~ if you think you may have walked by someone from near there once please paste this link any where you can... even your forehead.

It is a simple, kind, practical way to give back~ to those who give all.

http://charleston.craigslist.org/apa/1867634772.html

Charleston SC.

Even if your not from there post it about - get creative... and Thanks so much I know all you bloggy gals are tender and understand.


XOXO

Hi all ... Today was like Christmas...

I just recieved my AMAZING pillows from Joy at Savvy City Farmer... What a sweet sweet heart and talented gal too!

I also teased you with a picture of my Magpie Nest... it is not finished yet...

I am getting nervous/ anxious/ excited... all of the above for my big reveal... but this is what I love and like my dear friend Jeanne so aptly blogged about after Brave Girl Camp...is ~Go fo your dreams...

More sneak peeks to come.

Utility Chic~ defined.

As I prepeare Magpie the shop to expand... my desire is to be clear about the purpose, and vision.

In a time when we are all learning " the new normal..." it is my heart to provide a shop with the philosophy of purpose and beauty combining ... nothing to just sit-about for its own sake but something that can be used, it's "everydayness" enjoyed and admired.

I am purposing to use " elemental style" to appeal to my guests. If it is raw ... natural, re claimed... re-invented or even rescued... I find it is beautiful.

I am looking forward to exploring the whole frontier that is UTILITY CHIC... as I see it!

Good ol neighbor girls.

I'd like to introduce my neighbors... Rita and of course...Big Lady. They were gracious enough to let me snap a few photos... which of course will be available stretched over canvas in various sizes ...at Magpie starting Sept. 1... Aren't they just the bees knees!

Fresh Design.

I am growing more and more excited for my big move. Double the space... new reclaimed, new new, new handmade and some fantatsic art!

Two weeks!

Tree hugger

Hello.


I have been so busy getting ready for my big change I have not shared it with you.
Magpie ... is expanding and moving. Yes...I am branching out in to double the sq. footage and I am excited! Same lovely old Barn just new location within and TWICE as big.
I have been busy creating ordering, buying paint and sanders and relics that I have not been too bloggy.
But between you and me... That is my first love. I could post every day twice a day... so Shhhh. We will keep that between us. I have to judiciously decide to sit down and blog or else I would never stop...


I have NEW photos to post BUT as I was going through this summers adventures I found some I had to share... they both made me laugh out loud...



What is so clear to me... is that our personality is with us from the get go... there are some traits you can't learn... and humor is numero uno.

You are either funny or your not.


So how funny could eating a Walmart push up pop be on a 105 degree day?





Then There is my sweet daughter... who contrary to most her peers is not a worshipper of Mother earth. Yes she is grateful and respects it's resources and fragile balance but she ( especially living in Colorado is freaked out a little by the cult of tree huggers all around her.)
So as she climbed this tree for a photo op I couldn't resist telling her she was officially a tree hugger and I could prove it... Luckily she has a sense of humor.

Ok~ just a little break from the mountain of work ahead of me... I will be back with lots of fun photos and beautiful new things to share... enjoy the funniness of summer!

p.s. If anyone knows the trick to enlarging photos in this template I would love to hear it!I am working on a whole new design but it will be while before we get there! In the meantime...I am stymied...if you know where/ how to enlarge the photo fileds I am all ears.

Clean a palooza....

Schools starting and I'm making shop changes and I always do change better with everything clean and tidy...so starting Friday we entered into clean a palooza.

Who needs clothes lines? I am sure my suburban neighbors love living next to junker woman...

At least I have pretty junk!

( Like the view I have of the front range?)

Homeowners shmoenowners...association... They all smell so fresh after a day in the breeze!

Trash cans dutifully lined up with bleach and all day in the sun... everything will feel so fresh!

Lot's of piles for Sophie to fold... it builds character.

And the grand finale! I finished that horrific chair last night... remember with the eighties southwest fabric? Now I have to finish her twin...

Hubby: Hon~ lets just keep them, they are beautiful...

Me: Really? Ok~if you insist!

I love when he loves my favorite stuff! It means gulit free shopping from my own shop!

I covered the back in a buff raw silk and the rest in a heavy Belgian linen... yumm!

Now time for a glass of wine and family over for dinner...

I love hard work!

I might even make Tracy from French Larkspurs amazing salad dressing...

Happy Summer night ya'll!

Mrs. Purvis.

I am a blessed woman. I have said this before but I underline it this time.
I have the most beautiful~ amazing~ talented~ lovely ~confident~ intelligent women in my life.
Seriously.
I am in a sea of talent. I could blog about one everyday of the year and not be done...

Take for instance Mrs. Purvis.

Amanda as us mere mortals call her...

Not only is she gorgeous... but she is a mother, a wife, a social worker ( with troubled young girls!)

She's a pastor/pilots wife ... (if you know a man who is either you know how intense that can be.)
She helps run her and her husbands business... VisionAir LLC... and she is starting a charity involving Angelflights...I will post all about those all by themselves later.

Her and her hubby ( David... who is equally amazing) are in the process of adopting from Ethiopia, and on the Denver Foster-to Adopt... list,

In Mrs. Purvis' spare time she creates AMAZING things.~ Like~ lots of them...


That is where it gets really good! (wink.)

She is creating a fall line to be made available exclusively at Magpie, and if your too far to visit Magpie...then her wares will be featured in her ETSY shop. " Mrs. Purvis."

She will have a variety of handmade " objects d'art" of which I fully intend to feature in total in a few weeks...
Amanda is a perfect fit for Magpie creatively, not only is her workmanship fabulous, her use of natural mediums is perfect for me, her palette is neutral and beautiful. Her textures are rich and ideas are unique.
Everything she makes fits in my philosophy... Everything should have a use and is meant to enhance life's mundane rituals... not just tchotchkies for there own sake... no sit abouts... real items made with real heart. I am huge fan of Mrs. Purvis.. and am excited to welcome her to Magpie, and love that our creative paths have crossed each other.

Look for a teaser post with pics of her fresh fall collection.


Did I mention she is a beauty too?

( Amanda~ and her first son Tre.)

http://purvistribe.blogspot.com/
http://babyafrica.blogspot.com/
http://www.visionairllc.com/

FREE.

First~ Welcome new followers I appreciate your interest and am delighted that you have taken the time to read my musings. I am honored.


As some of you know, My brother is ( the one who I just visited...) is a C17 pilot.
When he was 7 or 8 my mom took him to an airshow and he said- "that's what I want to do"...and today actually today he is flying in the OSH KOSH AIRSHOW.

Talk about focus. I could use a portion of that type of drive.

Earlier this week -as some of you may know- a C17 crashed in Anchorage Alaska- one practicing for an airshow. The ARCTIC THUNDER AIRSHOW. All four airmen aboard deceased.

I had just returned home from my visit with my brother when I heard this. I had just watched how his children adore him and his wife patiently and gracefully shoulders so much- so he can serve.
I crumpled when I heard this news- and my heart literally broke for the wives, children, sisters, friends and family of these men. It hit so close to home.

I am not sure of the details but I do know they had my brother and his crew flew the tribute flight as the grand finale to these fine airmen at the Osh Kosh Airshow. What a somber honor.

All of this while the USA had it's deadliest month in Afghanistan.

To the Elmendorf Airforce and Air National Guard Family... I am sorry.
Thank You for your gift to us and May God grace you each with comfort.

To the countless families and friends of fallen soldiers - especially this past month- Thank You.
I will celebrate my freedom vigorously...and I will teach my daughter that her life as she knows it is bought with blood.

My desire is to challenge us each to reflect on the reality that are a very blessed nation and we have the finest sacrificial men and women defending our freedom.

Major Aaron W. Malone ~249th Airlift Squadron
Major Micheal H. Freyholtz~ 249th Airlift Squadron
Captian Jeffrey A. Hill ~ 517th Airlift Squadron
Master Sergeant Thomas E. Cicardo ~ 249th Airlift Squadron



Romans 8:21 (Amplified Bible)
21That nature (creation) itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and corruption [and gain an entrance] into the glorious freedom of God's children.