Great Little Article for 'Lambs & Ivy Boutique'

Greetings Friends from Snowy So Cal!!!

Most of you know by now that I own & operate a little shop in my mountain community of Crestline, CA which is my 'real job'. While on the Internet this morning working on some advertising for the store, I found this fun article from the LA Times...what a GREAT surprise! I remember when this gentleman came into the store in the fall & asked if he could "take some pictures", but I never heard back. Well, this was the result...a nice little acknowledgment for my 'Home Away From Home'!!

Big Smile... ;) {click below to read article}

Crestline's overlooked antique rows L.A. at Home Los Angeles Times

Lovely Lynn, Lambs & Ivy & SIGNATURES

What a GREAT & FUN day I had at my Lambs & Ivy today!!! My dear friend Lynn from Blue Skies who's blog I just created a fresh, new look for, came by the shop today with her beautiful 2 daughters Brenna & Lauren...could they all be any cuter??? I don't think so!!! It was such a pleasure meeting them & we had so much fun talking about all our arting & blogging, I feel we are instant best friends with so much in common. How fun is that...sooooo fun! She also brought me some lovely hand-crafted items that I'm putting in the store that I love, love, love, especially the awesome vintage M&M filled bottle decorated for Valentine's Day with one of my FAVORITE vintage lady perriots on it {above}...Great Minds Think A Like!!! I look forward to many more visits & laughs & craft brain storming adventures...her daughter Lauren even has a talent for making the sweetest paper roses. I have her making me some custom hair combs to sell in the store so she can make some extra $$$'s too. Then when you think things couldn't get better...I learned how to create a digital signature, a new trick of the trade that I can add to my blog design services. I had fun making mine & hope you all love it & if anyone is interested in adding one to their blog, fly over to http://vintagesusiecustomdesign/ & I can make a custom one just for you for $5.00. Just shoot me over an email so we can get started & you TOO can have this little bit of personality at the bottom of your posts!!! LOL So bye for now friends & today...I'm Feeling The Love! ;)

I Just Finished Lynn's Blog Design at Blue Skies

I adore the way Lynn's Blog Makeover turned out over at Blue Skies!!! What an AWESOME client she was & she brought so many creative ideas to the process, it made it easy for me to envision the feeling she was looking for. Take a peek at her whole package by clicking on her button on my sidebar. Thanks so much Friend for choosing me!!!

A New Year, A New Venture & A New Blog

Come & take a peek at my new blog for Custom Blog Design. I'm excited about a New Year filled with my much loved digital arts & the POSSIBILITIES that lay ahead working with some of my favorite friends in helping them create a new look for their blogs. Follow me down my new path & together I know we can 'FLY'!

Custom Blog Headers for Sale on etsy by ME

Well, I've made my very 1st blog headers for sale & listed them in my etsy shop which can be viewed on my sidebar...yippppeeee! The 1st is American Pie & the 2nd is Everything French. I'm following the ideas in 'The Secret' & working on creating my own destiny. {well, at the very least I am TRYING, right! lol} Have any of you read The Secret? What did you think of it? I believe it's basic principles to be true, BELIEVING is the thing, but I also believe that just doing a thing has got to be just as important. So, I'm just doing for now & I'm happy with that. What could you be 'just doing' to get you closer to the destiny you want to create? Let's inspire each other! I'm confident that we will only get better at it, but in the meantime, wish me luck! ;)

Theme Thursday 'Flying' & Ouray's Ice Park

{background bubble provided by Digital Whisper}

The small mining town of Ouray, Colorado

A very cool building front in Ouray

The ABSOLUTELY, Crazy, Amazing Ice Park

Can you see the 2 figures in this picture climbing the wall of ice?

vintagesusie in Ouray wondering..."who's crazy enough to climb these things?"

One of the billions of ice formations

Anyone for an icicle???

{close-up of an ice climber}

As promised, some of my insane pictures of the ice climbers at Ouray's Ice Park. When my sister told me she was going to take me to an ice park, where people came from all over the country to climb walls of ice, I had no idea I was going to see such an incredible sight! The photographs can not do the grandeur of this location justice. Awe some & Awe inspiring is the only way I can describe it. I feel so blessed to have been able to see such an amazing place & so grateful to Kristen for flying me to Colorado & taking me there. My family & friends MAKE my life!! Whether new friends or old, whether family near or far, thanks for being with me on this journey! I wish each & everyone of you a New Year filled with Love & Laughter, Happiness & Good Health & the ability to find your Joy in the simplest of places. In 2010, I will strive to be ever aware of the simple abundance that surrounds me each & everyday.

"Whatever we are waiting for - peace of mind, contentment, grace, the inner awareness of simple abundance - it will surely come to us, but only when we are ready to receive it with an open and grateful heart."
~ Sarah Ban Breathnach

The Three Muses 'Old & New' & Telluride, CO

{background by Painting With Brushes, eggs by Rian Design}

My sister Kristen in Telluride, CO

vintagesusie out & about & having fun in Telluride

The main street of this little western town

My trip to Colorado was a short 4 days, but my sweet sister managed to stuff as much fun as humanly possible into that short time frame! LOL One of our journeys was to Telluride, an awesome old mining town turned resort town high in the Colorado mountains. One of it's claims to fame is that in June 1889, Butch Cassidy before becoming associated with 'the wild bunch', robbed the San Miguel Valley Bank of $24,000...that was a lot of money for back then right?? Now in the same building is The Appaloosa Trading Company & lucky me, Kristen bought me the coolest boots there ever...I love her, I love them & I love that they're from Telluride! More of my journey to come...don't miss my pics of Ouray's Ice Park, beyond amazing...it's insane! Have fun getting ready for the New Year...I'm rolling around the idea of taking Kai to the Rose Bowl Parade, I have to mull that one over for a while! :)

Lots of Llama Love in Colorado

Whitewater, Colorado

My sister Kristen feeding her llama's in the mountains above Grand Junction.

Her very AWESOME log home...what an amazing view she has!

The vineyard, ready & waiting for the snow to melt to show the first bud of spring.

Lots of Llama Love!!!

In the barn looking out.

Regal & Proud, her llama's are packers.

Face to face...

A smile only a Mother could love....

I had the BESTEST time in Colorado visiting Kristen, John & their furry friends! I fell in love with Grand Junction, mesa's, llama's, jerky & pellet stoves. My holiday has been amazing & I hope all of you are having an amazing holiday too! With the 2010 fast approaching, I'm going to sit back, sip a glass of wine & take the time to reflect on the many blessings this past year has given me. One of them has been the serendipitous great fortune of finding all of you!!! :)

{more pictures to come of course}