Tour Through Blogland Continues!

This photo is from one of the very first "practice" blog posts I wrote while my 15 year old was trying to teach me how to use blogger almost two years ago!
Yes, my kids and I really did have a cookies and lemonade picnic at the park this day. I put homemade lemonade in a pretty bottle I had saved from some previous occasion and we headed out with our pretty glasses and tablecloths! The kids look so little! I wonder if they'd still be up for doing this with mom? Hmmm....

Okay, on to the blog tour! 

Recently I was invited by Carol at Art and Sand to participate in a tour that's been travelling through blogland. It's sort of a "getting to know you" theme, with the added element of inviting other bloggers you are inspired by and getting to introduce you to them. Pretty fun, right? 

I have been a fan of Carol and her blog for quite some time and was so happy that she thought of me! 

We have in common that we both grew up in the San Gabriel Valley in southern California, but I'm now in Colorado and she is enjoying life in a darling beach cottage.  

I will not be jealous...I will not be jealous...

When you visit Art and Sand, you will be treated to happy color, creative projects galore {not to mention her husband's amazing artwork!} and sometimes even a walk on the beach.

Carol's welcoming and friendly spirit will keep you coming back to see what's she's up to!




The tour involves answering four questions about your blog, so here goes:

#1 What are you working on right now? 

I'm a single mom with three kids at home, so there's always a lot of things in the works. Kid stuff, homemaking, blog writing, The Penny and The Pearl and other selling venues tend to be intertwined day in and day out. 
What I'm working on now that will be specifically for sharing here soon is getting my creative sprawl space pulled together to share at the 2014 Where Bloggers Create party at My Desert Cottage. 

Part of that process will include a project I'm working on to turn an old dresser into a functional work surface/island so I don't have to show you my dining room table again!

I shared a little sneak peek of this on my Facebook page the other day, so now I feel committed! haha
Wish me luck on this project, okay? 

My blog posts are very rarely planned in advance. I admire those bloggers who have a schedule, or posts written weeks or months in advance. Maybe someday I'll be able to operate that way, but for now my posts are mostly about whatever is happening right now.




#2 How does my work differ from others? 

The focus of most projects I share on my blog is creating unique things for your home without spending money, so I guess that sets me apart a little. I'm very inspired by other bloggers, and sometimes I just want to do something they've done because I'd love it in my own home!
But many times what I create is something just pulled from my imagination. 

I'm a single mom on an extremely tight budget. That's just the way it is right now.

 I simply don't have the money to go retail shopping and share all the new things I bought for our home, or to create a project. Besides, there's plenty of other bloggers doing that beautifully! 

Even during times in my life when money was abundant, I was still shopping thrift stores, yard sales and creating things. 

I am constantly looking at things I already have - whether it's an existing piece of furniture that's not working for us, or random materials I've thrifted or picked up for free - and just figuring out how to make something new out of it. I completely love pouring heart and soul into Creating a Life - creating something - with more imagination than money. Plus I just get bored looking at the same things all the time!  

I think using vintage and handmade items can create a much more personal space. My hope is that in some way what I do will inspire someone not to give up on having a space they love just because they don't have a big budget.  



#3 Why do I write/ create what I do? 

God gave me the vision for a blog, some blog (I really didn't know much about what blogging was!) during a very low point after my divorce. I didn't know exactly what it would be about, but I felt an overwhelming sense that I just needed to start, and He would show me where to go with it. 



What has evolved over the past 20 months or so is a real love of sharing with you that you don't have to have a lot of money to create a unique and personal home that you will love to spend time in, even if it's a rental home that isn't really your style! 

I write about it on my blog to hopefully inspire others to create their own unique things. Just knowing you all are here to share it with inspires me to want to do more! I also want to publicly acknowledge God's leading and grace to us as we continue on this journey. We simply can't underestimate His plan for our lives, even if it looks like something we never even thought of!  

The things I create for The Penny and The Pearl are things that I would want to have in my own home. Many decor items I create are one-of-a-kind. You aren't going to see it in someone else's space, because there's only one! 

Other things I can make in larger quantities, but they are still created with unique elements that aren't copied from something else. 





It's such an honor when someone wants something in their home that you've created! I don't take that lightly. It's a blessing to be able to do something you absolutely love, and know that it helps provide for your children at the same time. 




#4 How does your writing/ creative process work? 

Well, it's a great big mess! Haha. My writing process {I've written a couple of magazine articles, as well} has always been pretty similar to my creative projects, or even rearranging the furniture!

I start with a general vision of what I want to convey. I pull all the elements together that I might possibly want to include. {I refer to this as "the possibility pile"} I rearrange words, or project parts, or furniture. Add things, take things away, tweak and adjust, toss the unused words or parts or furniture to the side, and voila! 

Isn't it that way for everyone? : )

And now, it is my great pleasure to continue the tour by introducing you to two more bloggers whose talent and style and creativity inspire me on a regular basis- Katie from Let's Add Sprinkles and Larissa from Prodigal Pieces!

"I'm constantly redoing things around the house because I believe styles are always changing. Blogging started as an outlet and distraction during a painful season of my life. It became a way to journal about faith and family, to express my creativity and show off DIYs and frugal finds."-

Katie at Let's Add Sprinkles

"Larissa, from Prodigal Pieces, is homeschooling mother to 6 children and owner of Prodigal Pieces, her Etsy shop.  Her blog is where she loves to share her passion for redeeming cast off furniture, showcasing her vintage finds, and creating handmade repurposed goods.  DIY is her forte and she shares projects for you to do on your own, from home décor to furniture." 

Visit the Prodigal Pieces shop here!

 Please visit Let's Add Sprinkles and Prodigal Pieces (any time), but especially next Monday when they post about their own blogs. I know you'll be inspired by them, as well! 

Thanks so much for coming by for the tour today!

Jeanette

Sharing this week, over at


Sundays at Home at Thoughts From Alice

Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home

Share Your Cup Thursday at Have a Daily Cup of Mrs Olson

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

Show and Share at Coastal Charm

Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Tweak It Tuesday at Cozy Little House

The Scoop at Confessions of a Plate Addict

Make It Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House