Happy New Year !!!!!

I am very excited and have a good feeling about 2009. Hope that you all have a safe and wonderful time celebrating. Enjoy, Heidi

Sorry I do not have the origin of this image.

Image via House Beautiful.



Image via Ralph Lauren.

Christmas Eve Thanks.

Image Via Flickr.

First of all, I would like to thank everyone for all of their kind words. I have been celebrating and working for the last few days and could not fit in a new post. At the present moment I am waiting for my 6 year old to fall asleep so my husband and I can play Santa.

Thank you for all the therapy, laughing and tears (tears from laughing mostly). This was the first year I did not want to run away from my store on a daily basis, I could escape into my blog world and what a FABULOUS one it is. Thanks to you all.

The image above is of the ice skating rink at the Galleria Mall in Houston, Texas. This is where I was with my husband and son on Monday, my birthday. It was wonderful! I shopped in my favorite stores while I talked with my BFF Janet on my cell phone. (It's just not as fun with out your girlfriend) and then we ate at Benihana's ,my favorite Japanese restaurant. Then topped it all off with Ice Skating at the Galleria around this giant Christmas Tree. We were exhausted but it was all worth it. I can't wait to see what will be in store for 2009 but one thing is for sure, if it has anything to do with you all, it will be great. Love you, HEIDI

"The Oklahoman" link & OETA

Heather Warlick with the "Oklahoman" came out and did a great interview and even shot a few minutes of video. The lead photograph for the story they did on us made the front page next to Sam Bradford's picture. (WOW!) Then the story was in full color on the front page of the "Life" section of the newspaper. It took up almost all the front page and then ran over to another page!!! Again, thanks to Heather and her photographer for such a great story. Click on this link for the story and in the body of the story you will see the video for you push the "play" button.

As many of you know we were recently featured on OETA's "Gallery" program. Randy and Susan came out to the restaurant and the studio and shot some video over a few days and I also went into their studio for a sit-down interview. Again, thanks to them for such a nice piece! We still get folks come into the restaurant and say they saw us on OETA. Someone told me this week that they had the video up on their website. I was going to put the link here, but could not find it. If someone out there finds it let me know please and I will post the link.

Finally Back!!

Hello everyone! Sorry it's been so long since a post. We have been incredibly busy. First thanks to Elaine and Greg Dean and the crew at Dean-Lively Gallery in Edmond. Our show there was a success! We had a great turnout and want to thank everyone for coming out and taking a look and buying. Here's the new 75 piece chandelier at the Dean-Lively Gallery in Edmond. Come by there and see it in person.

Micah and I have been busy on a number of commission pieces and didn't even get pictures of several of them.

We are falling in love with some new shapes and our work is evolving a little bit. We will still do what we have been doing but we are entering into another dimension and are excited about it. Our skill level is increasing and so it the size of our work. Our tallest to date is a little over 27".

Some pictures of a new style for us are posted here today. Right now we are calling this style, "Raffinato". It's Italian for "Elegant".

The "Raffinato" right now has at least two versions. The first is the "Redento Raffinato" and we don't have a name for the 2nd one yet. We have yet to make a third version, but we know what it will look like and it is coming. The "Redento" is Italian for "redeemed". We have taken trimmings and scraps from other things from off the floor and out of the trash and "redeemed" them and made something beautiful out of them. Kind of like God does with people. He picks up people off of the scrap heap of life and makes something beautiful out of them if they will let him. Whoa! weren't expecting that were you?

Anyway here's some stuff we have been doing. The guilded olive green raffinato is 20" tall. Most of the others are taller, up to 27".

I''m posting a couple of pictures of some things Micah did by his self. The grayish granite looking one is about 15" tall and the blue/sandy beach one is over 20" inches tall, maybe 22". We don't know for sure, it sold before we measured it. Micah is really doing great. Together we are blowing the best glass we've ever blown. We are fixing to get started on Aaron's chandelier in January. He ordered one that has lots of warm transparent colors in it. Oranges, ambers, reds, gold browns, etc... We are really excited!

Merry Christmas to OZ.

Image via Country Living's Merry & Bright.

Watching all of your blogs from the land down under has me thinking about Christmas in a different way this year. It is not hard to imagine what Christmas would be like in Australia since I live in Texas and it dose not snow and we rarely use our fireplaces. (Now this year is an exception because it snowed last week, but today it is hot and foggy. ?) I have picked out some fabulous images, all of which come from Country Living's book Merry and Bright. None of the images have snow or fireplaces a blaze. I also thought about the foliage, not so much cedar and pine but note in the beachy pic there is a garland of seeded eucalyptus.

So this one's for you my Aussie Sweethearts.

Merry Christmas to you from Heidi Claire.

Image via Country Living's Merry & Bright.

Image via Country Living's Merry & Bright.

Image via Country Living's Merry & Bright.

Image via Country Living's Merry & Bright.

Image via Country Living's Merry & Bright.

Midwest of Cannon Falls.

Image via Home Companion.

Here we have a great house and product line all in one. Midwest of Cannon Falls, is a fun line of traditional Christmas with a twist. Cannon Falls is a small town in the heart of Minnesota and is the home of the company and of the entrepreneurs who started it with only an idea and a vision. It began with German nutcrackers and European handcrafted Christmas ornaments sold to shops all across America. In 2002 the Company decided to save one of the oldest and greatest homes in the town that was scheduled for demolition from years of neglect. This fabulous house, they call "The River House", has become a great showcase for their product line and a few years back they came out with a book "Celebrating Home" , which is one of my favorites. It takes you through the seasons of a year and demonstrates how you can achieve a beautiful traditional look by using elements of Midwest of Cannon Fall's Line. Enjoy, Heidi

Image via Laurel Ulland Architectural.

Image via Celebrating Home.

Image via Home Companion.

Image via Celebrating Home.

Exposed and High, in the ceiling department.

I know that it is a waste of space and not very energy efficient, but I love high ceilings with exposed beams. I will add some sky lights and solar panels to the roof and maybe then it will balance out nicely. These of course are going straight to my Dream House File. The neutrals and fireplace are added bonuses. Also love the furniture layout in images 4 and 5. Enjoy, Heidi

Image via Forbes

Image via Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles.

Image via House Beautiful.

Image via House and Garden.

Image via House Beautiful.

Bohemian like Me and Drew.

I realized that I had a collection of crazy/wild upholstery jobs in my image file. So before it gets any larger I thought that I would share the fun and move them on over to the Blog file.

Enjoy, Heidi

Image via Domino.

Image via Squint Limited.

Image via Squint Limited.

Image via Squint Limited.

Image via Squint Limited.

Image via Horchow.

Bright Ideas.

I came across this image last week via 1st Dibs and thought "how amazing, old jars re purposed into lighting." I get high off this kind of creativity. Then I found on another light fixture on a wonderful Swedish blog, Lilla Blanka, created from 3 pieces of depression glass. Oh My God! The possibilities are endless. Enjoy, Heidi

Image via 1st Dibs.

Image Via Lilla Blanka.

Image Via Lilla Blanka.

Where's the escape button?

After last night's Therapy Session with the Seven things Challenge I feel the need to escape. Oh, thank you Architectural Digest, you are always providing me with emergency escape exits into decorating bliss when I need them. Escape with me if you like. Enjoy, Heidi

Imgae via Architectural Digest.

Image via Architectural Digest.

Image via Architectural Digest.

TODAY'S THE DAY!

Dean-Lively In Edmond 5 - 9 pm!

New Technique!

Micah and I fused pieces together and rolled them off the pastorelli and blew it out. We were very pleased with the way it turned out. It stands slightly over 17 inches tall and about 5 1/2 inches wide.

We also have another Indian Basket set in olive green with formal black accents. It's about 11 inches wide.

Micah's Blue Voyage

Micah did a great job on this one!

Wall Flower.

Yesterday I was inspired by a collage of botanicals I found on a totally fabulous site, called Dwellings and Decor. I decided that I would decoupage the walls in my bathroom in vintage botanicals. Now, just like the headboard in my last post, I cannot guarantee you all a time frame when this is going to be accomplished, I just wanted to share the creative idea with you while I am filled with enthusiasm. Enjoy, Heidi

Image via Dwellings and Decor.

Image via Steven Gambrel.

Make your own Upholstered Headboard.

Now I haven't done this yet, but I thought that I would share my find with you anyway. I am going to make my own upholstered headboard since I want one and times are tough, but like I always say, " when the going gets tough, the tough get clever." Growing up with not a lot of resources you learn to be keen of your surroundings and use what you got. Most of the times those projects turn out to be the best. So, here are some images that have inspired me to do such a crazy thing and perhaps you would like to make one yourself. Just click on this wonderful website called Be Jane and step by step you too can make your own upholstered headboard. I will post mine as soon as I get it done. (Don't hold your breath though, I'm a bit of a procrastinator.) Enjoy, Heidi

Image via Urban Outfitters.

Image via Domino.

Image via Domino.

Image via Ballard Designs.

Image via Urban Outfitters.

Image Pottery Barn.