fresh picked whimsy

You had me at "barn sale"

Indy area peeps....you have to get out to the Resyled Barn Sale!!!!

My sister Susan surprised me with tickets to the preview night last night and it was AMAZING! It was a beautiful autumn night with white twinkle lights everywhere and we were surrounded by so much creative goodness! 

{junkey monkey's gorgeous booth}

Our mom was originally supposed to go with us, but has just recently had hip replacement surgery and our other sister Kim would have wanted to be with us but she lives in Georgia!  So...because we wanted them to feel like they were with us, we got a little creative...and brought them with us in our own way!

People kept asking us about them and laughed when they saw us taking pictures with them.  We even scored two extra drink tickets just because the lady at the gate loved that we brought them with us...in spirit!  Love!  Thanks, Mom & Kim!

A couple of my friends had booths here and i couldn't wait to see them!  This is Jill Broadhacker of Jilly Jack Designs.  She has a letterpress lab and art studio.  Her work is fabulous!

i bought this print of hers for Susan's birthday...

i was also excited to see my friend, Lindsay Clark of Seven Lemons.  Her paintings and illustrations are so fun!  I bought this one for my own collection...

There was live music at the farm...performing on a haywagon.  Don't you love it!?

and the Flying Cupcake food truck, which is just too damn cute...

There were not one, but two mobile boutiques!  This one, which was made from a vintage school bus...

and this one, Bizzy's Boutique, which was originally a bookmobile!  Oh my gosh, how i loved bookmobile day in elementary school...

Tuns out, this beauty is owned by Amy of Bizzy Buckets...someone who i had been in a holiday pop up shop with a couple of years ago.  Amy saw me in the truck and said "hey, you look really familiar!"  I immediately remembered her. 

 She and her husband completely and adorably renovated this bookmobile and turned it into a mobile artisan market.  It's genius and i wish it were mine!  So so clever!  Amy asked me to get in touch with her about putting some of my art in the Bizzy Mobile Boutique.  I will definitely follow up.  I am so inspired by creative people!

The sale continues today and tomorrow and it's out in Westfield among some really beautiful farmland.  Get out there and support small business owners, friends!  I did buy a pretty fabulous new industrial work table desk for the studio, but let the gal who sold it to me keep it until Saturday because it was a major part of her display.  I'll share it with you when i get it all set up!  I'm so excited about it!!!

Thanks, Susan for such a fun night.  Love you!

An Affair to Remember

Wowzers...that was fun!  A Fair in September was a hit.  The weather was perfection and our friends and family came out in big numbers to support us.  We made lots of new friends, too!  If you couldn't make it, allow me to walk you through...

Meet the Fair girls...

Jenny and Kristin created this fun art fair a few years ago.  Jenny hosts it in her backyard every year.

Sue is Jenny's mom and Sandy is her friend.  They helped in countless ways to help the Fair run smoothly.  Couldn't have done it without them!

Be sure to search for A Fair in September and follow on facebook to get updates and info about next year's Fair!  A big heartfelt thanks to Jenny and Kristin for inviting me to be a part of this awesome event this year.  I loved every minute of it! 

a fair in september

So, this is why i've been missing around here lately...

I've been getting ready for this event.  It's coming up quickly...Sept. 13 & 14.  This is an annual event held by my great friend and mentor, Jenny Elkins.  I've told you about Jenny many, many times.  This fair is held in the charming backyard of her home in the historic Irvington neighborhood of Indianapolis.  It's a joint venture between Jenny and her creative friend, Kristin Sims.  Each year they invite one artist to join them and happily, this year they invited me!  Yay!  Here's just a sampling of some of the fun stuff i found there last year...

I am so excited to see what Jenny and Kristin have been working on for this year's fair!  My studio has been a flurry of paint, glue, wood, glitter and paper.  Here's a little sneak peek of just a little of what you might find from whimsy studios...

I'm "branching out" and making some fun new things!

there's something for everyone...one way or another...

halloween signs inspired by my boys love all things "zombie"...

 and you can get started on your holiday shoppping, too!

of course, you'll find special deals on all of your favorite whimsy studios prints and goodies, too!  There's so much more, but you'll just have to come to the fair to see it all.  I've been instagramming from the studio a lot, too...so if you just can't wait or can't make it, you might want to follow along...(@lorimcdonough).  There will be a special sale in my etsy shop during the fair...stay tuned!

Here's the deets:  Friday, Sept. 13th noon-6 & Saturday, Sept 14th noon-5

sale located at:  85 n. irvington ave., indianapolis 46219

what's your hurry, summer?

We've tried to squeeze it all out.  School starts tomorrow.  Another fantastic summer for the McDonough's is in the books.

Memories have been made at the church carnival...

lazy days by the pool...

backyard summer bonfires with friends...

fun in the studio...

precious family days at the beach...

Margarita Fridays with the world's greatest neighbors...

football workouts and two-a-days...

backyard harvests...

Late night snack runs...

and board games...

time spent with cousins...

and sisters who are missed...

 I'm thankful for the time spent with the ones i love and for the promise of knowing there are only 289 days until Summer Break 2014!

The magical days of Nanny McD

Listen up William & Kate, step aside Mary Poppins, there's a new super nanny on the scene.  Katie has spent the last 3 summers nannying two of our favorite little people in the world.  And everytime she sends me a picture of their adventures, i giggle and marvel at the creativity and the memories they're making!

homemade slime...

super bubbles... 

 
lemonade stands...

fort building...

a little fun with the camera...slam dunking! ;)

silly video making...

  

water balloon pinata...

dotty manicures...

Lego towers...

it's not slave labor when you have them wash your truck, it's teaching them the value of hard work...

popsicles in the pool...

sometimes it melts faster than you can eat it...

arts and crafts...

making magic wands... {swish and flick}

movie time...

and putt putt...

homemade ant farm...

stopping by the local pet shop and sending their mom & dad pictures and pleas for a new furry friend...

a picnic in a backyard tent...

shaving cream and cheese doodle toss...on their heads

which turned into just good ol' messy fun with shaving cream...

making sure they find time daily for reading and math, even at a swim meet...

Brock loves math...

  

homemade sidewalk chalk...

early driver's ed...

and cool treats...

and finally, mummies.  Yes, i said mummies...

 

I just know these fun-filled days will be ones that Katie and the kids will never forget.  Truth is, she has had just as much fun as they have. 

 Is she gonna be a great mom one day, or what?! 

 

This is not a good-bye, this is a see you soon

One of our sweet families in this special little corner of our hood is moving far away. 

There's a sadness and a bit of a funk around here.  We've had a few gatherings to see them off and say good-bye.  We gave them a gift basket full of things to remember us by...Margarita glasses and mixes {of course}, favorite shared recipes, and handmade open invites to stay at each of our houses whenever they come back to visit.

and i made them this...

Those are each of our houses illustrated.  i loved making it for them.  i gave all the families a print of it, too. 

We are already making plans for them to come back for our annual IKEA trip and maybe even {fingers crossed} for our Christmas party. There's even talk of a girl's trip to their new home in Seattle!  We can't imagine celebrating without them.  This pic is from one of our previous Christmas parties...

And so, Monica and Gabe...we wish you much happiness in your new home and neighborhood.  It won't be the same here without you.  And remember, this isn't good-bye...it's see you soon.  Much love to you always.

she's home!

Wow!  Did that year go by fast, or what?!

We drove up to Purdue yesterday and loaded her entire freshman year in the van.  As you can see from the pics above...she had a little more stuff to bring home than she started with. Ha!

She's had an amazing year.  She rocked the Purdue art world.  I've shared a few of her successes earlier in the school year here and here.  Here are just a few others from her 3D design class...

larger than life...

ice cream cone made entirely out of soda cans...

and design a pair of shoes made entirely out of paper.  Part of the grade was being able to wear and walk in them for 60 steps, without them falling apart.  Mission accomplished.

She made so many new wonderful friends and managed to de-bunk the myth that you should never, ever room with your best friend.  Yup, they're still besties!

 
The "master packer" once again had his skills tested.  "Now, where am i supposed to put this?!?!..."

that's a good daddy. ♥

 These two fellas "helped" me get her room ready yesterday.  They knew something was up. 

This mama is so happy to have all her chicks back in the nest for the summer.  My cell phone is always on 24/7 when she's at school.  It was so sweet to turn it off for the first time in a long time, last night.  Welcome home, Katie...our college sophomore!

 

Wine and crafts

They're back...Craft Casserole classes!  It's been a year since i first introduced Craft Casserole in my little corner of the world.  It's also been a year of learning and sort of making it up as i go along.  We took a good long break for the holiday season because I was too busy and so were you!  But, i have been receiving more and more requests to get crafty again.  So, now i've got two fun classes that i'm offering this month and registration is underway. 

It's such a fun way to get your craft on...with friends, a little vino, and a lot of great conversation.  We'd love it if you joined us!

If you're local, you can register here.  No need to bring a thing...all supplies are included!

Registration for our Craft Casserole for kids classes is also in progress.  You can register your kids for crafty afterschool fun here.

There is no cure

Found this funny sign at the checkout at one of my favorite places to go antiquing...

Those gals (two of my fave neighbors) and i decided on a last minute roadtrip to Exit 76 Antique Mall in Edinburgh, Indiana (about an hour from home).  It's HUGE.  Took us 5 hours to shop the entire building.  Aisles and aisles of fun!

 
I've blogged about this awesome place before here.

The term "antique" is widely interpreted here.  That's what i love about antiquing.  We found some great stuff!  When i spied this display, i knew immediately that i had found my friend, Jenny Elkin's booth...she's so clever and artsy fartsy.

 She is a hoot and a very talented mixed media artist.  I've blogged about her many times.  She's my creative mentor. 

Then i spied this purse...and considered buying it for purely sentimental reasons.  Anyone who really knows me, knows that i have a soft spot for The Golden Girls.  This is just like Sophia's beloved bag.  I also loved the vintage gold gloves, but put them both back.  Limited antiquing budget...'nuff said.

 

But i did grab this beauty...for $3

and i'm going to turn it into a purse!  Then you can all call me "moneybags"! LOL!

There is such awesome vintage signage everywhere.  I saw this one, held back my gag reflex and sent a pic of it to my sister Kim for giggles...she knows about my general disdain for feet.  Seriously...why would you want to own this sign?  Ick.

the girls and I had fun looking through thousands of vintage postcards.  I bought this one, which was special to me as i used to spend my childhood summers on the Cape.  I LOVE the sweet poem at the bottom.  It reads...

"I love to walk on the seashore, on the clean white sand so bare, I love to walk by the rippling waves, for i find refuge there.  I love to walk by the seashore when a white fog's in the air; when a pallid mist o'shadows the beach and no breeze is stirring there.  I love to walk by the seashore and watch the waves in motion.  I love the sea in all it's moods for God made the mighty ocean."  

By Theodore R. Rowley

 
But, the sweetest part is the handwritten note on the back and the postmark from 1936...

It's always interesting to see what some people sell at these places.  These novelties cracked me up...

and this one...

oh my!

Not sure who Tennessee Jed was.  But this booth had a stack of his paper masks...

I scored this sweet little paint by number for $4.  I will display it at Christmastime. 

and this is my absolutely favorite find!...

The price tag said $24.  I thought it was too good to be true because we had seen another identical tonka winnebago in a different booth for $125!  I thought for sure that there was either something wrong with it, or that it was a typo.  But, no!  I brought it up to checkout and even got an additional 15% off for paying cash!  I am in love with this sweet thing.  The top opens to play inside...

When i was little, my family went to DisneyWorld with our cousins in a Winnebago.  Oh, the memories!  This guy is going to live on my fireplace hearth and currently will serve as a countdown to our summer vacay!

Hooray for last minute road trips with friends!

Happy weekend, friends!

Insta LOVE

Like so many of you, i'm hooked on Instagram.  You can find me there @lorimcdonough. 

So, when i found out that i could get my Instagram photos printed in a 4x4 format, i was so excited!!! I know, i may be late to the party, but look...they are so fun!  I ordered them from mpix and got them so quickly. I covered my fridge with them, because i'm always in the kitchen and these are the faces that make me happy.

L♥Ve!!!!

They even have an app so you can send them to print right from your iphone.  Cool, right?!

Thank you, mpix, for my insta-happy-place. :)