Preparations

This week has been a busy time for me. I have been trying to get back into a bit of a routine, which has proved a challenging feat. As you can see, I have had some "help" with my sewing and as cute as my little helper is, I am afraid he is very little help at all!

My efforts have not been for naught as I have managed to crank out a few totes to take to the Southern Women's Show. Along with the bedside organizers I believe that I will have a nice little display for my tiny part in the Shabby Lane booth. I sure hope you will be able to attend. I will be there and would love nothing more to meet you!

In addition to my efforts directed toward the show, I have more plans for my site, including some of the totes and bedside organizers. Creative ideas are swirling in my head now and they are causing me to become a very dangerous whirling dervish of activity in my craft room. WATCH OUT, DURANGO!!! Truth be known, I am finding my inspiration in just about everything this spring...birds, music, blooming flowers, children's laughter, books and magazines, colors, trees, scampering squirrels, and just about anything I see out my back door...including barking dogs! What a beautiful time of year to awaken one's senses. God has been so good to me and as He inspires me with His beautiful creation I hope to bring more of that blessing to you through The Odd Sparrow.

Please join The Odd Sparrow for Tuesday Treasures every Tuesday, where we offer discounts off of different themed items each week. Also remember that The Odd Sparrow offers FREE SHIPPING every Friday. Just type in the word FRIDAY for your coupon code at check out!

Soon to come: Daily Deals. We will be offering a special on one or more items each day. So once this option is up at running (before April 1) you will need to check back EVERY DAY for the specials available to you ONLY from The Odd Sparrow!

As always, thanks for reading and have a blessed week!

Please be patient...

This has been an interesting and fun week, though not productive overall. Even as I managed to keep up with my household duties such as laundry, cooking, and the like, I have not managed to create anything for the shop. There is truly a good reason for this...maybe a few.

This week my son has been home on Spring Break from college. He also brought his sweet girlfriend with him. What a treat! We have been laughing all week. It is so much fun to have them here, if only for a short time. We have looked through his baby photo albums several times, shopped quite a bit, chatted a lot, and watched videos into the wee hours. You see, I was soaking it up because on Sunday they left, heading back to their school in Virginia.

Some of you know that my mom had surgery on Thursday. We are currently looking ahead to the days when the recovery is complete, physical therapy and pain behind her. I am sure my sister will be coming for a visit with mom soon. But in the meantime, my nest is quiet...really quiet.

Maybe I will get more done in the week ahead because of my loneliness for the kids. Hopefully I will be able to pour it out into creativity, sewing myself silly, or crocheting, or painting, or some such activity. The ideas are there...and inspiration abounds. But time is short....too short not to enjoy your family when you have the opportunity. So, I look forward to bringing you more of my inspired work very soon. Until then, please be patient and keep your eyes on The Odd Sparrow but mostly keep your eyes focused on Jesus!

Flowers in Paris

Birds bring us the first inkings that spring is returning. But the second indication is the Philadelphia Flower Show! It was apparently Springtime in Paris last week and I was blessed to be there for the event! Oh...not the REAL Paris, of course. I was in Philadelphia for the Flower Show, whose theme was none other than Springtime in Paris.

Jaw dropping displays captured our imaginations from the moment we stepped onto the floor of the show. The entryway was graced by an arch replicating the famouse landmark, the Eiffel Tower.

The amazing floral displays were beyond my ability to share in just photos and words. It was an incomparable experience to be surrounded by such creativity and beauty. Everything from butterflies and peacocks to...

...French market scenes to...

...french inspired parlours to...advertisements! I want to share with you a little humor and a bit of fun. Below you will see an advertisement for Smith and Hawken patio and lawn furniture. This may seem a strange thing to photograph. But the eye is deceiving. I actually took this picture to demonstrate the creativity of the vendors at the show. This photo is of a WALL! Yes, the patio furniture you see here is actually attached to the wall. Amazing!

The vendor in the picture above, right, speaks for their creativity with the name of their company. I couldn't help but laugh a little, displaying my own warped sense of humor.

And though I have more photos of the show, I must not only pick and choose what to share for the sake of space, but many did not turn out well. I forgot to bring my camera and had to use my Razor phone. So, though I do apologize for the quality of the photos, I also am so happy to have some memories to share with you. And lesson learned: REMEMBER CAMERA next time!

To celebrate this year's Philly Flower Show, please head on over to my website at The Odd Sparrow where we are featuring a special price on my Springtime in Paris

painting as well as our Tuesday Treasures specials. Happy Spring to you!

New and Exciting!

I took the weekend "off" in hopes of being rested up for the week ahead, but to no avail. You see, we spent the weekend visiting my son at college. That involved a 5-6 hour drive each way which somehow managed to drag out to...well...you don't want to know! What with all of the rain and the traffic, let's just say it was a very late night coming home.

So you might be surprised to know that I actually have a sneak peak for you this week! The item I am showing you here is actually the prototype of a new product that you will soon be seeing in my web store at The Odd Sparrow. This bedside caddy has been in the

works for a while and I have several made up which will soon be en route to Nashville for the Southern Woman's Show in April. You will find them at the Shabby Lane Shops booth along with many other beautiful items featured by the shops at Shabby Lane. I hope you can visit the booth at the show, but if now, you will certainly be able to buy these online at The Odd Sparrow very soon.

And...speaking of Shabby Lane and The Odd Sparrow, please don't forget that tomorrow is Tuesday Treasures, where we will be featuring special discounts on items you will need as we "Countdown to Spring!" Be sure and get your spring shopping done this week! Also, please remember that Fridays we offer FREE SHIPPING on purchases of $50 or more. Just use coupon code: FRIDAY at checkout at The Odd Sparrow.