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.

It's a process...

You have seen The Odd Sparrow's final products on our website but you have rarely seen something actually in progress. Why? Well...it's not that it is a huge secret. I confess. I am not the neatest worker on the planet. You see, I have this tendency to get into one thing...then another...and then another...all while doing my best to stay on track with my first project. I know, it sounds a little crazy...and it is. But I love what I do and I get excited about each and every idea as they roll down the pike.

Where do I get these ideas? There are a lot of answers to that question, but the quickest and most accurate answer is that they come mostly from "conversations" that I carry on with a dear friend. These "conversations" happen exclusively online via private chats and they occur with one person and one person only. Who is this mastermind? None other than Francie of The Scented Cottage. Whenever an idea pops up in my mind, it is usually refined and sometimes transformed through the daily conversations that Francie and I share. It is such a blessing to have a creative friend that shares and inspires me in my crafting adventures.

So who inspires you? Take note: I did not ask what, but rather who. There are many ways to be inspired, but for many of us there is that one person that can get your creative juices flowing and push you on to the next level. Even if you are not a crafter, you need that someone in your life that moves you onward and upward.

For me, upward to the things of God is not just important, it is crucial. In my spiritual life one of the greatest blessings I have is my son, Alex. Today I would like to share his blog, STAND, with you and I do hope that you will follow it regularly. It will inspire you in your walk with Christ and transform your thinking ...from the ordinary to the extraordinary! Meet him here at: AlexKocman.tumblr.com. Enjoy and be blessed!

And one last note: Tuesday Treasures is once again upon us and we are celebrating SPRING!!! So hurry on over to The Odd Sparrow for some great spring savings of 20% off our Tuesday category and don't forget to shop at Shabby Lane too!

Invitation

Who: YOU! and all your friends!

What: Tuesday Treasures

When: All day Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Where: at The Odd Sparrow and all other participating shops at Shabby Lane

Why: to celebrate this week's theme of Vintage Inspired Treasures

How: Just click the above link to The Odd Sparrow and Shabby Lane Shops and get shopping!

Grand REopening...and renewed passion

I have been noticeably absent from the blog world for almost a year. It's been quite a journey these months and I hope to share some of those experiences with you in the months to come. But the announcement I want to make today is that The Odd Sparrow is up and running FULL FORCE!

Two days after the last blog post I began a new job. About a month later that job became full time for me and set me on a year long course that would require more time and energy than I had imagined. As a result, The Odd Sparrow had to be placed on the back burner and while it was still functional, new products were hard to come by as I did not have the time to create.

I am currently back at home full time and LOVING every moment of it. The Odd Sparrow has a renewed sense of purpose and a passion that will drive the company for years to come. I hope you will set out on this journey with me. It will be one of excitement, creativity, and passion for all things created. I have already begun restocking the shop with some unique and beautiful treasures and I am in the process of creating quite a few more. As each item is complete it will be added to the store, so always be on the lookout for new items.

Also, please note that the website is currently being updated to reflect new categories. There is a search engine to help you find your favorite items. But if you have any trouble finding them, you know where I am! Just send me an email and I'll get right back to you with the answers you need.

So with that I wish you a happy coming spring and lots of enjoyable shopping at The Odd Sparrow!