Winter Inspiration for February 💗

February has become synonymous with romance, love, hearts, Valentines, and cupids. While we're still in the depths of winter, the focus on 'love' brings hope and warmth, guiding us toward connection.

I recently learned something about this month's history, and it led me to an expanded understanding of what the end of the winter season has to teach us... but I still don't get why February isn't pronounced the way it is spelled!

Continue reading for what's inspiring me in this last month of winter... 
(links included for your convenience, they are not paid ads)

Why It Matters to Me to Speak Now

Life is NOT normal in the United States of America anymore, 
and I can't pretend that it IS.

I can't craft my way out of this overwhelming fear or decorate my way out of this daily anxiety. I can't post uplifting quotes any longer, or draft a blog post to 'inspire' anyone. That worked for me in 2020 during the pandemic shutdown... but it won't work now.

Before I attempt to share anything else here, I am compelled to share my thoughts on what is happening. 

You don't have to agree with me, but I have to speak up about this. Now. Here.

Because at this point, staying silent seems like complicity and consent. And I most definitely do not consent to the direction our nation is heading. 

There are many reasons why I am sharing this now. Keep reading to find out one of the most important ones... saved here on the blog in a permanent page. If you wish to know how I feel, and why, click to read more.

~ Deb

NEW Sweet Sweater 'Sweetie Pies'!

May I present my newest Sweet Sweater Original creation? 

Say Hello to the 'Sweet Sweater Sweetie Pie'! TM 

I've been thinking about this project for a LONG time... decades, actually. The idea was originally inspired by the art of Mary Engelbreit, resulting in a 'Sweetie Pie' chair that I painted to sell in my shop. (My tiny shop was located next to a pie bakery, and my friend the owner LOVED this chair!) A client saw the chair, bought it, and then requested the same art on a cabinet she already had:

Way back then, I thought of making little felt or sweater pies to coordinate with this theme... a great idea, I just never got around to making any. Until recently, when I discovered a positively CUTE find that made me think 'Oh that is the PERFECT prop for the pies!!!' It was this cute lil' container (it holds lip balm) at my local DAISO store that kicked me into gear:

I purchased two of them and then hustled across the street to the craft store to buy some red pompoms - I already had everything else I needed at home. With February on the horizon, I thought I should share it in time for you to make your own versions for Valentine's Day decor!

Follow along with me as I finally make a ''Sweet Sweater Sweetie Pie'...

Winter Inspiration for January

Hello, my friends... I hope the new year finds you well!
I'm currently enjoying these rare rainy January days by embracing a slower schedule - filled with reading, journaling, refreshing the house after the holiday season, and considering ideas for future projects. Rather than rushing around making plans and exhausting myself, I'm finding this new approach fills me with much more joy!

Isn't that what we all hope for in January? Energy for a fresh start? 

How nice it is to be able to choose for ourselves just how we will embrace that in our own lives - and as I shared in my last post, I'm listening to Mother Nature and my own energy cycles to make that 'fresh start' one that isn't fueled by expectations and habits that just don't work for me anymore. For instance, I've made the decision to change my habit of creating 'one project per week' content to share here on the blog.

Instead, I'm going to be publishing a post the first week of each month, sharing the things that are currently inspiring me... something I've changed or created in our home, resources I've discovered that I think you might enjoy, books, quotes, music, scents, places I've visited, even a simple recipe once in awhile! You'll still see a full-on project tutorial occasionally, and posts sharing my content when it is published in magazines. 

My hope is that sharing bite-size doses of inspiration at the beginning of each month will encourage you to enjoy the seasons in truly simple ways, inspiring you to join me in embracing the art & craft of seasonal living (not just seasonal decorating) all year long.

Continue reading to see what's inspiring me this month!

Embracing the Art of Seasonal Living...

image credit: Rose Color Creative 

Winter has arrived... along with a new year and all of the possibilities it holds.

I've always loved decorating seasonally, by bringing the beauty of nature into my home every season of the year. Sometimes it is by actually bringing natural elements indoors, or creating a replication of what I see in nature. Other times it is a hint at something I enjoy about that season (like making snowmen or pumpkins out of sweaters!).

After finding the lovely graphic image shown above on Pinterest, I visited the linked website - Rose Color Creative. There I discovered a post with a delightful concept: 'Working in Rhythms: The Power of Seasonal Productivity'.

In that post (read it here), the owner of Rose Color Creative, Mariah Scott, shares some simple relationships between the cycles of nature's seasons and our own energy levels... what I've decided to call 'the art of seasonal living'.

WINTER: Celebrating the Return of the Light

Winter arrived on December 21st, 2025, heralded by the solstice and a new moon.

We in the Northern Hemisphere shift from losing light to gaining light each day... and that always makes a big difference in my moods. When I think of decorating my home for the winter season, I think of light. Because in all of its forms and iterations, light brings joy and warmth and hope...

Whatever your decorating style, architecture, or location is, you can harness the joy of light in your home. For decades, my practice has been to leave all of the warm white twinkly lights up after Christmas, as well as to add more candles and some clear glass elements to reflect that light everywhere.

More Ideas Ahead...

HOLIDAY: Mid-Mod Nativity

Because the 'Reason for the Season' is important to me, I've created and shared a lot of nativity scenes over the years...

From repainting ceramic figurines to look like terra cotta and placing ornaments on top of bud vases to turning wood scraps into figures for a 'NativiTIKI', I've put my creative brain to work every holiday season to match my themes. (I have linked my favorites at the end of this post)

This year my nativity is simple and modern in style, which fits the Mid Mod Holiday theme perfectly...

HOLIDAY: Mid-Mod Theme Review

Before the holidays are over, I thought a review of all of my projects + posts for this holiday season would be helpful if you've missed any. I'm linking them below, in the order they appeared on the blog.

Continue Reading...