" Welcome to Lavender Dreams "

Here in Florida, we enjoy white sand beaches

and beautiful white foamy ocean surf.

My hubby and I spent Christmas Day at Canaveral National Seashore last year. My post is HERE !

It was in the upper 70s that day and we played in the water and picked up seashells.

I love to decorate with seashells...

especially in my lanai!

You can find touches of white everywhere...

a white shell tucked in the greenery...

or a white Egret hand painted on a Christmas ball.

And if you are in the mood to make some pretty things right now go to the Toymaker website HERE ! They have printable cards and projects like this beautiful bird!

Go to this page on the website to download the pattern on your computer to print. (this is just a thumbnail)

Think of the fun we can have with Christmas in July!

And to add to the spirit of giving, would you like to win a handmade tote bag? I made this one in a pretty red and white cotton fabric

and added a touch of Florida.

(a seashell from Canaveral National Seashore)

All you need to do is leave a comment (and please be a follower). This is open to everyone! It’s my way of saying thank you to all of my loyal readers!

I’ll announce the winner on Monday!

I’m joining my girlfriend, Marcia at

the Little Shop Around the Corner !

Will you join us for the fun?

Introducing Diane’s Dream Designs!

I’ve worked for months making pretty bags to sell!

And now before I put them on ETSY,

I would like to offer them to my blog buddies!

So I have a new blog with my BAGS FOR SALE!

This afternoon I’m going to work on a post with the Wristlets that I’ve made and they will be on Diane’s Dream Design tomorrow!

Please give me your thoughts and ideas!  Do the photos look good? Are these bags you would carry and enjoy? How do you think the prices look? I need some feedback and maybe just a little bit of encouragement!

Stay tuned! I’ll let you know when I have added to the items for sale! Prices on my new blog HERE !

Thanks to everyone who has encouraged me!

WHEW! It’s a bit scary to put yourself out there!

Please visit Diane’s Dream Designs !

Will I succeed? Tell me what you think!

I love to shop small boutiques for fun fashions...

and eclectic clothes and accessories!

How do you like this bag I bought at Talullah’s ....

(wish I could afford to buy all of my clothes there!)

made in Viet Nam entirely of little squares of SHELL!

It was hard to get a good photo...it’s so reflective!

But isn’t it divine?

And don’t you love a shop that uses pretty bags...

and that has cute tags?

And for functionality....

hubby needed a bag for an external hard drive and cable

so I made one just the right size!

I live in Florida...I know....all of YOU know!

But I do  have friends ALL over the country AND the world!

I just have to give you the link to my girlfriend’s blog

this morning! It’s called....”A little cold weather humor”

and I know you will love it!

CLICK HERE to visit Jemm in the Flint Hills!

Enjoy your weekend!

I’m off to buy all the fixins’ for hamburgers

and chip and dip for Super Bowl Sunday!

My oldest son will be working at the stadium

all day on Sunday! Hope Texas warms up soon!

WISH I was THERE!

Do you have Super Bowl plans?

I was fortunate to receive a gift certificate from  CSN Stores  to use on anything I wanted! I know I was planning to buy something for my house.....until I saw this beautiful handbag!

I've seen this brand before and knew that I would love it!

And what can I say....I LOVE handbags....they are my weakness!

This one has so much detail....

and don't you LOVE the sweet lining? The handles and trim are the softest suede leather.

The bag comes in other colors, but I chose Lilac...CLICK HERE to view!

CSN is great about shipping things quickly! It only took a matter of a few days to get both of these items and they came packaged well! I am impressed by their selection and prices!

I had enough to get one more small item so I got these cookie cutters, too!

CLICK HERE to see the Nordic Ware cookie cutters!

They are reversible! You can cut several cookies at a time! I know I'm going to enjoy them!

Do you use cookie cutters?

I have a little collection started and put some of them in my cake plate to display for Christmas

....at least until I bake a cake for hubby!

THANKS CSN for the chance to do a giveaway AND a review!

What do you love to bake for the holidays?

*** Happy holidays! ***

Some of the most beautiful dolls are made by Marie Osmond. She has such wonderful artists and designers and she’s a very talented artist herself!

I have one of her porcelain dolls but the dolls I like the best are the small vinyl, Adora Belle dolls. Marie’s website is HERE , a link to her dolls is HERE and read her doll story HERE !

The Adora Belle dolls are personally sculpted by Marie Osmond herself and have a beauty mark near their left eye.

This is ‘My little Teddy’….

and this is a Christmas Adora Belle.

I’ve redressed this little girl in a jumper that I made!

So small and sweet!

Marie Osmond is so talented! We were shopping this week and saw some of her new hand bags….they are beautiful!

This was my favorite color and design! Have you seen them yet? They are a little expensive…like the Vera Bradley bags….but they seem to be very well made and I think I like them even better!

It’s summertime! Enjoy your day!

Take time to play and HUG a doll! : )