Flowers, gardens and secret spaces

Image via ffffound

When I was a stay at home mom (SAHM as my friend Sarah informs me) I used to garden everyday with my children. Teaching them how to plant seeds, watch them grow into seedlings and then transplant them into the flower and vegetable gardens. When I began to work after they went to school, I would miss our gardens and our time spent there, often jumping right in them from the car to grab a stray weed, or to pick a few for the dinner table...I would always dirty up my shoes on the way into the house.

Next Cirque?
Image via ffffound by mixologies: Puppet | Sofia Sanchez & Mauro Mongiello

How I would love this gypsy wagon for my studio!
This lucious image by d.sharp journal was ffffound.

Congratulations Nancy Budd!!!!!!!!!

Nancy Budd has won the turquoise necklace! We also have surprises for Caiya Holmes, Sandy Bartholomew, and Payal Kripalani! My assistant, Ellie has picked your names and the three of you have all won handmade earrings from Festival.

Thank you all so much for becoming friends of Festival Creative. I have been enjoying each day's posting and I thank you all for your feedback and your comments. Yay!

Winners, please email me your mailing addresses, so I can get your prizes to you.

Necklace Winner announced today....

It is Worcester, Massachusetts and today is the annual St. Patrick's Day parade...
and with a few sips of Guinness, I will be pulling the winner of the Turquoise necklace today, after the festivities. This little beauty will look grand on someone's neck Tuesday, all green and everything. I also have a softball game I have to attend, so I will post the winner this evening!!!

Jug-O-Punch?

This sweet and sleek looking jug of wine was designed by Sfaustina for Francis Ford Coppola, inspired by the jugs his father kept, and he smashed at four years old. The bottle is etched with a score written by his father. You have got to appreciate the nostalia and the effect of heart and home. This is wear packaging and marketing is headed, I just know it. Image via the dieline.

Tropicana should take a glimpse of this packaging by David Fung of NYC. Perfect simplicity and clarity and great execusion of block color. Got moo-dern milk? Image via the dieline on ffffound.

Since this is the most popular song in my arsenal these days with an 18 month old, and with my love of fonts and color, I am loving this print by Honey and Bloom that I ffffound.

Keep your eye on the moments...

May you have warm words on a cold evening,
a full moon on a dark night,
and the road downhill all the way to your door.
-an Irish blessing

{irish pub, Belfast, via jackeeadio on flickr}

{Blarney Castle via tripadvisor}

{Irish road signs via finfacts}

{ireland via trip advisor}

It's of a fearless highwayman a story now I'll tell:
His name was Willie Brennan, and in Ireland he did dwell;
'Twas on the Limerick mountains he commenced his wild career,
Where many a wealthy gentleman before him shook with fear.

Brennan on the moor, Brennan on the moor,
Bold and yet undaunted stood young Brennan on the moor.

{see the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem via youtube}

This used to be the favorite song of my son, dancing around the house when he was two. I can still see him now, his hair wavy and blonde bouncing around as he danced wildly to the Clancy Brothers. A face with an expression of a delibrate wild boy on a mission. Over and over he mad me play it. Until he caught on to the latin beats of Ricky Martin and went shirtless around the house with a bandana on his head, sometimes on rollerblades. Where did the time go?

May joy and peace surround you,
Contentment latch your door,
And happiness be with you now,
And bless you evermore.
-Irish blessing

Win this Necklace! 2 days left.

Drawing will be on Sunday. I know a few people that would love to have this, if their counterparts win......ohhh, what a nice Sunday night you will have!

Simply add your face to the "friends" section (over there in the right nav bar) and your are automatically entered.

Oh Raul, el diablo de mojitos

Today I was thinking that I need a vacation, but I was lucky enough to have gotten away for a few days in January. The wind and the weather were mild today and most of our snow melted in the last few days, but the beach of Isla Verde was in the back of my mind. As I sat down to post, I saw a comment from Raul, from Blend in Old San Juan. It was a perfect alignment of thoughts. I needed a strong mojito and he was offering one up, from so many miles away. Thank you Raul for your kind words and know that you folks at Blend are alive and well in our dreams! We had such a great time with you and came back twice!

{antique luminares @ Blend, 309 Fortaleza Street, Old San Juan}

{Raul from Blend, Old San Juan PR}

{2 very perfect mojitos mixed by Raul}

If any of you are lucky enough to visit San Juan,
please visit Blend and have a mojito for me!

{African Tulips bloom of El Yunque falls}

{wonderful textures of the floor of the forest}

{the streets of OSJ}

{Cuartel de Ballaja, Old San Juan, Puerto Rico}