Faber & Faber published a series of six new hardback editions of twentieth-century poetry, each with a specially commissioned cover. The new designs are part of the publishing house's 80th anniversary celebrations, which also include new editions of the complete works of Samuel Beckett. Faber invited a selection of prominent illustrators and printmakers to create the covers for the series; the results include a striking series of woodcut and linocut designs.

Aren't they beautiful? Love the small size. I've got the perfect little spot on my living room shelf if I should be blessed to own them some day!

I am anxiously awaiting the birth of this new fabulous magazine slated for release early Spring, 2010. It's a glorious 144 page newsstand magazine, chock full of vintage-style decorating, projects, collecting tips, special features and more! Sounds delicious, doesn't it?

I have been following the very talented Linda MacDonald's inspiring blog, Restyled Home for a few months now. She happens to also be the Editor-at-Large of Flea Market Style. When she announced plans for this magazine venture, I got so excited as sadly, several of my favorite decorating magazines (you know the ones I speak of) have left us. Something new on the horizon is around the corner!

Make sure to visit Flea Market Style's new blog. It's a behind-the-scenes look into the creation of their magazine, meeting the talented creators, and learning about the inspiration of the venture. Oh, and while you're there make sure to grab their beautiful button to help spread the word!

I am constantly inspired by friends I meet through the wonderful world of blogging. Over the last eight months I have seen some incredible creativity. I was introduced to Etsy. The feeling of buying something from a friend who makes the creations with their hands is very special. Here are a few of the goodies I've received over the past couple of months.

My very first purchase was from Kim over at Retro Mama. The attention to detail she puts into her sewing blows me away. She's known for her darling pear-shaped pin cushions, sweet aprons, and fabulous handbags.

Love my pin cushion! I can't sew to save my life, but I had to have this in my school room for decor since it has ruler fabric mixed in with some Amy Butler.

I also bought one of Kim's bags. I love the Amy Butler wallflower fabric. The inside is lined with red/white polka dots!

See that fabulous teal pin attached to the bag? That's a signature Kimba of ASPTL pin, my next purchase. It was difficult to choose a color, but I thought the contrast of teal and red would be so pretty. I was right.

Love the bling in the center of the flower, don't you?

For Mother's Day, my wonderful family blessed me with one of the wildly popular "Mama" necklaces made by Lisa Leonard. It had been on my wish list for a while. It has such sentimental meaning to me and I wear it often.

The stamped words read "hand holder, dream soother, love giver." A heart in the middle with the word "mama" stamped underneath.

Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting Carrie of Sommer Designs at a street fair in our area. She had a booth set up there with all of her lovely aprons and tote bags. {drool} She is the first blog friend I've met in person, so it was a real treat. She's so down to earth! She also makes jewelry! I had to have one of her designs. It happened to be my sister Lyssie's birthday, so I bought us matching necklaces.

This one's mine. Love it.

This one's Lyssie's.

I've told you how much I adore my friend Ashley of Ashley's Busy. Her hair accessories and picture frames are beautiful! I was blessed to receive one of her hair clips and a custom-made brooch.

Love this "Delicate Tea Rose" clip.

Look at how Ashley has finished off the back.

I have worn it in my hair. Emma enjoyed wearing it in her hair.

Most recently it has adorned my handbag. It adds such a softness to the black bag, doesn't it?

The brooch is gorgeous! It will look so fantastic worn on a blouse, jacket, or scarf.

Please visit these creative ladies!

My friend Gina over at The Shabby Chic Cottage and I recently enjoyed a "swap." She lives in TN, I live in CA. She loved my white seashell ball, I loved her vintage chalkboards. Match made in heaven. I also sent her a sea biscuit (I call it a puffy sand dollar) both from my fave little shop downtown by the beach.

These are the goodies I received from Gina.

She was able to score a large vintage chalkboard a while back. She cut it up into smaller pieces. I was blessed with one of them. She attached it to a neat shabby frame. I had fun personalizing it with "beach" and added one of my mini starfish.

Also in the box were 3 sweet starfish {I heart starfish, can you tell?}. They have found homes in my kitchen, living room, school room and make me smile and remind me of my sweet friend in TN.

Last but definitely not least, is a fabulous fleur de lis bookend. She sits proudly on my living room shelves holding up a few of my antique books. Love the diamond designs.

Thank you Gina for this fun swap! Can't wait for our next one!

I wanted to end my post by introducing you to another friend I've met online. Her name is Sarah Markley. I stumbled upon her blog via the lovely Lisa Leonard. I'm so glad I did because her story touched the very core of my soul. Please take some time to read her testimony of God's amazing grace.

My sweet friend Gina over at The Shabby Chic Cottage is having a Beach Party! What could be better than the beach and a party?

I feel very blessed to live only 10 minutes from the beach. My husband and I enjoy walking along what we call "the beach walk" which is a long sidewalk that runs parallel with the beach, down the main drag of Highway 101. The sound of the waves and smell of the salty air is simply fabulous.

Calming. Soothing.

I really enjoy decorating with beachy things. You never know where a starfish will turn up, like on my chalkboard in our school room. Do you just love those sweet little mini sand dollars I found downtown at a beach shop, aren't they cute?

You might remember my favorite piece, the white seashell ball inspired by Sarah's that I constantly drooled over. She sits on my living room shelf.

And I have to welcome my newest find and mate to the white one, this really cool looking multi-color seashell ball that I found at the same little shop downtown. Look at those pointy shells, they could put an eye out! I love my giant starfish and his bumpy friend too.

You might remember my hanging starfish art that my hubby and I did together? That was such a fun project.

I have starfish in my kitchen and various shells we've collected in a canning jar on the garden window.

And you might even find some hiding like this little one on a tray...

Oh, and this lovely "Salty Sea Air" soy candle by our friend Lori, at White Flower Farmhouse is on my wish list! {wink}

Make sure to visit Gina and the other Party Goers too!

And, speaking of my sweet friend Gina, we recently did a "swap!" Do you love that vintage chalkboard in the first photo above? Well, she sent that to me. I had fun personalizing it. She also sent me some of the starfish you see in this post. And, another little goodie that I will be showing you soon!

Today I'm joining Rachel Anne over at Home Sanctuary, for my first  Company Girl Coffee.

Oh how the summer flew by. We're back to school this week. Monday I woke up with a knot in my stomach. This wasn't any ordinary "back to school" season. Something new this time around. A new chapter in this Mama's life. We have been a full-time homeschooling family for the past 8 years. However, this year we have been accepted onto a split-week program through our homeschool academy.

My baby, Emma Joy embarked on a new adventure in her little 5 yo world. That thing called Kindergarten.

Hello there Mrs. "M", take good care of my girl!

Really Mama, you can go now...

12 yo Liza, growing up way too fast, began her journey into Jr. High.

If that's not enough change, my Josh whisked off to High School. Wasn't he just born? I will teach him only one day during the week, the other four he will be at school.

Overwhelmed with these sudden realizations, I knew they were each counting on me to see them through their first day. Smiling on the outside as I kissed them all good-bye and wished them a great day, inside, my heart was trying to catch up with what was happening before my eyes. My babies, becoming more independent. A little bit of letting go.

This notion tugged on my heartstrings.

It wasn't until standing in the Kindergarten room, Emma with all her sweetness, ran over to me, hugged my leg and said "you can go now Mama." I couldn't hold the tears in any longer. I made it out the door into the hallway and out to the car where I let go of those emotions that I had stored up all summer long, knowing eventually this day would come. For I received a call from the academy one day during the summer letting me know that the kids were off the wait list they had patiently been waiting on for years. I hung up the phone and put this news in the back of my mind.

I left the school driving home in a fog. The house was too quiet. What do I do with myself? It's been 19 years since I'd been without a child's needs to tend to. "I need to {get a grip!}" The girls will only be gone two days, I am blessed to teach them the other three. Knowing this, why is it still so hard?

A whirlwind of thoughts.

What if Emma falls down outside at recess? Who will be there? Will she eat all of her lunch? Is Liza nervous as she sits in her 7th grade classroom full of new faces around her? Did Josh get off the train at the right stop? Will he find all of his classes?

"Let go, Marie, let go"

...a little voice inside my heart said. You see, the Lord reminded me that these are His children. He loves them more than I do. Is that possible?

Yes it is and I need to t r u s t that promise.

He will be there to help Emma up as she falls. He will sit next to Liza and calm her nerves. He will guide Josh to and from the train station and his classes, making his path clear. My new job is to trust Him and enjoy the roller coaster ride of this season of my life as their Mama. For it is only a quick season before they are grown and I will be longing for those tiny hands proudly showing me her alphabet page she did in class. Or the evening reading time together snuggled up in bed. So I will indeed enjoy the ride. As bumpy and spine tingling as it will be. I will look forward to what's around the bend.

Even though this week, I may feel like I'm alone...

In reality, I know we're all in this together...

For that I am so grateful!