nesting instincts

Now that I have officially closed the doors on Cecily Ink, I find myself wanting to "fluff" everything... the house, the garden, my office. It's like my nesting instincts are working overtime trying to catch up on two years of neglecting my surroundings!

I'm taking time to enjoy the small pleasures, like these stunning peonies:

Our neighbor Aaron gave me this plant a few years ago and every year right when it was ready to bloom, we had a big rainstorm which flattened the stems and ruined the blossoms. Needless to say, this year the rain held off and the glorious sunshine showed off these peonies in their true glory:

I've also been roaming on Etsy, looking for this and that to spruce up the inside of our house. I "hearted" plenty of things to revisit later, but when I came across this print from My Wagonette simply had to have it – now!

It came in the mail today and it's even more beautiful than I had expected! I love the mustardy shade of yellow and can't wait to get it framed and find the perfect place to hang (yes, I bought a piece of art without having a clue as to where I could display it – didn't want it to be "the one that got away!")

I'm looking forward to our little road trip Saturday: I'll be driving for 5+ hours to shop till I drop at Farm Chicks! I'm so excited – can't wait to see what goodies I'll find.

If you're going, be sure to stop by the Candywinkel booth – Amy has been a busy little bee creating candy and candle goodness that are so sweet. I promise I'll take lots of pictures to share next week!

pet pix

I'm not the kind of proud mama who carries pictures of her kids in her wallet and whips them out at every occasion (they're dogs, after all), but I do think my doggies are the prettiest and bestest boys in the whole wide world so I have no qualms about showing them off on my blog...

Here are a few beauty shots I took during last weekend's coastal getaway. Meet Cooper, our 12-year-old collie mix (the "first-born"):


It was incredibly windy when we were on the beach in Manzanita - it seemed like the dogs would achieve lift-off at any moment! Their fur was actually moving in waves, like when the wind blows through a field of wheat...

Then there's Pogo, our bouncy goof-ball seven-year-old lab mix:


Pogo is a bit insecure at times but as a middle child, he's by far the best-behaved of the bunch – he even tattles on little brother Tucker and lets me know when Tucker is being naughty (like when Tucker sneaks off into a corner and pees, something that is happening way too often!).

And finally, here's the newest member of the pack: Tucker, a golden retriever mix rescued from a farm in Burns, Oregon. We have no way of knowing his exact age, but our best guess is around 11 months. Tons of energy, lots of mischief, and a total cuddle bug!


Tucker is very mouthy and picks up all kinds of things on our walks. We discovered that if we put a stick in his mouth on our walks, he pulls a lot less (no more heavy breathing like he's about to choke himself on the collar). The only downside is he keeps plopping down about every block or so to really dig into his yummy stick...

Just one last quick reminder about the big 50% off closeout sale going on with my Cecily Ink shop (use coupon code "closeout" during checkout). This Sunday May 31st will be your last chance to order online!

coastal getaway

Like millions of other folks, we hit the road this holiday weekend for a little coastal R&R. Finding a place to stay with three big dogs can be a bit tricky, especially if your tastes tend more towards the chic than shabby when it comes to cottage style. Lucky for us, we found the Shore Pine Cottage in Gearhart, managed by Distinctive Beach Lodgings.


Yes, the cottage was a bit on the small side but what it lacked in space, it more than made up for in style and comfort! Just take a look:


It's just a short walk to the ocean and there's a nice view of the golf green right out the front window. The front porch/deck was a great place to enjoy our sunset dinners – the cherry tree was just stunning with its mass of blooms!


The two bedrooms had very comfortable beds – and I loved the linens, so pretty!


It had a nice little kitchen complete with full-size fridge and stove – we thought about baking cookies but ran out of time! And it being a pet-friendly place, a basket filled with towels, sheets, treats and pooh bags was waiting for us in the corner.


I took some great shots of the dogs on the beach, too – look for those later this week. It was hard to leave this morning, so we'll just have to come back soon! (it had been a year since our last coastal stay – way too long!)

DISTINCTIVE BEACH LODGINGS
www.distinctivebeachlodgings.com • 800.352.8034

last chance

Well, I've picked my official closing date: May 31. It's been an interesting few weeks as I've been busy shipping out orders and answering emails. I'm quite sad to close this chapter of my life, but hearing from all of you has been a huge help – thanks for being so supportive!


While I've been rather quiet on the blogging front lately, I will continue to share design ideas, great Etsy finds, and other noteworthy experiences.

I'm actually quite excited about Memorial Day weekend, when me and the boys (hubby Todd, collie mix Cooper, lab mix Pogo, and golden mix Tucker) get to spend three full days frolicking on the beach! I found a great pet-friendly cottage in Gearhart and will be taking lots of pictures to document our little getaway.

Then a few weeks later, I'll be heading to Spokane for my first Farm Chicks adventure. My friend Amy will have a booth there with Candywinkel and she's got lots of great new products that I can't wait to share with you all!

So, as the Cecily Ink door closes, the window to free weekends opens and I plan to make the most of it!

good news, bad news

I have some good news and some bad news. I know, if you're like me, you'd want the bad news first. So here it is: it's time to say goodbye to the Cecily Ink website and product line as you know it!

I've had a very fun ride these past two years and look back with pride and joy at all that my little card line has accomplished. But now it's time to move on.

And the good news? You guessed it, major closeout savings: everything is 50% off with no minimum purchase required! Just use "closeout" as the coupon code during checkout.

Plus, if you live in the Portland area, please stop by the Studio & Sample Sale at P. Flynn Design where you'll find lots of my cards and paper products at huge discounts, some marked down to 75% off if you pick through samples and slightly damaged seconds.

And of course, you'll be able to shop from Peggy Flynn's gorgeous collection of aromatic silk sachets, eye pillows, and boudoir pillows, also all hugely discounted. Perfect time if you need a little something for Mother's Day (just around the corner!)

P.FLYNN DESIGN – STUDIO & SAMPLE SALE
Saturday May 2 • 11am to 4pm • 2654 N. Terry Street

trash to treasure – part 3

This weekend I finished up my little "Finding Grace" shrine I mentioned a while back. I had planned to add copper wings (that finally have a nicely aged patina) but when I showed it to my mom, she fell in love with it as-is! So off it went in my mom's hand luggage on Sunday and I'm glad to know it found a loving home!


Speaking of finding a loving home, one of the reasons I haven't been posting much lately is that I've been quite busy taking care of our new family member: Tucker, a tiny golden retriever mix who was rescued by the Oregon Humane Society (my favorite non-profit!) from a man in Eastern Oregon who had over 200 neglected and malnourished dogs on his property.


Tucker is already quite famous and has appeared in two newspaper articles, once in The Oregonian (click here) and once in the Portland Tribune (click here). Upon his arrival in Portland, the kind folks at the Oregon Humane Society named him Cooper but since we already have a dog named Cooper (and one named Pogo), we settled on Tucker for this little guy.


Yes, he looks quite tuckered out in this picture, but trust me when I tell you that he has all the energy of a regular puppy and none of the manners – yet! I'm heading out in just a few minutes for his very first training class; fingers crossed, he'll be a quick study.

If you want more information about the Oregon Humane Society or are interested in adopting one of their 125 dogs rescued from Burns, just click here to find out more!

anniversary sale

Wow, I can't believe it's been two years already since I first launched Cecily Ink! That's sure worthy of a celebration, don't you think?

Yes, you read it correctly: through the end of the month, I'm offering 50% off everything in stock! Just fill your basket with at least $50 worth of product, enter the coupon code "take50" during check-out, and voilà – watch as 50% of your total magically disappears!
(not valid with any other offers/coupons)

Just my little way of saying thank-you to all our Cecily Ink fans out there. Enjoy!

NOTE: Due to popular demand, I've extended the sale through Mother's Day!