::6 things i'm thankful for::

1. A supportive family that I can laugh with until wee hours.
2. Great friends that I can laugh with until wee hours.
3. J
4. Wonderful supporters, readers, and followers...thank you!
5. A clean bill of health.
6. Mother Nature :)

::pick me up::

Needing a little pick me up this afternoon.

all images courtesy of weheartit

::patterns::

Recently, I stumbled across these gorgeous Turkish rugs from Dhoku. I've been looking for the perfect living room rug to make my place a little more cozy. One of these pretties might make it's American debut.

Of course I love the antique patchwork styles.

The uneven designs in the neutral-colored rugs below give it a handmade feel, perfectly imperfect. And, the blue reminds me of ocean waves. And, who wouldn't want some waves in their home? I've got Costa Rica on my mind...

::creating::

6 petals is busy getting ready for the 3rd Annual Junior League Merry Market. A special thanks to Meghan of m.marie for the push ;)

Merry Market is a huge fundraiser put on by the Junior League of Greater Winter Haven. It supports local projects that will strengthen the community and build stronger families. One such project is called "A Mother's Voice." Members of the club take time to meet with mothers and grandmothers who are incarcerated. The members sit down with her, record her voice as she read a childrens book, and delivers the story on a CD to the woman's children so they are able to hear their mother's voice.

6 petals is happy to support such a great cause. With the holidays quickly approaching, it's important to take time and focus on the things that matter. Life throws fastballs, curve balls, and splitters.

Spread the love, anyway you can. Here are some easy ways to make an impact in your community:

• Toys for Tots Drop-off. We all know this one. This is a great way to give a child a new toy that his/her parent's may not be able to afford this year. You're likely to run into a donation site when you're out doing weekly errands.
• Donate non-perishables to a local food bank. Feeding America is a powerful network aiming to solve hunger issues in the U.S. Find a local food bank close to you, and next time you're in the grocery store throw in some extra canned vegetables and powdered milk. If you're feeling strong, you can read real stories of those in need.
• Donate old sweaters and blankets. Winter is right around the corner and so many rely on second-hand stores to stock up on warm gear. It's also a great time to make some space in your closet.
• Volunteer. This one is usually overlooked, extremely powerful, and so rewarding. Your local Chamber of Commerce or Red Cross can help you find a volunteer opportunity that's perfect for you and/or your family.

Oh, I turned on Extreme Makeover Home Edition for the first time in a long time. Cried like a baby. I love when good things happen to such deserving people. Let's do our part to make others smile. :)

::b&w beach::

Home is where the beach is.

I know it's mid-November, but that's why I love The Sunshine State. Here's some warm love. Happy Friday.

::a little christmas cheer in november::

Anthropologie has done it again. I love the creativity...

{Click on the image to go to their homepage to see this adorable video of their Christmas ornaments.}

::color wonderful::

A couple weeks ago J and I ventured to the famous Chalet Suzanne, which is around the corner in Lake Wales. We went with little knowledge of the place, but J had heard it was a bit "vintage." That's all he had to say to convince me. And, I wasn't disappointed. This place has so much character!

I took out the camera to get some pictures of J skydiving. Yea, they even have a drop zone. After he jumped and landed (thank goodness), we went to check out the cute, little Inn rooms and soup cannery. We sampled mushroom and broccoli soup, walked the rest of the area finding more and more cute things, and fed turtles.

{J, such a daredevil}

They feed the turtles leftover bread from the restaurant. They were fearless.

xo.

::this one's for the ladies::

Actually, no need to keep quiet about it. Shout it from the rooftops. More details to come-- lots of exciting things happening at 6 petals.

Don't worry, I'll fill you in as we go...

::studio table::

After visiting my hometown last weekend, I was excited to pop in to petite surprise. I'd heard about it from mom who happily picked up some items earlier this year. The shop owner, Molly Stracuzzi, and I played soccer together in high school-- I had no idea she shared the same love of vintage, antiques, and marketing!

I've been wanting to create a work table for my studio. I'm currently using a vintage sofa table but it's too tall and narrow. The plan: to use an old door and add natural wooden elements for legs. Luckily, I found this beautiful idea (to give me a better visual) and decided to look for a great pair of wooden saw horses. And, of course, found the most amazing pair, but with a $725 price tag, they're a bit out of my budget.

Oh, well. A nice piece of glass to top this old, blue wooden door from petite surprise, and attach the saw horses and it's done. A girl can dream...

It's a beautiful store, Molly! So glad I could stop by. For more about petite surprise, you can check out the blog.

saw horse image from Factory 20

::girls night::

A few of us got together to wine and dine...with arts and crafts time, too. Here are the girls hard at work making their own version of 6 petals vintage toy block photo holders.

Perfect to hold photos, business cards, table card settings, and recipe cards. These handmade, one-of-a-kind blocks will be available for sale in the shop soon! {Not the blocks the girls made, of course. Those are priceless.}

And, while you're here, take an extra second and follow 6 petals on Blogger/Google Friend Connect, Bloglovin', and Facebook. Because, you know, you gotta stay updated :)