afternoon showers

These past two weeks have been busy for us getting DIY projects wrapped up, cleaning out closets, Goodwill drop offs, shopping for school supplies, having play dates, hosting a home show, attending preschool orientation, meet the teacher day, preparing for an upcoming birthday party and planning a trip to the mountains and the beach. Whew. And I just reread that first sentence and realized there's still a lot that I forgot to mention. But for me, busy means productive. It seems the more I have on my plate, the more I surprise myself with checking things off my to-do list.

That is until the afternoon showers come everyday. I've been so productive. A busy bee if you will. And then every afternoon the sky gets dark, the thunder rolls in, and the rain starts. Put a fork in me. I'm done.

I don't know what it is. I love rainy days. Really love them. But the afternoon showers these past couple of weeks literally take over my body and all the productivity, to-do lists, energizer bunny running around completely halts. As much as I love the rain and any excuse to get cozy on the couch, I've got to get past the storm and conquer because this lady has a lot to do!

The past week I have received so many emails from old and new clients requesting custom designs and I couldn't be more excited about starting work again. I am loving my break this summer for sure, but I am also realizing that I love what I do for a living too. I miss design. I know it probably sounds crazy to some, but it's just the way my mind works. I've done a little here and there this summer to keep my creativity in check, but I'm really looking forward to the fall workload, especially Christmas cards!

The afternoon showers were light today (thank goodness), so I was able to upload some work from the Spring. Hope you enjoy these baby shower invitations.

has it been a month?

Cannot believe it has been a month since my last post! This summer has flown by. Although I have been missing in action on the blog, we have been super busy around here.

Two of my sweet friends are due this month with their first babies. Brooks is having twin girls and Sarah is having a sweet little boy. I cannot wait to welcome these angels into this world. So in preparation for their arrivals, we got together for some baby showers full of sweetness, laughs, smiles, family and friends.

Sorry in advance for the bad iPhone quality picts.

CUTE AS A BUTTON BABY SHOWER

(Amazing painting from her aunt!!! I'll take one, please.)

AQUA AND ORANGE PINTEREST PARTY

Come on Catherine, Anne Chapline and Maclin! Bennett cannot wait to meet his new little buddies!

Oh, and I have also been busy these past couple of weeks on Instagram. I'm sure everyone else haS been using Instagram forever (as I am always late on things), but it's brand new to me. Quite possibly the biggest obsession in my life at the moment. Have you tried it out?

beach bound

It's the weekend and we are heading to the beloved beach! Thought I would end this gorgeous day with some beach/nautical themed paper pieces :)

up and down

I figured I'll upload a few design images while waiting on my email to download a few design images to clients.

Hope you are enjoying this gorgeous spring weather. We have been outside constantly the past weekend and today... attending a local arts and crafts festival, playing in the water hose, staining an outdoor table, clearing out overgrown azaleas, visiting with family, having picnics... you name it and we will find any reason to hang outside these days.

baby jay

First off I would like to send a HUGE thanks to all of Rice Designs wonderful customers! You guys have made this a very fun, creative and successful year for me, and I cannot thank everyone enough. I am truly honored to receive your trust in designing your paper stationery! I hope to work with you all in the future and would also love to help create one-of-a-kind designs for anyone new on this blog. Once again, thank you from the bottom of my heart!

I am really looking forward to 2012 - especially January 2012 when we will welcome my first nephew, James Michael Hawley II or otherwise known as "Baby Jay!" There are not enough words to explain how excited I am to meet my nephew and to share the joy of motherhood with my sweet sister, Lou Lou. So what better way to ring in the new year on Rice Designs blog than to share designs from Jay's baby shower!

I'll be back in the next few days with several Christmas Cards, Weddings and Party invitations! Happy New Year!