Do you have a book idea?

If you are interested in getting your book printed, check out our newest endeavor, http://www.studiosashay.com We would love to help you make your dream come true. Send us your ideas at info@studiosashay.com

Sashay Magazine Summer Issue 2011

Check out our latest issue of Sashay Magazine at http://issuu.com/sashaymagazine/docs/2011_summer_issue We would love it if you would hit the like button, make a comment and cheer us on. Thanks so much.

artwork by Astrid Maclean

Place Plumereau by Vladimir Zlokazov

photo by James Ballantine

POWERBALL RUMBALLS

Serves/Makes: 48

Ingredients:

3 1/4 cups crushed vanilla wafers
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
3 tablespoons light corn syrup
1 1/4 cup rum

Directions:
In a large bowl, stir together the crushed vanilla wafers, 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar, cocoa, and nuts. Blend in corn syrup and rum. Shape into 1-inch balls, and roll in additional confectioners' sugar, OR crushed pecans, almonds, or shredded coconuts. Store in an airtight container for several days to develop the flavor. Roll again in confectioners' sugar before serving.

Submitted by Linda Lee Harper of South Carolina

Beautiful scarf! Check out more items at http://www.etsy.com/shop/natalya1905

photo by Peter Roome

Happy Thanksgiving! It's a time to enjoy that favorite dish, spend time with loved ones...and reminisce of childhood memories. Partaking in the festivities, catching up with family and friends, and bowing your head in prayer are all a part of what makes this day so special. What more, there's the taste test...the famous apple pie, pumpkin bread...and the infamous turkey and stuffing. Let us know what your favorite recipe is; we'd love to hear about your traditions!

Claudia Finn: Artist and Inspiration

"Growing by the Fence", 20 x 24 oil on canvas, by Claudia Finn

"New York Flower Market", by Claudia Finn

the streets filled with a beauty
yellow sunflowers
makes joy memories rise up

--haiku

Life is full of twists and turns, mostly unexpected, but one things for sure, Claudia Finn, Virginia Beach Artist, is truly an inspiration to many. Her heart is truly for the Lord and for helping, listening and caring about people. Claudia loves new beginnings and the Lord has blessed her with a place to share her art with others. This is important to Claudia as she says, "...art communicates important messages. When I paint a landscape I want to convey the beauty of God's creation. When I interpret scripture in my painting, I seek to bring attention to the Word. The visual word pictures of the Bible are overwhelmingly beautiful." We asked Claudia to share a few words about herself and this is what she had to say.

"The Mighty One, God, the Lord speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets." Psalm 50 That just makes me want to paint. My hope is that in my life and talents I will give honor to Jesus Christ. I want my art to remind people of what is important.

I started writing a blog about my art this past year, http://claudiafinn.blogspot.com/ . In fact that is where I came to be aware of Inkwell Alley. I was always looking for interesting blogs when I first started and I remember Inkwell Alley leaving kind, encouraging comments.

I was born in Norfolk Virginia and now live in its neighboring city with my family (my husband Pat, daughter Kate, and son David). Virginia Beach offers so much diversity. Inspiration is everywhere here. I think this is why even though I have lived here all my life I still love it.

"The Woman at the Well",
inspired by "John 4", 36 x 48,

oil on canvas,

by Claudia Finn

We asked Claudia:
>> Do you remember your first childhood art project? I remember making a stuffed horse and learning the stitches in first grade. The teacher (Mrs. Wickers) called me her "little horse girl". Encouragement is best when it is sweet like that.
>> Did you go to school for any formal art training? I went to Old Dominion University and earned a degree in Art Education. I taught art in high school before we had children. I also often take classes in anything that interests me at local colleges and art centers when I can. I love the challenges put forth by good teachers.
>> What is your area of expertise? I love to paint in various styles, and create works in groups of series bound together by subject and similar style. I will show you three of them here with examples of my love of Impressionism, collage. and scripture interpretation.
>> What is your favorite concept to depict? I think I love depicting the scripture and it's expression has come out in my approaches to painting.
>> What color best describes you? I hope GREEN because it represents growth and newness to me.

"Boardwalk Palms", 20" x 60", collage, by Claudia Finn

>> Do you have to be in a certain mood or location to practice your art? I see art as a process, if my tools are not nearby I am continually enjoying looking for inspiration with my eyes or camera.

"work in progress", each panel 20 x 60, collage, by Claudia Finn

>> How did your gallery come about? Where is it located? My gallery, Claudia Finn Studio is located in the heart of Virginia Beach in Pembroke Mall's Art Space. I was encouraged by a couple of friends to check out what Pembroke mall was doing with a wing known as Art Space. It has a unique collection of galleries/art studios and classes with the purpose of promoting the visual and preforming arts in Hampton Roads, Virginia. There are five art galleries, a ballet company and and two theater groups open now! This all has happened within the past 6 months! I love the potential for further growth!
>> What would your life be without art? I know that art is a joy and I see it as a one form of expression, I also love poetry and music. I love the forms of expression I explore and love that God has given me ways to think and say things with them. I would miss them because they are such a part of the way I interpret my life.

>> How is your art/art gallery different from others? I think the fact that it is a place that I paint in all the time makes it unique. I love the work of the other artists on the walls! Every one's art together creates a great place.

Left: "Dragonflies and Lilies", 24 x 36, watercolor and collage, by Claudia Finn

>> Here is your randomness for the day: What snack do you turn to for a midday boost? There is nothing better for a healthy boost than Tropical Smoothie smoothies. My absolute favorites are those with intense flavor. Pomegranate Plunge, Blimey Limey and Cranberry Crush with extra Cranberry are the best. Every now and then I want to go back to my elementary school cafeteria with one that tastes like a dreamcycle called Orange Dream!

"Refreshment" 20 x 24, oil on canvas, by Claudia Finn

Inspired by the scripture, "I will pour water on the thirsty land." Isaiah 44:3. This painting represents to me the scripture verse, "Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs... The ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away." Isaiah 35:6-7,10

---------

Don't forget to visit http://claudiafinn.blogspot.com/ where you'll not only find inspirational artword but also beautiful music. So if you happen to be near the Virginia Beach area, stop in to visit Claudia Finn Studio. The hours are by appointment on Monday-Wednesday and open to the public on Thursday 5-8 p.m., Friday 5-8 p.m., Saturday 12-6 and Sunday 12-5. "Claudia Finn, you are making a difference and Inkwell Alley congratulates you; May God Bless You in all that you do."

sbassdesign_ink

sbassdesign_ink

Posted using ShareThis

Sashay Magazine is proud to have a partnering voice with Lee Ann Brown, owner of Glamour Survival Guides'! She lives in Birmingham, Alabama and is passionate about helping others. Lee Ann say, "I really do believe that you can live a glamorous life of beauty & excitement, filled with love of family and community, anywhere."

After traveling for several years modeling in places like Atlanta, Miami, New York and Japan, Lee Ann found that the schedule and lifestyle wasn't right for her. She is now a mom, wife and entrepreneur, and still has a busy life but understands what it means to be a 21st Century Women. One who has found a way to balance her life's endeavors, care for her family while still being able to take time for herself.

You can find Lee Ann's page, The Glamorous Life at http://www.sashaymagazine.com/Sashay-Magazine/The-Glamorous-Life/ Her website is http://www.glamoursurvivalguides.com/ and she also has a great blog where she highlights Birmingham. http://mybirmingham.blogspot.com/2010/02/news-flash-gsgsashay-magazine.html

I hope you will visit www.sashaymagazine.com I'm sure you are a "Rugged, Real and Refined -- 21st Century Women!"

Contest Coming Soon

Sashay Magazine is going to be having a contest soon! Sign up for the "Catwalk" newsletter on www.sashaymagazine.com to get upcoming details. Sashay Magazine is for the "Rugged, Real and Refined--women of 21st Century".

Inkwell Alley Want To Know

The most important part of any journey is keeping in touch with the people you care about. Sometimes that means keeping up even when time doesn't seem to be on your side. Have you ever felt like you aren't doing enough, that you don't have time to twitter that special tweet, check in on your favorite blogger friends or text that friend you haven't seen in awhile. These are all symptoms of the 21st Century, and there's no pill for that. It's sure to make you feel defeated at times. I mean how many times has it been after 12:00 pm on Friday before you even got dressed for the day because you were busy with "follow friday" and you still hadn't gotten to @tweets, @twitterfriend, @so_many_tweets_not_enough_time, @they_followfriday_me_I_followfriday_them, @RT, @specialtweet, @yata...

So next time you feel this way, don't dismay. Just take a deep breath and realize that we are feeling the same way. I think with time, we will all understand that our virtual life is much more understanding that our real life. I mean, my water got shut off today, because I forgot to pay it...OOPS.
So...
June Isewcute http://www.isewcute.etsy.com/ http://www.isewcute.blogspot.com/ http://www.craftster.org/ ,
adebanji alade http://www.adebanjialade.co.uk/ ,
Crystal Kneller http://smaller.in/kizzdesigns ,
Jenn http://windrosefiberstudio.blogspot.com/ ,
Moonangelnay http://www.moonangelnay.blogspot.com/ ,
Paloma http://www.palomachaffinch.com/ ,
Renée Gandy http://www.fauvestudio.blogspot.com/ ,
Brenda http://www.charmingbetties.blogspot.com/ ,
Alisa http://dailyviolets.blogspot.com/ ,
Rose Aune http://www.rosiesworkshop.com/ ,
Honor Martinez http://www.honormartinez.blogspot.com/ ,
Steph Bowe http://www.yablogosphere.blogspot.com/ ,
Horrible Sanity http://www.daniellefreelances.blogspot.com/ Danielle Buffardi : Freelance Writer, Editor, Proofreader, & Resume Service ,
Kristen Evans http://www.ornamentia.blogspot.com/ ,
Jan Markley http://janmarkley.blogspot.com/2009/07/sprite-doesnt-like-rejection_16.html ,
Kathleen Eidson http://sweetcreekherbs.blogspot.com/ ,
Paloma Chaffinch http://www.palomachaffinch.com/ ,
Groovepainter micah bariteau http://www.youtube.com/groovepainter ,
Lois Eighmy, Karen Amanda http://karenamandahooper.blogspot.com/ ,
Katie (quixotic)http://myimportalstories.blogspot.com ,
FictionGroupie http://www.fictiongroupie.blogspot.com/ ,
Jamie House,
angela m suor http://flakesofwhateverinmymouth.blogspot.com/ ,
"Absolutely Small" http://www.theneedleblog.blogspot.com/ http://www.sugarfrostedgoodness.blogspot.com/ ,
Rebecca Lynch http://rebeccalynchphotography.blogspot.com/ ,
Patti Stafford http://writingforreason.blogspot.com/ ,
Nomad Crafts http://nomadcraftsetc.blogspot.com/ ,
kismet1990 http://kismet1990.blogspot.com/ http://kismet1990design.blogspot.com/ http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6494166 ,
Suzanne http://sittlife.blogspot.com/http://threepeats.blogspot.com/ ,
Suzanne's etsy shophttp://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5568679 ,
Jen http://jensvintage.blogspot.com/ ,
ismoyo http://www.ismoyo.com/ http://www.ismoyo.com/ismoyoblog.html http://www.blogger.com/www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5057495 ,
BoutiqueKarma http://boutiquekarma.blogspot.com/ http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6525243 ,
Ellie Cate's http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6217937 ,
Sara Hopp http://www.fiveoclockcrows.blogspot.com/ ,
WhatOnceWas http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6738613 ,
Leah, http://buttonfloozies.blogspot.com/ http://handmadebitsandpieces.blogspot.com/ , "Thats Pretty" http://thatsprettyjewellery.blogspot.com/ http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6063038 ,
Sheri http://sherinewton.blogspot.com/ http://xsherix.blogspot.com/ http://ghoulparanormal.blogspot.com/ ,
Mystey Artist http://rareartarenavideos.blogspot.com/
Debbie in Nashville http://ontherefrigeratordoor.blogspot.com/2009/08/turning-30-giveaway.html ,
Jemmie211! ,
Stil Direktörü http://www.stilpazari.com/ http://www.stildirektoru.com/ ,
Retrothreadz http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5795583 ,
Artist Richard http://fauxdelponte.blogspot.com/ http://delponteart.blogspot.com/ ,
boylerpf http://boylerpf.blogspot.com/ , http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6161286 , Patti Trostle http://pattitrostle.blogspot.com/ http://pattitrostlepaintingaday.blogspot.com/ , JoAnne http://joanne53.blogspot.com/ ,
A.M. Lindsey,
"weloveourdogs" ,
J. Francis, http://jonssteamboiler.blogspot.com/ http://johnfwills.blogspot.com/ http://jfrancisonline.blogspot.com/ ,
Meg Huggins,
Paperwerks http://www.paperwerks.etsy.com/ http://paperwerks.blogspot.com/ ,
Pegg http://fivefortyathome.blogspot.com/ http://bistro305.blogspot.com/ ,
mahmood http://foto-tricks.blogspot.com/ ,
Lazy Writer http://lcwrite2.blogspot.com/ ,
Claudia http://claudiafinn.blogspot.com/
I just want to tell ya that I still check in on ya and love to see what you're doing! :) If I've overlooked anything or if you have updated links, let me know. Keep me posted with your updates.

Sashay Magazine Takes A Leap in the 21st Century

Monica Dutcher and Audrey S. have partnered up, and we hope that you will help us to promote our dream. We have just launched an online magazine on February 1, 2010. It's called www.sashaymagazine.com

The Sashay Way: No matter where they live, women can be inspired by one another and united in the building of character, mind and body. Sashay Magazine is based out of South Carolina, but our voice is universal. Our voice is your voice. Our journey is your journey. And, as we sashay around the United States looking for story ideas, new perspectives and different ways of living, our magazine will truly be the heartbeat of the 21-st century woman.

Sashay Magazine is a lifestyle magazine for "Real, Rugged and Refined Women" ages 25-55+ who are affluent and engaged in their world as a 21ster, that is, as an individual who utilizes technology and the spirit of independence to successfully manage work, travel, pursuit of dreams, personal time and family. Sashay Magazine is not feminist, rather, our articles are a platform for both conservative and liberal voices. While Sashay Magazine does publish reflective and personal essay-type pieces, we are also interested in incorporating research into our features and departments.

Thank you so much! We hope you will be a part.

Sashay Magazine is Launched

Sashay Magazine is launched. The website is www.sashaymagazine.com. Yes, it was a dream; a dream come true.

We hope you will visit as we plan to expand and bring Inkwell Alley to a new level. We want you to be a part, and look forward to developing a rapport. These days, trials and tribulations, stress and even the unknown, make us think that we cannot prosper or move forward with a dream. You can do it. Remember, it's not who you are but what you can become! So I hope you'll visit us at sashay magazine. Let us know if you have any story ideas. We are also looking for people interested in writing. Our main goal is to build relationships, help others to achieve their goals, and to support and promote your dream.

If you have any questions, email me at audrey@sashaymagazine.com

Put One Foot in Front of the Other

New endeavors are never easy. As one of my best friends' mom would say, it takes guts and hootspa. I think it takes determination. My definition? A skill to endure failure when it comes and being stubborn enough to try again and again until you succeed. We are all afraid of failure at one time or another. I wonder why that is. Are we afraid of what others will think of us? Do we think it will identify who we are and what we stand for? Does it mean we will crumble to the ground and shatter? Maybe, but realistically, we must use common sense. There is the financial aspects and our daily responsibilities to think about. It's not easy juggling work and family, paying the bills and dodging the daily challenges of everyday life. These are all very legitimate reasons to put off a new endeavor.

I have put together a list to encourage you as you work hard to achieve your dream.
1. Don't worry what others think! Don't worry what the news says about the economy. Don't worry about if it makes sense. Follow your heart.
2. Follow your heart but think through it. Make sure you are making good decisions. Don't jump into anything until you are sure it is the right time.
3. You will have highs and lows; you will have good days and bad; you will be encouraged and discouraged. These are all normal occurrences.
4. Everything takes time. Take baby steps. Be patient.
5. Take chances, but be careful of foolishness.
6. Don't be afraid of failure, but be prepared to fail. Every great person--inventors, scholars and even the pauper, has failed before making a great accomplishment.
7. Negative thoughts will always be one minute away from the next; take them in, process them and dismiss the nonsense. Fear of failure, fear of the unknown, fear of what others may think, fear of fear. These are all legitimate, but don't let them keep you from persevering.
8. We all need to take a break at times; don't be afraid to get away from what you are persuing in order to get a fresh start. Sometimes clearing your head helps you to see things differently.
9. Seek council when needed. It is important to be smart about your decision-making. Study, read, collaborate, find resources that will help you to succeed. Don't be foolish.
10. Learn new skills; be willing to educate yourself.
Bonus. Put one foot in front of the other...before you know it, you will living your dream.

So take heart! Use your skill of determination and don't be afraid of failure. Learn from your mistakes and don't let them control your life. Doing something new is never easy, and it may bring you to a place you never expected. Good or bad, this is just another step to building your character and who you will become. Mostly, remember that it's ok to take chances, but be smart about your choices. Look to a new year, a new decade and an evolution of change as we grow accustom to the 21st Century. 2010 is going to be a prosperous year.

Diamond in the Rough

One things for sure - it takes work to follow your dream! I know - I know... it was supposed to be fun. Remember the garden? You always had to till the garden before it would grow. If you hang in there long enough, you will see the fruits of your labor! Just remember what you are working for and keep it in perspective. There will be rainy days, there will be droughts, there will be gnats swarming your head. No worry - you have a purpose. Move forward.

Debbie of Nashville. She recently found herself unemployed due to the economy. This might seem terrible to many, but Debbie has turned it around to make it a positive change toward doing the things she's always wanted to do. Taking on uncharted territory, she's traveling to new places, meeting new people and getting a chance to take on challenges she would have never experienced before. Although her future is unsettled as far as her career, she is moving forward...finding that there are many new doors to be opened. These opportunities are opening up a network of newfound contacts for her future endeavors.

This is just one story during a time when the economy has flipped over the apple cart. Don't dispair. You may find that even during the toughest of times, there is a diamond in the rough. That diamond -- it's YOU!

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Diamond%20in%20the%20rough
Diamond in the rough
Someone (or something) that has hidden exceptional characteristics and/or future potential, but currently lacks the final touches that would make them (or it) truly stand out from the crowd.
or, someone that falls into unfortunate circumstances but works to better themselves.

Inkwell

Today is the day! Yes it is! It is the day to take another step toward your dream. I've come to realize that it's not only possible, it's the dynamics of what Inkwell Alley is all about. It's about laying your foundation for success. Think about it. You have the talent...and the dream. You have the hope that it will happen. You may be up against money or the doomsdayers, but the reality is -- it's all up to you. All it takes it you taking another step toward your dream. You do realize that even the toddler wouldn't have walked if he hadn't fallen a few times.

Our biggest problem...fear. Fear that it won't happen, or that we will lose money, or that our product will fizzle, or that people won't buy, or the mindset that it will only happen to someone else.

Chance! Take a chance. Charge! Move forward. Chill! Watch it happen. Words to think about, and words to live by. I have been working on a few projects of my own. Between work and home and new endeavors, it seems like it's almost impossible. But I'm here to tell you that even the space shuttle got off the ground. Can you imagine all the struggle that took? So be encouraged - go back to your writing, your camera, your blogging, your shopping, your craft and take it to the next level. We've moved past everything being supersized--we are now in the time of hyper-viral networking. It's something you can use as an advantage.

Inkwell Alley is all about community and pushing your dreams forward. We love to promote the arts, the artistic, the creative, the dreamer, the entrepreneur...that means YOU! Be a part of Inkwell Alley. We love doing feature friday and look forward to working with you to promote your dream. Everyday is another day toward your future.

If you feel you have something you would like to contribute to Inkwell Alley - a recipe, gardening, art, writings (fiction or non-fiction), ideas or anything about yourself, email us at sbassdesign@yahoo.com We would love to hear from you.

Feature Friday: Debra Weiss

Audrey of Inkwell Alley: I love doing the "Feature Friday", because it gives me the opportunity to get to know more about the multi-faceted people that inspire all of us to continue toward our goals. During the past few weeks, Monica has been chatting with Debra Weiss, a freelance writer living on the East Coast. Debra is a talented writer with a passion to follow her dreams even when faced with "life's storms". She is truly a person that inspires, because she continues to follow her heart and persevere even when it may not be easy. In her blog, I came across something that she wrote, "When we hurt, God is right there beside us. Sometimes we don't see him but He's there. Going through the pain with us. Every tear we've cried, God has seen. Every time our heart's been broken, God's heard the sound." This really touched my heart, because I have found that through every circumstance, you will learn something new. Your hopes and desires for your life will become even more apparent. I found it interesting that Debra is not only a freelance writer but also a web designer and editor. She has the best of all worlds--being creative, being able to write, to edit, to mastermind new ideas... and mostly, a great sense of humor -- as she adds, "when she's not writing, she can usually be found eating chocolate at her blog: http://www.debraweiss.net/." Debra agreed to share a few fun details about herself; we hope you enjoy!
Five Fun Factoids About Me (Debra)
>> I love chocolate. From M&Ms and Kit-Kats to Dove Bars, I have always loved the feeling of chocolate melting in my mouth.
>> I have a rare medical condition called Dysautonomia. It means that my autonomic nervous system malfunctions and doesn't control my heart rate or breathing like it should. My heart rate will go low then high then back to low. It's a pretty interesting condition. You can learn more about it here: http://www.dynakids.org/what.jsp
>> I've been writing since I was seven years old. I write both non-fiction and fiction. One day I hope to be on the New York Times Best-Selling List. (If you're gonna dream, dream big right?)
>> Fall is my favorite season. I love watching all the changes taking place like the falling leaves, the cooler air and sipping hot chocolate while writing.
>> I run Novelist's Café.com (http://www.novelistscafe.com/) where writers can come for daily inspiration. Stop in and leave a comment sometime.

Thanks again for this cool opportunity! : ) Debra

photos courtesy of www.usa-fallfoliage.com and m&m.com Intro written by Audrey of Inkwell Alley; Debra Weiss wrote Five Fun Factoids as well as copy for eating chocolate at blog. Inkwell Alley really appreciates your support and would like to thank Debra for being a part of our Feature Friday!

He Says, She Says

It's funny how when one person (my husband) says one thing and it means nothing but another person (just about any outside reader) says the same exact thing and it means everything. Suddenly all is right with the world--you have confidence, the future is bright, the load is lighter, the road is paved. Unfortunately, as a writer, it's so much about receiving good feedback from the right people, that is, my readers, editors, publishers, agents and my mom. I know, my mom, right? It's like, 'Which word doesn't belong?' It's kind of random that I would have my mom in there (and over my husband at that, 'sorry robert!'), but the fact is, when a highly critical person who has no qualms calling a spade comments deeply and sincerely on your work, it's beyond sustaining.

Anyway, in a sense I guess it's normal to crave feedback because if people don't like what you write, it's going to be a challenge to do what I want, which is reach into readers' chests, grab their hearts and mold it such that it opens the floodgates for emotions, ideas and perspectives that the reader hasn't considered or has been afraid to confront for whatever dark reason. But on the other hand I need to be develop a maverick's swagger with my pen. I need to go for it and not care what people think. People can and will loathe what I write, but that doesn't mean it didn't need to be written. I've received an awful lot of rejection from agents, editors but I can't give up. My psyche depends on entering the realm of the published, where authors flip the freshly printed pages of their books under their noses.

I'm not sure how to conclude this blog entry. I like everything I write to be precisely packaged. But maybe this time I'll let go and just leave you with this thought, the anticipation that the next time I blog I will be a maverick. I will take off the perfectionist hat and let everything and anything on the tip of my brain explode onto the page. And I think it will be quite refreshing for everyone.

Feature Friday: Mary of Retro Threadz

Audrey of Inkwell Alley: It's our favorite time again...to feature another one of our creatives. I love vintage. I guess it's the nastalgia of it all. It brings me back to the days when I would visit my grandmother. I remember the smell of those fresh baked cookies, and how she thought that "Days of our Lives" was the most important part of her day. At the end of the day, when things calmed down a bit, it was always interesting to watch grandmother sit at the table doing a crossword puzzle, her hair pulled back with her eyes peering over those peculiar-looking glasses, as she asked, "What is a six letter word for dog?" I sure do miss those times. You can only imagine how pleased I was when I came upon retrothreadz shop as I was twittering through my tweets. It was so much fun looking at the selection of fine vintage clothing and accessories. It brought back all those feelings, ya know, of nastalgia. So then it began, Mary and I twittered back a forth a few times, and well, we found a common bond - a love for vintage fashion...

Audrey of Inkwell Alley: I love your shop; such nice items... :)

Mary of Retrothreadz: Thanks so much! I'm glad you enjoyed looking.

Audrey of Inkwell Alley: I would love to feature you for our Feature Friday. Do ya think you could pull together a little fun bio.....?

Mary of Retrothreadz: I'd be honored...

Audrey of Inkwell Alley: Thanks so much. I look forward to your email :)

A few days later:

Mary of Retrothreadz: I have been asked by Inkwellalley http://inkwellalley.blogspot.com/to write a fun bio about myself. So, here we go! My name is Mary, and I am a full-time working mother with 2 wonderful sons and married to a very wonderful man. I have been employed for Ford Motor Co. for 16 years. But alongside of it all, my true passion is my obsession I have with Pin-up & Vintage Fashions. http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5795583

What Else?
>> I love modeling, photography, camping, football, swimming, baseball, being outdoors, shopping.
>> I have lived in Michigan my entire life. I grew up & lived around fashion my entire life. It started with my grandmother who was into pin-up modeling & then my mother followed her steps.

>> My true passion of Vintage & Pin-up fashion came to be about 15 years ago, I love the 60s Mod-look the best.

>> I love the Twiggy style dresses with the Patent Leather knee-boots. That look is so hip!
>> My best overall quality is the never-ending love for my children. I spoil them , as I should. They're only children once.
>> My worst overall quality is definitely I am very outspoken. I love to laugh & enjoy making people laugh. I am a very down-to-earth person.

Notes from Inkwell: Don't miss out on Mary's blog. http://retrothreadz.blogspot.com/

Thank you Mary for agreeing to be our "Feature Friday" We have really enjoyed getting to know a little bit more about you! Feature Friday written in part by Audrey of Inkwell Alley and Mary of Retrothreadz.