Fur! I love the the idea of using furs in decor. Furs add just the right amount of rustic elegance to any room.

And, lets face it, furs really cater to the inner “Jackie Kennedy” in all of us!

Room Planners Blog

Elle Decor, January 2006

Pottery Barn Bedrooms

Enjoy!

I’ve got cabin fever. BAD!

Maybe this’ll help cheer me up. And you as well, if you’re singing the “Cabin Fever Blues”.

Enjoy!

Found at Country Living

Found at Country Living

Can’t remember where I found this.

Found at Apartment Therapy

December 6 – Make – What was the last thing you made? What materials did you use? Is there something you want to make, but you need to clear some time for it? – (Author: Gretchen Rubin)

I spend the majority of my day “making something”. Be it a fancy meal, ornaments for a Christmas tree, a logo for a client, or paper dolls for my niece, my days are usually spent making something, and it’s just a part of each day for me. If I wasn’t making something, I’d probably have to be in bed, sick.

Just today alone I’ve made a center piece using mason jars and Epsom salt, drew shapes to cut out of paper for Christmas ornaments, made a supper of Jamaican Jerk Chicken with Grilled Red and Sweet Potatoes and I made an Apple Cranberry Cobbler and drizzled it with Eggnog.

I always have plans for things I’d like to make. Lots of plans. I don’t think a lifetime is enough time to accomplish everything, but I’m certainly going to try. This is the uniqueness that is me, and part of who I am. This never ending need to create or make or design or build or grow.

"Be yourself. An original is always worth more than a copy." – Unknown.

I try to remember to live by this each day…because it really is what makes each of us who we are.

What’s new in your world?

Cold and snow for mine. I was just outside watering and feeding my dog, and I have a headache from the cold. Not my idea of a good time. I’m afraid to look at a thermometer.

After a recent foray into the Walmart in Williston ND, I ended up with these:

which I promptly turned into this:

The white center piece is a work in progress. I’m thinking about adding a coffee filter garland and putting it all on a platter. I just have to find the right platter. Would love to find an elegant white antiqued platter, but just haven’t found anything that sparks my interest yet.

My new winter boots:

The warmest jacket I have with me at the moment is my ski jacket from last year. I need a new one for this year. This photo just made me realize how “big” my calves are. Girl can’t win for nothing! HA!

For two days we had a thick fog surround us. Was sort of surreal and made me think a lot about the settlers in this country. Honestly, it was lonesome in all that fog! These photos are from the next morning when the sun was shining and everything looked fairytale white!

The trees were covered in a fine dusting of frost:

I ordered these for the Lodge and love them. I think they are the perfect fit for both men and women:

That’s about all that’s new here. I’m in search of a few new magazines to subscribe to. I’m thinking “Real Simple” and I don’t know what else. Any thoughts? Ideas? I want some design inspiration. I’m feeling a little stale out here at the moment.

Have a fantastic Sunday!

After having posted the “Before” photos of the quonset hut remodel, I thought it was time I post a few of the photos I’m using as inspiration for the joint. Get it…Joint. Like log joints? Okay. Well I thought I was funny anyway.

Forest Home Great Room

Photo found at Alkemie

Not sure where I found this room but if you have a clue please let me know so I can give credit where credit is due.

I just love all the texture and warmth in all of these rooms, as well as the bright splashes of color. Really love the bright green flatware in the kitchen photo.

Good Morning.

It’s Tuesday, and I’m a day behind. But! BUT! I have a fantastic story I’ll be sharing with you all tomorrow, which is why I wasn’t able to post my “Copper Hue’d Mondays” yesterday, on Monday.

These images are from my “wish wall” and are the basis of some of my copper inspiration.

Found at Interior Dream

Found at The Lennoxx

The “No Tell Room” found at The Farmers Daughter Hotel

This next photo isn’t a room, but I utterly love this vintage plate rack. LOVE!

Found at Design, Decor…

Anyone else have any sites they recommend for getting creative decor ideas? Paint schemes? Accessories? Furniture?

Enjoy!

It was time for a change. I’d been working with the same tired blog design for quite some time, and lets face it, as much as I loved my demure little gal, it was time to move into a new direction. I shall always be the “In A Mini Skirt” girl, I’ll just be a bit more chic.

Okay so maybe I’ll just pretend to be a bit more chic.

Either way, it’s change and change sometimes indicates progress. Or a really good line of B.S.

What are your thoughts? Feelings? Emotions?

Hate it? Love it?

Good morning all!

I’ve been away from the blog, and other facets of my internet exsitance, mainly because I’ve re-launched the UBetcha Apparel website and mainly because I had to do some soul searching. I didn’t want this blog to be stagnate, but frankly I haven’t had anything exciting with which I felt like writing about, other than “Story behind the Design…”

I’m back though. Soul refreshed and ready to rejuvenate. I’m ready to put my heart into this blog and really get it moving in the direction I want it to move in.

With this being said, I’ll be posting a blog about some great finds I found this morning in my net search. And from here on out,  I’ll be posting twice a week.

Have a beautiful Saturday!

Encourage One Another!

I’ve been debating with myself for the better part of a week which design I should start the “Story Behind the Design…” Series with. In an earlier post I gave a brief history on UBetcha Apparel and mentioned I’d write about each individual design, one at a time. Here’s the first installment.

It’s been a difficult task to choose one, mainly because as I think on each design, it brings up old memories and stories. Essentially that’s the purpose or thought behind each design. I want someone to look at one of the designs, and have one of those old memories come springing forward and for a moment, you get lost. That’s what telling stories does for each of us, in one way or another.

With this being said, I’m going to start with the “Cowboys Don’t Linedance, Buckaroos Won’t Even Watch!” Men’s T-Shirt. I’ve revamped this item. Initially there was an image that went along with it, but I’ve taken that out and went for only the words. I felt this was a more direct approach to a very serious topic.

When I first started dating my ex, back in 2001, he was working for a cutting horse trainer in the Bitterroot Valley near Corvallis Montana. Now, if any of you have been to the Bitterroot Valley you’ll know that there’s a pretty good buckaroo following in that area. And, if you are slightly aware of the difference between a cowboy and a buckaroo, you’ll get the underlying meaning of this design. If not, it’s still pretty easy to understand the staunchness of a buckaroo. Not to say that they don’t have a good laugh, but there’s just some things you don’t do…Linedancing is one of them.

I spent quite a bit of time in the Bitterroot Valley that first summer we were dating. One night, a bunch of us went out to the Plumb Loco bar in Stevensville. Upon stepping foot in the bar, the ex turns around and walks back out. “wwwhhhhooooooBetcha! RT this for your chance to win with http://inaminiskirt.com. @UBetcha_Apparel #trickortweet” I take a peek inside and notice they are line dancing and immediately understand why he’s leaving. Was pretty funny to see a group of buckaroos high tail it outta there. The whole time I’m watching this and hearing “Cowboys Don’t Linedance and Buckaroo’s won’t even watch!” They were pretty emphatic about it. Every time I think about that, it brings to mind that memory and I can see the disgust on their faces. Cracks me up!

July 1st you will be able to purchase both of these items from www.oubetcha.com.

As I’ve mentioned on a few other occasions, I own a company by the name of UBetcha. I just recently started adding the word “Apparel” because without it, who knows what UBetcha really is, and I wanted to have a direction with which to work from as well as towards. Who’s to say UBetcha won’t one day become something more, such as a company that also helps rodeo athletes find sponsors or get noticed, but for now, UBetcha is all about t-shirts.

Several years ago I worked for a ranch and home supply store, selling feed, tack, fencing, bolts, plants, jewelry, home furnishings and clothing. It was great and I loved every minute of it. I gained a ton of experience and know-how and I spent almost 4 years with this wonderful company. Many of you may know the company as Murdoch’s now, but then it was Ranch and Home Supply, Big R. Shortly before going on my fourth year of working there, I moved. To Sheridan Wyoming. The gentleman I was seeing applied for and was given a job with Padlock Ranch, just outside of Sheridan in a small town by the name of Dayton Wyoming.

Enter, my actual cowgirl year.

Prior to this time I’d spent a lot of time as a farmer/ranchers granddaughter. We didn’t use horses though, and my life seemed empty without them. Yes, we had horses for riding for fun, but honestly, if you don’t have a job to do on a horse, I didn’t think you could call yourself a cowgirl. I still don’t think I’m a cowgirl. I’m somewhere in-between. I’m getting off subject, so let me turn it back around.

During the year I spent working for the Padlock and dating this great guy I listened. Hard! Because as we all know, cowboys have some inventive and lesson teaching sayings. I’m not about to divulge any of them in this post, because that’s going to come up in later entries. I’m just stating a fact. Cowboy sayings are blurted out throughout the day while working cattle or riding or doing any number of other things a cowboy does. So anyway, I listened. And I started to write these sayings down. And for what reason? I wasn’t even sure at the time, I just knew I needed to get them on paper. So many of them were so true and memorable I couldn’t help but to remember them, but others were heard less often and I wanted to be sure to remember them.

After a year of writing these down and compiling quite a list, we moved! I cried! I bawled! I stomped my feet and cursed the system and questioned my faith and I got mad and I’m not even sure I want to go into all the other emotions and thoughts I had. We made the decision to move. I wasn’t happy to say the least, but figured I’d better follow since the U Haul was headed back to Montana.

Enter, my “I’m starting my own business” years.

So, upon arriving back in Montana, I have this huge list of cowboy sayings. What am I going to do with this? About this time I decided to start college, and work towards an A.S.S. degree in Graphic and Web Design. Two years wasn’t enough to really have a grasp on most of the information, but it got me into the door of a local design firm, and I’ve been there for the last two years. We moved back to Montana in 2005. It’s now 2009. There’s a lot of time in-between and I’m sure you’re wondering what happened. Well, I’m not telling. Lets just say a lot of changes, and I’m no longer seeing the same gentleman. Back to the list.

The creative director and his wife, of the firm I’m working at, own a silk screen press. It was sitting in the basement of the office we worked in, gathering dust. Back in May of 2008, they sold it to me and for the next 6 months I taught myself how to use the machine, how to burn screens, how to order t-shirts, how to clean screens….basically a crash course. I made a lot of mistakes, but I learned a ton. Those mistakes are what brought me to where I am today, working on creating a line of clothing, branded by me, screened by me, shipped by me, created by me and sold by me.

There I was, with this machine, and a book full of cowboy saying’s. What do I do now? At the time, I knew I wanted to start some kind of business dealing with clothing, I just wasn’t sure how to even get started. I’m still not sure. I’m still not even sure some days I’m started or moving forward. I’m still learning. About that time, I was joking with a friend of mine about starting a screen printing company and I was really trying to search for a name. One day, during a light-hearted phone conversation with my friend, he happened to utter the words, “O YOU BETCHA!” and a light went off. Why not? I mean, there are crazier names out there for companies, and frankly, UBetcha sticks with a person. We all say it at some point or another and we all laugh when we hear it. UBetcha reminds me of a “go-to-attitude” and it’s bold and full of attitude, but at the same time can be made classy, sassy and utterly feminine. It just works!

Attitude? UBetcha!