Though our fall colors may not be as spectacular as back east, our Western Colorado mountains can put on quite a show. We live just twenty minutes from some of the most spectacular scenery in Colorado, and though our family enjoys camping, hiking, and sight seeing year round, autumn is my favorite season in the mountains.

Welcome to the Grand Mesa, the largest flat top mountain in the world. The lake pictured is Jumbo Reservoir, which is actually quite small, and is just one of over three hundred lakes and reservoirs on the Mesa.

Our fall colors are primarily made up of golds from the Aspen trees and russet reds from the Oakbrush. Just down the road from the next picture is Powderhorn, our local ski resort.

The air is crisp this time of year, and the sunshine delightfully warm. Soon the first snow flurries of the year will be flying, and the mountains will be covered in thick blankets of snow, but for now the mountain is alive with colors and the only flurries are golden leaves dancing in the wind.

Thank you for letting me take you on a little tour of the beautiful mountain that is the inspiration for The Lodge Spa. Next time you browse my shop I hope you think of the Grand Mesa that I call home.

Weekly Featured Etsy Mini - Ljlhdesigns

Nothing says fall to me like a great sweater, an awesome pair of boots, and some really fantastic earrings - fantastic earrings just like these. Ljlhdesigns has a great selection of jewelry for the fall, and her prices are amazing. The earrings pictures are just $9.00, and the matching bracelet is just $18.00.

Need another reason to buy? This week only Libby is offering free shipping in both of her shops! Check out Ljlhdesigns for her great jewelry and Ljlhpaper for fun and unique handmade boxes.

Featured Artist Mini - SquidArt

I am very pleased to be featuring Katie of SquidArt as this weeks featured artist. One look at her shop and I was instantly engrossed in her fun and vibrant photography. After browsing for a good ten minutes I decided that it was going to be impossible to choose a favorite. I instead decided to list my top three - Moose Love, Chicken Love, and Penguin Love. These darling photographs are all in her Animal Love series.

Please go and check out her shop now; for an example of her work check out the 'Weekly Featured Etsy Mini' on the right hand side of my blog.

Featured Etsy Mini - VeryVerdant

A few years ago I was searching for luggage tags. I looked all over our town and ended up settling for something I was less than satisfied with. If only I had known about Etsy! I was delighted to discovered VeryVerdant and it's plethora of unique sewn items - especially the luggage tags. They are bright and unique; you buy a set and you will have no trouble spotting your bag again.

Now is the perfect time to head over the VeryVerdant. Sonja has offered 15% off the entire purchase price to my readers! Just type STORYBOOK in the comments box when you checkout. Offer good through September 30th, 2009.

Craft Therapy - Indoor Herb Garden

This weeks Craft Therapy project is one that I have wanted to tackle myself. Putting together an indoor herb garden takes very little time or supplies, and is a very relaxing way to spend part of an afternoon.

What you will need:

4 Small Garden Pots with Saucers

Herb Seeds (parsley, sage, thyme, and chives all grow well indoors)

Small Pebbles

Indoor Potting Soil

12 Toothpicks

Plastic Wrap

4 Rubber Bands or Twine

•To ensure good drainage, fill the bottom quarter of your pots with pebbles.

•Add the Indoor Potting Soil to your planters. Plant 3 seeds in each pot at the recommended depth on the packet.

• Using luke warm water, water the soil well.

• Poke three toothpicks into the soil around the rim. Drape the plastic wrap over the toothpicks and secure around the bottom of the pot with rubberbands, or tie with twine.

Check your soil everyday, adding water if needed. The soil should feel moist, not soggy. Remove the plastic wrap when your seedlings sprout and move to a sunny location. A room with a south facing window is ideal. Thin your herbs down to one plant when the seedlings have two true leaves. When the humidity is very low in winter, you may want to lightly mist your plants daily.

Enjoy your new indoor herb garden!

*Be careful not to place your plants too close to a very sunny window. Even in winter the sunlight can be intense enough to burn your herbs. I lost a thriving mini rose this way last year!

Featured Mini Monday - MamaBethBling

Every so often something will catch your eye while you're browsing Etsy. You know the item, the one that makes you stop and truly study it's beauty and complexity. You browse all the photos, read the entire listing, and then browse the photos again. This isn't just a piece of inventory; it's art. That describes my first experience with MamaBethBling's shop.

I stumbled on this lovely necklace while doing a little early Christmas planning. This is hand stamped jewelry at its best. Her pieces are beautifully classic, yet unique in design. She has an amazing selection of quality jewelry that can be customized to suit your recipient or occasion. This particular necklace is priced at 30.00 dollars. I have seen generic mass produced jewelry that is made of cheap metal for double that in a department store. With beautiful, reasonably priced items like this, why buy anything but handcrafted?

MamaBethBling has generously offered free shipping to the readers of my blog! Just mention Storybook Stitches when you checkout.

Our Giveaway Winner

The Winner of the Moist Heat Therapy Set is: Mattscraftywife!

Congratulations! I hope you enjoy your new neck wrap and slipper inserts.

To thank everyone who entered, I am offering 20% off any item in my shop if you mention my blog. (Credited on your PayPal account).

Thank you!