Tuesday, December 30, 2014

A Sparkly 365!

365 days....
looking back--how were yours spent?
Isn't this a beautiful postcard from 1909?
The message and the wonderful handwriting
 from an age gone by...
...but the sentiment remains the same as today:  

"...I have been very busy..." 

Yes. Indeed.
we have.

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Taking it all in...Christmas Eve 2014

One of my favorite things about Christmas Eve 
is that moment when a quiet stillness seems to settle in on the household,
and in my being...
a stillness of anticipation...
When family is home and just enjoying being home.
The rush of shopping and busyness is over for a moment...
and there is time to reflect by the tree...and just take it all in...
There is a readiness for celebration...
Preparation for a season...

Monday, December 22, 2014

Love thy neighbor...and magic cookie bars


here's a story
about a long distance romance...

It stars a young couple from LA, California, who moved to the deep south of Alabama...
and whose hearts became indelibly changed by 
the hospitality of the South and the love of their neighbors.

Monday, December 15, 2014

Monday, December 8, 2014

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

A few of my favorite {Christmas} things...

Resistance is futile! 
You either jump on the decorating train or get out of the way....
It's officially December and time to get in the Christmas spirit!
I was inspired to start early this year with just a few of my favorite things...

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Simply Grateful...tablescape

 "It is not happiness that makes us grateful, 
but gratefulness that makes us happy."
Brother David Steindl-Rast

Grateful for: 
Simple tablescapes
Family-near and far.
Yummy traditional foods.
 Remembering our blessings and from whence they flow.
Happy Thanksgiving week!



Friday, October 31, 2014

Happy Pumpkin Day!

It's been busy around here...
But not too busy for a happy carved pumpkin, 
and a delicious pumpkin crunch tonite.

This recipe is a tradition around our place 
starting at Halloween and all the way through December.

It is so easy...and I promise it will have people raving!

Enjoy!
I also love being reminded of this statement of faith on how to carve a pumpkin:

Believing…is like being a Pumpkin {author unknown}
·         Take your pumpkin from the patch, wash off all the dirt. Christ does this to us—we can come to Him just as we are—He does the cleaning up.
·         Cut open the top of the pumpkin. Likewise, we must open our hearts to Him and reveal to Him all our hidden thoughts and inner workings.
·         Scoop out all the yucky stuff from inside.  Christ does the same to our hearts—scooping out all the greed, hate, doubt, fear…stuff we don’t like to touch…etc.
·         Carve a smile in the pumpkin. God lives in our hearts and gives us a new smiling face—outlook on life, and a desire to witness for Him through our lives.
·         Place a candle inside for the world to see.  God is the light in our life. He lights up our path and purpose. His truth is the light in a dark world. He desires for our light to shine out to the world that others may know His saving grace too.
·         Hear the knock at the door.  He waits for you to open the door to your heart and let Him in. Are you His pumpkin?
May God bless you richly during this beautiful fall season!




Thursday, October 2, 2014

Vintage Gutter Flowerbox


..."if at times you find you're in the gutter of life...
--plant some flowers and enjoy the view!"
Not just a great life-metaphor ...
it is my theme for a fun fall project.
:o)

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Initial Porcelain Coffee Mugs

Three things I love on a weekend:
A really good cup of hot coffee.....

preferably in a white mug...
A fun find: Typography make me happy...
Monograms; initials; letters....
alway classically great design choices.

Monday, July 28, 2014

Inspired Vintage Metal Flower Napkin Rings--Easy How-to

Inspiration is an interesting process...

I never know how or when it is going to hit me.
  
 But when it does...I find it is just best to go with the flow,
...and let it run its course.


Sometimes it is more about a process than the end result. 
Other times, the process and result come together beautifully...

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Contemplating roses and time travel.

Have I told you that I must have super-powers? 

How do I know this?
because I blink....


and I am in the future three weeks...


Gone...

time...

just like that.
:o)

Here's to summer being busy and full...
of birthdays
and driver's ed;
of swim meets
and sleep overs;
mission trips and movie nites...

Looking forward to a finale with family at the beach...
and slowing down the time travel.
(super-powers are over-rated)





Monday, June 23, 2014

White living room transformation

This is a post about overcoming fear....
Fear of going for all white furniture....
With a family of 3 cats, 2 kids and 1 sports watching husband...
a couch has to do a lot of work...
But, last month, after much deliberation...I just pulled the plug...
and haven't looked back since.

Monday, June 16, 2014

Easy Burlap Ribbon Votive Project

I love all the new printed Burlap ribbon that is on the market now.
There are so many ways to use it.
Last month I showed you how I used a small piece to accent a wine tote gift bag.
Today I am using it to dress up glass candle holders.

Monday, May 19, 2014

Nailhead Corkboard project

Memo-boards...
Can you have enough of them?
I love using them for tucking in all the photos and 
special things that happen throughout a year...

Friday, May 16, 2014

The Flea Affaire 2014

I am so excited!
I get to be a 
"shabby-chic-vintage-country-cottage-junk-lady" 
this weekend!

After going to The Flea Affaire last year, 
I decided to support the cause with a booth I am sharing with two other women.  

Can't wait to show you what it will look like 
and looking forward to a fun day tomorrow selling my "wares".
You know what they say...one woman's "junk" is another one's treasure! 

Have a great weekend!

Monday, May 12, 2014

Wine Tote Project with Free Download Gift Tag

Do you love to give wine as a gift?
This easy wine tote project 
will add some fun personality to your gift giving.

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Friday, May 9, 2014

Post-card Friday--San Fran/Oakland Bay Bridge




Vintage Postcards are like works of art.
This one from the early 1900's is
of the Bay Bridge--

 Beautiful paper quality and artistic rendering...the
view today is remarkably similar...

Monday, May 5, 2014

RH Acanthus Lamp "copy-cat"

Sometimes you just know how it will look...
You see the "after" 
even before you buy the "before" version.
Restoration Hardware is my holy grail of accent items.
Their catalog is full of exquisite architectural finds turned decor.
One of my favorites is the Acanthus lamp (below.)

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Vintage Postcard

Happy May Day!
Traditionally celebrated with flowers...
I thought this vintage postcard was appropo...
I just love vintage postcards and have a growing collection...
I plan on sharing some each month.
From a time gone by...
-- more than 100 years ago this one was sent --
before addresses were needed...
just a note to say "hi" and "how are you now days." 
How are you now days?




Monday, April 28, 2014

French terracotta-topiary love...

There is something so pretty about english ivy and terracotta.
"Two great things that go great together..."
{remember that jingle for peanutbutter cups?}

Even more amazing is an ivy topiary in terracotta.

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Sunday Sentiments-the value of quietness

Psalm 46:10

Be still...

How often in a day or week do you allow some purposeful quiet-time?
Just sitting still--no distractions...no talking...no electronics....
In today's world, the noise never stops. . . 
banking, shopping, dining out, 
a movie, and fueling our cars can be done at any time of day.  
Add the convenience of the internet and anything can be taken care of 
without ever leaving the comfort of our kitchen table.
Activity buzzes along, assaulting our senses, 24/7.

Monday, April 21, 2014

Door Knob Hanger How-to

Glass doorknobs...
{sigh}
I admit, I have a love affair with them...
 
There is something classic and elegant about them.
Maybe its the sparkle.....

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Vintage Easter Greetings!

He is risen!
He is Risen
Indeed!

May all the glory of this day be yours to celebrate!
Found this beautiful 1905 postcard this weekend and had to share!
Vintage Easter Greetings!


Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Vintage Handmade Eggs

So often in life I have a renewed 
appreciation for things
 I never paid much attention to 
when I was younger.

In my young mind, Easter eggs were supposed to be pastel.  
That's the only way they were supposed to be celebrated.

I loved to dye Easter eggs every year.
This is what I remembered when my mom visited me last winter.

She brought with her, as she often does, 
a box of "things"
   to pass on to me if I want them.
This time the things were from my Nana, 
{who passed 5 years ago}.
   In this box was a little bag of "eggs."
 I remembered we had all decorated them together.