tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2061732795352807382024-03-13T22:21:56.820-05:00Blackberry House blog retail shop projects and painted furnitureBlackberry House is a blog authored by an interior designer turned shop owner. All about running a shop, home decor, sewing instruction, interior design, lifestyle issues, photography, projects and tutorials, and photography.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282743424849017322noreply@blogger.comBlogger157125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206173279535280738.post-91882435621393900972013-12-02T21:47:00.001-06:002013-12-02T22:24:12.021-06:00Blackberry House, The Shop - random stuff<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where oh where has Polly been?????</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well let me tell you. I've been so neck deep in running a shop and a paint company that I haven't been able to come up for air for the last year. Seriously. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12-18 hours a day, pretty much 7 days a week. I've been a tired puppy. :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I set out on this little venture to open a vintage shop I had no idea that we would hit the ground running and stay so busy all this time. We have been blessed without a doubt.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blessed, and busy.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are so many projects I really want to blog about when I'm doing them, but that means I have to sit down to do it, and usually when I sit down for more than 5 minutes I fall asleep. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, instead of blogging about each project, how about if I give you a good pictorial of some of the highlights</span></span>? <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All you really wanna see is pictures anyway, right? </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sure you do.</span> :-)</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l3mdHfD9o6Q/Up1ayoquqkI/AAAAAAAAJ2U/laEYkoa1zlE/s1600/Luke+and+Krystle+Belcher+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l3mdHfD9o6Q/Up1ayoquqkI/AAAAAAAAJ2U/laEYkoa1zlE/s1600/Luke+and+Krystle+Belcher+1.png" height="355" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Does that give you a little bit of an idea of what we've been up to?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I figure that's plenty of pics for now. I wouldn't want to bore you. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll try to pop back in later and show you some more great projects.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I want to tell you all about our exclusive chalk FREE paint line in the next post.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have you heard about Blackberry House Paint yet?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Check us out on Facebook if you've go a minute.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.facebook.com/blackberryhousemurfreesboro</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Until next time.......................Make it Beautiful!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Polly</span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282743424849017322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206173279535280738.post-91615741275658973252013-02-18T09:30:00.001-06:002013-02-22T11:47:05.469-06:00Mod Podge Project - My Unique Spin on a Chest of Drawers<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Meet Lil' Missy</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">She's sporting a new do</span>!</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LYd-sdC3OrM/USI65RnLfJI/AAAAAAAADQs/Z34dbhJmfNc/s1600/Lil+Missy+after+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LYd-sdC3OrM/USI65RnLfJI/AAAAAAAADQs/Z34dbhJmfNc/s1600/Lil+Missy+after+2.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Around the shop we're always trying to take our furniture one step further<span style="font-size: small;">
than the basics. This little chest of drawers is no exception. We get
pieces painted and then start looking around the shop for other things
to add a unique spin to each piece. We've come up with some
winners.............and some losers. lol. <span style="font-size: small;">It's most
always a win-win, well, unless you include the dresser I glued a bird's
nest on top of and actually put in the shop for sale. lol (I did end up
changing it though<span style="font-size: small;">......eventually.)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's very rare that we get in a piece of furniture that's already base painted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I scored this one at an auction, and thought I could turn it around without having to put too much work in it. I don't know why I EVER think that - it's never been that simple. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Here's what it looked like when I bought it.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7wc-31qNoe8/USI66P9WFxI/AAAAAAAADQ0/C_CpcP4BW7o/s1600/Lil+Missy+before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7wc-31qNoe8/USI66P9WFxI/AAAAAAAADQ0/C_CpcP4BW7o/s1600/Lil+Missy+before.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=206173279535280738" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have an unnatural love of brown and white polka dots, and I knew I wanted to add some to this little cutie somewhere. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So, off to my craft supplies to gather some paper and Mod Podge because I</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">knew I had a few sheets of polka paper I could use to dress her up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">After a lot of playing and laying it out, I decided to follow the lines of the piece because it would look like a blouse in the end. But before I added anything to the chest, I took a 50 grit sand paper to it to rough it up some. It had VERY thick latex gloss paint on it, so it took a little muscle to take that look away. 4 layers of paint, but luckily they were colors that worked well with what I envisioned for it. I also applied a clear wax on the parts that weren't getting paper.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I used 6 mil poly sheeting to make a template of each section, and then I laid the templates onto the papers and cut them out. (I always use clear poly for templates because it takes the guess work out of it.) Better to be safe than sorry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Once I got it all cut out, I painted the drawers with a heavy coat of Mod Podge and applied the paper while it was wet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">After it dried for about 4 hours (I wanted to play it safe), I coated the fronts of the paper with another (heavy) layer of MP.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(Note: I'm often asked how to get bubbles out of the paper as it dries. I just use a needle and poke holes in it and then flatten it with my finger. If it's a large bubble, i use a razor and put a small slit in it. Always works.) </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">For the knobs, <span style="font-size: small;">I</span> cut 6" circles of fabric, wrapped them around the knob, and tied them on with jute string. Simpl<span style="font-size: small;">e and quick.......(and I didn't have any knobs that I just loved in the shop that day. )</span></span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">For a little extra pizazz, I added a grosgrain ribbon down the center of the drawers, and <span style="font-size: small;">glued buttons on it so that it looked more like a blouse.</span></span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here it is all finished!</span></span></span></center>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6ZLxDDeVMMw/USI65XYTOUI/AAAAAAAADQo/mXy2huJvb4w/s1600/Lil+Missy+after+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6ZLxDDeVMMw/USI65XYTOUI/AAAAAAAADQo/mXy2huJvb4w/s1600/Lil+Missy+after+1.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This was VERY popular around the shop. It sold months ago and I still have people asking me if I'm going to make another one. The answer is yes - just as soon as I find another <span style="font-size: small;">one like this.</span></span></span></center>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here's a close up of the bottom skirt. </span></span></span></center>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AwPHKWB6mkw/USI65ezrXXI/AAAAAAAADQw/OSbeCnh3u7w/s1600/Lil+Missy+after+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AwPHKWB6mkw/USI65ezrXXI/AAAAAAAADQw/OSbeCnh3u7w/s1600/Lil+Missy+after+3.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Just a <span style="font-size: small;">small punch of color really stood out.</span></span></span></span></center>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">To make a piece successful and interesting, I <span style="font-size: small;">personally</span> fe<span style="font-size: small;">e</span>l like you need to use a mix of patterns...but that's just my opinion<span style="font-size: small;"> because I'm all about patterns and texture</span>. </span></span></span></span></center>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">What do you think? Yay or nay? I can take it. :)</span></span></span></span></span></center>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">________________________________________________________________</span></span></span></span></span></center>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Be sure to click that "Follow" button over there on the right so you'll be sure to get our projects in your blog feeds.</span></span></span></span></span></span></center>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Linking to<span style="font-size: small;">:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></center>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://missmustardseed.com/2013/02/furniture-feature-friday-a-link-party-7/" target="_blank">Miss Mustard Seed's Furniture Feature Friday</a> </span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></center>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Next up<span style="font-size: small;">, I'll tell you about<span style="font-size: small;"> my spin on a chalkboard dresser.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></center>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's not what you think! </span></span> </span> </span></span></span></span> </center>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282743424849017322noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206173279535280738.post-81998175028301950182013-01-07T11:11:00.000-06:002013-02-22T11:48:58.290-06:00A Major Vanity Makeover - Chalk Paint Project<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vKaiKxr52aM/UOr6Lhj4zNI/AAAAAAAADPI/wouP1q9_yGw/s1600/Pink+Vanity+After+8+p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vKaiKxr52aM/UOr6Lhj4zNI/AAAAAAAADPI/wouP1q9_yGw/s1600/Pink+Vanity+After+8+p.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">I<span style="font-size: small;"> love it when I find <span style="font-size: small;">a furni<span style="font-size: small;">tu</span>re piece at auction that no one else w<span style="font-size: small;">ants to bid on.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">One might think, if no one is bidding on it, then why <span style="font-size: small;">do you w<span style="font-size: small;">ant it?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Well, because </span></span>I happen to know the power of paint.......</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">and this great find was certainly going to need <span style="font-size: small;">some</span>!</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I scored this piece for a little of nothing, and then it sat for months waiting for a makeover because I was <i>almost</i> afr<span style="font-size: small;">aid to tackle it.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here it is so you'll understand what I mean.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-03my5EKK3e8/UOr6OGRwQuI/AAAAAAAADPU/Ax6z48SMljQ/s1600/Pink+Vanity+Before+p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-03my5EKK3e8/UOr6OGRwQuI/AAAAAAAADPU/Ax6z48SMljQ/s1600/Pink+Vanity+Before+p.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">See what I m<span style="font-size: small;">ean? I think the Pe<span style="font-size: small;">p</span>to-bismol color scared buyers away. :) </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VpWUWpqlAW4/UOr6M_2h3UI/AAAAAAAADPE/22GgpZY1ib0/s1600/Pink+Vanity+Before+base+p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VpWUWpqlAW4/UOr6M_2h3UI/AAAAAAAADPE/22GgpZY1ib0/s1600/Pink+Vanity+Before+base+p.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">But, since I'm in the business of selling furniture, <span style="font-size: small;">I knew I had to get this painted eventually.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I rarely ever sand any furni<span style="font-size: small;">ture before painting it, but this one re<span style="font-size: small;">q</span>uired it without a dou<span style="font-size: small;">bt. 7 80 grit sanding pads worth of it in fact. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">T</span>here were so many layers of paint on it that I thought the piece was laminate<span style="font-size: small;">.</span> <span style="font-size: small;">A</span>fter sanding it down as far<span style="font-size: small;"> as I could, I saw that it was actually solid wood. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">T</span>alk about a coat of many colors - look at the layers!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8koEVXzOAxY/UOr6MMoWUUI/AAAAAAAADPA/mo2adho3K1Y/s1600/Pink+Vanity+Before+3+p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8koEVXzOAxY/UOr6MMoWUUI/AAAAAAAADPA/mo2adho3K1Y/s1600/Pink+Vanity+Before+3+p.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </span></span><i> </i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><i>Anyway</i>........</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> I really try to think about a piece and what would make it stand out<span style="font-size: small;"> from the norm when we restyle them.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I always want to put a different spin on what we sell so that someone can have a conversation piece in their home, and not simply a piece of painted furni<span style="font-size: small;">ture.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I decided to use a y<span style="font-size: small;">ellow and white combination, and I'm glad I did.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here's the finished <span style="font-size: small;">vanity. It's one of my favorite pieces we've done.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WdbtTn41dvA/UOr6J7qVqVI/AAAAAAAADOo/-QfDQM9SqOA/s1600/Pink+Vanity+After+2+p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WdbtTn41dvA/UOr6J7qVqVI/AAAAAAAADOo/-QfDQM9SqOA/s1600/Pink+Vanity+After+2+p.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> I decided to ixnay the mirror in lieu of something more "happening"<span style="font-size: small;">, so I grabbed an old window from our stock and made a jewelry and note organizer out of it.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I used Annie Sloan Old White and Maison Blanche Jolie Blonde. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I also replaced all of the knobs. I originally wasn't going to, so we didn't fill in the holes from the old ones. After it was finished though, <span style="font-size: small;">I</span> knew it needed that punch of whimsy after all.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">So<span style="font-size: small;"> I glued down buttons to <span style="font-size: small;">cover the holes that were left behind, and it ended up looking pretty cute in the end.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">(here it is merchan<span style="font-size: small;">d<span style="font-size: small;">ised to sell)</span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wy5HHh8uGpY/UOr6JtMua2I/AAAAAAAADOk/ctvCqSOjfLM/s1600/Pink+Vanity+After+1+p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wy5HHh8uGpY/UOr6JtMua2I/AAAAAAAADOk/ctvCqSOjfLM/s1600/Pink+Vanity+After+1+p.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: red;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iM037wH6SUA/UOr6KbnhYlI/AAAAAAAADO0/n3QE0HEPKgM/s1600/Pink+Vanity+After+5+p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iM037wH6SUA/UOr6KbnhYlI/AAAAAAAADO0/n3QE0HEPKgM/s1600/Pink+Vanity+After+5+p.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OCrJpCtVICc/UOr6Kr6y1XI/AAAAAAAADOw/nFvhAPC-bg8/s1600/Pink+Vanity+After+6+p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OCrJpCtVICc/UOr6Kr6y1XI/AAAAAAAADOw/nFvhAPC-bg8/s1600/Pink+Vanity+After+6+p.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7_HzOCsNv6Y/UOr6J1gVyYI/AAAAAAAADOs/iYxVLtzI8j8/s1600/Pink+Vanity+After+4+p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7_HzOCsNv6Y/UOr6J1gVyYI/AAAAAAAADOs/iYxVLtzI8j8/s1600/Pink+Vanity+After+4+p.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=206173279535280738" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: red;"> </span> </span></span>Here's a side by side:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-03my5EKK3e8/UOr6OGRwQuI/AAAAAAAADPU/Ax6z48SMljQ/s1600/Pink+Vanity+Before+p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-03my5EKK3e8/UOr6OGRwQuI/AAAAAAAADPU/Ax6z48SMljQ/s1600/Pink+Vanity+Before+p.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WdbtTn41dvA/UOr6J7qVqVI/AAAAAAAADOo/-QfDQM9SqOA/s1600/Pink+Vanity+After+2+p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WdbtTn41dvA/UOr6J7qVqVI/AAAAAAAADOo/-QfDQM9SqOA/s1600/Pink+Vanity+After+2+p.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Linking to:</div>
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<a href="http://missmustardseed.com/2013/02/furniture-feature-friday-a-link-party-7/" target="_blank">Miss Mustard Seed's Furniture Feature Friday</a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BZVEWQXEHLE/UOr-C_frALI/AAAAAAAADQM/g3o8hJi5hAM/s1600/8-29+Lil+Missy+after+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BZVEWQXEHLE/UOr-C_frALI/AAAAAAAADQM/g3o8hJi5hAM/s1600/8-29+Lil+Missy+after+7.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here'<span style="font-size: small;">s a sneak peek of what I'll show you in the next post</span></span>. You'll want to see this one for sure<span style="font-size: small;">, so click on th<span style="font-size: small;">at "Follow" button over on the right so you don't miss it! We'll be showing you a new pi<span style="font-size: small;">ece of furniture every week from now on<span style="font-size: small;">, and each week, we'll give you a snea<span style="font-size: small;">k peek of the <span style="font-size: small;">piece for the next week. We ha<span style="font-size: small;">ve</span> a lot of great pieces in our portfolio, so we won't run out of transformations any time soon!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282743424849017322noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206173279535280738.post-329902362551914452013-01-01T11:28:00.000-06:002013-02-20T19:58:59.659-06:00New Year's Blessing for 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zqBZotGc-ow/UOMbojHh9MI/AAAAAAAADOI/zZsWhFsgX24/s1600/happy-new-year-2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zqBZotGc-ow/UOMbojHh9MI/AAAAAAAADOI/zZsWhFsgX24/s1600/happy-new-year-2013.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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My Annual New Year's Blessing for You:</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d;"><b>I
hope this year that you have a life filled with peace and contentment,
laughter and joy, love and solitude. I hope you get all that you could
ever hope for.</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d;">I
hope that you will be happy, and that you will prosper at whatever you
do, and that your children will experience the same. I hope that you
will be in good health, and if you're ailing, that your health will be
restored. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d;"><b>I wish your life to be free of serious incident, and that you find provision for whatever your needs may be.</b> </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d;">I wish you friends that offer you laughter in your life, and a place to turn for strength when you are in need.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d;"><b>I
hope that you will seek out the good in every situation in your life. I
hope you will find a way to see the positive in all matters. </b></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #20124d;">I hope you will understand and accept God's will and direction in your life when you think things aren't going your way.</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d;">I
hope that you will not have to struggle for any reason, but if you do, I
hope that you will realize that it is temporary and will not let it get
you down.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d;"><b>I hope that you set new goals for yourself, and achieve them.</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d;">And
most of all, I hope that we can all be better than we were last year. I
hope we can all have the opportunity to help others. I hope that we can
look at the world a bit differently, and make a difference wherever
possible.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d;"><b>May
you have someone in your life that you love so much it makes you laugh
and cry at the time, and may you be that person in someone else's life.</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d;">I hope that you are the person that someone else wants to be like.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;">I hope that you live your life with purpose.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d; font-size: medium;"><b>Wishing you a year of new blessings for 201<span style="font-size: medium;">3</span>.</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d;"><b>With Ultimate Sincerity from me to you, Polly</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #20124d;">________________________________________________</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #20124d;">I am so thankful for all of the friends I have made through my blog.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #20124d;">I
have been blessed with many great new prayer warriors in my life, and
wonderful new sincere friendships, and people who make me laugh so hard I
cry. I wouldn't trade you all for a shiny penny. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;">THANK YOU for enriching my life, and allowing ME to be a part of yours.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #20124d;"> I look forward to a fantastic new year of blogging together........which I pinkie swear to do more of this year!</span></b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282743424849017322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206173279535280738.post-29150039854482347832012-10-12T07:14:00.000-05:002012-10-13T11:58:04.365-05:00Rats, and Bats, and Crows - Oh My! Halloween Mantle<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I know I promised you Bella Rustica in the 'next' post, but I had to put that off until I get all my photos organized this weekend. For now, I interrupt that process to show you the Halloween Mantle at the shop.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5hDUb_dNJEw/UHgAubAIrvI/AAAAAAAADL0/cOlQaV2Aiv4/s1600/Halloween+2012+primary+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5hDUb_dNJEw/UHgAubAIrvI/AAAAAAAADL0/cOlQaV2Aiv4/s640/Halloween+2012+primary+8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Being in retail, you have to keep up with the holidays, and fall is the beginning of all of my favorites. There's so much decorating opportunity - I just love it!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I really wanted a large mantle for my focal wall in the front room so that I could make an immediate impact in the shop when changing out the seasons and holidays. I never could find one that was big enough, so on a whim, I put a call out to my vendors in the chance that maybe somebody had one sitting around I could buy. I got back better than that! Josh from Vinewood Home Creations came through with a mantle his father had built as a display........and it was 6 feet wide and almost 5 feet tall. Did I want to use it?? <b><i>Well YES please! :)</i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">His dad was nice enough to let us use it for the shop, and in exchange, we'll promote his custom mantles. Sounds like a win-win to me! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, I sat about gathering things to start creating a Halloween mantle, and made a call to my handy dandy room stylist vendor, Mary Runger (of Oh So Lovely) and told her to bring what she had in her plethora of goodies, and we'd see what we could pull together overnight. <i>(And it WAS overnight - we finished at 3 am!)</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> If you refer to the previous post, this wall is the one that had the pattern paper on it. I started removing the pattern paper from the wall, and after 5 hours (!), I ended up with a wall that had torn drywall all over it. Ugh. Too tired to fix it since it was already 8pm (and we opened at 10am the next morning), I just started covering it up for now. Then we started pulling all of our supplies together and started putting things up at random. That's how the creative mind works, you know. ;) Once we decided the direction we were going and had things pretty much in order, we realized we still had to paint the giant unfinished mantle......so around 11pm we pulled out the paint brushes and got to it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We got it painted finally, secured it to the wall, and then started putting it all in place. Here's the finished mantle. I'll let the pictures tell the story of the theme....graveyard.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7WWsK1As0_0/UHgAl_TtOGI/AAAAAAAADKk/zjw8WWdz5jU/s1600/Halloween+2012+primary+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7WWsK1As0_0/UHgAl_TtOGI/AAAAAAAADKk/zjw8WWdz5jU/s640/Halloween+2012+primary+10.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jkr5fHHESt0/UHgAe2erGXI/AAAAAAAADKE/1C_4S7Datd4/s1600/Halloween+2012+primary+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jkr5fHHESt0/UHgAe2erGXI/AAAAAAAADKE/1C_4S7Datd4/s640/Halloween+2012+primary+1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MniDNcCgfaQ/UHgAgED_0LI/AAAAAAAADKU/bRpCaQbzLtk/s1600/Halloween+2012+primary+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MniDNcCgfaQ/UHgAgED_0LI/AAAAAAAADKU/bRpCaQbzLtk/s640/Halloween+2012+primary+3.jpg" width="480" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">A dead bride in her casket</span></span>. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nJoTV0rXjyA/UHgAhG04xqI/AAAAAAAADKc/5p11ieaErO8/s1600/Halloween+2012+primary+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nJoTV0rXjyA/UHgAhG04xqI/AAAAAAAADKc/5p11ieaErO8/s640/Halloween+2012+primary+4.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_ikG9lk-Myk/UHgAm5eCO0I/AAAAAAAADKo/BjcqBCQx22E/s1600/Halloween+2012+primary+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_ikG9lk-Myk/UHgAm5eCO0I/AAAAAAAADKo/BjcqBCQx22E/s640/Halloween+2012+primary+11.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Since we <i>are</i> a retail shop, we threw in a jewelry display featuring owls and crosses.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9dBC7ikQFUY/UHgAnV6JHFI/AAAAAAAADK0/jRHtOyy7Rog/s1600/Halloween+2012+primary+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9dBC7ikQFUY/UHgAnV6JHFI/AAAAAAAADK0/jRHtOyy7Rog/s640/Halloween+2012+primary+12.jpg" width="480" /> </a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7osSUOrAVnA/UHgAsBHl8cI/AAAAAAAADLk/Japwonfq3Qs/s1600/Halloween+2012+primary+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7osSUOrAVnA/UHgAsBHl8cI/AAAAAAAADLk/Japwonfq3Qs/s640/Halloween+2012+primary+6.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b4dGvpABaQ8/UHgAoyShA6I/AAAAAAAADLE/TgtgPabvLr8/s1600/Halloween+2012+primary+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b4dGvpABaQ8/UHgAoyShA6I/AAAAAAAADLE/TgtgPabvLr8/s640/Halloween+2012+primary+14.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Locks and keys and chains. </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cOinmEoGvBE/UHgApsHid7I/AAAAAAAADLM/U8YAoG0Mo0g/s1600/Halloween+2012+primary+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cOinmEoGvBE/UHgApsHid7I/AAAAAAAADLM/U8YAoG0Mo0g/s640/Halloween+2012+primary+16.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=206173279535280738" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">There's lots of great jewelry pieces in this great window cabinet.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">If you're local (Nashville/Murfreesboro area), please come and check it out.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><b>So, what do you think?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">If you aren't already following <a href="https://www.facebook.com/blackberryhousemurfreesboro" target="_blank">our shop on Facebook,</a> please click over and give us a like.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Our photo albums are full of great pictures of what we make for the shop - lots of ideas to be had.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">If you like what you see, please feel free to<a href="http://pinterest.com/" target="_blank"> </a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=206173279535280738" target="_blank">Pin It!</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Linking up to <a href="http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/2012/10/transformation-thursday-no-173.html" target="_blank">Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Creek Cottage</a></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/2012/10/sns-156-link-party-featuring-you.html" target="_blank">Saturday Night Special at Funky Junk Interiors</a></span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282743424849017322noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206173279535280738.post-56344469261067625182012-09-24T18:52:00.000-05:002012-09-24T18:55:25.112-05:00More about Blackberry House, the Shop<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;">In my last post I told you I opened a new shop. I kind of sprang that on you without a lot of detail, huh? Well, I'm finally back to fill in the gaps for you.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm going to show you the whole process over the next couple of weeks, but I'm also going to scatter some before and afters in the process to show you what we've been doing, <i>and </i>so I can link up to some of the fabulous weekly parties I've been missing out on. </span></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nlz8BYBl9II/UGDo1uopkZI/AAAAAAAADHc/AZtlYXkveik/s1600/blackberry+house+7-19+109+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nlz8BYBl9II/UGDo1uopkZI/AAAAAAAADHc/AZtlYXkveik/s640/blackberry+house+7-19+109+(Large).jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Blackberry House - Part 2</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I spent many years in Denver, and I always loved looking at the great little shops scattered all over the town. It was my respite to peruse those shops with my friends and get to know the owners and the artists who sold there. I also sat up and sold my finds and creations at the artisan events in the Denver area quite successfully. I always felt that I'd have my own shop one day, I just never knew when, and I especially never </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">dreamed it would be where it is. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Through a series of circumstances, we ended up moving back to Tennessee almost 2 years ago.</span></span> <span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The only "Denver-esque" shopping I've found since coming back was in a little town named Nolensville. Historic Nolensville has a number of great little antique and vintage shops. I was so excited to find it, and it reignited my desire to open my own shop. I began looking for shop spaces in that area, but my gut kept telling me to stay closer to home. I came close to renting a space in that town, and then that space all of a sudden became unavailable due to some zoning regulations. I decided that if it was meant for me to have a shop, then God himself was going to have to drop a shop in my lap.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">AND HE DID. :)</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I am so blessed to have found this particular location. It's small 3 room cottage, and it has a kitchen and bathroom. In addition to that, I have my own parking lot with 8 spaces, and handicapped parking, a covered porch, and a large deck. It had had the perfect spot for me to have a storage shed placed. What a lifesaver that thing has been!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It has beautiful mature trees and shrubs.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I absolutely adore this little yellow cottage with black shutters. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I couldn't be happier. And it's about time. :)</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v1KOMZC7mLg/UGDq2hGH1cI/AAAAAAAADHk/vYQYovgfGj0/s1600/back+of+shop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v1KOMZC7mLg/UGDq2hGH1cI/AAAAAAAADHk/vYQYovgfGj0/s640/back+of+shop.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Don't worry, I cleaned all that mess up in the fence and I washed down the house. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And I had those green shutters painted black</span></span>.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b_GYOObZYB4/UGDq3BXKcgI/AAAAAAAADHs/EviMcD2tHmg/s1600/parking+lot+back+of+shop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b_GYOObZYB4/UGDq3BXKcgI/AAAAAAAADHs/EviMcD2tHmg/s640/parking+lot+back+of+shop.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div>
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I can't even begin to tell you how nice it is to have my own parking lot. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I had a storage shed put back there.</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uHJHbR8X8L4/UGDrynJVXWI/AAAAAAAADH0/xnOyqNqCA_w/s1600/delivering+storage+unit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uHJHbR8X8L4/UGDrynJVXWI/AAAAAAAADH0/xnOyqNqCA_w/s640/delivering+storage+unit.jpg" width="640" /></a> <span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's a 16 x 20, so it's definitely bigger than it looks in this picture</span></span>.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aqfsJSI-V6s/UGDrzxW41wI/AAAAAAAADIE/wKtRoAuJx40/s1600/placing+storage+unit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aqfsJSI-V6s/UGDrzxW41wI/AAAAAAAADIE/wKtRoAuJx40/s640/placing+storage+unit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VTVp0RFtXvw/UGDrzEQ4twI/AAAAAAAADH8/0735D9a7Q3E/s1600/inside+storage+unit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VTVp0RFtXvw/UGDrzEQ4twI/AAAAAAAADH8/0735D9a7Q3E/s640/inside+storage+unit.jpg" width="480" /> </a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yRjB2x68Epg/UGDsn8eqVaI/AAAAAAAADIM/K5ziFV98VzQ/s1600/grand+opening+001+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yRjB2x68Epg/UGDsn8eqVaI/AAAAAAAADIM/K5ziFV98VzQ/s640/grand+opening+001+(Large).jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As you can see, we put it to use immediately. It has stayed packed to the gills every day. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Only now we have it organized so that we can actually tell what's in there.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Customers ask to shop the shed every weekend.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Love it, love it, love it.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">__________________________________________________</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm going to show you a few pictures of the inside on opening day now, and in my next post about the shop, I'll tell you who all the vendors are and more about what type of shop we are, what we offer, and what we're willing to do.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(In the meantime, you can always click the facebook link on the sidebar and check out what we've got in the shop. There's a lot of great before and afters in our photo albums there, and unlike my blog, I DO post on the facebook page almost daily. )</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Enjoy the tour!</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zjhtH20l8Wo/UGDveSnWNYI/AAAAAAAADIY/Al-AV_ZPoRs/s1600/grand+opening+083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zjhtH20l8Wo/UGDveSnWNYI/AAAAAAAADIY/Al-AV_ZPoRs/s640/grand+opening+083.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Seems this table became wildly popular online. :) Took me enough time to paint it!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And to think, it was a total paint accident! Don't you love those good karma accidents? </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm bring another similar one to Bella Rustica!</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wIkNnxC07u0/UGDv8J2JJUI/AAAAAAAADIw/BVI-LATXxrs/s1600/grand+opening+052+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wIkNnxC07u0/UGDv8J2JJUI/AAAAAAAADIw/BVI-LATXxrs/s640/grand+opening+052+(Large).jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jIa4u0a6-4g/UGDv9AgssBI/AAAAAAAADI4/PvQZrIkjfWc/s1600/grand+opening+053+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jIa4u0a6-4g/UGDv9AgssBI/AAAAAAAADI4/PvQZrIkjfWc/s640/grand+opening+053+(Large).jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1XzjYiM8nek/UGDv91Bpq3I/AAAAAAAADJA/ZH5TI7f3NEo/s1600/grand+opening+054+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1XzjYiM8nek/UGDv91Bpq3I/AAAAAAAADJA/ZH5TI7f3NEo/s640/grand+opening+054+(Large).jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UqD2VVIwnqE/UGDv-wb3fkI/AAAAAAAADJI/Z2ZwR5AWWJA/s1600/grand+opening+056+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UqD2VVIwnqE/UGDv-wb3fkI/AAAAAAAADJI/Z2ZwR5AWWJA/s640/grand+opening+056+(Large).jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-soaiqtrzKWY/UGDv_kZ9DLI/AAAAAAAADJQ/mFn-fOJSpN8/s1600/grand+opening+075+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-soaiqtrzKWY/UGDv_kZ9DLI/AAAAAAAADJQ/mFn-fOJSpN8/s640/grand+opening+075+(Large).jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l5y05oGt5Qo/UGDwAesEX1I/AAAAAAAADJY/zWCkzVMJJlk/s1600/grand+opening+076+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l5y05oGt5Qo/UGDwAesEX1I/AAAAAAAADJY/zWCkzVMJJlk/s640/grand+opening+076+(Large).jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=206173279535280738" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=206173279535280738" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lf-vuSFXI1Q/UGDwBar2swI/AAAAAAAADJg/McHdIfUvS9Q/s1600/grand+opening+080+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lf-vuSFXI1Q/UGDwBar2swI/AAAAAAAADJg/McHdIfUvS9Q/s640/grand+opening+080+(Large).jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So there you have it, your official introduction.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We're a little bit Farmhouse, a dose of Shabby, a smidget of vintage, and a washing of Cottage.</span></span> </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">F<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">eel free to pin away! And if you do, please be kind enough to label it as Blackberry House Murfreesboro.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I sure would appreciate it.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The next post is going to be all about Bella Rustica! We're almost loaded and ready to go. Almost. :)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Look for that post on Wednesday.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I hope you've enjoyed the shop. Be sure to check out our facebook page for much more detail.</span></span></span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282743424849017322noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206173279535280738.post-35490778928524318062012-07-22T22:30:00.001-05:002012-07-22T22:31:41.220-05:00A New Chapter in My Life - Blackberry House<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I suppose it's high time I let you know what I've been doing since I left my "I'm-gonna-die-if-I-stay-at-this place" retail job.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I've been holding off to tell you until I got my blog makeover, which should be complete this week, but I decided to give you a little preview anyway. Cuz I can't keep a good secret.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><strong>I opened my own retail store!</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Yes I did. Finally. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">We opened this past weekend to a fantastic reception.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I've been working on it for the past 7 weeks, rushing to get it ready.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Instead of going in to great detail on this post, I'm just going to link you to my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/blackberryhousemurfreesboro" target="_blank">facebook page</a> for the shop where you can see hundreds of pictures in the photo albums. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Once I get the new makeover on the blog - which will then become Blackberry House - I will share the whole story.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">So, without further ado, meet Blackberry House! We're so very proud of it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">We have so many great vendors, which I'll also tell you about in the next post.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5gfWzYXuvpI/UAzDt27ZNII/AAAAAAAADBI/G4Hpfy4fn3c/s1600/blackberry+house+cover+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" sda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5gfWzYXuvpI/UAzDt27ZNII/AAAAAAAADBI/G4Hpfy4fn3c/s640/blackberry+house+cover+photo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's a sneak peek of what you can expect to see in the shop!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had a soft opening on July 19th, but our Grand Opening Celebration will be August 9-12.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wanted a few weeks to see what the response was, what people were asking for, etc, before we introduced the shop formally to the community.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UpUtTzIaAUw/UAzD3klYhjI/AAAAAAAADBQ/G-uSsFNJF5I/s1600/Grand+Opening+Card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" sda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UpUtTzIaAUw/UAzD3klYhjI/AAAAAAAADBQ/G-uSsFNJF5I/s640/Grand+Opening+Card.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'd love to know what you think!</span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282743424849017322noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206173279535280738.post-69056232613928747072012-04-18T07:02:00.000-05:002012-04-18T07:02:23.527-05:00Guess What? I quit my job.<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ok, when it's been so long since you've blogged that you didn't recognize your blogger dashboard for a minute, something is wrong! lol</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Well, I'm just stepping in for a minute to tell you something.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I know I haven't been blogging since the first of the year, nor have i been visiting any of you other than on facebook in the wee hours of the morning or night, and I am so sorry.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I didn't <em>mean</em> to abandon my blog. Truly I didn't.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">It happened behind my back.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">When I took this retail management job over a year ago, I never knew it was</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">going to cost me so much of my time. Seriously, I work between 80-90 hours a week.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">When I get home all I want to do is sleep.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Thank God I have a husband who takes care of everything 'home'.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><strong>But........<span style="font-size: large;">But</span>...........<span style="font-size: x-large;">BUT......</span></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;">Guess What???</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-baWaoRCC5j4/T46sgFykomI/AAAAAAAADA8/8EDbLs4DAUs/s1600/dancing_figure.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-baWaoRCC5j4/T46sgFykomI/AAAAAAAADA8/8EDbLs4DAUs/s1600/dancing_figure.gif" /></a></div><div align="right" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My day of freedom is right around the corner!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yep, that's right - I quit my job.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yes I did. Yes, even in this economy.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'll explain later and I promise you'll understand why.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">May 12th is my last day, and I'll return to active full time blogging on May 13th.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Oh, I have so much to tell you about.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Projects, projects, projects!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">So ladies and gents, I'll see you soon.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Keep me in your reader, ok?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<img align="center" src="http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt169/mmbeautiful/siggypolly.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282743424849017322noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206173279535280738.post-86857490998303891852012-01-01T09:23:00.002-06:002012-01-01T09:30:16.370-06:00Blessings for a Wonderful New Year<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span arial,="" helvetica,="" helvetica="" neue?,="" sans-serif;?="" style="color: #990000;"><strong>HAPPY, HAPPY NEW YEAR ! !</strong></span></span></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TR6-mh5eJ1I/AAAAAAAACsc/AZ3DgJUBJMk/s1600/untitled.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="383px" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TR6-mh5eJ1I/AAAAAAAACsc/AZ3DgJUBJMk/s400/untitled.bmp" width="400px" /></a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d;"><strong>I hope this year that you have a life filled with peace and contentment, laughter and joy, love and solitude. I hope you get all that you could ever hope for.</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="color: #20124d;"></span></strong><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d;">I hope that you will be happy, and that you will prosper at whatever you do, and that your children will experience the same. I hope that you will be in good health, and if you're ailing, that your health will be restored. </span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d;"><strong>I wish your life to be free of serious incident, and that you find provision for whatever your needs may be.</strong> </span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d;">I wish you friends that offer you laughter in your life, and a place to turn for strength when you are in need.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d;"><strong>I hope that you will seek out the good in every situation in your life. I hope you will find a way to see the positive in all matters. </strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="color: #20124d;"></span></strong><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #20124d;">I hope you will understand and accept God's will and direction in your life when you think things aren't going your way.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #20124d;"></span></strong><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d;">I hope that you will not have to struggle for any reason, but if you do, I hope that you will realize that it is temporary and will not let it get you down.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d;"><strong>I hope that you set new goals for yourself, and achieve them.</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d;">And most of all, I hope that we can all be better than we were last year. I hope we can all have the opportunity to help others. I hope that we can look at the world a bit differently, and make a difference wherever possible.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d;"><strong>May you have someone in your life that you love so much it makes you laugh and cry at the time, and may you be that person in someone else's life.</strong></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d;">I hope that you are the person that someone else wants to be like.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;">I hope that you live your life with purpose.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d; font-size: small;"><strong>Wishing you a year of new blessings for 2012.</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="color: #20124d;"></span></strong><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d;"><strong>With Ultimate Sincerity from me to you, Polly</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #20124d;">________________________________________________</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #20124d;">I am so thankful for all of the friends I have made through my blog.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #20124d;">I have been blessed with many great new prayer warriors in my life, and wonderful new sincere friendships, and people who make me laugh so hard I cry. I wouldn't trade you all for anything or anybody. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #20124d; font-size: medium;">THANK YOU for enriching my life, and allowing ME to be a part of yours.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;"> * I post this same blessing for my readers, my friends, and my family each year because my sentiments for you remain the same. *</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><img align="center" src="http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt169/mmbeautiful/siggypolly.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282743424849017322noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206173279535280738.post-62380112343724709522011-12-10T22:23:00.000-06:002011-12-10T22:23:17.364-06:00Thread Spool Ornaments - A Repost<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Another Post from the Past, but it's a good one so I hope you don't mind.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">This post has been very popular around the net for 2 solid years, so I thought I'd freshen it up and repost just in time for those Christmas craft sessions.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">_____________________________________________________________</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
I spent several hours making these charming little tree ornaments last night. I was so pleased with the way they turned out that I wanted to share with you how to make some of your own.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/SxM23RKibpI/AAAAAAAAAq4/69pxVt_rMDo/s1600/Thread+Spool+Ornaments+021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/SxM23RKibpI/AAAAAAAAAq4/69pxVt_rMDo/s640/Thread+Spool+Ornaments+021.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">These would be great for most anybody on your list, the seamstress, the crafter, or even yourself.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">I happened upon a bundle of vintage wooden spools in an antique store a while back and have been saving them for the perfect project. So, taking a cue from a photo I once saw of some paper covered spools, and adding my own spin, I fashioned these great little ornaments for the tree. I suppose these could also be used as a tassel. Ohhh, imagine these hanging off the knobs on the cabinets in your work space!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Anyhoo, Here's how to make your own:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">First you'll need to gather all of your supplies. Don't be caught needing something in the middle of your project.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Start by gathering</b> your spools and some pretty papers. (When choosing papers, select some that contrast. If you choose ones that are too matchy, your ornaments won't pop as much when they are all together.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you can't find vintage wooden spools, you can buy some smaller wooden ones in the unfinished wood</span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">section of your craft local store.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Then rally up the rest</b> of your goodies. You'll need the following:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Beads</span></b> in multiple sizes, shapes, and colors</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Jewelry wire</span></b> or heavy thread</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Needles</span></b> in various sizes:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"> One to fit inside the beads, one to fit the length of the spools, and one to sew through the ribbon</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Double Stick Tape</span></b>, heavy duty, thick width, or Mod Podge</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Paints in various colors</span></b>, Apple Barrel or Ceramacoat work great for these small projects</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Small paint brushes</span></b>, you'll need several so you won't have to wash them in between color changes</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Small Ribbons</span></b>, various colors or patterns, 1/8" works best</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Drill and a very small bit</span></b>, about 1/8"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Clear Drying Craft Glue</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">, be sure that it's a good one, and it MUST dry clear. For those of you that use E6000, it will yellow over time. Don't use hot glue for this project, not even high melt. It will separate over time also. The wood is not pourous enough to support it well.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Dowel Caps</span></b>, small (you can find these in the unfinished wood section of the craft store)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Pliers and Tweezers</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">A Scrap piece of wood</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Ok, let's get started!!</span></b></div><br />
<div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/SxM0hPzvYbI/AAAAAAAAAqI/lCIIAT6I8yk/s1600/Part+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/SxM0hPzvYbI/AAAAAAAAAqI/lCIIAT6I8yk/s640/Part+1.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Part 1<br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Measure all of your spools for the width and length you'll be covering up. Lay out your papers, mark your measurements, and start cutting. Since your spools will most likely be different sizes, you'll want to number them. Put your number in the middle of the spool since you won't be painting over that part.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Cut your papers and number them as well. This way you won't get confused as to which paper goes to which spool.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Once you have all of your papers cut, and your spools and papers numbered, set the papers aside.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">It's time to paint your spools and dowel caps. Gather a few colors that match your fabrics. You only need to paint the ends and a little way into edge. Hold the middle while you paint both ends. After you paint each one, thread it onto a small wire so that the paint isn't touching anything while it dries. I use one of those 24" needles for things like this.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Before you paint your dowel caps, you'll need to drill a small hole in the top. Turn them upside down, grip them in the circular part of a pair of pliers, and drill softly through them into a piece of wood.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Since these are a bit tricky to paint, I put my tweezers through the hole from the top and paint them while holding that way. Makes it much easier!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/SxM0trem9YI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/5dRBrPHQXMc/s1600/Part+2a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/SxM0trem9YI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/5dRBrPHQXMc/s640/Part+2a.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Part 2</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">While your spools and caps are drying, lay out all of your paper strips and start planning how you want to attach your beads. For the biggest impact, use varying sizes, shapes, and colors on each one. I used a lot of the same beads on most of mine, but mixed them into different drop patterns.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Once all the paint is dry you can start putting the papers on the spools. I use heavy duty double stick tape for this, but you can use Mod Podge if you want.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">When you have the paper on, your spools should look like the one in the last picture.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Now, glue a dowel cap to one end of each spool and set aside to dry while you thread the beads. This end will be the bottom of your ornament.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/SxM04chf6sI/AAAAAAAAAqY/b7wyDSB7lzk/s1600/Part+3a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/SxM04chf6sI/AAAAAAAAAqY/b7wyDSB7lzk/s640/Part+3a.JPG" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Pa<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">rt 3</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Take your jewelry wire or heavy thread (I use upholstery thread), and begin to thread your beads. When you get to the last bead, wrap the thread on the outside of the last bead and start to pull your needle back through the others, all the way to the top.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Leave enough thread or wire that you can go back to these later and pull them through the spools.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Set all of your prepared bead drops aside. Take the rest of the dowel caps, prepare a hanging ribbon and push it though the small hole. Knot the ends several times until you have a knot big enough to hold without pulling through.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/SxM1JHLDwwI/AAAAAAAAAqg/atdQzcdp18s/s1600/Part+4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/SxM1JHLDwwI/AAAAAAAAAqg/atdQzcdp18s/s640/Part+4.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Part 4</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">It's time to start threading the bead drops into the spools. Use the needle that has a thick enough eye for the thread, but thin enough shaft to push through all those knots in the ribbons. I use my pliers to pull them through.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Once you've threaded the beads through the spool, grab one of your hanging ribbons, and push the thread through the knot in the ribbon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Next, remove your needle and pull the thread (one in each hand) until the knot is sitting right at the top of the spool. Then tie a few knots in the thread. Cut it off, leaving about 1/8" tip on the threads.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/SxM1aE81NQI/AAAAAAAAAqo/DvgMok-FRWI/s1600/Part+5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/SxM1aE81NQI/AAAAAAAAAqo/DvgMok-FRWI/s640/Part+5.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>CR<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">OSSING THE FINISH LINE</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Now that your knot is secure, put glue on the end as shown in the picture. Cover the ribbon knot, which will in turn cover the thread knot. Hang your ornament up and then push the dowel cap all the way down. Let it hang until it dries.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">When you're all done with that, you're all done!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Here's what you'll have:</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/SxM1mRWQyPI/AAAAAAAAAqw/caMs-f6V-mQ/s1600/Part+6+Finish+Line.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/SxM1mRWQyPI/AAAAAAAAAqw/caMs-f6V-mQ/s640/Part+6+Finish+Line.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Aren't these just darling?!</span></b></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b> </b></span>These are great little tree ornaments, but they can also be used as tassels around your workshop, on your kitchen cabinets, even on your rearview mirror in the car. (which I just happen to have in my own car!)</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div></div></div><div class="" style="border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: medium; clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Happy Crafting!</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img align="middle" src="http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt169/mmbeautiful/siggypolly.png" style="border: 0;" /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282743424849017322noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206173279535280738.post-27113629779908302822011-12-06T21:53:00.001-06:002011-12-07T09:46:17.851-06:00Merry Almost Christmas!<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm pulling this out from last year to repost for several reasons.</span></span></span></b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;">1, because it is all still true, and 2, because I still can't find time to create a brand new original post, and 3, because I've been absent from blogland for way too long and thought I needed to get back here before you all completely forget me.</span></span></span></b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;">I hope you enjoy it.</span></span></span></b></div><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;">__________________________________________ </span></span> </span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Merry <i>almost</i> Christmas!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">~~ I <span style="font-size: x-large;">LOVE</span> CHRISTMAS ~~</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TPj6xKepmsI/AAAAAAAACow/Q4xj9jOlnPQ/s1600/Christmas-Country-1-1024x768.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TPj6xKepmsI/AAAAAAAACow/Q4xj9jOlnPQ/s640/Christmas-Country-1-1024x768.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Not the shopping, not the gifts, not the crowds, not the family demands,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">but the <i>FEELING</i> that Christmas brings.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>A Few of the Things I Love about Christmastime:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">~ I love the settling in of heightened emotions ~</span><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>~ The increased awareness of others life situations, both good and bad ~</b></span><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">~ The heart tug to do something for someone else without them knowing ~</span><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>~ The need to see a miracle or make one happen in someone else's life ~</b></span><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">~ The choir singing Christmas songs at church ~</span><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>~ The early morning Christmas service at church where there's nothing but candlelight lighting a path to the end of the aisleway where there stands a large, lonely cross holding a crown of thorns, draped in a robust purple cloth ~</b></span><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">~ The song Oh Holy Night, particularly, <a href="http://makeminebeautiful.blogspot.com/2009/12/o-holy-night-such-blessing.html">sung by David Phelps</a> ~</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">(be prepared to cry your heart out)</span><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>~ I love that people start to recognize and acknowledge the presence of angels, miracles, and Jesus ~</b></span><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">~ Standing in the window at mom's with a mug of hot chocolate, looking out at the woods waiting for deer to appear ~</span><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>~ Cardinals sitting on the branches of holly bushes ~</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">(has a very special meaning to my family)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">~ Decorating the Christmas Tree. Pulling out each ornament and remembering when it was added to our collection, and the memory attached to it. A lot of crying happens while I decorate our tree. ~</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #cc0000;">~ Seeing my mother's tree for the first time each year ~</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">(It's always full of memories)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">~ Talking with my mom or my husband over coffee in the early hours of Christmas morning about our loved ones that have passed away ~ </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>~ Sitting on the porch watching and listening to the birds sing ~</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">~ Gathering with family in the kitchen to make Christmas dinner ~</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>~ ........and mama's Japanese Fruit Pie! ~</b></span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Oh, I <i>just love</i> so many things about Christmas!</span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">So tell me, what do you love about Christmas?</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<img align="middle" src="http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt169/mmbeautiful/siggypolly.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282743424849017322noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206173279535280738.post-59366500926703154612011-08-30T23:08:00.001-05:002011-09-01T07:42:44.264-05:00Working in the Yard<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One would think I've disappeared I suppose.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Truth is, I've been busy working when what I really want to do is get settled into our new home.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">We officially moved in on the 11th of this month, and I still haven't found my silverware, cooking pans, bath towels, etc, etc.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">And lest you think I'm kidding, here's the proof.....</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I took this today.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nC_VZ6Qw0U4/Tl2wUGeMmCI/AAAAAAAADAU/hmIzlmVJu1Q/s1600/august+2011+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nC_VZ6Qw0U4/Tl2wUGeMmCI/AAAAAAAADAU/hmIzlmVJu1Q/s640/august+2011+018.jpg" width="640px" xaa="true" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Don't worry though, I did what any normal person would do in my situation - </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I took a few days off work so I can find all of our necessities.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I plan to make a huge dent in this mess this week.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I've had my feel of tripping over boxes in the dark - and in the daylight too for that matter.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">----------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">However, some things just can't wait.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">For me, that includes the yard.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">We all know, curb appeal is everything to a house, and quite frankly, I've been itching to plant a flower or two so I can stake claim to this here land. :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I'm not finished yet, but I'm off to a good start (and hired help sure makes it move faster).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">After a short meeting of the minds, my yard guy and I decided we'd remove the black (molded) mulch, pull up a lot of the excess bushes (whose roots seemed to be growing together in the ground), and thin out the monkey grass. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Once that project was well on the way, I had to stand and stare at the yard for a while to decide how I wanted to proceed. Decisions had to be made quickly, so red mulch and anything that looked remotely like a wild flower was what I went on the hunt for.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I only had one day to get this done because I was trying to surprise the hubster, so time was criticial. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #444444;">Thank goodness for my patient yard guy, Kevin. I only changed my mind 14 times before I headed to the local nurseries.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">So now, if you'll remember back a few weeks, here's how the yard looked when we took the house.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jlah5T3UJ_E/Tl2vduvY2QI/AAAAAAAAC_8/kcbrs4YGFi0/s1600/539+Heartland+Drive+July+2011+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jlah5T3UJ_E/Tl2vduvY2QI/AAAAAAAAC_8/kcbrs4YGFi0/s640/539+Heartland+Drive+July+2011+020.jpg" width="640px" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Not that bad, but definitely way too green, and too many bushes.)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">--------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Here it is after the black mulch was removed,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">the excess bushes, and all the monkey grass.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Ready for all of my new color!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xjvak2i2DOY/Tl2vojo6PtI/AAAAAAAADAA/iWPLTR9hMaY/s1600/august+2011+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xjvak2i2DOY/Tl2vojo6PtI/AAAAAAAADAA/iWPLTR9hMaY/s640/august+2011+011.jpg" width="640px" xaa="true" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">And here's where we are tonight.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">A few more things left to do of course, but I'm very pleased with how it's turning out.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jWZ4EOuDHqs/Tl2vviX8PDI/AAAAAAAADAE/Nec_cFuiWa8/s1600/august+2011+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jWZ4EOuDHqs/Tl2vviX8PDI/AAAAAAAADAE/Nec_cFuiWa8/s640/august+2011+017.jpg" width="640px" xaa="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">------------------------------------</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #ffd966; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My to-do list still includes:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">-Paint the shutters to match the newly painted door- (did you spot that?)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">-Pot my annuals and place around the porch-</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">-Make pillows for the rocking chair and bench-</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">-Find new solar lights that actually work for the landscape bed-</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">-Find morning glorys (already growing) to weave into my trellis-</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">-Get a small birdbath-</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">-Find all of last year's painted cans to fill and scatter along my bench for color-</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">-------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you, YES, the hubster was surprised, and impressed.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">-------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll be sure to srop back in and let you know how it turns out, and the specific plants I used for my color.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm excited to see them start growing and flowering.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><strong>For all of you green thumbs out there, how about a few tips on what I can do or use to jazz up my little area?</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Linking Up over at my buddy <a href="http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/2011/08/easy-fall-decorating-project.html">Gina's (The Shabby Creek Cottage),</a> so I can prove I've actually been working! :)</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">She's quite familiar with my yard. She's tripped on my porch and ripped her toe open on my steps. I'd show the pic to prove it, but she's threatened my life, so I guess I'll hold off on that! :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></strong><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><img align="center" src="http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt169/mmbeautiful/siggypolly.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></span></div><span style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282743424849017322noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206173279535280738.post-67570249593219303792011-07-27T10:15:00.001-05:002011-07-27T10:40:34.906-05:00What's Pink and White and Blessed All Over?<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">An <strong>Awesome</strong> Makeover for a 12 Year Old Sweetheart, <em>that's what</em>!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>Whew, I'm tired! </em></strong></span></div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's the first thing I want to say.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">And the second is..................</span></div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><strong>Move over Pottery Barn Teen, DIY bloggers are on the loose, and you've got nothing on us!</strong></span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Well folks, the makeovers at The Shabby Creek Cottage are finally over, and I'm tickled pink to show you how they turned out.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I don't think there is any one DIY thing we did <strong>NOT</strong> do in the few days we converged on the cottage down in the boondocks at <a href="http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/">Gina's.</a></span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">We painted, thrifted (in the shop), built, designed, decorated, sewed, fluffed, staged, messed up, cleaned up, ate, laughed, and got injured.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">All part of the DIY process I suppose.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Now let's hop to it!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">What do you get when you turn this:</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5EuCgL0etIs/Ti-FkENUdYI/AAAAAAAAC7I/D_ZUWpUilSw/s1600/hannah+before+1+p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5EuCgL0etIs/Ti-FkENUdYI/AAAAAAAAC7I/D_ZUWpUilSw/s400/hannah+before+1+p.jpg" t$="true" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>into this:</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qP7AQurDnLM/Ti-FsRwbNzI/AAAAAAAAC7M/QZmI-sJpK4s/s1600/hannah+reveal+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qP7AQurDnLM/Ti-FsRwbNzI/AAAAAAAAC7M/QZmI-sJpK4s/s640/hannah+reveal+3.jpg" t$="true" width="480px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and this:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AiZl6LBeAfM/Ti-FZAZgwLI/AAAAAAAAC64/pGtes9pr45o/s1600/Hannah+after+p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AiZl6LBeAfM/Ti-FZAZgwLI/AAAAAAAAC64/pGtes9pr45o/s400/Hannah+after+p.jpg" t$="true" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>into this:</strong></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SEX19KAotIA/Ti-Fv-hlqAI/AAAAAAAAC7Q/yFVgGb4rUR0/s1600/hannahs+desk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="521px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SEX19KAotIA/Ti-Fv-hlqAI/AAAAAAAAC7Q/yFVgGb4rUR0/s640/hannahs+desk.jpg" t$="true" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You get this!</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fi9TZ1JBdY4/TjAD3WADB6I/AAAAAAAAC7Y/Da1r1lYh574/s1600/hannah+surprised.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fi9TZ1JBdY4/TjAD3WADB6I/AAAAAAAAC7Y/Da1r1lYh574/s400/hannah+surprised.jpg" t$="true" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>.....and it makes all the hard work worth it.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">"It takes a village", or so they say, "to raise a child".</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Well let me tell you something, it also takes a village to recreate their rooms in the blink of an eye!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Our village consisted of</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jVXTxB0TrkU/Ti-JlDY7WWI/AAAAAAAAC7U/GQO6U6tVR74/s1600/weekend+at+ginas+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jVXTxB0TrkU/Ti-JlDY7WWI/AAAAAAAAC7U/GQO6U6tVR74/s400/weekend+at+ginas+009.jpg" t$="true" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From left to right:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Angie of <a href="http://www.thecountrychiccottage.net/">The Country Chic Cottage</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cha Cha of <a href="http://www.theheartfelthome.com/">The Heartfelt Home</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lisa of <a href="http://www.thepenningtonpoint.com/">The Pennington Point</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mr. SCC</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hannah</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gina of <a href="http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/">The Shabby Creek Cottage</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Leslie of <a href="http://www.goodbyehousehellohome.com/">goodbye house, HELLO Home</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and the back of Jeremy, the Mr. ChaCha</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">and Deneen of <a href="http://dreaming-n-color.blogspot.com/2011/07/helping-with-remodel.html">Living in Color</a>, who was there the day before I got there.</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><br />
<div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">There's so much to cover in this one little room that all of us are breaking it down into parts.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I'll be telling you a little about the pillows we created for Doodlebug's room in a minute,but before I do, here's where you can find all of the other project discussions.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.theheartfelthome.com/2011/07/pink-room-reveal.html">Cha Cha</a> had her hands in a bit of everything, but she's going to be telling you all about how to make couture clothing from curtains and lamps.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SYhJLzVJG6Y/TjAEM8qpvgI/AAAAAAAAC7k/7j9y-NCqUNo/s1600/Cha+Cha+with+lampshade+p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SYhJLzVJG6Y/TjAEM8qpvgI/AAAAAAAAC7k/7j9y-NCqUNo/s320/Cha+Cha+with+lampshade+p.jpg" t$="true" width="258px" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Seriously, she'll be telling you about the curtains, AND she's <a href="http://www.theheartfelthome.com/2011/07/pink-room-reveal.html">included a tutorial.</a> </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And might I add, Cha Cha is about the cutest thing you ever will meet.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Give that woman a pile of scrap fabrics and you never know what brilliant creation you're going to end up with. She went on a flower making frenzy that impressed us all.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">And the curtain tiebacks (that you haven't seen yet) were SUPER!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">------------------------------------------------------</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lisa will be telling you about the <a href="http://thepenningtonpoint.com/2011/07/doodlebugs-room/">abso-tootalutely fantabolous headboard wall</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">"That gal has tools and she knows how to use them."</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">(Sung to the tune of 'She's got Legs')</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">The brainchild of a group of us us gals, Lisa took the reins and came up with this:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kyqe7pvNMp0/TjAQYu2foYI/AAAAAAAAC94/gCc2AkP4pK8/s1600/hannahs+wall+1+p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kyqe7pvNMp0/TjAQYu2foYI/AAAAAAAAC94/gCc2AkP4pK8/s400/hannahs+wall+1+p.jpg" t$="true" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now I dare you to tell me WHO in all of blogland has a cuter, more fabulous headboard than this.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Go ahead,<em> I dare you</em>.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is very dramatic in person.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lisa is a quick thinking, problem solving, picture in your head bringer to life kinda DIYer.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8kiIt5t_5-A/TjAxHdbfo-I/AAAAAAAAC_4/FCNK_CVxYzg/s1600/jeremy+making+wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8kiIt5t_5-A/TjAxHdbfo-I/AAAAAAAAC_4/FCNK_CVxYzg/s400/jeremy+making+wall.jpg" t$="true" width="400px" /></a></div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cha Cha's husband Jeremy did his own fair share of work.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">He moved from one thing to the next every single day.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.thecountrychiccottage.net/">Angie</a> did a lot of the grunt work, like painting and caulking, and message board making.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">She's a hard worker. No doubt about that.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">She'll tell you about the message boards and bench in her first post.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gRl5yxXqVSY/TjAUmx7NdhI/AAAAAAAAC98/riBrVw30KKA/s1600/weekend+at+ginas+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gRl5yxXqVSY/TjAUmx7NdhI/AAAAAAAAC98/riBrVw30KKA/s400/weekend+at+ginas+003.jpg" t$="true" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sweeter than sweet should be allowed to be, she's a red headed smiley face beauty with a daughter that is her exact double. Darling family.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Oh yeah, she has lots of thrifting stash too, and she came bearing some great loot that I'm sure will be showing in the form of projects on all our blogs.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">------------------------------------------------------------</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://goodbyehousehellohome.blogspot.com/2011/07/cottage-makeover-of-room-1-pre-teen.html">Leslie</a>, who won the contest to come to the cottage, was my partner in crime.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">She painted, painted, and painted some more. And then I drug her to the kitchen to help me sew. Little did she know what she was getting into. lol</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hCPvm1e14Nc/TjAWBz4KCaI/AAAAAAAAC-k/4BbDmf8CuBM/s1600/my+partner+in+crime+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hCPvm1e14Nc/TjAWBz4KCaI/AAAAAAAAC-k/4BbDmf8CuBM/s400/my+partner+in+crime+2.jpg" t$="true" width="400px" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">I don't think she saw daylight again.......<em>but I think she's still talking to me anyway.</em></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">She'll tell you about the bookshelves and other stuff over on her blog.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(I'll tell you more about her in a post next week. We spent a lot of time together in the wee hours of the morning getting to know one another. And, I just found out the kitchen in my new house is exactly like hers!)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">--------------------------------------------------------------</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Then of course there's <a href="http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/">Gina and Mr. SCC</a>, who did just about everything else.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">The pre-planning, floors, walls, cutting, sanding, building, painting, execution of projects, feeding everybody, etc,</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"> etc.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KrCCN_QpiJE/TjAbAUj4tZI/AAAAAAAAC-8/ZGHLBkFbAgE/s1600/Mr.+SCC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KrCCN_QpiJE/TjAbAUj4tZI/AAAAAAAAC-8/ZGHLBkFbAgE/s400/Mr.+SCC.jpg" t$="true" width="400px" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Mr. SCC is about the quickest builder I have ever seen.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I told him he should consider opening a roadside furniture shop where customers could put in their orders, go get lunch, and then come back and pick it up.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">He's in the wrong business for sure. He needs to be selling "furniture while you wait".</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Where's Gina you ask?</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">It was hard to get pics of her because she was busy going from one project to another, all day, every day. I'm still searching everybody's uploads to find some pics of her doing her thang.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">And that brings me to me. I did work, pinkie swear.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Just ask Leslie. She may tell you I wouldn't let her up from her sewing chair though, so maybe you shouldn't ask her after all.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">They say proof is in the picture.............</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NLX9698AUnI/TjAc8Ef6SUI/AAAAAAAAC_g/Ghs5x720MCM/s1600/leslie+wore+out.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="322px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NLX9698AUnI/TjAc8Ef6SUI/AAAAAAAAC_g/Ghs5x720MCM/s400/leslie+wore+out.jpg" t$="true" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.....so, truth is, I think I've <em>might've</em> gotten her a wee bit stressed! :)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Leslie and I decided to do all the sewing, except for the curtains because Cha Cha wanted to tackle that. Glad she did because they turned out awesome.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Leslie and I both understand the delicacies of working with a child when it comes to decor. They want what they want, problem is, they often don't know what that is until they see it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">And, they often want change, but fear it at the same time. It's the fear of the unknown.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Kids are visual, so we knew we had to keep Hannah included in the decisions.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">We layed out every pillow and let her decide if she liked it or didn't before we sewed anyting together, and I'm glad we did because she ended p with exactly what she wanted.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">And, we discovered, she's pretty cotton-picking good at selecting fabric combinations.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">First, I took her shopping for fabrics:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r6oYDsH-0Jc/TjAcgSxy3pI/AAAAAAAAC_M/pR4bWk-jWmY/s1600/hannah+sopping+p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r6oYDsH-0Jc/TjAcgSxy3pI/AAAAAAAAC_M/pR4bWk-jWmY/s400/hannah+sopping+p.jpg" t$="true" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We came up with a few from Gina's craft cabinet, but we also raided my car.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><em>Funny thing is</em>, I keep a lot of fabric in my car for emergencies. Yes I do.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">We found some great selections to work with.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MNIOA-wxAig/TjAdSqhve-I/AAAAAAAAC_0/4L7ErAXgFhY/s1600/weekend+at+ginas+005a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MNIOA-wxAig/TjAdSqhve-I/AAAAAAAAC_0/4L7ErAXgFhY/s400/weekend+at+ginas+005a.jpg" t$="true" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Theses fabrics ended up in her pillows, tiebacks, Cha Cha's flower pins, on her bench, and on her wall.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Good thing I'm prepared for emergencies.</em> :)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">After a lot of selection, planning, prepping, and sewing, here's what we ended up with.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JGWks5g8QZU/TjAdOi_J9II/AAAAAAAAC_w/wCKPlAp4fuY/s1600/side+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JGWks5g8QZU/TjAdOi_J9II/AAAAAAAAC_w/wCKPlAp4fuY/s400/side+view.jpg" t$="true" width="400px" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since Hannah's bedding was already colorful, and had plenty of aqua in it, we thought pulling a selection of primarily pink fabrics in the pillows was the way to go.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">In the beginning, Hannah didn't really want a lot of pink. However, after laying them out one at a time and letting her move the fabrics around, she discovered she liked it afterall.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">The large pink check she didn't really care for initially, ended up being a bit hit after the fact.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Lisa jazzed it up with a Doodlebug design that's too cute for words, and she'll tell you about that on her blog.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vaLtZKMuqXA/TjAc0r7Fk3I/AAAAAAAAC_Y/OOs1gulQ6NQ/s1600/hannahs+pillows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vaLtZKMuqXA/TjAc0r7Fk3I/AAAAAAAAC_Y/OOs1gulQ6NQ/s400/hannahs+pillows.jpg" t$="true" width="400px" /></a></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Making great pillows is all about your fabric selection, not necessarily all about the design.</span></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">You can make a fantastic pillow with a few scraps.</span></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And when you're making a collection of pillows, keeping them simple but different ususally makes for a winning combination.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tC2iJdgTIAw/TjAcXf87wpI/AAAAAAAAC_E/E_W4Dfk26uo/s1600/hannah+pillow+2+p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tC2iJdgTIAw/TjAcXf87wpI/AAAAAAAAC_E/E_W4Dfk26uo/s400/hannah+pillow+2+p.jpg" t$="true" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2mJQsTUtW5E/TjAcUWja84I/AAAAAAAAC_A/fFdyRmB_SZA/s1600/hannah+pillow+1+p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2mJQsTUtW5E/TjAcUWja84I/AAAAAAAAC_A/fFdyRmB_SZA/s400/hannah+pillow+1+p.jpg" t$="true" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When deciding on Hannah's color and fabric combinations, we knew she would be flipping her comforter over to the gray side for everyday use. The pink definitely had more drama on the gray than the aqua fabrics we had, so pink it was.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">She wanted simple pillows without a lot of busy color.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I think we came up some good ones. What do you think?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">They're simple, neutral yet colorful, and blend nicely with the comforter and shams, as well as the other colors and elements in the room.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WPo7M66nhwU/TjAcd2A_ahI/AAAAAAAAC_I/IVBCE9Utsmo/s1600/hannah+reveal+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WPo7M66nhwU/TjAcd2A_ahI/AAAAAAAAC_I/IVBCE9Utsmo/s640/hannah+reveal+3.jpg" t$="true" width="480px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They stand out against the headboard and shams, yet they don't make it appear busier than it should.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She loves them and that's all that mattered to us.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NMYV6LMwb6A/TjAdFYZDHII/AAAAAAAAC_o/Sel7O1Uu0tg/s1600/owl+pillow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NMYV6LMwb6A/TjAdFYZDHII/AAAAAAAAC_o/Sel7O1Uu0tg/s400/owl+pillow.jpg" t$="true" width="400px" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gina found this pillow at The Artsy Chick Show a few weeks back.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I'm not sure of the vendor, but I'll find out and let you know.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Isn't it darling? It was the icing on the pillow cake.</span></div><br />
<div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">---------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">All in all, we had a wonderful time getting these rooms completed.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">There was a lot of "Let's do this". "how about this", "what if we change it up this way", kinda stuff going on with every one of us gals and guys, but it's all that brainstorming and bouncing of ideas that made it such a success.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Scroll back a up and visit all the other blogs for the complete synopsis of the Hannah's room.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Up next..................Lauren's Room.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">It's hard to pick a favorite room because they're both so perfect.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">But just to give you an idea of Lauren's room, we wanted her to feel like she was living in her own art studio - and she does!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Wait till you see it!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Linking up at the following:</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://todayscreativeblog.net/crafty-link-party/">Get Your Craft On</a> at Today's Creative Blog</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img align="center" src="http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt169/mmbeautiful/siggypolly.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282743424849017322noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206173279535280738.post-84543647229771141242011-07-25T06:55:00.000-05:002011-07-25T06:55:06.546-05:00A Sneak Peek of the Makeover at the Shabby Creek Cottage<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The makeover is complete!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">As per my previous post, I've been down in the boondocks at <a href="http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/">The Shabby Creek Cottage</a> helping my new friends do a makeover for Gina's two daughters.</span></div><br />
<div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a long post in the works for tomorrow, but for now, I just wanted to pop in and show you a sneak peek of the results.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">A teaser of sorts.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Believe me when I say that the makeovers were AWESOME!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I'll be back tomorrow with a lot more pictures, so enjoy this teaser for today......mkay?</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VNorUVUhAqI/Ti1YwbYvlJI/AAAAAAAAC6k/5bo-YZgJv8A/s1600/Hannahs+Room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VNorUVUhAqI/Ti1YwbYvlJI/AAAAAAAAC6k/5bo-YZgJv8A/s400/Hannahs+Room.jpg" t$="true" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ei-Hae52XO8/Ti1Yz-W8tfI/AAAAAAAAC6o/SAPh6dBVPfE/s1600/Hannahs+Room+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ei-Hae52XO8/Ti1Yz-W8tfI/AAAAAAAAC6o/SAPh6dBVPfE/s400/Hannahs+Room+2.jpg" t$="true" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zkv1o2sUdYA/Ti1Y2elaB3I/AAAAAAAAC6s/nR0lAUvOhys/s1600/Hannahs+Room+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zkv1o2sUdYA/Ti1Y2elaB3I/AAAAAAAAC6s/nR0lAUvOhys/s400/Hannahs+Room+3.jpg" t$="true" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HnvINSpSgt8/Ti1Y5UlT0EI/AAAAAAAAC6w/T0ww4SVQM98/s1600/Laurens+Room+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HnvINSpSgt8/Ti1Y5UlT0EI/AAAAAAAAC6w/T0ww4SVQM98/s400/Laurens+Room+1.jpg" t$="true" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s07RA5o9IPw/Ti1Y756ZZmI/AAAAAAAAC60/nEk2DBbqqI4/s1600/Laurens+Room+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s07RA5o9IPw/Ti1Y756ZZmI/AAAAAAAAC60/nEk2DBbqqI4/s400/Laurens+Room+2.jpg" t$="true" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All pics are compliments of Angie at <a href="http://www.thecountrychiccottage.net/">The Country Chic Cottage</a>........<em>cause I forgot to take very many</em></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I'm so excited to tell you all about it!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<img align="center" src="http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt169/mmbeautiful/siggypolly.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282743424849017322noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206173279535280738.post-19276267948257337182011-07-20T23:53:00.002-05:002011-07-22T07:54:42.266-05:00A DIY Bloggers Weekend at The Shabby Chic Cottage<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>It's time for some real fun!</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I'm heading over to <a href="http://www.thechabbycreekcottage.com/">Gina's</a> this weekend to help out with a fabulous project.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Ever the master of the project list, Gina has a whole bunch of them planned this weekend.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">A "gaggle" of bloggers are meeting up at <em><strong>THE </strong></em>cottage</span> <span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">to make over 2 rooms in 3 days.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Lauren and Hannah, hereinafter known as Lala and Bre, will be getting their bedrooms made over by this team of diy gals.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_JO8c4Yk5eI/TieoGv3QZgI/AAAAAAAAC6U/oTlJDwsoEhE/s1600/Polly5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_JO8c4Yk5eI/TieoGv3QZgI/AAAAAAAAC6U/oTlJDwsoEhE/s400/Polly5.jpg" t$="true" width="400px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's Lisa of <a href="http://thepenningtonpoint.com/">The Pennington Point</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">ChaCha of <a href="http://www.theheartfelthome.com/">The Heartfelt Home</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Leslie (the winner of the "Come to the Cottage" contest) of <a href="http://www.goodbyehousehellohome.blogspot.com/">goodbye house, Hello Home</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Angie of <a href="http://www.thecountrychiccottage.net/">The Country Chic Cottage</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">And of course Gina herself!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g7Cg8rUNaV4/TierqyAMrYI/AAAAAAAAC6Y/PavHC9Ct6mg/s1600/Gina_Luker.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g7Cg8rUNaV4/TierqyAMrYI/AAAAAAAAC6Y/PavHC9Ct6mg/s200/Gina_Luker.JPG" t$="true" width="199px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hear a few husbands are joining the team too.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><em>They do not know what they're getting themselves in to with all us women around!</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I cannot tell you how excited I am to get this opportunity to work with all these great gals this weekend.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Now Gina and I have been buddies for a while now, and she's been buddies with a few of these other gals for a while too. It's going to be SO MUCH FUN to finally meet all the gals we talk about all the time. Putting a name to a face is one thing, but putting a personality to a blog face is what I'm looking forward to. I think we all have the potential to get in a bit of trouble. :)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Now I must confess, I'm a day late and a dollar short.............<em>as usual.</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">My commitment to work has me running a day behind everyone else.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">They're going to be well into their projects by the time I get there, so I may just show up and put the seal of approval on it like the Good Housekeeping folks do. :)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">There's going to be building and sewing and painting and decorating and laughing and eating, and I...CAN'T.....WAIT! <em>squeal!</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">We'll all be blogging from the cottage to let you in on the transformation over there, and I think someone has threatened to whip out a videocam. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I'll be back tomorrow night to show you some transformation magic already in progress.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">--------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><strong>Oh, OH, guess what??</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><strong>We found a house!</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Yep, we did. Yesterday.</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I'll tell you more about that later, but let's just say I'll be doing a bunch of painting next week getting ready to move in next weekend. </span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I'm trying to con Gina and Mr. SCC into driving over to help me.</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I'll let you know how that goes after the weekend.</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Here's a sneak peek.</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">(Yes, I know it's smaller than we're used to, but we're committed to downsizing so this is a major first step in that direction.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">It's a charming little house with a lot of potential...........and 3 bonus rooms! <em>woohoo!</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><br />
</em></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uKQ-4FuvBG4/TiewXICpfTI/AAAAAAAAC6g/BWqXx2koHNg/s1600/539+Heartland+Drive+July+2011+023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uKQ-4FuvBG4/TiewXICpfTI/AAAAAAAAC6g/BWqXx2koHNg/s400/539+Heartland+Drive+July+2011+023.jpg" t$="true" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img align="center" src="http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt169/mmbeautiful/siggypolly.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282743424849017322noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206173279535280738.post-71670892528339326762011-07-15T09:29:00.001-05:002011-07-17T08:06:53.080-05:00Repurposed Coat Valet - Easy Peasy Project Alert<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've always wanted one of those antique coat valets.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">No real reason - I just thought they were pretty cool looking.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">One day while at <a href="http://makeminebeautiful.blogspot.com/2010/07/thrifting-againin-all-right-places.html">my favorite thrift store</a>, I lucked up on this baby....</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sjvPIT6F9qs/TiBI0Z3TnRI/AAAAAAAAC5o/2yox3oOCpqc/s1600/coat+valet+67-2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sjvPIT6F9qs/TiBI0Z3TnRI/AAAAAAAAC5o/2yox3oOCpqc/s400/coat+valet+67-2011.jpg" width="300px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.........rickety, time worn perfection.....and only $8! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Had to have it!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Being clueless as to what I would actually do with it, it sat in the garage for a while.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">One day I was unloading my car and sat a stack of baskets on the bottom of this to get them out of the way - </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">and that's when the inspiration struck!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I knew right that minute that this would become my new guest bathroom organizer.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">You heard me right. I say it was destined to hold soap, not coats.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">So, I gathered my baskets,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r2K43WNUAAI/TiBI4BLpcLI/AAAAAAAAC5s/1SH7e6f-S2U/s1600/coat+valet+67-2011+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r2K43WNUAAI/TiBI4BLpcLI/AAAAAAAAC5s/1SH7e6f-S2U/s400/coat+valet+67-2011+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...and a few loads of toiletry items,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">(from <a href="http://makeminebeautiful.blogspot.com/2010/07/make-your-guest-feel-at-home-sneak-peek.html">my stash of the finest toiletries around</a> ;) )</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TIROu0NHSPo/TiBI7jD1vPI/AAAAAAAAC5w/Bh5x82AXtqA/s1600/coat+valet+67-2011+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TIROu0NHSPo/TiBI7jD1vPI/AAAAAAAAC5w/Bh5x82AXtqA/s400/coat+valet+67-2011+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...put it all together,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qfbjclj4fUk/TiBI_a1mvJI/AAAAAAAAC50/bL5oaUNPyoY/s1600/coat+valet+67-2011+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qfbjclj4fUk/TiBI_a1mvJI/AAAAAAAAC50/bL5oaUNPyoY/s400/coat+valet+67-2011+%25283%2529.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hFwfF9J2xrQ/TiBJCceAAlI/AAAAAAAAC54/Py6mc8oWHMc/s1600/coat+valet+67-2011+%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hFwfF9J2xrQ/TiBJCceAAlI/AAAAAAAAC54/Py6mc8oWHMc/s400/coat+valet+67-2011+%25284%2529.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pgEBs-w_a0M/TiBJFtNT9ZI/AAAAAAAAC58/pHATzCzlJMQ/s1600/coat+valet+67-2011+%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pgEBs-w_a0M/TiBJFtNT9ZI/AAAAAAAAC58/pHATzCzlJMQ/s400/coat+valet+67-2011+%25285%2529.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TsHwYd0w6t4/TiBJTLFbzEI/AAAAAAAAC6I/6qAb_NRgTSc/s1600/coat+valet+67-2011+%25288%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TsHwYd0w6t4/TiBJTLFbzEI/AAAAAAAAC6I/6qAb_NRgTSc/s400/coat+valet+67-2011+%25288%2529.jpg" width="300px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">....and came up with this!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EhZX--_xEPo/TiBJOtD98mI/AAAAAAAAC6E/rqxNV9Nc4Kg/s1600/coat+valet+67-2011+%25287%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EhZX--_xEPo/TiBJOtD98mI/AAAAAAAAC6E/rqxNV9Nc4Kg/s400/coat+valet+67-2011+%25287%2529.jpg" width="300px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I LOVE IT !!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And here she is in place.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S3wqot6yAu8/TiBJW3PGwyI/AAAAAAAAC6M/_pl1rQZCpPA/s1600/coat+valet+67-2011+%252810%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S3wqot6yAu8/TiBJW3PGwyI/AAAAAAAAC6M/_pl1rQZCpPA/s400/coat+valet+67-2011+%252810%2529.jpg" width="300px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZmJb9KaM_bk/TiBJat5HKiI/AAAAAAAAC6Q/bPDojvSfBFQ/s1600/coat+valet+67-2011+%25289%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZmJb9KaM_bk/TiBJat5HKiI/AAAAAAAAC6Q/bPDojvSfBFQ/s400/coat+valet+67-2011+%25289%2529.jpg" width="300px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Purdy Spiffy, eh?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I thought so too.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">-------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">And before you ask......NO, I have not found a new house yet. This is from our last house, I just never got around to posting about it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Where am I now?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Still hanging out in extended stay housing, keeping my fingers crossed that a house will fall in my lap before I get all crazy being cooped up in one room.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">When it does, I'll let you know.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">-------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><strong>So tell me, what have you been repurposing lately?</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Linking up over at <a href="http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/2011/07/sat-nite-special-90-birdnest-inspired.html">Funky Junk</a> this week.</span></strong></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"></span><br />
<img align="center" src="http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt169/mmbeautiful/siggypolly.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282743424849017322noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206173279535280738.post-21889720390609476322011-06-07T22:56:00.000-05:002011-06-07T22:56:47.272-05:00Summer Project - From the Archives<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d; color: black; font-size: medium;">This seemed to be a pretty popular post last summer, so I'm going to repost for you since we're in the height of summer.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="background-color: #93c47d; font-size: medium;">I'm still really busy with the new job - which doesn't seem so new anymore - so I thought I'd repost a few things from last summer until I find time to create some new posts.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><strong>Grab that load of tin cans you've been stock piling - I've got an easy-peasy project for you.</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">I've seen tin can everything around blogland lately, and there are many great projects out there to be inspired by. One day I'll make my way through them all. </span></div><br />
<div align="center"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">For now though, I just needed to do <em>something </em>with the ones I've been saving that were beginning to create a moat around my kitchen counter.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">I decided to plant flower seedlings in mine. I needed a place to get them started, and this was the perfect solution.</span><br />
<img border="0" bx="true" height="480px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TFcYD4KPhCI/AAAAAAAACaY/JaO1AQGCe8U/s640/tin+cans+7.jpg" width="640px" /><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">It's a quick project that uses up several cans at one time.</span><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Here we go!</span></strong><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">You'll need cans, spray paint, seeds, a drill bit (or hammer and nail), potting soil, and some sort of identification stick. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">I used actual flower markers that you can write on.</span><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TFcZD86JtmI/AAAAAAAACag/rNywBf3MVVI/s1600/tin+cans+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="480px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TFcZD86JtmI/AAAAAAAACag/rNywBf3MVVI/s640/tin+cans+3.jpg" width="640px" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;"><em>Ok, so I painted my cans before I took a picture of the supplies</em>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">I'm assuming you all know how to spray paint a can by now, <em>right?</em></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">Anyhoo, <strong>first</strong>, I painted all of my cans in various colors. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">Love the mix.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">All the colors are Krylon.</span></span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;"><strong>Next, </strong>let the cans dry completely, and then punch a few holes in the bottom for drainage.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">If you have a drill, just use a small bit and do your holes. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">If not, punch them with a hammer and nail.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">(<span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>Just an FYI here</strong> - I put way too many holes in mine. Two per can would've worked just fine. Next time I'll know.)</span></span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TFcd4UF7VAI/AAAAAAAACao/h7B_xWXQ6Hs/s1600/tin+cans+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="480px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TFcd4UF7VAI/AAAAAAAACao/h7B_xWXQ6Hs/s640/tin+cans+5.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;"><strong>Then, </strong>load them up with potting soil and put your seeds in.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">Be sure to keep up with which seeds are in which cans so that you can label them properly.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">I planted one type of seed at a time and then made my markers so that I wouldn't lose track of what was where.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TFcfBvhJcqI/AAAAAAAACaw/1O139bKnPEQ/s1600/tin+cans+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="480px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TFcfBvhJcqI/AAAAAAAACaw/1O139bKnPEQ/s640/tin+cans+7.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;"><strong>Aren't the colors fun and happy?</strong></span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: medium;">TIP: I always put my potting soil in a bucket and wet it down before I fill my cans. This way, the soil is already packed down and your seeds won't shift or float to the top when you water them afterwards.</span></strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">I put them on an old table and then sat them on the deck.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">The next morning it was raining so I checked on them to see if they were flooding, and here's what they looked like.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TFcgEd_-9yI/AAAAAAAACa4/cnlhHAxTm9s/s1600/tin+cans+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="480px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TFcgEd_-9yI/AAAAAAAACa4/cnlhHAxTm9s/s640/tin+cans+1.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: medium;"><strong>The water droplets are so pretty on the colored cans!</strong></span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">And here they are 8 days later in the morning sun - already flourishing!</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TFcgjso10II/AAAAAAAACbA/j9QDeWPMKlQ/s1600/Sun+on+the+Seedlings+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="286px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TFcgjso10II/AAAAAAAACbA/j9QDeWPMKlQ/s640/Sun+on+the+Seedlings+1.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">I check on them every single day, especially during this heat wave!).</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">At this rate of growth, I'll be able to transfer them into larger containers or into the ground and start all over with a new batch really soon.</span></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TFchNEhWY1I/AAAAAAAACbI/jZEpp9RA4xA/s1600/Final+Seedlings+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="360px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TFchNEhWY1I/AAAAAAAACbI/jZEpp9RA4xA/s640/Final+Seedlings+2.jpg" width="640px" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">I'll definitely be doing this every year now.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">----------------------------------</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">Update: Here are a few of them in full bloom, transferred to even bigger tin cans!</span><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VVOktE_CjiA/Te7tlLjW7RI/AAAAAAAAC5k/nIKcgkH6ES0/s1600/in+the+garden+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VVOktE_CjiA/Te7tlLjW7RI/AAAAAAAAC5k/nIKcgkH6ES0/s640/in+the+garden+6.jpg" t8="true" width="640px" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><strong>So tell me, what have you been making, planting, or sewing this summer?</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img align="center" src="http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt169/mmbeautiful/siggypolly.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282743424849017322noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206173279535280738.post-31207611911265756272011-04-24T14:30:00.001-05:002012-04-08T09:49:46.288-05:00Happy Easter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MGANP9NTYEs/TbRwnuHuzHI/AAAAAAAAC5A/tdUqrLRnqsc/s1600/he+is+risen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" i8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MGANP9NTYEs/TbRwnuHuzHI/AAAAAAAAC5A/tdUqrLRnqsc/s640/he+is+risen.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No matter how you choose to celebrate, I hope you have great Easter.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Me? I will be sending up prayers of thanksgiving that I have a risen saviour who has demonstrated more grace with me than any one person should be allowed.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can't help but think of all the people I love who have passed on, and how they are at the ultimate feast today celebrating the resurrection of Christ, with Christ. I cannot even begin to imagine the magnitude of the celebration. As a lover of the Lord, I look forward to that time when I can see Him face to face.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>One of my favorite songs says:</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>One day <strong>I will stand in the presence of Jesus</strong></em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>and I'll see the Lord <u>face to face.</u></em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>With my very eyes I'll witness His glory</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>when I finally finish my race.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>But the burdens of life sometimes get so heavy</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><em>that I need to touch Him somehow.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><em>But I don't have to wait until I get to heaven, <strong><u>by faith I can touch Him now.</u></strong></em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><em>I can reach out and touch the hem of His garment,</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><em>I know He will make me whole</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">He'</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">s passing by this very moment.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><em>Can you feel the virtue that flows?</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><em>Someday <strong>I will walk thru the gates of that city</strong>.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><em>By grace I will make it somehow.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><em>But I don't have to wait till I get to heaven,</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><em>by faith I can touch Him now.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><em>I will fall at his feet in the presence of angels,</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><em>millions of saints round the throne.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><em>I'll worship the Lord, sing hallelujah,</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><em>without all the troubles I've known.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><em>I'll see those hands <strong>that lifted my burdens,</strong></em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><em>and I'll see those scars on His brow.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><em>But I don't have to wait till I get to heaven,</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><em>by faith I can touch Him now.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">(If you'd like to hear it for yourself, here is the video.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Nothing stirs me like good ole southern gospel music!)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3eKf-lpt5dA" width="420"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's because we have a risen saviour that we CAN access Him at any given moment, and He will no doubt be there in our midst.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If it weren't for our faith, and God at our side, I honestly don't know how we would've made it through the roughest years in our life. It is true that when you know God, you know a peace that is unexplainable. I am so thankful for that relationship in our lives.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><em>"Because He lives, I can face tomorrow......"</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">May you all remember why we have this holiday and acknowledge it as such.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I hope you are all doing exactly what you want to do today.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">And more than that, I hope your children, who may be chasing that favored golden egg today, understand that there's more to Easter than a bunny who delivers colored eggs. :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><strong>Happy Easter!</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br />
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</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282743424849017322noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206173279535280738.post-46657433223685076892011-04-11T14:59:00.001-05:002011-04-11T15:01:47.036-05:00Change is on the Horizon<div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Very long post alert *</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">---------------------------------</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Where is My Heart?</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've thought about this long and hard lately.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">And I've had to answer some tough questions for myself.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">My life is changing before my eyes. Forced changes so to speak.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I never thought that taking a new job would catapult me into deep thinking and decision making like it has, but alas, it has.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">What I want to do and what I know I need to do have finally met at the crossroads.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hzhMk2pR86o/TaNG_jUgKTI/AAAAAAAAC48/vsHD0AnexqQ/s1600/chair+on+porch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hzhMk2pR86o/TaNG_jUgKTI/AAAAAAAAC48/vsHD0AnexqQ/s640/chair+on+porch.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">You see, I took a job that is 2 hours away from my house.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Obviously, making that drive is not feasible on a daily basis.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">My mother lives 1 hour from where I work, so to make a shorter commute, I stay at her house</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">while I'm working. And then I go home to my actual house about one day every two weeks.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I love the job, so I make the sacrifice.</span><br />
</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I didn't anticipate working so many long hours every single day, so even finding time to look for a house close to work just hasn't happened yet. My catch 22 is that when I have a day off, I need to go pack my house in KY, but I really need to be looking for a place to live in TN.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">The reality is, I've been working 80 hours a week since I started, so when I do have a day off, my body wants to rest - not pack, not look for a house.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;">(on the plus side, I've lost 24 pounds in the last 10 weeks!)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">So, what does that have to do with figuring out where my heart really is?</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I'll tell ya.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">When do we think the most? When we're alone and everything around us is quite.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I have two hours of that everyday, driving to and from work.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Here's what I've realized..........</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><strong>1.</strong> I miss being in my own home, but I don't really <em>need</em> it.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><strong>2.</strong> I miss having my things around me, but it doesn't bother me to think about putting them in storage for a while.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><strong>3.</strong> When I have any free time, I want rest for my body. If I have the option to blog/read blogs,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">or just fall into bed, say my prayers, and go to sleep, I choose the latter.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><strong>4.</strong> If I go into work late in the mornings, I'd rather make time for coffee with my mom than get on the computer and take time away from others.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><strong>5.</strong> When my husband isn't traveling, and he's not working at the office, he has to come to the town I work in and get a hotel so we can see each other. Usually, I make it to the room around 11pm, and then I'm back out around 6 or 7am. It's not fair to him. It's not fair to <em>us</em>.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">God bless him though - he understands that I have to do what I have to do right now.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><strong>6. </strong>I hate to even admit this, but I find that I miss communicating with all of you, but I'm not missing my <em>own</em> blog. Is that bad? Am I just too busy to care?</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Decorating is the farthest thing from my mind right now. And that's what I'm supposed to be blogging about, right? To be very honest with all of you, my heart just isn't there. Maybe it's because I'm so busy, maybe I'm simply too tired. Either way, it's not a priority for me anymore.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Let me make this clear - <em>blogging about <u>decorating</u> isn't where my heart is.</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">You'll understand in a minute.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">For a while now I've had some changes weighing on me. About my life, my blog, my etsy shops, and about doing flea markets.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><strong>As for my life</strong>, hubby and I have decided that the easiest way to fix our living situation temporarily is to put all our things in storage and move into an extended stay hotel while we look for a place close to my work. This will at least put me within a few miles of my store and immediately eliminate the hour drive each way to work. He will still drive the same distance to work.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><strong>As for my blog</strong>, here's the realization I've had, which began months ago.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I've thought about what makes me passionate about writing, and what topics I rush to write about vs the ones I let stew for a while.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I think you will all agree that my most heartfelt posts are about the needs of others, and spiritual experiences I've had myself.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">When I write about someone in need, request prayer, ask you to lift someone up, or tell you what prayer has done for me, I get really passionate. I believe in the power of prayer and the miracles they can bring forth, and I believe that when good things happen in my own life, it is my duty to spread my faith.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">My personal prayer list has over 350 items/people on it.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">When I ask you all to help me pray, I can promise you that I am absolutely praying too. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">My heart has been leading me to start another blog that focuses solely on rebuilding and strengthening your spirit. I started the other blog weeks ago, but I haven't got it "live" yet.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I am in the process of moving all of my inspirational posts over there.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">When I post something there, I'll come here and let you know.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I have so many things I want to cover on that blog.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I'm calling it "Strengthen your Spirit", and it'll be a direct domain.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I will have resources, links to prayer groups, etc.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I get so many requests for prayer in email each week, and this is one way to start a public prayer chain for those in need. I hope you will give it a chance with me.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I'm not abandoning this blog, I'm just changing my focus.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">When I have things that are unrelated to faith and prayer, I'll post it on this blog.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">And I'll give sewing lessons when time allows.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><strong>About my etsy shops</strong>, I've decided to close all but one of my shops.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I will only be selling my aprons wholesale from now on to distributors.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">(But if you want one, you can always email me.)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I will be closing my practical fun things shop, unless I can find a family memeber to take it over.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">The one shop I haven't introduced you to yet will be the one that remains open.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I will tell you more about that when I'm ready to fully load the store.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><strong>About flea markets</strong>, I will only be doing 2 this season. After I've got all my things packed to move, I'll head to the Nashville Flea Market with all of the stuff I won't be taking with me. Instead of taking time to refinish all the wares in my garage, I'll instead be selling them unfinished for you to do yourself.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I'll let you know when I'll be there and what I'll have.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I've decided I can do with less that what I have now, and I can cope with not spreading myself too thin. And I'm fine with it. The days of trying to be all things to all people are over, and it's time to focus on putting the quality back in my life.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I want to be happy, I want my husband to be happy, and I want our family to remember who we are. We give them so very little time, and they deserve more from us. Times goes by so fast and we really regret missing out on so much.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">My hectic work schedule will become leveled out in about another two weeks, and then hubby and I can start looking for a place to live together, and not trying to decifer what houses may or may not have based on the pics we find online and send to each other.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Once that happens, and we get settled into somewhere new, we'll be able to have a more normal life and schedule with no outside commitments.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I crave that day!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">So there it is. That's where I am and where Im headed.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">And I hope you will stick around to see what happens.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I've made many friends here and I hope to keep you all with me.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I know many of you share my faith and can understand why I feel the need to make these changes, and I thank you in advance.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Now, does anyone out there know of nice house for rent in Murfreesboro or LaVergne, TN?</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I'd love the lead if you have one.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I hope you all have a super-duper fantastic day!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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<img align="center" src="http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt169/mmbeautiful/siggypolly.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282743424849017322noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206173279535280738.post-36728395725900177752011-03-27T09:06:00.005-05:002011-03-28T09:21:22.377-05:00A Tour of My Dining Room<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While I'm still working away at my new job, it seems my time here is even more limited.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I'm rushing off again this morning, but before I do, I wanted to share pictures of my dining room with you.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I had it picture perfect right before Christmas.....and should've taken proper pictures then, but, I didn't. But here's one little snippet. Unfortunately there's a tablecloth on the table, but you can see those awesome chairs.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c23cXH4D27g/TZCT5vsHs6I/AAAAAAAAC3Q/qHhnDX8cLCY/s1600/2010+Christmas+035+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="516" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c23cXH4D27g/TZCT5vsHs6I/AAAAAAAAC3Q/qHhnDX8cLCY/s640/2010+Christmas+035+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Right after Thanksgiving, I had placed my dining room set on Craigslist because I wanted to get a new one. The area I'm in now is weak for Craigslist, so I didn't receive any calls. In fact, I forgot I even put it on there.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">So, having Christmas at my house this past year, I decided to deck out the dining room buffet style. I had everything in it's place, the table set, and all the decorations out.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">It was definitely Christmas in the dining room!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now fast forward to Christmas Eve. My family was all here. The table was all set. Everything was in it's place.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><strong>And then the phone rang.</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Hello. I was wondering if there <em>any chance you might still have that dining room set for sale.</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">(HUH??!!)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Umm, <em>well</em>, yes, <em>I do</em>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><strong>Would you mind if I came to look at it.</strong> We are desperate to have something for Christmas dinner and we haven't been able to find anything. This looks perfect for us.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">You mean <em>today</em>? <em><strong>You want to see it today?</strong></em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><br />
<strong></strong></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Well <strong>yes</strong>, if I can. I want to be able to get it home and set it up for dinner.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Uhh, well, I guess you're in luck then cuz<strong> it's already set for Christmas dinner</strong>!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">OMG, you're using it for <em>your</em> dinner?!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><strong>Yes, I am.</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I'm so sorry. I really need it though. <strong>Can I come and look at it?</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><br />
</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><strong><em>(HUH?!)</em></strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I suppose. If you like it, do you need to take it away today?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><em>(oh please God no, oh please God no...)</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Unfortunately <strong>YES</strong>. Do you have something else you could use?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I suppose.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">When would you like to come by?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><strong>Umm, I'm sitting down the road from your house!</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Ma'am, my whole family is headed out to the mall to finsih our Christmas shopping. We were <em><strong>literally</strong></em> getting in the car when you called.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">OMG, I'm sorry. Well, since I'm right here, <strong>can I just run over real quick?</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><em>I suppose.</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><strong>FAST FORWARD 2 HOURS LATER!!</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">She's still at my house and has managed to work her way up into my home decor storage room to locate a few accessories for her new house. Which she did.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">She claimed they lived only 20 minutes <em><strong>or so</strong></em> away and would go empty their truck and be back.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">My husband, being aware that she had every intention of not letting us make it to the mall that day, suggested that he and my nephew load up our truck and follow them home.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Obviously, they jumped all over that.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">So, they loaded up the table and chairs, and the rest of the family headed out to shop. It was already after 2 on Christmas Eve. And everything closed early of course.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Well...........</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><strong>2 hours later</strong> I get a call from my husband saying that the couple lived <strong>about an HOUR away</strong>, and now he and my nephew were lost on their way back, out in country territory where they could see nothing because it was getting dark, and there were no signs - and their GPS wouldn't pick up. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">They were winging it "by feel".</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">After many wrong turns later, <strong>and a drive across the state line</strong>, they finally stumbled upon the way back home.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><strong>4 1/2 hours later!!</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I'm sure he won't be offering to deliver anything again any time soon.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">So now the shopping is all done and we all head back home.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><strong>UH OH. We need a table to eat on.</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">My mom said, "Surely you've got a spare table in your garage".</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><em>A "spare" table</em> mom?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><strong>Ok, so she's right</strong>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"> I <em>did</em> have a spare table in my garage! And chairs too!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">A coincidental backup plan. :)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Now we had to go dig it out!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">And find the chairs!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">And so we did.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><strong>I tell you all that, to tell you simply this.......</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><strong>Here is my finished dining room:</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">(I just felt I need to explain why the table isn't painted. :)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">That's because I was forced to use a table I wasn't planning to use, but now I've decided to keep and paint.)</span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SgqAVo7aIi0/TZCVxdaAq1I/AAAAAAAAC44/dt_fYBgdGVc/s1600/dining+room+3+2011+%252825%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SgqAVo7aIi0/TZCVxdaAq1I/AAAAAAAAC44/dt_fYBgdGVc/s640/dining+room+3+2011+%252825%2529.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The current table is a trestle table I picked up at a yard sale for $75 several years back.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">For now, I just put my old runner on it.......................</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">BUT.......I'm going to paint the top in a black and cream large harlequin pattern and paint the base barn red with gold gilding............<em>eventually.</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><em>"<strong>Eventually</strong>", </em>meaning, AFTER I pull it back out of storage in a few months!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">That's right, I'm packing my house away - AGAIN!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Moving - <em>AGAIN!</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">More on that <em>later</em>................."<em><strong>later</strong></em>", meaning, when and if I find a new house near my new job.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Those extended stay hotels are looking better every single day. :)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img align="center" src="http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt169/mmbeautiful/siggypolly.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282743424849017322noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206173279535280738.post-34020316603929749252011-02-27T10:33:00.002-06:002011-02-27T10:40:56.625-06:00Calling on Prayer Warriors<span style="color: #444444;"></span><br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those of you who tag along with my musings know that I am a prayer warrior.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>I believe in the power of prayer, and in the gifts and miracles of God.</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I have had many in my own life, and have seen Him work in others.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I am popping in today to ask all of you with a heart for others to help me pray for my friend Lucy.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;">(You'll see a link to her blog in my sidebar.)</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7LVjZbo5vfI/TWp5gB2aeWI/AAAAAAAAC1U/SGmMkCqYFzk/s1600/lucy+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" l6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7LVjZbo5vfI/TWp5gB2aeWI/AAAAAAAAC1U/SGmMkCqYFzk/s640/lucy+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Isn't she beautiful?</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;">She is indeed, but all of that beauty is hiding a very serious heart disease.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Without sharing too much of her story, I will just tell you that she is facing a critical medical</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;">situation and <strong>NEEDS OUR PRAYER</strong> - <em>right NOW -this very minute.</em></span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I have a few prayer circles praying for her, and if you will, I'd like for you to as well.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;">--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Lucy herself is now praying this prayer. I am posting it so that you know her needs.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><strong>Her situation is desperarte, and her needs are extreme.</strong></span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Heavenly Father</strong>, Lord I come to you with a troubled heart, both in spirit and in in health.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Father, I know that YOU are the giver of life, and I KNOW that</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">you have the power to restore my health if it is in your will. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God, I am asking you with all that I have in me, to put your hands inside my body and restore</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">me to a degree of health that will make my life more manageble for myself and my family. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lord, I ask you to be ever present in my life even when I fail to be </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">present in yours.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I ask you Father to send angels to camp about me and lift me up when I am down, and to give my care takers the wisdom and the knowledge </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to treat my condition with success. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I ask you also to wrap your arms of comfort and provision around me, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and protect me throughout this trial. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God, your </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">word says that where two or more are gathered in your name, BELIEVING, so SHALL we receive. I am covered in prayer by a multitude of your children today,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and I am believing, in the name of Jesus, that YOU will bring me safely through this.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Help me Lord, to have the strength to withstand the treatment that will bring my health back to my body.</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I am trusting and believing that you are with me. Help me always to have my thoughts on you. In the name of Jesus, I seek these blessings and provisions in my life. Amen.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">__________________________</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please let her know in the comments that you are lifting her up in prayer. </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She needs us, and she needs to know that there are people who care for those that they don't even know.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thank you, and I know that she does too.</span></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img align="center" src="http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt169/mmbeautiful/siggypolly.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282743424849017322noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206173279535280738.post-25023279674727732092011-02-20T15:43:00.000-06:002011-02-20T15:43:45.873-06:00Birds of a Feather - Wall Art<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My latest project satisfies my love for birds and nests perfectly.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I've had so many nests just laying around in various places throughout the house, and realized I had never tried to pull them together in a single collection.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Well, we all know that ideas can pop out of nowhere when we least expect them. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I was in the Habitat Restore one day and found 2 of those french door inserts.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">You know, the flimsy plastic kind that snap into the frames around the glass.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">It hit me immediately that I could hang it on the wall and pull a lot of my bird collection together to fill it.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">And, since I had to get my living room finished before my <a href="http://www.kitchentableproductions.blogspot.com/">VIP Guest</a> arrived, it was a really quick alternative for wall art with a minimal amount of effort.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I had everything I needed to make this project happen, so I only had to spend the $5 it costs for the frame itself. Can't beat that!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8OljbmXEHEU/TWGCHLqA6PI/AAAAAAAAC0k/uAjXtVEhIuQ/s1600/bird+frame7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" j6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8OljbmXEHEU/TWGCHLqA6PI/AAAAAAAAC0k/uAjXtVEhIuQ/s400/bird+frame7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I took the stark white frame and dry brushed on a bit of brown glaze to age it, then laid out my plan on the floor to get it the way I wanted before I committed to it on the wall. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was in a rush to get it finished, so there are no pictures of the process, but it's such an easy-peasy project that I know you can decifer it from the pictures.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once I got it the way I wanted it, I simply hung nails to hold the nests, and used double sticky tape to hold the pictures.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kwdeIpZnKhA/TWGCTOb7XXI/AAAAAAAAC00/uznBDdxuBcc/s1600/bird+frame+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" j6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kwdeIpZnKhA/TWGCTOb7XXI/AAAAAAAAC00/uznBDdxuBcc/s640/bird+frame+4.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hung it above the small desk that I have in the corner of my living room. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">A large piece of art for that small piece of furniture I know, but it gives me the impact I was hoping for.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iBoSly-gAPg/TWGCJx5w6tI/AAAAAAAAC0o/uXDPinaRqys/s1600/bird+frame+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" j6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iBoSly-gAPg/TWGCJx5w6tI/AAAAAAAAC0o/uXDPinaRqys/s640/bird+frame+1.jpg" width="396" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kwdeIpZnKhA/TWGCTOb7XXI/AAAAAAAAC00/uznBDdxuBcc/s1600/bird+frame+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" j6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kwdeIpZnKhA/TWGCTOb7XXI/AAAAAAAAC00/uznBDdxuBcc/s640/bird+frame+4.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u0daJEly7t4/TWGCQNuyimI/AAAAAAAAC0w/xlyWvTWy-TI/s1600/bird+frame+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" j6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u0daJEly7t4/TWGCQNuyimI/AAAAAAAAC0w/xlyWvTWy-TI/s640/bird+frame+3.jpg" width="432" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jj60GmgzFLE/TWGCUz4japI/AAAAAAAAC04/Itl09_1X5TQ/s1600/bird+frame+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" j6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jj60GmgzFLE/TWGCUz4japI/AAAAAAAAC04/Itl09_1X5TQ/s400/bird+frame+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T3D5wt-q0Yw/TWGCXS7LiLI/AAAAAAAAC08/C0zFtAaMlhI/s1600/bird+frame+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" j6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T3D5wt-q0Yw/TWGCXS7LiLI/AAAAAAAAC08/C0zFtAaMlhI/s400/bird+frame+6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BnD0KqPmiVQ/TWGCfKOeRFI/AAAAAAAAC1I/mvw9rOwD7H8/s1600/bird+frame+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" j6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BnD0KqPmiVQ/TWGCfKOeRFI/AAAAAAAAC1I/mvw9rOwD7H8/s400/bird+frame+10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CNnXS0L5SZM/TWGCo9Osg7I/AAAAAAAAC1Q/YPoPXcrBRmM/s1600/bird+frame+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" j6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CNnXS0L5SZM/TWGCo9Osg7I/AAAAAAAAC1Q/YPoPXcrBRmM/s400/bird+frame+11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh yeah, I also jazzed up another lamp. I found the shade at a thrift store for about 2 bucks, and I added one of my flower embellishments to the center and eyelash trim to the bottom.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Trim from Hobby Lobby, Fabric Flower from <a href="http://www.practicalfunthings.etsy.com/">my shop</a>)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(I found my graphics for the wall piece at The Graphics Fairy, and purchased</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a few more from Masterpiece Designs on Etsy.)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love the way it warms up an otherwise drab corner!</span></div><br />
<div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I'm linking up to <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_482958579">Saturday Night Special over at Funky Junk.</a></span><a href="http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/2011/02/sns-69-brings-you-bulletin-boards.html"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<img align="center" src="http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt169/mmbeautiful/siggypolly.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mA-B7vCBtk4/TWGCM2WhdfI/AAAAAAAAC0s/nlgYNt_TzSE/s1600/bird+frame+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" j6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mA-B7vCBtk4/TWGCM2WhdfI/AAAAAAAAC0s/nlgYNt_TzSE/s400/bird+frame+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QH5_NoUnjGQ/TWGCae9NwlI/AAAAAAAAC1A/g6JRuaXNWto/s1600/bird+frame+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" j6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QH5_NoUnjGQ/TWGCae9NwlI/AAAAAAAAC1A/g6JRuaXNWto/s400/bird+frame+8.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282743424849017322noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206173279535280738.post-77450938338666885212011-02-10T21:35:00.000-06:002011-02-10T21:35:19.268-06:00Just a Note<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I miss all of you. I miss visiting you and I miss your visits to my blog. Every time I post, I eagerly await your comments so I can start "talking" to all my friends in email.</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I simply can't believe how fast time goes by. </span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Right now, I feel like I'm all alone out here in a big field, shouting, but no one can hear me.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I'm lonely - I need the voices of my friends.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GjlQGEQysV4/TVSnzy_aSFI/AAAAAAAAC0A/eADTCLywTt8/s1600/How+Now+Black+Cow+use+for+back+w-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="482" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GjlQGEQysV4/TVSnzy_aSFI/AAAAAAAAC0A/eADTCLywTt8/s640/How+Now+Black+Cow+use+for+back+w-logo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every day I think I'm going to be able to sit down and do a blog post and fill you guys in on my life..................and every night I get back to my hotel room and crash straight into bed.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">You see, I started a new job. I didn't want to say anything until the dotted line was signed.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been out of town doing my training. I'm learning to be back on my feet again - literally - all day long. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can tell you without a doubt that I miss my afternoon naps in the worst way possible.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I'm squeezing a 6 week training course into 3 weeks so that I can get moved into my final place as soon as possible.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">What am I doing? Well, I think it just may be a dream job for many of us with fabric type obsessions. I'm managing a fabric store! Woohoo!</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I'll give you more details on that once I get settled into my final destination.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Yes, I did it. I gave up self employment and went to work for a company.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">A stable company, getting a steady paycheck, and real benefits.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">(although I don't think they've caught on to how beneficial an afternoon siesta can be yet!)</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Hey, when a company like that calls you wanting to know if you'd be interested in coming to work for them, you jump on it. Know what I mean? Sure you do.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Anyway, I will not be back home until the 20th, so I won't be able to give you a full blog before then on any of my projects, but, I'll clue you in to what lies ahead.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">First up will be my new Bird in a Frame wall art.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WA0A1K-Twc4/TVSsdCVizGI/AAAAAAAAC0M/EQqMiKqq6R8/s400/2-8-11+069+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="300" /></div><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">After that....guess what? I got my master bedroom finished so I'll be doing a full reveal.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_jV_lNcRc2k/TVSsDA0VulI/AAAAAAAAC0E/43C-bCsTwjU/s1600/2-8-11+077+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_jV_lNcRc2k/TVSsDA0VulI/AAAAAAAAC0E/43C-bCsTwjU/s400/2-8-11+077+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Then I'll move on to the dining room changes.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Wait till you hear why my normal table is missing. I meant to tell you all about it back at Thanksgiving but I forgot. It's funny.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8fbn4Xv3axM/TVSsrI7SQbI/AAAAAAAAC0Q/P4Y9Pkcgqow/s1600/bowl+of+pears.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="350" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8fbn4Xv3axM/TVSsrI7SQbI/AAAAAAAAC0Q/P4Y9Pkcgqow/s400/bowl+of+pears.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, I'll tell you all about my visit with <a href="http://kitchentableproductions.blogspot.com/">this wonderful family</a>. And I mean <em>wonderful</em>!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TVSsNv8EJ6I/AAAAAAAAC0I/Ri-t0_55OhM/s1600/2-8-11+064+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TVSsNv8EJ6I/AAAAAAAAC0I/Ri-t0_55OhM/s400/2-8-11+064+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">So, that's where I've been and what I'm up to, and what I've got coming up in the near future.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><strong>What have you been up to?</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img align="center" src="http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt169/mmbeautiful/siggypolly.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282743424849017322noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206173279535280738.post-85115500737504813932011-01-22T11:25:00.000-06:002011-01-22T11:25:25.133-06:00Tea Staining Project - From Tablecloth to Lampshade<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been digging through the early days of my blog and discovered something.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">It appears that I've posted several projects that were in progress, promised to come back with the finished pictures.........and never did. <em>oh so sorry</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">In my defense, I didn't forget - I just never finished the projects!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Needless to say there are plenty of unfinished things in my house.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I try to complete them, they just never seem to make it to the top of my priority list anymore.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">However, I did come across one that I finished that I can share with you now.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TTsKZX4xHpI/AAAAAAAACyg/PTfxANkCbiA/s1600/countryside+home+decor+shabby+shade+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" s5="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TTsKZX4xHpI/AAAAAAAACyg/PTfxANkCbiA/s640/countryside+home+decor+shabby+shade+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">You all know my love of all things tea stained.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">In my very second blog post, I showed you <a href="http://makeminebeautiful.blogspot.com/2009/09/i-love-me-some-tea-tea-staining-that-is.html">how to tea stain for yourself.</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">In that post, I showed you a beautiful tablecloth I found at an antique store. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">My intent was simply to tea stain it and use it on a table. Unfortunately, after I put it in the tea to soak, I realized that the previous owner had bleached it heavily. The smell was unmistakeable once it got wet, and I noticed that it was becoming more brittle the longer it soaked. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">My heart sank when I pulled it out of the sink and it started coming apart.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Well, not being one to waste anything, I set it aside until I could decide what to use it for.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I decided on a lampshade.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">-</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">And meant to do it right away.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">-</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">But didn't.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">-</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Story of my life.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">But I DID <em>finally</em> make it, and here it is.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">This is the tablecloth before - crisp white, but on it's way to pure shabby creamy color.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TTsE4VLlr6I/AAAAAAAACyE/BIFz7MNuWtQ/s1600/tea+stain+tablecloth+before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" s5="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TTsE4VLlr6I/AAAAAAAACyE/BIFz7MNuWtQ/s640/tea+stain+tablecloth+before.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And here's what I turned it into:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TTsKXgpumjI/AAAAAAAACyc/80QxJKhPDDk/s1600/countryside+home+decor+shabby+shade+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" s5="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TTsKXgpumjI/AAAAAAAACyc/80QxJKhPDDk/s640/countryside+home+decor+shabby+shade+1.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TTsKZX4xHpI/AAAAAAAACyg/PTfxANkCbiA/s1600/countryside+home+decor+shabby+shade+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" s5="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TTsKZX4xHpI/AAAAAAAACyg/PTfxANkCbiA/s640/countryside+home+decor+shabby+shade+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TTsKayEYZxI/AAAAAAAACyk/6DOE0UrZ0Mw/s1600/countryside+home+decor+shabby+shade+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" s5="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TTsKayEYZxI/AAAAAAAACyk/6DOE0UrZ0Mw/s640/countryside+home+decor+shabby+shade+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TTsKcpAHGgI/AAAAAAAACyo/V2TwwZQk8VE/s1600/countryside+home+decor+shabby+shade+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" s5="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TTsKcpAHGgI/AAAAAAAACyo/V2TwwZQk8VE/s640/countryside+home+decor+shabby+shade+4.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" s5="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TTsKe4wONXI/AAAAAAAACys/bMvo0CuDhXs/s640/countryside+home+decor+shabby+shade+5.jpg" width="480" /></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TTsKiseX2dI/AAAAAAAACyw/FhLNAzFDpqc/s1600/countryside+home+decor+shabby+shade+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" s5="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TTsKiseX2dI/AAAAAAAACyw/FhLNAzFDpqc/s640/countryside+home+decor+shabby+shade+6.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(sorry for the picture quality. took these a while back and my camera battery was going dead)</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I raided my craft closet of bird items, keys, and ACEO tags. I made individual fabric embellishments, and then hot glued them to the shade. I then added lots of fun buttons (my signature go-to accessory) and keys, nests, and ribbons.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I made 3 of these and sold 2 of them right away. I love the way they turned out so I thought I'd take one home with me. But, after trying it out in every room of my home, I just can't find the perfect spot for it. Or the perfect lamp base for me. As lovely as it is, it's not fitting the look of my home.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">So........</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><strong>Maybe you love it. And maybe you have the perfect place for it. And maybe you want it for yourself.</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><strong>:)</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I'm selling this one!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">If you're interested, let me know.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I sold these in the shop for $69, but I'm selling this last one for $42, plus $8 shipping.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">If you want it, I'll load it up on etsy and send you the link.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">It's ready to mailed out!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><strong>What projects have you started, meant to finish, and never have?</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">It's time to get those projects completed!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.songbirdneating.blogspot.com/">Marianne over at Songbird</a> is hosting her <a href="http://www.songbirdisnesting.com/2011/01/gitter-done-volume-2.html">Gitter Done party</a> every week now, so we have a reason to get busy and <strong>Gitter DONE!</strong></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TTsS5czZG-I/AAAAAAAACy0/DmuWstskHiI/s1600/Gitter_Done.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" s5="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TTsS5czZG-I/AAAAAAAACy0/DmuWstskHiI/s1600/Gitter_Done.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Doesn't matter how big or small the project as long it's been on your list for a while and you've <strong>FINALLY</strong> got it done!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img align="center" src="http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt169/mmbeautiful/siggypolly.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282743424849017322noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206173279535280738.post-53279749374180338632011-01-18T18:21:00.000-06:002011-01-18T18:21:33.176-06:00A Shout Out to My Hardworking Friend<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wanted to take a moment and congratulate my friend <a href="http://www/theshabbychiccottage.net">Gina over at The Shabby Chic Cottage.</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm sure all of you know her blog, but, you may not know what she <em>really</em> does in her everyday life. She spends 90% of her time building a thriving business.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TTYtYyJEEHI/AAAAAAAACyA/7ypf9nVbaow/s1600/Gina+p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="508" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0GvJyhsKhz0/TTYtYyJEEHI/AAAAAAAACyA/7ypf9nVbaow/s640/Gina+p.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gina is such a hard worker and a definite go-getter when it comes to growing her business.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">She often has at least 5 irons in the fire at any given time, and seems to mange each one fluidly. </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I can assure you that she takes her work and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheShabbyChicCottage">her shop</a> <strong>VERY seriously</strong>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">She started an Etsy shop a little over a year ago and has already had well over 2000 sales, been in hundreds of Etsy Treasuries, and has landed on the front page with various products at least twice a month. Those of you who have your own etsy shops know how significant that is.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">The only way to reach these kind of milestones so quickly is by dedicating much of your time, energy, efforts, and creativity into doing whatever it takes to make your shop successful.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">She has a hands-down proven method of success, not only for <a href="http://www.theshabbychiccottage.net/2010/08/my-etsy-success-secrets.html">building your online business</a>, but also for <a href="http://www.e-junkie.com/94904/product/321421.php">growing your blog</a>. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Well, today my good friend got the shout she deserves from Etsy themselves for all of her hard work.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">They have featured her in their front page blog series titled <a href="http://www.etsy.com/storque/spotlight/quit-your-day-job-theshabbychiccottage-11587/?ref=fp_blog_title">"Quit Your Day Job".</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">This is a big deal in the land of Etsy.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Those of you who sell there know that when you list a product, it only gets 10 seconds of 'face time' in their rotating widget, so to get a feature on your business that remains in the front page blogroll for a full week is, like I said, a <strong>HUGE</strong> deal for etsy sellers.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I'm so proud of her!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Please take a few minutes to read her <a href="http://www.etsy.com/storque/spotlight/quit-your-day-job-theshabbychiccottage-11587/?ref=fp_blog_title">"Quit Your Day Job" interview.</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Are you lucky enough to be going to <a href="http://www.blissdomconference.com/">Blissdom </a>this year?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">If so, Gina will be teaching a <a href="http://blissdomconference.com/blissdom-conference-wisdom-workshop-schedule-for-2011/#business">workshop</a> on Wednesday covering exactly how you can build a successful online business for yourself!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">Get to class early because I'm sure it'll fill up lickity split!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><strong>CONGRATULATIONS GINA !</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I sure wish I could spill the beans on something really big coming up for her soon, but I'm sure she would hang me from a tree branch by my earlobes without much hesitation if I did. Take my word for it, it's giddy worthy, squealing good! You'll know exactly what I mean when she announces it.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial;">I'm sitting on my hands just waiting on the day!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<img align="center" src="http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt169/mmbeautiful/siggypolly.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282743424849017322noreply@blogger.com15