Today's Work

Today I am busy filling a couple orders for customers and wanted to share them with you.

 First is a paper wreath for a child's room. 

The customer wanted Twinkle Twinkle Little Star as the music. 

 I found the music and then had to create aged paper to print it on.

 She also didn't want a glittered center like the display wreath 

so I changed that to complement the wreath.

I decided to make a tattered linen rosette

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One Down, Two to Go

Thanksgiving is over...Christmas is coming and then a New Year's Day Open House.....it is definitely a busy season as usual! But, I love it all, especially Christmas.


What a wonderful Thanksgiving! We served 23 people and there was enough for leftovers (the best part!). My little 2yr old grandson showed off his karate skills which was too cute! He can't jump completely off the floor yet so it was funny to watch him try to do a kick while saying "hiya!".


Spent part of Friday at the big Christmas market we have her every year with my SIL at her booth..... Bittersweet Primitives. She makes a lovely room spray which you can buy from her online, along with her adorable primitive snowmen, Santas and angels....
Her link is here

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WIP : Work in Progress

That title comes from my hubby. In their business, custom architectural signage, they are always having WIP meetings. It really fits my life because I am a work in progress, ever changing, ever evolving in my personal, emotional and spiritual growth. And then there's the house....definitely a WIP if there ever was one!

Here is the living room, not styled yet but almost finished!

The first piece of old furniture I bought and painted, 12 yrs ago

Above is a gorgeous medallion I bought in a mall store around the same time.

 It has been over the fireplace since we moved in.

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Tortoise vs. Hare

I have this disorder that I haven't told you about. 

I am an impatient decorator. 

This has led to poor  decision making in the past and I am really 

(REALLY REALLY REALLY) 

trying to be more patient. 

I want to be like this:

Serene in the face of chaos. 

Guess that's why I'm not at angel status yet. 

God has placed me in the midst of this hectic life to teach me something I'm sure

 AGAIN....... 

(slow learner, that's me!)

Time is an interesting thing.....moving so fast at one point....moving so slowly at another....

maybe both in the same day.

I don't care who we are, we all get the same 24 hrs 

or 1440 minutes 

or 86,400 seconds 

every day...... 

there IS time.....it just needs to be used wisely. 

A handful of patience is worth more than a bushel of brains.  ~Dutch Proverb

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Granny and Grammy

I have just completed the next dress I will be putting on my Etsy site and as I was working, I was constantly reminded of my grandmothers. I wanted to share some of the legacy they have left me as I know many of you could tell some of the same stories of your grandmother(s).
I had a pretty sad childhood. I won't go into many details here but it was filled with turmoil, separation, anger, neglect, abuse and fear. All fueled by addiction and affecting not only myself but all my brothers and sisters. During my childhood, I was lucky enough to spend many happy days with my maternal grandmother, Granny. This relationship was a gift from God, who I'm sure, looked down with sadness at the unhappy little girl I was. Granny herself was the product of a neglected childhood (funny how that goes on, isn't it?) and was on her own at age 16. She was left by her father in the town of Asbury Park, NJ in a boarding house with a nickel. Her mother had died and all her brothers and sisters had been farmed out to relatives. She alone had stayed with her alcoholic father for several years, but had finally had enough. When he wanted to move on again, she said "no". So, with the nickel in her pocket and the boarding room paid up til the end of the week, she found a job waiting tables at a local cafe. One of her customers was my grandfather, a young policeman in town. One thing led to another and they married in 1928 when she was 18. My mother was the youngest of their two children. 
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And So It Begins.....

This is the beginning of a VERY, VERY, busy time for all of us! The holiday season is here with Thanksgiving looming only a couple weeks away! I can hardly believe it. It's a dangerous time for me because this season is my very favorite. It's dangerous because I can easily become overwhelmed as I try and create good experiences for everyone. I love all of it but it is very exhausting. On top of that is the huge mess we have here with this living room remodel and my lack of space to store the 'for sale' items I have accumulated. Children are now occupying my spare rooms and I worry about putting finished furniture in the potting shed. I am moving things around in here to make as much space as possible but it's overflowing with furniture. I wish I had a nice little shop space to take them to! Unfortunately, I don't really like those tiny 10 x 10 spaces they offer at 'antique' malls. I would like to find a house type setting which lends itself much more to display of furniture. I am looking, but (for some reason) there seems to be little of that here anymore. I remember in days past that there were several places like that but no more. 

In the meantime, here are some pics of ongoing work.....

I have the first coat of primer on the new living room wall unit. Now comes a thorough sanding....yuk! Then more primer...Yay! A little more sanding......Yuk! Then finish coats....two.

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Housekeeping

It's one of those days I so enjoy...just doing general housekeeping. Now, lest you think I'm the gal who likes scrubbing toilets and cleaning the oven...let me reassure you. I am talking about other housekeeping....straightening the studio, washing linens that will be used to create new things, making the small parts that are needed for the next project.....THAT kind of housekeeping. I enjoy these puttering days, moving from one thing to the next with no sense of urgency. I need these days every now and again.....it's good for restoring my sense of peace and equilibrium. Right now, my favorite movie Sense and Sensibility, is on the TV and I just rewind it whenever I miss a part. I love the romantic and soft clothing in that movie and I am in awe when I think about how every gown, hat, glove, dish cloth, sheet, curtain, tablecloth, napkin, apron, etc was HAND STITCHED. A lady could spend her time doing needlepoint and embroidery, but other women spent hours making the daily, utilitarian items used every day....can you imagine? 
Here is what I've been up to so far....

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