80s hair, a Christmas find, and Beth Moore

Hello dear friends, I have this morning started a wonderful Beth Moore bible study, A Woman's Heart - God's Dwelling Place, and I am so excited! The introduction lession was wonderful and I can't wait for this special time each morning for the next 10 weeks.

Thought I'd post this pic of me 21 years ago with my precious firstborn, Carly. Remember 80s hair? What were we thinking? Sometime I'll post a more current pic - just can't seem to find the 'right light.' Exactly the same reason I don't try on clothes in department store dressing rooms - isn't the lighting in those just terrible? LOL.

Look what I found in an antique store yesterday - these wonderful Christmas ornaments! Aren't the muted colors great? Last year I admired in magazines old shades-of-white ornaments with some of the finish faded - they were displayed in a glass bowl or on a silver tray - lovely. Before Christmas last year, these type of ornaments were being sold in lots on ebay and bidding was going high. I spied these in a plastic zipper bag and plucked them right up - it was my find of the day!

A "Jeanie" Bottle

I found this cute little genie type bottle complete with a charming old cork which was a bit too small for the jar. Waiting for inspiration, I decided to add some vintage sheet music, and the sheet I selected from my stash was none other than "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair." How funny is that? I cut out the section with the song title showing. I added a ribbon tied with a charm containing a bit of sheet music decoupaged in. I added lace and a vintage image on top of the lace and then a vintage necklace with the beads dangling down. I glued some lace to the too-small cork and glued a vintage rhinestone button on top.

Giveaway alert!

Rebecca at A Gathering of Thoughts is having a lovely giveaway - check it out!

Announcing a giveaway..

Bellamere Cottage is having a giveway! Enter before August 1st!

A few Friday finds

Here are some things I found at tag sales on Friday, a few vintage things (except the small lidded blue pot - I just liked the shade of blue), a couple of framed floral prints, and some lidded storage jars with shelf. Do you ever think of blogger friends when you find something you know they would love? I thought of Dawn at The Feathered Nest when I saw the floral prints - she would love their soft, muted colors. When I spied the storage jars, I thought how Rebecca at A Gathering of Thoughts would do her magic on them with her beautiful roses. Me, I'm probably going to paint and decal them. Hope you had a chance to find some pretties this weekend!

Latest Project

This little 40s style child's vanity I have had for many years - found it in an antique shop and it needed painting and fixing up. I recovered the little stool with pink chenille fabric, and added some vintage wallpaper decoration to the top and around the mirror. Wish I'd done a BEFORE photo. But, I am s-o-o-o glad to finally be able to mark this one off my list!

Announcing a winner, and Some bird finds..

Congratulations to Lisa of pupylov who won the antique plate pedestal! And thanks to all of you who entered. I will have another giveaway soon, so keep checking back.

Now for a couple of recent bird finds, a sweet little bird-on-a-twig candleholder and a bird plaque which I painted cottage white. I'm going to add a pretty ribbon hanger to the plaque, then I'm adding them to my shop. I haven't been "treasure hunting" in a couple of weeks, so I feel the need to do so this coming weekend!

Some giveaways!

Alice at Painted White has the most wonderful giveaway! (First pic above). Also, her husband makes the most fabulous jewelry (I especially like his rings and just bought one this morning) and he is hosting a giveaway of his own: http://stjoshua.blogspot.com/.

Now, the second pic is my giveaway. I'm joining Cindy's Monthly Giveaway Party at My Romantic Home. It's a lovely vintage plate that has been firmly adhered to a ceramic pedestal - The plate has tiny pale lavender flowers - it would be lovely to showcase edibles or as a base for a display, covered with a cloche. All you have to do to enter is post about my giveaway on your blog - then post a comment here saying that you have done so. So easy! Enter before midnight on July 19th - I'll announce the winner on July 20th. Good luck!

There will come a day....we will sing with abandon

Have you ever heard a song that really touches you emotionally and makes you want to forget everyone around you and let loose and just sing? Watch this Faith Hill video -I remember watching it that 2007 night of the CMAs. I was blown away by Faith's performance and the song. But my point here is - watch the choir that joins her on stage - the way they are filled with emotion and sing with abandon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VojyZW6O3I8

Latest upcycle projects

Hi friends! Here are my latest upcycle projects: a footed tray painted cream with a floral "french scroll" decal, and a scissors holder to hang on the wall, decoupaged in brown/cream pretty paper. It seems I can never find my scissors - do you have that problem? I will be listing these in my webstore.