I'm Back with Some More Thoughts

I've been taking some time off to prioritize some things in my life, but I'm sure you've heard this before from other bloggers. Well, it is absolutely true. I've had other things pressing on my mind for a while and decided to just stay off blogging for several days to get things set straight in my mind. I suspect we all do it once in a while. All bloggers I mean. ;-)

I've been doing a lot of reading as that is probably my first passion. Then a friend of mine has been gently pressuring me to do more genealogy than I have done. I've also learned how to bake a loaf of edible bread; however, it's crumbly. Though not very pretty, it is still delicious. So I know now that I can bake it if necessary.

I've also decided to do an exercise routine and walk several times a week to get out of the house. I'm now understanding why older people want to stay in most of the time. I'm getting the same way. And that's mostly due to the fact that I rarely shop anymore except for food. I just don't need anything for this house and wish some of you lived close so I could give you things: pretty crafts I've made, ottomans, tables, desks, etc. I'm having separation issues and would love to know they were going to a loving house instead of Goodwill or Deseret Industries. ;-)

Also there was a break-in in our neighborhood. A young mother had returned from taking her child to school and walked in on a man in her home. That scared me so we immediately called an alarm company and had a burglar alarm installed within 2 days. We had one when we lived in California because we were robbed twice, but the 2nd time we walked in on the 2 men and they attacked us. I don't take chances anymore. Crime is coming even to smaller towns. I prefer a neighborhood because I can scream or phone and get help quicker than living out on acreage. If I'm in the house the system is armed. I'm taking no chances anymore. Plus after living through 2 burglaries I'm as security conscious as anyone can get. Times are changing dramatically and quickly in the world.

This is meant to be a scary post, just an alert to be aware. So now I'll show you some eye candy to make it worth your while visiting with me.

While I've posted these old shoes I couldn't throw out before, I thought some of you may have not seen them so here they are again. I redid them with Mod Podge and paper, lace, paper roses, pearls, feathers, birds and buttons. They now adorn my faux fireplace in our family room.

This lovely little pitcher sits on an old drawer I found and shabbied up with decoupage and decals. I love shabby chic romantic.

The garland of dyed coffee filters I have over the archway into our family room. I took them down and put up a bunting I made. Now I'm not sure where I'm going to hang them or whether I should just make some coffee filter roses and give them away. Hmmmmm......

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New Vignette for Coffee Table

Remember those bottles I showed you a couple of weeks ago that I was going to decorate? No! Well, take a look at how they look now.

This bottle was an old cologne of hubby's that I just couldn't throw away because it smelled so good. I decoupaged it with some roses, added paper roses to the bottom and top, some rhinestones to the decoupage and a red rhinestone button.

I love this old perfume bottle someone gave me years ago so I added paper roses, a rolled polka dot fabric rose, a vintage button, ribbon and some tiny baby rick rack.

Voila, I have a new vignette for the living room coffee table after bringing in other bottles I've made. There is one in the middle that I won on a giveaway though that is truly beautiful.

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Pink Saturday 7/3/2010

First of all, I have had so many bloggers email me the past several weeks complaining about losing their old templates. I've told you to save it before doing anything with the new "Design" element. And I've had to save a couple of bloggers bacon. So if you want your old templates back, you can get them. But you need to check out my blogging tutorial for the information at the top of my blog above. The info is there and yes, I'm going to make you work for it, but a good idea would be to check on my post from Wednesday, June 30. That might cause you to not waste so much time. AND next time, be very careful and heedful when I tell you something!
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Please join Beverly of How Sweet The Sound for Pink Saturday by going to her website and checking out all the chicks. You won't be sorry.

The bloggers I visited last week for the first time were: Christi of A Southern Life, Jenn of The Red Bulletin Board, Sonia of Miss Bloomers and Jen of jnichelle. Visit with them! Cute blogs.
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I finally got to cover this vintage suitcase, but I'm not sure now if I'll put it on the plant shelf. Hmmmm...

Oh, why not! It looks good up there.


Random Thoughts:

The other day I got home from buying gas for my car and hubs asked me what I paid for it. I said, "$2.72 a gallon." He raised his eyes and said, "Ooooh, that's good!" I never, ever in my life thought I'd live to see the day when he said that about $2.72 gasoline!
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Look, can we talk about self-esteem for a minute? I am so sick and tired of people talking about the self-esteem of children and teens. I don't think they worry about it half as much as their moms worry about if their child was prettier, too fat or smarter. That has nothing to do with self-esteem. It has to do with confidence and truly knowing who they are. I know who I am. I have no problem with self-esteem. I'm confident in my ability to be...what(?)...a nice person, a child of God, not a raving beauty (In fact, if homely was a disease and had an organized charity, I could be their poster child.-!) I guess someone in my life—parents, grandparents, hubby—has made me realize how special I am, as each person can feel by just realizing their own abilities and working to the very best of their ability. And don't even get me started on plastic surgery for 12 year olds. That's absurd! When we are resurrected, we'll be just as we are now without all the plastic surgery and gender changes. (And for me that means, no gray hair (and I love it!), no wrinkles, no age spots on my hands, no saggy...uhhhh...you know, and an ideal weight. I can promise you that! So, get a life, live it to the fullest and thank God you are here at this particular time in the history of this earth.
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And speaking of that, the other day I got out of bed and looked in my mirror while hubs was shaving and asked him how he could love somebody that looked that I did in the morning. He looked over at me, closed his eyes and gave me a kiss. Then he said, "Like this, that's how." I knew at that moment how much he loves me.
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I was at Sephora in the mall the other day to buy a face brush for cleansing my face. I paid for it and the saleswoman asked me if I wanted a sample of some face cream or something like that and I said, "No." She kept at me until I finally said NO rather emphatically. I didn't want or need it so why take it when I know perfectly well I wasn't going to be enticed to buy it. So, what is it with people when they simply can't take NO for an answer?
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Why liters instead of ounces? We live in America and don't do liters and yet on every bottle of soft drinks it has liters and I have to guess what ounces they are.
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I'll leave you with these today. I have lots more I can assure you. :-)
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Roses for Sale

I've decided to start selling these roses. Not only are they paper roses but I've added rose fragrance to them and they smell like the vintage roses. Is that the word? You rose lovers will know. Vintage, old-fashioned or old time roses? Something like that. BUT I guarantee you won't be disappointed. They will be special ordered and can be done in pink, red, yellow or can be a combination of colors on one rose, beautiful plain white ones or white with color tipped edges. I can only do so much so don't expect miracles. They truly are lovely in person. Leaves are included. These will be "Forever Roses." You may go here to purchase them.

And another rose in pink. I'm just trying to give you an idea of what the different colors can look like.


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Little Door Hanger for Pink Saturday 4/10/2010

It's Pink Saturday once again hosted by Beverly of How Sweet the Sound. Join us by clicking and going to see all the pinkness we all love!

I whipped up this little door hanger recently. It could also be hung from a ceiling. I think I'm going to sell this so go here to purchase it if you want it so badly you just can't live without it!

Little bird, grass, velvet ribbon, rose garland and paper roses all over it.

And some spring stuff from Greenhurst Nursery in our town. Red and blue Oka shoes with bows and flowers. Darling......Squeeeeeeeeallll.....

A feather rimmed basket. How cute is this! Just adorable.

And a beaded chicken.

You know there is much more coming, don't you?! Yep, in the next few weeks I'm showing you the spring decor at the nursery near us here.
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Studio Shelves Redo and A Bouquet of Roses

At the risk of sounding redundant, I'm partly done with the reorganizing of the studio (that's what I'm calling it from now on). There was a lot of stuff I've had to take to thrift stores, sell on craigslist and make room for with the garage sale Love Bunny wants to have in the spring. There is still more I can't find ANY room for in the house.

Redoing the studio this time has taken rather a long time—and I'm still working on it—because I want to take the time to stop and think about what I need and don't need and will be tossed out. Also I want to make sure it suits me this time. But I thought I'd give you just a small peek at what the shelves are looking like so far. There is much more to do throughout the whole room.

I found this little garland at Hobby Lobby, which is new to our area and the only one in Idaho so far. Then I got a 500 yard spool of curling ribbon because I want my area I am in the most to be cheery and girlie. I made little curls to hang along the 2 extra shelves Love Bunny put up in there for me recently. I want it to look like I'm having a party, girls! :-)

Oooh, and the little vintage clock is done and I shan't miss another bedtime pill taking from now on. The little pink roses on top! ;-)

And a bouquet of roses to take to our granddaughter. I may sell these as bouquets so stay tuned if you have any interest in them.

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Fabric, Paper and Ribbon

Just wanting to mention to those of you who haven't seen my laundry room that the new "Pages" at the top of my blog just under the banner and entitled "My Home" includes the photos of my laundry room, which you just might find interesting. ;-)
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On th' rose kick again, chicks. Just trying out different things I can do with them really. These are what I've come up with. I may try selling them on etsy though. Every single one is a different rose unless I mention that it's NOT or they are in groups. I don't remember how many I've made the past few days. DUH!

Back of the above lolli. I love pink and red together.

I call this one my "grunge shabby froufrou" lolli. ;-)

Backside of one above.

I call this one "majesty." Pink ostrich feathers and a rolled fabric rose. I also put a pink crystal on it.

The back has another rolled rose made of iridescent fabric.

And this one is another paper rose I'm experimenting with at the moment.

And one in pink.

Again, these are made from coffee filters.

My absolute favorite one so far. It's really beautiful for a paper rose.

These are NOT really orange but are simply too close to the camera but I've got to hold it while taking the picture and that's pretty much CLOSE.

Now, these are the ones I dipped in food coloring but later I added yellow watercolors around the edges. I just dipped the brush in the watercolor and dragged it around the edges. No right or wrong way to do it, just practice to get the effect you like best.

Two with the yellow edging. Each one will turn out differently.

This one I edged in darker pink—almost magenta edging. Gorgeous in person!

This one I painted with acrylic paint around the edges. It turned out really lovely.

This one came out blurry and I knew it would because I was taking it in my studio (I've decided to call my craft room my studio) without much light plus I sort of moved when I clicked the shutter button and the settings were too low but after I downloaded it to my iPhoto I liked the soft ethereal look of it. I thought I'd just show you along with the better photo of it. Call me silly. ;-) But this one I used acrylic paint on it.

Here's the one where I didn't move.

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