When Daughter Came to Visit!!

I decided to do something different for my bathroom walls a while back and pasted some beautiful paintings on the wall as a border. I just could not find the roses wall paper border I wanted so this was the result. I put them up with Fun Tak and it looked really cute until................... daughter came to visit.

She decided to take a loooonng HOT shower one afternoon. Well, it was so long and hot that it curled the paintings on card stock! The first picture is the before and the second picture is the after. (Some of the pictures actually fell off when she got through.) But most of them were obliterated with the steam making the inks run.

So now the third picture is the one of the new wallpaper I decided to put in there! Hah. Let me see her steam that off the walls. Ever tried to remove wallpaper?!?! Right!!

Cleaning Out the Fabric Stash!!

There comes a time (or two or three) in every woman's life when the fabric stash needs "re-inventing"! This week was it for me. For a couple of months now I've dreaded going into my sewing room to create. Last week I decided that this was going to be the week I "cleaned" it out. Now, "cleaning" out is a relative term for me. A "clean house" is just that - go through and vacuum, mop, dust, etc. But a "clean" fabric/sewing room is something different. For me, it means "rearranging" the fabric and stuffing a bit of it in medium size boxes to put up in the garage attic. Not much but just a bit to satisfy the hubby! Get my drift here???!!! So below you'll see the difference from the first 2 pictures to the bottom 2 pictures.

First, you have to realize this required 2 trips to Home Depot and 2 trips to Wal Mart for said hubby who didn't truly understand my instructions in the first place. My habit of saving my notes/instructions only helped to prove I was right in the first place and had he listened there would not have been 2 trips to Home Depot. ;-)

New shelving was the first order of the day and I have to say it is amazing to see the room taking shape so nicely. Still working at it, but here are a few pix to show how it is coming along.

My Purple Elf Church Outfit

Okay, so I looked like an elf - at least I was "bright"!! I've never been "conventional" when it comes to colors but I think I may have outdone myself yesterday in church.

Since my foot surgery 2 months ago I can't wear any of my old shoes on the left foot yet. Well, we went to back home to California last week to visit with kids and attend son's graduaction from nursing school and while there my daughter gave me a pair of lavender Crocs. (I must admit they are a very, very comfy shoe!) So yesterday I decided to wear them to church (in the snow, no less!!). Well, I wanted to be Christmas-y and decided to wear bright socks also. I thought the red and green socks might be a tad too much green and Jack wore the Christmas tie so I was stuck with bright red knee socks for my toesies! Purple dress, magenta jacket, lavender shoes and red socks. I looked like an elf! However, the members of our ward just stared and I knew it wasn't the body they were looking at. Hah......... But as I said, I'm my own fashion setter and love purple, pink and red. And trust me, this is not the "loudest" outfit I've ever worn. And I'm an old lady! Aren't we supposed to wear purple and thumb our noses at everyone and conventionality?!?!?! Gotta love me!

Christmas Swap

I received this wonderful little tussie mussie and hang tag from Holly this week and they are darling. She uses vintage wallpaper with roses and everything is PINK and I love it! The little hang tag is sparkley with "diamonds and baubles" to add to the sparkley holiday atmosphere. It will go in my home perfectly in a place of honor. Actually, everything anyone sends me goes into a place of honor in my home. She is a sweetheart and she is confident that I love her! Her works are always stunning and I have a painting from this sweet friend to prove it. Little birds and roses.....um hummm, just beautiful! Thank you, sweet Miss Holly with the sweet hubby and 2 darling boys growing up way to fast. :-)

Stained Glass Window Present!!

Can you believe that today after church our bishop's wife brought this stained glass rose window over to give to me?!?! I was again stunned by the generosity of people who know me. She said her husband, a contractor, pulled this out of a house a couple of years ago and they just kept it. Now since meeting me and seeing my home and what I can do with things she thought that I should have it if I wanted it. If I want it?????? Hah, YESSSSSSSSSS!! It is now in my living room awaiting a place to put it. Maybe I'll put it on one of the plant shelves around the living room. It's big and very heavy, but I so appreciate the loving kindness and the fact that she thought of me. Tasha's parents are quite exceptional! Just lovely people who let us have Tash to come over and scrap/craft with me. I'm so excited!!!!!!!

Karen's Gorgeous Tag!

What a lovely tag I received today from Karen! This is a very talented lady whom we all love at PRH. Take a look at her mantel decorated up for the holiday season on her blog. Just click on her name above to be taken there. Now, excuse me while I go make some tags!!

Voilà, il est fait!!

My little vintage bell I found in the antique shop is finished. Isn't it cute painted a soft pink?! See what can be done with old stuff. Now all I need to get Jack to come a-running is to "ring my bell"!! Hah

Shabby Putz House Redecorated

This is how it turned out after I added some lace, buttons, clay roses and a hanger. It is on ebay for sale but I'm keeping some to put around the house. I love these little houses and especially the ones a sweet lady named Rhea has made and put up for auction on her website. She paints wonderfully also!

This one is probably 50 or 60 years old and I want to learn how to make them so I can put more around my house and on the tree. Oooooh, so many things to learn and so little time!!!! Sigh........................

Look What I Found Today!!!!!!!!!!

Jack and I went out antiquing today to find him a desk for his train room. We found one that would have been perfect, but it was SOLD! I thought he was going to cry!

BUT guess what I found?!?! I couldn't believe that tucked way in the back in an obscure corner of an antique store were these tiny little Putz houses! I grabbed them up so quickly I think I created a hurricane in the back of that store. Are they not the most adorable little cardboard houses?! They look a bit "unsophisticated" but I thought they were adorable. I may "jazz" them up a bit and sell them but I'll keep one for me probably. Just what I need - another "thing" to splash around my home.

Then on to another store and look at the little antique bell I found! I'm ecstatic today. Of course, it's going to get a coat of glossy pink paint ( I hate orange!) with some roses on it but I've been trying to find one on ebay and always lose it to someone else and they go up to a pretty high price also! I got this one for a song! I'm on a roll today!! Hah

Oh, yes, once when we went looking for a new car for Jack, guess who got the new car.....yep, moi. But he did get a train sign for his train room!! (She says as she smiles a big smile!)

Rosies on Her Toesies!!

Dance, ballerina, dance, she sings in her greatest voice - which ain't so great, I tell ya!! LOL. Remember that old song?? I do. I've been busy lately making this little ballerina on a box. I love ballerinas and as many little girls dream of when they are young, I wanted to be a ballerina for, ooooh for about 1 day or two. We all change our minds. Then I wanted to be a nurse. I can't stand needles or cuts but I thought that's what young women did. Luckily, I got smart and went into the business world. Luckier still, I had 2 babies that I loved and still love. I think being a ballerina is great but being a mom is even greater. And creating beautiful things is one step below that in my book!! This will go on etsy or ebay, I think.

And The Winner Is.......

Sweet Lorena!!!

I drew the name this morning and this sweet chickadee won. Congratulations, sweetpea!

I Am SoOOoo ReTRo!!

Okay, chickadees, stay tuned tomorrow for my drawing for the 3 paper roses!!
~*~

I found this old photo of me when I was about 16 years old. Get a gander at those old sunglasses! And that purse?!?! I'm sure I thought I was the cutest thing but I have to truly be shameless to show it to y'all now. Oh, my!! What am I saying - take a look at my mother's glasses!! Yuck...... It was taken aboard a ship my father was stationed on. That's him and my mom. She looks a head taller than him but she isn't, just the camera angle. But ain't I the cutest thing?!?! Hah...... Excuse me while I go gag.............

Paper Roses Giveaway!!

Revision!! I finished another rose today and I altered it a bit. It turned out to be the best rose yet. Sooooo some lucky person is going to get that one also with the 2 other ones above. Let me say that these are truly gorgeous in person.

~*~

Fun time!! I love doing giveaways or special auctions on ebay. I keep a list of all the people who want to get notice of the things I auction very cheaply or giveaway. So with that being said here is a giveaway of these paper roses I've been making. No, they ain't perfect that's why I call them Shabby Chic Roses, don't ya know!! Okay, for one week anyone who leaves a comment on this post will have their name put into a hat to receive these from me. As I said, I'm new and practicing so don't get all excited 'bout this, chicks! Hah!! Just comment, name is put in a hat, I draw a name and next thursday I'll post who wins. Can ya handle that??? :-)

The Finished Clay Roses - Ta Da!!!!

Voilà, the finished painted roses! I like them. The camera truly doesn't do them justice......or maybe it is the camera chickadee!! Naaahhhhhhh........ Couldn't be me! :-) But they are much prettier in person.

Clay Roses - 2nd batch today!

Wheeeeew! These take a while to make but here is the 2nd batch today. I may paint these if they are paintable! I haven't figured that one out today. Hah! But they will go into my next project and I love making them. They are truly simple easy.......

Making Clay Roses Today!

I love roses whether they're paper, clay, painted, in the garden or whatever; I just love roses. I've started making some of clay today. What fun they are to make!! However, have any of you noticed how hard on your hands this crafting business is? I have no nails to speak of and my hands are so dry I'm having to put lotion on them 10 times a day. But I digress.........

Here are pictures of my first ones. I love shaping them into different styles. It's really not a challenge to do this. The challenge is to find the time! I'm always doing something even if it's taking a break to read. I may paint these but I want to experiment for a day or two until I get enough to put on a little oval wood box I have. I may finish up some of my coffee filter roses today also. I plan on a surprise for some lucky chick though! ;-)

My Christmas Tree Delight

I made this little wall hanging from an old board and thought it was quite cute! I put some of my own hand painted roses on it and then just went from there. I love trying new things and the "untraditional" things also. Pink is rarely thought of as a Christmas color except to us Shabby-Chic-Loving women. It is my all time favorite color. This little tree is fabric and has rhinestones, buttons, ribbon roses, bows, chenille rick rack and pink organza ribbon. It didn't sell on ebay so I just may keep it. Maybe! I may give it a 2nd try or give it as a gift. Jack says we have quite enough pink girly stuff on our walls, thank you very much! I think not! Hah

A Victorian Lady Courtesy of Bertie!

A couple of weeks ago I received a package in the mail from a sweet lady named Bertie and she included a "packet" of some scrapping items as a gift. What a sweetheart!! Inside this package was this beautiful card of a victorian lady. I thought and thought of what I could do with it and came up with this. I had an old black picture frame about 25 years old and have been trying to figure out what to do with it. So I painted it white and shabbied it up a bit and made an insert for it with those lovely roses fabric. Then I just started adding things, but I wanted to keep it simple. I added netting to her skirt and then buttons, glitter rick rack, bows, lace and rhinestones. She is very regal looking so I added a "jewel" to her hair. I love the way it turned out and am so grateful to Bertie for all her kindness and creativity and for...........well.........just for being the "beautiful" lady she is and adding her voice to our PRH group. Thank you, sweet lady.

Charming Teacup Painting!

I just received this in the mail today from a true "charming southern lady'! Isn't it gorgeous?!?! I love teacups and roses. It was a gift from her and I am simply overwhelmed with her kindness and generosity. It is simply stunning in real life. I thank her from the bottom of my heart! She has a truly sweet heart.

The Mouse & Bird Tea Party!

I love making templates for ebay. I don't sell a lot, but it's a fun venture for me. I received a darling card from a sweet "virtual" friend (as hubby calls the women in my ebay group) and it was so adorable I scanned it and decided to make some of the elements in a logo for a sweet template. It has some little victorian mice "women" having a tea party in their finery. At their feet are a little bird and a butterfly having their "tea party" with the ladies. It is soooo adorable.

Card for My Toe & Secret Pal Strikes Again!

Mail lady did it again - much to my surprise!! I got a package from my secret pal with all this stuff in it: a wonderful wall hanging, a hand painted CD keeper, a tiny little pitcher(!), a card, a notepad and a little rose pillow!!! I just kept pulling things out of the box. I'm so amazed by it all. How amazing is my secret pal?!?!?! Wow, just look at it.

~*~

Then my foot received a card from Miss Katie, the Hun, whose hubby is off fighting the California fires while she is home fighting off a cold/allergy from the smoke of those fires.  ;-) She hopes I take a "step" in the right direction and am feeling "toe-tally" better! Hah, this from the goat lady!!! Love her to pieces. Ooooooh, and my foot thanks her also!

Exclamation Points in Life!

I found out many years ago I live my life in "exclamation points"! I talk in "exclamation points" for the most part. I'm enthusiastic about life and all things around me. Today I want to show you an "exclamation point" in my life - this little "jar."

I have many "containers" I've bought through the years to hold things. I don't believe in putting something in just a plain ol' jar, box or container when there are such gorgeous ones available! This is one of them I absolutely treasure. I think I bought it at Macy's but it's been so long I can't remember - probably 20-25 years ago. It sits on a table in my family room where I can look at its gorgeous roses each and every day. In this photo I have it sitting on a photo box painted by Lorena of 2chicfriends, who is one of my favorite artists because of her magnificent fluffy roses! Ya gotta go see her stuff on ebay. This woman is fantastic!! Now, wouldn't you rather see your little doo-dads, bibelots and furbelows in something like this than a ratty old box??!! Hmmmmmm..................

Afternoon on the Patio

Another day having a luncheon with friends. Here is another of Susan's beautiful paintings titled "Amaryllis." I love this setting! A pot of tea, old wicker or rattan, cushions, lace and roses. What more could we want? Just so inviting.

Surprise from Ele!!

I cannot believe this!! You gals are just so sweet and kind to me. And just for starting this group! WOW!! You continually amaze me. Look what arrived in today's mail - this wonderful little box with a snow covered house on it all decorated for Christmas. I'm stunned - truly!! Ele, our farmer's wife from North Dakota made this wonderful little box decorated with toile paper and jewels and roses and gorgeous trim! All pink, of course, my favorite color in the world!! And then she added a beautiful little tag she makes. Ladies, you don't want to miss her tags or blog. Go here Ele to see her gorgeous handiwork for yourselves. Thank you, oh thank you, Ele, my sister of my heart!!

Happy Halloween - Early!

This picture isn't a halloween picture but it has a scarecrow and reminds me of halloween. I think it is cute; although, I'm really not a big halloween person. I love seeing the kids and giving out candy but it's always been a bit spooky to me. DUH!! Anyway, this is another one of Susan's paintings and more will follow in the next several days also.

They Lift Me Up!!

There is a group of women who definitely lift me up! All the lovely women on the PRH group on ebay. They don't do anything but brag about each other and say nice, sweet, wonderful, encouraging, loving things to each other. I love all of them and wish I could adopt all of them. Rhea gave me this "You lift me up" award and that sweet thing lifts us all up! I'm going to pass this along to some other blogs I've seen that I like and maybe they'll be lifted up also. But no group on earth could be more lifting up than the PRH group. Best chicks in the world!!

Patio Tea Time!

Another place for a sweet afternoon of tea! Just outside your back door on the patio! Susan does it again! All you need is a simple table, a beautiful white cloth and a couple of chairs - wicker or white resin can do, ladies. Cobblestones would make it romantic also. Just think about what you can do for your afternoon tea........

Woodland Tea!

Perhaps you'd prefer a "woodsy" type of tea for you and your friends. This is an exquisite setting - again from Susan Rios! Dream and enjoy. More to come, ladies. Much more!!

Ocean View Tea!

Can you even imagine what it would be like to live in this setting? On the Pacific Ocean with lovely friends visiting for tea. Just too delightful to think of!

Grandmas Living Room, Trellis & Luncheon

These are 3 more of some favorites of mine by Susan Rios. One is set for a luncheon or tea with white wicker and a lovely setting with Olivia on it - the name of Susan's daughter.

The trellis one is the very first picture I saw of Susan's in Victoria magazine in the middle 1980s. I fell in love with her paintings then.

The top picture of the maroon horsehair sofa with linen pillows and antimacassars on the arms of the chair. Just reminds most of us of our grandmother's house.

Sigh, softer times. More photos will follow in the next few days.

Picnic and Bedroom Setting by Susan Rios

I'll share more of Susan's gorgeous tranquil settings in her paintings. The first one is a picnic setting we'd all love to be in. Just a tranquil luncheon by a babbling brook.

The second picture is a lacy bedroom with a bridal bouquet on the bed. The shoes are rumored to be Susan's wedding shoes when she married.

These are just the epitome of lacy, feminine, calm and beautiful things most women adore.

A Teensy Tiny Chandelier!!

I bought something on line the other day from Bertie and when the package arrived this little tiny chandelier was in it!! I was absolutely in shock! Just ask Jack. I tried to purchase one from a lady on etsy and she had sold out. I lamented to my PRH sisters about it never ever thinking someone on there made these little "glittering jewels"! But when my package arrived there was this inside along with some beautiful ephemera and scrapping things. She is just the sweetest thang eveeeerrr!!! I love ya, chickadee.......... :-)

I made you smile?!?!?!

I made someone smile!! How sweet is that? I received this award from Bertie and what a sweetheart she is. I cannot believe all this woman accomplishes in a week. It would put me in bed for a month! She is a crafter/sewer/designer extraordinaire! We love her as another PRH sister and you won't want to miss seeing her "cottage", which displays her "decoratingness"!! She's fantastic!

"Loving Touch Suite" by Susan Rios

This is another lithograph of Susan's work that I have. It's a pencil, pen and ink drawing. This woman is just so multi-talented! But I wanted to share some of her creations with you. I'll be putting more on in the future to show you some more of her work from a book I have of her. But isn't this just so feminine and pretty. I can just imagine my home with little vignette like this one. Wait...........I do have little vignettes like this or similar around my home! Hat boxes, books, ROSES, vases, little pictures and ribbons. I have a box of the most exquisite ribbons I bought from Alexandra Stoddard about 20 years ago now. I just keep them around to run my fingers through them and for more "eye candy."

My 2 Influences: Alexandra Stoddard & Susan Rios!

This is Susan Rios' Fiona's Place
One of my favorite paintings.

My issue of the new Victoria came today. I'm just a tad disappointed in the premier issue but I'm going to subscribe for a year and see how it evolves. My very first issue of that magazine was one that had Susan Rios in it. She touched my heart with her paintings and lithographs and I've acquired a few of them - the limited edition lithographs. Susan is my favorite painter. I just feel like I could slip into any of her paintings and be comfortable living there.

The article I like best today was the one on Alexandra Stoddard. I have many of her books and actually tried to fashion my home around her books. She lives graciously and is a very spiritual person. I remember I would go to the stores and buy beautiful fountain pens and various colors of inks. I even bought a Filofax and carried it for awhile. I'd purchase file folders, envelopes and copying paper in beautiful colors. I'd buy lovely writing papers and cards, beautiful and colorful boxes for storage, colored staplers and staples, colored pencils, colored tacks, ribbons and just about anything that brought joy to me. (To see some of these things, go to the end of my oldest blogs and you'll see how I organized my home and office with tips from this lady.) She soooo influenced the way I looked at things.

I started buying and using beautiful tablecloths and stemware even when we would just put water or juices in them. I want to live beautifully!

I wrote to her once and she actually wrote back to me. She is definitely an influence in how I live my home life. I loved the card she sent me and laminated it and put it in my planner, which is where I put all the stuff I'd want to have with me if I had to evacuate my home unexpectedly. However, my planner was stolen about 3 years ago when visiting in California and with it the card from her and some letters from my granddaughter. There were things in that planner than can never be replaced. Musings and notes, sketches, ideas, diagrams and plans of things I'll never ever remember again. How the dimensions should be when I make a box out of heavy card stock. How to make exquisite ribbon roses taught to me by a japanese women in Oregon that I've never ever seen anyone else make. Sad but they are all things "of the dust."

The photo of Alexandra - known as Sandy to her friends - in Victoria was less than flattering and I wish they had done a better job because I've seen her from 25 years ago and she was a beautiful woman, but I do think I'll write to Alexandra Stoddard again and see if she responds.