JUNK TO JOY

Chippy Rusty!

2012-02-21T09:03:00.000-05:00

Helllllooooo Sweet Friends!!!

I feel like I haven't posted in for-e-ver!!!

And I have no time to visit you...wahhhhh!

{I am missing you like crazy!!}

But want to say "HI", and tell you that wedding plans

are moving along, and the two big days will be here

and gone before I know it!! Whew...what a whirlwind!

It is too much fun!!!

Today I'm sharing a little piece that I will be linking

to Kathleen's White Wednesday later on.

You know I adore chippy, rusty, wonderfulness...

even better if it is WHITE!!

Soooo...when I saw this vintage escutcheon and all

of it's chippy fabulosity...I couldn't resist it!

You know it's true!

Love cures all the world's ills!

And I'm so thankful for the perfect love of Jesus!

What an incredible example He gives us to follow!

Also couldn't resist adding some vintage bling!!

This one of a kind, chippy art piece is in the shop

~~just waiting to be scooped up for your home decor!!!~~
Already scooped up!! ☺

Happy Tuesday!!

And Happy White Wednesday!!!

JOY and HUGS to you all!!

Sure appreciate you being patient with me

through this wedding stuff!!

Love,

Love Is In The Air

2012-02-09T10:05:00.001-05:00

Hi Sweet Friends!

I sooo miss visiting you all!

With TWO weddings,

one the first week of April,

and one the 3rd week in May,

I am eating, sleeping and breathing...

WEDDING PLANNING!!

This is not my first rodeo,

but having these two a mere 7 weeks apart

is definitely keeping my feet trotting

and my mother's heart throbbing!!

{BIG changes, you know?}

Here is Mallory beginning her

search for the perfect dress!

And I might add that this mission was ACCOMPLISHED within an hour!!

And a stunning dress for under $400!!

Just love that my girls are sooo budget conscious!

The sign on her dressing room door!

AND for Mal's wedding, we scored beautiful invitations

at JoAnn for, hold the phone...

SIX BUCKS!!

Here are some peeks at Britt's

handmade, rustic invitations

Sweet simplicity

She wanted to match the hearts on the banner...great idea!

She and John formatted them, and we all pitched in to create them!

I am going to continue to be pretty scarce, but will

be back with a bang after wedding #1

with a fabulous Spring Giveaway!

Until then, any other bits of time will be devoted to

adding inventory to my shop, and

getting orders shipped!!

Be thankful and filled with JOY!!!

Hugs n love,

Stuff and All!

2012-01-28T18:10:00.001-05:00

Just popping in to share a little stuff and all with ya!!

I've been working on shop stuff, house stuff, wedding stuff...

bank mess up stuff {ugh, but it's all fixed now}

Love these French music cards I purchased from La Pomme on Etsy!!

They look great with vintage lace, tarnished silver and a little bling!

I will be adding a couple more of these to the shop...

...tomorrow and Monday, and then the rest of the week will

consist of WEDDING PLANNING!!!!!

WOOHOO!!!

Oh!!!

And did I mention that we will be having TWO weddings this year???

Here are a few of Mal and Jeff's wonderful engagement photos!!

We're so delighted that each of our older daughters have

been blessed with such great guys!!

God is so good!!

Mal and Jeff are a lot of fun together, and we look

forward to welcoming Jeff and John into our family!!

We're getting two more sons!!

{we have 4 girls!!}

Have a restful evening and a joyful Sunday!

We have sooo very much to be thankful for!!

UPDATE!!

Just added this sweet blossom to my Junk to Joy Shop

I'll list the other one this evening or tomorrow morning!

HUGS!!

Perfection!

2012-01-25T08:35:00.000-05:00

Oh...so much joy to fill Nana's arms!!!

Is little Hannah not absolute perfection??

This is her serious look.

Those eyes are just amazing!!

Perfect lips, perfect little nose...

I tell you...just perfection!!!

{Nana's have earned the right to brag a little}

☺

Just had to share my Nana JOY with you this morning!

{smile}

Off to tackle my day!!

Hope yours is fabulous!!

xo,

Do you ever...

2012-01-23T12:11:00.000-05:00

...find it hard to get out of bed on Monday mornings??

{via Bella Notte}

This morning, as usual, I got up early to press hubby's

clothes, make him breakfast, and feed the kitties.

Got it done, sent him away with a kiss and a prayer,

AND

went straight back into my bedroom,

and hugged my bed!!

I wanted just a few more minutes of restful bliss,

but found my mind being bombarded with junk...

~there is so much to do, how will I ever get it done?

~I won't be able to get it all done

~stress, stress, stress

~how this?

~why that?

~will it work?

BLEH BLEH BLEH!

{pulling covers over head}

Just then...

something amazing happened!!

Something I knew I was supposed to share

with you!

I hadn't prayed yet, didn't ask God for help,

but He knew I needed Him,

and like a knight in shining armor,

He began flooding my mind with the most fabulous

{and unbelievably sweet} picture!!

The picture of how He sees me

and all of "His" girls!

{via pinterest}

God: Hey!! John, Paul, Peter! Quick, come here!!

She's awake!

And isn't she beautiful??

I tell you, when I made her ,

I created a masterpiece, didn't I?

The Guys: Oh yeah, Lord! High five!

God: I can't wait to help her get through her day today!

She has a lot to do...she needs me!

She'll be thrilled to see what she gets done!

And then she'll see, once again, that I'm always here

for her, ready to give her whatever she needs, whenever

she needs it!

{tears flowing down my face}

The Guys: Yes, Lord, and she'll be so thankful

and will tell everyone she knows how amazing You are!!

****

Well, sweet friends,

consider yourselves told.

{huge, teary-eyed smile}

Have a joyful day, and know that

He feels exactly the same way about all

of His girls!!

{via pinterest}

Hugs and joy,

Vintage Goodness-White Wednesday

2012-01-15T12:30:00.000-05:00

Hope you are having a joyful day!!

Things here have been a bit more quiet...

a welcome change for sure!!

But wedding plans are in full swing!!

April 7th will be here, uh...

in about 2 weeks!!!!!!!!

Soooo...whatcha been up to??

I have been trying new things, and attempting

to think out of the box...which doesn't seem

to come very naturally to me!

I have had a small collection of vintage door knobs

for about a year that I have just longed to create with,

but hadn't thought of any original ideas that made my heart sing.

That is... until now!

This is my spring makeover on one of my knobs,

and it makes me smile!

The knob is white porcelain, and got painted white

at some point in time.

I used different vintage components..bits of vintage

French linen back the leaves, a vintage rhinestone button is the center

vintage lace is the ruffle on the flower, vintage seam binding bow.

This was just too much fun!

And just look at the chippy, rusty, timeworn goodness on this knob!

Pure joy!!

I have more knobs

so I will be making a literal garden

of these little charmers!! Each one will be different,

and my original design.

Linking up to Kathleen's fabulous
White Wednesday!!

Have a glorious day!!

Fresh Start!

2012-01-09T21:26:00.005-05:00

Well,

Junk to Joy Shop

is officially back open for the year!

Woohoo!

I am still cranking out new items, editing photos, and

creating listings!!

Here are a few photos of new stock!!

Sweet French Cottages

Chippy salvaged wood inspirational plaque

Vintage bacon sack~~sooo farmhouse and fun!

Vintage pewter plate with glass dome

Sweet and shabby bird nest tassel

Hope you'll pop over to the shop and check out the rest!!

I'll be adding new items all week!

Hope your week is FABULOUS!!!

HUGS!

Love, Sweet Love

2012-01-06T20:49:00.002-05:00

I have been thinking about this wonderful new year

I've been blessed with, and have done some personal

goal setting. I have included steps to reach these goals,

and am praying for all I need to achieve each one.

Hands down, one of them stands above the rest,

and comes from

deep within my soul,

birthed by my Lord,

who is the very embodiment

of perfect love...

LOVE MORE!

That's it...just LOVE MORE!

{this absolutely charming heart was made by my friend Vesna...I won it! Just delightful!}

{You can find her here, go say hello, won't you?}

To love more requires me to be

more intentionally~

~prayerful

~compassionate

~encouraging

~thoughtful

~giving

~sacrificial

~unselfish

~merciful

~respectful

~non judgmental

~supportive

~optimistic

~joyful

~helpful

I need to hug more

{even though I'm quite huggy already}

{smile}

You see what I mean...

just LOVE MORE!!!

~~~~~~~

I can't wait to see what God does

with this goal, and how it impacts me

and those around me.

After all, He says to love one another

as He has loved us.

{and that is perfectly}

I'm quite sure I won't hit perfect,

but I aim to get closer to it than I am now!!

May His perfect love enfold you today!!

Hugs!!!!

Little Sneak Peek

2012-01-05T11:45:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!!

Hope yours is off to a great start!!

Things are good here!

Back to homeschooling with Maddy,

normal routine,

and back to shop business!!

I just can't wait to see all the new year holds!!

Life is such a great adventure!!

My motto for 2012 is...

IT'S GONNA BE GOOD!!!

{big smile}

Been working on new items for the shop

to help usher in S-P-R-I-N-G!!! Yeah!!

Here is a little peek at one of my new pieces!

Playing with textures in photo editing...such fun!

Lots of sweet spring goodies coming!!

Shabby, Farmhouse, and Cottage styles

will all be included in the new inventory!!

And of course, some fresh picked vintage loveliness!!

Yum!!!

Soooo...

MARK YOUR CALENDERS!!

JUNK TO JOY SHOP

WILL REOPEN FOR THE NEW YEAR ON

JANUARY 9TH!!

I will be making special shop announcements this year

on Facebook, and soon on Twitter.

So I hope you'll follow shop happenings there!

There will also be special Facebook only

sales and giveaways!!

Have a fabulous New Year!

I'm so thankful that you will be part of mine!!!

May this be your best year ever!!
HUGS!!

Ode to Joy!

2011-12-27T12:48:00.000-05:00

These last couple of weeks of 2011, our days have been filled with

sweet joy!!

Celebrating our daughter's engagement and getting in the

thick of it with dress shopping, preparations for her

engagement photo shoot, and of course...

celebrating the birth of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

Do you know Him yet?

{He is sooo amazing!}

If you don't, 2012 presents the perfect opportunity

to at least check out what all the buzz is about...

{His book has been a best seller longer than any other

book ever written!!}

You just might make the greatest discovery of your life!!

{in fact, I'm sure you will!} ☺

Here are some fun photos that capture snippets of our JOY!!

Continuing a tradition Randy's Grandma began,

each year at Christmas time,

we have a gingerbread cookie decorating party!

I cut free-hand boy and girl shapes,

and anyone who wants to decorate one can!!

Brittany and John made bride and groom ginger people!! Too cute!!

Love the hearts for eyes!! And the ring on her finger!

Me and Maddy stenciled these burlap save-the-date banners!

Just kind of winged it, and love how they came out!

Love my Cricut machine!

Needless to say, they have opted for a rustic

outdoor wedding, and have secured the perfect venue!

YAY!! The dress and venue can be checked off the list!!

Brittany's long time friend, Megan, shot the photos!! Sure love them!!

And just look at this sillyness!!

Hannah dressed up as a Christmas tree!!

Too hilarious!! She loved it!

The ribbon fell off of her head right as I was snapping the photo!

Doesn't Kris' shirt with Chuck Norris on it look funny in this shot?

Like he is watching over her!!
{the eyes of the ranger are upon you! LOL!!}

Those eyes are so gorgeous!!

She is 7 months as of yesterday!

Checking out the bow

And her big sis with one of her presents!

Adorable!

Thank you all for being a part of my journey!

I appreciate each and every one of you,

and sooo look forward to the New Year

and all the promise it holds!!

I am starting work on revamping the shop,

adding some spring inventory,

and will reopen it on January 9th!!

Hugs and Joy to You!!!

The Holidays~~Keeping It Real!!

2011-12-06T13:06:00.001-05:00

This past weekend we made our annual family

trip to Santa's Christmas Tree Forest!

It is always fun and this year was no exception!

We had everyone in tow, boyfriend,

fiance, cousin, and our crew!

If you live in central Florida and have young

children or grand children in your family

you definitely need to check it out!

We have been going for years and years,

and it is some of the best holiday family fun to be had!!

You can cut your own tree, {or buy a cut northern tree}

there's a petting zoo, horse and pony

rides, a zip line, a maze, a bounce pad, wreath shop, wonderful

concession, hay ride, reindeer ride for toddlers, bonfire for roasting

marshmallows and cooking hot dogs, gift shop...just too much fun!

Here are our four delightful daughters...

They all still really look forward to the tree farm each year!!

{where have the years gone?}

{sigh}

And this photo includes our niece, and our two grandies.

**********

Well, my friends,

I came to a place last week where I had a decision to make.

I was going to do a Creating Christmas series, and share all kinds of fun

and inexpensive ideas with you for your home decor and gifts.

Well, God put it on my heart to spend my time

Creating Christmas

for our family!

So that is what I'm going to do!

Some big changes are coming with a wedding in April, and a soon coming

announcement of another wedding in the fall, so I feel the need to take the time

to make our holidays extra special, and memorable.

You know,

These are the good ol' days!!

and I don't want to miss a thing!!

{Stephen Tyler is now singing in my head}

So, to keep it real, and keep my priorities in place,

I won't be doing my Creating Christmas series,

and I will be on vacation from Junk to Joy Shop

beginning this Sunday

until the second week of January.

When Junk to Joy Shop reopens, SPRING will be making

it's way into the shop, and the shop will have a fresh

look and some other changes!!

My blog posts will be few and far between as well, though

I will visit and stalk when possible {smile}

I am praying that the love of Christ will permeate your heart,

home and holidays this year, and that He will stir you up in your love

for Him and for one another!!

Blessings, hugs and joy to you!!

JOYFUL!

2011-12-01T14:50:00.001-05:00

The Christmas season is always such a joy to me!

I love seeing all the decorations and lights, and changing

things up around our home.

And I am so thankful for God, who gave this world

the gift of His Son, Jesus~~whose birthday we are celebrating!

This year we have something else special to celebrate...

The engagement of our daughter Brittany!!

Love this photo of her!

God has blessed her {and us} with the most wonderful young man!

His name is John and he is a young man of honor, integrity, respect,

and is so much fun to be around, too!

They make an absolutely charming couple, and are

so totally in LOVE!

It is so cool to meet the young man I have prayed for
since Britt was a little girl! I didn't know who he was,
but God did!!

He proposed to her at a local park a little after sunrise,

and surprised her by showing up in a tuxedo!

They spent the rest of the day at Disney World,

and wore the "Just Engaged" buttons

and were congratulated the whole day by the park's

employees!

I sooo love seeing how God just works all things out for good

for His children!!

We have our "meet the soon to be in-laws" dinner tonight!!

Too much fun!

Have a lovely afternoon and evening!

I will post my Creating Christmas gift idea tomorrow!!

Just been too much going on!!

You can relate, right?? :o)

Hugs!

Creating Christmas~FREE is Good

2011-11-28T14:10:00.001-05:00

I love decking the halls at Christmas time,

but am finding that I am developing an appreciation for keeping

things simple, and a bit more natural.

And with the economy, our budget is a definite consideration!

So...

I have always wanted a fresh cut wreath,

but winced at the idea

of spending $30 or more to buy one. I always make my own

wreaths, but have never made one from fresh greenery.

That is until today!!

Here it is!

{sorry for the weird background color! Don't know what

happened there!}

Looks pretty good, huh???

I will probably remove the pittisporum

bunch and add a ribbon, but I love it,

and it smells divine!!

And the best part...

The greenery was FREE!!

Free, Free, Free...

gotta love that!

I got in the car on Saturday and buzzed around to

Lowe's and Home Depot, and they

give you the cuttings for free!!

So go load up...and get extra so you can

use it on your mantel, centerpiece, garlands, etc...!!

Now I know you want to give this a try!

It really is tooo easy not to make one every year!!

You can do this!!

Here we go!

This is what you will need:

Greenery bundle!

If you can find mixed greens, they look

amazing on a wreath, so go for that!

I used only Frasier Fur.

2. A form of some sort. Metal is easier to work with,

but you can use grapevine, too.

3. Standard green floral wire

4. Wire cutters

5. Old scissors or shears to cut branches

Now let's begin!!

***You want to use the tops of the branches that come

to a point preferably.

***Cut approx 10-12" lengths

***Cut about 20-25. Any leftovers can be used elsewhere

My form is standard wreath size.

For larger forms you will need to cut more!

***Cut 25 approx5-6" lengths of wire

and shape into a U for ease in wiring.

I didn't make my wreath really thick,

but it is just full enough.

You can make yours as full as you'd like.

***Lay branch on form and position so the tip is toward the outside edge

***Wire on at base, and in the middle if the branch is floppy.

***position next branch on top changing the angle slightly for fullness

***You can always come back later and apply more layers

***Continue to work around wreath until form is completely covered

***Flip wreath over and trim any tails to the wires so they don't
scratch your door or wall when hung

It is just that easy!!

Now give yourself a pat on the back,

and go hang that wreath!!

Day 2 of Creating Christmas

will feature an easy to make, inexpensive Christmas gift!

Come back on Thursday for more creating fun!!

Remember...

You can CREATE your Christmas!!

Hugs and blessings to you!!

From My Workbench!

2011-11-21T00:17:00.001-05:00

Happy Monday!!

Hope everyone is doing well, and are ready

to celebrate and give thanks this Thanksgiving!!

We're getting there, and will have a full house!

I've been creating non-stop...some successes, some...

well not quite so successful...but that's ok!

Here are a few of my successes...

These are fun little wooden gift tags/ornaments that are my handmade original design!

I started singing Christmas songs while I was making them!

{smile}

They are already in the shop!

This is a sweet, shabby gift tag that is sprinkled

with clear glitter for some sparkle!!

{it doesn't show up in the photos! Hmmph!}

It's full of vintage charm, too!

It can be used for Christmas or year round!

I'll make a companion for this tag, and

put it in the shop today.

I don't like most of the gift cards holders

that are out there, and I love to give gift cards,

so I made this little JOY bucket as a

fun and pretty way to give gift cards, which

is really a gift itself!!

The little envelope in the back is for the card

and the rest is just for some added JOY!!

The bucket can be filled with candy, baubles, pens,

pencils, etc... and used all winter!!

Well that's some of what I have been up to!

What about you?

Whatcha been doing??

Hope you have a fabulous week!!

We have sooo much to be thankful for,

don't we??

Hugs and joy to you!!

French Farmhouse Giveaway Winner!

2011-11-16T22:47:00.001-05:00

I decided not to wait two more days to

post the French Farmhouse Giveaway winner!!

The lucky lady is

Holly from Lavender and Limes!!

Please send me your mailing address Holly,

and I will get your goodies on their way!!

My email is junktojoyshop@yahoo.com

Congratulations!!

Love this wintery candle holder from Pottery Barn...I can't

resist mercury glass even if it's faux!!

*****

I am finally getting to creating the Christmas/Holiday items

for my shop! It should be quite full by the end of the week!

I am working on ornaments, more vintage style bottle

brush trees, petite holiday cottages, new lavender

sachets, gift tags, etc....

Hope you'll stop by soon and check it out...

Give me a day or so, and more will trickle in!!

A big thanks to all who entered the giveaway!

I will be hosting a few smaller ones between

now and Christmas so look out for those, too!!

Also...

After Thanksgiving I will be sharing my

"Creating Christmas"

ideas for easy and inexpensive gifts and decor~~

two projects a week to create with tutorials!!!

When you want to give the very best...

give handmade!

Hugs and joy to you!

White Wednesday-Crafting Christmas

2011-11-09T11:18:00.001-05:00

Happy White Wednesday!!

I know so many think it's too soon

to be seeing Christmas and holiday things!

We have a rule of no Christmas music

until after Thanksgiving, so I'm right there

too!

BUT...

For us shop owners, we've got to

get a jump on it, and start work early!

I have been having so much fun playing

with these vintage style bottle brush trees!

Each one is one of a kind...my favorite way to create!!

I filled this one with vintage goodies!

It sits in a fabulously tarnished vintage silver plated bowl.

It makes me smile to use old things in my creations!!

Are you making any Christmas/holiday crafts now?

Handmade items make such wonderful gifts!!

Don't forget to enter my French Farmhouse Giveaway!!

Just click this photo and you're there!!

Ends 11/15!!

Have a joy filled day!!

Hugs,

Sweetness x A Million!

2011-11-08T09:08:00.001-05:00

Our little grandy Hannah....

holding her Mommy's finger...

love seeing what a fabulous Mommy

our Sam is!

Thank you, Britt, {22 yo amazing daughter!}

for the lovely photo!!

Have a blessed day!

Hugs

French Farmhouse Giveaway!!

2011-11-05T15:34:00.002-04:00

On September 4th,

Junk to Joy Shop

turned one year old!!!

WOOHOO!!

And, of course, to properly celebrate

this momentous occasion,

there must be a

GIVEAWAY!!

{even though it's a wee bit late!}

Mix some lovely vintage French delights

with a touch of farmhouse charm, and

you have Junk to Joy's

French Farmhouse Giveaway!!

I don't know if this is officially French farmhouse...

{or if there even is such a style!}

but it is my take on it, and many of
you know I like to mix it up!!

Call it whatever you like!
The most important thing is that it is

FULL OF ALL KINDS OF LOVELIES!!

*****

First we have a fabulous inspiration holder

made by no other than Michelle at

Petite Michelle Louise!!

How divine is this??

She even included the sweet calling card!!
These are perfect for displaying photos, or anything
that makes you smile!!

Her inspiration holders were recently featured on

the cover of Somerset Life. You can see why, right??
You can see more of her wonderful artistry here

*****

Next are some soft, nubby, vintage French linen lavender

sachets that I made! They are filled with a delightful

blend of top quality French and English lavender

from Paula Jean's Garden on Etsy!

The top one is embellished with sweet vintage elements,
and I left the second one plain. They are 5" squares, and
will fill your senses with the essence of Provence!!

There is also an adorable tiny French flea inspired tin
that contains 6 round handstamped tags, and a
a "France" label on top. This sweet piece was
created by Rhonda of A Little Bit French!
You can find more lovely treasures in her Etsy shop
Paris Gal 56!!

*****

When I saw this wire cloche, it just screamed
farmhouse with it's lovely, kind of galvanized patina!!

Isn't it cool?? So unique! Flourished on the front and
back side and a birdy on top!!

AND...

The white, rustic, velvet pumpkin inside is included!!!

It's a medium sized pumpkin, handcrafted with love by me,
and is one that will fit
easily into any vignette, or stand alone!!

*****

To add some more authentic French charm,
I had to include some vintage French music cards!

They came from Apol's shop, La Pomme, and are
so delightful! I just love holding them and thinking
of the young students that used them in France!!
You will receive 4 cards! {I had to keep a couple for moi!!}
Apol's shop is full of French delights! Hope you'll go check it out!

*****

And finally, a charming Vintage French Jam Jar!!

These jars are chunky and solid, and can be
used as vases, pen/pencils holders, studio storage,
serving biscotti, you name it!!

*****

PLEASE NOTE: I share my sources with you because I value
their talents, goods, customer service and hearts. I haven't
received anything free and no monetary compensation for promoting them.
I hope you will visit them!!

*****

NOW...how to enter!!

There are up to six chances to win!

YOU MUST LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENTS
FOR EACH CHANCE TO WIN!!

1. Become a follower, or let me know that you are a follower

2. Display this giveaway button in your sidebar with this link:
http://junktojoy1.blogspot.com/2011/11/french-farmhouse-giveaway.html
thru Nov. 15th, and let me know

3. Blog about the giveaway, and let me know

4. Become a follower on Facebook~click the birdy in
my sidebar to take you there, and let me know

5. Visit Junk to Joy Shop, and tell me what you like, or
would like to see in my shop!!

6. Share the giveaway on Facebook or Twitter and let me know

Enter with all six chances
or as many as you would like
That's up to you!

*****

I will announce the winner on November 18th!

{I'm so sorry, but this giveaway is open only to citizens
of the U.S. and Canada}

Hope the rest of your weekend is wonderful!!
Hugs and joy to you!!

Little Beauties!

2011-10-31T09:59:00.004-04:00

Happy Monday!!

Just had to share this photo with

you today!

These are our two grandies in their

costumes for the Fall Festival!

Little Hannah is five months old now!

WOW!! How time has flown by!

She is a little rosebush!

Sam made her outfit and I love it!

Emily is 6 now and wanted to be a little

lady bug!

She is also a proud bug sis!!

Oh how these little beauties fill their

Nana's heart with JOY and delight!!

And to see our Samantha blossom into motherhood,

and do such a wonderful job with these two...

truly one of my greatest joys!

*****

You know, dear friends,

we have to be so careful how we

spend our days.

God is still teaching me about how very important

my role as wife, mother and Nana is.

We only have so much time here, and He wants

each of us to carefully weigh other pursuits and where

they fit into our lives against these most important privileges

He has blessed us with.

I am 53 years old and still learning every day!

I have never been

more thankful for the joys of family life, and the time

He has given me with my wonderful husband, daughters,

son-in-love, and grandies!

My goal and heart's desire is

to leave behind me a legacy of love for God,

family, and have the knowledge, when I breathe my last breath,

that I did the best I could possibly do with the opportunities

granted by God to impact the lives of our family's future

generations, so they can touch the lives of others with

His love.

Have a fabulous week!

I will announce my giveaway by Friday!!

Hugs and love to all of you!

Simple Rustic Elegance

2011-10-29T11:43:00.001-04:00

Happy Saturday!

Whatcha up to?

I am working with pumpkins again!!

I had a store in California contact me

desiring to carry some of my pumpkins!

That's just so cool. Now they will be in

three retail shops~the other two in Texas.

I finished making the pumpkins only to realize

that I had made them in white velvet instead of ivory!

My customer needed the ivory, so I will be

making them today.

I decided to embellish a few of the white and

add them to the shop. Here is one of them...

They are simple, but elegant, with a little rustic

in the mix~a look I just love!

They're a nice size too...perfect for

most any vignette!

Hope your weekend is fabulous!

Because of my mistake, my

weekend will be mostly a working one!!

That's ok, though!!

God is good all the time!

Hugs and joy to you!

Creative Bliss

2011-10-24T16:06:00.000-04:00

In the past few days I have been getting a wee bit

frustrated!!!

My creative mojo kind of just left the building!

Nothing was turning out the way I saw it in my

head, and just when I was about to throw in the

towel, I hit gold!

Or should I say silver mercury glass??!!

I adore vintage mercury glass, and bottle brush

Christmas trees...

so I married them along with some other

sweet elements, and this is what

I ended up with...

OH BLISS!

{Is that angels I hear singing?}

Some of you out there know just what I'm talking

about, don't you? I was thinking that I might never be

able to make something I like again!!

Sooo glad I was wrong!
Thank You, Lord!!!

It looks just like what I had envisioned!

And I LOVE it!

I will have a full line of these in my Christmas Collection

in several different sizes and styles!

How fun will a whole bunch of them look together?

Christmas will hit Junk to Joy Shop
next week!!!

Wishing you success in all of your creative and not so

creative endeavors!!

If any of you have something you have done that

helps you get your mojo back, I would love to hear about it!!

I'm linking to White Wednesday with Kathleen
over at Faded Charm! Join the party!!

Have a fabulous week!!

Hugs,

Stealin' Away

2011-10-21T22:07:00.000-04:00

What a wonderful Friday!

I am definitely getting my fall on!!

And today it started with, of all things,

THE BEACH!!

I have barely gotten to the beach since spring,

and for this beach bum, that is just WRONG, I tell ya!!

So... since I could go beach it for awhile,

AND

hit Hob Lob on the way back...I DID just that!!

As you can see, there isn't a soul in the water.

And the life guard is wearing a hoodie!

That is because it was in the upper 60's

{yes we Floridians are thin blooded!}

and the water was about 74 degrees.

BUT...as you can also see...

it was an absolutely GORGEOUS day at South Daytona Beach!

I looovvee the color of the water!!

And of course, the adorable shore birds!!

I do not know this family, but simply couldn't

resist snapping this charming pic of them walking

to the water!!

Doesn't it just thrill you to think that when God

made the world...

He made it for us to enjoy!!!???

He was thinking of you and me all the while,

and I am always refreshed and filled

with awe and wonder when I am surrounded

with His incredible creation!!!

The sand was so sparkly...like glitter had been sprinkled all over!!

JOY!!

Have a fabulous weekend, and splash some joy around!

Hugs!!!

Shabby Fun!

2011-10-16T16:12:00.000-04:00

Well, my pumpkin making has slowed down a

bit, which is giving me an opportunity to do some

of my other favorite things, like making

gift tags!

I have been playing with some

coffee and tea staining on tags

and embellishments.

Here is the first tag I've finished!

It has a little winter/holiday feel to it, but can

be used for any occasion!

The button is handmade clay, and was

created by a delightful young Christian girl, who has

her own Etsy shop. Isn't it charming??

Her shop is Dolly Madison and can be

found here

I also embellished a lighter kraft

gift bag, and hand stamped

the tissue paper so it coordinates with

the doily on the bag.

What do you think?

I am considering adding a line of

embellished bags and tags to my

shop. They would sell for $10-$12 a set,

complete with coordinating tissue, and

in different styles.

Let me ask you...

Would you purchase a set like

this for a special gift??

Please do tell!!

Feedback is always a good thing!

I am joining in on
White Wednesday over
at Faded Charm!!

Have a lovely day!!

White Fall~~White Wednesday

2011-10-12T13:57:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone!

Happy White Wednesday!!

I am sharing a little fall vignette I put together.

A sweet white fall tray~~that I love!

There are a few favorite things, like the ironstone

dish, the sweet Automne pumpkin I added to my collection

this year from Cloth and Patina, some lovely

sea pottery, mercury glass beads, and vintage buttons!!

I also love the vintage marmalade crock,

but it was purchased for the shop, and will

be listed soon!

I have the beginnings of a vintage carded button

collection that I add to when I can! Just adore them,

and love that they are being preserved in their original

state!!

Sea pottery is another favorite thing...pottery shards

that have been tossed and softened by the salt water
and sand...

Just delightful!

Another blossoming collection!

And these lovely escutcheons will soon be

transformed into Christmas decor!! I'll show you

when I'm finished with them!

Just LOVE old door hardware and keys!! JOY!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Hope you'll go check out all the other loveliness

at Faded Charm's White Wednesday!!

Hugs to you!!

Full Heart

2011-10-04T08:58:00.000-04:00

This simple thought expresses
the fullness of my heart today.

Thank you, Lord, for the breath

of life and this new day!

Help this child of Yours please you in
all she thinks, says and does.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Fall~~Beach Cottage Style

2011-10-03T10:11:00.002-04:00

Happy Monday!!
Hope all is well with you and yours!!

A touch of fall has hit central Florida with
lows in the 50's!!

WOOHOO!
To celebrate fall in my state,
which has so much coastal area to
enjoy, I just had to create a
sea inspired pumpkin!

It is a lovely sea mist green/gray velvet, and is
embellished with sparkly, stringy fibers,
and a real drift wood stem!
A charming vintage rhinestone button finishes it off
with a touch of elegance!

A sweet compliment to any beach cottage decor, or beachy vignette!!

Now available in the shop!!

Have a fantastic week,
and be watching for more pumpkins
and fresh picked
vintage arriving in the shop,
and
for the announcement
of Junk to Joy Shop's 1 year anniversary
"French Farmhouse Giveaway"!

Hugs!

Make It!!~~White Wednesday!

2011-09-27T21:02:00.003-04:00

It's White Wednesday over at
Faded Charm!!
Lots of lovelies to check out there!!
I'm joining in
and sharing a fun and easy toot!!

It is time to get those hands busy,
making these adorable little

PETITE PUMPKINS!!

You can do it!!

Here we go!!

This is what you will need:

~~a 7 1/2-8" circle template, or something that will make a circle
{I used kiddie plate that is 7.75" for a 3.25" pumpkin}
~~sewing needle
~~Fabric-I used white panne velvet {currently on sale at JoAnn}
~~color coordinated thread
~~poly fill
~~ball point pen
~~natural stick for stem about .25" thick, 2" long
~~Hot glue gun
~~embellisments {buttons, ribbon, twine, etc...}

~~Lay out your fabric right side down, with template, plate, etc... on top
~~Trace around/inside template

~~Cut out circle along tracing lines
~~Be accurate...no wonky circles!!

~~Cut a 25" length of thread

~~Insert thread in needle, double the thread and knot.

~~Approx .25" from outer edge, insert needle, and

bring back up .25 inches from where you inserted it.

~~Repeat all around circle, gently pulling stitches flat

until you are back at the knot.

~~Gently pull on the needle and begin to lightly gather the edge in.

~~Grab a little hand full of polyfill, and add or take
some away until it looks like the right amount
to fill the pumpkin. Shape it a little into a puffy
kind of oval circle, and insert in fabric pouch.

~~Pull gently on thread again to gather again, leaving about a.25" opening
~~Insert stick, pull to gather around stick, and run your thread into the fabric
to tie it off. Run it back through the loop to make a knot. Cut thread close to
pumpkin.
~~Gently remove the stick.

~~Apply hot glue all around the bottom 1/4-1/3 of an inch of the stick
and insert the stick in the hole, pushing down til only
only an inch-1.33" or so of the stick is showing.

And voila!!
You have made a charming petite pumpkin!!
Now, just embellish it with whatever makes you smile!!

I wrapped and hot glued some twine around the stem,
and couldn't resist

ADDING SOME VINTAGE BLING!!!

You can use most any fabric, but this fabric
is so easy to work with and there is no fraying.
It does come in a wide variety of colors!!

You can also make the pumpkins smaller or larger by
using different size circle templates!

Of course, if you're not convinced you can do this...
some of these little beauties will be available for purchase
tomorrow in my Junk to Joy Shop!!

Let me know if you make some, or have any questions!!
I'm always glad to help!!

Thanks for stopping by!
Hugs,

Faux Leather!

2011-09-26T21:56:00.000-04:00

I know, I know...
You are probably soooo sick
of seeing pumpkins on my blog!!

I promise that later this week, and
over the next two weeks you will
see far more than just pumpkins!

Posts will include some tutorials, and
a big huge
Junk to Joy Shop
1 year Anniversary
Giveaway!!!!

Stay tuned for the details!!

I just had to share this set I made
for a custom order. It is totally
different than any pumpkins I've made
before, and so much fun to create.

It is faux leather for a western kind of
rustic look!!

Hope your week is off to a great start!!
Today was a bit tough for me, but it is all good!!

Don't feel like you have to comment!!
I just wanted to share with my friends!!

{smile}

Have a happy Tuesday
and share God's love!!!

HUGS,

Shabbylicious Pumpkinette!

2011-09-24T15:10:00.001-04:00

I squeezed in creating this little cutie

last week, and just love it!

It is one of a kind, and available now
in the shop!!!

I am having a blast creating these!

Hope you're enjoying seeing them!!

Just had to add the sweet pom pom trim

and of course some vintage bling!!

So simply shabby and fun!!

Hope you're having a delightful weekend!
Back to pumpkins for me!!

Remember to thank God today for all
of the blessings He has bestowed on you!!

HUGS!!!

Fall Frenzy!

2011-09-22T10:53:00.002-04:00

I tell ya what! I am in a fall frenzy here!

I am just a pumpkin making fool!

I love coming up with new pumpkins
and here are a couple I just added to the shop!

This white canvas one has kind of a rustic, farmhouse feel to it.

It can be found here

And this is a delightful petite crushed velvet trio!
Love them nestled on my
vintage ironstone butter pats!!

They can be found here

Today...

I am working on 20 pumpkins for the
fabulous new Burlap and Biscuits

store that my friend Paula owns in
Killeen Texas!!

So in about a week, some of my work will
be available for purchase at Burlap and Biscuits!!
So exciting!!

You can find Paula's store on Facebook here

So what are you up to today?

Make it a great day, ok??

Hugs,

Fall~~Etsy Style

2011-09-21T03:15:00.001-04:00

I love shopping Etsy...I'm not just a seller!!

And there is nothing quite like the celebration
of the onset of FALL on Etsy!

Here are some of my favorite finds!!

Found here

I purchased one of these for my pumpkin collection!
LOVE it!!

Found here
A pretty fall banner by my friend Kelli!

Found here

I have a thing for acorns like I have for pumpkins!
Just haven't started a collection of them yet!

Found here
I always buy pumpkin soap this time of year!
And burn harvest scented candles!

Found here

Yum! These are adorable!

Hope you'll visit Etsy, and support other
handmade artisans!!

Have a lovely Wednesday!

Choose JOY today!!

Hugs to you!!

Becky

French Lovelies!

2011-09-15T10:13:00.002-04:00

In between making pumpkins and acorns, and all of
my other duties with family and home,
I'm currently loving creating gift tags with lovely French
lady graphics! Here is the second in a series!

A wonderful saying accompanies this poised lady...

"She feels good in her skin"!

Shouldn't we all?

She is now available for purchase at Junk to Joy Shop!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Have a delightful day,
and share your smile!!

Hugs,

Make This!!

2011-09-14T09:56:00.004-04:00

I absolutely love texture!

After experimenting a bit with plaster,
I thought it would be cool to try to
create a plaster look pumpkin!

You know...something different...
a little unexpected...
and full of texture!

So I did!
What do you think?

I totally adore it!

And it is soooo easy to do!
You HAVE to try it!

Here is what you need:

Faster Plaster {available at Michael"s, take your 40% off coupon}
A faux pumpkin {I got mine at Dollar Tree}
Faux autumn leaves {I got them at Dollar Tree, too}
A 1" foam brush {on sale 20 for $1 at Michael's}
Something to mix the plaster in
And a 2" stick from your yard for the stem

OH! And some plastic wrap to sit it on to dry!!
And a paper towel!!

AND a hot glue gun!!

This is a bit messy, so wear an old T-shirt and
cover your work surface to protect it and make
clean up easy.

I didn't get photos of the process, but
here are the directions!!

*Mix up approx 1- 1 1/2 cups of plaster to the consistency of yogurt
according to package directions.

*Remove faux stem from pumpkin

*Pushing quite hard, insert the stick stem where

the faux stem was. You will hold the stem

while applying the plaster.

*Apply a thick coating of plaster covering as much of the

color of the pumpkin as possible except the bottom.

*The plaster will run a little, but it begins to

dry fairly quickly

*This coat will be smooth!!!

*Once it is covered well, place it on the plastic wrap to dry.

*Dip a fall leaf in the plaster, covering as much of the color

as possible. Place on the cling wrap to dry.

{the leaves are fragile, but have a fabulous look!!}

*Check the pumpkin after about 10 minutes. When it is almost all dry,

the real fun begins!!!

*To create the texture, use your fingers to scoop up some

plaster and apply it to the pumpkin. You want it to look

rough so don't smooth it too much.

*You do want to smooth it enough to make sure it adheres well.

*Repeat until the whole surface is textured..

*Apply a coat to the underside of the pumpkin, too

{If some green shows through it's ok...it's just the botton!}

*Apply some plaster around the base of the stem to secure it
and on the stem to "weather" it slightly!

*WHEN PUMPKIN AND LEAF ARE BOTH COMPLETELY DRY,
use a hot glue gun to adhere the leaf to the pumpkin.

Just use one dime to nickel size blob, and remember the leaves are

FRAGILE, and the plaster will crack if you grip them

too hard!!

Once done, leave plain or decorate with whatever
your heart fancies!! I used a strip of torn muslin and
made a little paper tag!

TIP!! When the pumpkin is completely dry, you can lightly
sand any rough edges that might flake off.

TIP!! You can spray both leaf and pumpkin with a clear sealer,
and it will help prevent flaking of the plaster.

Here is the before and after:

The leaves could be used to scatter in
vignettes, on party tables, and even as wedding decor!

Too cute paired with The French linen pumpkin that will hit the shop today!!!!

Paired up with a mini peat pot, and a fabulous custom made

Fall sign by my sweet and talented friend
Mandy over at Creekside Creations!

Her signs are so awesome! You can find them HERE!

Hope you'll try the plaster pumpkin!
Let me know if you do!!

Linking up to White Wednesday over at Faded Charm!!

Have a delightful day!!!

HUGS!!

A Drive By Post for WW!

2011-09-07T15:38:00.002-04:00

Here at my house we are literally
swimming in pumpkins and acorns!!

Hope you're not tired of seeing the results
of all of my labor!!

Here is a yummy creamy white
heirloom gourd with fabulous
vintage trim and button!

This is definitely one of my faves!

This one is a custom order.

I will be making pumpkins through the end of
October, and will add heirloom pumpkins to
the shop as time permits.

Thanking God for this beautiful Florida day
and for the incredibly gorgeous rainbow that

greeted me as I opened our front door this
morning at 7:00!

Simple joys!!
Amazing God!

I decided to link up to
White Wednesday over at Faded Charm!!
What a wonderful
celebration of whites Kathleen
hosts each week!!

Hugs to you!

Happy Saturday! Playing With Graphics!

2011-09-03T14:05:00.002-04:00

Hope your holiday weekend is going well so far!!

I took a few minutes out today to play
with some vintage graphics,
and I decided to make some of them into tags!

I think I'm hooked, so I'm sure I'll be
creating some more!

Here is the first one available for purchase!

Kind of dreamy and romantic, isn't it?

Lovely crinkled coffee stained and scented
vintage seam binding, too!

This is probably the first of a series
of French inspired tags!!

You can find these right here in my Junk To Joy Shop!!

Well, off to take my girl to the mall for a bit
and then back to work on filling orders!!

Have a fabulous weekend!!
Be safe!

Blessings and hugs,

Lacy Bowls~~White Wednesday

2011-08-30T23:29:00.002-04:00

Today, I am participating in
White Wednesday over at Faded Charm!
Kathleen is a sweetie to host this each week for all of us white
lovers!! Hope you'll go check it out and meet her!

I am sharing a super simple project that can definitely
result in a wow factor for your home decor!

It is not new...but it is under sung!

LACY DOILY BOWLS!

These are so incredibly simple to make!
Here is what you need:

~a doily
~Stiffy fabric stiffener or liquid starch
~a bowl to form the shape
~wax paper

That's it!

Then follow these steps:

~Soak the doily completely with Stiffy or starch
~Gently squeeze out any excess
~Cover the bowl with wax paper
~Shape the doily around the bowl

If the doily is full, you can gently crimp the edges
for a ruffled effect.

Then just let dry and remove!!

Now it's time to get a little creative!

This one is perched on top of some vintage
ironstone butter pats! I love it!

And they cast the most beautiful lacy effect
onto whatever is next to them,
which gives a vignette great ambiance,
and a touch of romance!

I set them on a vintage silver tray, and I have
one of them placed on a pillar candle stand.

These can also be used to display vintage trims,
buttons, baubles, or whatever your fancy!

They are a green craft, way too easy to make
and oh soooo lovely!

Hope you'll make some of your own!

Happy White Wednesday!!

Hugs,
Becky

It Really Is A Choice

2011-08-29T10:00:00.002-04:00

Happy Monday!!

Hope your weekend was grand!!

Can I talk to you
about something from my heart today?

I have come to realize through my own experiences,
and shared experiences with others,
that what happens to us in this life isn't
nearly as important as our response to
what happens.

I don't know about all of you, but I have days,
that are full of minutes,
in which I am constantly having to

MAKE A CHOICE!!

Something will happen, someone will say or do
something that upsets or saddens me, me or one
in my family may have a health issue, I will
get some bad news, I will kick the chair leg, and be

certain I have a broken toe, people will pluck my
nerves with their driving, or maybe I will just get up
on the wrong side of the bed!

WHAT TO DO???

Must. make. a. choice.

Instead of

Worry.
Sadness.

Fretfulness.

Anxiety.

Anger.
Etc...

I am learning to choose JOY!
And to choose to be thankful anyway!

No matter what we're faced with, the majority
of the time, it could be way worse,
and usually pales next to things
many other people are having to deal with!

We also function much better and are generally

happier when we choose not to make a problem
or a circumstance the sole object of our focus.

The Bible says it like this:

...whatever things are noble, whatever things are

just, whatever things are pure, whatever things
are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there

is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy,
MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS.

There is always something we can be
thankful for, and when we choose joy
and thanks, the negative emotions
lose their place of prominence, and our
spirits are lifted...

All I know is this~~

This life is far too short to spend in the pit!

Some days I may have to choose joy
a dozen or more times, but I always
feel better and have a better day when I do!!

Choosing joy today!

How about you?

Hugs to you all!!

You are such a blessing!

Don't Pass Them By!

2011-08-27T22:09:00.001-04:00

Hard to believe that just this morning, this little charmer...

looked like this...

I want to encourage you to look at these wooden shelves,

baskets, bowls, signs, etc... as diamonds in the rough!

With a little help, they can be turned into such great pieces!
This one had no imperfections, and I immediately
envisioned it with touches of French inspiration!

I whitewashed it, scruffed it up a bit, glued on
the little birdy, and added some goodies!
Easy peasy!!

Not convinced that it is just that easy?
It really is!!

But if you'd rather buy it than try it,
head on over to the shop and grab this

little beauty for yourself!!

Hope you're having a fabulous weekend!

I am making acorns and pumpkins for a shop
in Frisco, Texas called Rustica Designs!

Woohoo!!! Too much fun!

Have a glorious Sunday!
And remember that a happy heart
is a thankful heart!!

Hugs,

Life is Full of Surprises!!

2011-08-22T23:30:00.001-04:00

WOW!

Sometimes life is just so much fun!!

I have a sweet blog friend named Kathy,
over at Creative Home Expressions,
who I first met as a customer at my shop last year.

Today she surprised me by
telling me she was featuring
the heirloom pumpkins she just
purchased from me
in her blog post today!

What a J-O-Y!!!

I LOVE seeing what people do with my creations!
It just makes the circle complete, you know?

Here is a little peek...

Kathy is a very gifted interior decorator and

just as sweet and generous as she is talented!

Hope you'll pop over and take a look and meet her!
To go see more just click here

Thanks again, Kathy!

And to top that off, I was recently contacted by
two retail stores who would like to carry some of the items
I have created for my Prelude to Fall Collection!!

Pinch me, please...what a delight to be asked!!!

Hopefully they will both work out and I can
make that announcement to you soon!
Who knows...one of them may be in your area!!

Here is my newest set of pumpkins!

A little shabby and tattered, with a sweet inspirational sentiment!
Now available in the shop!!

Please know that I do make custom pumpkins!

I have a couple of orders I am working on,
and would love to make some for you!!

You can email me at junktojoyshop@yahoo.com
or convo me on Etsy, and we'll make it happen!!

I will be listing more heirloom pumpkins at the end of the week!

Have a lovely week,
and be sure to savor all the surprises
that come your way!!

Hugs,

Aptly Stated!

2011-08-19T11:14:00.001-04:00

For a few minutes this morning, I searched
Pinterest for "sayings" and found sooo many
wonderful tidbits of wisdom!!

Here is a sprinkling of some of my faves!
Enjoy!

:o) LOVE this!!

Let your birdie out!

Have a delightful weekend, and

count your blessings, not worries today!!

Sunny Florida Hugs!

Busy Hands!

2011-08-16T11:38:00.001-04:00

Hi Friends!

My week already seems to be flying
by and it is only Tuesday!!

How about yours???

I am creating, snapping, editing, listing
like crazy, and stuff is sprouting wings
and flying out of my shop!

What a delight!

This is a trio of Sea Mist Heirloom Pumpkins that flew away
before I could show you!!

And I have introduced my new clay tags...finally!

Bees and Fleur de Lis!!!

And will be listing the French Dictionary Page Confetti Hearts soon!

Other styles yet to come!

These little cuties were all snapped up in a flash!

Thank you wonderful bloggy friends!
You know who you are!
{smile}

I hope your day is fabulous!!
Mine is crammed full of creating,
packing and shipping!!

JOY!

Hugs n Blessings!

Becky

Le Pompion

2011-08-13T22:05:00.001-04:00

Bonjour!

Hope your weekend is going well!

Do you know that we got our word "pumpkin"
from the French word "pompion"?

As in pom pom?

Well...neither did I.
The actual French word for pumpkin is potiron.
and it isn't pronounced pot iron!!

I could get soooo carried away with
a study of the history of our language!!

BUT...

I choose instead to spend my time
creating fun stuff!!
Woohoo!!

Like these delightful little potirons
covered in vintage French dictionary pages!

Actually, Maddy did the labor on these,
since she is now in my employ!!

I added the stems and embellished them!

These little cuties just make me smile!

And they will be in the shop tomorrow~~

So...if they make you smile, too

go check them out!!

Have a joyful Sunday
full of blessings!

Hugs,

The French Nest and Friends!

2011-08-11T22:32:00.001-04:00

Wow! Today was a wonderful day!

I had the absolute joy of meeting not one,
but TWO, blog friends in person,
AND
visited the amazing store,
FRENCH NEST
in College Park!

I met up with
Carol, from The Polka Dot Closet,

and what a fun, energetic, gregarious, and

incredibly creative woman she is!

Carol has such a generous spirit, and shares

2 wonderful, detailed, tutorials each week on her blog!

And she is just FULL of ideas and inspiration!!

You must go meet her for yourself!!

You'll be glad you did!!

We chatted and shopped, and ooo-ed and ahh-ed at

the fabulous displays, and chatted and shopped some

more and then enjoyed lunch together at the little cafe

next door. Simply delightful!

Thank you Carol!!!!

{one of my favorite displays!!}

I did find a few treasures for MOI!!
I actually DIDN'T buy anything for the shop!!
{oh except maybe some more vintage buttons} :o)

The French Nest is packed full of all manner
of vintage yumminess!! If you live in or visit the
Orlando area, this store is a definite MUST SEE!

We were in there for 1 1/2 hours, and I still
didn't get a close look at everything!

This shop is truly a feast for the soul!

The first step inside is unbelievable!!

I somehow missed the contents of this display except
for the photo!! But I WILL be going back!!

A chicken wire and shell crown! So imaginative!

The center of an awesome tote bag!

This room in the back was utterly charming!

After Carol and I parted, I headed over to Susie's house
to pick up some items I purchased from her Etsy shop, LemonVerbena.

Susie's blog is From My Home to Yours, and I just
have to tell you that Susie is wonderfully warm and welcoming
as is her home! She greeted me with a hug, and I immediately
felt I was in the company of an old friend!!

Her home is absolutely enchanting, and full of
chippy, vintage delights! I had soo much fun
looking at her fabulous vignettes! She is blessed with
a wonderful eye for design!! I could have stayed
and chatted for hours...next visit I will!

Thank you sooo much Susie!!
It was a real joy to get to know you a bit!

Well, my cup runneth over!
And I am off to create a bit and then to bed!

OH!!! I forgot to tell you!!
I have my computer back!!
So I will spend the weekend snapping, editing,
and listing items for the shop!!

WOOHOO!!!

Have a fantastic Friday!!!

Big Squishy Hugs,

Chippy, Chunky Wood Delights!

2011-08-09T21:00:00.003-04:00

I love White Wednesday over at Faded Charm!

If you haven't met Kathleen, or checked out this

wonderful blog party yet, you need to know that it isn't just

for lovers of all things white!!!

You will find tons of great ideas that will inspire you

and could be changed a bit to fit your style and color scheme!

Come on! Join the fun!

******

I recently scored some fabulous little wood chunks

that were salvaged from a Coast Guard cottage along

the Massachusetts shoreline.

I was in heaven when they arrived, and couldn't

wait to make something with them!

The paint is the palest of buttercreams and is

just delicious with all of it's chippy shabbiness!!

This wee piece is full of vintage charm!

It includes silk sari ribbon, a vintage pearl bauble, 100 yo

eyelet salvaged from an antique lamps shade, a MOP button, and

an awesome little escutcheon from The Petite Market on Etsy!

She is a fantastic seller and has all kinds of goodies!

You almost can't mess up when you're working

with such a wonderful little piece of history!!

This is the second one I made. A vintage earring, and vintage barrette

piece set it off with some sparkle and "shine"! The trim is

from the same 100 yo lampshade fabric, and the bow

is some sweet old cotton lace.

It will get either a wire hanger or a silk sari ribbon hanger.

Thank you for stopping by!

Hope you enjoyed your visit!

Have a delightful White Wednesday!!

Hugs,

I Can't Believe It!!

2011-08-07T21:44:00.000-04:00

I am so trying not to be stressed!

Today my computer totally crashed!
UGH!!!

Right when I was going to be doing a marathon on it!!

{Refocusing...thinking of wandering through a field of lavender

and breathing in the fragrant relaxing aroma!}

So, I am posting this from my daughter's MAC!

Hopefully we will spring for one for ourselves soon!!

I am trusting God with this glitch in my plans,

and will just get my photos loaded and edited when I can!

In other words, Part 2 of the sneak peek for my

Prelude to Fall Collection probably won't be

posted for a couple more days. {meh}

Also, since I am handicapped when it comes to using

a Mac, my shop will not be opening up for a couple

more days either!!

photos via

Hopefully, the good computer Dr. at my hubby's

workplace will work his magic on our PC and this

will all be a thing of the past soon!!

Please pray that we can recover all of the memory!

We turned off our back up because it was

slowing the computer down too much. {never again}

THANK YOU SO MUCH

for all of your lovely comments on my pumpkins

and acorns!! You're such joys to my heart!

Believe me when I say there is much more to come!!

Can't wait to share!

Have a fabulous week, and share your smile!!

Hugs,

Sneak Peek Part 1...Prelude to Fall Collection

2011-08-05T18:45:00.002-04:00

Whew!! Girls I have been working hard!

It is fun, though, to work on Fall stuff!

I can almost feel the cool breezes wafting
through the windows and fluffing up my curtains!!
{sigh} back to earth, Becky, and 100 degree heat!!

I have managed to snap just a few pics of a few
items...so there is MUCH more to come!!

Here is the first little sneak peek at my
"Prelude to Fall" Collection!!

It will be chock full of shabby, cottage, and
farmhouse style home decor, paper goods,
and gift items designed by MOI!!

These are so much fun to create!

The solid pumpkins are "Heirloom" pumpkins, and
are made of raw silk, and embellished with
an intricately patterned antique lace collar,
and sparkly vintage rhinestones buttons.
Each Heirlom pumpkin is one of a kind,
and can be enjoyed as a treasured keepsake
throughout the years and the seasons!!

There will be some other pairs of
Heirloom pumpkins available for
purchase, but they are a limited edition item!!

The cute ticking pumpkins are a popular item,

and will be paired together, or included in trios with
coordinating toile or muslin pumpkins.

The acorns are so unique!!
They are needle felted with
white wool roving, and attached into fabulous
large, natural acorn caps that
measure over 1" across the top edge.
They coordinate beautifully with the pumpkins,
for an instant Fall vignette!

I am also working on regular sized felted
acorns, that look adorable scattered around
your Fall home decor!!

Thanks for looking!
I'll be back on Sunday with
Sneak Peek Part 2!!

Be sure to visit the Pumpkin Patch
on Tuesday when Junk to Joy Shop
reopens with lots of new items, and a
Sizzlin' Summer clearance sale!!

Have a delightful weekend!!
HUGS

Sunny Day Freshness!

2011-08-04T12:57:00.004-04:00

It's a lovely Thursday morning here in sunny
central Florida! We may have a tropical
storm coming this weekend...
which we could use since
we are in a bit of a drought,
plus~~

I love being at my workbench on a rainy day!
And that is where all my time is going right now!

Just wanted to share a light and bright
favorite summer breakfast of mine...

Yummy Ezekial Bread toast with organic
natural peanut butter, fresh
sliced Georgia peaches, and
a cuppa organic decaf coffee
a little sweet and blond!!

When you toast Ezekial bread, it gets a little crunchy
and it stays crunchy. I am not a fan of mushy toast!!
It's also full of flavor and goodness!!

{with a grainy texture added}

And of course...
everything tastes better when it is
served on vintage white ironstone!!
Love my little Homer Laughlin cups
and ironstone platters!!

A fresh way to start the day,

and get my creative juices flowing!

Hope your day is fabulous!!

Back tomorrow with
some sneak peeks at my
Prelude to Fall Collection!

Can't wait to show you!!!

Big Hugs,

Lavender Blue, Dilly Dilly

2011-08-01T11:34:00.003-04:00

Happy Monday!

Hope you are well and ready for this new
week and new month! The days are sailing by,
aren't they?

It's been a bit overcast here this morning...
And I'm feeling quite mellow.

Lavender is the perfect reflection of
my mood this morning. Soothing, but
possessing a breath of vibrancy
that stirs my soul!

photos via pinterest.com

Do you see what I mean?

Have a lovely lavender day!!

Sneak peeks for my

"Prelude to Fall Collection"
coming soon!!

Junk to Joy Shop will reopen on
August 8th stocked with all
kinds of wonderfulness!

Hugs to you!

My Whole Heart

2011-07-28T09:09:00.000-04:00

No, it's not our anniversary, or his birthday, but I have to tell you

This man, my hunk, just melts my heart.

For the past month I haven't felt well.
Digestive stuff...tests...
fasting, low energy, etc...

He has been everything I could ask for!
Loving, attentive to my every need,
helping with my chores...
always with a smile, and a gentle
touch, a joke, a whispered sentiment,
or a loving embrace with the same
strong arms that have held me
for almost 40 years of my life.

I cannot express the joy that fills my heart
when I think that God loves me so much
that out of all the men in the world
He blessed me with the man who truly completes me.

Thank you, Ran, for your strong and steady love,
and for making me one of the happiest
married women I know.

Always know that...

via

Beach Blues

2011-07-22T22:24:00.001-04:00

Maybe some of you feel the same longing...

I've got a bad case of the beach blues.

You see, this is where I need to be...

It is beckoning me...
I can hear the waves...
feel the warm breeze
brushing my face,
and breathe in the salt air.

It never loses it's appeal.
I always stand in awe of it's immensity,
and lose myself in the sights and sounds.

It relaxes me like nothing else can.

I marvel at the mind of God
in creating such beauty
for us to enjoy.

Maybe this week I can steal away
for a few hours
to this most wonderful place.

Wish you could be in the chair
next to me.

I'll bring my camera so I can
share it with you.

Have a wonderful weekend!!
And put on a happy face!!

HUGS,

Tiny White Cottages~~White Wednesday!!

2011-07-19T22:59:00.002-04:00

Hi Friends!!

And Happy White Wednesday!

I hope you will go visit the lovely
Kathleen at Faded Charm
and all of the other participants!
You'll be so glad you did!!

I came across some sweet tiny wooden houses,

and thought it would be so much fun to
make a little shabby, vintage inspired village!
And it was!

You should give this a go...there are no rules and
it is really sooo easy!!

I don't have photos of the process, but it
was so simple. I sanded them smooth,
applied two coats of my go-to white acrylic paint,
sanded the edges, and pulled a little of this and that
out of my stash to embellish them with. Most of it
is vintage, and that just makes it a little more yummy!

I used both spray adhesive and hot glue to apply the goodies!!

So, what do you think?

I want to make some that
are more tattered and distressed, and some
for the holidays. You should too! It's kind of addictive!
And these will make delightful, one of a kind gifts, too!

I had hoped to get some shots of them in a couple
of different vignettes for you, but didn't get to it
before I had to ship them out!

Thank you so much for stopping by!
Have a delightful day!

Hugs,

Magical Blooms

2011-07-18T10:21:00.001-04:00

I adore flowers...

but I especially adore two...

HYDRANGEAS AND PEONIES!

with roses coming in a close third.

They have an affect on me that I can't quite
put into words. They actually have the ability,
by merely looking at them, to alter my mood,
make me smile, and sooth my soul.

Do they do that to you, too?

Here are some gorgeous photos of these magnificent
blooms...all from pinterest.com

Enjoy!

Such great photo styling!

Stunning!

WOW! LOVE this!

So creative!!

I think God made flowers just for us girls!!

How cool is that?

Hope your week is delightful!

Hugs n joy!!

French Inspired Shelf Makeover

2011-07-13T10:03:00.003-04:00

Happy Wednesday!

Actually, Happy White Wednesday!

Hope you'll go say
HI to Kathleen and check out all the other lovelies!!

This week I am sharing a little shelf makeover!

I got this little diamond in the rough for
a song while thrifting about a month ago...

Not much to look at...kind of primitive...but

in great vintage condition.

I knew I could do something with it.
I decided on a touch of French inspiration.

First I sanded it, and gave it a light wash of white.
I just used inexpensive acrylic craft paint.
I squirted some out on a paper plate
and would dilute as I painted with water.

I resized a French graphic from wonderful
Karen, over at The Graphics Fairy. Then I went to Picnik,
my fave photo editing program, {because I'm not
good with Photoshop yet} and unsaturated the color
of the print to more of a gray.

I tore the edges, and then grayed them up with
stamp ink, and distressed it a little with a
bit of the white paint.

Then I put a coat of Mod Podge to seal it.

I wrapped the "handle" with some cotton cording
and I added two charming vintage gelatin molds for a
little storage, and then it was complete!

I was so pleased with how easy it was
and how it really transformed a cute vintage shelf
that I'm glad I didn't pass up!

It was snapped up from my shop in about an hour!!

Hope your day is filled with joy!!
Share your smile!!

Hugs,

A Winner and Prelude to Fall

2011-07-11T08:33:00.000-04:00

This was sooo much fun!

All the entries were delightful, but one really
just grabbed me right away!

Here, I'll let you read it for yourself.
Connie's creativity is just over the top!!
Here's her entry...

She looks like a lady crab to me so how about Mrs Crabbitz (remember Bewitched? But I think the nosy neighbor's name was really Mrs Kravitz). Or Crabina the wanna-be ballerina? But before ballet class, she had to go to the 4th of July parade to watch her dad, Colonel Crustopher (love that entry!) march and then, while she was waving her flag . . . well, I could come up with a whole story but I won't!

What an imagination, Connie!

The winner is Connie, from She Dreams Big !

Mrs. Crabbitz is the winning name!

Email me your mailing address and
I will have your box of goodies in the mail in the next
few days, Connie! Thanks for the amazing name!

Thanks for playing along everyone!!

On Another Note...

via

Fall is just around the corner, and so is

Junk to Joy Shop's
"Prelude to Fall"

It will be the introduction of my
2011 Fall line and will include beautiful
fabric pumpkins, felted acorns, miniature bird
nests...just to mention a few! And more
repurposed, upcycled lovely home decor
and gift items.

Be on the look out...it won't be long!

Have a wonderful week,
and remember to splash some JOY around!!

Big Hugs

Gettin' Busy!

2011-07-08T10:47:00.002-04:00

Thank you sooo much for all of your kind thoughts
and prayers!! They are so much appreciated!

I am happy to say that I am feeling much better,
and didn't have to go to the Dr.
Thank you, Lord!
and
YAY for homeopathy!!

No more of this today...

via
{my bed will look something like this in the not too distant future}

{then I will do my happy dance}

And I have to get back to this!

This room isn't in our home, but I wanted to
show you the color scheme our 13 yo Maddy has chosen.

Tiffany blue, black, and white!
Quite striking, isn't it?

She has been sooo patient with
us when it comes to making her room over.

Well, she returns tomorrow from a trip to my sister's
and today we will be finishing up painting her room.
Shhh...it's a surprise!!

I am off to paint!
I will do a reveal when the whole room is
pulled together!

OH!!

And you all are killing me with your name suggestions
for my little crabby!! You are sooo creative!!

I am going to have such a hard time deciding!!
We may have to take a family vote!

Thanks for being so delightful!!

HUGS!!

Just Playin'

2011-07-06T09:50:00.003-04:00

Hmmph...I've been feeling a bit under the weather,
and don't have much energy, so what little I
have, I have been using to play around a bit.

You know...

Try out some new things...

Here's a little lookie...

I got this adorable little, rusty, wired basket with pots
for my birthday from my sweet friend, Nellie.
{they might still have some at Home Goods}

As soon as I laid eyes on it, I loved it!
{hugs Nellie :o) }

I wrapped the pots with vintage lace,
and filled them with more lace, tatting,
and rolled up doilies that look like flowers!

The sweet clay bee tags will be added to my
shop soon, along with a couple of other style tags!

Love all the shades of white!

And tattered edges...
YUM!!

Then I thought it would look great with some
of my favorite old, chunky, ironstone pieces...

Dee-Lish!!
These fabulous little butter pats and bowls
make my heart sing...La la la la la!!!

Same photo with a vintage texture.

One last look at my chunky little charmers!

{La la la la la!}

**smiles**

I am linked up to
White Wednesday over at Faded Charm...lots of loveliness to see there!!

Click on the cute crabby in my side bar

to enter the "Name That Crabby Contest"

I'll send you a sweet box of treasures if you win!!

My heart would also sing knowing that you

are praying for me to feel better!

Thanks sweeties...

you're a joy!

HUGS!

Becky

For Me? & Name That Crabby Contest!!

2011-07-02T13:30:00.002-04:00

I am continually amazed at the talented, creative, artistic women
that I have met in blogland!!

What a joy you all are!

I received a couple of wonderful packages in the past

few days and just wanted to share them with you!

Rae is a new blog friend over at 723. I hope you'll go say HI!

Rae is so creative, and talented in DIY, home decor, and crafting
and just really blessed me by emailing me and asking
if she could send me these

charming patriotic cards she crafted!!

What a delightful bundle!!

Here are all three!
I just love them! They are so original
and the paper flowers are sooo cute!

Thank you so much, Rae!!
You sure know how to make a gal's day!!

***

Back a couple of months ago,
I made the trip over to Lakeland to
meet some new blog friends, have fun
at the Fancy Flea, and to
see the delightful Mrs. Magpie again!

It was a total blast, and I had the extreme

pleasure of meeting Jane from Artfully Graced.
She is so friendly, fun, and fabulous!!
I can't wait to get together with her again!

She recently had a giveaway,
and I WON!!

Jane is a truly gifted artist and she painted
this whimsical patriotic crabby especially for me!!
JOY!!!

Isn't he adorable??
Me loves him!

I have to find the perfect spot for him
so I can enjoy him year round. He won't
be getting put away with seasonal or holiday decor!!
NO way!

Now...time for me to share some blog love!
My new crabby is in desperate need of a name!

SOOOO...I am having a contest...

Come up with the crabby name I like best
and I will make something just for you!!
I promise I will make it worth your brain strain!!
{big smile}

You can email your suggestions or leave them in
a comment, and you can suggest as many as you can
come up with!!

The contest ends on July 10th, and I will announce
the winner on July 11th.

Oh and Rae and Jane, please play along, too!!

Thank you Rae and Jane for your friendships
and encouragement!!
I hope to meet Rae soon, too!

She is only about an hour from me!!

Hope you'll go meet them!
You'll be glad you did!

Have a fantastic holiday weekend!!

Hugs n joy!

White Wednesday~~Be Kind to the Newbie!!

2011-06-28T21:16:00.004-04:00

Hi Everyone!

This is my very first time participating in White Wednesday!!

WOOHOO!!

It is graciously hosted by
Kathleen over at Faded Charm

I hope you'll go check out all the other fabulous whites there!!

I have been having a blast with...
of all things...
PEAT POTS!!

My regular followers may have seen these already,
but they are so simple to work with, and so
inexpensive, I though I'd share them for WW.

This is a French inspired lavande bouquet!!

I used a 1" foam brush and just brushed on
some white acrylic paint here and there.
You don't want to cover up all the brown.

For this one I used a vintage graphic frame from
the Graphics Fairy {I think}, printed Lavande
on it in a fancy font, glittered it a bit with German
glass glitter and tied the tag on with vintage seam binding.

The inside has moss glued to the bottom; lavender bunched

and glued to it, and then I glued in moss around the lavender.

These are hot sellers in my Etsy shop
and are sooo much fun to create!!

Another little French inspired pot!!

This one features vintage French dictionary pages
rolled up and shredded, another little text
graphic from the Graphics Fairy, embellished with
German glass glitter, a vintage rhinestone button,
silk sari ribbon, and some tulle.

and lastly...a bird nest!!

A view from the top

Burlap, twine, a vintage inspired enamel number,
and all kinds of nesting goodness!!

Love me some bird nests,

don't you!

Look at your stash and see what you can come up with!
You'll have a blast!

Use your imagination! These little pots are so versatile!

They can be used as treat holders at parties, sweet little
gifts, gift card holders, you name it!!

Hope you have a fabulous Wednesday!
Thanks for stopping by!!

Remember someone needs your smile today!

HUGS,

Becky

Etsy Love~~Patriotic!

2011-06-27T23:47:00.000-04:00

Have you discovered the JOY of Etsy??

Since opening my shop, I have become an avid
Etsy shopper, and I have never been disappointed!

There are so many incredibly talented, creative, and
imaginative women out there, and I love the idea of
supporting other small business owners!

Most owners include something extra in with their
orders and they all come packaged so nicely.
{I'm sure there are some exceptions, but I haven't found any yet!}

SO...I have decided to regularly feature Etsy stuff I love
cause I know you will love it too!

WELL... here goes... my first

ETSY LOVE post!!

Enjoy!
I am including all the links so you can go buy it
if you so desire!! What fun!!

here
I soo want a truck of my own!!!
{little known fact!}

here

Oh. My. Goodness.
Don't you think little Hannah needs one of these
adorable headbands??

here

Fab cottage porch decor!!
Love!!

here
OK...another baby...could you have resisted this??
Yeah...didn't think so!!
Plus my Mom used to knit beanies

for everyone...literally!!
{warm fuzzy time}

You WILL find the absolute cutest
baby photos ever on Etsy...really!

one more~~

Here

Fun retro, patriotic paper straws!!
This shop has them for every occasion and
in many different colors!!
A personal fave!!

Our fourth is going to be rather low key...
but that definitely isn't a bad thing!!

What do you have planned?

Hugs to you!!

Ohh....She Takes Care of Herself...

2011-06-23T11:21:00.006-04:00

The other day in the car, I heard
an old tune by this guy...

She's Always A Woman, by none other than Billy Joel.
I loved his music when I was young. This one
came out in 1977, when I was a mere 18.

One line in the song REALLY grabbed me...

Ohhh she takes care of herself....

It kind of stopped me dead in my tracks!

God used this one line from this one song
to impress on my heart that I haven't
been taking very good care of me!!

As a wife, mother, nana, home school teacher, and
business owner, somehow my time gets
all used up rather quickly.

The one thing I have guarded with my life
is my quiet time with God. I'm sure that is
why I have managed as well as I have until now!!

I'm sharing this because I think this is
probably a very wide spread issue with women, and
we are not only doing ourselves a disservice,
but when we don't look after our spiritual, physical,
and emotional needs, everyone around us is eventually
shortchanged.

Now, I'm not talking about justifying over indulging
ourselves with expensive stuff or anything like that.

I am talking about really caring for ourselves so
we can be better prepared for each day!

For me that looks something like this...

Spending time each morning drinking in God's
Word, praising Him, and praying

Making wise food choices...
choosing natural whole foods
and eliminating most sugar,
and food additives.

Being a better steward of my body...MAKING the
time to exercise, so I can enjoy being a wife, mom, nana,

home school teacher, business owner, and anything else
God has planned for me as long as possible!!

Once again, MAKING the time for some rest and relaxation,
and MAKING time to spend with friends!

I went shopping and to lunch with my dear friend, Nellie,
yesterday and had such a blast!

Nellie lives about 7 miles from me, but I hadn't spent
any time with her in what seems like forever!! Why???

We have to make time...and guard it...
or it will never happen!!

Us girls need girl time!! It's a FACT!!

And lastly...

Enjoying a favorite hobby

For me that is creating...
With all of the other demands on my time,
I haven't been taking time to create...
simply for the pure pleasure of creating,
and expressing myself through my creations.

And I must add to this the need to use the gifts
God has given us to bless others.
He wants to bring glory to Himself through
our gifts and talents, and not have us just
keep them to ourselves.

Faith is an action word!

Well, maybe you're doing better at
all of this than I am,

{and if you are that is fabulous, and I am thrilled for you}

and maybe you're right where I'm at.
Whatever the case, I know this,

Once we begin to get a little better grasp on this,
{it's all a process, you know?}
we will find that we will be more balanced in general,
and will be better able to
walk confidently through this life we've been
blessed with, and have a positive
impact on all those we come in contact with!

That's my goal!!

Love ya bunches!

Have a great day,
and a glorious weekend!!

OH!! OH!!

I almost forgot!

My lovely friend, Julie over at
Saltbox Treasures

is having a delightful giveaway of over
25 different lovely items
including a $20 certificate
to her Etsy shop!!

HURRY AND ENTER!

It ends June 27th
and you don't want to miss out!!

HUGS!!!!

I Choose...

2011-06-21T11:00:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone!

My goodness, it is great to be back blogging!!
Sure have missed you all! I'll get around to visit you soon!

Our new little grandy Hannah is doing great!
Already blossoming like a lovely little flower...

photo via

Thank you all for sharing in my joy!!
What a blessing you are!

The other day, I came across
an older devotional by Max Lucado..

You have heard of him, right?
This one is called
Grace for the Moment.

I love the title. It speaks to me.

I get filled with joy deep inside when I respond
to life and all it's ups and downs with grace.

I feel that I can always use a little more grace
in my heart!.

Though I have read it before, what I read in the first few

pages really blessed me...so of course I have to share...

I choose LOVE...

No occasion justifies hatred;
no injustice warrants bitterness.
Today I will love God and what God loves.

I choose JOY...

I will invite God to be the God of circumstance.
I will refuse the temptation to be cynical...
the tool of the lazy thinker.

I will refuse to see people as anything less than
human beings created by God.
I will refuse to see any problem as anything
less than an opportunity to see God.

I choose PEACE...

I will live forgiven.
I will forgive so that I may live.

Lovely, isn't it?
There is more I will share next week.

Have a beautiful week!
Hugs To You!!

Ahhh...Summer!

2011-06-08T09:25:00.001-04:00

Toes in the sand,
and waves lapping the shore,

Sipping ice cold, refreshing, pretty drinks...

Sweet plump, juicy berries...summer's bounty...
to be enjoyed so many different ways

A simple and charming idea
for a tote I want to embellish...

via

Life is good, isn't it?

You know, I try each day to take snippets of time
to appreciate some of life's
little inspirations, and thank my God
for each one!

It truly can make all the difference
in how a day goes!

I am off to the grocery store,
and then back to my studio to
CREATE!!
Yes!!

We need to always

Live Inspired!

It is so much more fun!!!

Sunny Florida Hugs to You!!

Sleeping Beauty!

2011-06-04T19:19:00.000-04:00

Hi Sweet Friends!

There is still so much going on around here!
I am surprised I have time to just turn around!
Sam and fam may be in their own apartment tomorrow,
and then it's time to get the house back in order! Hmmph!

Thanks for hanging in with me!! You sure bless me!!

{big smile}

I need to take more photos, but here is one I
took today of our little sleeping beauty!

She is getting into a routine, and I still can't

believe she is here! What a gift from God!

She has two amazing dimples that show only
when she smiles!! Can't wait til she smiles more!

I'll be back as soon as I can be!
I hope you all have a joyful Sunday,
and a delightful week!!

Remember to...

CHOOSE JOY, OK?

Love Ya!!

Family Joy

2011-05-31T12:18:00.000-04:00

Happy Tuesday!
I sure hope your weekend was fabulous!

Ours was filled with excitement as Sam
brought home precious little Hannah Elizabeth!
She is 22" long and weighs 8 lbs. 11 oz.

Everything was going well until last night,
when water was found in the closet in the room
they are staying in! The AC drain was clogged and
it leaked into the closet and surrounding carpet.

We moved them, and started taking up the padding
and carpet {at 11:00 p.m.!!!...sooo not fun!}
BUT it's good news for Maddy...
she will soon have wonderful new carpet to go with her
room makeover! She is thrilled!
I'll show you all when we're finished!

And here is just a little food for thought!

Love ya!!