an unexpected treasure... (and Monday's Encouragement)

I've been collecting things here and there for my latest project, the redo of our dining room. 

I had $5.00 burning a hole in my pocket and a few minutes after work so I thought I'd make a quick stop at my local Goodwill to see if I could find another small mirror for a grouping I have in mind.  (It seems my car can't drive past the entrance to the parking lot without turning in lately!)  I didn't really have the time to browse the isles in the order I normally do so I just headed to the frames and mirrors in the back.  As I started moving stuff around I came across this adorable oil painting for $3.99...

I just love the colors...they are absolutely perfect for my dining room. 

I wasn't sure about the frame...my first thought was to paint it but now that I have it next to some of the other items in the grouping, I kinda like the tacky gold color and black velvet inner border...seriously, I do.

Now the small gold framed mirror is definitely going to be painted in the same red as the large picture frame I painted a couple of weeks ago.

I paid $4.99 for the small frame and $5.99 for the large one...

I have an idea brewing in my head...If it looks the way I envision it you'll be the first to see it.  I just love a good treasure hunt...

I still need one more mirror and now I gotta find me a couple more little paintings. 

At least I don't have to worry about my car not cooperating...

Happy hunting,

Patty

I'm linked to It's A Very Cherry World for Rednesday...

and My Cottage Charm for Treasures and Trinkets...

My Romantic Homes for Show and Tell Friday...

Leave a comment here for Monday's Encouragement card...

beach trip...

My sister and nephew are in town from Houston and my parent's treated us to a nice little weekend beach getaway.  Even though the temperatures never made it out of the sixties, we still had a wonderful time just being together.  With five adults and five children under the age of ten, I thought I would have a chance to uncork a bottle of wine and browse through a couple of new magazines...ha! ha!  No such luck, it was non-stop action...a day at the county fair...a late night dip in the hotel pool...too much pizza, way too late in the day and counting heads in the ocean as they ventured out a little too far for my comfort.  I need a little vacation from my mini vacation...

Of course, I did manage to snap a few pictures to share...

Creating family memories for the next generation...a feeling of belonging...new stories to share...safety...security...absolute love...makes it all worth it.  Thanks mom and dad!

Have a wonderful week.

Blessings,

Patty

rush...

It's a Rush Party over at Some Days are Diamonds...

The beautiful Karen came up with this wonderful idea to start a sorority for blogging sisters.  Like every great sorority you gotta get started with a Rush...

Our assignment was to use this beautiful vintage picture and create something with it...

Since shabby chic, collage is what I love...

I went with it...

I created this beautiful, shabby journal as a gift for a friend.  It was such a fun experiment and I'm thrilled with how it turned out.   I started with a .50 cent binder, added some torn layers of tissue paper, sprayed the whole base with Glimmer mist in coffee and just started layering until I achieved the look I was after.  I added buttons, vintage ribbon, a scrappy flower and this beautiful Parisian mannequin and chandelier...top it off with a bevy of butterflies and ground it all with some beautiful lace and there you have it...a shabby chic journal.

I've already taken a peak at the what the other sister's have created and your gonna be inspired...

check them all out here.

Blessings,

Patty

Monday's encouragement...

I know it's Tuesday...Does it mean I'm getting old when I say time flies by...

or if I lose track of a day or two...

well then, I must be getting old.

I pray you all had a wonderful weekend.  I just had to show you one quick photo of my adorable granddaughter, Emily from this weekend...

Isn't she just the sweetest thing?  And her personality matches that sweet face to a T...

Last weeks card and scripture tea went to Marie at Spun by Me...I'll be sending her package off in the mail for her to send to a friend who could use a little good cheer.

Now here is this week's encouragement card...

Just leave me a comment and let me know you have someone you'd like to send it to and next Monday...or there abouts...I'll mail it off to one of you.

It's easy to do something nice for someone who deserves it...

Now here's a hard one...

Do something kind for someone who doesn't deserve it...and don't tell anyone you did it!

Have a wonderful week,

Patty

father's day...

As a little girl I can remember my father telling me I could do anything I wanted and I spent a great deal of my time trying to please him, trying to be obedient, trying to follow his rules...not necessarily a bad thing but now that I am all grown up, I can see the danger in setting any man up to be more than a fallible human.  While my father is a good man who loves his family, he certainly isn't perfect...there is only ONE who is.

"The next day John was there again with two of his disciples.  When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"  When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.  Turning around, Jesus saw them following  and asked,"What do you want?"  They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"  "Come," he replied, "and you will see."         

John 1:35-39

Follow hard after Jesus...

 though the road may seem uphill at times, and he will show you things that will amaze you...

I know not everyone was blessed with an earthly father worth following but through the saving blood of Christ we have all been giving the opportunity to follow after the Father, the one who is truly worthy of  following.

I am blessed to still have my earthly father to celebrate with so I'll be heading over to my mom and dad's in a bit for a Father's Day BBQ...I thank God for every Father's Day that I am able to celebrate with him.

Enjoy your Father's Day,

Patty

I'm linked up to Spiritual Sundays...

my creative space...

I've been looking forward to sharing my creative space with you...

It was kind of a discovery process editing these photos...

I hope I don't frighten you away...I definitely have alot of stuff.

This is the view from the doorway.  This L shape works for me.  My sewing machine and stock paper are along the wall, which leaves this long table for cutting fabric, making cards or whatever other craft I might be working on.

I love these cubes I bought at Michael's...They house my card stock plus a few other odds and ends...The container holding my favorite glues and 6 x 6 papers is actually a dish drainer that we used for my grandsons bottles...it's just the right size.

Can you tell I love buttons?

I've used a plate rack to hold my quilting rulers.  

You'll notice I put chicken wire in several frames around the room to use as inspiration boards.  I just use clothespins to attach whatever catches my fancy...

I don't know about you but I have trouble parting with little pieces of ribbon, lace and flowers.  I try to gather them into these small glass dishes so that I remember to use them as just the right finishing touch...

This is my wall of plastic bins...not my favorite but they are practical.  I am on the lookout for an old dresser and maybe a few shelves to replace them with...but for now, they get the job done...

A couple of finished quilt tops that need quilting...

Just keeping it real...I keep tissue paper, batting and gift wrapping paper stuffed, I mean tucked in under this table and you'll find stacks of fabric anywhere I find space...

I inherited this beautiful built in bookcase with the room.  I promise it started out as quite an organized library but little by little it is being swallowed up by supplies and knick knacks...

The plastic containers on the bottom hold beads, stamp pads, my paper punches and some of my stamps...

If your brave enough to enter, I have a comfy chair for you to sit a spell...more often than not you'll have to move the dog or let him sit in your lap. 

He somehow got the idea that it's his chair...go figure...

more storage...

this is patterned paper and small portion of my ribbon collection, plus my copic markers...

And finally where I visit with all of you...My mom and dad gifted me with the flat screen TV and my hubby gave me the silhouette cutting machine a couple of birthdays ago and you can see the top of my quilt design board in the background...

My view out the window...

I know it must seem overwhelming for some of you...I'm definitely one who draws inspiration from seeing my beautiful crafting supplies all around me.

This space suits me perfectly and believe me, I feel extremely blessed to have it.  No matter what's going on in my life, when I come in here and pull out some pretty paper or colorful fabric...I take a deep breath, count my blessings and smile. 

Thanks for visiting my little corner of the creative world.  Thank you Karen from My Desert Cottage for working so hard to bring this all together.  I going to pour me a big cup of coffee and get to browsing all the other beautiful spaces out there.

Blessings,

Patty

the tea...

Whoo...hoo...it's Friday!  I wonder if that saying will lose some meaning when I retire from working outside the home one day? 

I didn't want the week to end without sharing some pictures of my wonderful tea last weekend.

As you can see, I replaced the plastic bucket for these pretty ceramic flower pots that I found on clearance at Michaels.  The pots will eventually end up in my sunroom with live plants in them...

I purchased these white basketweave plates from Walmart a few years back, the orange salad plates are from Homegoods and the plaid napkins and napkin rings are from Kohls.

These little gift boxes were filled with scripture tea and chocolates...

 The sweet birdhouse and little birdies were part of the main centerpiece...

I wish I could adequately put into words what this group of women mean to me...

I also wish these photos showed what an absolute blast we had...

This was no old, fuddy duddy, pious bible lady tea...

this is a group of women who love life...love to laugh...and love the Lord Jesus Christ.

We laughed hard...talked non-stop and yes, even shed a few tears.

I am truly blessed to know them...

Blessings, Patty

Stop by on Saturday I'll be linking up to My Desert Cottage for the annual Where Bloggers Create craft room link party with some photos of my craft room...

Why do we do it...

Why do we do it?  As women...why do we let others influence what we wear...how we decorate...what we think our lives should look like?

Why is it so hard just to be me?

Or you?

We were made distinctly unique for a reason...

Embrace it...

Rejoice in it...

This is your life...right now...live it to it's fullest...warts and all.

Blessings,

Patty