{yummy thrifty finds}

I just love it when I find something especially {lovely}...something that is truly me. It makes me so giddy inside...like a child with a new toy!


Before I left for Idaho I found some of these very yummy, very vintage trims. They are a mix of the most beautiful shades of faded pink and old white. I can not wait to use them in a very special project...




Each one of these pieces of trim has a beautiful design and texture. The miniature flower print on this lace brought me to my knees!

...this actually looks as if it was hand knitted...

 ...and of course I have a special love of velvet...this is representative of a shade that I love to dye with.

 

...here is another piece of amazing lace...the color is so pale and beautiful.

 ...with age, these trims have become somewhat faded in places, giving them even more character and old world charm.

 ...I could not honestly say which is my favorite. I just keep picking them up and walking around with them. { i love them! }

 

...so when you stumble upon something so {lovely}, so {vintage}, so {full of charm}...

 ..you smile!

Enjoy the photos! Will share whatever lovely project is born from these beautiful trims!

{delicious ruffled tutorial}

I made a few of these precious ruffled votive holders to accent my fall decorations...they also make adorable vases...to make your own, read on...
 ...this is so simple it doesn't seem worthy of a {tutorial} title...but here goes.

 



You will need:

{1} a clean, empty jar. I used a recycled grapefruit jar that measured approximately 7 inches x 2.5 inches.
{this is just so you will have an idea of how much fabric to use}

{2}sewing machine                                                                                                    {3}scissors   
{4} hot glue gun 
                        {5} fabric strips     
   {for my size jar I used three 1.75" x 3 yard strips}

First I ruffled all of my fabric strips on the sewing machine. I just adjusted the stitch lengths to extra long and ran the fabric through, creating a long straight stitch line down the center. {DO NOT BACK STITCH} at the start or end of your strip.

When you have done this to all three strips, gently tug on one of the threads at the end of your strip. Working from both ends, take turns {GENTLY} pulling on this thread until your entire strip is ruffled as heavily as you like. I ruffle mine pretty tight...okay, really tight. Repeat with the other two strips.

Now, starting at the top rim of the jar, choose a spot and put a medium size dot of glue. Place one end of one of your strips here and tack down. Gently twisting your ruffle, so it lays straight, create {SMALL} lines of glue and adhere the ruffle as you go. {Don't add too much glue at one time as it cools too quickly on the jar}

Continue gluing the ruffle on in this fashion. When you reach the end of one ruffled strip, tack down the end with glue to keep the threads from unraveling and start a new strip, being careful to overlap in a such a way that is looks like one continuous ruffle. {Just play with it, that is what I did}

 When you reach the end of your jar, trim off any excess ruffle and adhere the end with glue. {FLUFF} your ruffles.{these next two images are actually one ruffle short on top...the last image in this series shows the jar completed!}

Now you have a beautiful, yet {SWEET AND SIMPLE} vase or votive holder.

Enjoy!

I will be linking this little ruffled beauty up here!

{a chance to be BRAVE}

There are a lot of different things I have called myself in life...

...one of them is {NOT BRAVE}...even through the great tragedy of losing and burying a child, I have considered myself little more than a {survivor}. NOT BRAVE. I have felt, at times, that I am strong. At other times, weak. I consider myself to be a giver, and a pleaser...a person who gets great satisfaction in making others happy. I would look as myself as a non-confrontational sort, avoiding a rift at all costs...so few things are worth a rift, large or small. I am a worrier and a planner, a sorter and an organizer. I am careful and protective, an optimist. But not {BRAVE}.

By the grace of God and the gift of great friendship, I am off to {BRAVE GIRL CAMP} next week. I know little more than I plan to be uplifted. I have been assured that I am worth it. I am ready to reach inside myself and gather all of my strength and leave McCall, Idaho a new person. A braver {SOUL}...

...and as if this wasn't enough, there is {ART}. A creative escape where I can release all my inhibitions onto a canvas, into a journal, through a creation. I want to be BRAVE. I hope to be BRAVE...

{ Best of the Web Feature }

    

It is always a rare treat when your blog, your artwork, your photographs, your interests are stumbled upon...

...a rarer treat still when you are recognized for these things. Just recently a writer for the website, Pocketchange, contacted me. She had found my little blog and was intrigued by what it had to offer. 

...This is what she writes:

{ "Hi There,

I stumbled across your blog and I loved your posts and photos. Your devotion to family and also your sense of organization, with thought to small things is interesting." ... }

I would love it if you would stop over and take a peek at what she has to say. You will find lots of great information on everything from home decor and blogging, to green living and pets. There is something for everyone.

Hop on over and { stuff your pockets full! } 

{Sophie's Room}

 ...ruffles, book paper and gesso...these are a few of my favorite things.

When an older sister made the move upstairs, a shared room becomes {Sophie's Room}. It is
 sweet and white and so, so Sophie. A strict budget meant a careful planning, and lots of creative decorating.

The new {OLD} chippy iron bed instantly became the focal point of the room. Adorned with recycled bedding from Camille's room, a few new vintage pillow cases and an old grain sack, it is absolutely charming.

I was able to find interesting and unique art through the less obvious...a castoff frame that had lost its' luster makes a simple and unobtrusive center piece....paired with a milk glass lamp and a simple lampshade frame it is the perfect duo....the old primitive angel dolls keep watch over Sophie, day and night.

 Remember I mentioned I was working on a french market sign..well it is complete and I love it.

An old canvas gets a new facelift with vintage book paper and some beautiful hand made silky rosettes.
I had so many compliments on these, they are now for sale at {seventwothree}, along with coordinating vintage cigar boxes.

An old woven green footstool gets a coat of soft white paint and hand painted wording...a bit of muslin adds a touch of textile.

A tiny chair, a treasured and timeworn piece that belonged to my Angel son, gets a facelift with new fabric. {sending out this week for an upholstery job...will post better photos later}

An old ladder gets some white paint and a good sanding...I love the {galvanized rungs}.
Nice of the lightbulb to burn out just in time for photographing this room...which I must add at this point...indoor lighting stinks! I DO have a big flash and tripod, but I was lazy and in a hurry, so I did not take it out...the lighting is really much more beautiful than these photos depict.

Old yellow dressers are repainted...I love the way the detailed grooving on the fronts have a silver patina...

A few simple props add to the old world charm of the room...a vintage bassinet, an old picnic basket and a white enamel bucket, a shabby linen apron, are all sweet and simple pieces....

...simple tulle curtains complete the picture. {Sweet and Simple}.

{This is Sophie}.

I will be linking this room redo up here: Please hop over and check out all of the other wonderful inspiration that is to be found!