Happy Memorial Day

  

Photo: Country Living

Photo: Country Living

photo by Toby Morris via apracticalwedding.com

Photo: Country Living

enJOY!

When I finally make it home...

I've had this song on my blog play list for awhile and still it sometimes catches me off guard.  The lyrics are so sweet and poignant.  It instantly puts a lump in my throat and a longing in my heart.


I'm gonna wrap my arms around my Daddy's neck
And tell Him that I've missed him


And tell Him all about the man that I became
And hope that it pleased Him

There's so much I want to say

There's so much I want you to know.

When I finally make it home when I finally make it home.

Then I'll gaze upon the throne of the King
Frozen in my steps
And all the questions that I swore I would ask


Words just won't come yet


So amazed at what I've seen so much more
Than this old mind can hold.


When I finally make it home.

And the sweetest sound my ears have yet to hear
The voices of the angels.


When I finally make it home when I finally make it home.

Lyrics:

Mercy Me

Photos:

Elle Decor

enJOY!

My love for all things worn...

I can't tell you how rewarding it is for me to take a piece of history that has been long forgotten and restore & repurpose it...

I love how the soft ribbons contrast against the time worn tin...

I love that when I catch a glimpse of them in my home I reminisce about history...

Thanks for sharing my passion!  Hope you enJOY!

While we wait...

I'm putting the final touches on several new "Hanging Memo Boards" from my Antique Ceiling Tin product line.  They'll be up on Etsy by Friday.  Don't worry...I'll give you a sneak peek.

Check back later today and/or tomorrow to view the latest designs.

In the meantime, a few pics to inspire.... 

enJOY!

So Fun!

I came across another addicting site... Polyvore.   It's like paper dolls for grown-ups!  You drag & drop all your favorites to create outfits.  You can even upload your own wardrobe images.  


When I'm shopping, I tend to follow the same simple formula:
   1. Jeans...a must
   2. Adorable shoes
   3. Big chunky earrings & bracelet
   4. A cute top


I live out west so this assemble will get me just about anywhere... dinner, church, shopping... you name it.

While the above ensemble features some pricey items, I try to get the most out of my $ by combining a few wardrobe investments with a few disposable bargains.  I tend to spend money on jeans & shoes and find bargains on shirts & jewelry. 


How about you? 
 * What do you splurge on?  
* Where do you count your pennies?


enJOY!

Need. Blog. Help.

Blogging is a new pastime of mine and I'm learning as I go.  I have met so many wonderful people through my Etsy Store, JoyFrameworks, and this blog has given me another opportunity to further those relationships & make new ones too!  As an added bonus, it has also turned out to be another creative outlet for me.  I relate it to being an online hostess.  Planning the ambiance, providing conversations starters and making people feel welcome.  I'm really loving it.

Well, now to my real reason for this post.  I need blog help :(  I started out this morning with a plan to google the answer and then thought why not just ask all you wonderful bloggers.  

So my question is in regards both to etiquette and the actual process.  

1. Do you reply to comments left on your blog?    Does it cross a privacy safety net to reply?  Is it rude not to?

2. How do you reply to comments on your blog?  Really... in layman's terms, please.  Do they need to be public or is their a private response option?

Your generous help is sincerely appreciated!  

I chuckle inside because I've probably only received a couple comments, but those meant the world to me!   I'm also hopeful that I have a slew of invisible readers that are just waiting to test the waters.

EnJOY your day!

All photos: Myhomeideas.com

Decorating Doppelganger

Sometimes I look at these images and think, "wow, they get me".  

Image: Apartment Therapy

I know stuff is trivial and decorating is frivolous, but there are some rooms that make me sigh.  Literally...sigh, drop my shoulders and relax. 

(Image: Michael Graydon / Style at Home)

A room filled with colors you love, textures that make you feel cozy, architecture that screams history, items that spark a memory...

I look at these and think...that's me. 

Not the girl in the actual picture :)

I feel comfortable, at ease...

Photo: Cottage Living

like myself.

So the question to ponder...

 What is your decorating doppelganger?

EnJOY!

Many thanks

My sincere thanks to Out on a Whim Studio for featuring my Family Ceiling Tin Sign on her Etsy Treasury West!  Check it out here.

Photo: Joy Frameworks


The more hits it gets the better chance it has on being featured!  No pressure.


Of course, I had to check out her Etsy Store!  And when I did, I fell in love with this...



Thanks again Out on a Whim!


EnJOY!

Something in me changed...

when I read this blog...

I can't quite put my finger on it yet, but God is working in me.  Ever since I found this blog (thank you Flower Patch Farmgirl), it consumes the back of my mind.  I visit it often reading & re-reading the posts.  What an amazing testimony, what an encouragement.  What is that verse that says "those who were forgiven much love much"?  I feel that way often when I think about what God has done in my life.  I am SO grateful for His grace...eternally grateful.  Then I think of the individuals mentioned in this blog and I think wow, how awesome is He.  The other day I purchased a necklace

in a meek effort to offer some support to Katie Davis' ministry.  

I just can't help but think about how trivial some of my daily tasks & conversations are, but I'll press on.  I know that God has me where I'm at for a reason.  To teach my children in the way of the Lord, to continually share the gospel of Jesus Christ at every opportunity & to above all else, love one another.  I pray that I will not sheepishly allow witnessing opportunities to pass by just because I hesitate or feel uncomfortable.  I pray that I will boldly profess my love for the God that saved me.  I pray for Katie Davis & her ministry that God will strengthen her and allow her to do His will where He has her.  To God be the glory!

EnJOY!

Another Blog Giveaway...

Don't you just love this blog world & all the fabulous giveaways!  

I've never won one, but that's pretty much par for the course with me & giveaways, raffles, etc...  Nevertheless, they are fun!  Yeah, I know, I'm a good sport :)

If you haven't checked out this adorable & inspiring blog, you have to....

You could win a $75 gift certificate to Lisa Leonard Designs!  

The contest ends next Wed the 19th at 3pm.

Remember, if I'm entering your chances to win just went up :)

EnJOY!

New items...coming soon to Etsy!

I have tons of new items to add to my Etsy store!  These are just a few items that I'll begin to add to my store this evening...

Ceiling Tin Heart Banner ~ limited edition

Huge Ceiling Tin Mirrors & Memo Boards

Both big and small...

Hope to see you there!

& check back often because there is more to come!

enJOY!

A Hint of Things to Come...

I am hard at work ...

brainstorming...

cutting metal....

painting....

drilling....

and of course, behind the deadline I set for myself.  I tend to set strict, practically unreachable, goals for myself.  Not sure why.  It always looks good on paper, but I forget to include life on my to do list.  Anyhow, I figured I should at least give a hint of some of the fun items I'm planning to add to my Etsy shop.  

Coming soon...

numerous memo boards...

new colors of existing products...

and 2 completely new products...

I'm so excited!  I promise they'll be a reality soon!  

Until then...

Here are a few architectural salvage images that caught my eye...enJOY!

Love the faux mantel...

and the re-purposed shutter...

and just about everything in this room!

Photos: Better Homes & Garden

Doily & Lace Dresser Tutorial

Remember that adorable doily & lace patterned dresser...



I personally would prefer a darker stained wood with a creamier paint, but that's just me.  I was amazed at how easy it was to create this look.  Here is the tutorial from Better Homes & Gardens:

 First step...materials

Unfinished pine chest of drawers

Oval paper doilies to fit drawer fronts

Spray stencil adhesive (not spray glue)

1/4-inch-wide auto-detailing tape (available at auto body stores)

White satin-finish spray paint

Clear acrylic spray sealer

Fine sandpaper

Tack cloth

Painter's tape

Screwdriver

Rigid plastic strip (such as an old credit card)

Instructions:

1. Prepare chest and drawers. Remove drawers and knobs. Lightly sand and wipe drawers and chest. Using painter's tape, tape off outer 3/4 inch of each drawer, wrapping tape around edge of drawer.

2. Affix doilies to drawers. Following manufacturer's directions, use spray stencil adhesive to adhere double layer of doilies to center of each drawer.

 Photo 1

3. Apply auto-detailing tape to drawers. Start in one corner of one drawer and run strips of tape diagonally across corner, spacing strips 1/4 inch apart (see Photo 1). When that corner is complete, move to next corner and run strips diagonally across corner. The strips bordering lace should meet at a point on center with doily. Repeat for opposite side of drawer. Fill in corners with additional strips of tape, forming lattice pattern. Lightly run plastic card over tape to seal it to drawer. Repeat with remaining drawers.

 Photo 2

4. Paint design. Apply 2 light coats of spray paint to taped drawers, letting paint dry 1 hour between coats (see Photo 2). After final coat dries 1 hour, carefully remove tape and doilies. Let paint dry completely.

5. Finish all pieces. Apply 2 coats of clear acrylic sealer to drawers and chest. Reattach knobs.

This is definitely one of my top choices for refinishing that ol' dresser.

enJOY your day!

Wonderful Blog Giveaway!

I loved her original blog and am SO excited to see what she does with this new blog, 

http://urbanfarmgirlandco.blogspot.com/

Check out her blog today because today is the last day to enter this fabulous give-away...aren't blog giveaways so fun!

You could win this...

or this...

I know where I'm going...over to Urban Farmgirl to enter right away!  Hope to see you there!

Dresser Inspirations

I'm hoping to find time in the next couple weeks to refinish an old dresser that has been sitting in my garage for almost a year.  The dresser is a beautiful dark rustic wood, but the room its going in already has a lot of dark wood.  So, I thought I'd browse for some inspirations...

Love this doily and lattice dresser...

and this dresser with wall paper covered drawers...

how about classic in black...

or, in my favorite color green...

I love the chippy paint and two-toned colors...I think I'd use white & grey...

 

this one just caught my eye...I love the mixture of bold & neutral colors and the mix of styles...

now all I need to do is make a decision and find the time...

something tells me this was the easy part...

enJOY!

{Photos}

1-3 Better Homes

4-6 Country Living