Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Adding Sparkle

     Yesterday we received our first bit of snow for the season in the form of snow and sleet but no signs of it left this morning.. Just a chill and brisk winds from the effects of storm Sandy.. Inspiration to add to the very old powder jar with Christmas sparkle and a tag... It was added with a couple tucks of holiday.. Mini white Christmas lights are placed in the greenery on the pie safe for evening enjoyment...  I also have the fireplace mantle completed, almost ,and will share with you on another day. I am thinking today I would like to clean the book shelves that are located on both sides of the fireplace... They haven't been completed for a couple months due to me not wanted to attempt a ladder climb since surgery but now feel I can accomplish just fine...  I would also like to get a couple outdoor holiday wreaths and a couple garlands of evergreen on the posts as you enter unto my front porch but the temps are not desirable... Maybe next week I will be able to sneak that in..
   I have some magazines of Jeanne d Ark for Christmas past that I may search out and try to find some inspiration for use of similar objects I have around the house.. I have plenty in storage but always love to add simple new touches even if it be as small as a altered art tag...
      I so dislike placing sadness on my blog but several sleepless hours were spent last night in thoughts of the family Of Tina Goodwin of Wauseon, Ohio, who lost her life in a auto accident... My prayers were with her mother Jane , as Jane and I worked together several years at  Hallmark and Floral ,when I worked the gift and floral business. Please say a extra prayer for healing and strength for this family and all the others that have so much devastation in their lives this week... I am very saddened by all these heartbreaking events...

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Moments

Sometimes moments arrive and we are forced to deal with events we are not prepared for.. this is one of those times for those whom are experiencing the effects of Sandy... It is proving to be very devastating.. Thoughts and prayers are with all ... We are having wind, cold, and sleet in our area... but are very blessed to be in warm shelter of our home...

    " To live with content , with small means... to seek elegance rather than luxury and refinement rather than fashion.. to be worthy.. to be wealthy.. not rich.. to listen  to the stars, birds, babes with open hearts...  Bear all things cheerfully, do all things bravely".. all lovely strong thoughts and words... I have shared these words by William Henry Channing before and love to read them as a reminder of what is truly important..
   As I enter the holidays with these simple thoughts of inspiration, I will continue to decorate with simple elegance rather the luxury as some desire... I have shared a picture of the small 2 foot tree I placed in the entry of our home.. decorated with the simple ornies that I created... The little clock faces turned out rather cute with some cutting and gluing and will blend with the other vignettes yet to be created in other parts of the home with ornies I have created for this years decorating...
    Tom had a crop insurance agent here for business this morning so I was delayed with challenging either the antique pie safe or the fireplace mantle for decorating today...until the afternoon hours after lunch...
     Sending prayers and blessings to those in need as we travel through the next couple days of storms and the effects it creates...

Monday, October 29, 2012

Blustry Monday

Very cold here this morning as we are forecast to have high winds for the next couple of days.  I went out on the front porch and stripped the fall decorations ..even though they were tied down they would still end up out in fields or at neighbors or somewhere out  yonder...I am warming up from that venture as I write this post..
    Yesterday was also a indoor day.. I had searched Etsy and Ebay for some clock faces for a small tree I want to place in the front entrance of our home.. but decided I did not want to spend the money..so I went back to school days with the cutting and gluing and printed a couple different clock faces.. cut and glued together and made some handmade wire hangers.. They ready turned out well and do look to be real... I also printed a sweet young girl vintage image, paper punched a lovely corner and added a rhinestone for a brooch.. Hand written " Vintage" tag that has been stained.. I have a small collections of glass vintage ornies in storage I was thinking that will add some color if needed for this tree...  it will have it's own personality... as it welcomes you as you come to the front door... Hint: there are tons of clock face images if you type in clock face images on your computer....
    The years have changed as I have aged to the amount of excitement the holidays create.. Now a small tree but a decorated home, a much smaller amount of baking and virtually no shopping.. blended families of myself and Tom do gather and share time however... The holidays now seem to reveal memories that have stacked up over the years.. I still however enjoy adding vintage charms of embellishment for personal enjoyment even though it will be on a very tight shoestring that seems to be getting shorter every year... Enjoyment will be sought no matter what is wrong with the world and desires of kindness will be placed first..
   Laundry awaits placing in the dryer and I think I will be off to search out the small tree I desire to place in the area I created the ornaments I shared today and bring it up and clean the corner making ready the vignette for welcoming you into our home...
and let  the coming seasons begin..
    To all in harms way.. may you be safe and know thoughts are with you...

Saturday, October 27, 2012

The Changes Are Coming



Turning colder here in our area this weekend with chilly, brisk winds that have stripped the trees to their winter bearness.. The view across the fields acres and woods show winter is on it's way... As I try to post you can see I once again have help with puppy sitting atop the computer...
    With the changes comes the seeking of more inspiration to make a festive atmosphere for the coming holidays... Seems a large amount of my decorating will be achieved with papers... Jeanne d Ark gift french gift wrap and aged song book pages... that the book was purchased at a antique shoppe for a mere 50 cents... Although I love the feel of decorating the best of the best holidays are most wonderful when entered into filled with kindness, goodwill, and sharing... all combined to make holiday bliss. When filled with lovely inspiration and kindness lodged in our hearts it creates meaningful pleasure. I have started to decorate my old server that is located in the dining area.. I placed a 2 foot white tree in a silver trophy urn and added french cones I created... hand-stamped Paris postal tags... hand-stamped script muslin ribbon... tucks of pink crinkle bias ribbon and will add some small pink glass balls when I take them from storage in a week or so... This will add a punch of color and add to the other tree that will be located in a close area... Aged song book pages were strung through more crinkle bias ribbon added added across the front of the server... with the helps of our little rescue puppy once again as you can see in the pic... More little tucks of Christmas will be added to this vignette as they come out of storage... I will move onto the very old antique pie safe and add some song book pages next... As I add holiday touches it will be done with worn and weathered and a punch of sophisticated crystals and glam as this is what I love to gather.. Icy and snowy is always a lovely touch... for the shimmer I love at Christmas.. As many of you love the primitive and darker colors of which I can appreciate and enjoy I just prefer to use the objects and sources I have available to me... with the thoughts of meaningful pleasure and a sense of comfort...
     The aroma of pumpkin cupcakes has filled my home as they bake in the oven and soon will be topped with butter cream frosting... It is a perfect day to have something in the oven and soon a bowl of home-made chili will be enjoyed for lunch...
    Enjoy your day and thoughts of safety as the predicted storm travels ups the states along the coast...

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Fall Sprinklings

After a weekend of Tom's son and his family home from Indianapolis, Indiana, I am looking toward trying to create and change my home up a bit and start to make ready for Christmas decorating... I have been searching blogs posts to spark my interest and inspiration.. Many of you are creating lovely objects...for the holidays...
    I have maintained the idea my home should be switched out just as you would a shoppe... I know that stays with me from all the years of being in retail and the floral and gift industry... Always ready to shuffle objects around.. so to add some excitement and appeal.. freshness seems to make it easier to spend time in our homes..
    I feel playing the musical chairs game and doing some major cleaning when adding vignettes will be in order as I haven't been able to do much since the recovery period of my surgery... I now feel I may be somewhat ready for some of that... although I know it will be at a slower pace.. and that is ok..
     Sounds of the green iron horses shelling the corn in our fields can be heard in the background... as I type this post... It will be interesting to find out what the corn yields will be with our little 3 foot high corn that suffered damage with the drought this summer.... Our beans were a surprise as they were more than expected but the corn will not be so pleasant I am quite sure...
     Today in my pics atop I have shared a couple sweet objects I had purchased from a seller on Ebay.. Reading further I found she also has a blog... These items were from Line-chic  http://www.linen-chic.blogspot.com   I went back to do a re-order and found a message she is away for now....
    The sun is shinning and the temps are to be very pleasant the next two days then for the weekend the temps are to drop into the 40's and 50's for highs...
     Well I am off to the mailbox and then to make some lunch and then maybe to create  few objects.. Have a blessed day... Enjoy....

Friday, October 19, 2012

Rainy Days In NW Ohio

Another rainy day here in NW Ohio... Plans for working on altered art after lunch and laundry completed... Just gave puppy his once a week bath and the same result every time... I am as damp and cold as he is .. Sure do hope this bath time improves...
   I took some time to take some pics of the small little offerings I purchased from a couple ETSY shoppes.  Little journals and lovely doily holder tucked with reprints of vintage images were found in http://52apothecaryshop.blogspot.com  and other supplies and offering from HOMESTEAD TREASURES ...
     I continue to love the feel of no color... Favs are always whites and cremes... This year with the punches of pink and French papers and script.  utilizing objects in storage and adding objects of creation ... making what is available to me but still allowing change....
      Looking forward to the sharing others do with objects they may have or re purpose ...for decorating is aways a passion with me... Sending blessings...

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Musings

After a night of thunder and lighting and wind going into the noon hour the wind is still making it's awareness but the sun is peeking through... The trees are over half stripped of their summer foliage as the winds continue to hurry the process of the stripping of the trees..
     I am using Tom's computer as I continue to struggle with this different dashboard and my changing of backgrounds ect... I certainly do wish they would have let it alone.... I cannot get the backgrounds on with the other computer of which makes no sense to me.... I guess I just plain don't know how to do it with this dashboard... Grrrrrr...
     The above picture is from a few years ago I had saved on this computer and I do not know the source anymore... I shared for a lovely idea and I also love the meringues just in a lovely glass jar... So pretty...
     I am going to print some images for creating more Christmas decorations in a bit after I have some lunch.... I am considering making book markers or small cones for filling a couple candy treats for the Moser family gathering... Both choice will take a ton of time and printing but the markers would be easier choice... Hum... maybe a mix...
    Yesterday morning I had a lovely time as my granddaughter Olivia came and spent a few hours with me as her mother attended a meeting at her workplace... Between the puppy and the smaller child I was somewhat tired at the end of the evening last night... bringing back the memories of the raising of a family and how different my lifestyle has become once your family leaves and spreads their wings.... knowing there is a reason.... aging ones do not have little ones...
      A question to you whom have a ETSY shop on your blog... Have you been doing ok with it.. I am thinking of adding my ETSY on my blog again as I didn't give it much of a chance the last time... I would like to place some creating on it as I need to keep myself busy being I do not go much anymore... I do not do but very small buying anymore of which gives me limited things to share with you... Not that I don't love buying and having different things... just that happenings in my life have forced different decisions to be made... and everything to be on a shoestring budget... I did purchase a couple very small items from a couple shoppes I will share with you as soon as I snap some pics.. Wishing you all a lovely day...

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Sing Anyway

Today is mild in temp but rainy and very,very, windy here in NW Ohio. Leaves are blowing thorough the air  as they make their journey to the ground for another seasons clean up. Very soon the trees will be stripped .. due to the drought this year I do not think the colors are as brilliant as we do not have many reds in the viewing of woods and landscapes...
     Farmers were halted yesterday as the rains made their appearance... Machinery were left setting in the fields till the day when they can return to harvest once again...
     Last evening Tom and I attended a birthday gathering that my niece had planned for her fathers 75 th birthday and enjoyed the gathering... Placing many hours of thought and work into this special event for her father it was nice to spend time with my 3 children and with nephews I haven't spend time with for a period of time...
      With the holidays coming on rapidly it always seems this time our thoughts are spent thinking of family and how very special the time is... Maybe today I will find a couple hours to work on some altered art Christmas objects for this years decorating.. as the winds continue to blow with quite a bit of force... A nap maybe considered as soon as I make and place a meatloaf and place it into the oven to bake for this evenings dinner and enjoyment...Nothing quite like taking a nap to waken to the aroma of food baking for the partaking..
       Soon winters wonder will be upon us... I have been searching for fresh and new ideas for holiday decorating and entertaining... for my own us and for sharing... This year due to my recovering from cancer the last couple months the decorating may be in a small but lovely manner.. and of course will be done in vintage and antique with a touch of French.. Choice will be made in vignettes and the tucking of seasonal in with existing objects..Although I do not decorate the same every year as many do... I usually make the changes by creating on a slim budget... and tucking with some lovely objects from year to year..  I have some pink glass balls that were quite expensive that I will be bringing out and using with newly created objects... I do love seasonal and traditional objects in the mix... I do not use red and green but do enjoy seeing it in others home and businesses... I also love thinking beyond the tree when using ornaments as glass ornies can be used in glass bowls... baskets... and lovely jars and glass cloches... filling these objects with these lovely baubles can be quite stunning... plus it does connect your theme ... The above images can be used if you would wish for some of your Christmas creating....I am using many in my creating...
     Wishing you all a blessed Sunday... God teaches love and love never fails.... even though some days we do have have a song in our heart we need to sing anyway.....

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

October Musings and Sharing

Octobers song is whistling a tune as brisk breezes are flowing through our area today with the air being warmed a bit by bright sunshine.
     Today I thought I would share some of the decorations I have been filling my days creating for this years Christmas decorating..with the Jeanne d Ark paper I purchased a while back. I am scarfing my home for unused objects I may have stashed that will work with my  theme.
     Hand stamped material ribbon has been created from a vintage sheet with pink roses scattered on it .. Plain white tissue paper has been stamped and created into paper roses. Envelopes have been created from the Jeanne d Ark paper and a printed French lady image... pink cut out rose... rhinestone and wrapped with vintage cord... The cones I have pictured are not totally finished as I have more eembellishing to do... I coffee stained some tags this morning to finish the cones... Many boxes of all different sizes have been wrapped as faux presents... some for the tree.. some larger for the fireplace mantle.. some for under the tree and a couple for a place setting on the dining table... all in the Jeanne d Ark paper... I have a couple other ideas not placed in motion as of yet...
     I have also started decorations that are all to be on a very tight shoestring budget for the Moser Christmas gathering of whom Tom and are the hosts this year... Crepe paper poinsettias with pearls centers from a very old vintage pearl necklace have been made... Vintage images have been printed and are awaiting being created into a altered art piece to be attached to greenry and the poinsettias and tea or coffee stained labels... I will share these when I am just somewhat further along with them...
    Creating while you are in recovery is a good thing but trying to create while your are raising a very young and new to the family puppy is a bit stressful...Oh my good gosh he thinks he can help with it all and everything goes in his mouth and is great stuff... He even started eating one of the crepe paper poinsettias when I glanced the other way...
    Sending you best wishes and will share more very soon.. as the pumpkins days are here and soon will lend way to the family gathering of the holiday season....