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Sunday, April 15, 2012

Single Nester Giveaway ~ I Won

Hi Everyone,


Around Easter, Carmie of the blog, Single Nester, (Here) had a giveaway that I won.  Honestly, I can't really believe it.  I'm not a "lucky" person at all and when I DO win I am stunned!  Anyway,  she was giving away this lovely cream crinkly infinity scarf.  It is so pretty!  Thank you again, Carmie!


In order to enter you had to leave a comment under her blog post on the giveaway about your favorite Easter/Passover memory and then you had to write a blog post about it.  So as promised this is what I wrote about in a longer version:


Growing up Easter and Thanksgiving were my favorite holidays and as my favorite seasons go, I am definitely a spring and autumn girl.  Funny how the seasons correspond with the holidays...Easter in the spring and Thanksgiving in autumn.  Anyway, I couldn't wait for Easter because with Easter came spring and oh how I loved the smell of the grass, and the beautiful dark green color.  I loved walking barefoot on it because it felt like a thick carpet squished between my toes.


Where we grew up, the month of April would bring some very lovely warm and sunny days and if Easter fell towards the end of the month we would sometimes already be going barefoot.(I know, hard to believe)  Easter Sunday was pretty special to us because not only did we get colored eggs and a basket of candy (the usual i.e. jelly beans, peeps, (they made me sick) a cadbury egg and a large hollow Easter bunny) but we went to church dressed in our Easter finery!  It wasn't an easy feat for my Mom getting five children ready for church (later that number would grow to nine) but my Mom somehow managed to round us up and march us into the bathroom.  


When I was in the third grade (and I don't know why this Easter particularly sticks in my mind) my mother made our Easter dresses.  She usually made a lot of our clothes as she was a wonderful seamstress. That year our dresses would be an a-line shape and made of linen (think 1959 or 1960).  My sister's dress would be a greenish blue, and mine a lighter shade of blue, both were short sleeved.  She purchased us a pair of those cute little socks with lace around the top of the sock and some dressy Easter shoes. We didn't wear an Easter hat because we always made our own. In the spring, we had these bushes around the front of our house that had lovely little clusters of white flowers on them that grew on thin branches.   She told us to cut the branches long enough so that they would lay in an arch around the top of our heads which she bobby pinned across the top of our hair.  I have to tell you, that my sister and I thought we were the "cat's meow"!


Imagine if you will five little "cotton tops" (we all had snow white hair), three girls, dressed in the dresses my mom made, and two boys, dressed in freshly ironed white starched long sleeved shirts with bow ties marching into church filling up almost a full pew, mom and dad included!


Not an easy thing to accomplish on a Sunday morning after we had just eaten enough Easter candy to make us all fidgety and giddy. I just remember that in spite of a challenging budget and more children than I can personally imagine trying to manage, my Mom always got us to the Church on time and dressed as fashionably as possible during those early years of our lives.  My Mom passed away several years ago and I don't ever remember thanking her for that Easter memory.  So, I want to thank you Mom...thank you so much not only for my special Easter memory but for all the memories!

Thursday, April 12, 2012

M~E~R~C~I~

For a while now, I have been wanting to paint some French words in wooden letters. I thought I'd start by using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in the color Coco.  I have to tell you that this is a gorgeous color...sort of a grey/taupe color.  So, I painted two coats of the ANCP in Coco



Wooden letters
Then, I let it dry throughly (which did not take any time) before taking a dry brush and using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old White.  (I forgot to take pictures of the Old White)  Using just a small amount of the Old White on the tips of the brush and wiping it off some before brushing onto the letters to give it a two tone look.



Annie Sloan Chalk Paint ~ Coco



Annie Sloan Chalk Paint ~Coco With Dry Brush Old White over it.
I sanded with a 0000 sanding block and used ASCP clear wax over the top to shine it and...V~O~I~L~A



Finished with Annie Sloan Clear Wax
I finished the backs by painting two coats of ASCP and gave them a quick sand then applied wax to the back to finish them. I added metal picture hooks to hang them with. I love the way they turned out and that gave me the idea to do a series of French words in the wooden letters.




Painted Letters and hangers on Back


Antibbes Green


Provence

Versaille

Above are some colors in ASCP that I have ordered to use on this series.  I already have the Old White, Old Violet, French Grey and Coco that I can use to change the finishes on them. So, stay tuned for others as I complete them.

What do you think?

Monday, April 9, 2012

Some Of My Favorite Things

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter Holiday. Today, I thought I'd share some of my favorite things.  Sometimes it's the small things that bring a smile to my face, things I already have that I've rearranged or items that I have stored away that I bring out that seem new to me.  I'm not a photographer, but I did take a few photos of things that I love and that can make a simple but large statement when decorating a room or shelf.

Vanilla Candles ~ The sweet angel a gift from husband from Europe many years ago.
Ceramic Shell on a cigar box covered with music paper
Pale blue shabby chic frame with a photo of Coco Chanel  (I'm the figure snapping the photo in the background HA)
Grey/blue metal letters spelling Paris From Lisa at Burlap and Bees http://www.burlapandbees.com/
Ornament with antique fabrics from ~ Jo Farmer at Eliza's Interiors (http://www.eliza-interiors-and-design.com/) and En Suite sachet from ~ Sasha Smith of My French Dream (http://www.sachasmith.co.uk/default.aspx), silver hearts from ~ Kathy at Vintageweave (http://www.vintageweave.com/store/) purchased several years ago, and a framable photo also from Sacha of My French Dream  
Antique Mother-Of-Pearl buttons
German Glass glitter Paris sign since turned mottled grey/blue and glassware
Textiles ~ My Favorite
And a selection of some of my favorite books!
Most of these items didn't come with an expensive price tag and they don't have to because they all speak to my soul. Some are handmade, some a bit worn and a bit frayed, but most importantly these items are very much loved.  How about you?  What are your favorite things?

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Happy Easter

Happy Easter Everyone! I've brought you some lovely ranunculus to celebrate Easter. Aren't they gorgeous?  The reason I thought of flowers was because we aren't kids anymore right? And we don't believe in the Easter bunny anymore?  Or do we?

Image via Google ~  iappreciatethat.com


Humm...I don't think I'm ready to stop belivin' in the Easter bunny yet.  Look at these cuties, how can you disappoint them by not belivin'?  I just can't do it!  Sigh...

Image via Google ~ sodahead.com
So, I'm pulling out all the stops...are you listening my little peeps?  Are you ready to pig out on some candy?


Image via Google ~ funnycutepics.com

So grab a handful of gourmet jelly beans.  I love them all!!

Image via Google ~ dulcedesignscandy.com

And who doesn't love peeps? (They come in different colors now...not like when I was little and all you could buy was yellow ones)

Image via Google ~ sodahead.com

I've saved the best for last...the Godiva chocolate bunny. Are you feeling sick yet? (I use to get pretty nauseous Easter morning eating all that candy)

Image via ~ Godiva.com

I hope I haven't made you sick? Because I would hate to think you and I would come away from our Easter baskets looking like this!

Image via Google ~ corbisimages.com

Have a Happy and blessed Easter!  I still believe in the Easter Bunny because I think there's a bit of a kid in all of us.  See you next week!

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Francoise Hardy - So Many Friends (l'amitiƩ - En Anglais)

Friends....


Image via Pinterest ~ Originally pinned by Terra Righi

Quote of the Day ~

Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.
Oprah Winfrey~


Here is a lovely song about friendship by French singer Francoise Hardy.  Enjoy!

Saturday, March 31, 2012

The Beautiful Colors of Spring

While at the grocery store the other day, I was struck by the beautiful flowers, their color combinations and the varieties. I saw these sunflowers and had to snap a photo with my IPhone...not a bad picture. I was wondering what sunflowers represent so I checked online and found out that they symbolize loyalty and wishes. They are so cheerful and can turn a frown upside down in a heartbeat.







Then, I found these and thought of how nature, with the help of rain and sunshine, brings us the most simplest pleasures.




Hydrangeas are my favorites...and their symbolism is two fold.  On the positive side they express thank you and on the negative side they can signify frigidity and heartlessness.  I choose to think of them in their most favorable light and will use them right now to thank all of my faithful readers who take time out of their busy schedules to pay me a visit.  Your visits and comments mean the world to me.  So thank you!

What is your favorite flower?  Do you know what it symbolizes?

I've been busy sewing and adding new items to my Etsy shop lately so that explains my lack of posting as of late.

Here is a sample of what is new in the shop:

Table Runner ~ Ivory and blue floral with an ivory canvas back.
Measures approximately 16 1/2 x 54 1/2

Blue floral pillowcase made with Rachael Ashworth Shabby Chic Fabric~ a silk strip of silk sari, and a white linen border


A  pink floral pillowcase on a pale lavender background with a pale green strip of silk sari and an ivory linen border

Bird eggs with twine ties for Easter

Stop by my Etsy shop for my Spring Sale and receive 20% off. Use SPRINGSALE20 at the checkout to receive discount.  If discount coupon is not used I can't give you the discount! ~HERE~

Monday, March 26, 2012

Patterns and Colors Swirling in my Mind

I've been wanting to sew a new shower curtain for our bathroom and have been visiting different fabric sites online trying to decide on a pattern and color.  Right now, my shower curtain is a natural linen color on the bottom half and a cream cotton color on the top half with a bit of black piping to separate the two.  It is B~O~R~I~N~G and I want to add a bright splash of color.  Since spring has sprung here in Texas and all the beautiful colors are everywhere I am itching to do something different  Here are a few samples of the patterns and colors I've been looking at and believe me when I say that I've looked at so many colors and styles that my eyes have started to cross which is why I can't decide.  I love white and grey/taupe with pops of color but sometimes I like to incorporate a bold splash of color and a bit of whimsey to shake things up a bit.

Image via ~ Fabric Guru
Brunschwig and Fils
A floral that is colorful ~ 100% cotton
Image via ~ Fabric Guru
Brunschwig and Fils
This has a Tahitian flair to it...I kinda like it ~ 100% cotton

Image via ~ Fabric Guru
Brunschwig and Fils
Another floral...a bit softer - 100% cotton


Image via ~ Fabric Guru
Brunschwig and Fils
A softer floral in a cotton/linen mix

As you can see, I can't seem to get away from the florals but I'm thinking both color and whimsey will come from the Tahitian pattern which I think would be fun and the one I am leaning towards! What do you think?
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