Paint Day

I did it!

I shouldn't have, but I did.  I spent the whole day painting, more or less.

I did not do one load of laundry, I didn't do my breakfast dishes, I didn't vacuum a floor, and Lord knows it needs it!!

I painted signs today.  Didn't get done near as much as I wanted to, but I did post 3 new ones on my

 Etsy Shop.  Hope you go take a look here http://www.etsy.com/listing/72564780/country-cottage-prayers-and-roses-wood

I did spend a little time, looking at some other blogs.  Seeing what's going on and what's happening in the blogosphere. 

Never thought I'd be using the words 'what's happening in the blogosphere" in my lifetime.

There are some really good blogs out there, but I don't have that much time to spend on mine.  I do like to update and show a few things I've got to work on, and who knows one day someone may just check in here and decide they like my work.

Hope you enjoyed taking a peek. 

 My 'Baby Love' is home laying on the couch and 'Miss Priss' just called saying she is on the way.....I've got to get some supper on!

Leaving you in His care,

Carla

When things get in the way.

It's been that way lately.  It seems everytime I think I'm going to get to the shop to paint,

'things' happen. 

It's called life.

Right now, family sickness and doctor visits have gotten a little overwhelming, but I know they will smooth out.  I'm just trying to hang on!

In the meantime, God gives us encouragement through His Word, or other folks, or even in the beauty of His world.  Spring is here (and seems like summer on those few 80+ degree days we had) and with that means hummers, flowers and my rosebush!

My rose bush is just starting to bloom out.  It is amazing the number of buds it has on it.  I just wanted to share a few photos of my rosebush, but please don't take note of my back yard that needs mowing.  We've got a lot of limbs to pick up, and since I do most of this, it's been slow to get done this year.

I'm also including a photo of a new sign.

"Dream"

From the top of the steps looking down.

This is huge!  We have a 12' goat panel over the handrails on the steps.  It goes from the ground, up to the panel and over and back down.

This is an "Old Blush" climbing rose and boy, did it ever!

   Just envision this lovely hanging over a perfectly painted porch with a white swing.  Maybe by the end of summer it will be that way......and maybe by the end of summer the yard will be mowed!

Leaving you in His care,

Carla

Checking In

Hi, it's been a week or so......we were in the land of sickness for a few days, but so much better.  I've got some new things going on.  So will post them this week.  It seems that my painting time is being attacked, but not to worry, I WILL be painting.  So here is wishes for a great week for you and me.  Enjoy this lovely weather, the spring rains and God's goodness!  See you soon with new stuff.

Leaving you in His care,

Carla

A Dream Come True

It came to mind today. 

A memory.  From long, long ago.  A dream back then, and it dawned on me, it has come true. 

God is so good. 

Even in small things like this.

I must have been 7 or 8.  Somewhere in that range.  There was a fruit market over on the highway, not far from our house.  The people who owned it were very good friends with my mom and dad.  They would come over and play Rook.  Rook is a  card game, and it is still a tradition at our house.  Now the grand kids are playing.  It's one of those things that when you play, it's war.  Your attitude must be in it to win it.  Anyway, that's another post....back to Vesta and Irene.  Or, as everyone knew them, "Tooter" and Irene.  Don't ask.  That's just what they called him. 

Tooter and Irene had this fruit market, and years ago it was a totally  fun place to go.  Of course fruits and veggies, but during that time you could also buy fireworks............ALL. YEAR. LONG.  Anytime you wanted them, just go pay a nickel for a pack of firecrackers and they were yours!!   I told you it was a long time ago....can you believe a nickel, a measly 5 cents?  There were bottle rockets, and of course Roman candles.  Why they were called Roman candles, I don't know.  My dad would hold them up in the air with his hand and shoot them off.  SPARKLERS!!!!!  I would love to 'write' my name with them in the dark.  There wasn't a lot going on in our little town in those days, still hasn't changed that much. 

There were also other souvenirs.  Cheap things that were laying on table tops that had been divided up into squares.  White tables.  I remember it vividly.  The tables.  Not the souvenirs.  The souvenirs were just things that were made of plastic, or maybe a few rocks or blown glass.  All sorts of things that anyone passing through during those years would be able to pick up on the cheap. Candies that you can't find anymore.  There were lots of tourist that went past on that old highway then.  But times change, the interstate came through and the souvenir businesses went by the wayside along those old highways. 

What about the dream?  I'm getting there.  One of the things that was great about Wallace's Fruit Market was it served Ice Cold Watermelon.  It said so on the sign.  I loved those signs.  I can see the whole watermelon with it's green stripes and the sliced, red watermelon on the sign. The words 'ice cold' were painted in light blue and had what looked like ice or snow painted across the top.  It looked so, well, chilled.   The sliced watermelon had this wonderful drop of moisture painted on it.  It looked real.  I wondered 'how did they do that'?  Even then, I was noticing lettering and signs and art.  Yes, it looked so real and I guess that is why so many people stopped there.  That sign made them want that red, ripe, juicy, ice cold slice of watermelon!! By the slice, for a quarter!!  I told you it was long, long ago. 

Now, here comes the dream part.  I told ya we'd get there!  The locals and tourists would buy a slice of watermelon and go out and sit on the picnic tables that surrounded this fruit stand.  Under the shade in the heat of summer, they sat at these beautiful WHITE picnic tables that had PINK trim painted around the edges of the tables and attached seats.  Oh. my. goodness.  I thought they were the most beautiful picnic tables I had ever seen.  I just knew when I grew up, I was going to have a picnic table like that at my home.  White with pink trim.  It was just so dreamy. 

Well, today after painting a rocker, two Adirondack chairs, a table, basket and multiple flower pots white and pink,  I thought "this is it!"  My dream as a little girl has come true.  Even though my picnic table is a glass and ironworks type, it has a beautiful white lace tablecloth on it.  Pink doily and white and pink candle holders sit on the top.  The painted rocker with pink trim and the pink table remind me of that long ago time, when things were simpler, and life's pleasures weren't so expensive.  Just a can of paint, maybe two, and a slice of ice cold watermelon. 

Leaving you in His care,

Carla 

My aching back

Oh my goodness, I forget how old I am!  After a wonderful morning going to yard sales with my sweet lil' daughter, we came home and got in the garden picking up rocks AND we, meaning me, my sweet daughter and the love of my life--my wonderful hubby, also put some time in working on our patio getting it ready for that new shabby look.  I can't wait and I will be posting a few photos at the end.

I am new to this shabby world, so just starting out with a few things of my own.  I am wanting the light, beautiful, happiness of white and roses and pinks and blues and greens.  I'm having trouble deciding what I really want to go with.  But, my sweet daughter-in-law Olivia, at www.shabbychictreasures.blogspot.com
has beautiful pinks everywhere, I love it!  But I am partial to blue, and hydrangeas, and did I say blue? 

I did find some beautiful pink lace tablecloths today for almost nothing!!  So I'm going to do some things with pinks and some with blues. 

Did I say I forgot how old I am......every bone in my body is aching, but it was so worth it.  We pulled ivy, then we pulled more ivy, then we took a break and came back and yep, pulled more ivy. It looks soooooo much better!  I think it will help with allergies for hubby and daughter getting rid of all the underlying mold and junk, and even better mosquitoes.  Those pesky little critters that I think ought to be the state bird of Arkansas. 

Like I said, I'm just starting on my journey through shabby land and so far it is making a difference.  It is turning into a happy little world of brightness.  I have used the darker colors of red and navy for years and beigy walls and you know the look.  It's time to bring out the cheerful look of yesteryear.  I remember when I was a girl, and my bedroom with three other sisters had wood floors and blue walls and chenille bedspreads and it was oh so sweet and cheerful.  Not much in it, but it was a nice room.  Two beds, a big dresser and chest.  Maple.  Remember the look?  Headboard with book shelf.  Brass fixtures on the storage pieces.  Oh those were the days. 

Although they do beautifully decorated rooms, I'm tired of TV designers telling me what I should like.  Been there, done that.  Now it's time to return to the simplicity and beauty of my mom's and dad's family home, of love and family dinners.  Of warmth and softness and welcomeness. Is that a word?

This has turned into a long post, so I'll quit and let you see my 'new' patio.  It's  a start, but when I get my flowers and welcome sign and a nice beautiful tray with teapot and tea cups, it will make anyone feel welcome....at least I hope so.

I'm linking up for Pink Saturday, this is my first try so please, if I don't do this correctly I will sooner or later get it right.  http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/  Looking forward to meeting you all and looking at your pretties. 

Well I didn't quite get these in order, but you can see some befores and afters and what a difference it is going to be when I get everything changed.  All the ivy (whose idea was it to plant some ivy?) is gone although I'm sure there will be little leaves that peak out through the summer.  It will get a lovely shot of round-up.  The doll was a beautiful bride doll.  She had the most gorgeous veil. 

I hope you will hang in there with me as I persue this new decorating style.  I will post updates as I go along. 

Did I say I forgot how old I am?  I hear a hot shower calling my name.

Leaving you in His care,
Carla

Good Morning

It's been a few days, so I wanted to show you a few things I've been working on.  But before I do that, and I know you don't need a reminder, but please pray for the people in Japan.  As you know they are going through such turmoil right now.  It is only by God's grace and mercy that we are not going through it. 

I've spent this week, cleaning house and taking my mom to some doctor appointments.  Although I still need some more time to finish everything I needed to do like get a garden started, my DH and I got to go yard selling on Friday morning.  With the nice weather I thought there would be more than there were, but I did pick up a few items to work on.

I WISH I had taken a before shot of this one.  It was one of those quick paintings that are mass produced in some far off place.  It was black with fruit painted in the center, lemons, oranges, canteloupe, grapes.  I sanded it down and shabbied it up......sure made a difference.  It's bright, happy and hopefully welcoming.  Wouldn't it be fun to welome your friends with a beautiful pink rose?

Here's  close up..........

Here are a few things that I picked up on the cheap to go into my bedroom I'm redoing.



My pretty pink swan, please pretend my walls are white, or a very light celedon green, or even pink....the yellow is going to go very soon. She was just a quarter!



A close up...are you imagining white walls?

got these for 75 cents each

...a close up.  I don't know what I'm going to do with the gold frames, thinking about turning the gold into silver,what do you think?

I also picked up a small antique table that I'm going to shabby. 

Hope your day is as beautiful as it is here, and don't forget to be so thankful today.

Leaving you in His care,
Carla

I'd Rather be Painting

A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.  Today that is cleaning house.  I'd rather be painting, but you know when you have to wade through, it's time to do something.  Besides, I want my house looking pretty when I add this new sign to my decor. 

                                                                            
I'm thinking there are some things I want to change about it, before I add one to my Etsy shop, but I will hang this one on my front porch.   I'm so looking forward to spring so that I can shabby up my front porch.  It will be so enjoyable sitting there, sipping coffee and listening to the birds singing. 

I'm not going to be able to get into the shop very much this week, but hopefully I will get all this 'have to' stuff done and get back to creating. 

Got Cottage?

White, pink, green.  Pink, white, green.  Green, pink, white.  Okay, I added black today!!  Needed a change.  But I love it.  I'm liking all the things that are coming out of the shop.  Some of them I am want to keep....but can't do that.  Isn't it funny that I've painted literally thousands of signs in my lifetime and I have nada, zilch, zero hanging in my home.  I'm going to have to change that.

Here's a sampling of some of the new stuff.  Enjoy!  

Leaving you in His care,

Carla

New Items

Just a couple more items for Etsy. 

A metal distressed hanging flower basket.  Painted with pinks and greens.  Hydrangea is the main flower with a few roses thrown in for good measure.

The next item is a rocking horse with pinks and greens.  Distressed to look old.

Has the bible verse I Cor 13:13 on the rocker, "and now abideth these three, Faith, Hope and Love, but the greatest of these is Love.

It's been a busy day for painting. I feel like I'm getting some things accomplished.  Hope you enjoy!

Just for good measure, I'm throwing in a photo of a painting I've done that I will also put on the Etsy shop.  It's pink andwhite peonies, lace and some china. 

here's a detail of the china and lace.



Night,

Carla 



A day to get paint on me.

Happy March 1st!

I have got a special item I'm working on in the shop/studio.  A rocking horse.  A small one.  It's about  foot high and 2 feet long.  It will look great sitting on a table or shelf.  I found this little item at a consignment shop and it was reminiscent of the carousel horses that I painted years ago. And I mean YEARS ago!

So some of you young chics may have not seen them.  My mom still has one that my dad built and I painted.  I am going to reintroduce them in my Etsy shop.  This one is a lot smaller, but is going to be so cute, IMHO.

I am working as hard as time allows to get things ready.  It seems all that time I thought I was going to have when we graduated our daughter from home school, is being filled with some other adventures. 

Oh well, it will come about soon....hopefully the anticipation is building, I know it is for me.

Here is a sweet little birdcage I found yesterday that I am planning on adding to my garden after I do some shabbying to it......wishing you a lovely, shabby spring day!

Leaving you in His care,

Carla