Valentine Ideas?

If you're like me you enjoy giving

 a little Valentine gift to friends and family.

I wanted to share some Valentine images,

in hopes of generating some creative ideas.

 

 

 

these cute little pillows and totes

all dressed in hearts

are found at Ballard Designs.

It's been warmer here these last few days and

I've been decorating for Valentine's Day this week.

It helps brighten the dreary days of January,

and move me toward the colors of Spring.

Ballard Designs

I've been playing with a few bits of paper and vintage ephemera,

but I've had a little "itch" to get out my sewing machine

Hmmm...?

felt hearts?

Country Home

collaged bottles with posey?

Country Home

decopauged hearts?

Country Home

or how about these?

yummy!

No sewing machine required.

What are you doing for Valentines gifts?

Have a sweet weekend,

Debra

White Wednesday, Small reminders...

Sometimes we look at something,

 or someone with new eyes.

I have had this little bisque figurine of praying hands

at my booth space for months.

I think it was once a night light as it is hollow

and has a place where a cord could once have been.

I always admired it,

but had one similar at home painted gold.

I never could understand why no one wanted it.

It was only a few dollars.

No one saw in it what I saw.

Last week when I made a visit, it was still there.

I had determined it would come home with me,

where it belonged.

I like to make vignettes of concepts and ideas;

Things I'm thinking about.

This last week with the tragedy in Haiti,

I have been reminded about the importance of prayer.

That God is a "light unto our path",

and that our hands can work

and also pray.

So today we pray not only for the people of Haiti,

but for our neighbors next door...

our friends
 and families...

And for all those we do not know.

May God's peace and presence surround you...

...and may we be aware of all the
little reminders there are in our life,

that we can help others who are in need.

Please visit Kathleen at Faded Charm.

Have a blessed White Wednesday.

love,

Debra

Is this considered an illness...?

Great sweater... well, maybe not in red.

not for me.

I prefer not to look like the broad side

 of the proverbial barn.

As I've gotten older, and shhhhhh (wider),

I've realized darker, more subdued colors,

do more for me,

and camouflage a little better.

I found Banana Republic again this winter.

They have had a store here for at least a year,

but I just never went in.

Shopping with the girls these last holidays,

made me brave the "trendy", "hip" places

 and venture out of my middle age comfort zone.

(you don't consider BR hip or trendy?

For this gal, that's pretty hip)

OK, my question is this:

If you find something you adore,

and that looks good on you,

are you likely to buy more than one of them?

You know, maybe three of them?

Just love me a cashmere sweater...aahhhhh.

Oh, and they were on sale!

And after all...gray is so slimming!

Inquiring minds want to know.

love,

Debra

Silver Sunday, I'm a basket case...

...for silver, that is!

Yes, here I am after losing my head for these

sweet painted silver wicker baskets.

(just decided I felt like being silly today.

After yesterday's post,

I gave myself permission!)

This one is holding one of my younger daughter's

 wedding bouquets.

And these little gals are in my studio,

just there to brighten my day!

They behave themselves pretty well.

Love the paint patina, here.

And this is a little vignette of two

of my silver-plate baskets,

full of Valentine goodness.

Be sure and join the rest of us Silver Sunday groupies

with Beth at Gypsy Fish Journal.

Have a wonderful weekend!
love,
Debra

Growth...

There is something about the start of a new year that invariably sparks change and new growth in me. Sometimes I don't recognize it right away. It may take a few weeks until it settles in me.

Since I have been blogging this last 6 months, I've learned alot about myself. A blog is the best form of a "diary" for me, because it allows me to not only chronicle my life with photos of what and where I am, but it gives me the opportunity to share my heart with others.

It's like a magnifying mirror held up in front of me so that I can reflect on my life and thoughts. And in the sharing of it all, you will see the "real me".That's what happens with a magnifying mirror. We see the good and the "not so good". When I look in the mirror I see not only physical change, but emotional and spiritual change. This last 6 months has been a journey to connect back with the person I used to be. Or maybe just the person I need to be.

Peace in heart and mind has slowly come back to me. Concentrating on my health has caused me to concentrate more on God and what He wants for my life. I've been through a lot of ups and downs in my life, sometimes feeling "stagnant". I'm realizing that "growth" for me doesn't necessarily equal "excitement".

When I started this blog I had a desire to be interesting and "entertaining". But I have realized that at this time in my life, I'm short on entertainment value. In the past I was a "project" person. Furniture, art, creating... but now I'm concentrating on "being".

My desire is to share and communicate. Not trying to live up to my past expectations of myself, is a freeing idea. I am "me".  So, while I am not out junking as much or decorating a flea market space with the fervor I once had, hopefully when I post, it will be about what I'm thinking, doing, feeling...about me as a person.

Hope that's not boring. Maybe not sheer entertainment, but not boring either.I have realized in this time spent blogging that while I can drool over a chippy white cabinet, or linger over vintage linens and ephemera, that what constitutes a blog that I will come back to over and over, is one where I see the individual person there. I see the real person behind the blog. Not really behind it, but "infused" in it.

Sometimes I have felt like "apologizing" that my blog is about "me".

 But I'm getting over it.

If you'd be interested in sharing my journey with God;

 If you would love to connect with others

who are sharing their own thoughts and feelings,

drop by the Bible Study Blog on my sidebar,

 "a day in the life..."

I'm posting there everyday.

I'm not going anywhere, and I will still force you to look at my sunroom and white sideboard with all my vintage goodies and minutia. Guess today I just needed to "talk".

love,

Debra

"Pink" and White Wednesday at Spring Creek

The Valentine bug has bit me,

down at my little space at Spring Creek.

Pink and white are the colors of the day.

My little "Piano Babies"...

and a lunch basket with sweet things.

An altered train case...

tray with roses, and and oriental tea canisters.

A bookcase full of treasures...

Pink floral tole tray, young Mozart, and a dolly pin cushion

Silver basket, powder tins, and old photographs.

Shabby cherub lamps and
 a pink Parisienne dresser tray.

Sweet prints...

And dainty dishes...

pink crocheted pin cushion...

and a little lamb lost.

Altered framed collage...

And chalk swans in a jewelry box.

Mon Petite Boutique

is ready for love.

Kathleen at Faded Charm is our

wonderful Hostess.

Have a sweet

 White Wednesday!

love,

Debra