Repainting a Dollhouse ...

I have to admit, this has been a strange week. My usual schedule; my comfort schedule, has purposefully been altered. This is the longest I've gone without sharing a blog post in the last almost 5 years. (Even when I've been in the hospital I've managed to get my hands on my computer) It felt a little like mourning, a little like freedom. But either way it's something I knew I had to do.

I said I'd post when I had something interesting to share with you all, and right now even though I have lot's of things on my mind, and still can grab onto some inspiring things, I've known that I needed to slow down and not feel any pressure and "compulsion" to blog. I think there have been a lot of us that have been blogging for awhile that can agree, blogging can become more than a little addictive. It's been a "good" habit for me, but still one that keeps a person always on the lookout for that photo, that topic, that subject that is begging for attention. 

So, this little dollhouse is something I've wanted to share for this last year, but just haven't gotten around to working on. Back in the 80's when we lived in Marietta, Georgia, dollhouses and miniatures were all the rage. I had my father-in-law put together two dollhouses, one for each of the girls, then I painted and decorated them. My older daughter is and has always been a person that loved to play with small things. The younger daughter has always been a bicycle, exercise, ball playing nut, so she wasn't quite as "into" the miniature stuff as her sister. 

This one is the younger daughter's. Even though she's been married for eleven years, this has set in our attic until last Fall when I asked her if she'd mind if I repainted it and use it for "decor". I think she was secretly glad for me to take the responsibility and itsy bit of guilt off her shoulders. 

It's been knocked around a lot and some of the gingerbread trim was lost years ago. The posts are a little wonky, but it still needed to be loved. A couple of coats of White and ASCP Paris Grey for the shutters and trim, did the trick.

My paint job is messy, but I wasn't going for perfection,

 just want it to be for decor right now.

Hopefully, I can get around to repainting the inside at some point,

 until then it's not going to show.

As you can see, it wore the country colors of the 80's, 

country blue and a mauvy-red.

Here are some wonderful images from my Pinterest Board

 on Dollhouses for Decor

And this last pic is from a sale at The Seedbox Antiques Spring Sale in 2011. I just fell in love with this old dollhouse sitting out on their porch. I should have gotten a better pic of the weathervane...can't remember now what it was.

So now I'm just waiting for my husband to set this up on one of my pieces of furniture in my studio. And speaking of studios, I've lost all control of it. It has turned out to be "temporary housing" for any and all things that needed to be brought over here. It's a mess.

On the big house, we're down to patching nail holes, working to pack the garage, and finishing up some outside work...we're shooting for mid-June to list it. I haven't been able to do much of the work. My hubby says he just wants me to "supervise".  

Thank you so much for all the wonderful notes and sweet comments. I've read each one with tears in my eyes. This is just something I need to do for now. I know you understand...when something so big takes over every waking moment, there's no getting around it. I need all my focus and strength dedicated to getting through this health situation, but I'm hoping to post once a week, and keep you all filled in. OK, see you soon...

Joining in at these get-togethers:

Savvy Southern Style

xoxo,

Putting The Marketplace on "Hold"

Hi Everyone, if you've read my posts last week, you'll know that this is the last "Marketplace"... at least for awhile. I've had some cardiovascular problems that have been ongoing for a while and now it looks as if I will be needing to take the summer off to have open heart surgery. I'm not closing down my blog, but I will be blogging when I can, and letting you all know what is happening. We are in the last few weeks of having our house ready to put on the market, and then I'll be having out of town doctor appointments... so our lives are definitely in "transition". If you'd like to know the details then click here.
I want to thank each of you that participate each week in coming by to share your wonderful goods, and also equally important, those of you who come to browse and shop. I hope this party has brought you many new visitors, and sales. My concept in starting this linky party, was a way to bring more attention to the talented shop owners who often get lost in a sea of Etsy sellers.

Thanks to all you faithful linkers, I've really enjoyed seeing all your wonderful items and browsing your shops!! Here are just a few things I picked from last week to share:

Mademoiselle Tresors

Transferware Set

Vintage Game Letters

Vintage 541

Green Vintage Mesh Shelf

Distressed Donna

thanks so much, gals!

Debbi from Marionberry Cottage gave me the link to The Friday Flea which is the same kind of link party, so be sure to watch for it later this week, looks like fun!

Hope you have a wonderful summer!

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

Today's Sweet Sponsor

Sweet Magnolias Farm

Today, and Always...

Wishing you the most precious 

Mother's Day...

Make the most of each day with your children and family.

Create memories to carry them their lifetime.

xoxo,

Be Inspired #189 Putting things on "Hold"

Hello Friends...

Welcome to the last Be Inspired 

for a little while.

If you read my last post then you'll understand. I won't go through everything again on this post, but I have had some major heart problems since last summer, and they've become much worse over the last 6 months. I'll be seeing new cardiologists in St. Louis coming up soon, and hopefully they can repair some damage that has been done. I'm putting "Be Inspired" and "The Marketplace" on hold for awhile. I'm taking the summer off to probably have surgery and hopefully, we'll know something about our permanent home by Fall. I'm planning on still doing some posts, and then keeping you all updated on what's happening. So, things will change a little over here, but I want to stay connected with you all!

I have so enjoyed hosting Vintage Inspiration that became Be Inspired. You all are the greatest bunch of inspiration anyone could ask for, and I'll miss it. But I'm not saying "goodbye", only that I need to refocus on my health and prepare for some big life changes. Yesterday's post was a testimony of my thoughts, feelings, and faith, and I'd love to share it with you and let you to know what's going on.

So, now let's take a look at just a few links from last week. 

I'm going to really miss the fun!

Painting with Abandon

from Amanda at One Girl in Pink

"What is..." Ironstone

Oliver and Rust

Gallery Wall Tutorial

from Kristi at Making it in the Mountains

Green Italian Chair

D.D.'s Cottage and Design

 DIY Spring Wreath

Simply Suzanne's at Home

Penney's Vintage Treasures

Organizing the Studio

thanks so much gals for sharing your homes and lives,
 and all your inspiration!

Let's do this one more time!

xoxo,

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

A Closer Look... at Life

I haven't shared much that's been going on with the move in detail, because, number one, it has been such a major ordeal, and number two, I'm trying let go of the old house and some of my ways of thinking. It goes way beyond "downsizing", but I haven't been able to share all that with you until now. My health is what has precipitated this move, (most of you know that I have had heart issues stemming from an hereditary problem) as the house and property are more than my hubby and I want to deal with now. We need a fresh direction in life.

This move has been one of the toughest things I've had to do in years. I think it's because I have still been having problems with my heart which I haven't discussed much since last Fall, (I'll fill you in later in the post) and because of that, I can't do what I want to do. So much frustration when you can't do the things you used to do, and now have to have someone else do them for you.

God has been at work through all this, giving me the ability to get the house packed and arranging for things to be sold. I knew I couldn't do it on my own, so He has sent people my way to make it easier. This last week, on short notice, He sent my sister and her hubby, my mom, and then a dear friend that is in the junk biz to organize the garage sale, and then haul off all the leftovers. My husband wanted me to forego a sale and just donate it all, but it's been therapeutic in many ways and part of the process of me letting go... and moving forward.

It's not that I'm having a problem with selling the old house, because I'm really looking forward to a new home. We've been talking about what we want and need, and I'm confident that it will be wonderful, and that we'll have a "place" for all that we've stored away. It's just that this has been so long and drawn out; a painful process, in many ways. We know this is a year of transition for us, and transition isn't always easy or "pretty".

I just feel like now is the time I need to be a little more transparent about what's been going on with me personally, healthwise, without being a big bummer for you all. I have an appointment with a new cardiologist in St. Louis that I'll be seeing next month. I cannot tell you how long overdue this is. My current cardiologist, is not a specialist in the area that right now I'm desperately needing counsel in. Because he isn't a specialist, he doesn't see the importance in guiding me to get the help that I need.

I don't like drama and innuendo; leaving people guessing, so I'll get graphic for a moment to explain what all this is about. Last August I knew something was very wrong, I started feeling horrible and had pain that I hadn't had before. After a heart catheterization, a large blood clot was removed that was blocking my stent and we realized I'd actually had another heart attack, and because of the prolonged situation, I had had an aneurysm that had burst and bled out into the surrounding heart tissue. Also that the tip (apex) of my heart is now dead. non functioning. A left ventricular aneurysm is tricky at best, and most people die from this immediately. I had God's hand on me and and He saved my life once again, but now I have a condition that is controversial. 90% of cardiologists know it's a necessity to have reconstructive surgery, or heart "remodeling" where they take out the dead tissue. Otherwise you're a ticking time bomb for having a rupture of the dead tissue pulling away from the living viable tissue. The mortality rate is high, but some doctors prefer to just leave it alone. Problem is that most people that have this are elderly and are in congestive heart failure. I'm not either of these, and I desperately want to have my life back.

So I'm going to see a specialist at Barnes in St. Louis where they have a team of doctors who all they do is aneurysm repair. I'm not worried and I'm confident that they have answers for me, one way or another. I'm looking for an honest assessment of my situation and hope that surgery can put right most of the problems I've had this last year. (Blood clots and a lot of debilitating pain) It will be worth going through open heart surgery again, to be feeling better, and more on track with life in general.

As for these pics of thread... I have had an old sewing machine cabinet of my paternal grandmother's that I knew was time to sell. I have had it over 40 years, and it's traveled all over the US, but now was when it needed to go. I went through the drawers and found a stash of my grandmother's threads and needles, and pulled them out to keep. I also found this wonderful old Meakin Ironstone bowl that I had buried in one of my garage tubs. I love handling the old wooden spools that my grandmother used, and feel a dear connection in them.

Miss Jenkins always has to be close by,

 and if she can be in the photo, then all the better.

The thought of my grandmother using them, their age,

 and subtle mellowed shades, bring tranquility, peace, and calm. 

I'll share more with you in the next weeks as we finish up the house and get it on the market. I know that God's timing is perfect, and I know He is in control of my life and health. He has the buyer for our home, and is planning our new one, too. There are many factors that will have to come together to see His plan come to fruition, but I'm confident that it will. He's never let me down before, so we take each day, knowing He is leading and guiding us.

God has been requiring me to take a closer look at life...

at my life.

To get it all in focus, and to appreciate the smallest thought and gesture;

and to be grateful for all the people he uses to help and walk with us.

I've learned over the years, that if I follow His lead, He not only takes care of all the details, but blesses many people through the "process". And I'm learning that no experience should be wasted or discounted. Life is indeed a process, and I'm believing that there will be answers and justification coming.

As for blogging, I'll be putting the link parties on hiatus, I hadn't meant to stop so soon, but I know now is the time, This week will be the last "Be Inspired" for a while. Anyone that hosts a party knows that it's a lot of responsibility and takes several hours at least to do it right each week. I'll still be blogging, but it will be when I have something to share that's an inspiration to all of you, and then I'll be letting you know how things are going. There have been days where I'm in bed with a boatload of medications...I just can't keep up any longer, especially with this last push on the house business.  I'll keep you filled in. Please know that I hold all of you closely, and enjoy your posts and find the inspiration a daily infusion of joy. I can sit at my computer and get lost in another place. It's important to do this for as long as I can.

I just felt that it was time to share what's going on. I don't like keeping things hidden, and because all of you are considered as friends, I knew now was the time to share all this. You know how much I need your prayers and good thoughts coming. I'll still be here, I'm not closing things down, just knowing now's the time to make some changes. See you Thursday morning...love you all, 

joining in at Savvy Southern Style

                                                           

Shop The Marketplace

Hi Everyone, 

Welcome to The Marketplace!

Hope you had a great weekend, we had the Mega Garage and Moving Sale, and things went great. Just wish I'd had a little more time to prepare, but Hey, it's in the rear view mirror and that's a HUGE deal!

Are you ready for some shopping fun? If you have questions about linking up, please scroll down to the info here on the post. All links need to have some kind of way to purchase merchandise.

thanks so much for joining in!

Handpainted Upcycled Pallet Clock

Prodigal Pieces

Wooden Grape Harvesting Crate

The Feathered Pen

Vintage Mother's Day Brooch

The Lazy Peacock

Antique Doll Case, Dolls, and Clothing

My Salvaged Treasures

Vintage Mother's Day Plates 

from Thistlebleu

Thanks so very much for joining in!

Party Guidelines

This is a linky party that is for items that are FOR SALE only. You don't have to have a blog to link up. If you have a blog post about your items that's great too, but they need to be available to purchase. Please try to link to the individual item that you are selling if possible. Please be a follower of Common Ground and if you have a blog it would be so nice for you to grab the image below to share somewhere on your blog. (not mandatory). Remember the link is up all week, so please stop back by to check out new items being listed. Thanks so much for sharing all your great items with us!

If you missed last week's link up,

CLICK HERE

Time to get this Shopping Started!

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

Today's Sponsor

Marionberry Cottage