Chandelier is Up!

Yesterday was spent playing musical fixtures.

This room used to be our living room, now our dining room.

This is where the ceiling fan used to be. 

The ceiling fan in my son's room was on its last leg.

Because the ceiling fan in this room was large it needed to go in what is now our 

living room. 

The living room fan went to my son's room. 

Needless to say my husband spent the day swapping out fixtures in three rooms.

He is awesome, and I love my new light fixture.

One of the things I love most was the total cost of the light.

Fixture was $2.00!

Can of oil rubbed bronze spray paint $5.00.

Total cost $7.00!

If I had purchased a fixture like this new it would have been close to $200.00.

Love my new light and love the cost.!

Lots more work to do on this room. 

Sorry about the poor phone picture, 

So excited when a plan comes together!

Have a wonderful Saturday!

Jackie

Hindrances to Creativity

My full intent was to blog for 30 days straight without interruption, but 

I have made major progress in an area that I haven't been able to in quite some time. 

I have been working on what I believe to be a major obstacle for me

and many others when it comes to the area of creativity. 

Things have been out of order here in a major way for quite some time.

Life happened, and then I seemed to lose the focus that enabled me to 

keep my home orderly, and therefore freeing me up to be creative.

You see when I feel like I need to be straightening, clearing clutter, taking care of the daily stuff,

I choose to believe that I don't have time to be creative.

I seemed to have just been in a fog, unable to concentrate well enough to simply get daily things done.

 I have had a way of letting life circumstances get to me that way.

At the beginning of the month I purposed not to let the first and most important thing take the back burner.I needed to make sure I am taking time to be in the Word daily. 

Simply put, I am asking God to help me get my focus right. 

For the first time in a very long time I am actually making progress. 

I have been working room by room, cleaning cabinets, drawers,

and actually choosing to let go of some stuff that I do not need, I haven't used in a very long time,

or I just have too much!

If I get really honest there can be so much that is just excess!

Far too often, this is what things have looked like. 

Notice the open door. Well our dog knows how to open it, if he could only close it behind himself.

I am liking this so much better!

And this makes me want to be creative, not all the clutter that distracts me. 

Lastly, here is Chloe enjoying her new pillow cover that I put together today. 

The pillow is just canvas duck material. I have tried to make the dog beds look pretty,

but they just get dirty, and I am needing something easy to wash and durable. 

Have a wonderful afternoon.

Jackie

Sunday Scripture

"Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made."

Genesis 2:3

Hope you have had a blessed Sunday!

Jackie

Fair Day

This morning my boy called me and invited me to the fair.

His sweet wife and her parents (I don't like to call them in-laws) were going and 

wanted to know if I would come. Of course I headed that way. We had a wonderful

afternoon, and enjoyed all of the sights of the fair. 

All that being said, here is some creative inspiration from the fair.

Gotta love this blue vintage pickup!

There were handmade quilts galore!

I was especially fond of this colorful one.

This dahlia was beautiful!

We had a wonderful afternoon, and the inspirations sure made me want to come home and make a quilt, grow some beautiful flowers, and who wouldn't love that vintage truck parked in the driveway?

Hope you had a blessed Saturday!

Jackie

Frame Idea

Here's an easy way to create some art for the home

This print I ordered from Jones Design Company last year when she had a sale on a collection

of prints.

However, there are tons of free printables online. If you don't want to order one go on pinterest and type in free printables and the selection is endless!

The frame was purchase for $1.00 at an estate liquidation sale, painted with chalk paint

and waxed. 

I have this grouped with several pictures on my kitchen counter to brighten up my space, and the 

be thankful was appropriate for this time of year. I change the print out often when I feel the need to change things up a bit. 

Spent most of the day putting the back porch together once again. I didn't get a picture of 

a shoe rack my husband made that I stained today. 

Hoping to maybe hang the chandelier tomorrow and maybe a picture of the clean back porch.

Hope you all have a blessed weekend!

Jackie

Creative Catastrophe!

Today's post will be short and sweet!

There will be no pictures.

As I was working on a couple of small projects things went awry.

Spilled a portion of a bucket of paint on the back porch.

Cleaning and tidying the porch for fall was a little further down  the list.

It moved to the top this afternoon.

Borrowed the pressure washer from my neighbor.

(Paint had primer in it, a tad more difficult to clean up.) 

Everything is still sitting in the back yard.

Porch is clean

.

I was too pooped to take any pictures after that one. 

Goodnight.

Jackie

Captain America

Here's today's creative project.

I put together this little cape for my grandson.

Found the Captain America shirt at Wal-Mart.

I am not an expert seamstress, so I was excited that it all came together.

All I did was trace the pattern from another cape that Judah had, hemmed it, 

and added the velcro closure at the top.

Hoping he likes it.

Jackie 

Chandelier Project

When I chose my title  "31 Days of  Being Creative"

perhaps it should have been 31 Days of Projects or something else. 

I will not be creating in the sense that some might think, but I prefer to look at many 

aspects of creativity. Sometimes this will be seeing things, not necessarily as they

are, but what they can be. Sometimes that means improving upon what is already there.

Here is today's project. 

I purchased this chandelier earlier this year for $2.00 at the thrift store.

I knew that I would need a light fixture of a substantial size to hang over my dining room table.

Often that means substantial $$as well.

When I spotted this fixture I knew it would be perfect and the style was perfect.

The only problem being the slightly pinkish color. 

Nothing a little oil rubbed bronze spray paint couldn't fix. 

I am happy to say the fixture is complete, and looks exactly like I hoped it would.

Stay tuned for the reveal in the next few days.

Hopefully I will be able to show you the improved fixture hanging in my dining room. 

Hope you have had a wonderful day!

Jackie

31 Days: Easy Fall Table Centerpiece

I think I probably said in my last post that FALL is my absolute favorite season!

Right now the weather here is perfect.

Not too hot, not too cold. 

It's Just Right!

I consider my decorating style pretty simple.

 Here are the items I used for this simple table centerpiece in my breakfast room.

Round basket tray was a yard sale find.

Grapevine I just cut and wrapped myself. 

Iron trivet to set the pumpkin on, I already had. 

I don't like setting the pumpkin directly on a flat surface. Too many experiences with rotting pumpkins. 

This time I washed my pumpkin in a diluted bleach and dish washing liquid solution, hopefully washing away all of those things that cause pumpkins to rot.

Roll of burlap for the runner, purchase at half price from Hobby Lobby.

Ends of runner are turned under and hand stitched. I do not prefer sewing burlap on my sewing machine. 

The blank wall in the background will be another creative endeavor that I hope to share soon. 

Blessings,

Jackie

31 Days of Being Creative

I am a little late joining the 31 Days Series, but really wanted to join in. 

Not too long ago our family experienced some difficult times, and I realized that I have ignored and set aside the enjoyment I get from being creative

Fall is my favorite time of the year, and this month I want to work on not only enjoying all that God has given me, enjoying this season, but also cultivating the talents that He has given me as well. 

Here are a few things that inspire me.

Love this old bathtub filled with plants and junk.

This beautiful pecan orchard was the setting for my son's recent wedding. 

Nature definitely inspires me. 

Last but not least beautiful flowers!

In the days ahead I will be posting ways and steps that I am taking cultivate creativity. 

All links will be on this page. 

I hope you will join me and share all that inspires you. 

Have a lovely evening. 

Jackie

Day 2: Easy Fall Table Centerpiece

Day 3: Chandelier Project

Day 4: Captain America

Day 5: Creative Catastrophe!

Day 6: Frame Idea

Day 7: Fair Day

Day 8: Sunday Scripture

Day 9: Hindrances to Creativity

Day 10: Chandelier is Up!

Wedding Days

This summer is flying by! Whatever happened to the Lazy, hazy days of summer?

Soon we will have a wedding upon us, 

but until I can share about our wedding I will share a few pictures of

this beautiful wedding that we attended in Maryland. 

It's June Already!

So much for slower days in June.

My sweet husband has been to Turkey and back. 

I did get a lot done around the house while he was away,

but thought I was capable of getting much more done. 

Sometimes I forget I am not 25 any longer. 

Hydrangeas are in full bloom!

Just wish they lasted all summer. 

I will be helping my boy move from Charlotte this weekend. 

My little ones are coming to visit this next week.

That is sure to mean a busy week!

Temperatures are well into the 90's here, and the humidity is something else!

It seems like not too long ago we were complaining about how cold it was,

but we definitely have the heat   now!

Rehearsal dinner is planned!

My boy has a new job, and this is what they are working on.

He is working for Holder Bros Timber Frames.

want to see more of their unique projects go here.

We have a wedding to attend in Maryland, wedding showers,

and who knows what else will be happening. 

It is looking like a busy summer!

Would love to hear what you are up to this summer. 

Blessings, 

Jackie

Busy

Things have been busy around here for the past couple of weekends, 

 but, a good kind of busy. 

The last weekend in April, we headed to Augusta to help with this.

My son's fiance organizes this event for children with varying disabilities.

Their own race where they bike, run and swim.

What a joy it was to sit and watch as their smiling faces crossed the finish line. 

Then this past weekend, it was on to Florida, so this little guy could have a camp out.

It was a little rainy, so fortunately they have a huge covered porch, and we set the tent up, 

were able to roast hot dogs, and have a fun time camping out .

Here he is totally excited about the tent!

You can also get a good look at his DIY haircut.

This little girl had so much fun,

 she bounced herself to sleep quite quickly on more than one occasion.

and here's Papa with his two happy campers!

Tomorrow it is on to look for a place to hold the rehearsal dinner for out

upcoming September wedding. 

April Showers and Random Things

Wow, I can hardly believe that it has been a month since I last posted!

I guess I can catch you up on a few things, and hopefully begin regular posting again.

It has been steadily raining here for the past day, and this morning as well.

I am amazed at how beautiful and green everything turned overnight! 

First time this Lady Banks Rose has bloomed like this.

Our Cherokee Rose that is always in full bloom.

For us who live in South Georgia, we have had a long cold winter, and we are welcoming Spring!

Last weekend was a very productive one for us, and we spent all of Saturday on outside projects.

The Adirondack chairs have been cleaned, stained and resealed.

Front porch swing got the same, both porches pressure washed. 

All of my Christmas cactus' have been re-potted and some geraniums started. 

Came across this picture of my two favorite guys that I thought I would share.

My sweet husband will be headed to Turkey in a few weeks. I would appreciate your prayers.

and in other news, these two will be getting married in September, and we are very excited for them. 

Next post I will show you my little bird nest project. 

Praying you all have a blessed Easter as we celebrate our risen Lord!

Jackie

Look What Came in The Mail!

A couple of weeks ago, Sara, from The  Rosy Life had a little giveaway, 

and I won!

All of these fun surprises arrived in the mail yesterday. 

A good dose of spring is how I would describe it.

Check out all of these photographs that she included.

Some of my favorite things blue ball jars, birds nest, bike at the fence.

I almost felt like they were hand picked for me.

I think I have a project in mind for this cute piece of fabric. 

I plan to have it hanging in my sewing room. 

Saving this to read after I complete some chores today, so I can sit down and soak in some inspiration.

If you have never visited Sara's blog you will definitely want to check it out. 

She is encouraging and I guarantee it will  put a smile on your face.

Thanks Sara!

Spring!!

I have got a little bit of Spring everything going on over here!

Some Spring cleaning,

Some Spring decorating,

Some Spring projects, 

and maybe even some Spring yard saleing this weekend!

The clean rug is drying

Here are a couple more fun things.

 

 Vintage blue ice tea glasses to match smaller like I already have.

A grapevine bird nest that my sweet husband made for me.

I am thinking spring table centerpiece.

Today it is warm and sunny and I am loving it!

Are you looking forward to Spring as much as I am?

Just One Small Problem

O.K. maybe not a small problem, but a rather large one.

 Here is a picture of the GREAT armoire that I got at a GREAT deal on, that would be GREAT for extra closet space, and much better than the dresser that we had in one of our bedrooms. 

It is a custom built cabinet, in perfect condition.

The one thing that I did not consider was whether or not we will be able to maneuver this piece through all of the door ways and turns to be able to actually get it into the bedroom. If not it will be a great piece to put in my booth. It is still attached to the appliance dolly in case you were wondering about the lovely black strap.
I'll let you know in a couple of days. 

Another Finished Project

Finished painting this chandelier for the sewing room.

In its previous form, it was a brass chandelier, that had been painted to look rusted.

Need some new covers as these have yellowed a bit. 

I am now trying to figure out how to hang a few crystals on it from an old chandelier.

Any ideas?

I was a little worried after I was well into painting this with chalk paint, just wishing I had used a can of spray paint, but in the end I am satisfied with the results. 

The picture does not do it justice. 

I used CeCe Caldwell Vintage White as the base coat.

I then mixed a little Annie Sloan French Linen in some clear wax to give it a slight distressed look. 

The painting was somewhat tedious but the waxing went quickly.

It was definitely the budget fix that I was looking for. 

How about you, what kind of projects have you been working on?

Ready for spring, and some spring cleaning!

We have enjoyed some spring like weather the past couple of days, 

today has been cold and rainy but definitely looking forward to spring!

Look What I Got!

Only the best Birthday Present ever!

My sister came across this picture of the two of us a while back.

Her card said to my "

Cool Big Sis"

Actually she is the cool more fashionable blonde in the picture.

I would be the brunette behind the sun glasses. 

I will certainly treasure this.

Hope you are having a blessed day.

Lately

Here's a look at the past couple of days. 

Watching the rain.

Judah decided he needed to take a few photos with my phone while we were out shopping.

He took 32 of this shot today while we were in Sams, before headed home.

Another important shot of our purchases. 

He is especially fond of taking pictures with my phone or can't you tell?

Enjoyed loving on my babies, and looking forward to the weekend.

Is It Cold At Your House?

It's cold at my house!

 I will admit that I have been guilty of complaining that we never have winter here. 

When you live in South Georgia and have as many days of below freezing weather as we have had, we can definitely say that we have had winter!

This is not normal for us. We are so used to having some days that you can wear shorts, even during the winter. 

We missed the big snowstorm that we were all looking forward to. 

In spite of the cold weather, I have been trying to get some things painted for my booth.

Here's a little before and after.

It sold less than an hour after putting it in my booth!

Annie Sloan Chalk paint Old White.

Slightly distressed with clear wax. 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Un-Stuck

Today I am joining in and sharing my un-word for 2104.

Un-stuck:

Caught or held in a position so that you cannot move. 

There were lots of words I could have chosen, but I think stuck adequately describes what I have felt, and where I have been this past year. 

I simply allowed circumstances to get me to a place where I felt paralyzed.

For one who is all to familiar with depression, I know all of the right things to do. I know that God is sovereign. I know He is in control, but we live in a fallen world. People make bad choices, and people do bad things.

This year is the year that I want to trust HIM more and not allow myself to be controlled by my circumstances. His word tells us that  trials and unpleasant circumstances will come, but they also have a purpose for our good.

2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various [c]trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces [d]endurance. 4 And let [e]endurance have its perfect [f]result, so that you may be [g]perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:2-4

Hope you will join me this year being Un-Stuck.

Thinking

Being reminded of this today:

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;
I came that they may have life, and have it to the full."           

John 10:10 NIV