Giveaway Winner!

I just did a sequence generator through Random.org and it chose #21, which is...
Deb Kaufman!

Deb, just send me an email with your address and I will get your trees to you.  

Thank you sooo much to everyone for entering and such sweet comments!  I can't tell you how much it means to me to have such wonderful, caring followers & friends.  I am behind on emailing all of you who participated, but know that I will.  May God touch you as you have touched me.

Merry Christmas to each of you & your love ones and have a Blessed New Year!  

Blessings,
Cindy  

White Bottle Brush Trees for Giveaway

Just a quick post to remind you of my giveaway.  I am giving away two creamy white bottle brush trees.  Please be a follower or become a follower.  Let me know how you are following.  Make sure you leave me an email address if yours doesn't show on your comment.  Thanks!
Merry Christmas!

Blessings,
Cindy

I'm linking to:
Blissful Whites Wednesday @ Timewashed

My Christmas Giveaway!

Holiday Greetings!
As many of you know, this has been a particularly difficult year for my family.  Although I still have moments of deep sorrow, I know that God is near and holding us tight.  I also know that the twins are in Jesus's arms, safe and sound.  In that I find comfort.  So in honor of Emma and Myla, I am having a giveaway for Christmas and I invite you to enter.  My only request is that you already be a follower or become one.  Please let me know how you chose to follow my blog, through Google Friend or Linky Followers.  I don't know how to track email followers. (If there is a way, someone show me Please!!)  I so cherish the friendships I have made through blogging and always appreciate your sweet comments.  

The prizes are two bottle brush trees, hand~decorated by me.  I will have a few more goodies included, but haven't decided what yet.  All you need to do is leave me a comment on this post, with email address if yours doesn't show, so I can contact you.  I will appreciate you sharing this giveaway with others, but it isn't mandatory.  I will draw a name on December 10th. 

Thank you so much to all my followers.  I can't express how humbled I am that you would take the time to pop in to my little blog.  Have a wonderful week, everyone!

Blessings,
Cindy  

I'm sharing with:
Homemaker on a Dime: Market Your Biz and Giveaways #77
Home Decor & Organizing Link Party #77    
Savvy Southern Style~Wow Us Wednesdays 
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday # 141 @ Coastal Charm
Timewashed~Blissful Whites Wednesday 
Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop #64 @ Katherine's Corner 
From My Front Porch to Yours~Treasure Hunt Thursday #83 
The Vintage Farmhouse~Creative Things Thursday 
By Your Hands Giveaway Link Party
The Shabby Creek Cottage~Transformation Thursday  
 

New Bottle Brush Trees in my Etsy Shop!

I'm gonna make this short but sweet!  I just listed a new selection of bottle brush trees on Etsy.  I also have a box of vintage ornaments available.  Here's some pics!

Don't forget I am having a giveaway announced soon for the holiday season.  I will share details on Monday, November 26th. What kind of things do you like to have a chance to win?  There are so many possibilities!  I really appreciate my followers, new and old...not old in the age sense!  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and God Bless you and your family.

Blessings,

Cindy

 

Sharing with:
By Your Hands Blog Party Sunday
Under the Table and Dreaming: The Sunday Showcase Party
Timewashed: Blissful Whites Wednesday 

My New Trees on the work table...in Etsy soon!

Hello my sweet bloggy friends!  I have been busy getting some new bottle brush trees ready for my Etsy Shop.  I am always walking around with glitter on my face, etc, etc... Does anyone else have that "problem"??  It must be my sparkling personality!  I wanted to get more done by now but too many things going on in my life this year and so I will let it go... Whatever gets done, gets done...whatever doesn't, doesn't!  There is always next year to get all the things whirling in my head made, right?  Hmmmm, I think I say that every year!  Are there ever enough hours in a day?

 So here's my work table covered with finished trees all ready for photographing.  It is hard to get good photos inside, but these give you an idea.  The weather has been dreary & dark, so hoping tomorrow will have a little more sun to get some pics done outside so I can get them listed; then these glittery goodies will be available. 

 I will post when I get them in my Etsy shop, hopefully in a couple of days.  I am still getting some little trees done.  In the meantime, hope you are enjoying the joys of the season, maybe a craft show or two. 

Blessings,
Cindy 

I'm sharing with:
Fugalicious Friday @ Finding Fabulous 
Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner

150th Post & Bottle Brush Trees on Etsy...

I have been so busy with work & family life that it has been a long time coming, but this is my 150th post.  I'm planning a giveaway soon for the holiday season, but need to get some photos taken of my gift choices.  But for now, take a peek at my Etsy shop.  I have the shop on my sidebar.  Have a wonderful week everyone & thank you for your patience with me.  It has been a tough (albeit awful sometimes) year for me & my family.  One Day at a Time...
Blessings,

Cindy
 

Studio Pics with Pegboard Organization

Well, here it is October already.  I have been so busy that time runs away with me.  I have several things to post about and don't get things photographed. Today I am going to share some updated studio pics.  I decided I wanted pink & white mainly and I am lovin' it! 

Can you tell I love glass containers??

My pegboard/craft wall above my work table...

Can you see the tags I made on the baskets on the top shelf?

New bulletin board I made from an old, ugly frame...

Vintage linens and other supplies are stored in this.  Don't you love the lights?

Some cherished gifts...  I have more in other areas that I didn't take a pic of yet...

My cubbies redone with pink paper, stamps, & glitter!

Of course, pink tools!!

 Another clay tag I made.  This is just some of my glitter!  The silver basket on bottom is now white...  The shelf was brown; what an improvement!

Some of my spools...

Hope you enjoyed the tour of one side of my studio!  The other part is...well...let me say...a work in progress.  Do you have that problem too??  One step at a time!!  Thank you so much for your patience with me.  I miss you all and appreciate every one of my loyal followers!  Have a wonderful week.  

Blessings,
Cindy

Not Too Shabby Chic Cabinet

My hubby finished working on a cabinet I got at Barb's Vintage Marketplace show (this is a link to her blog) on August 4th.  The price was right ($69) but it was a little too shabby for me and needed a little a lot of TLC.  My dear hubby worked on it by cutting down one leg to match the other one that had a missing chunk, redoing the window caulking, adding some trim work to even the front, new hinges, and then lotsa sanding & white paint in an eggshell finish.  We then added the toile fabric to the inside of the window.  I am thrilled with it and our Keurig coffees & teas are at home inside, along with some recipe books.  I didn't get any good pictures beforehand of the cabinet, but trust me...it is a vast improvement! 

On top, I have some hydrangeas and roses soaking in some glycerin water to see how they do.  The roses are in mini vases I got at an estate sale for $1...for the 6!  They have a design cut in them which is lovely.  Hope you are having a wonderful week!  I decided that yesterday was going to be a marvelous Monday, today a Terrific Tuesday, tomorrow a Wonderful Wednesday, etc.......Make it a good day!

Blessings,
Cindy

I'm sharing with  
White Wednesday 
Common Ground's Vintage Inspiration

Pink Treasure!

I got this adorable three tier shelf at the Vintage Marketplace on August 4th at Barb's Treasures of the Heart show.  My hubby spotted it first and who could pass up $4.00!!  Not me!!  I plan on adding something to the top round piece, but haven't decided what yet. 

Isn't it sweet?  I also got the wooden clothespins there too.  I am experimenting with editing on my pics?  Do you like one photo better than the other? I'd love your opinions!  I got an adorable cabinet that I will share soon.  Have a great weekend!

Blessings,
Cindy
I'm sharing with Pink Saturday

Gift for a Special Friend

I have been pretty busy with work and life in general, besides doing a couple of projects lately.  I had wanted to make Sonya of Counting My Blessings blog something after her beloved, Mel, went to be with the Lord in July.  I wanted it to have meaning for her.  After thinking about it and praying for guidance, I got the inspiration for this...

It is really hard to get a good picture that shows you the details, but at least you can get the idea.  I painted first on canvas in several layers, the background in neutral and blue hues, then adding some texture to the upper right in streaks along with white and more neutral paint to symbolize rays.  I added some white, champagne metal, and more neutral paint by stamping and handpainting swirls and dots.  I sprinkled some glitter on the rays for some sparkle.  It is vintage lace with pearls sewed on the bottom, vintage buttons, and more vintage laces, and a large vintage swarovski crystal from the 1940's on another vintage button and scrollwork piece on the top.  I made the butterfly with pages from a book, a butterfly clipart, and butterfly cutout from textured paper and wire curled with pearls for the body.  It has been so nice to be creating again and particularly painting again, although this is completely different than any painting style I have done.  It is totally experimental!  I will try to post again soon since I have been sporatic in blogging.  I have so much to share!

Have a 
Blessed Week,
Cindy

Makin' Bracelets and Happy Dog!

Thought I'd do a quick post today.  My hubby and I met my sis~in~love, Kathy, and her sweet husband, George,  for the weekend of the 21st down on the southern coast.  We had a long drive both ways, but it was such a wonderful weekend!  We always have fun when we get together.  Kathy and I always try to plan a craft and she got everything together for some bracelets.  She's been on Pinterest and got some ideas.  Here are our creations...
Kathy's design is just gorgeous!

 And here is mine...

 Last, but not least, here is our dog, Sophie, running like the wind on the beach.  She loves the beach as much as I do!!

 Have a fabulous rest of your week!  I've got a bunch of great finds to share with you soon!


Blessings,
Cindy

I'll be sharing with:
White Wednesday 

Relaxing Getaway and Happy 4th!

Our 35th Anniversary trip was wonderful, relaxing, and memorable.  The Oregon coast was gorgeous with mild breezes, warm, blue, sunny skies, and beautiful sunsets.  The weathermen predicted 70% chance of rain, but God had other plans!  My hubby and I enjoyed walking on the beach, browsing in shops, and trying some local small restaurants we hadn't been in before.  We enjoyed every minute and I am so thankful that we got the time to get away to celebrate and be together.  I took loads of pictures and thought I would share one with you.  This is in Yachets (pronounced Ya-hots), south of Newport.  The pink flowers just added such a pretty touch of color to the ocean & greenery.      Thank you for all the sweet well wishes for our anniversary.

Have a wonderful 4th of July everyone.  What are your plans?  We will be spending some time tomorrow, the 3rd, with some family we haven't seen in many years.  It will be fun to catch up and visit.  Our neighborhood celebrates the 4th with lotsa fireworks in the street and a BBQ.  It is pretty crazy, but fun.  But most of all, I am thankful for the freedom we have in the United States, that many fought for, died for, and continue to sacrifice for, each and every day.  My youngest sister is in Afghanistan and I am so proud of her.  It reminds me that our freedom isn't free, it is something to value and appreciate.  Happy Independence Day!

Blessings,

Cindy 

       

Baby Spoons Gift Idea & 35th Anniversary

I painted some baby spoons for a gift.  The backs have the baby's name and birth date.  I figured they could be hung up or used as ornaments at Christmas.  It is hard to see, but the middle bead is a swarovski crystal. 

My hubby and I will be celebrating our 35th Anniversary on Sunday, the 24th.  We are going to the coast for about a week and I can't wait!  My boss was nice enough to let me off for 6 days, particularly since I am a new employee.  It is hard to believe it has been 35 years!  Inside I still feel like I'm 35, but I guess that isn't possible!  We never go for more than 2 to 3 days for an anniversary trip {or for our honeymoon for that matter} so this will be a first.  I guess we deserve it...  God has blessed us richly with three wonderful kids and two beautiful daughters in love, besides the love that has grown between us over the years.  I can truly say that I love my husband more today than when we got married. 

Blessings,
Cindy 
Sharing with:
Faded Charm's White Wednesday
Savvy Southern Style's Wow Us Wednesday
Vintage Gwen's Show & Share
Southern Lovely's Show & Share
Lil Pink Pocket Show & Share

Gift from a Bloggy Friend and a Tiny Canvas

I had to share a special gift from a friend I met through our blogs.  Faye Lee of Venus Blues Hideaway is a beautiful artist; in and out!  When she heard about our twin grand~daughters passing away she wanted to send me a print of one of her paintings that I fell in love with.  It is titled "Violets and Butterflies".

Isn't it absolutely gorgeous?  The butterflies have a special meaning for me and I put it in a frame that I painted white and added the corner paper pieces to accent the print.  It has a place in my studio where I can enjoy it.  Go visit Faye at her blog and enjoy all the bright, colorful, fun art she paints!  Thank you to Faye so much for such a wonderful gift!  I will cherish it always...

Now for a tiny canvas I painted.  I forgot to take a picture of the one I gave my Dad for Father's Day, but I painted a 2nd one to add script to when I decide what I want to write on it.  Anyway, this is only 3 inches square and very simple!!  But I do have to say I had fun doing them.

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Blessings,
Cindy

Studio Curtains Done!

Just a quick check in...  I have been so busy with my new job and life itself is so different for me.  I am enjoying my work as a tech~aide/film librarian in a mammography dept.  I am finding that I can still fit in some creating and getting the curtains done in my studio yesterday was great.  It is so much brighter than the green toile I had before, which I never did show you since I wasn't thrilled with them.  So here is the shabby chic white curtain; not a fancy design, but the fabric is airy & pretty.

What do you think?  I am slowly changing my studio over to white and pinks, with a shabby chic touch.  I just wasn't happy with the blues!  I will show you more as I get things done.

Have a wonderful week!

Blessings,
Cindy 

I'm linking with:
White Wednesday @ Faded Charm
Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday