HAPPY NEW YEAR

EVERYONE

may 2013 be a

blessed year

for you and yours

many books have i

i love books

i also have a lil cuz

& we share ideas

(many over the years)

she said she took all the

dust covers off her books

well, why didn't i think of that?

first i did the library several months ago

wonderful - bindings beautiful

then saturday, during my christmas

extravaganza of decorating

i took on the den book shelves

it is so fun to just throw them

on the floor

what a mess, but somehow

it didn't bother me

kinda like a carpet of books

i knew if i left them there long

enough, someone would pick

them up - thank you so much

Texas Trash

our favorite

each year when i make

texas trash

i think of the best cook

who shared her recipe

with me many years ago

Joann Piper

the best cook i know

well, one of two

my mother was the other best cook

they both had a way of

"tweeking" a recipe to make it outstanding

their recipes have become a tradition

with this family

& i think of them often

looking forward to munching on

texas trash

with native texan sailor son

& his fiance from Ohio

bet they don't have

texas trash in

washington dc

(hum)

while visiting the angelgirls

i saw a least 2

pink Christmas trees

(from me) 

it just never occured to me

that 4 generations have been

involved in

pink Christmas trees

my beloved Mother & Daddy purchased

this pink flocked tree in the mid century

cause I just had to have it

(being a Christmas "vignetter")

oh, dear - how sad is this?

the tree clashed with all our

family ornaments & wrapping paper

& yes, my velvet red dress

it seems also that i was not too

thrilled with the results of the tree

but, i probably was suffering with

asthma, which was a seasonal

thing with me back then

ever since then

we've always had some

hint of a pink tree

just to remind me of

a parents love

BE MERRY!

while in Rhode Island

one of my favorite things was

reading to the Angelgirl's

classroom

with props that were magical

what a sweet group of children

also, sending

Cinderella & her Prince Charming

to the Military Ball

a highlight & honor to see them

side by side

she was gorgeous as was her gown

& it was this formal military jacket

that brought tears to my eyes

thank you for what you do everyday

for this country & family

~~~

a trip to Rhode Island to see

the Angelgirls4

back home now

after a magical time

i can still feel how

my heart felt

seeing & holding them

for a happy reunion!

missing them today

on a Christmas Decorating

extravaganza, however

may the castle

be merry & bright!

on these thanksgiving days

we are thankful for

family & friends &

the grace that God gives us

everyday

 this family needed some joy

 glass glitter brings much joy to these folks

~just remember~

as far as everyone knows

we're just a nice normal family

(glittered crowns & glitter beard)

Have a Blessed Thanksgiving

whiteout

with a pink glow

just a little updating to

a totally pink room

changing bedding to white quilts

& white pillows with hint of pink

 might leave the second bed pink

might paint it white

 adding vintage photos of

girls & friends

me, my mother, my aunt

& some friends unknown

 what is going on up here in

that pink room??

Beatrix Potter to the rescue

immediately inspecting white

with tiny muddy paws

 oh, look

a vintage snoopy

my friend

not playing with that

it's 35 years old

given to stephanie

from brandi piper

 this is way fun

" hope i don't get whitened", BP

 thinking of the angelgirls

little women

so kind & loving

all the thyme

a soft retreat

surrounded by memories

& gentle treasures

~~

ps - might faux paint the walls to look more

vintage - just thinking about that

 punching, sewing, tagging

stamping, vanilla dying, 

glittering, misting, cutting

packaging & assembling

embellishing

displaying, photographing,

delivering, selling, enjoying

 it takes alot to bee me

solar drying

garlands are about 9 feet in length

 ready for the swanky shop

 ephemera extraordinaire

a unique garland made from

vintage papers, junk mail,

books & found documents...

Each is one-of-a-kind & made

with great joy & creativity

to add a bit of magic

to your vignette

these are made from Christmas papers

& vintage sheet music

& a little special presentation

of a sample garland for the

proprietor of the shop

bee sure to visit there

Bloom & Bee Swanky

downtown waco

faithbook

first baptist church waco

have your cake & coffee, too

brunch
vintage cake carriers

& toile aprons, plus a

few vintage ones for charm

 crunched wax paper wrap

the twinkle lights

 the best of cooks

always come through

with delicious platters

of loved baked food &

fruit, casseroles, juices

 plastic, never the best choice

however, baker's twine &

recipe for a happy day

party favor

makes it better

 rose geranium pound cake

on mackenzie/childs platter

some ladies had never

tasted this yummy classic

of this cook

(me)

on most days i wear an apron

have many - vintage & new

with activity level

they work magically

~~~

what a blessed study of Phillipians

lead by our young minister

so mature & insightful

a precious group of ladies

all ages

coming together each week

studying &singing

caring & praying & supporting

each other

what a blessing

amen

~

vignette all set

table painted

drinks poured

card game going

sweet

 rearranging of LR

 table works it's magic

as unexpected piece of

furniture in the right place

 oh, dear

tile falls off of old fireplace

oops - what was that?

the drama of it all!

thinking this isn't good

hope it's not a big project

on the other hand

i have some antique tiles

in storage that would

really look great

hum, perhaps at this time of year

it is just best to have the tile guy

put these back on

is that possible?

"the cobbler's children have no shoes"

(from BrazosStarHomes)

hello, i'm still here

been to big city

had big fun with

best friends

now back to vintage

 love this table -  bought from

Bloom & Bee Swanky

great patina - try to keep little table

clutter free - so just in case you want

to put something down

you don't have to move something

to do put it there - not always easy

 must have magical small table to go by

fabulous red leather chairs in LR

by redone fireplace

so i tablenapped this old

typewriter table from my office

 Beatrix Potter, "what will she paint next?"

painted legs gesso black

black & magic gold trim

now embellishing the rust

patina & put in sun to dry

will let you know how it turns out

hoping for magic!

~~~

old fireplace redo

uninstall gas logs

(2 trips to lowes for gas caps)

this just seems more magical

vintage music wrapped candles

with magicgold formula

 painted candelabra

unscented candles are

very hard to find

i do so love how the

old brick glows

against the flames

~~~~

stay warm & cozy

 i live in an old house

built in 1925

there are many

magical things

not found in new construction

this is the lock for the

big front door

recently i painted it

the magical fix gold

the above picture is the unlocked

position - resting on its holder

now door is locked &

i mean locked

no one is coming in this door!

its pure magic

bolted shut & locked up safe!

love it

a few post ago

i mentioned bean supper

signs i often saw in maine

thinking i need one

the old piece of paneling

in the garage

called to my creativity

 chalk board paint &

a sunny warm day

saw horses & a roller=

chalk board

 needed embellishment

gesso swirls!

 after required 24 hr drying

it is best to "season" the board

by turning stick of chalk on its side

& covering the whole board

after erasing seasoning

messages are easily erased

(often is hard to erase image

without seasoning first)

magic extraordinaire

ready for message

like

bean supper tonight!