A Lovely Surprise!

Michelle, at Shabby Creations, surprised me with this award this morning...how sweet is that? She is AMAZING, so if you're in the market for a designer blog, Michelle is your "go to" gal! Thank you soooooo much, Michelle...you made my day!

Now, I get to share the "love" and pass this award onto some of my favorite blogsites. Drum roll please................

Ann Marie @ Na-Da Farm Life

Niki @ Nostalgia at the Stone House

Jenn @ Sweet Eye Candy Creations

Leanne @ Artwork by Leanne

RULES FOR THIS AWARD 1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who's given it to you, along with the link to his or her blog. 2. Pass the award to several other blogs you enjoy. Contact those bloggers to let them know they've been chosen for this award. Have fun and enjoy your award! I really hope you choose to play and keep it going. But if you don't, that's okay too. Just enjoy your award in any way you wish and know that I think you have a very lovely blog.

50's Paperdoll Collage

I bought these cute vintage paperdolls awhile back and wanted to do some sort of a collage. I started with a blank 8 x 10 canvas and dove in...head first!

The canvas is covered with vintage wallpaper. The cute little pups peeping through the window came from a vintage get well card. The couch is from an anthropologie catalogue and the other pups from another greeting card. Embellish, embellish, EMBELLISH!!! The little crown on the peeping pup says, "be bold." How appropriate for a peeping pup! There are swavorski cystals on Jackie's cute little dress.

To finish it up, I painted melted beeswax over most of it. Everytime I look at it, it makes me smile. Hope you enjoy it, too!

Wooden Crate Makeover

I have a wooden crate on an end table in my living room that holds a lamp because the lamp wasn't tall enough to do any good with the size of my couch and loveseat. It's one of those crates you buy at Michaels to store stuff. I got tired of looking at it's ugliness and decided to do something about it.



I really didn't have a plan, so started by painting it with white gesso. I then wondered, "why did I do that?" I, then, proceeded to cover it in scraps of pretty papers with medium gel. Wasn't THRILLED with the outcome, so found a package of pretty napkins I picked up on a clearance at Hobby Lobby. I separated the layers and started tearing them up and applying them with water thinned Hodge Podge.




I'm liking this, but felt it needed something more. I hot glued scrap lace I had and velvet ribbon to the top and hung three german glass glittered numbers I'd picked up for a steal at a favorite boutique. The numbers have no meaning whatsoever. I just happened to grab 'em! I love them because they're starting to tarnish and look really cool! I attached some little forget-me-nots and seam tape to the top of the numbers. Ok, NOW, I'm HAPPY with it!




To finish up, I added some of my favorite things....my favorite rose photo taken by my lovely step-daughter, Adri...the photo of Kira and Denise, 2 of my fav girls...a
Wedgewood candy dish, a gift from my sister-law when she lived in England...and a cute little spray of millinery flowers picked up at my favorite antique mall.






The lamp is sooooooooo old! I bought it about 28 years ago from a potter. I loved it so much, I commissioned her to make me a matching one. I have always loved pottery and still do. I'm just waiting for that special lamp to jump out and scream at me, so I can retire these to my 21 year old son, who thinks they're so cool!

Tutu Apron

This is my "up-cycled" tutu apron! I guess it's not really a tutu by tutu standards, but that's what it feel like when you put it on.
It started with a trip to the thrift store, a frequent occurence for me. I came upon this darling little girl's giraffe print skirt. I think it's a giraffe print...it's brown and I believe leopards are black. Anyhoo....I bought the little skirt and took it apart when I got home. It had a blue velvet ribbon around the waist, which I used in another project....my latest crown!



I had the ruffle in my stash and the pink polished cotton. I knew I wanted a dash of hot pink, so I went with it. I just happened to have a spool of dark fuschia velvet ribbon. It was long enough to wrap around the back and come back to the front to tie. I tried it on and just wanted to dance around the room...and I DID!

My Daughter Spoils Me........

My mother passed away in 1999 and my mother-in-law in 1995, so Mother's Day hasn't quite been the same since then. I'd much rather give than receive and I watch people scurry through the stores in search of that perfect Mother's Day gift and I just toodle on my way with no one to buy for.


My kids usually call me and send me mushy cards and usually buy me something special. Today, Jer and I came home from Walmart and I noticed a box on the front step. It was from 1-800 Flowers.com. How exciting...I'd never received anything from them before. I opened it and it was a pink calla lilly plant from my step-daughter, Adrienne. Very healthy and fresh plant. I immediately called in and thanked her and planted my treasure out in the backyard.


I continued on with my day, working in my craft room trying to get it organized. It's been very warm and muggy today, so I caved and turned on the a/c. My hubbie came in and sat down and I happened to mention I was hot. He told me I needed to cool off by going to the front door. I looked at him like he was crazy...what? So, I headed for the front door just as the doorbell rang. I opened the door and here stood this man holding the most magnificant floral arrangement I'd ever seen! I squeeled with delight and almost kissed the man! I couldn't imagine who had sent this. Sorry, dear, but I just didn't think my hubbie could come up with something so gorgeous (he's a simple minded man). The card attached was from...get this..."Floral and Hardy"...how cool is that name? I read the card and it was from my sweet daughter, Kira. I was so surprised because she had told me she was sending me jewelry for Mother's Day. Did I mention how wonderful this beauty smells? OMG! I'm in heaven!!!!!!!!

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So, I call Kira and she was so happy that I was so happy. She told me she called this florist (she lives in Utah), after investigating florist online, and told them she wanted something very elegant with pink and white and a hydrangea. She said to her, "my mom's a classy broad, so it's got to be GORGEOUS!" She's such a hoot!

I just had to share my joy. I wish I could preserve this beauty forever. I hope all you moms out there have a glorious Mother's Day. I know I will. I feel like a queen and just may put my crown on and dance around the room!

Collaborative Art Swap

I joined a swap group and have had so much fun. One of the swaps was a collaborative art journal swap. I had to do 2 pages for 2 partners and the theme was black and white. Here's what I came up with...



This is all 4 pages





this went to one partner...hope and dream



this went to my 2nd partner

I'm happy to report that both of my recipients were happy with their pages. I have not yet received mine, but look forward to it as well as the next leg of this fun journey.

It's another rainy day here in OKC. Sure is green and pretty out there. I set out 2000 ladybugs in the garden Saturday night and they are lovin' this rain!

New Look

I am so THRILLED to have this new look...THANK YOU, MICHELLE! I can just smell the roses, can't you? I guess I'd better upload some pictures now, so I can show you what I've been up to....stay tuned!