My Whole Heart

No, it's not our anniversary, or his birthday, but I have to tell you

This man, my hunk, just melts my heart.

For the past month I haven't felt well.
Digestive stuff...tests...
fasting, low energy, etc...

He has been everything I could ask for!
Loving, attentive to my every need,
helping with my chores...
always with a smile, and a gentle
touch, a joke, a whispered sentiment,
or a loving embrace with the same
strong arms that have held me
for almost 40 years of my life.

I cannot express the joy that fills my heart
when I think that God loves me so much
that out of all the men in the world
He blessed me with the man who truly completes me.

Thank you, Ran, for your strong and steady love,
and for making me one of the happiest
married women I know.

Always know that...

via

Beach Blues

Maybe some of you feel the same longing...

I've got a bad case of the beach blues.

You see, this is where I need to be...

It is beckoning me...
I can hear the waves...
 feel the warm breeze
brushing my face,
and breathe in the salt air.

It never loses it's appeal.
I always stand in awe of it's immensity,
and lose myself in the sights and sounds.

It relaxes me like nothing else can.

I marvel at the mind of God
in creating such beauty
for us to enjoy.

Maybe this week I can steal away
for a few hours
to this most wonderful place.

Wish you could be in the chair
next to me.

I'll bring my camera so I can
share it with you.

Have a wonderful weekend!!
And put on a happy face!!

HUGS,

Tiny White Cottages~~White Wednesday!!

Hi Friends!!

And Happy White Wednesday!

I hope you will go visit the lovely
Kathleen at Faded Charm
and all of the other participants! 
You'll be so glad you did!!

I came across some sweet tiny wooden houses,

and thought it would be so much fun to
make a little shabby, vintage inspired village!
And it was!

You should give this a go...there are no rules and
it is really sooo easy!!

I don't have photos of the process, but it
was so simple.  I sanded them smooth,
  applied two coats of my go-to white acrylic paint,
sanded the edges, and pulled a little of this and that
out of my stash to embellish them with. Most of it
is vintage, and that just makes it a little more yummy!

I used both spray adhesive and hot glue to apply the goodies!!

So, what do you think? 

I want to make some that
are more tattered and distressed, and some
for the holidays.  You should too!  It's kind of addictive!
And these will make delightful, one of a kind gifts, too!

I had hoped to get some shots of them in a couple
of different vignettes for you, but didn't get to it
before I had to ship them out!


Thank you so much for stopping by!
Have a delightful day!

Hugs,

Magical Blooms

I adore flowers...

but I especially adore two...

HYDRANGEAS AND PEONIES!

with roses coming in a close third.

They have an affect on me that I can't quite
put into words.  They actually have the ability,
by merely looking at them, to alter my mood,
make me smile, and sooth my soul.

Do they do that to you, too?

Here are some gorgeous photos of these magnificent
blooms...all from pinterest.com

Enjoy!

Such great photo styling!

Stunning!

WOW!  LOVE this!

So creative!!

I think God made flowers just for us girls!!

How cool is that?

Hope your week is delightful!

Hugs n joy!!

French Inspired Shelf Makeover

Happy Wednesday!

Actually, Happy White Wednesday!

Hope you'll go say
HI to Kathleen and check out all the other lovelies!!

This week I am sharing a little shelf makeover!

I got this little diamond in the rough for
a song while thrifting about a month ago...

Not much to look at...kind of primitive...but

in great vintage condition.

I knew I could do something with it.
I decided on a touch of French inspiration.

First I sanded it,  and gave it a light wash of white.
I just used inexpensive acrylic craft paint.
I squirted some out on a paper plate
and would dilute as I painted with water.

I resized a French graphic from wonderful
Karen, over at The Graphics Fairy.  Then I went to Picnik,
my fave photo editing program, {because I'm not
good with Photoshop yet} and unsaturated the color
of the print to more of a gray.

I tore the edges, and then grayed them up with
stamp ink, and distressed it a little with a
bit of the white paint.

Then I put a coat of Mod Podge to seal it. 

I wrapped the "handle" with some cotton cording
and I added two charming vintage gelatin molds for a
little storage, and then it was complete!

I was so pleased with how easy it was
and how it really transformed a cute vintage shelf
that I'm glad I didn't pass up!

It was snapped up from my shop in about an hour!!

Hope your day is filled with joy!!
Share your smile!!

Hugs,

A Winner and Prelude to Fall

This was sooo much fun!

All the entries were delightful, but one really
just grabbed me right away!

Here, I'll let you read it for yourself.
Connie's creativity is just over the top!!
Here's her entry...

She looks like a lady crab to me so how about Mrs Crabbitz (remember Bewitched? But I think the nosy neighbor's name was really Mrs Kravitz). Or Crabina the wanna-be ballerina? But before ballet class, she had to go to the 4th of July parade to watch her dad, Colonel Crustopher (love that entry!) march and then, while she was waving her flag . . . well, I could come up with a whole story but I won't!

What an imagination, Connie!

The winner is Connie, from She Dreams Big !

Mrs. Crabbitz is the winning name!

Email me your mailing address and
I will have your box of goodies in the mail in the next
few days, Connie!  Thanks for the amazing name!

Thanks for playing along everyone!!

On Another Note...

  via

Fall is just around the corner, and so is

Junk to Joy Shop's
"Prelude to Fall"

It will be the introduction of my
2011 Fall line and will include beautiful
fabric pumpkins, felted acorns, miniature bird
nests...just to mention a few!  And more
repurposed, upcycled lovely home decor
and gift items.

Be on the look out...it won't be long!

Have a wonderful week,
and remember to splash some JOY around!!

Big Hugs

Gettin' Busy!

Thank you sooo much for all of your kind thoughts
and prayers!!  They are so much appreciated!

I am happy to say that I am feeling much better,
and didn't have to go to the Dr.
Thank you, Lord!
and
YAY for homeopathy!!

No more of this today...

via
{my bed will look  something like this in the not too distant future}

{then I will do my happy dance}

And I have to get back to this!

This room isn't in our home, but I wanted to
show you the color scheme our 13 yo Maddy has chosen.

Tiffany blue, black, and white!
Quite striking, isn't it?

She has been sooo patient with
us when it comes to making her room over.

Well, she returns tomorrow from a trip to my sister's
and today we will be finishing up painting her room.
Shhh...it's a surprise!!

I am off to paint!
I will do a reveal when the whole room is
pulled together!

OH!!

And you all are killing me with your name suggestions
for my little crabby!!  You are sooo creative!!

I am going to have such a hard time deciding!!
We may have to take a family vote!

Thanks for being so delightful!!

HUGS!!

Just Playin'

Hmmph...I've been feeling a bit under the weather,
and don't have much energy, so what little I
have, I have been using to play around a bit.

You know...

Try out some new things...

Here's a little lookie...

I got this adorable little, rusty, wired basket with pots
for my birthday from my sweet friend, Nellie.
{they might still have some at Home Goods}

As soon as I laid eyes on it, I loved it!
{hugs Nellie :o) }

I wrapped the pots with vintage lace,
and filled them with more lace, tatting,
and rolled up doilies that look like flowers!

The sweet clay bee tags will be added to my
shop soon, along with a couple of other style tags!

Love all the shades of white!

And tattered edges...
YUM!!

Then I thought it would look great with some
of my favorite old, chunky, ironstone pieces...

 Dee-Lish!!
These fabulous little butter pats and bowls
make my heart sing...La la la la la!!!

 Same photo with a vintage texture.

One last look at my chunky little charmers!

{La la la la la!}

**smiles**

I am linked up to
White Wednesday over at Faded Charm...lots of loveliness to see there!!

Click on the cute crabby in my side bar

to enter the "Name That Crabby Contest"

I'll send you a sweet box of treasures if you win!!

My heart would also sing knowing that you

are praying for me to feel better!

Thanks sweeties...

you're a joy!

HUGS!

Becky

For Me? & Name That Crabby Contest!!

I am continually amazed at the talented, creative, artistic women
that I have met in blogland!!

What a joy you all are!

I received a couple of wonderful packages in the past 

few days and just wanted to share them with you!

Rae is a new blog friend over at 723.  I hope you'll go say HI!

Rae is so creative, and talented in DIY, home decor, and crafting
and just really blessed me by emailing me and asking
if she could send me these

charming patriotic cards she crafted!!

 

What a delightful bundle!!

Here are all three!
I just love them!  They are so original
and the paper flowers are sooo cute!

Thank you so much, Rae!!
You sure know how to make a gal's day!!

***

Back a couple of months ago,
I made the trip over to Lakeland to
meet some new blog friends, have fun
at the Fancy Flea, and to
see the delightful Mrs. Magpie again!

It was a total blast, and I had the extreme

pleasure of meeting Jane from Artfully Graced.
She is so friendly, fun, and fabulous!!
I can't wait to get together with her again!

She recently had a giveaway,
and I WON!!

Jane is a truly gifted artist and she painted
this whimsical patriotic crabby especially for me!!
JOY!!!

Isn't he adorable??
Me loves him!

I have to find the perfect spot for him
so I can enjoy him year round.  He won't
be getting put away with seasonal or holiday decor!!
NO way!

Now...time for me to share some blog love!
My new crabby is in desperate need of a name!

SOOOO...I am having a contest...

Come up with the crabby name I like best
and I will make something just for you!!
I promise I will make it worth your brain strain!!
{big smile}

You can email your suggestions or leave them in
a comment, and you can suggest as many as you can
come up with!!

The contest ends on July 10th, and I will announce
the winner on July 11th.

Oh and Rae and Jane, please play along, too!!

Thank you Rae and Jane for your friendships
and encouragement!!
I hope to meet Rae soon, too!

She is only about an hour from me!!

Hope you'll go meet them!
You'll be glad you did!

Have a fantastic holiday weekend!!

Hugs n joy!