Flower Making, Other Stuff and A Winner!

We had a flower making party yesterday. I only snapped a few pictures with my phone because, you know, I was supposed to be working on flowers. Lol!

Megan is in the purple shirt...I seem to have caught her looking away each time. :)

We made a pretty good dent. A big thank you to all who helped!

Last week was kind of crazy...I finally went to see about my shoulder a couple of weeks ago and not only did I get a cortisone shot but he sent me to physical therapy so Monday and Friday I did that, Tuesday and Wednesday was spent in San Antonio for my aunt's funeral, and Thursday was my son's 30th birthday. On top of that, I've been finishing up a painting commission.

Happy Birthday, Jay! 

Bruce has also started painting the city house exterior. Seeing the fresh paint really made me realize how much we've needed to tackle this. (Can you say faded?) It looks great and I'm loving the neutral color scheme. I also realized I've had the perfect color all along for the kitchen - the living room color works perfectly in there. I have almost a whole gallon so I shouldn't have to buy any. Not sure when I will tackle that - after the wedding probably.

We are now less than two months from the wedding. I have a few things I still need to make -arrow signs, bean bags for the corn hole game- I know the last couple of weeks will be intense.

bits and pieces of our handiwork in progress

We also got the wildflower seed bags filled during the flower making party - it's what people will be tossing at them as they walk down the aisle as man and wife! 😊

Everything is coming together!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now for the giveaway of KariAnne's book "So Close To Amazing" -  everyone who commented on the blog or on my fb page was assigned a number then I had Bruce pull a number out of the bowl. The winner is...drumroll please...Denise!

Congratulations! I've contacted you and you have until Thursday to respond. I know you will love KariAnne as much as I do.

Have a wonderful week, my friends.

Patio Pallet Table and An Awesome Giveaway!

 Hello, sweet friends. Today I am sharing a project that was done in April. It is way overdue but with wedding stuff, I totally forgot to post about it. (#soclosetoamazing) Be sure to read to the end where I have a fantastic giveaway to share with you! Let's get going then, shall we?

Last year when we replanted the backyard from the puppy destruction years, we were left with two wooden pallets. I told Bruce we had to save them. Although he grumbled a little, they finally made their way to the farm where they...sat.

Then I saw this and instantly had visions of a similar one on my patio!

http://placeofmytaste.com/diy-pallet-furniture-patio-makeover/

I mean, how cool is that? I didn't need it to hold an umbrella but that color...love!

I was going to make it a lot sooner but my patio isn't big and a full pallet took up way too much room so I needed it cut in half. But at that time, I didn't have the right tools. So again, they sat.

Finally, I ask Bruce if he would make it for me. And he did while I was teaching the Paint and Sip class back in April. (I know, I know. Better late than never, right?)

He cut it in half, added some skinny boards to fill in the gaps and added nice chunky legs. I absolutely love it!

Rustic and lettering! Perfect for a farmhouse.

 And it's so sturdy...it definitely isn't going to blow away or get pushed over by the dogs!

I think I'm going to leave the legs and sides natural and paint the top. I'd really love to add some lime green to my patio and that would look pretty on the top. What do you think? Paint the top or leave it?

I did find a green metal patio chair in Canton. I want at least one 

more of those chairs. I absolutely love them!

Isn't it great? Bruce did such a good job. Perfect for holding your beverage of choice.

And now for the giveaway! If you've been reading along for the past couple of months, you know I'm on KariAnne Wood's (aka Thistlewood Farms) book launch team. She has graciously given me a copy of her book "So Close To Amazing" to give to one of you.

Not only that, but she signed it!!

Let me tell you, if you've ever struggled with perfection but falling sometimes flat on your face, you will absolutely love this book! KariAnne lets you know it's ok not to be perfect! As she puts it,
"Because when you embrace the imperfect you God created you to be, you'll discover the amazing that was there all along."

All you have to do is leave me a comment about a time you tried and came close to amazing -just like me forgetting to post about my awesome pallet coffee table! Then on Monday, I will draw a name from all the comments.

Good luck!

PS
If you want to pre-order your own Amazing copy of her book, you can go to here.

disclaimer: I was given a book to give away but all opinions are my own

Sharing at these parties:
Talk of the Town
Vintage Charm Party
Show and Share
Homemade and Handcrafted

SaveSave

Making Progress

Things are growing and filling in the flowerbeds at the farm. This is the back bed along garage. The mint is going crazy! The green swimming pool is for the dogs to cool off in 😊

Another view of the back bed - the edging I found buried under the dirt by the driveway!

Another view further back - of the driveway bed (on the right). Farm Road sign is from Canton. I'm thinking about changing the "1" into a "B" so it says "Farm Road B" for the B Farm, of course!

Lantanas in bloom

The studio has been wired and insulation installed

The floor needs to be redone where the workbench is going plus Bruce needs to build a big door to go between the studio and workbench area.

The fire pit has been redone (it was torn up for brick to use for the walkway to the studio)😀

rebuild in progress!

The bees are thriving:

And mowing happens at the "Spot" and reception areas to groom the grounds every.single.time.we're. there!

Reception tent going on the left side of the fence line

Things are progressing nicely and everything should look nice in October for the wedding. It's a happy time for us as we prepare and get things ready.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In other news, we got a new refrigerator. This one is nice and big! The smaller one is out in the garage to be used to store drinks and just have extra space when needed. We had a moment of panic when we got up to the farm and found the small one was warm inside. Fortunately, it only needed defrosting but we ended up losing everything inside of it. I decided to see it as an opportunity to clean it out. ha.

I even had time for a quick makeover of the metal chairs I picked up in Canton. They will be great around the fire pit!

Sorry for the less than great picture. I was in a hurry to take it before we left to come back to the city. They are super comfy! My grandparents had similar ones on their back porch. So these bring back happy memories too!

Then here at the city house, we are finally replacing the carpet in the living and dining rooms with laminate flooring. I'm so thrilled! With the dogs keeping the carpet looking nice has been a challenge. It goes in this Friday. Whoop!

It's going to look great and should help with resale when that time comes. 

Lastly, I continue to enjoy being part of KariAnne's book launch group. Not only is she amazing, but the group is too. In case you're interested in her book, "So Close To Amazing", you can pre-order it here:
https://www.amazon.com/So-Close-Amazing-Learni…/…/1496422015 
"This is a book celebrating the incredible, awesome, special individual within each of us. It’s also a book for anyone who has ever mismatched her shoes or trimmed her own bangs when a professional might have been a better choice or added too much soap to the washer and watched it overflow.

(Not that KariAnne Wood has ever done any of these things.)"

I really think you'll enjoy it! I know I am. 

Until next time!

Creative Friday #14 - Sharing My Journey As An Artist

It's Friday and you know what that means - it's time for Creative Friday! Today I am sharing the story of my journey as an artist. The road hasn't always been smooth and I could have given up but I didn't - I am stubborn and stuck with it.

I was in 6th grade and it was art day. Now let me tell you I loved art - my schoolwork was always covered in doodles. So today was going to be a good day. My class got to art and the teacher gave us an assignment of making a collage using the different materials she had on hand. I really enjoyed it until...

Until the teacher came around and picking up mine and a boy's collage, she very snidely said, "I like boys' art better because they use brighter colors than girls do". On another occasion, she attacked my environmental poster, making fun of it (my theme was "Trees Need To Breathe Too"). I came to dislike art day and especially that teacher.

From my covered bridge painting

Fast forward to high school. I was in a crafts class. Now let me tell you, this teacher knew how to encourage her students. I loved her. So much so, when she told me I should take Art so I could learn the basics, I did although I didn't really want to (previous bad experience). Unfortunately, Art was a blowoff class and the teacher was one with little imagination. He made fun of my "Butterfly Dragon" because that is not how dragons looked. Sigh.

"Don't Wake The Dragon" I just had fun with this one!

I became convinced I'd never be a good artist but I could be good at crafts. I made wooden Christmas ornaments and other wood things and it was fun. And yet, something burned within me. I wanted more. I didn't want to just copy someone else's design - I wanted to paint my own. I now know God was nudging me to become who He created me to be - an artist.

Croquet Holder from Trash

Dog Art On A Cart

My mom passed away when I was forty and something just snapped in me. I wasn't going to put off the things I'd always wanted to learn anymore. I took horseback lessons (such joy!) and then decided to try watercolor classes. Thus began my journey into becoming an artist.

"Garden Wagon" watercolor

I still had poor teachers that pushed their styles instead of helping me develop mine.

I really don't like this painting. This is one where I had to do what the teacher did and when I deviated from hers (what can I say -I didn't want a carbon copy of hers),  she got mad at me. So frustrating!

Then one day, a friend told me about a new art school that had opened up near me. "You should go try them out", she told me. Why not? I thought, so I called and set up a time to go talk to the owner. Best.thing. ever. John was encouraging and positive and completely put me at my ease. Finally through his teaching, I felt confident enough to call myself an artist.

"Midnight's Journey" First painting I did without tracing any images just
drew with paint. I was so scared but my teacher told me I could do it!
And guess what? I did!

Which brings me to now. What's next? It's a little scary thinking about working to become a thriving artist. But God is faithful and has put a wonderful mentoring group in front of me. It is just what I need at this stage. I'm excited even if a little afraid. (What if I fail?)

"Morning Meditation" I love the suggestion of this one -
meeting up with God in the stillness of a misty morning.

At the same time, wonderful KariAnne over at Thistlewood Farms invited me to be part of her book launch team #SoCloseToAmazing.  In it, there's a quote that has spoken volumes to me.

I'm not alone! God's got this. He's been leading me this whole journey: the mean teachers, the ones who didn't have the vision to teach beyond their style, the gifted, talented, and encouraging one who taught me to how to be an artist, and now this artist mentoring group. (btw - I did learn from each one in spite of bad teaching styles - well, except for that 6th grade teacher). I finally feel I'm on the right path and can truly become the artist God created me to be.

"Pushing Up Daisies" 

Here's to the next chapter in my journey. Tin Roof Studio is coming along nicely and will be ready by the end of the year. Then with God walking along with me, I will take the next step and then the next and the next.

Tin Roof Studio

And best of all? There's no failure - just lessons to be learned.

Thanks for reading about my journey. Next week, I'll have a painting to share with you.

Save