A Picnic or Two......

I've been thinking alot about family and picnics and just spending some relaxing time together in conversation.  Maybe not talking at all, but watching the kids run around.  No pressure to "use our manners" ~  No pressure to "use the right fork".  Just to say AH~H~H~H, kick the shoes off, and sip that glass of sweet tea, all frosty and cold.

I absolutely love this picture.  It is a picture of a family back in the 70's (yes, back when I was in my prime).  The picture is from a vintage issue of House and Garden.  Now these people are a little "over dressed" for my picnics.  Shorts, t-shirts, sandals and flip-flops are a must at my picnics!  But, doesn't this picture just bring a smile to your lips and a warm fuzzy feeling knowing they are having such a good time.  All under the shade of a tree, with wonderful balloons, umbrellas, and yes, even hats for those of us that worry about the sun.  Children in cotton dresses, the feel of grass under your feet, and the sweet smell of clover in the air!  Just so wonderful.

While pondering about this picture, I suddenly had a flashback to my youth.  When I was a little girl, probably 6 or 7.  My family went to my Dad's grandparents who lived in Frametown, WV, near Gassaway and Sutton.  Now these were country people, and Oh, such sweet country people they were.  Big Mommy and Big Daddy (as I knew them), were the kindest, gentlest souls.  With their thick local accent (which I found myself picking up the longer I was there :)), they would give hugs and talk and talk about what was going on in the local town and of course, their little church.  Dad would line us up, me, my brother and my sister, and have us sing hymns for them.  A small little concert.  You would have thought we were stars on the stage by the twinkle in Big Mommy's eyes.

They lived in a very small, very simply furnished cottage ~ no air conditioning.  Big Mommy's sister, Merle, lived behind her in a little cottage, where she raised chickens and a had a few sheep.  I was thrilled to find out Aunt Merle had named the one sheep "Kitty Lynn".  I mean, really, at the age of 7, wouldn't that be the most amazing thing in your life?  We found eggs in the hen house, ran through the creek, and petted Big Daddy's dog, "Bally".  Carefree summer days, where we would walk down the dirt lane, and take a ride through the mountains.

We didn't visit my great grandparents much, and it wasn't long until Big Daddy passed and then Big Mommy.  Time gets muddled in your youth, so I couldn't give you the year.  But the one thing I remember most is how Big Mommy died.  The story goes, she was sitting in church, she stood up to give her testimony, sat down, and the Lord took her home.  If I could ask for anything, anything at all, it would be to go home to the Lord, in this way.

So, as I was looking at this family, in the vintage picture above, all these memories came rushing back. 

Yes, family, so precious, ever changing, and so many memories.....  If there is one thing I want to do this summer, is to make some "family memories", for me, for my kids, and especially for my grandkids.

Blessings to all.  Happy Summer! Kitty

Welcome to the Porch!

I know I have been absent from blogging for a little while, but I took an "unannounced" blogging break.  Sometimes you just have to stop what you are doing to allow yourself to "catch up".  I know you all know what I am talking about.  Spring came on beautifully, and after that horrid winter, well, it was time to just enjoy.

In honor of the beautiful spring we are having, I just wanted to invite you all over and have a little "sit down" on the porch!  It is not a grand porch, or a veranda, or a big, long, wrap around porch, just a "teeny little porch".  Enough for 2 chairs and great conversation, all the while enjoying some sweet and tangy lemonade.  If I had to pick between lemonade and iced tea, I think it would be lemonade, every time.  We should take a poll.... lemonade or iced tea, what do you prefer?

A sweet old cupboard I found last year at an antique mart. Love it with the angel statue that had its little feet glued back on. They seem to be holding just fine. This little cupboard sat on the porch all winter long, and held up just fine. But, I think I am tempting fate. I will find a place for her this winter, inside, away from "the elements".

This old metal table was another find.  Since this picture I have painted the top white, but I think I need to give it another coat.  Do you all remember these tables?  What era?  The 70's?  60's?  I just love it.  It's coffee table height.  Maybe a tad higher.  But I do love it.

And of course, what could be better than a mindful thought, "Water Your Spirit With Faith".  A constant reminder that our Dear Lord looks out after us, through all of our ups and downs.  God Bless You All.  Here's hoping you are all having a wonderful spring, and for those friends in the Southern hemisphere, a lovely fall!

Blessings to all,
Kitty
xox

Potential of a Black Box?

A few years back, I found this black box at a yard sale.  I think I paid $5 for it.  Even though the paint is a bit worn on the floral decoration, it intrigued me.  It is a generous size; measuring about 2 feet across the front.  It has a lid that lifts and a drawer on the bottom.  The paint is chippy, which I LOVE!  The color is black, which some may not like, but I just love mixing in black with my decor.  It's like a dark neutral, don't you think?

This is a picture before I had hubby move the big knob on the top, down to the drawer on the bottom.  I also had the sweetest little vintage metal pull that I got at an antique fair a few summers ago and never knew what to use it on.  So, here it is now:

The inside is a bit rough, but I have big plans.  I'm thinking a little sanding and a satin lining, maybe cream colored?  Something a bit elegant to offset the chippiness of it all.  What do you think? 

Alice in Wonderland ~ Tag Book Swap ~ It's Here!

Oh, I was so happy to see the tag book package arrive from Karla's Cottage.  In spite of Karla's bout with the flu and then tendinitis, and pleurisy, Karla persevered and sent out the tag books.  I sure hope you are feeling better now, Karla.  That was quite a string of nasties! 

But, here are the pictures of the tags.  I just love it all grouped together, Such a luscious looking little book.  I had to create a few extra of my own tags to include, just so I could remember what I created. 

On the cover is Karla's very own tag.  So so sweet, with Alice and "the key" to the tiny door.  Love all the layering.   I learned so much doing this swap.  I can see how to layer now, and use "extra touches" to make the tags even more wonderful.  I'm including a copy of the backs of the tags so you can see that the girls didn't stop on the front, but continued to create such beautiful backs, most with their signatures.

I'm not going to add to much text now, but just enjoy the tags....

And all I can say now, is I just loved this swap.  I hope to join in the fun again.  Hope you enjoyed the tour.  Have a great weekend...



Blessings To All,

Kitty

Love those Browns...

A bit of this, a dash of that..... That's what this post is about. I have some "pretty pictures" for you to see. This is from a recent "antiquing" day with Heather. She has already posted her pretties, so, I guess I am playing catch up :)

It is no secret, I "Love" Ironstone, and all those shades of white, cream, and brown. Love, love, love it!  Speaking of "Those luscious Browns", a little later in the post, I'll show you my "rose making" inspired by the sweet "Ann", of The Tin Rabbit. If you haven't been over,  you must see her blog.  Gorgeous!  But, here are a few more pictures of the shopping trip.

Couldn't pass up the old ironstone sugar bowl.  No lid, but who cares?  Love all those luscious shades.  The brown transferware dish was a great find.  It is now one of my favorites.

I know, don't you just love this simple white jewelry box with the sweet pink velvet and satin lining?   HMMMM?  I was lucky enough to purchase all the jewelry inside, as well.  3 rosaries, a few chains (for creating vintage jewelry), a few pair of earrings, and a gorgeous blue stone chain.  Ah yes, and one sweet Christmas tree pin wich needs a stone replacement.  But, it is an oldey and so very sweet.

Oh, and the lovely millinery, we couldn't believe the luck!

So, as a continuation of "the browns", I popped over to Ann's blog and saw her tutorial on making coffee filter roses (thanks Ann, I love it!).  So, I thought, why not?  I dyed my coffee filters in coffee, cut them up, as per her instructions.  Cut some hymnal petals, and then started on my first rose.  It turned out so-so, not tight enough, not enough petals,  needed more glue.  You know how it goes ~ you have to do a few before you get the "hang" of it.  But alas, I persevered, and was very happy with the last few I did. 

I did decide to add one thing.  I thought wouldn't it be great to hide a few petals of pictures inside the roses?  How fun to walk by the roses and look and know you can have a peak anytime you want...:)  I have a few other ideas that I am going to try.  More on this at a later date :) :) :)

So, off to the printer I flew, printed out a few pictures of the grandkids (in sepia), inked the back side a bit, and tucked a picture petal or two inside the rose. Here's a sneaky peak of the one petal.

I just love the fullness of these roses.  The lusciousness of "ALL THOSE PETALS".  And you can have as many as you want ~ from something so inexpensive as a "coffee filter". 

I plan on making more roses tonight.  It is an easy thing to do while watching TV.  I DVR'ed a movie from Hallmark to watch tonight, so that, with my roses, and a "cuppa" something warm sounds just right....

Hope you all have a wonderful week.  The snow is just about gone now, the tulips and daffodills are starting to pop up, the birds are all pairing up and building their nests.  I can't wait to add some other flowers to these rose beauties.....

Thanks for stopping by, and Blessings to all,

Kitty

xox

A Beautiful Life Art Journal ~ Done!

I am so excited to do this post. It's taken, well, let's see, Heather, Pretty Petals, posted the workshop in September of last year? (gasp!) As they say, better late, than never. And, OH AM I GLAD I FINISHED THIS! This "labor of love" was frustrating, at times, but taught me so much about collaging, and layering, and stretching your mind/imagination. I highly recommend it to those of you who were a bit intimidated. It also taught me to part with "my pretties" for a bigger purpose! You know, they are not all piled up or stored away in boxes. We all have a bit of the "hoarding instinct" when it comes to pretties. :) :) :)  The very best part for those of you who missed it back in September, Heather has decided to offer this on-line class, once again.  So all you, who missed it, come join the fun.

I messed up my page order, from the beginning :) :), but, alas, it is MY journal, so I guess that is just fine. Freedom of expression, as they say. The picture above is the cover, and I used all of my best laces for this, girls, as well as gorgeous millinery flowers. I wanted something to treasure, and using really "good stuff" makes your heart pitter-patter!

Below is a picture of the thickness of the book, after binding! Scrumptious, isn't it? For those of you who have completed the class, you know what I'm talking about! (~sigh~)

Now here is where "I messed up". For some crazy reason, I put one of the "Beautiful Ladies" on the back cover, which left the first page open. I decided to do somewhat of an index page. It lists the categories found in the journal, topped off with ribbon roses. A vintage lace sleeve is stretched over the vintage wallpaper to create a pocket. Inside the pocket, I have a copy of my favorite postcard,"Love's Messenger", and a little author paper (Me!). This pocket will allow me to store future "treasures", as I find them. Of course, old millinery glittered up with old German glass glitter tops off the page.

Now here is the first of the "Beautiful Ladies". She is the "Corset Girl", and I had fun glittering her up! I used a bit of ribbon I purchased from Andrea at Everyday Beauty and old millinery. In the bottom right corner, I added two little cherubs and corsets that were copied from an old advertising card. I thought it was just the right "surprise" for this page. (Please excuse the shadows, I tried to photograph on a sunny day.)  Underlying papers are vintage wallpaper and pages from an old victorian magazine.

Here is the second "Beautiful Lady". She has the most beautiful smile, and her face just glows with excitement! It gives you such a warm feeling to look at her.  She's topped off with (what else?) more millinery.  Layers of pages, journal, wallpaper, etc., lie underneath.  Gorgeous old lace edges the page.

The next 2 pages are "Oh How I Love".  These are the pages you put "your pretties" on.  It was hard deciding, not only what to put on them, but placement of the items.  This is where the task of collaging comes in.  How do you place them and make it all look like it works together?  I started with vintage wallpaper.  The silhouettes I received from Lili at LiliM in a swap.  Heather made me the "You are Treasured" that I used on the corner of the picture, quite awhile ago.  Old buttons,  jewelry, and velvet strawberries add to the page.  One of my Inspiration pins (in green) happily joins the grouping.

Page 2 is the other side of the page above that had the victorian lace sleeve stretched over it.  This, once again, allowed me to use it as "a pocket".  I have a letter that Heather wrote me as a little girl, in the pocket.  I also added to the pocket a page from "The Secret Garden" (one of my very favorite children's stories).  I received this in a swap from my dear friend, Madai of Wren Cottage. 

The next 2 pages are "Sweet Friendshp".  Heather gave us all of the images and copies of sheet music and wallpaper.  Everything you need to finish this beautiful journal.  I adore this sheet music used here.  Layered, once again, wallpaper, sheet music, and a title page from "Let Us Be Friends".  How appropriate is that? 

I didn't stray very far from her instructions on these pages.  Adding just the right amount of ribbon, millinery, and lace does the trick.  The image of these 2 girls is just beautiful and says it all.  Friendship is such a valuable commodity in today's world.  I treasure all of you, my dear friends.  It's been wonderful getting to  know you in the last few years.  What commonalities we have, in spite of our backgrounds, distance, careers, families.  I treasure you all.

"Blessed Family".  Two small words with such a big big meaning.  A page from an old Victorian magazine entitled "The Happy Home" starts it off right, don't you think?  The beautiful poem about standing together.  Yes, that is how I feel about my dear family.

And antoher gorgeous image of a mother pushing a baby carriage, with her two little ones playing happily.  I glittered up the page a bit and added a few millinery flowers.  Added the sweet calling card that Heather supplied in her images.   Wa-la!  A gorgeous page.  Simplicity at its best.

So, now, here was the test.  A page of my very own.  No instructions, no images to use.  Just my own mind and creativity.  Birds are one of God's creatures that I am in total amazement of.  These sweet little bundles bring such joy by not only their song, but just of their sweet appearance.  You'll remember this postcard from my first page.  It is entitled "Love's Messenger".  The background page is an image from Karen at The Graphics Fairy.  I immediately loved it when I saw it and knew I would be using it for something very soon.  It is actually an album cover. A few feathers, a jewelry dangle with a heart, and some nice old buttons.  That did the trick for me.

So, that is the end of the journal post.  I still have the "Keepsake Box" to make to store it in.  That is a post for another day, as I have yet to begin making it! LOL! 

I derived much satisfaction from making this journal.  So you ladies that are holding back, go for it.  You'll be so happy you created your very own "A Beautiful Life" Art Journal....

Blessings,
Kitty