Today is the day that everyone gets to showcase their beautiful furniture make-overs, fantastic furniture finds and just plain ol' furniture loves at Miss Mustard Seed's Furniture Feature Friday. And, today I have the happy privilege of being this week's giveaway sponsor! Thanks so much, Miss Mustard Seed, for this wonderful opportunity! I am so excited to be a part of this fun weekly tradition! To check out how to win this...
...just visit Mustard Seed Creations' blog by going here. I am so excited to see all the entries, and if they are anything like last week's they will be truly inspiring! And, to check out the woman behind this week's furniture feature, Lisa, please visit her at Recaptured Charm. Happy Furniture Feature Friday, y'all!!!
Good morning all, and Happy Friday! I have to admit that I am a bit sleepy this morning, but I am still awake before the rest of my household, and I am ready to conquer another set of challenges! And just a side note, if you're finding it hard to complete the challenges on the actual day of, don't you worry. This Proverbs 31 Woman Challenge should be a lifestyle, and there are plenty of days in the future to continue becoming a Woman of Virtue, whose worth is Far Above Rubies!!!
Let's take a look at the challenge verses for today:
She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land. -Proverbs 31:22&23
Now I am no theologian, so this is just my own take on these verses---we need to take care of ourselves, and we need to realize that we play a role in our husbands' success.
I have heard of a lot of women who neglect themselves when the role of being a mommy and wife demands too much of their time, and I admit that I too have fit into this category a few times myself. We can't "let ourselves go" though, and we must find time to properly care for our own bodies. I read up on some different interpretations of this verse, and I like how middletownbiblechurch.org explains it..."She did not consider it a mark of spirituality to go around looking impoverished, dilapidated, and threadbare." The site went on to comment that though the Proverbs 31 Woman is dressed nicely, she wasn't doing it at her family's expense---she was wise with her money, and she was able to dress that way without putting any strain on her family's "budget." We shouldn't spend money that we don't have, so don't go out and "charge it" just to have a fancy wardrobe. Spend wisely, and you can dress nicely within your means.
As far as verse 23 goes, it seems obvious that the Virtuous Woman plays a direct role in the success and respect of her husband. Many of us may feel like our husband's lead a "double life"---we might not really understand what it is that they do, especially if we've never seen them "in action" at the workplace, and we feel disconnected from their life outside of the home. But, that doesn't mean that we aren't partly responsible for their successes. Providing a safe and inviting home, and a place where your husband feels respected and loved will translate into his feeling confident when he leaves the front door. And there are little ways to bolster his confidence such as leaving a simple note telling him how thankful you are for all his hard work for the family, how proud you are of the job that he's done and how blessed you are to have him for your life's mate! I am always confident in my man, and I am pretty sure that it makes a difference in how he feels about himself---though he gets a bit bashful when I pour on the thanks too much! Humility is a great quality, as long as it doesn't come from an attitude of being not good enough. Realizing that you have done something that deserves gratitude is not a bad thing!
Okay, that was a lot of rambling, but the challenges will be to the point!
Challenge - Day 6
-Take extra time today to take care of yourself...take an extra long soak in the tub, give your nails a fresh splash of color, dress in a favorite outfit, do your hair, etc. Just do whatever it is that you've rushed through due to the demands of mommyhood.
-Give your husband the respect that he deserves as the leader of your family. Keep his confidence up, and let him go out into his workplace knowing that he is the king of your heart. A respected husband is a happy husband---and you have no idea what a happy man is capable of---only GREAT things! ;)
Okay folks, that's it for today. Many blessings as you care for yourself and your precious husband!
*Grace*
Me and my happy husband, enjoying a beautiful sunset by the bay.
Hello all! I have the honor of being this week's giveaway sponsor at Miss Mustard Seed's Furniture Feature Friday. If you have an inspiring and creative furniture before and after story, stop by Mustard Seed Creations' blog here, and enter to win this *beautiful* giveaway, made especially for you by none other than myself! ;)
Amazonite Gemstone, Swarovski Crystal & Sterling Silver Bracelet made especially for Miss Mustard Seed's Furniture Feature Friday!
Yesterday was another good challenge day, and I got my desk all organized, worked on a neglected project and spent quality time with my sweet boys. I'm not saying that I have things 100% put together around here, there are still dishes in the sink, and somehow the laundry grew into another load needing to be washed, but I am content with the state of my home. There is a lot of love floating around here right now, and if that means that the dishes stay dirty just a little longer, then that's okay with me.
She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow for her household, For all her household is clothed with scarlet. -Proverbs 31:20&21
Sometimes we get so busy in our own little environment that we forget to look out for the needs of those beyond our front door. I agree that our home life and caring for the needs within our family must be our first priority, but it is also good to look beyond ourselves and to see the needs of those around us who may not have the same resources that we do to care for themselves.
We don't get snow around these parts (well, it did snow one time several years back which was a huge phenomenon!) but my family can still be clothed well---and on a tight budget too! You don't have to spend a gazillion dollars for you family to be "clothed with scarlet!" Okay, for today's challenges...
Challenge - Day 5
-Make a point to see if there are any items around your home that aren't getting any use that someone else could be in real need of. Bag whatever you find a make a stop at whatever organization you please that will use your leftovers to help those less fortunate. Several weeks ago I took about 8 big trash bags full of clothes and other items to Goodwill. I had originally planned on doing a garage sale, but that never panned out, and I have to admit that it did feel really good to be able to donate my unused stuff to help people who are trying to get back on their feet, or folks who just can't afford to buy things new---OR to bargain hunters (like me!) who want a good deal! :) There are so many ways that we can help "the poor" and "needy"...monetary donations, donations of time & energy (clean up programs, soup kitchens, etc). Whatever God is prompting you to do, do it! Also, I just received an e-mail from Focus on the Family telling of this event. I have a heart for these little ones who certainly need someone to stand up for them and reach out and help them. Check out this link for more info.
-Evaluate the clothing needs of your family and make a plan to remedy any wardrobe blanks. And no, it doesn't have to be "scarlet", but it does have to be season appropriate! And you can be smart about where you shop too. Just a couple of weeks ago I went to a local children's resale shop here. I had previously dropped off some stuff to sell to them, and out of a huge laundry basket full of stuff, they decided that they could only use about 12 items! No worries, I just donated the rest. I chose to get store credit for the items that they purchased from me...about 13 bucks...and I decided to do my son's fall clothes shopping right then and there. I came home with a jacket and pant set, the cutest pair of Levi's jeans you've ever seen, and about 6 long sleeve shirts. Combined with a few things I had already bought (on sale!) at a different clothing store, I have my son outfitted for fall/winter for less than 40 bucks! eBay is also a great way to buy kid's clothes---there are a lot of new items too for a fraction of the original (probably overpriced) cost!
Okay, just to break it down a bit more simply---look to how you can help the needy & look at your own family's clothing needs and do something about it! Easy cheesy!
Alrighty, I'm off to continue looking to the needs of my family and those around me! Have a great Thursday, y'all!!!
Blessings! *Grace*
My son in his cute lil' Levi's and "new" to him shirt! Great outfit for just a few bucks!
This whole challenge has really been changing the way that I view my role as a mother & wife. The past few days have been really great, and I have gone about my days with a renewed purpose to be all that I can be (through Christ!) for my family. And, though I've added a few extra tasks, i.e. the challenges, it seems as if my days have been more relaxed, and I have just had so much fun spending quality & quantity time with my son especially. It's pretty interesting---when I am fulfilling my God-given role the way I that I should then he is a much happier child! Hmm, who would have thought?!!
I started reading a book last night called Shepherding a Child's Heart (by Tedd Tripp) and one sentence near the beginning really stood out to me. It said something like in today's culture the notion of quality time has replaced quantity time. I used to think that quality time was a good substitution for quantity, but if you think about it, would our children enjoy 20-30 minutes of uninterrupted time with us, or would a whole day of meaningful interactions make them feel more loved, understood and protected? Not to say that we have to make our days all about our kids, but lately I have tried to stop what I'm doing when my son comes up to me, showing me his latest block creation or wanting to play ball for a bit. And yesterday morning, as I sat on the floor on his level, he snuggled up into my lap for at least 20 minutes or more as he watched his show on TV---he never sits with me for that long! It just made me realize how much it must mean to him when I get down and see the world from his angle. How many snuggling opportunities have I missed by being too busy to sit on the floor and interact with my child? Anyways, this challenge is teaching me to embrace all that it is to be a mommy and helpmate---there is a lot involved, but the rewards are priceless.
Onto our verses for today...
...She perceives that her merchandise is good, And her lamp does not go out by night. She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hand holds the spindle. -Proverbs 31:18 & 19
Many of us know what it is like to stay up into the wee hours of the night, but you can see here that those hours aren't spent being lazy. If you're like me, you have a hard time being idle for any length of time. Sure I like just sitting down and enjoying a good movie now and then, but often I find that it is hard to "waste" my time without being productive in some way---I guess that's a good thing?!!
As far as verse 19 above goes, most of us probably don't spin our own thread and weave our own textiles, but I'm sure that we each have something that we make from scratch. And, just as the distaff (a device used to keep unspun fibers from tangling during the process of making thread) is used to keep things untangled and organized...and I might be going out on a limb here theologically...we need to make an effort to keep our projects and homes organized too! So, onto today's challenge!
Challenge - Day 4
-Evaluate the state of your home, and if necessary keep the lamp oil burning in order to finish up a neglected project. Yes, you need your rest, but the more things you let pile up the harder it will be to get out from under the load! And speaking of loads, I think that I'll finish up the laundry that didn't get done on Monday! ;)
-Organize something &/or make something from scratch! I am going to declutter my craft room (again!) today. Seems as if it is a magnet for stray objects, so back to the drawing board I go to find a way to store things and keep things orderly in the process!
Okay y'all, that's it for today! Spend some quality quantity time with your kiddos (and hubby too!) & have fun making and decluttering! ;)
What my desk looks like without all the clutter on it! You can read about how I originally organized my desk by going here.
I'm sure that I am not the first woman to bring home a treasure only to have it lovingly called "junk" by those who can't see its potential. You all know what I'm talking about, don't you? You walk in, giddy with excitement about your latest find, and you are received with rolling eyes and questions like "how much did you pay for that (junk)?" Then you try to explain the merits of your treasure, and how it will enhance your life...and the eyes keep rolling, but a smile erupts and you continue on your way with plans to display your newest member of the family in its proper place.
Here are some of the most recent treasures that I brought home to show my hubby. Can you believe he called this junk?!!
I found this vintage ATLAS E-Z Seal Canning Jar at a garage sale for 50 cents! It makes the perfect little vase for a few autumn roses and fern clippings. I purchased the vintage galvanized Sugar & Flour canisters at the same garage sale, and when the lady told me "1.00 for the pair" I was beside myself with joy! I really like these canisters! And here I am, pictured on my wedding day, going on 7 years ago! Whew, time flies! I am so proud of my dear husband's doctorate degree hanging on the wall!
Good morning on this very wet (at least here) Challenge Day Three! Yesterday's challenge was, well, a bit challenging for me---and I'm sorry to say that the laundry did not get put up---and one load didn't even get folded! *Tisk, tisk!* Haha! I'm not going to be too hard on myself though because I know that things come up, and sometimes, no matter how good our intentions are to get things accomplished, we often have to make adjustments for the unexpected, which is what I had to do yesterday. I did work with my hands (though not on the pillows like I had planned, but on a giveaway that I will be doing through one extremely talented lady's blog later on this week!). Oh, I did take time to make a healthy and yummy dinner! Two outta three ain't bad!!! ;)
(Edited to Add: I forgot to mention that our faithful pooch got lots of extra lovin' and treats yesterday. I tried to go out of my way to make him feel like an important part of the family---lots of extra pats, a few more plates to "clean" and plenty of crumbs to lick up!)
I'm going to get straight to today's challenge, since I'm up a bit later than normal and will probably hear the sweet cries of my son before long, wanting to eat his breakfast!
She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard.
She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms. -Proverbs 31:16 & 17
Challenge - Day 3
I am not considering a big purchase any time soon, but I have realized lately what an impact all my little purchases make overall in our budget. All those little craft materials add up! So, my challenge tasks for today are:
-Look over our budget (and past months expenses) and see where I can be more frugal and where I need to have more discretion. Also, take care of bills that need to be paid (I usually do this on Fridays, but I'll fit it in today to go along with the theme of having some money sense!)
-Work out! There are many forms of working out, and you don't have to be a gym member in order to be fit. I enjoy walking with my son, and believe me, pushing that big ol' stroller in the high winds that we usually have around here is a workout! Plus I get to spend some quality time with him outdoors, which we both love. It's important to stay in shape as mommies. We need it ourselves, our children need to have a mom with enough energy to care for them---and I'm guessing that our husbands won't complain if we're doing what we can to stay tight and trim! ;)
Okay, well that's it for today. Spend Wise. Stay Strong!
Going for a walk with a few extra pounds to carry around - the precious baby boy which are the cute pounds, and the baby-weight which I am proud to say is all off now! Yay for walking!
I woke up early this morning, and of course one of my first thoughts was the "challenge", wondering what today's goals would be as I strive to live up to the standards that God has set before me. Well, would you just look at the challenge verses for today:
She seeks wool and flax, And willingly works with her hands. She is like the merchant ships, She brings her food from afar. She also rises while it is yet night, And provides food for her household, And a portion for her maidservants. -Proverbs 31:13-15
I am already on top of things by rising early! Woohoo---now for the providing food part and working with my hands! ;)
I can remember reading these verses in days past and thinking to myself, well, most of these things sound pretty good...but rising while it is still night...I don't think so! But the fact is, the last few weeks I have been getting up quite early (for me), usually around 6:30 or a bit before that, and I love it! I don't know if I'm turning into a morning person or not, but I am enjoying being awake while the house is quiet, the world still sleeping around me, and I can have time to collect my thoughts and sort of plan my day. It's wonderful! Enough of that though, let's get onto the challenge!
Challenge - Day 2
-Find a project that needs to be finished (or started and worked on) that involves working with your hands. I personally have been wanting to make a couple of pillows to add to our living room, and have been putting it off for a week or more. So I will start with those! I also have a couple of loads of laundry that need folding, and seeing that I'll be working with my hands to get that done I'll tackle that first! Yes, laundry counts!
-Plan a thoughtful meal that your whole family will enjoy. Some days I concentrate too much on my own little projects around the house that I tend to rush meal prep time, and the food comes out so-so. Today I want to take time to put a little more effort into preparing meal that's healthy for my family and that tastes great too!
-Most of us don't have servants, but a lot of us have "furry friends" who help us around the house, no questions asked, and would like nothing more than some pats on the head and scratches behind the ears. Our dog, BoBo, will have to be the stand-in for the "maidservants"---he is actually quite handy around the house---he will clean the dishes for me (provided that they're caked with yummy leftovers to lick clean), he is a wonderful crumb-off-of-the-floor remover, and he protects us better than any security system. So, if you have a "servant" who doesn't require wages, take time today to provide a little extra treat for them and give some extra pats and scratches!
Challenge Day 2 is already off to a good start here---I have plenty of time to begin thinking on meal menu ideas, and might even start getting that laundry done---okay, maybe not quite yet, but it will get folded and put up---today!
*Oh, quick re-cap of yesterday: I made my hubby some yummy pancakes and bacon for breakfast...he was very excited about that!...and I tried to go out of my way to make him feel loved and respected. I also tried to stop what I was doing when he would ask me a question or talk to me so that I could concentrate on what he was saying. All in all it was a pretty good challenge day, and I will continue to work on the "challenges" in the days/weeks/months/years to come!*
I have been thinking about doing this challenge for a couple of weeks now, and thought to myself why not start today?! I was planning on beginning tomorrow---but today I have my sweet husband home ALL day---and since the first day of the "challenge" centers around honoring my husband---why not begin today where I'll have all day to "practice" being a loving, honoring, virtuous woman.
I have always loved the picture of godly womanhood from Proverbs 31:10-31 in the Bible. I like how the Virtuous Woman respects and honors her life mate, cares for her children and household, enjoys working with her hands and creating things and most importantly how loving the Lord and trusting in Him are seen as top priority. She is my role model and I would like to put into practice what it means to be a virtuous wife.
So, today it begins. My 10 day Proverbs 31 Woman Challenge. Feel free to join in, and as the next week and a half go by I know that our husbands and families will be happier for the fact that we're living up to the standards of the woman spoken of in Proverbs 31...
...Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil All the days of her life. -Proverbs 31:10-12
Challenge - Day 1
-Find practical ways to honor and respect my husband (i.e. taking time to make him breakfast!)
-Go out of my way to shower him with kindness, and make today (and days in the future) special by giving him my undivided attention
-Pray for him! As my thoughts turn to him throughout the day, I want to take time to lift him up in prayer, thanking God for him, asking for guidance to love him the way he needs to be loved, and requesting protection and peace over his life outside of our home---the workplace can be brutal---especially with his job!
-Praise him! Thank him for all the hard work he does for our family.
-Do anything that comes to mind that will make him feel special and loved.
So there is the challenge for day one. Making today a day that is all about respecting/honoring/loving my sweet husband. He might think that I have something up my sleeve, but I will reassure him that there are no strings attached to this special treatment! I'll let you know how it goes, and for those of you who want to participate, fill me in on the details too!
Ever since this past weekend, after purchasing some trash-to-treasure items at a neighborhood garage sale, I have been tweaking a few things around our humble little home. It is amazing how much fun you can have with a few tubes of acrylic paint and a hot glue gun! ;) I have enjoyed rearranging different spots in our living area the past couple of days, and I've done this while my sweet son (pictured below when he was almost 8 months old) has played happily right next to me. It has been nice to enjoy mommy & son time and "me" time all at once!
Here is my $2 blue Ball Perfect Mason jar that I got over the weekend. I also found the tiny little picture frame for 50 cents...of course it has gotten a make-over since, and looks perfect in this little spot. I added some mother of pearl sea shell chips to the jar, and after painting my little frame with a mixture of pure white, jamaican sea blue and expresso brown, I decided to add some jute webbing laid over linen and topped with my sand dollars and a *store-bought* shell to complete a coastal chic look! ;) I also painted the frame that my son is in with the same mixture as the small sea shell frame. It used to be a dark-stained wooden frame...but I thought that this spot in the room needed some lightening up, especially since the walls are so dark.
This is my favorite spot to rearrange. It formerly looked like this, but I wasn't fully satisfied with the look of the DVD's being out, among other things, so I changed it up again to what you see now.
And of course no cozy little spot is complete without the warm glow of a lamp nearby!
The sand dollar shadow box was made using a inexpensive "naked" frame that I bought and painted white. Burlap and a hot glue gun were all I needed to finish it up...oh, and the sand dollars of course, which I found out in the ocean! The little ivy jar is a repurposed nutmeg spice bottle, wrapped up in some of my jute webbing and tied with twine.
A photo of my sweet sister and myself rests inside a tarnished little silver candy basket. I could polish it up, but I sort of like the aged look that it has right now.
The small jar holds a tea light, nestled in mother of pearl shells...this is the first candle that I light every morning when I wake up. I love the glow that it gives, especially when the flicker of the flame reflects off of the mirror. It makes the atmosphere of the room quite cozy in the early hours of the morning when I'm the only one awake, and the house is so still and quiet.
My son found the sea shell that's attached to the candle on one of our trips to the beach. He actually brought it up to me...what a little sweetie! He was so proud of his little sea side treasure! More shells (I'm sad to say, purchased from a store) reside in the small silver vase.
And here is my baby when he was just a wee 3 weeks old or so, along with my sweet husband. This frame also got a make-over, and went from ugly dark brown to coastally white!
Here is another 50 cent make-over...sorry, bad photo...another paint & glue gun job gone right! I just love my little framed sea shells!
Can you tell that I'm liking shells? Haha! This is my sea shell shelf...say that 10 times fast...and like the frames that I've just shown you, this one also got a paint job and a coastal looking insert of jute webbing and shells. Oh, and another candle to add to the coziness of the room for my early morning rendezvous with my coffee and the computer!
The jute webbing reminds me of an old fish net. I love the texture of it!
I was given this book by my grandfather several years ago, and seeing that I have a great love for candles, the title fits in beautifully with the candles displayed on the shelf. The book is copyrighted 1891, and is very near and dear to my heart.
I really need a new lamp shade on this sad little wrought iron corner shelf...any ideas???
Lately I have been busy, figuratively & literally, being inspired by many of the women I have met through the blog world. I am now seeing things around my home in a different light, transforming objects that I didn't like before into pieces that I am proud of. Who would have known that the ugly brown frame I so disdained could take on a beautiful "Shabby Chic" look with a few coats of paint and a little distressing! It's amazing what paint can do...I guess it's like make-up for the home, and the results after making over several frames and other easily painted items is amazing! (Will post pictures later when there is some natural light in the house...it's currently quite dark in here, with just the light from my lamp, candles and computer screen!)
Also, this past weekend I had my first "junking" experience, and visited a neighborhood-wide garage sale. Several homes in a very nice subdivision participated, and I was just sure that I could find some treasures like the ones that I've read about from the "junkers" in blogland. And I was right! I came home with 3 gorgeous vintage wooden windows like the one that I already have on my front porch. I also got a vintage blue Ball Mason jar and two small frames that I have already painted and used to display some sea shells. All for just 6 bucks! Woohoo! (Yes, pics will be posted soon!)
In all of my excitement of making our home a place of comfort and peace, I have been reminded by my dear sister-in-law that it doesn't take things to make a home. It is the memories made and the love that is shared that truly makes home a place of refuge. It is so easy to get caught up in the creating that I forget what is of utmost importance...spending quality time with the ones living in this home with me---making messes with my toddler, not caring that he is throwing all of the pillows off the couch onto the floor, and giving my husband the time and attention that he needs when he has returned home after a long day at work. That kind of love and respect will go a long way to making my home a place where my son feels confident to explore his creativity and where my husband longs to return after being away for hours on end out in the "real world." And that's what I want my home to reflect. Security. Peace. Love.
So, though I am not going to damper my own creative instincts, I will try to keep in mind what is truly important as I continue to be inspired and hopefully as I inspire as well. Thanks, Kayla, for putting it all into perspective for me! Love you!
As I am slowly tweaking this and that in our home, I have realized that I need to play up the fact that we live by the coast. I adore being so close to the ocean, and many of the colors that I want in my "dream home" are coastal inspired...blues, greens, creams & whites. Since we're currently renting our house and may not even end up in this part of the country, I want to enjoy the sea while I can...and part of that means bringing it into my home!
So yesterday, after plenty of inspiration, I went about decorating this cozy little coastal shelf to display in the small hallway between the two bedrooms.
I tied some jute twine around this flat mirror so that it would hang securely on the wall and reflect the glow of the candles in front of it.......
.......and I hot-glued these five tiny sand dollars that I found in the ocean on top of some jute upholstery webbing (which I was inspired to purchase by going here).
The two candle holders are filled with tiny mother of pearl shells---which I actually did buy---and are topped with white lily & ginger tealight candles.
The inspiration for the canning jar/sea shell/candle combo came from this wonderful blog...which I read daily and where I have found numerous creative ideas for decorating with a coastal flair. I was going to make a sea shell shadow box for this shelf, but I didn't have enough shells that I had found on my own...and I just couldn't bring myself to buy any...why would I do that when I live by the sea? I need to go out and find some of my own!
And no place in my home is complete without a bit of greenery for me to love and coax to grow. Here I have some ivy tucked inside an upcycled vanilla jar, and wrapped with my jute webbing.
So there you go, a bit of the coast is residing in my home now! There are a few other spots in my home that have gotten the cozy coastal treatment, but that will have to wait until another day! Blessings on this happy Wednesday!
I have been inspired by so many wonderful ladies in the blog world that have found amazing treasures while out on thrifting adventures...or they have found them just out of the blue as they're going about daily life. The one thing that I've learned is that you always have to keep an eye open for such trash-to-treasure items. You just never know where you're going to come across an item that can be transformed into something you love. Such as this.......
.......I saw this old wooden window several years ago by someones trash can in the alley........
.......at the time I didn't know what I was going to do with it, but I snatched it up anyways....... .......and it wasn't until recently that I dug it out of my garage and decided to clean it up a bit........ .......and after a little elbow grease and a lot of love, here it is, proudly displayed on my front porch! And I can't imagine not having it, and I am so glad that I didn't care what people thought as I pulled up next to a pile of "garbage" and took it and put it in the trunk of my car! I probably wouldn't have even thought of grabbing up some old wooden window if my lovely sister-in-law hadn't given me this for Christmas one year. Isn't this is a creative idea?!! I actually scored an identical wooden window to the one on my front porch, and made a photo collage window frame like this for one of my sisters. (Thanks for the idea, Kayla!)
&
This past weekend while out on a thrifting expedition, I came across this adorable little white chair (beautiful baby boy not included!)........
.......after cleaning it up a bit, it is the perfect spot for my son to read his books. This treasure I had to pay for, but at just $10 I would say that I got a pretty good deal...plus seeing how much my sweet boy loves it makes it worth each and every penny!
So, all of this to say, you never know where your next treasure is going to be. Maybe in a back alley, sadly discarded like yesterday's news paper, or maybe at a local yard sale, ready to get a new home. One man's trash is truly another man's treasure...you just have to keep your eyes open to the possibilities of what can be when you love an item that's been forgotten.
After tallying up all the entries and having the names chosen at random, I am proud to announce the winners of the first Ruby Moon Designs giveaway! And the winners are: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kyndal - Nursery Rhyme Bib Gail - Tiger's Eye & "Mystery" Gemstone Earrings Jessica R. - Sea Glass Inspired Earrings
Congratulations!!!
Thanks to everyone who participated. And don't worry, there will be more giveaways in the future, so you can always participate again for something unique from RMD.
Winners, please e-mail me your address at rubymoondesigns@gmail.com so that I can mail your giveaway to you!
Edited to Add: All of the items featured in the giveaway are available to purchase here!
My giveaway is off to a good start...considering this is my first one! Don't miss out on winning one of 3 cute items! See details in yesterday's post! Happy Weekend, y'all!
Well folks, it's Friday...and you know what that means...the 1st Giveaway Day here at Ruby Moon Designs in honor of my newly opened ETSY store! I have three items up for grabs...one which you've already seen a preview of unknowingly! So, without further ado, here are my giveaways...............
...............1st) these lovely dangle earrings, crafted with Sterling Silver, Tiger's Eye Gemstones & a "mystery" gemstone. (I have so many beads running around, and I lost the label to these! BUT they are either Howlite or Amazonite...I have a bad memory, sorry!) They measure about 1 1/2 inches in length.
Secondly...yes...my Sea Glass Inspired Earrings. I really love these, and thought that some of you may too...so they are up for grabs as well! They were designed using Sterling Silver earring hooks and pins, antiqued-silver Pewter accent beads, Swarovski Crystal beads & my favorite, seafoamy blue/green Amazonite Gemstones. They measure approx. 2 inches long.
And lastly, this cute little infant bib is ready to be loved by some adorable messy baby. Made with 100% Cotton Vintage inspired Nursery Rhyme fabric and accented with yellow rick-rack and red (adjustable) neck band. Red zig-zag stitch is used around the outside of the bib. The bib, which is reversible, is lined with flannel to help absorb the spills that are sure to happen when baby is eating. Cut with pinking shears along the edge, the bib will fray a bit over time which results in a soft little ruffle along the edge. (Care Instructions: Machine Wash Cold, Tumble Dry Low) So there you have it, y'all! Okay, here's how to snatch up one of these great offers (just let me know which item you'd like to be in the drawing for so we can share the love and only have one item per winner!):
-Leave a comment on this post - 1 name entry -Follow my blog - 1 name entry -Blog about this giveaway and link it to your blog (just let me know you did this) - 2 name entries -Become a fan of RMD on Facebook - 1 name entry (for those of you who are already Facebook fans you just need to comment about the giveaway on the Ruby Moon Designs Facebook page) -Comment on Facebook about this giveaway on your profile - 1 name entry (let me know you did this too!)
Okay, I guess that's it. You can enter as many times as you like. Giveaway starts now(!) and will be closed to entries midnight Sunday (Central Standard Time). Winners will be chosen at random and announced on Monday!
Today I sat down with the intention of making some earrings to add to my giveaway (which will be on Friday...so don't miss it). As I prepared to create, I knew that I needed some inspiration---so I grabbed myself a cup of coffee, which always helps me to brainstorm and in a strange way relaxes me.
Sipping slowly out of a teacup that my grandmother gave me on my 16th birthday, I decided on these two colors for making my secret giveaway gift...the colors are all the sneak-peek that you're going to get right now!
After I made my giveaway, I was still feeling inspired and so I proceeded to get out some little goodies to make a sea glass inspired pair of earrings...
...I just love the beautiful sea foamy blue of these Amazonite gemstones...they are probably my favorite gemstone to work with. Paired with Sterling Silver & Swarovski Crystal they capture the beauty of the ocean's natural hues. Almost finished...just a matter of putting the puzzle pieces together now... ...and here they are, in all their sea glass inspired beauty! If you're lucky, I'll add these to my ETSY store! Motherhood is calling now though, so ETSY will have to wait!
I am a daughter of The King, a wife to my wonderful husband of 7 years, and a mother to 4 Precious Babies in Heaven and 2 Amazing Boys who are my Heaven on Earth. This blog is my creative outlet when I have some precious time to myself...which you can tell by my lack of posts is extremely rare!!! You can contact me at rubymoondesigns@gmail.com.
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