SPRING has SPRUNG in Michigan

I have now lived in Michigan for over 15 years. After growing up in the greater Seattle, Washington area I never fully appreciated spring like I do now. After the lonnnnnnng cold of winter starts leaving this area subtle signs begin to show themselves. This usually can be a very slow month to a month and a half long time.

Well, after 4 days last week in the uppers 80's, our trees and beds awoke up very fast. With just buds starting to pop, but Monday many of our trees began to flower. I wanted to make sure that I got them in peak performance for you. The fluffy white BRADFORD Pears are my all time favorite flowering tree. They are also a beautiful fall tree too. I gave you many shots of our front of the house.

Being an artist I think I LOVE semitry. I have always been in love with the front of our home. I love how the windows look and the shutters smile at me too! We live right smack in the middle of a very nice sub division, a 45 minute drive west of Detroit, or 15 minutes east of Ann Arbor.I have been told we live in farm land that has been converter to the burbs of Detroit/AnnArbor. And believe me, we still have dirt roads all around us. We do still see quit a variety of wild life, which I love. My first shot is of the front, smack on, of our home!
I had to go across the stree to get it all in..lol
This is of our Bradford Pear tree..isn't it gorgeous. There is a street not to far from us which is lined on both sides with these trees...it IS truly gorgeous right now!

Our Weeping Cherry..all done up in pink blossoms, just starting.


A closer look at the green foilage around our front.
Hyacinths and grape hyacinths are starting to show themselves in full color!

Last, these are PGM Rody's that have the prettiest lavendar/lilac color bloom. This is so spindly looking any other time but spring!

Hope you liked what you see...by a couple of weeks from now these will be but a memory..but I will be able to come back to this post and just remember...

Blessings!

Lorena

Been Busy Painting my ROSES

I showed in my last post how I got my Studio/Craft Room and organized...SO, I thought you might like to see some projects that were just waiting to be finished. My uncluttered room, helped my creative juices flow this weekend, even amidst and all day headache on Saturday. I will be listing all of these plus more on my 2ChicFriends ebay auctions today (MONDAY). I have my ebay link to the right if any of these goodies PEAK your interest.

I love to REPURPOSE old tin containers. These two came with Boy Scout goodies inside. I added a wooden pull to the top, painted some pretty roses and now they are ready for, cookies, craft supplies and so on.

These PHOTO boxes are some of my favorite NEW things to do. What a difference color makes on these and so pretty for storage of any kind too!

THANKS SO MUCH for STOPPING BY!

Blessings, Lorena

Sharing Organizing Ideas from My Studio

Well, I have been absent for a few days...but for a GOOD reason. I have HAD to get INTO my studio and cleaned and organize it!!! During the Holidays when I am creating...cleanliness and organization just goes by the wayside. A good word would be CHAOS!!!! So....when my sweet friend Celeste showed her gorgeous studio recently I knew it was time to get my room spiffed up! If you have not seen her Studio you must check HERE and see how beautiful her room is!!!

I thought I'd show you how I store the many THING's I use to create. As you will see, I don't have most things behind doors or cabinets...I am so VISUAL that I need to see what I am working with or I forget what I have! Now that could be a blond or aging thang...but I AM NOT Going there! hehehe

Do you have some fun or unique ways you organize things in your rooms? I'd love to hear about them. I have a THING for organizing...just ask my family! LOL



I use lots of jars and boxes!

This is a fun way to store goodies in plain sight and I was so proud to come up with it! I used plastic spray paint and painted those small utility drawer holders. Then I found at a thrift store, a neat floral box for $4 that is meant for shoes...but this does hold shoe size plastic containers PEFECTLY...well they hold a lot of my laces, trims, glues, glittlers and on and on....I love how this works because it is all at my fingertips!!! It has to be one of my favorites in organization ever!



I know I have shared this idea when I did my Craft room blog a while back....but it was easy to do and others might like to do this. This is a regular 2 tier shelf I found at a thrift store, painted it pink, drilled holes in the middle section and then placed cup hooks on the lowest area. I then place long dowells thgough for my growing ribbon collection...I use these almost every day! I also have smaller pieces of ribbons and wound ribbons in 2 sectioned vintage quilted containers.
This idea was a combined effort between me and hubs. He helped me cut out this peg board to fit this LARGE picture frame...it now holds many scissors and other goodies I use it comes in handy and IF I remember to put my scissors back I can then find a pair when I need them, lol.
This shelf is quite large and was a garage sale find for $3...it has a neat embossed wall paper background and so much room for crepe paper and containers for ribbon roses. And a few birdhouses waiting to be finished...
THESE are my favorite things that I use! I love these vintage glove and hankie holders...they are FULL of my handmade clay roses! I check for these often in LOT groups on ebay and have gotten the best deals there.
And..last these are some neat ways I found recently, inspired by Celeste to put my most used colors of paint close to me! Fun containters and baskets.

So...do you have some unique and fun ways that you have oranized your things? I'd LOVE to hear more about what you do! I am always looking for new ideas.

Have a blessed day!
Lorena

GOD is Good!

Our Last Pastor would many times start out before a sermon..."GOD is Good", and then our congregation would reply...."ALL the TIME GOD is good!" Well..that's just how I feel right now.

Amidst the storms of Life...God really does sustain. I want all who left me comments recently to know HOW much your kinds words of encouragement and said prayers really mean. I may not know how just yet my families situation will turn out but I do know GOD is right beside, going through it with me. It comforts to know there are others who can truly empathize because they have lived it too!

I have a verse I'd like to share that has been my constant these past few days.

Isaiah 43:2,3a

When you pass through the waters,
I will be with You;
and when you pass through the rivers,
They will NOT sweep over you.
When You walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze

FOR...I AM the LORD, your GOD,

This just says to me that no matter what I am going through GOD says it will NOT over take me. I Love how he states HE Is the LORD!!! My Lord and my God!

Blessings...Lorena

Worthy is the Lamb ~ Sharing from my Heart

I have had a rough patch here lately and the Lord has been really placing it on my heart to share about it with you all today. So when he prompts I try and obey.

My hubby and I are now in the 8th month of his being let go from FORD Motor Company. Yes, we are one of those stats that you all here about on the news with what is going on economically, especially here in Michigan...it is such a gloomy time right now in that sense. Thankfully he got a good severance and we have been able to continue to live while he looks for work. I have known all along it's IN Gods very capable hands and feel when HIS timing is right he will open the doors needed for the PERFECT job. We both are willing to relocate if that is his Will. But it's the waiting....

Now...it all began to hit me hard though, when a couple of weeks ago when the reality hit that my daughters going to be a Senior this upcoming year. It Really set in when her school called asking us if she was coming back and were we going to enroll her. You see, we have been so blessed to be able to have her attend a local Christian school...and now with no work or funds coming in, the possiblility of her not finishing her senior year with her friends just about did me in. It has just broken my heart! And I honestly must admit and am dealing with being angry at GOD over all of this. I was coping pretty good until all of this happened.

We are in the process of doing some things that may give us assistance, but I NEVER thought I'd be in this situation..ever! It has been very humbling and has tested my faith to limits unknown, which I am not sure I am fully where I should be with all of this yet. With so many wonderful bloggers who care, I'd so appreciate your prayers for my family at this time over where GOD is leading and really to see a miracle happen for us in these areas.

We do live day by day, but my sweet hubs is getting so discouraged spending hours each day on the web and putting out resumes, only to never hear anything back. And I care so deeply for him and am so sensitive to his moods that it is getting to me as well. It may mean I have to go back to work outside of our home, which due to physical things going on my body may make it very difficult. But if this is what GOD wants he will give me to the strength to do it. I do know that with sharing often times comes release.

I want to assure you GOD has been so faithful to me through the years and I HAVE seen his Hand upon my life and my marriage...this is just a rough patch. I so look forward to the day I can look back on this and really see what HE was doing. As we know, it is IN the waiting that it is the hardest for us...if we can perservere through it, we receive the blessing and see how his hand was at work.
Thanks for allowing me to share this....


Isn't this the most WONDERFUL and darling card ever! Deb of Garage Sale Gal sent this to me. Deb you are such a blessing. This came at just the right time. I had just gotten a call back from the dr's that I needed to have further testing after my Mamm showed something, last week. And it just encouraged and blessed me more than you will ever know. PTL my testing came back clear and I am good for another year!

I have so often shared that GOD uses song in my life to get me through. I sang in a choir for Palm Sunday and this song, *I Will Rise*, by Chris Tomlin was a new one we sang and I just LOVE the song and words. I hope you enjoy...I will also link to the words.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yvfso4Q8xg&NR=1

I WILL RISE ~ Chris Tomlin - I Will Rise lyrics LyricsMode.com


God bless you!

WISHING YOU A BLESSED EASTER ~ Happy Pink Saturday

Happy PINK Saturday to all!

Its April 11th the day before Easter and a gloriously beautiful sunny day here in Detroit! I just LOVE spring and summer here! For those of us who live in the north...usually just before Easter spring starts to show its way...right now our grass is beginning to green up, crocus' and daf's are up with tulips to follow. And...buds are on the trees. We even enjoy the birds singing in our bird feeders during the day!

Today I have taken pictures of some pretty PINK florals that I have in my home. I do LOVE PINK roses and I know you will see plenty of them in my bouquets!

This sweet lil pot of roses was a gorgeous bouquet from my sweet hubby. I LOVE to find ways to keep them lasting forever so.....I let them dry and then decided to make a Martha Stewart type bouquet in a clay pot. I sure wish I had done a before and after on this. I never think of doing that til I am done!!! So bear with me and I will at least explain what I did.

I took one an elongated clay pot and painted it a soft rose PINK and then painted my roses on them. I decorated the top with pearls, gauzy pink bow and a pretty rhinestone button.
I then glued a round styrafoam ball to the inside of the pot. Glued spanish moss all around the ball and then began snipping the heads off my dried roses and putting them all around until I was finished. I just think its so much fun to come up with ways to keep memories lasting by creating a way to keep those floral bouquets that were given. What do you do with your roses? I'd love to hear.
This is in my master bedroom and its a soft blue vase that I painted and put PINK roses into it!
I showed this in my Spring Cleaning post, but wanted you to see it more up front. I tore this apart and redid it a bit and was so happy with how it turned out.
This is my newest creation...and sweet 6 inch cake with a dove surrounded by my handmade PINK roses. I put this between 2 PINK Rose Topiaries!

Thank YOU Beverly for continuing to take on PINK Saturday. You are such a blessing and I know everyone enjoys the fun of taking a peek into seeing the PINK that others love.

EASTER Blessing everyone!
He IS Risen Indeed!
Lorena

*UBER* Sweet Award ~ A few thoughts on Good Friday

I do apologize to Sandra of My Bella Rose, who gave me such a sweet award.for not getting it done sooner. I so appreciate it this award and am honored to get it Thank you so much Sandra!

I actually had this post almost done and POOF it was gone. I have had a few days of headaches..which is a Springtime malady for me and I think my brain tries to work, but just P**Ps out on me! That is why I may be gone and you don't see me posting for many days. Therefore, I waited till I could *think* again to do this post!

So this is what Uber is all about... UBER {synonym of super} Amazing Blog Award is a blog award given to sites that inspire you, make you smile and laugh, gives amazing information, a great read, have an amazing design, and any other reasons you can think of that makes them Uber amazing!
Here are the rules that go along with the award:

Copy the badge/award and put the logo on your blog sidebar or post.

1. Nominate at least 5 blogs {or more} that for you are amazing.
2. Share link to this post to the person you received your award from.
3. Come back here and comment so that your link could be added to the master list of awardees.

Having been a blogger for a while now, there really are some amazing blogs and I have such a difficult time nailing down just one.

Here are the five people I am giving the award to. It was hard to choose but I’ve really enjoyed these blogs:

Shirl of Shirl's Rose Cottage
Rebecca of A Gathering of Thoughts
Ele of A Bit of Pink Heaven
Donna Lynn of Blushing Rose Antiques
Connie of Living Beautiflly

I hope you will take some time to visit these sweet gals.

*********************************************************************
Today, which is GOOD FRIDAY, is a day in all of Christiandom that means so much to me. It is the day that Jesus, My Savior, was sold by Juday Iscariot for 30 pieces of silver, turned over to be flogged, humiliated, spat on, beaten beyond compare and yet he took it without word. His walk to Calvary's Hill was so difficult that HE needed help to finish it...Yet he knew what he was doing and went willingly. Just for you, just for me.

I am so thankfully that it doesn't just stop there. You see, he was nailed to that cruel cross, givien a crown of thorns and the died. But in his death IT was NOT the end. It was on the 3rd day as women were arriving early in the morning to his burial place that they discovered he was not there. All that remained were folded garments. I can just see the panic they may have felt. Jesus then appeared to one of those women and revealed himeself to her. Thus showing that he HAD indeed CONQUERED Death...HE WAS ALIVE!!! Just as he has predicted days earlier.

Many today still refuse to believe that Jesus would or could do such a thing. But it was GOD's perfect plan all along after Adam and Eve believed the serpants (satan) lie and brought sin into the world. Jesus knew that man's sins would NEVER allow us access to GOD. So he became the Ultimate Sacraficial Lamb of God, willingly. His death took on the SINS of the world in order for us to have God Eternal Life. It IS for US who accept and believe on the completed work that Jesus did on that Cross. He arose from the dead to show us that he had the POWER over death and so can we. Do you believe?

I Want to leave you a song to listen to...one of my new FAVS!!!

Jesus Messiah by Chris Tomlin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAssOfn5cAI

May you each have a blessed Easter!

Lorena

PINK Saturday April 4th

PINK ,PINK, PINK SATURDAY is HERE again!!!

I took a couple of weeks off to spruce up my home and do some deep spring cleaning. But I am back and I thought I'd share more in-depth pictures of what I have been doing. For a complete look at my home right now be sure to scroll down 2 posts to see..there are a lot of pictures...so BEWARE!!!

Do you see PINK in my SPRING banner? I made this banner with the help of my sweet hubby...I gave him some choices to help me out and I think we did a good job!

A sweet bunny sits in a bowl...so pretty in lace, roses and PINK. There is also a darling PINK large bunny that was part of a swap I did with AMY of Bunny Rose Cottage, isn't it cute?
Love this chintz frame and I found a sweet Victorian clip art picture to fill it with. You also see a Bunny Cloche that I have on my etsy and another pink punny.
I also have been creating some Easter/Spring goodies for my White Tree. Now, before you ask..I had to put my tree UP due to a naughty kitty I have who loves to chew on my branches. I tried to put it up where she can get to it. I haven't seen her trying to eat it lately...so maybe I succeeded.

I just want to take a moment to give BEVERLY a great big thank you for continuing to organize and round all of us up for our Weekly PINK event! Be sure to stop by her blog to see all the other PINK participants! And don't forget to leave comments too!

Have a BLESSED week everyone.
Lorena

LAMP SHADE ~ Before/After

Last week in an earlier blog I showed these 2 custom lamp shades that I had on my living room lamps and said a before/after waiting to happen...do you remember?
Well....today I finally got myself up to my craft room and figured out just exactly how I wanted to embellish these darling shades. These are pretty shades just by themselves..but I needed them to be 1-2 inches longer so I added some fringe...
....then some gimp at the top...
... see how lonely this lamp looks...
...and now it is so happy to be finished!!!
...here's the matching shade...

These turned out so beautiful...ARE EASY to do...just pick your fringe and gimp in the color you need...have your hot glue gun turned on and get going!!! This took me less than 1/2 hour to finish. The hardest part for me was deciding on the trims to use.
Hope you enjoyed this!
Have a blessed day everyone! Lorena