Where have I been? What have I been doing?

He Sweet Friends...

If I am reeeeeally honest with you all...well I have

been struggling.  This time of year is the hardest for me.

I AM a warm weather girl and I am sticking to it!!!

These cold, gray days just get me down.  In the

17 years I have lived in Michigan, Winter season is

one I Dread!!!  Now I really do try and make

the best of it...but on the hardest of hard days,

I am dreaming of Florida warmth...someday...

I have

slooooowly been getting my Christmas stuff put away. Yes

I did say that...I wait til the end of January cause I like

to enjoy my decor, as it takes me so long to get it all out.

Then, I pour over magazines for FRESH new ideas

and inspiration and get myself in a decorating tizzy! 

Being creative can be both a blessing and a curse!

But when those creative juices flow...you'd better watch out!

So today I got a FRESH creative spurt and had to come

share it all with you.

Have ya'll seen those *Bib Necklaces* that are the rage

right now?  Well I have, and I have had this swirling

in my brain for days and I finally got one done

just for Moi!

Now I am keeping this one as it has some pretty

pieces of jewelry that were my grammy's.  One of the

sweet thangs my aunt and momma did when I got

the privaledge of going to her funeral over the

Christmas holidays, was to sit with my

sisters and all the girls and see what she had collected

in her 96 years of living.

Mom and my aunt picked out what was most special to

them and when the rest was gone over

lucky me, I got to bring all the other

pieces home. 

 I have plans to decorate

a couple of frames up for my mom and aunt so they

will have sweet memories of her.

The rest...well I get to play with! yay me!

These really are easy to do.  Now on this one I used some of my

own clay roses, vintage buttons, grammy's pices.

I even took an old chain of hers, cut it in half and used it as well.

The base back is felt and then I used a piece of

stiff interface that was glue to the felt.

Do you have left over jewelry that you don't

know what to do with...here's a great idea.

or

I'd love to create one just for you...

I may do a few more up to see if they will sell...

will see.

Thanks so much for letting me share this with you!

Hope you are all out there being inspired and

blessed!

Lorena

~~~HEART POCKET GIVEAWAY WINNER~~~

Hi Everyone!

I am sooo sorry about getting in here so late to annouce my winner...

but I was gone all day and finally got a chance to sit

down and go through my long list

of those who left comments this past week.

A BIG thank you to ALL to joined in on my GIVEAWAY

fun.  My goal this year is to have a monthly giveaway so stay tuned.

I LOVE giving so you can be blessed.

Now on to announcing my winner

who is...

Mary of Mary's Rose Cottage

Mary, please contact me with your

mailing info so I can rush this

Pocket off to you!

Again thanks everyone...

have a great rest of your weekend!

Blessings...Lorena

LAST DAY TO ENTER ~ Giveaway ~

Hi Bloggie friends!

Just a quick reminder that today is the last day

you can enter my giveaway.  Please leave me a

comment to let me know if you are interested.

Check out more details HERE!

Have a great day everyone!

Lorena

Our MISS Chloe~

Hi Sweet friends!

How are you all doing today?

I have been struggling these past few days.

I must admit...winters in Michigan get me down.  Its been

cold, gray and cloudy and I just feel like a slug.  I have

been dragging my feet to put away my Christmas

decorations. Anyone else out there like me who just

doesn't have the energy to get this done?

Okay...enough of me...

One of the JOYS of my life is my sweet kitty Chloe.

All 15 lb of her...lol

I am so connected emotionally to this little fur ball.  When

we got her over 9 years ago from the Local Human Society I

can still remember hearing her MEOW.  I have such

a soft spot in my heart for calicos and was sold right then and

there.  Unbeknownst to us, she was preggers...only 8 months old too!

Well, as providence would have it we got to take her home before

they *fixed* her due to scheduling issues.  One of GOD's best

timing interventions EVER!!! That Janurary of 2002 I was

privaledge to see the birth of her first of 4 kitties. 

Of which we kept her first born..an orange/white tabby we called PUNKIN.

Sadly, we lost our beloved Punkin the 1st of Feb last year.

Something happened between the two of us during that day.

She knew she could rely on me to protect not only her but

her 3 babies that lived.  Ever since that day, I have

felt a connection with her like no other animal I have had.

We momma's stick together I guess.

Oh what fun we had that January watching her and her

kitties grow.  An expeirence I am so glad we had and would

do it again...but we did get her fixed after her babies were weaned.

She is such a SWEET cat. 

I reeeealy mean she it, she has the sweetest disposition of

all that cats that have passed through my life, at that has been quite a few.

When you talk with her she responds

either to meow, rub against you in circles or will do

what I call the *Rock-N-Roll* plop in front of you and purr. 

She also has one of the loudest purrs I have heard. 

Just now she

walked into the room and announced her presense with her

sweet meow. 

Anyway, on to the pictures...

I just got a kick out of her the other day as

she layed all over my boots.  Not sure what's up with that

but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to take pictures of her.

Many afternoons when I sit in our family room she will come up

and snuggle beside me and purr her sweet purrs of contentment.

Life just doesn't get any better than to be loved by

a Cat!

Thanks so much for visiting with me today!

Lorena

Sweet Inspiration! ~ L@@K What you can do with a 6" Plate!

Hi Sweet Bloggers!

Wow, Monday...

A fresh new start to a brand new week!

We here in Michigan are living in lotsa White

right now..the sun came out this moring and

my oh my, is it BRIGHT!

Last week I shared a Tea Cup Idea and I

thought I'd share a few more ideas that

I have done recently with castoff plates?

You game?

So to start off I have another sweet Candle Holder.

Now I know this is

NOT a new idea, but I have added my own twist to it.

My Twist, well I have added my hand made clay roses

on the edging of the plate for a special touch!

I do have some larger sized plates that I have done

this with in listed in my etsy shop.

I just loved how this turned out and it sure

pretties up a simple plate, huh?

Next, I had had this small round mirror in my stash.  When

recently I came across this darling plate in my

thrifting adventures and KNEW they

were a match made in HEAVEN!

Again I added my roses to give it my special touch.

Still with me? Okay, one more idea.

This one just HIT me.  I had this rose hook in my

butlers pass through but when I redid that area last year it

went to my stash...well last week I saw this pretty

plate again in my stash and well...you guessed it...

the rest is here for you to see!

Wouldn't this look pretty as a holder for your jewelry.

Or I even though a pretty tassel or ornie you might have

dangling from it? So many fun ideas I can see for this.

As you can see I have been having loads of fun coming

up with ways to repurpose castoff plates.  I'd so LOVE

to hear about your ideas too.

These were all just listed last night in my eBay.

You are invited to check them out if you wish!

I hope these will inspire you to create! Don't be afraid to

think *outside* the box.  You'll be amazed when you do

what you can come up with.

Blessings!

Lorena

INDESCRIBABLE ~ An Amazing GOD!

Good Sunday Morning Friends!

God is so amazing!

Last night my daughter sat with me and shared with me a series of

videos by Louis Giglio.  She recently was able to attend

PASSION 2011/268 Generation in Atlanta and was so blessed by it.

Chris Tomlin was one of the guest worship leaders as well as hearing

many others.  She wanted me also to hear Louis Giglio and see

the amazing series he has done called Indesribable.  All about

the *BIGGNESS* of God.  And...how much he loves

each and EVERY one of us.  I hope you will take the time

to see this amazing presentation about what GOD has created.

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/indescribable-louis-giglio/1790349348

I couldn't just stop there...after I saw this YouTube series of Indescribable, the

song by Chris Tomlin just kept playing in my head.  I have provided a

YouTube link and also the words...which are

truly amazing! 

http://www.nme.com/nme-video/youtube/id/NqMYHmoXMAQ

INDESCRIBABLE

Word/Music by Chris Tomlin

From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea

Creation's revealing Your majesty

From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring

Every creature unique in the song that it sings

All exclaiming

Indescribable, uncontainable,

You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.

You are amazing God

All powerful, untameable,

Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim

You are amazing God

Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go

Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow

Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light

Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night

None can fathom

Indescribable, uncontainable,

You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name

You are amazing God

All powerful, untameable,

Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim

You are amazing God

Indescribable, uncontainable,

You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.

You are amazing God

All powerful, untameable,

Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim

You are amazing God

Indescribable, uncontainable,

You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.

You are amazing God

Incomparable, unchangeable

You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same

You are amazing God

You are amazing God

I do believe I serve an AMAZING God!

Lorena

PINK Saturday ~ Heart Pocket Giveaway

Happy PINK Everyone!

I am having my FIRST 2011 Giveaway and am

inviting you my PINK loving friends to join in with me!

Here's HOW you can win...

Leave me a comment...

Leave me a comment throughout this week on my posts...

Become a new follower...

Add my Picture to your Sidebar...let me know, ok?

Do a post about my giveaway...let me know, ok?

My giveaway will go until next Saturday so you have

many ways to be a winner!

This darling Heart Pocket is a lovely Paper
craft idea I had.  I have seen such darling ones out there
in blogland and wanted to put my own touch on these
clever Hearts.  This paticular Heart Pocket is
12"x11" and will come with the sweet tags and
heart on a stick.

I had used creamy papers with roses and pretty

trims.  Then have handpainted my roses in

reds on to the Lacy Pocket that is fashioned

out of Paper Doilies!

This can be hung by the vintage seam binding ribbon that

I have attached to its back!

I do have 2 other Heart Pockets for sale this week @
my eBay Auctions.  If you want to check them out,
see my left side bar to click and see more!

I am joining Beverly over at
How Sweet the Sound
for Pink Saturday...come over and check it out!

Best Wishes to all in 2011.

Lorena

Tea Time Tuesday ~ UNIQUE Ideas for Mis-Matched Cups/Saucers

Hello to my Tuesday Tea Friends!

I am back to be a part of one of my favorite days!

Tea Time Tuesday!

I am joining my sweet friend Sandi at

Rose Chintz Cottage.

Be sure to click on my link above to visit her list

of other Tea Participants.

Today I decided to share a unique idea I have had

using mis-matched tea cups and saucers.

I have sold these locally in my area shops.

This idea is yours for the using and I hope you will

share with me your ideas too!

I have taken similar patterns and colors of

china and married them in this way.

This paticular cup/saucers are a creamy bone color. 

So...DONT throw away those mis-matched cups

and sacuers...reuse them in this fun and simple way.

First, you turn the cup upside down. 

 Using your best all purpose glue

(I use GOOPs creaft/household glue, purple tube).

Generously glue around the cups bottom

and then center cup onto the bottom of the saucer.

This must sit for about 24 hours to adhere.  

And...whalaaaa...you have a unique way to display your candles or

whatever you desire!

My cup/saucer with candle included

 are up at auction right now on

EBAY.

Thanks so much for stopping by and letting me

share this fun *Tea Cup* idea with you!

Happy Tea!

Lorena

HAPPY NEW YEAR ~ Thank You Friends

Dear Friends

I am blessed by so many caring a loving bloggers.

Thank you so much for your heart felt love as you shared with

me during the passing of my 96 year old gram's!

What a special time I had with my family as I was

able to fly out to Boise and attend her funeral.  She is with JESUS

we know this for sure and that makes her home going a

celebration!  We shared so many wonderful memories together

and your prayers were certainly felt.

I want to wish my followers and friends a

VERY Happy New Year. 

May your lives be blessed in 2011.

I have so much to be thankful for this past year.  God heard my

prayers and gave my hubby a job in September, PTL!!!  We celebrated

24 years of wedded bliss together in August.  Saw my only

child, graduate with honors from High School

 and now is attending University where

she is excelling there as well. 

My cup runneth over!

I hope to create and once again paint more roses.  It was very

hard to do during the past few year and I did what I could. 

 I can sense that I have destressed, let go of,

and am moving forward...

yes, and I am itching to get back to my studio and begin, once again

to create from my heart!

Come join the journey with me my sweet friends!

Blessings...Lorena