You Asked It ~ Now the Answers

I received such a wonderful response to my Q&A blog I did last week! I want to thank each and every one of you who took the time to leave me very thought provoking questions! I  had to dig deep to come up with an honest answer…so here goes.

I WILL be leaving Wednesday for a week of fun with my family.  So I decided I 'd better get this blog ready and out there so that you sweet gals who participated came come over and see my answers.

Rebecca of A Gathering of Thoughts asked: What is your GREATEST PASSION?

My greatest passion in life is to Follow the Path the Lord wants for me at all times. If I may add, I always wanted to be a mom and when God answered my prayer, being a Godly example to my daughter and responding to her as God would want me to was a deep passion I had and has always been upmost in my heart and mind. GOOD Question!

Holly of a Girl at Heart asked…Do you have a picture of yourself on your blog?

No, I don’t think I have a GOOD one but what girl ever thinks there's a good picture of her, huh?..if I do I can’t remember where…so I will pick a few I have taken recently and show you one of my favorite family pictures.  These were just pix I took goofing around with the camera..you know, like teenagers do? lol  Also, I scanned my favorite family picture taken about 8 or 9 years ago..so I was in my early 40's.

Marydon of Blushing Rose asked…What is your greatest joy in life other than children & marriage?

THIS IS easy! CREATING!!! As a child I was told I had a creative touch, but alas this was not nourished until in my 30’s. Then GOD took away any chances of my having more children and replaced that with a LOVE of painting, crafting, decorating or basically anything having to do with CREATING. I began to tap into a WELL of expression to the beauty I believe was hidden deep within, waiting for the right time. I have chosen to do this for my LORD first and foremost.

Connie of Living Beautifully asked..How big is your house? How many rooms? How much yard do you have to mow? And how far are you from shopping?

Well…my home on the main 2 floors is about 3000sq ft. We also have a finished basement with about another 1500 sq ft of living and storage space. Really too much room for the 3 of us…but we had bought it hoping for more children. We have a living room, den/office, family room, formal dining, eat-in kitchen, laundry/mud room off garage, 4 bedrooms upstairs, large recreation-room in the basement with a kitchenette area and 1 bedroom, 3 FULL bathroom, one powder room and 2 storage areas.

We are about 20 minute from downtown Ann Arbor or UofM, 5-10 minutes to Canton/Plymouth, malls, grocery stores favorite thrifting places are all within 15-30 minutes. MY sweet hubby mows a yard that is over 1/3 of an acre.

Judith from Australia asked:

My first question: "Would it be better for me to gather up 3-5 of the one type of thing then 3-5 of another type e.g. vintage vases and vintage doilies; rather than collect a mass of the one thing". If it is; how do you be selective..e.g. wait forever for the right thing to come along?,what is the best way to display small collections like vases and doilies as an example.

 #1: When I collect, I collect from my heart..or buy what I LOVE. I truly believe that a true collection will just happen. For instance, one of my first collections is English Bone China Tea Cups, I loved the rose patterns best and when I see one that is a good price I will snatch it right up. That collection of the years has grown well over 30. I do continue to add to this, but obviously am now more selective because I have so many. I have collections of varying sizes and they are all over my home.

For displaying smaller collectibles, use trays or smaller table tops.  I also love displaying in unusual shelving pieces that I pick up.  As for display, smaller collections are always better when you can group them together. When spread all over your home, they don’t have the same impact. Keeping what you collect is really up to the space you have and what you love. Garage sales and thrift stores  are where I have found inexpensive wall display shelving. Always think UP…on your walls, on top of cabinets and ledges, as your collections don’t have to just be on tables.


My second question is do you have any ideas for display of old postcards like the ones you have on your blog at the moment? I have some sitting around, but the breeze blows them everywhere and they also bend if you sit them on their edges.

#2: Displaying of Postcards. There are a number of ideas that I am thinking for display these vintage goodies. Find pretty frames and create groupings for your wall or create a collage of your favorite one in a larger frame. I have seen them decoupage to the bottom of a tray but I think I'd make copies of them and do this. Decoupage on a trunk, stool or even a pieces of furniture. Also, a great way to display is under glass on a coffee or side table, changing them out seasonally if you’d like.  These beauties are like pieces of art and I think if you look at them in that fashion ways to display them will abound.

Thirdly; are there collections you have that you wish you had not started. If yes...why?

#3: YES, as much as I hate to admit it I do have a collection of Precious Moments that I started well over 30 years ago, and as much as I love those sweet images I think I have outgrown them. I do have them waiting to be displayed in my downstairs bedroom…if I ever get to it. Also, my milk glass collection has grown too much. So I am starting to weed out pieces. I think that is what you must do. Selling them off or gifting them to others can be ways to keep space in your home if you need to.  I have found over time that my taste has changed.  There are some things I collect because of the artist in me..like handpainted floral plates.  They speak to me and thata's why I will probalby always collect...now I might find a few that are not my favorite and sell them so I can replace them. 

GOOD questions!

Bertie of Aunt May’s Cottage asked: how long have you been painting and what prompted you to start?

 As I mentioned earlier, I really believe GOD gifted me with this or at least I finally had the time to develop a love for painting when my daughter started 1st grade over 12 years ago. I started when my dear friend Susie was looking for a class item to be painted for our schools fund raiser. Sheepishly I said I thought I might be able to do this. I also began seeing Donna Dewberry on the selling channels and remembered my sister and another friend many years before showing me some simple stroke work. I began to practice, practice, practice and now have created my own one-stroke rose…that’s all my own! It was the right timing in my life, which GOD used to fill up those empty places. I really give HIM ALL the glory cause I am always amazed at times as to what I can create. Still!!!

Sandra of My Bella Vista asked:

What is your favorite color? I LOVE color..yes I really do..so its hard to pick one.  If I was backed into a corner I'd probably say blues.

What is your favorite season? SUMMER, I hate being cold!

What is your favorite food? Anything Italian ~ I am one of those people who could eat pizza any day of the week.

Favorite cake? Angle food, or Granny Cake (YUM,,,I’ll do a blog on this)

Are you a morning person or a night owl? NIGHT OWL…I don’t do morning til about 10ish, lol

Sherry of Edie Maries Attic asked: What’s your favorite verse in the Bible.

John 16:33

I have told you these things,

so that in me you may have peace.

In this world you will have trouble.

But take heart! I have overcome the world

I love knowing that no matter where I am, what I am going through Jesus is with me all the way! He is my PEACE!

Katie of Rose Breeze Boutique asked: What moisturizer do I use? Lol

Well I have a very simple, no frills and cheap routine. I have always used an astringent to get off all the dirt, right now I use Clear and Clean astringent, face soap and moisturizer. I always BELIEVE drinking LOADS of water keeps my skin clean and fresh looking. I’m a 8-10 glass a day water drinker.  Also...good family genes!  I also wear a light translucent powder but use very little make up. Probably more than you wanted to know.

Again, This was such a fun blog to do.  Each questions was intriguing and very imformative. Thanks for asking and allowing me to share from my heart with you all!

Blessings...Lorena