Making Rosettes from Hand Towels and Wash Clothes ~ TUTORIAL~

Helloooooo....

So...you know I am all about roses right?

Whether its in my decorating or painting or

making them from clay...so you get the picture?

obsessed? yes I know, my daughter thinks so! lol

Okay...so in the midst of my creative storm I thought

you might like to see how I make rosettes using

inexpensive wash clothes or hand towels for

a fun way to display them in your bathroom.

I got a stack of 6 washclothes from Target for about $4.99.

Lets get started.

Take your wash cloth and fold in in half.

Then you will fold over the right side up to the

edges, see below.

I then take the folded edge and fold it up the to

edges so your cloth should look like this.

Now to begin your actual rosette look...

You start with the pointed edge and begin to roll as I have shown

in the above picture.  Or as the bottom shows you to beging

rolling on the flat surface, either way works.

Continue rolling until you have what looks like the petals

of a rose or rosette. 

REMEMBER: Wash Clothes make more of a Bud sized Rosette

with Hand Towels Making Larger Rosettes as you

can see in my finished display.

This is then ready to be place into your display piece.

LEAVES:

Take your wash cloth and fold it on the diagnol.

Bringing the Right side folding toward the center point and then

the left side toward the center point.

This now makes your leaf that you can tuck a rosette

around it and then tuck into your container.

It looks like this when you are done.  You then

can use either side with or without your seam showing.

I have these in a couple of places so you can see how mine looks.

You can see that I have used hand towels as well as my

wash clothes and tucked a couple of *leaves* in with

them.  I then decorated the container with some pearls

and a doily!

I also did made rosettes for this sweet hanging metal container

I had...so happy with how this looks.

I then added some plates...loving how this turned out!

So there you have my Rosette Tutorial!

Hope you will give this a try and PLEASE

let me know how you do!

Be Blessed



~~~ PRETTY Blingy Jewelry Holder Wreath ~ Tutorial ~~~

Hi Sweet Blogging Friends!

Before I get going on my tutorial...

I wanted to apologize to everyone who has been leaving me

comments.  I have tried several times to leave comments

 and blogger was not letting me do so.

After much angst, digging  and a few bad words I

think I got things fixed!

I will  be trying to go back and visit everyone when I can.

Okay, well right now I am in the midst of what I call

a Creative STORM...where I can have about

50 projects, well maybe more like 10-20 going at once!

Its a crazy time when I get like this but oh so productive.

Glad I remembered to keep my camera close cause I will have

a few tutorials for you and some Room Sprucing or Redo's

to share over the next few weeks! So stay tuned!

Blingy Wreath Tutorial

(found in a Romantic Country Magazine)

Materials:

Straw Wreath or

Grape vine with batting glued on ( I did this)

6 Yards of a Wide Ribbon, fabric or

Satin Ribbon used for Trimming Baby Quilts

2ft 2-3" Wide ribbon to use for hanging

Glue Gun

Loads of Brooches, Pins,

Necklaces, and Braclets

Now this is so easy and I was fortunate to have everythings

as far as my materials on had.

1. I began gluing down batting and started winding the ribbon

around the wreath.  I did not glue it until I was done, but you

can.  Now I overlapped my ribbon about 1/2 the

size of the ribbon to get a good overall fit.

Keep it taut, but not to tight...it can be the trickiest part of doing this.

Making progress...keep on going...

When you have reached the end glue the edge

you cut off to the back side of your wreath.

Here are some close ups of what I have done.

Remember, there are no rules as to how to put these on.

Also, I have left room for more added bling.

Before you add anything...determine where your satin ribbon

will be for hanging.  You can glue this on to tack the hanging

ribbon in place and then leave until

you are ready to hang for tying it in a bow...

I left mine reallllly long and because I where I was

hanging this...

You are now ready to begin adding your bling!

This can take some time and thought...or

just be random.  Mine continued to evolved after I

thought it was done.

I used brooches, lapel stick pins, long strands of pearls and

even a few bracelets.  Cool thang is...

you can keep adding to this over the years!

The very last few pieces I added were sentimental.

2 all handmade

pearl necklaces that my grammy had made.  She passed away

this past Christmas so I wanted to be sure and use some

of her pieces that I have as keepsakes.  There are many

pieces of hers on this wreath and

I am so glad that I have them.

I am not going to show you where this is hanging just yet as

it has to do with my master bathroom sprucing or caziness

that is going on right now! But stay tuned!

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial...any questions or clarifications

please don't hesitate to contact me.  I hope you will share

with me if you decide to do one of these!

Happy Crafting!

Lorena

Celebrating PINK Saturday

Good Morning Bloggy Friends!

I am joining

 Beverly over at How Sweet The Sound

for the weekly PINK Saturday Posts.

After a long hiatis I decided that I had some

new vinettes of pinks I'd love to share!

In Feburary I went to my Storage area and remembered

I had this neat vintage 2 tiered table.  Well, I gave

it 2-3 coats of heirloom white and placed it in the

corner of my Living Room or *Parlour* as I

lovingly refer to.

I then gathered some of my Pink and Aqua pottery

that I have collected and thought they'd look

wonderful displayed on this *new* piece

of furniture!  I am so very pleased with

how well it looks and I hope you will love it too!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Be Blessed

~~~Celebrating...The Red, The White and The Blue~~~

Hello Friends!

I have been doing a lil sprucing up in my home

and thought you might like to see.

During the summer I like to dress up my dining room

a little bit more in the colors of our Flag.

Now, you may already know this bout me, I have a deep

Royal Blue dining room walls...so that is my

backdrop, so to speak!

LUUUUUV this room still today even after the many years

it has been this color...I am a blue girl!

Okay, lets get started!

In the diddle of my table I have stacked some collected plates

and placed on top of a cake stand...

thought the colors were so purty all stack together!

The cake stand is then flanked by two Red Pier One Glass

containers and 2 milk glass candle holders.

Here's a couple of angle shots of how the table is all dressed up!

I have used many items that have been collected

over the years with the thought of mixing and matching...

as you will see.

I just LOVE to layer plates!

First I have RED chargers...(thrift stores and Big Lots)

Doller Store White Plates (Yep I said Dollar Store)

Blue and Whites were also collected mainly at TJ Maxx

My Beloved Johnson Bros Rose Chintz Cups were a recent

find on ebay!!!

Blue Glasses, another dollar store snag,

Milk Glass Goblets were another ebay snag.

So, as you can see, over time I have been gathering some

wonderful items that all mix n match!

Oh lest I forget...Silverware is also mix n match

from many various thrifting expeditions and treasure

hunting! Nothing matches completely

yet they go together!

Trying to give you a few differing angle shots of the table.

Another look at the center!

So...there you have it.

My Salute to the Red, White and Blue!

Thanks for joining me today!

Be Blessed



I have a Winner for my *Sweet Heart Box* GIVEAWAY

Hi everyone!

A big thanks for all my sweet blogging friends

who left comments to enter

my sweet lil box giveaway!

I so appreciated your comments and was

glad to have you all stop by!

The winner is......

My newest follower....

Lu of romance-of-roses

Congratulations Lu!!!

I will be contacting Lu and getting this

out to her as soon as I can!

Again, thanks for stopping by!

Be Blessed!

~~~***GIVEAWAY REMINDER***~~~

Hi Blogging Friends!

Just a quick reminder to all who wish to enter my

*Sweet Lil Heart Box*

Giveaway!

Please leave me your comments on this post or the post below.

I will be picking a winner tomorrow!

Hope you will join me in the fun!

(one comment please)

Be Blessed,

Sweet 'lil HEART Shape Gift/Trinket Box ***GIVEAWAY***

Hi Dear Blogging Friends!

Do you like what you see in my picture?

This is a tiny 3.5 inch box just waiting to be used or

given as a gift with a special goodie tucked inside!

Well...I just decided to do a special giveaway to all

my friends who leave me a comment on this post!

So,

if you'd like a chance to win this box...

(oh, and you never know what I may tuck inside it)

then PLEASE leave me a comment telling

me so!

I will give you all a WEEK to leave me

a comment and then will let you know

next TUESDAY, June 21st who

the lucky winner is!

One comment  please!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Be Blessed!

Lorena

Etsy Cottage Style Market Monday

Good MONDAY Morning Everyone!

Please come on over to

etsy Cottage Style's

blog and see all the lovely goodies many have to offer.

I have also added my two etsy selling sights

and would love to have you visit me!

Thanks everyone!

Happy Monday!

Be Blessed!

Lorena

Its a Wonderful June here in Michigan!

Hi Everyone....

Well...its been a looooong time since I have posted!

I am finally feeling well enough to join the human race again.

I dealt with a horrid kidney infection the month of April till into May and...

finally after 3 different meds I am healed.  Kidney infections

sure take it out of you.  I could function and do the

basics but so much of my life went on hold.

And...

that's why I had to take a break.

It has only been the past few weeks that I have begun

 to feel alive.  I DO NOT take that my health for granted!

I am so thankful for the ability now to walk outside in the warm outdoors.

and... for modern day medicines...what would we

do without it?

The warming days of Spring and Summer are a healing balm for

this girl!

  Warmer weather is when this

girl perks up...so today I went out into the warm and

bright sunny day to take a few pictures of the

gorgeous greenery and florals coming up around the back

patio area of my yard.

We have had an over abundance of rain and storms

along with the warmth and everything has shot right

up and is so lush and green now!

You see blooming chives and Perrinal Geraniums.

Oh and I just could resist adding these pictures of our resident bunny.

He is hiding amongst our holly bushes and you can barely see

him...we have had so much fun finding him bounce all around our

yard...the kitties are having fun too! hehehe

Can you see him? He really blends well with our rocks!

Opppps...there he is!

Hope you enjoy our GREAT outdoors and may you enjoy your day!

Be Blessed!

Lorena

Happy Spring Everyone ~ Update

Hey Friends!

Gonna stop in real quick today and say HI and wish everyone a Happy Spring and Easter time!  I just LOVE it when GOD's timing of spring brings renewed greens and color back to life here in Michigan.  It can be quite drab with out snow, seeing the barren trees and brown grass.

ALSO...Thanks so much for those of you who stopped and left me messages.  Bloggers are such dear wonderful peep! I love you all and thank you for your words of encouragement.

I really feel led to share a number of things with you. 

So if you are reading these again just ingore this. 

But if you haven't well then you can learn more about me. 

About 4 years ago in January of 2007 I finally was diagnosed with *hyperglycemia* or early stages of Type 2 Diabeties.  To say I was stunned and in disbelief was an understatement.  I was only 47, maybe 5-10lbs over what I wanted my weight to be and in fairly good health. Okay...I'd been dragging for a couple of years and dealing with one infection after the other...and knew where every restroom was at any given place I'd go to.  To put a name to what was going on  though, was a relief because I KNEW something was wrong, it just didn't have a name.  My father bless his heart...is also a type 2 diabetic...so its in the gene pool!

Hyperglycemia for those who are unaware is *High Glucose* in your blood.  Or your body overproduces to make up for what it thinks you need.  Your sugars peak high and then drop suddenly...thus leaving you with no consistant energy and fatigue that can be debilitating.  I probably was living like this for many years and always wondered why I never woke up with energy and very prone to infections.  I'd have good days and bad days...and be very frustrated cause I take loads of vitamins and nutrients and really do try and walk and take care of myself.   I have been seeing an Endochronolgist who is working with me on differing meds.  Of course, I could not take the most commonly known med...Metformin due to a horrid reaction.  Last year I started taking a newer med that seems to be working very well and with little side affects.  PTL!

Now, I am still prone to infections.  This past winter I have had 2 sinus infections and a kidney infections that has just taken it all out of me.  I know I am not well when I have no desire to create.  That's a ringer for me that something is not right.  I am also learning that I don't heal and quick as I'd like and usually need a couple rounds of meds to comepletely get the infection out of my system...again this can be very frustrating....but I do keep plugging along.  Rest and not stressing are huge for me now.  I am not 30 anymore and must remember this, lol.

Also, my hubs, daughter and I have come out of a very difficult period in our lives.  After 2 years of not working my hubby started a new job and has now been working for 8 month..can I say *Thank You Lord*!!!.  We are praising God that he finally found work...only he now works out of state about 2.5 hours from our home.  Meaning he commutes home on weekends and lives there during the week.  The first 6 months were do-able, since 2 years of constant with the one you love can be hard.  But that has all worn off and now I am really missing him.  Each weekend he leaves to go work gets harder for him and me.  But I will say God has used this in a wonderful reconnecting way for us. 

I am now praying for work closer to home to open up. 

Thankfully, my sweet 19 year old daughter is finishing up her first year at College with honors and making us so proud of her accomplishments.  She loves kids and is working on a degree in Teaching lower elementary, with her heart wanting to teach 2nd or 3rd graders. We had a few very rough years and now can see how GOD has grown her and is continuing to do HIS good works in her.  She is living at home...but I am seeing less and less of her...Okay can I say *Empty Nest* is starting to set in? Yep...Mom is struggling, but loving what I see as I know this is part of the Plan and that I am seeing the completion of how we raised her.

So...

that's really whats going on in my...LIFE.

I know we all have struggles.  I know we all have heartaches and prayers that need answered.  I also know that sometimes life hands you things you really don't want but you must face them, live with them and then TRUST that GOD knows what he is doing.

I have HOPE through all that I am going through and I want you to see this first and foremost.

I may get discouraged and down, but I have believed in a GOD that is ABLE to get me through the past few years and HE has.  I also love it when we can look back and see HIS footprints upon the sands of

our lives and how he has been beside me through it all.

Thanks so much for being there and giving me time and space.

If you are not feeling well...go to your Doctor...find out whats wrong.

Much Love goes out to all of you!

Thanks for letting me share!

Lorena