Amazingly Sweet May Day!

Oh I know, its the middle of the month already. But I am a little remiss in posting this to let you know of a Wonderful Swap I was in. It all happened when my computer was being fixed. I wasn't sure how to use our new computer and download my pictures. So, I finally figured it out and now I want to sharing this with all my blogland friends.

I am in a wonderful Community Group on Ebay called Pretty Romantic Homes (PRH). Don't you just love that name...well we are a group of wonderfully talented ladies who are involved in creating and sharing our creations. Whether its in our homes or making something to sell...we have grown to love each other like sisters, even though we live all in different states! So, if you see PRH in my Favorites, be sure to check them out.

Our Swap was a May Day Craft swap. We were to find a box and fill it up with things we might not need or use and then place a coffee/tea and sweets we well and then we were all going to Show~n~Tell on May 1st. Well, because of my puter situation, mine was delayed and I am now showing you all of my goodies!

I was privaledged to be paired up with Jan, who we haven't gotten her into blogland yet! She just went overboard and sent some of the most beautiful goodies. I hope I don't forget what they all were...but I am showing you pictures of everything. I got some absolutely wonderful fabrics, that I just can't wait to make into cozies. A sweet pin cushion with lotsa bling, a pink tray (See my Parlor Rearranged pictures of how I am using it), a sweet domed box full of goodies, coffee/tea and sweets along with the MOST beautiful soft blue Tea Cup with roses all over...many of these treasured items will be seen in my newly decorated craft room when it gets done! Thank you Jan.

I am in Garage Sale HEAVEN!!!

I just love when the weather changes here in Michigan...cause out pops all the subdivision/neighborhood Garage Sales. A dime here, and quarter there and you have wonderful treasures to do with what you please. So, I thought you might like to see what I have found in the past few weeks. And then, I did not do a before/after pictures of a wonderful 5 tiered corner shelf I found for only $8, but I do have the creamy heirloom white brand new shelf (well to me anyway), ready for my *New* craft room! Most of my finds will be for my room when it gets done.






Did you see that HUGE Rose that I believe is Capodemonte (SP?)? I snagged that sweetie for .50c...I could not believe it...SO...take a peek in my post of my redecorating my Living Room...cause you will see how I have already incorporated it. I just couldn't wait...it was such a great find.

Most all of my other goodies, are going to be transformed, and then added to my Craft room...that I have been busy organizing and getting ready for. Now, I just need to finalize the exact Robin's Egg Blue for that room...found a few samples, but I am still deciding.

Have a blessed day..and thanks for dropping by!

Hearts and Roses Oh MY!

Last Sunday, I awoke and this pictures was on my mind. I do this a lot! So, finally on Monday, I had a chance to sit down and paint it. As an artist, I many times will mull over a piece before I actually paint it. I do most of my paintings in acrylic, so I know that I have little time for error, cause the paint dries fast! Anyway...I have had this sitting on my desk in my kitchen area, so I can look at it. I am not sure it is done though...so I need help...I was thinking it might need more color. Like some lilacs or blue flowers...could really use some honest opinions on this....What do you think?


Then..this week I took a load to goodies to my friends store. I have been making sweet little Tea Cozy's to sell, and some handpainted items too. I just love her shoppe and I forgot my camera...cause I wanted to share it with you...next time I go, I promise I won't forget! Well, I just loved this one I did. The sweet colors roses and all are just so precious! I decided to hold on to it so I could list it Sunday on ebay! IF you are intersted, these both will be on tomorrow evening when I list my latest renderings!
Front Side of Cozy

Back Side of Cozy

Oh My GOODNESS, Look What I received!!!

Well, a very sweet gal, Kady, from Life on Bonnie Lane just sent me these 2 very sweet awards that I am honored to recieve! This just made my day and a GREAT big Thank you!




WOW, I am just being so blessed today! Another NEW, but DEAR friend Donna Lynn, (who lives in my HOME state of Washington) of Blushing Rose Antique just gave me this *Flip Flop Friends* Award. If you dear ladies had only known what the past few weeks have been like for me...you would understand my feelings this way. Let's just say, I hope most mom's will never have to deal with what I have had going on. But as our Pastor says: God is GOOD, all the time, God is GOOD! Amen!

Thank you Donna!

LOOK: My Romantic Victorian Living Room Re-arranged

So yesterday, I had a migrane...and didn't really feel up to doing much. Took Excedrin Migrane and hours later I was feeling like my ole self! With all that is running in my mind about re-doing my craft room...it gets the juices going for other rooms that I have neglected. And then, if you are like me...everyroom will get tweaked or change somehow...SPRING CLeaning anyone! Is that what this madness is? LOL

So..I have this very odd shaped living room...that I like to refer to as my PARLOR. It is about 12'x17'...a window with 2 entries and an entrance into our double doored den, that stays closed, for future re-doing!

WELCOME, as you come into my home, to the left is the opening to our Living Room Parlor. I have hung a large shelf, with a purse and birdhouse collection on it.


I have 2 very special areas that I wanted to point out. One is of my Piano, that I spoke of in my tribue to my MOM...cause yep, its the one we had added to our already full truck load when we moved 14 years ago from Federal Way, Washington to Canton, Michigan...a very beloved piece, that works as a main focal point in our room.



Then, I have also focused on a vintage Singer Pump Sewing Machine. Now this was my hubby's grandma Lalones. And..can you believe this? His brother was going to throw is out..NOT ON YOUR LIFE...so I grabbed that baby up real quick with another wonderful Old Vintage Radio/Phonograph. I will feature that another time. Okay all of the items on display belonged to Grandma Lalone: a Gone With the Wind lamp, vintage buttons and sewing goodies that were taken out for display. These odd bits and pieces of needles and old sewing materials were in each of the drawers and I wanted them to have a place of honor. I placed the buttons in a 4 leaf clover glass serving piece that was also his grandmas as well.



I don't know if you can tell, but I did the sofa on angles. This really changes how the room feels. It actually makes it feel more square, not long like a bowling alley. And...I like how it creates a cozy area to visit in.







I did some additional close ups of little vinettes areas I have displayed my pretties!







A few of the goodies I have on my wall.



Do you ever just walk be a room, when you have rearranged eveything and think..WOW I really like it this way...well I just did that! So what do you think? I'd love to hear comments and critiques (please be nice about them)....Lorena

My Sick Puter...I am bummed!

So...my sweet hubby thought he was doing me a favor. He took my laptop to the doctor last week...and I still don't have it back.

You see, it was making horrid noises when we started it up...and we knew the fan was going. We figured $100 was better than replacing it for $1000. But still no word from the doc as to when we will get it back. Humpf!!!! I am writing this because w/o my puter I cannot download my pictures or send items I need printed. I am sure you are wondering then, why or how am I able to write in my blog? In Janurary, we bought a new computer...but we still have not figured out how to get my pictures, who we think are trying to download, to show...and not only that, my sweet hubby says he cannot find software for to our printer that will work on the new puter..its so new, they don't have software to support it...or so he thinks...

Alas....I am in puter limbo...

A Tribute to my Mom!

With Mother's Day drawing closer I thought it might be appropriate to honor my mom. You see, I am the oldest of 4 girls. Yep, I said 4 of us...and I know, *My poor dad*.

So with Mother's Day drawing near, and I can't be with her physcially, so I just wanted to say a few words about my mom. First off, I really miss her, cause she lives on the *Other Coast* as those who live out east call it. Actually they live in Buckley, Washington...right up close to the gorgeous Mt. Rainier (see above picture) which is so majestic! I get to see her maybe 2 times a year...once when our family goes in the summer to visit....and then they try and come out to Michigan in the Fall, when they do a whirlwind tour of the East and South.

Having a daughter of my own, I often wonder how she did it. All those hormones, fits of anger, bickering and fighting that we girls did. I only have one child and feel at times I am barely surviving and yet she seems to have come out the a crown on her head!

I give my mom credit for my love of shopping. She took us many a Saturday morning to the local Flea Markets in the area. We also were ahead of our time, frequenting the thrift stores too! It was always the thrill of the hunt and seeing what the latest treasure we could find would be. And I proudly take that on and shop with pride!

I also give her credit for my love of clothes, shoes, and accessories...that fill my closet and I know hers is filled too. The beauty of looking well put together and having just the right pair of shoes is what matters most you know? lol

I also give her credit for instilling in me a LOVE of music. All Kindsa music! How many Saturdays do I remember the old Phonograph player playing records of popular and not so popular classical music to clean house by. She started me on my journey of playing the piano...and graciously gave up her beloved piano (a gift many years before from my dad) that I learned to play on. With a sweet phone call to come and get it, before my hubby and I moved 2000 miles away. Knowing I may never have another chance to have it if I didn't take it then...it has meant more to me than mere words can say. I even had the privaledge to teach piano for 4 years, just like my mom had done on this same piano, many years before. A tribute to her love of music for sure!

But most of all, I credit my mom with instilling me with a deep faith in my Lord and Savior Jesus. I came to know him at an early age and remember my mom being such an integral part in that. Her love for her Lord was alway evident to me and my sisters. Thank you MOM!

And a great example of her love for me was made evident 9 years ago. You see I was having a hysterectomy and she was flying out to stay a week to help me, while I recovered. Well, my 3 day hospital stay ended up being 10 days and 4 surgeries later nightmare. My mom's one week stay became 1 month! I came home with a bladder bag, tubes in my tummy and the weakest I can ever remember being. I got home and broke down and cried. She came to me and told me that I am here to HELP you, you tell me what you need done and I will do it for you. Being so independent, and having my mom say that to me was the MOST comforting thing I have ever had. I saw such an unselfish love from her and it has stayed with me! She took me back and forth to dr appointments, helped feed me and my hubby, cleaned my home and helped us look for our cat who one day decided to go on an adventure, we will ALL never forget that day!

So it is with great LOVE and deep pride that I share with you about my sweet mom, ROSE...is it any wonder why I have a passion for Roses?

*HOME* Sweet *HOME*

For the past 2 days I have been telling myself I NEED to take a picture of my home. You see, in Michigan SPRING is such a welcomed sight after a long, cold, brown, drab and dreary WINTER...this winter being one of the snowiest on record. So when the brown grass turns to green, bulbs break their way through the crusty hard cold ground and then the colorful petals bloom on trees all around...well you can see from my pictures..SPRING IS HERE!!!