Heavy Heart

Hello All.

My grandmother passed away this morning.  She was 94 years old and while she has had health problems she had been able to live independently with the exception of the last two weeks.  My Gran is who I get my craftiness from.  She could sew, crochet, needlepoint and craft --everything she made was exceptional.  As I sit here now remembering and reflecting, it's my prayer that she knows how exceptional she was and how much she will be remembered.  I am so thankful that my beliefs allow me to rejoice in knowing that she is with God and is no longer in pain; that I will see her again and, in the meantime, she is reuniting with her loved ones and Grandpa.  I can't imagine how our family would get through if we didn't have God's comfort.

Freida Sophie Elkins, November 27, 1920 - January 26, 2014

Dear Gran,

A wife, a mother, a grandma too,
This is the legacy we have from you.
You taught us love and how to fight,
You gave us strength, you gave us might.
A stronger person would be hard to find,
And in your heart, you were always kind.
You fought for us all in one way or another,
Not just as a wife not just as a mother.
For all of us you gave your best,
Now the time has come for you to rest.
So go in peace, you’ve earned your sleep,
Your love in our hearts, we’ll eternally keep.

--Legacy of Love – By Author Unknown

Star Quality!

Hello All!

I am working on a couple of projects that I hope to post soon --one is a diaper cake for twins and the other is my craft room makeover.  But, no matter what projects I'm working on, I always take time out for American Horror Story--I am a big Jessica Lange fan--and was thrilled to see that a lamp I thrifted is the same as one used on the set!

So, here's my lamp.  I found it at Goodwill for $15.  It came at a great time; I was looking at mirrored furniture for the master bedroom.  Of course, mirrored furniture is crazy pricey so this lamp gave me the pop of mirrored decor and for little bucks!

and here's a lamp like mine on the set of AHS!

In this past week's episode (#12), Fiona is sitting for a her portrait when she gets a nose bleed.  The camera cuts to the lamp--MY LAMP!! LOL!--and Fiona sees her reflection. I thought I could download a clip but wasn't sure how to do that so I just took a picture of the screen - LOL

My thrifted lamp has a twin who is a star - I knew it was special ;) It's been sitting in the Master Bedroom with some other treasures I've thrifted but I hadn't shared them yet because I hadn't decided yet how to put them all together.  I had also found a large, mirrored frame for $12.50 that looks great with the lamp but I'm not sure how to arrange it.  I don't have artwork large enough for the frame -

The mirrored frame was $12.50.  The console and owl came from TJ Maxx.  The gray frame ($8) was a terracotta color so I painted it (and it still needs another coat). Isn't the detail simply gorgeous?

The picture is by Eugene Garin, the same artist responsible for the other artwork in our room ( this post: HERE.)

The large basket was $2 from B Thrifty and so was the chunky knit throw.

 Since I was already snapping pics in the master bedroom, here are the other thrift finds in there.  I hadn't shown the dresser yet because we were thinking it needed to be refinished.  The longer it sits, the less I think so!  Dan and I found it at the Salvation Army in Richmond and I think it was maybe $75?

I found the painting at Village Thrift in Woodbridge.  It is signed "Wesner" and titled, "Maine Shoreline".  When I bought it, the frame, although all wood, and the mat blended in with the brown and ivory of the painting.  One day it occurred to me to paint the frame using the colors in our bedroom.  It was amazing how it brought out the beautiful shades of gray and teal in the painting!

The gray candlesticks, moon and stars candle holder, and one of the turquoise glass candlesticks were all thrift finds too.A few months after finding the turquoise candlestick at Goodwill for $1, I found the mate at Hobby Lobby on clearance for $2 or $3.  The gray candlesticks had plastic baubles hanging from it so I replaced them with glass turquoise tear drops.

OK - I'm going to get back to the diaper cake.  Dan and I are heading to Class and Trash tomorrow to pick up an all crystal chandelier for the craft room so I really need to get the cake done.

I'm linking up!

The Thrifty Groove, Thrifty Things Friday #144
Elizabeth & Co, Be Inspired Features and Link Party #102
Coastal Charm, Nifty Thrifty Tuesday #197

Have a great weekend!

Christmas Cookie Swap Party

Hello All!

I had hoped to get this posted sooner but the time just flies by when I'm off work!  Jenna's cookie party was a hit.  She and I got the kitchen decorated:

Jenna hung the glass globes filled with white glitter and the snowflakes.

Next we set up the buffet:

The guests placed their cookies on the dining room table:

They were the star of the party!

Maple Walnut Blonde Brownies

Creeper Trail Cookies

Egg Nog Sugar Cookies with Nutmeg Glaze

Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Cookies

Orange Butter Cookies with Orange Glaze 

There were awards, too!  The best looking cookie went to Victoria and her Red Velvet Chocolate Chip cookies:

She won the apron she's modeling for us :)

Most unique cookie went to Nicole for her Creeper Trail cookie.  These cookies are like a soft gingerbread; they were delicious.  Nicole said she got the recipe for them from a bed & breakfast where she and her husband stayed on vacation.

She won a Starbucks gift set.

The most creative cookie went to Jacob for his maple blonde brownies:

He won the milk & cookies mug man!

The best tasting cookie was tie between Jenna's orange butter cookies and Melissa's Egg Nog sugar cookies!

She won the cookie baking set.

The day was so much fun and everyone agreed we should make it an annual event!  Jen and I have already set up our Cookie Swap 2014 Pinterest planning board!

Have a great weekend!