My little Irish Dancer...

Here's a little sewing project that I have been working on.....

A solo dress for my daughter's Irish Dance Competitions (a.k.a. Feis).....

~it's a new style called the 'bubble dress' or 'puff-ball'~

She has been Irish dancing for nearly 3 years, and started out 1st Feis and has danced her little heart all the way to Novice in that time. In order to get up a level, the dancer needs 1sts in all her dances. Some girls stay in one level for over 3-4 years, so I am so very proud of her for doing so well in such a short time....and I have to say that when she's up there on stage, competing against 36 other girls, from all over the Midwest, sees me out in the crowd and gives me a huge smile, and then is awarded a medal or trophy for 1st or 2nd- well, let's just say it's hard not to tear up!!

Now that she is wearing a second dress I have made, that is even greater...

Psalm 149:3 Let them praise his name in the dance

By request....

(A grotto in California that I took a picture of)

Wow! So many people have e-mailed me requests for more information on my idea from the post I wrote titled: "packing our bags" that I wanted to answer ya'all.....

Whether you are Catholic, Protestant, Lutheran....my idea is to spend some quality time "on a trip" with Him during this Lenten season......it all depends on you and your child's imagination!

I’m sharing this with you all, because to get children’s attention during Lent is sometimes a difficult thing – especially with the weather warming up (finally right!)……and seriously – the kids are all on board – even the oldest (11)...and little sunshine (she's 4) kept on saying “for real Mama?”

Yes! it is for real – and their enthusiasm will be aroused here and there with some physical trips that we will actually go to – spending the day at the park…..having a picnic outside….doing this together as a family will not only help our family bond, but will also open the doors for such a wide variety of topics….

Along side the suitcase that is sitting in our mudroom, there are some hearts and a pencil. When the children see someone else in the family do something loving and charitable they will write that ‘deed’ on the heart and put it inside the suitcase. When the trip is over, they will hopefully have a lot of memories to look at, but from other’s perspective. They cannot write what they did on a heart – only someone else.

I hope that the children will end up with a full suitcase of mementos after the journey has ended.
This time with Our Lord will lead to ‘trips’ like “going to see Jesus’ Mother Mary” (maybe at a Grotto or shrine)…..giving Jesus some rest and peace while we watch over Him (spending some time with Him at Church outside of Sunday)…….enjoying God’s bounty He has shown us along this journey (going to the park for a walk)…..

You get the idea right?

I explained that we are following Jesus, trying to step in His footsteps and never straying off and doing what we want, and trying to show Him things…..just a simple following with an empty suitcase. As the suitcase fills up, it might feel heavy at times, and feel as though we can’t hold on, that we need that extra ‘nourishment’, but Christ will see us suffering and remind us that He is taking this journey with us….that we are not alone….and that we have each other in our family and in our community to help us along this journey as well, and that the things we have collected in the suitcase are from love.

Well, I hope this inspires you and your children to enjoy this time together…..and I pray that you all end this journey of Lent with an enhanced spiritual life with each other, and Him, on Easter Sunday……

Have a Wonderful Journey with God…..

Are you planning?.....a garden glimpse

Sir Fred here, is waiting for me to come outside and plant some more! Many hours of planning the garden makes me browse through many garden pictures I have taken for inspiration and ideas....Isn't he cute?? He's standing outside the entrance to the Potager......

Rain today and I think that means it's warmer no? YES!

Packing our bags....

In preperation for Ash Wednesday, I came up with an idea for my home schooled children:

"We are Packing Our Bags to be with Jesus....and we'll be on this trip for 40 days....."

They are all very excited to be able to 'take a trip'....and we'll be making lots of stops....learning things as we go.....eating light.....helping others that we meet.....but most of all, just spending some quality time with Jesus.

I hope that the children will end up with a full suitcase of momentos after the journey has ended.

The last hurrah....

Only purchasing locally grown and/or organic produce, well, Bananas are not on my grocery list - ever -

Since today is "fat Tuesday" why not do it up! Pile it up there!!

Let me tell you - seeing foreign packages such as M&M's and Bananas...Rediwhip and chocolate sauce was more than surreal....I can honestly say I have never purchase any of those things (except for the banana once) in seriously over 4 years.....

Have a peaceful evening and a wonderfully spiritually reflective day with God tomorrow

Peace be with you~

A friend from the Meadow....

Have you ever met anyone who seems to be your kindred spirit? I am blessed to have such a friend....and after hibernating for the winter here on the "tundra" my dear friend from the Meadow popped by.


Seeing her was so refreshing- and immediately after her entering my home I hugged her as to tell her "forgive me for not coming to you first"......of course, my tongue was tied due to her generosity of spirit and, well, home-baked fresh bread that she handed me.


Along with her brief stay, she handed me a written letter (which even though we live close we both like to correspond with pen and paper) was a beautiful little card with absolutely wonderful sentiment....."hello to my Prairie friends on the 'Shores of silver lake'"

(We made a section of our barn foundation into an ice skating pond and had a wonderful party there.)


Thank you my dear friend....and the bread was delicious.

taken and noted...

A VENDOR QUESTION:

Let's say you are invited to participate in a barn sale....would you

1) Rather have your own space (but be subject to the 'coordinator's' discretion to tweak it?

or

2) Like to have the 'coordinators' decorate with your wares and dispersed anywhere?

A SHOPPER'S QUESTION:

Let's say you go to an awesome barn sale in the country featuring local artists, vintage and antique items of both primitive and shabby.....Paris flea market meets the prairie.....would you

1) be scared off from the 'outdoorsy scent' of horses?

and/or

2) Like to participate in a BYOW (wine...not beer :) party the night before to a limited amount of customers?....to get a sneak peek??

Thanks for your input....it is definitely being noted........

From barn to garage...

A big part of my love for our barn, was a section off of it which I named

"The Summer House"

I would love to show some pictures, but it's hard for me still to look at them

(what's done is done right?....get over it right?....I know...I know....)

So, I had to do the next best thing; use my garage! Now, this garage is very old- with chippy white paint and all, and when you walk in, the ceiling is peaked and the timbers are well, pretty cool....so we had the brother-in-law use his spray paint gun and white wash the whole thing in the inside, rafters and all....and I love it! Even though we need a nice garage, this does just fine for me and all the shabby items I am (very slowly) trying to re-create.

The picture above is in the "shabby summer house"

In my old barn's "summer house" I had vintage wrought iron furniture, wicker settee, cane back chairs, huge standing white candelabras (a pair of them) and vintage blue and white toile curtains...all amongst original barn wood and new windows and views that were breathtaking.

Being on the garden walk one year lead to some memorable decorating

(trust me, I want to show you....but back to reality now)

So my "new" "shabby summer house" was born....where I had to have the "Barn Sale" but it did just fine....more than fine.....

Right now, it's housing the car, but soon, I will be transforming it for the sale, and my "shabby summer house", and will definitely be showing you pictures of the process.

Have a fantastic day!....spring is coming I just know it!!

Peace be with you....

When people used to greet eachother, they would first say: "Peace be with you"......

CHRIST:
Son, I have said, Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth do I give unto you.
-John XIV.27

Peace is what all desire; but all care not for those things which appertain to true peace.

DISCIPLE: "What then shall I do, Lord?"

CHRIST: In everything attend to thyself, what thou art doing and what thou art saying; and direct thy whole intention to this, that thou mayst please Me alone, and neither desire nor seek anything outside Me....Think not, therefore, that thou hast found true peace if thou feel no burden; nor that then all is well if thou hast no adversary......In offering thyself with thy whole heart to the will of God, you will find Peace.

Have a blessed Sunday,

Annabelle.....

Okay.....so while shopping at a second hand store (sort of) there she was....my dream sofa.....but in need of my shabby seamstress touch....seriously...this is what it pretty much looked like (the bones of it....except a little mor 'Duncan Phyfe' like)

It wasn't covered in soft silk, but faded blue velvet, which was rather charming, and hence I named her Annabelle -

And that sofa you see up there....well, wouldn't you know that The Paris Apartment's Boutique has this couch and her name is Amelie (I know...a little weird, but I've been having one of those days!)

What's the price you say? Well my Annabelle was a mere $500!! Obviously they knew what they had and what her potential could be, but my oh my that's a lot of cashola to hand over for her - but I've been thinking about how great she would look in my new living room amongst a vignette of a concrete Blessed Madonna statue and fresh roses -

I can dream right? Annabelle (not surprisingly) fit right into my new Book of Passions.

amazing strength

This woman's strength is just amazing......with prayers I link this: http://sweetcottagedreams.blogspot.com/

Build a Portfolio of Passions....

Being an avid organic gardener and absolute lover of God's creations, being unable to work in the garden for months now has it's effect on me~

Welcoming the break of all the work in late Autumn, I feel refreshed and ready to hibernate within my home and decorate, sew, craft, and cook hearty meals. Yet, at this time in February, I am compelled to be busier than ever...and I don't want to loose focus.....so I came up with "Building a Portfolio of Passions"

Building this portfolio sounds 'heavy business like' but I'm more the online scrap booking type and NOT the sort to delve into mission statements (although I have been known to do so).

What I am talking about here, is the re-birth (so to speak) of the promise which only blessed Spring can bring.

For example; This morning, when jotting down an obvious passion of mine (organic), I was struck by a hidden memory........

~When I was a child, we spent weekends sailing......it felt glorious to remember that actual feeling of bliss...peace....serenity.....and when it may sound off beat to some, that memory solidified my choice of how I want to re-decorate the Family/Living room....in peaceful and cheery tones....to recapture a part of me that I (for some unknown reason) have kept hidden under browns, reds, and golds.....

It brought feelings of joy and comfort to me, which I always try to create at home, but they were different than I was used to......calming blue of the water, warmth of the sun, clean lines and comfort, and pretty much just a refreshing feeling....and I truly believe that the relationship we have with our home exists and should be a comfort to us all....

Whether you are re-decorating or just re-thinking your life, sometimes those inspirations of others or a memory of the past that you have forgotten, come up rather "out of the blue"....so take a pad and paper with you for at least a week, and see what kind of things you jot down....

Blessings~

Re-think the t-shirt....

*no sewing machine required*

The natural dyed t-shirts you can purchase now come in such a great color array....and well, a bit plain! So we took one of them, and just a few other items to make a really great and trendy long sleeved t-shirt.....

Here's the list of things you need:

* a long sleeved t-shirt (or short sleeve)

* a metallic iron on transfer

* pins

* sharpened scissors

*iron

step 1: find center and cut straight up to collar

(well done)

step 2: put on person that is going to wear it, find
desired length/pin to mark

step 3: layout flat and cut off extra length on both sleeves

step 4: cut out iron on transfer

step 5: find center on back (we chose a mettalic one) and adjust to desired spot

step 6: (not shown) iron on according to transfer directions and WALA!
The finished shirt....all wrinkled with loving wear already!!

*Where did we find our iron on transfer....(Hobby Lobby)
Blessings,

p.s. My 10 year old daughter had the idea to also used the

cut-off sleeves for instant hand warmers :)

Barn sale....part I

*Picture is of last year's sale at Na-Da Farm*

One of my favorite designers on the web, Heather Bullard, has a post today about some great books, and while leaving a comment on her online journal (aka blog) I noticed in of of the already written comments that she is attending a barn sale (such as what I do on my farm) but alas, in California...

Now, if any of you personally know me, you will understand the bitter/sweet feelings of a sale such as that....

Our historic barn burned to the ground a few years ago, but amongst the ashes still wafting in the breeze, we went on to have the sale, but in another outbuilding....The sale was a good start to something that I have always wanted to do (support local artists and have an outlet for unique finds in and around the area with multiple dealers)....

Well, while browsing through the link this comment had, she hosts weddings (which area also something I would LOVE to provide), and this woman's photographs she has taken are absolutely stunning to the inside of her house and wedding photos....

follow this link:http://www.danapowershouse.com/

JUST what this dreary day needed for me!

Blesssings,

Euro Trash...

This picture says it all -
from trash to treasure....
Euro Trash's designer's dining room.


While searching for some great finds for the next farm sale, it is really helping this time to be on the net here and get inspiration from some top designers both here and abroad.

I don't know about you all, but when we eat, we can spend hours around the table, and that is exactly what you could do in that photo.

Have a blessed day~

More inspiration for the boys' room....

This vintage airplane fabric designed by 'Cranston Village' is made in the USA.

Paying under $30 for 6 and 1/2 yards, left room in my budget for other accessories like frames and shelves (which I am still searching for in local thrift and antique shops...and maybe even out in one of the barns)

Inspiration for the fabric already coordinates with the colors on the walls and trim, and a few favorite items of the boys are focal points as well.
Here's a collage of inspirational items I am designing around


*There room has one of the prettiest views of the Potager (see below left)*
*The top left photograph is a little inspiration to clean ALL their belongings out!*

Meanwhile...still on the lookout for the right curtain design......

fear not....

"Fear Not" is said 365 times in the Bible.....

(The photograph above is an orginal oil painting that hangs in a room off of a little chapel where Blessed Mother Teresa slept....I had the privelage to be in that room and take this photograph)

Have a Blessed Sunday

A great start...

A start to a wonderful day!! My son made our breakfast strata, I made a fresh fruit salad (saved the real fruit juice and added them to the (not from concentrate) OJ and some real sausage links...

let's not forget to mention my "shabby shopping".....

A quick trip to one of my favorite little shops near my home yesterday led to these finds!

shelves: $20/pair

little rose "plates": $2

glass "home": $4

Since my living room is being "re-decorated" I thought these were good starts..... The 4 television trays are gold with pink flowers...

and the small glass structure has a side that opens...

• MY TIP: bring your inspirational picture(s) with you while shopping, and jot down key words...
• My "focus" words included: white, glass, gold, natural, iron, painted, organic, light, comfortable, chic.....

And next time, I am bringing along my camera....just in case a peice of furniture is spotted, but not quite sure it will fit, or just simply for inspiration itself....

Have an absolutely wonderful day!!