Sunday, July 31, 2011

~~~~~THOUGHTS ON A SUNDAY MORNING~~~~~ Under His Wings

~SWEET NEST FOR YOU~

Last month, near the end of June, I shared with you all about the tiny Wren who made a nest for her babies in a garden hose hanging on the wall in my hubby's workshop.  Remember?  Not wanting to get too close, I had a hard time seeing inside the nest, but I was pretty sure two or three tiny eggs were tucked safely inside...
~ONE-TWO~

About ten to twelve days ago we began to hear the faintest little chirps and early this past week I managed to snap a couple of pictures...  One of the two birdies opened her eyes just as I started to click away...
~NEWLY HATCHED~

Every day the Momma Wren would come and go, come and go.  She was off doing what Momma Wrens do I guess...gathering food and water for her young.  A couple of times, when we wandered too close to her babes, she screamed really loudly to 'get away'.   I'm amazed at how she cared for them and how hard she worked to protect them.  Her daily focus was spent on raising up her young.  Each day they would wait patiently for her to return and it's been nothing short of incredible watching them grow.
~PEEKING OUT~

It was so hot inside my hubby's workshop last week that he placed the vintage fan you see below in the direction of the nest to help cool them off.  One day I thought they would surely die from the high temps as the thermometer reached 110 degrees inside the out-building.

For whatever the reason I was so worried about those birdies...

My Mr. AGPMan constantly reminded me that even without the aid of our trusty old fan those tiny baby birdies would be just fine without my our interference...

And they were.
 ~COOLING THEM DOWN~
~HIDING FROM FEAR~

This morning the baby birdies flew away.  While tending to some things in my hubby's shoppe I noticed they were out and about trying desperately to fly.  Momma Birdy was quite upset as she was forcing her babies out of their nest and I was clearly not welcomed during such a private moment.  I watched quietly off to the side while the stronger of her two babies easily found its way outside.  The weaker had a harder time spreading her wings...
~SO FRIGHTENED~

Obviously afraid, the Momma Birdy stayed close by seeing to it her baby had the best chance to reach the sky...
 ~A BIT SIDELINED~
~READY TO FLY~

Finally...after getting a little off course and landing inside an empty box, the tiny little Wren made flight...
And with that the three birdies, the Momma and her two babies, were gone.

 ~~*~~

Last night one of my dearest friends sent the following story to me...

God's Wings

After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park , forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage. One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree. Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick. When he gently struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings. The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had taken her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise. She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies. Then the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small body, the mother had remained steadfast....because she had been willing to die, so those under the cover of her wings would live.

~~*~~
Blessings as you remember there is safety in His love ...

'He will cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you will find refuge.'(Psalm 91:4)

Love to you...

Friday, July 29, 2011

~MORE ROMANTIC BOTTLES TO PINK YOU UP~

~ROMANTIC BOTTLES~
(Sweet New Styles...Yummeeee!)

Well...I don't know about you all, but this week has absolutely flown by!  I can't believe today is Friday!  Where did the past five or six days go?  I feel like I just got back from having a grand old time junking and slumming last Saturday and here it is almost the weekend again!  WOW!  Time is just going by too, toooo fast these days!

It's HOT here!  (I'm still waiting for SOMEONE to send me a little bit of cheese to go along with my WHINE!)  Our grass is fried and we are trying desperately to save our shrubs.  Forget the flowers...they passed a long time ago.  I've moved all my hanging plants into our garage and leave the florescent lights on...  Even with that they are suffering...especially the Ferns! :(  I'm probably NOT going to be showing you pictures this Fall of my La Chaumière de Briarwood...unless of course you want to see a bunch of brown dirt and crunchy looking hay (that's what we've got right now)...
~YOU ASKED FOR MORE SIZES!~
(Here They Are!)

Just a quick Post today to show you the latest group of bottles soon to be uploaded to my website.  What fun!  Squeezed in making just few in between doing some serious work hand painting my favorite of all flowers, THE PINK ROSE!  Hope to have more of my finished stuff uploaded by tomorrow!  I HATE taking pictures and writing descriptions for product...my LEAST FAVORITE THING to do that is associated with my biz!

OK I'm off for the day.  I'm hoping to talk my MISTER into hitting the estate sale circuit with me again on Saturday...we'll see.  Remember he's back in school and so carving time out to study is a priority around here.  If my guy can't go with me I'm certainly not afraid to brave the 105 degree temps alone!!! :)

Hope your day is amazing!

Love to you...

Thursday, July 28, 2011

~CUTTING A PATTERN FROM A GREAT FIND~ Romantic Tote Bag in the Making

Yesterday I stopped in at our local Goodwill for a little peek around.  Generally I don't find anything at this particular store...not the one in the town I live in anyway.  I've been there more times than I can say over the past few years, but rarely walk away with much of anything.  Not sure what the deal is here.  I mean...I've found great stuff at thrift stores in the past~just not at this particular Goodwill.
Anyway...while scouring the racks for old books and patterns I came across this interesting Tote Bag.  It had never been used and still had the original TJMaxx price tag of $16.99 on it.  Goodwill's price was $1.99.
I looked over the Tote and especially loved the tie-up shoulder straps.  The Tote had a really interesting design so I decided to bring it home with me.
My plans?

Tonight I'm going to spend some time splitting her seems and cutting a pattern from the assembled Tote.
  No markings were on the inside only the MADE IN CHINA Tag!
Wouldn't this design be fabulous made up in vintage Barkcloth or even fashioned in natural twill with vintage laces and trims?
Definitely some fabulous possibilities here.  I grew tired of making the over-done Totes of the early 2000's and today favor the more popular less-is-more 'shabby-romantic-boho' look...
What do you think?  Any ideas?  Would love to know what your heart sees!!!
Today I'm back in the studio today PAINTIN' MY LIFE AWAY (and loving it!)...

Love to you...

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

~SIGNS OF EARLY CRAFTING?~

~OH TO BE YOUNG AGAIN~
(Lovely 70's Decor, huh?)

This picture was taken inside my childhood home of me and a boy I was madly in love with had a little crush on back in 1974.  We were going to a Sadie Hawkins Dance and I remember painstakingly creating these fabulous tacky outfits for the girl-ask-boy-occasion!  My Gramma made the red checks shirts for us out of gingham and I borrowed the overalls and straw hats from my best friend's big sister... 

Problem was...

Back then I didn't know how to sew and there wasn't much on the market when it came to 'temporary fustible webbing'.  So...I used Elmer's glue to attach the patches onto both the hats and the overalls.  I absolutely THOUGHT that the glue would wash out!

It didn't.

Imagine my horror when I had to return the borrowed items all messed up with hardened glue.  I don't remember HOW I paid for all the ruined stuff...I only know that I did.
(My father and mother saw to it!)

I've had a love-hate relationship with the sticky-stuff ever since!

Hope you are having a great hump-day.  I'm in the studio painting up a storm (it's a glue-free zone!)...

Love to you...

Monday, July 25, 2011

~~~~SHABBY COTTAGE CHIC MAKEOVERS~~~~ And Hand Painted Pink Roses

On Saturday I showed you some of the amazing finds I found while out estate and tag sale shopping in the great state of Oklahoma!  I hauled home some truly fabulous things and began transforming them almost immediately.  Today I'm showing you a sneak peak of the things that have been primed and base painted.
Here is a picture of those two vintage millinery stands I showed you on Saturday!  They were primed and then painted with Valspar Churchill Vanilla (close to Behr Paint Cottage White) before being gently distressed!  I haven't decided yet if I'm going to sell these...maybe one...maybe both...maybe NONE! :)  I love them so much and can think of so many things to use them for...  Jewelry comes to mind!
Here is the before shot!  The stands were actually neat 'as is' but the bottom of one was heavily corroded...so paint won out!  Love the makeover!
See this sweet little clock?  Transformed again with the same fabulous paint!  She was $1.  Here she is made over...
I love the vintage recipe box (or whatever it is!) below! 
And this tissue box cover...
And this charming old brush...
 Look closely at the picture below...you'll see they've all been painted!  I'm working in my painting studio today and many of my finds will be graced hand painted pink roses!  Watch for them to be uploaded to my A Gathering Place Website starting this evening...
Didn't the old perfume bottle (in the middle) and the brush come out sweet?
I love these wooden hearts!  They originally had a 4th of July theme...  I think they will be perfect for Christmas...
Lastly...aren't these scrolly little signs the best thing evahhh???  I just love them...  Perfect for lots of little sayings...
OK Peeps!  That's it for today.  I'm already face-deep in paint and I'm lovin' getting back into my second favorite thing to do in all the world...

We actually had a TINY BIT OF RAIN during the early morning hours today.  Sooo refreshing!

Have a GREAT MONDAY!

Love to you...

Sunday, July 24, 2011

~~~~~THOUGHTS ON A SUNDAY MORNING~~~~~ If You Are Willing

I took some time out of my day yesterday to visit once again with my ailing father.  Many of you know he's been living in a nursing home for the past nine years or so...a truly wretched place I know he will never leave.  I've said it before, but at least for me it bears repeating.

The mercy of Alzheimer's is that those afflicted don't remember what all they've forgotten...

I thank God for this one simple fact.

My father hated not being able to find his glasses.
He would surely hate not remembering my name.

I found myself whispering this prayer...

"Father, if you are willing, take away this cup of suffering." (Luke 22:42)

Blessings to you today as you remember everyone you meet is dealing with some kind of struggle...

Love to you...

Saturday, July 23, 2011

~~~~THE OKLAHOMA ESTATE SALE QUEEN~~~~ And Her Little Angel Dude

TODAY
(About the Crack of Dawn)

Yesterday I told you I was going junking and I did.  My friend Becca and I had a wonderful time slumming through some of the neighborhoods in OKCity and we even lunched at a sweet Bistro in Bricktown.
 ~LIST IN HAND~

Nothing better than getting together with an old friend to shop and eat! :)
~PROGRAMMING THE GPS~

As much fun as I had I was sad that I DID NOT find the bed I HOPED to stumble upon for my 2nd guest room.  Found a COUPLE of sweet little things, but nothin' to brag about...

Bummer dude...:(
~SCANNING THE SALE~

And so...this morning I begged convinced begged (right the first time!) my Mr. AGPMan to hit the trail with me once more in hopes of finding the perfect vintage TWIN BED for a romantic bedroom makeover.
~NECESSITIES AT HAND~

We targeted about six estate sales in the newspaper and off we went to the big city...
~YOU LISTEN TO ME, REBECCA!~
(I be da-boss!)
 ~JUNK IN DE TRUNK~
(expert packer-man)

The first sale we went to was nice.  Fabulous stuff in fact but VERY high end.  This particular estate sale started yesterday and the house was still jam-packed full.  Everything was exorbitantly priced and we left without purchasing a single thing.

~I LOVE JUNKING~
(and shall not be deterred)

The second sale we went to I found a good sized offering of old lace and the most fabulous vintage-y shabby chic bridal box of all time!  It was all dressed up in pink...
 ~SIMPLY SHABBY FABULOUS~
~VINTAGE MILLINERY FLOWERS~

The lady running the estate sale was closing her Momma's home.  She told me the box was made by her Auntie when her parents married in 1948...
~YEP...$2~

I just could NEVAHHHH EVAHHH have parted with such a thing!  I'm sooo keeping this little beauty.  She's going straight into my studio just so I can look at her and smile...
~LOTS OF SWEET LACE~
~OLD JEWELRY BOX~
 
 ~VINTAGE PERFUME BOTTLES~
~VINTAGE TISSUE COVER~
~VINTAGE CARDS~

At the next sale we found some amazing vintage Christmas pretties.  Three bolts of old tinsel on their original cards were a highlight!
 ~GREAT FOR ALTERED ART PROJECTS~
~PINK and WHITE CHRISTMAS BULBS~
~MORE GORGEOUS CROCHET LACE~

At sale number three we found tons and tons of vintage crochet lace edging and the sweetest pink apron I've ever seen...  It had nevahhh been used...beautimous!
 ~LOVIN' the PINKS and FRUIT~
~CRAZEEE ABOUT THIS JAR~

Our visit to sale number four was a bust.  This place had a couple of super high-end things (like old glass front bookcases and sterling flatware, etc.) but nothing that made my little ol' heart sing...
~YUMMY WASTE BASKET~

At sale number five we found this amazing vintage toleware wastebasket!  I'm feeling hand painted pink roses comin' on...
 
 ~INCREDIBLE NEEDLEWORK~

This hand cross-stitched picture was only $1.00. :)  I'm planning on taking it OUT of the tacky blue plastic frame (along with the shocking blue mat) and making a pillow out of it for my mother-in-love for Christmas...

Shh...don't tell her I didn't do the stitching....
~CLOSE-UP DETAIL~
~INCREDIBLY FABULOUS TOLE LAMP~
At the same sale we also found this great light fixture and the lamp you see below.  We got it for parts...love that old turn-key!  The chandy above was $8 and the lamp below was $2...
 ~GREAT FOR PARTS~

Now...what I have to share with you next may not seem like a big deal, but fore MOI it was the sweetest icing on top of an already fabulous cake day...

Here's what happened... 

At sale number six (the last one of the day) we drove up to a place on 23rd Street here in Oklahoma City and it ended up being a business.  I've passed the "store" more times than I can tell you over the years and never once went inside.  It was called Etta's Gift Gallery and I THOUGHT it was a china-type shoppe.  When we pulled into the parking area I said to my guy...

ME:  "Oh brother!  What a waste of time.  I do NOT want to even go into this place!

HUBBS:  "Why not?  We're already here!  Let's just go inside!"

ME:  "I don't want to.  It's a waste of my time!  I'm hot!  My coke is gone!  Let's just go! (wahh wahh waahhhhh)"

HUBBS:  "Oh Rebecca! For Pete's sake (who is Pete anyway???)  WE ARE HERE!  Let's just go inside and have a look!"

ME:  "Alright!  But I'm not going to find anything!  I'd rather just pick another sale to go to!!!"

HUBBS:  "Well...I'm going in!  You can stay in the car if you want to!"
~RATTY-TRAP SHOPPE~
(In the Background)

And so my Mr. AGPMan wins!  We get out of the car and go inside this ratty-trap looking store and I'm griping and mumbling the entire time...
(Blahhhh Blahhhhh Blahhhhhhh!!!!)

Well...the ratty-trap dive-of-a-place ended up being absolutely humongous on the inside and it was filled up and overflowing with more STUFF than I've ever seen in my life!  Seriously...I'm thinking someone (umm...like the owner) was a real-life hoarder or something!
   ~EEEK!  FABULOUS FINDS~

So...here are both wandering around the HUGE STORE (that obviously was once a house...at least the front part was anyway!) and it just keeps going and going and going.  We finally get towards the back and on this one shelf (crammed up and overflowing with STUFF!) I see several bolts of vintage lace.  The lace labels were dated 1974-1976 and the price tags on the ends (especially for back then) were sky-high!  So...I began to gather them all up.  I grabbed myself a plastic box thingy (see above) and placed the laces inside it...
 
 ~MY FAVORITE LACE EVER!!!~

 Now...what is so amazing about finding the lace you see above is this...

Last week when I was taking pictures in my AGP Studio for the Where Bloggers Create Party III I snapped a photo of my favorite insertion lace ever made!  It's was manufactured for many years but has been out of production for a long, long time from what I understand.  I purchased several yards of it on eBay a few years ago but my stash has been dwindling and I've been SICK I haven't been able to find any more for several years!
 
~INSERTION LACE~

Well...I believe God cares about EVERY aspect of my life and so when I came across the lace in my studio I said this little prayer...

"Dear God...please help me find more of this lace!  I love it sooo much and I'm almost out of it!  Please lead me to it!  Amen!" 

Well...guess what was on the shelf??? 

Yep!  The very lace I've been longing and praying to find...price was $6.00 (and there is 36 yards on the bolt...I measured it!).  This story gets better.  Read on...
 ~SEVENTY-TWO YARDS OF THIS ONE~
(or two FULL Bolts)

Huge score here...$9.00 for all of it!
 ~EIGHTEEN YARDS~ 

Twelve dollars for eighteen yards...not too bad (hold on...a shocker is coming...)
~THIRTY YARDS OF THIS ONE~

A bag of loose lace held 30 yards total...price was $12.00...
 ~ORIGINAL PRICE of LACE...$5.29 YD~
  ~SWEET OLD GLOVES~

This pretty little pair of gloves...new-old stock.  Price...$5. 
~WHAT ARE THESE?~
(Jewelry Stands?  Towel Holders?)

I found lots more treasures...some vintage rhinestone baubles and the two display stands you see above.  Anyone want to tell me what they were originally made for?  I'm clueless!
Now...here's the SHOCKER!
 ~MY RECEIPT~

 While my Mr. AGPMan is carrying HIS four enormous bags of packing peanuts to the front (a necessity for the biz but HOW BORING IS THAT to buy????) I get in line to check out.  Once I was at the counter the saleslady began to list out each of my finds on a receipt.  The packing peanuts were a special deal my guy negotiated for $3.00!  :)  The cost of all the other items was then calculated out...

Well...guess what?

EVERYTHING WAS
75% off!
NOT KIDDING!

The total of my entire ticket was $28.95...
 BE STILL MY HEART >>>~~~<3

When we got into the car to drive back to Edmond I said this:

ME:  "I PRAYED I'd find that lace!"

HUBBS:  "Umm...I'm thinkin' the devil tried to get you to NOT go into that store!"

ME:  "Yeah...I'm thinkin' YOU BE RIGHT!"
~ANGEL MAN?~

 HUBBS:  "I'm thinkin' you're little Angel Dude saved you!"

(I hate it when my guy is RIGHT!)

But...I'm over-dah-moon happy!


So....how'd your day turn out???

Love to you...

Blog Archive