LONGING FOR MORE THAN A NORMAL DAY? READ THIS!

Ever find yourself going through your day and wanting, wishing for something super fabulous to happen that would change your

everyday-regular-old-life

(that is way-too-ordinary)

into something wonderful?

We've all had those moments when we've longed for something more than just a NORMAL DAY. It's probably why the tag-line "Calgone...take me away!" has hung around for so many years...

Well, a short time ago a sweet friend sent me the most amazing snippet of a poem~one that really set my heart to wondering.  I had to let the words sink in for a few days as it so perfectly explains the very thing I was wanting last year when I was out-of-sorts from the accident we were involved in.

 

Here's the shortest version:

I wanted the return of a simple, regular old day...a normal day.

A "pain free" day.

A "productive" day.

or

 "I think I feel-like-eating-food today" day or "I'm going to read a-good-book today" day!

I wanted a "I'm going to plant-flowers-in-my-garden" day...

Maybe a

"my kids are getting on my nerves" day

or

even a day when I felt harried, pressured or was running late.

I would have even taken a "I'm feeling FAT and UGLY today" day!

Anything that would have fallen under the category of "NoRmAL" I would have welcomed back into my life.

Here is the most common version:

You know what I'm talking about!

I know you do!

The kind of day we've all taken for granted so many, many times in our lives.

That is...until we lose them.

Here's the original version:

 

I actually discovered the "poem" was originally part of a two paragraph essay written by Mary Jean Irion back in the 1960's. 

It sure is something to think about, isn't it?

Just an everyday, hectic, crazy, lovely, busy, beautiful, memorable and simple 

NORMAL DAY!

I hope your enjoy yours!

Blessings...

Rebecca

VINTAGE LINEN FINDS and NEW CARDS IN THE MAKING

Like so many of you who adore antique linens, I have such a deep love for them as well.  You know, the great vintage stuff...beautiful old laces and the kind of handwork you rarely see duplicated these days.  I think one of the reasons the original VICTORIA MAGAZINE was so popular is because the photos were breathtaking and so often they showcased the beautiful old cotton and linen finds that were once difficult to hunt down.  As we know all that changed when online shopping took hold and sites like eBay came to town.  

But...if you look hard and stay diligent when on the tag-sale-circuit every once in awhile you stumble upon some incredible pieces! 

Last weekend my Mr. AGP Man and I hit the local roads again and had such a wonderful time spending time doing some of the things we've always loved doing.  I look forward to the weekends when we are able share, laugh and chat about the things going on in our lives.  I found this early 1900 pillow cover at a estate sale north of my town.  It has beautiful drawn work and gorgeous tucks throughout the entire cover.  At a different sale a few miles away I purchased a pair of old cotton shams with beautiful embroidery across the front accented with pretty lace-trimmed scallops.  After a gentle wash I pressed them with a quick spritz of water, filled each one with feather inserts and placed them on our bed.  

Simple BEAUTY!  Just can't let them go!

 

 I've also been working on some new Note Cards for my local Booth inside Serendipity Market here in Edmond, OK.   Here's a peek at a couple...

I recently found this a lovely old photo (below) taken close to a century ago...

Most likely everyone in the picture has passed on by now.  I wonder how their lives turned out?  Hmmm...  I love that the children are all holding American Flags and that one is waving in the background as well...  I'm excited about using it in the near future!  Not sure of the caption yet~  But it will be sweet!

Hope your day is fabulous.

Blessings...

Rebecca

THOUGHTS ON A SUNDAY MORNING...Bearly Able to Speak

God is always on time.

And He sends the most unbelievable blessings my way just in case I tend to forget it.

 Last week was a super BUSY week for me and I had no time at all to jot down any thoughts or visit some of my favorite decorating and inspirational blogs.  Painting walls and planning some new, updated decor projects really had me feeling overwhelmed.

I keep telling myself:

"Rebecca~you are NOT 30 anymore!"

Anyway, a few days ago one of my LONGTIME artisan friends contacted me via Facebook and said she was sending something my way.  Knowing Carolyn as I do, and her incredible talent, I knew that whatever was coming my way would be something wonderful...  Carolyn owns and is the creator of 

WARM HEART BEARS 

and her darling Bears are the BEST I've ever seen!

Over the years of buying/selling online I have GREATLY admired her creative gifts and have truly been in awe of the beautiful things she fashions by hand.

 Well, nothing could have prepared me for what was inside the little brown box sitting on my table when my Mr. AGP Man and I returned from being away a couple of days...

 Our daughter brought the package in for us when she came to water our flowers and garden over the weekend.

Along with a PRECIOUS BEAR Carolyn named "Rachelle", she included this charming little keepsake book with all these dainty handmade tags and papers, tiny lavender sachets and a beautiful sachet pillow.

 I am still speechless over Carolyn's generosity.  As a shoppe owner I rarely buy things for myself and so I feel especially blessed by this talented lady...

Aside from absolutely loving "Rachelle", the little keepsake book includes the music to one of my favorite old hymns, "In The Garden."  

It's like Carolyn just knew everything I would love even though we have never met each other in person...

She even sent me a packet of my favorite tea...Earl Grey.  Yummmm...

Now...this is the truly "extra special" part of my Bear, "Rachelle".  Carolyn didn't know it, but RACHELLE is my daughter's middle name.  Isn't that just the neatest thing evahhhhh????

To visit Carolyn Robbin's Website called

Warm Heart Bears

just click HERE!

Thank you, Carolyn, for being such a loving, caring friend.  You will never know how much your thoughtfulness means to me!  I will keep Rachelle forevahh and evahhh...

~*~

I'm thinking it's my turn to pay it foreward.

Blessings...

Rebecca

AND WHAT COLOR IS THAT PAINT????

 After months of procrastinating I decided last week that my Monday project would be to paint our mini den from a very drab beige color (it used to be my Mr. AGP Man's office!!!) to a softer, lighter shade called Anthem Cream.  I had everything in place and I was so excited.  I've wanted to paint this room for a long time!

But, then last year's chaos happened and things got put on hold. 

Bright and early yesterday morning I started in like everything I do...with gunz-a-blazin!  But, with each swipe of the roller I kept thinking...

"Something's not right!  This color looks off!"

I paid no mind to the nagging thoughts inside my brain and kept painting because I was the one who had chosen the paint and stood patiently waiting while it was being mixed.  Besides, paint needs to dry for a bit before the actual color is right...  Right?  Right!

Well...after about 2/3 of the room was done (and lots of whining that I wasn't lovin' what I saw) I happened to look down at the lid and I realized that I'd had the wrong color of paint mixed up at the paint store.  It was supposed to be Drifting Dune!

Are you kidding me?

ARRGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

So...my Monday project has now turned into a Monday and early Tuesday morning project.  UGH!  

Sometimes I just hate being a Do-It-Yourselfer!  Those TV SHOWS always make everything look soooo easy!

 Or maybe I just need new glasses contacts!

Blessings~

Rebecca

THINKING OF YOU, DADDY...from Becky Sue

Life has changed a lot for me since my beloved Father passed away a little over three years ago.  Even though my memory of him is as lovely as ever, I've never really reconciled myself with his passing.  I've been able to accept his death...just not the circumstances surrounding it.

And I doubt I ever will.

As an adult I remained extremely close to my Dad and watching his mind fade into some dark and unknown place was very, very difficult.  He lingered so long between reality and fractured remembrances of his younger self that when death finally came I understood it to be the greatest show of mercy God could bestow upon him.

And me.

Not long ago my mother, sister and I went through some of my Father's belongings that had been stored away for over a decade.  Most of the hundreds of boxes held books...but some held keepsakes that obviously were very dear to my Dad and there were a handful of photos as well.  Some I hadn't seen since I was a young child...some I had never seen.  Even though it was a task that had to be done, I couldn't help but feel I was invading his personal space.

 

I wondered if he was looking down upon the three of us while we worked or if he was busy doing other things...

You know, things like sitting in the presence of the God...walking the streets of gold while taking in the heavenly scenery...chatting with those who had gone on before him.

I didn't know.

 

My Dad was a very complex and private person and even sometimes secretive.  I hated being inside that storage unit and as each box was opened I came face to face with telltale signs of the mental illness that was beginning to steal away the Father I had known and loved for all my life. 

 

Obsessive and compulsive behavior could be seen at every turn.

Lists and more lists...and then even more lists.

Each box carefully tagged with excessive ramblings and taped closed as if golden nuggets were safely tucked inside.

My Father.  Complicated and mysterious as times.  And one of the two greatest men I've ever known.

 

Today, as I think about my Father, I'm buoyed by the legacy of  hope that remained within his heart until the day of his passing.  His unwavering faith in God and his steadfast belief that somehow, someday, I'd get things right.  That eventually I'd find a way to live my life to the fullest while being content with the simplest of blessings~

Like the first violet blooms of spring...

The seemingly endless heat from a summer's day...

The quiet rustle of autumn leaves...

Or winter's coldest breath...

 You know, just regular old days that are so easy to ignore.

Life.  We have only one.

I'm trying my best to live mine out in truth and I hope, pray my Father would be proud.

Thank you, Daddy, for helping to plant my feet upon the Solid Rock.

I love you.

I miss you.

~*~

Blessings~

Rebecca

~TATTERED VINTAGE LACE PILLOWS ARE SEW SWEET~

I've been working in my studio this week and trust me when I tell you I've torn everything up.  Vintage lace and fabric are all over the place...  It's everywhere except for where it's supposed to be I'm afraid!  But...that's OK!  I actually work better sometimes when things are a tad bit messy!  Lots of trims and old fabric finds have been removed from their respective hiding places and are now out into the open so I can see what I'm looking for.

It's been organized chaos!

 

I'm also in the middle of painting an old maple chest of drawers that I hope will be lovely once it's finished.  My Mr. AGP Man and I snagged some great deals at an estate sale we went to last Saturday in Oklahoma City.  Most of the offerings were out of my price range, but a few were a good fit and so we hauled them home.  Will share some photos with you soon!  All of the vintage chairs (4) we found were crying out for a makeover!

 

Oh...and have you tried the Chalky Paint from Lowe's?  I know I'm late for the party here...everyone seems to be offering up chalk paint these days.  I actually love Lowe's brand.  I'ved used it on several pieces for my own home, but nothing for sale yet!  I don't think it's as good as Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint, but it's better than a few of the other brands I've tried.  I still make my own chalk paint and I've tried several methods and they all work great.  I only use the real stuff if a customer requests a specific brand or color...

My favorite go-to paint is FLAT PAINT in a soft white.  I use it for almost everything!

All the pillows shown I finished this week and have been uploaded to my website (RebeccaVintage.com).

I work slower than usual these days and I hate that! 

 Summer heat has Oklahoma feeling the burn.  The cool Spring days are over for now.

Oh...and one other thing.

We only have 194 days until Christmas!

Thought you might want to know that in case you're falling behind in your shopping.

:) :) :)

Blessings~

Rebecca

~THOUGHTS ON A SUNDAY MORNING..."One Day At A Time"

I don't know about you, but sometimes I think my world gets shaken up a bit because I still have big important life-lessons to learn.   I wish it were possible for me to learn everything I need to know all in one setting.  Then I could go on about my way and live out the glorious plan God has for me and not fret so much.

But, considering the fact I'm super stubborn and extremely opinionated it takes a bit before things sink into my head and even longer for them to reach my heart.

I saw my neurosurgeon last Friday for my three month post-op visit and I was told what I already suspected.  It's going to take another full year for me to recover completely from our car accident from May 2016. "Fused spines heal slowly" he said, "there will be good days and not so good days before you will even come close to becoming your old self!  You must take your recovery as it comes.  One day at a time."

Now, given the fact I'm a get-up-and-go person this was NOT what I wanted to hear.

Doesn't God know I have things to do, projects to finish, a house to clean, books to read and dinner to fix?  Doesn't He know that I have a business to run, friends to lunch with and an elderly mother to attend to?

I've been forced to just sit within the quiet that engulfs my home sometimes and listen to the silence that surrounds me.  I'm working at doing my best to submit to the "one day at a time" thing while remembering my faith is securely anchored in somebody bigger than you and I.

 

Strange as it may seem, I find it here, inside the calm and peace of my La Chaumière de Briarwood, I'm able to offer up my hopes, plans and dreams and fears to the Most High for His safekeeping.  In the midst of the chaos my imperfection brings I will trust Him to do whatever He feels is best for me while guiding me to the place He wants me to be. 

Three-hundred and sixty-five days to go.

I can do it. 

Blessings~

Rebecca

~VINTAGE FRENCH BABY SHOE MAKEOVERS...FROM OLD TO NEW AGAIN~

I finally found some time to work on a few vintage baby shoe sachets!  It's been so long since I was able to create things using aging laces, old buttons and vintage millinery flowers.

I started buying up lots of high-top baby shoes (both really old and those dating back to the 1960's and 1970's too!) several years ago so I have quite a stash that should keep me busy for a long time!  The ones you see today are offered up on my website...

I've never done a tutorial on how I make mine, but I did find this one from Barbara at Treasures of the Heart done way back in 2010.  It's not exactly how I fashion mine, but it is very similar.  I don't see that Barbara has blogged in a while, so I'm not sure she will be available for questions...

The blogging world sure has changed a lot since I've been away and it's taking me some time to locate some of my favorite blogs and even more effort to find new ones to love.  I've been really sad to find that several of my special blogging gals have passed away. :(

Hope today is wonderful for you.

Blessings~

Rebecca

LIVING THE GOOD LIFE

I've had the most wonderful weekend ever!  Lots of family visiting...my son and his family out from Alabama (they live there now!) and my brother and wifey traveling from California.  There is something about us all getting together and visiting under one roof that makes this girl soooo happy.

My son, Brandon, Sarah (DILove), and our Miss K moved to Alabama last February.  He took an amazing position with a company owned by Amazon and is working his dream-job as a computer gaming developer/designer.

 Life isn't the same without them close by, but it gives us a great excuse to travel!

With the last person leaving this morning I'm trying to not feel sad...so, I'm back in my studio doing what I love most.

CREATING!

Blessings~

Rebecca

MY FRENCH FARMHOUSE BOOTH IN OKLAHOMA

Here are the latest pictures of my Booth located inside Serendipity Market in Edmond, Oklahoma!  They were taken a few days ago and some of the things you see have already sold!  I'm always happy when big pieces sell... 

Things are always changing and evolving around here!

Nothing stays the same for very long when you run a retail business!

I still love having my booth and I'm entertaining the thought of leasing a second one on the other side of Oklahoma City.

 I still have some healing up to do before I make a final decision...but I'm excited about the possibility of expanding my business.

I'm asked every once in awhile about loving pink roses and IF I still paint them.  The answer is YES...I still love them and I still paint them too!  But, they just aren't big sellers here in Oklahoma so I rarely offer them up unless it's for a special order.

My Mr. AGP Man and I are off again to JUNK!  It's our Saturday ritual!

Blessings~

Rebecca