~PAINTED PINKS and BLOGGERS THAT BLESS~

Painting Up A Storm

I've worked with JOY in my painting studio for the past couple days and absolutely LOVE having control over my time again!  I'm beginning to remember what my life was like before I bit off more than I could chew...  I hope you'll find time to check out latest website offerings...several new things for your pleasure...like the the sweet Tussy Mussy you see above!!!

Hmmm....I'm getting started late this morning!  It' must be all that fabulous sleep I'm getting now that my hectic life has called down a bit....

Or...maybe it's just that I didn't want to face my kitchen this morning and the SIMPLE fact that my trusty fridge decided to FAIL ME  on Monday night!  I just hate it when I pay big bucks for things and then they don't work forever...don't you?  My guy said the thing just needs a new timer...  Gee~since a kitchen remodel is on the horizon I was kinda HOPING I'd get to pick out a new state-of-the-art refrigerator a bit early!  I've had my eye on a 2die4 Samsung French Door model (the one my hubbs rolls his own eyes over!) but it was not meant to be.  Given it's cost it will most definitely continue to languish in the "it's never gonna happen" column of my wish-list!

The repair part should be here on Friday successfully dashing my hopes for a replacement!

 Sweet Vintage Millinery Finds

On a much brighter note...last month Miss Jen from J.Nichelle drew my name as one of the winners for her sweet GIVEAWAY.  Now...how fabulous is that?  It's just too, too fun to get FREE STUFF!

  Lovely Old Wallpaper

I've been over-the-top excited to win SEVERAL sweet little contests since I started my blog in January '09 and truthfully I'm always amazed when my name is called!

 Fabulous Pink Flocked Paper

Since I don't believe in 'luck' I just have to believe that winning was meant to be.  

Amazing Vintage Glass Buttons

Tucked inside the box from Jen are all the things you see above!  A beautiful sampling of vintage wallpapers (of course you KNOW I love the pink flocked paper!) and a sweet little box chocked full of the best old glass buttons one could ever hope to find! 

Vintage Postcards...Yum!

Nestled into the mix were vintage millinery flowers and some lacy old wrapping ribbon and three fabulous vintage postcards!

Pink and Green Toile Plate

And then...right in the middle of the beautifully packaged box was this absolutely stunning pink and green toile plate.  The icing on the cake was the sweet hand-written note from Jen herself!

Thank you so much Jen!  I hope you'll pop over to her beautiful blog and say hello.  She's wonderful and a very gifted artisan!

Now...don't forget about my own giveaway!  You can find it on my upper left sidebar or you can simply click HERE!

Blessings to you for a lovely day!  I'm back working in my studio in hopes of finishing up more painted pretties for the Shoppe.  

Love to you~

~WITH HEARTFELT THANKS~

~Thank You~

Just a little note this morning to thank you for your kind thoughts and comments yesterday regarding the changes in my life!  Each visit with me meant more than I can say...  I feel great about where I'm going and what I'm doing and for the first time in many months I totally zonked out last night and slept very, very well.

De-stressing is a good thing.

And so is NOT running ahead of God.

I spent most of the weekend going through a great deal of shoppe/booth merchandise and much of it you will eventually see offered for sale on-line.  It's going to take me a bit to go through it all but I'll get there.  I use to collect vintage sewing patterns from the 1930's-1970's (lots of children's, too) and many will be sold off in LOTS on eBay.  Things like vintage pink rose plates, etc. will be offered on my website later this week and I hope you'll take some time to check them all out.  Way too many things to try and fit them all back into my home.

Christmas in July was a great success and thank you so much for ALL the purchases and special orders (wow...all those Stockings and Pillows!) you sent my way.  I will absolutely be doing it again next year!

Today I will be working in my studio.  I'm FINALLY getting back to painting some sweet new things that have been on the back burner for far too long.  It feels great to be able to focus on one business and to not feel so incredibly scattered and overwhelmed.

Thank you again for blessing me and taking the time to offer up such loving words.

You all are the BEST!

Love to you this beautiful Monday~

PS:  DON'T FORGET ABOUT MY GIVEAWAY!  SEE IT ON MY TOP LEFT SIDEBAR OR CLICK HERE!

~WHEN THE WINDS OF CHANGE BLOW STRONG~

After a month or so of keeping a business decision pretty much to myself it's come time to share with you a few changes I've made in my life.

As some of you know I opened a small booth space at a local antique mall last summer.  At the time I was over-the-moon excited about it because it had been many years since I'd been a part of a of brick and mortar shoppe and returning to hands-on selling was very appealing to me.  I've always loved meeting my customers face to face and seeing firsthand their happiness and joy  when discovering a favorite find.  Plus...I love display work and staging!  It's almost like having another home away from home.

Last April I also reopened my A Gathering Place Website and with that decision came a slow (and a bit painful) exit from consistent selling on eBay.  Many of my longtime customers followed me to my own place and for that I'm very grateful.  Trust me, you've all kept me hoppin'!  What I didn't expect was the huge challenge that came with trying to run two separate places of business at the same time.   Ultimately this stressed me out to the point that I ended up not managing either place very well.  One always seemed to be wanting...my physical shoppe was either full or my website was stocked~but neither one at the same time.

And sooo....

I made a final decision about a month ago to close my local booth space and today was my last day at French Quarter Antique Mall in Oklahoma City.  As tough as it was so say goodbye to something I dearly loved I know I made the right choice.  I've come to learn over the years that the RIGHT CHOICE isn't always the EASIEST CHOICE.  I also know that God has promised to lead and guide my steps in all things and I'm continuing to trust Him without question.  I feel at peace and my heart feels at rest.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

Aside from feeling the focus on my work had become wayward, I also know in my heart that my beloved, my Mr. AGPMan, deserves some man-time of his own.  He has ALWAYS blessed me and done all I have asked of him.  He is ALL and MORE of what I've spoken of him to be...kind, loyal, giving, caring and loving.  Lately I believe God has shown me a new path and I must follow it.  My 'He-Can-Do-Anything-Man'  works harder than ANY single person I have ever known and yet I know he longs to find time to work inside his amazing wood-shop outback and finish projects that are all his own.  He can't do that if he is constantly focused on making only MY dreams come true.

I'm looking forward to concentrating more on my Website and hope you will plan on visiting me soon.  Additionally, we are still in the midst of a tiny (but a killer) master bath remodel and I'll be sharing more about that as we go along.

My prayer for each of you today is that you will always listen with an open heart to the voice of the Most High...

Thanks for stopping by today...may your Sunday be beautiful and blessed.

Love to you~