Inspired by . . . intentional gratitude

Being intentional about being grateful makes every part of our life better!

While it's true that this is something we should try to be all the time, people tend to be more demonstrative about their thankfulness in the month of November.

The trendy "Thanksgiving Tree" is just one of the ways you can be intentional about being grateful every day!

There are a lot of great ideas out there. Here are some of my favorites:

 

Julie, over at Savings by Design has some great ideas for the kiddos! With a large thankful tree and a thankful turkey, too!

Rebekah over at Simply Rebekah did a similar wall-tree. Here is her version – isn't it great!

 

I love these curly willow branches that Darcy Miller used for her family's tree!

 

I like this idea of using pictures, of people we're thankful for, as tags on the tree. I found this idea on pinterest, and it links to Aunt Ruthie's, but I couldn't find the picture once I got there. Maybe you'll have better luck!

 

Here is a neat idea that uses the tree as a centerpiece as well as an activity for your guests on Thanksgiving day.

 

This one, by Mindy Starr over at Creative Juice, was by far my favorite!

 

I love how Mindy and her family focused each day on what they were thankful for before hanging the leaf on their thankful tree! Great idea, Mindy!

There are a  lot of great ideas on Pinterest, so I encourage you to have a look for yourself!

 

There's still time to join our online Bible study group! You can learn more about it HERE.

 

 

With gratitude,

 

 

 

 

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Inspired by. . . symbols

Yes, I'm still here!

Last week was an eventful week. With many unexpected happenings.

I had hoped to share these pictures with you during Easter week. But that proved to be another eventful week, and I never found the time to edit the photos.

I'm not familiar with every culture that exists in this world. But it is probably safe to say that each culture, in some way, uses symbols to celebrate ideas and express what they believe.

I've been blessed to have been born into a family of creative people. My Nana and my aunt specifically are incredibly talented in the art of blowing and decorating eggs. Over the years, I've been gifted with, or inherited, many of their creations.

The first two are examples of blown eggs that have been cut in half and decorated inside.

This is one of my favorites. A whimsical expression of Spring with two ducklings fighting over a worm.

 

Textured with Kim's 'just stitched'

 

Here's a symbol I'm sure  you will recognize.

 

This technique is called quilling. An art form that involved rolling and shaping thin strips of paper.

Here's another example.

 

Textured with Kim's 'sun kissed'

 

Not all the eggs are decorated for Easter or spring. This one celebrates our Nation's independence.

 

Textured with Kim's 'annebelle'

A large '76 is displayed on the back side of this large goose egg.

My aunt is especially talented in the art of Pysanka. You may have heard or seen Ukrainian eggs? These are decorated using a wax-resist {batik} method. They are very detailed, symbolic and beautiful.

The rooster, a masculine symbol, denotes a rich married life and many children. The meander is for immortality, and flowers for wisdom. The color purple means royalty, faith and trust.

 

 

Stars, the giver of light and God's love toward mankind. The color red means happiness, hope and passion.

 

 

The 8-pointed star, the love of God for mankind. Pussy willows denote the coming of spring. Triangles represent the Holy Trinity. Pine needles symbolize health, stamina and eternal youth. The dark green color means bountifulness, hope, the victory of life after death, and truth.

 

 

Finally, another of my favorites. Butterflies represent the resurrection of Christ. The color pink denotes success and contentment.

 

 

I hope you've enjoyed my egg display and learning more about these symbols.

Symbols have been a part of our world since the beginning. Look around you. Perhaps there are some symbols there you haven't noticed before. What are they saying to you?

 

Have a wonder-filled day,

 

 

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Inspired by. . . trash

You may remember the Winter Door Hanger I shared a couple of months ago. I decided it needed an update for Spring!

 

 

This update cost me absolutely nothing! I already had the flower pots and the ivy. I'd purchased them last summer in hopes of creating this beautiful Flower Pot Wreath that Debbie shared on her blog last June.

 

 

The orchids and other silk greenery my mother found in a dumpster! As they say, "One persons trash is another persons treasure!"

 

 

Just for the record... my mother was not dumpster diving {smile}. The silk flowers were actually wrapped in plastic and she found them in the same dumpster she uses to deposit her trash.

I tied the pots to the star frame using some jute I had left over from the original project. Some green styrofoam tucked into each pot and a bit of glue hold the stems in place. A quick, easy update, just in time for Easter!

 

 

From trash to treasure!

What treasures have you found lately?

 

Have a wonder-filled day!

 

 

 

 

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Inspired by. . . before and after

I have a fun before and after project to share with you today. But before we get started, a bit of housekeeping.

For those of you who have purchased a "custom" domain [blog] address through blogger (without the blogspot in it) be warned!

My blog address expired two days ago. I never received an "expiring soon" notice, or any other kind of notice from Blogger that my domain was about to expire, and would I like to renew. By the time I realized what was happening, a day later, someone had already snatched up my domain!

I quickly purchased a new [better] domain from godaddy and re set my publishing info in blogger. It should be noted, unless you're comfortable messing with DNS settings, this process might be a bit intimidating. Also, as many of you know, changing your blog address messes with your RSS feeds, email subscriptions, etc.

I [think] I have everything fixed, set up correctly, etc. Time will tell.

A favor?

If you subscribe by email or RSS feed, would you leave a comment or shoot me a quick email so I know it's working? or not? I'd be very grateful. Thank you.

We now resume your regularly scheduled....

 

It's my dad's 83rd birthday today!

He's been buggin' asking me to print him some pictures of his adorable new grand-baby, who just turned 3 months old. Yes, I've been procrastinating on the pictures for three months! It takes time to download, format and print pictures, and I just haven't had the extra time. I knew the pictures would still be there when I got around to it!

Well, being his birthday was coming up, I figured I should make it up to him.

I found this old frame at a yard sale . . .

 

 

. . . and turned it into this:

 

 

Our little Sophia Lillian, is named after my dad's mom, Lillian, who just happened to love owls. When I saw these scrapbooking elements I knew they'd be the perfect addition.

 

Happy birthday, Dad!

 

What have you done with your photos lately?

Have a wonder-filled day!

 

 

 

 

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Inspired by. . . winter

We've been under a cold front here in the Hill Country for what seems like weeks, and the cold, grey days are starting to get me down. Yup, I'm one of those "summer" people! [smile} It was nice to wake up to a brighter sky this morning.

There was plenty of sunshine the day I hung up my new winter wreath. I'd like to share it with you today.

My "wreath" came about from a couple of different inspiration sources. One idea I've had pinned on my Pinterest board for over a year now. The other I recently found through a link party. Unfortunately, I forgot to "pin" the idea, and now I can't re-locate it, to give proper credit. (If you know whose blog this was on, just before Christmas, please let me know!)

 

Winter Star Wreath

 

 

 

I chose five pieces of cedar branches, all about the same diameter, and cut them to the same length.  Then laid them out, and bound them together with jute.  I searched all over for a pair of mittens. Doesn't anyone wear mittens anymore? Alas, there were none to be found. I'm fairly happy with the gloves. They add an interesting, fun element to the wreath, and I like the way the greenery contrasts with their white, fuzzy tops.

 

 

 

If the cold weather persists, I may need to dismantle my wreath to keep my hands warm!

I liked the large star so much, I made two smaller stars to use on the porch railing posts.

 

 

I wanted the natural, rustic look. But you could always paint yours, and nail them together rather than using the jute. There are a lot of possibilities!

 

What's hanging on your front door?

 

Have a wonder-filled day!

 

 

 

 

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