Burlap and Lace

I am head-over-heals crazy for burlap. 

Not that that's anything new,

but...

I'm having a great time using it this fall.

Add a little lace and I'm a happy girl!

Today's table mixes burlap, lace, and white dishes.

It's a very simple table...calming and relaxing,

perfect for a cool fall day!

Enjoy!!

Burlap utensil holders were made from wired ribbon. 

The width was exactly the right size and the trim gives a great look.

No table cloth, just a simple runner.

Need some color? 

No problem...

this monochromatic table would be the perfect base 

in adding your favorite fall colors. 

Hm...I'm thinking pumpkin pie!

Special thanks to my good friend Sarah and her husband 

for the gorgeous plant used in today's centerpiece.

I'm joining two parties today:

Kathleen over at Cuisine Kathleen for her Let's Dish 

and 

Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch for her Tablescape Thursday.

Be sure to drop by both parties for loads of inspiration!

In Case You're Interested:

Grass Chargers - Pier 1

White Chargers - Marshall's

Dinner/Salad Plates - Lenox Opal Innocence Carved

Flatware - Michelangelo

Burlap fabric/lace made into runner

Burlap wired ribbon made into utensil holders - Hobby Lobby

Stemware - Dollar Store

Napkins - World Market/ vintage set

Transforming "throw aways"...

I'm a softy...I admit it.

I've been that way my entire life...

my skin is paper thin.

I cry easily...

and always root for the underdog.

Where is this leading?

Well,

when I saw these wooden pieces at a resale store,

I couldn't just leave them there feeling unloved.

No, not this one...

it looked like a little piece of furniture, right?

A little jewelry armoire.

Inside was a place for necklaces, rings, earrings, and even a drawer.

And then there was this guy.

I don't know why it caught my attention but I thought he was kinda cute.

(And there are two drawers that should have made it in this picture.)

I wanted these pieces to have a second chance,

so someone would love them,

and would want to keep them forever.

So, the tools came out:

screwdriver

sander

paint

and the fun began.

Are you ready for the transformations?

The jewelry box was painted and distressed... 

the plastic "windows" of the doors were replaced with metal screening material.

(Don't the hangers for necklaces remind you of little chandeliers?)

Anyway...

The back wall was covered with bead board wallpaper.

And the rest of the "velvet" fabric was painted.

I think she looks updated and really cute.

(I'm still loving that screening!)

Now for the little shelf:

At first I thought it would make a precious little chair...

too curvy for a little boy,

perhaps better for a little girl...and it could be pink...

but

I don't have any little ones around my house.

And I'd want to sew a pillow...

but I'm not very good at sewing pillows.

So, I went with plan B:

a message center.

My sister suggested adding containers to hold clips and such...

well, how about two!

Yes, I think that's much better...

a whimsical place 

to keep track of all that important stuff  information on my kitchen counter.

Two for two...I was on a roll.

Then there was this last piece that needed to be rescued...

a duck basket.

It was painted "folk artsy" red/blue/green with little dotted flowers...

cute, but not the direction I was headed.

Here's the "after the paint" picture:

(yep, forgot to take the "before" picture)

At this stage, jute was added...

a simple burlap flower for each side,

and polka dot craft paper to line the bottom.

(Doesn't anything with polka dots make you smile?)

 Much better, right?

Yes, I think so too!

I'm joining Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch for her Metamorphosis Monday.

Drop by for loads of inspiration, you won't be disappointed!

Thought for the Day...habits.

Welcome to Thought for the Day.

Today's verses comes from our pastor's message this past week.

It was something that I needed to hear, so I thought I'd share it with you today.

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; 

rather, train yourself to be godly.

I Timothy 4:7

I picked up on the word "train" because there is a lot of talk about physical training, 

whether it's for an athletic event or for health reasons.

With all this said, however, physical health is susceptible to disease and injury.

But spiritual exercising is different. 

Having faith can sustain us through these injuries or even tragedies.

Training ourselves to be godly takes practice to become a habit. 

We can develop our faith by using our God given abilities in service of God.

This can be shown through our actions or service to community or to our church.

Now, developing those habits takes a bit of work.

How long does it take for an action to become a habit?

Some say 30 days, 60 days...several months. 

I'm not sure, but I know for myself, 

that if I'm not keenly aware of my actions, 

I tend to slip back into old habits.

ugh...

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age"

Titus 2:11-12

So how do we develop spiritually?

Ask God for help.

He's there ready to be asked, in fact He's waiting to be asked! 

That's the beauty of all this...there is nothing too small or too great for Him.

And here I go again, sometimes I think my requests are too small 

to bother such a great and powerful God.

But what I'm really thinking is that I can handle this and don't need God's help.

What foolish thinking!

I'm more powerful than God?

I don't need him?

Absolutely NOT!

 "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, 

and all these things will be given to you as well."

Matthew 6:33

It's really a spiritual exercise; turn to God for help, to fill your thoughts and desires, to take his character for your pattern, and to serve and obey him in everything.

Next week we'll continue the subject of "habits"...

and this week 

I'm going to continue to practice going to God for everything, big and small.

You can too, He's there waiting for all of us!

Have a blessed weekend!

I use the Life Application Study Bible, New International Version (NIV) printed by Zondervan

Coffee Break...

Sometimes it's the simple things, right?

And sometimes just a little coffee break is that perfect little pick me up 

for your afternoon.

Add to that these cute plates

and you can practically feel yourself saying "ahhhh."

Each one has a different image...too cute.

Add a special glass piece to hold your vintage spoons and the little coffee corner is complete,

well almost.

Yes, they're ready...that other special treat from the oven 

will be perfect on my oh.so.cute plates...

and  then

my coffee corner will be complete.

So when you need a little break, be sure to treat yourself...

you'll be glad you did!

I'm joining two parties today:

Kathleen over at Cuisine Kathleen for her Let's Dish

and Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch for her Tablescape Thursday.

Be sure to drop by for loads of inspiration!

Fall Pumpkin

Today I'm sharing a little metamorphosis with a $1.00 plastic pumpkin.

It began like this:

and was transformed to this.

Thanks to Kelly over at Eclectically Vintage for the inspiration! 

She has several neat ideas for fall on this post.

Kelly used beautiful mums inside her pumpkin planter, I decided to use a different plant.
Mine ending up looking like Wilson.
You know, Wilson from Tom Hank's Castaway!

source

ugh...Not what I was going for.
So I took Kelly's basic instructions and tweaked things a bit for my project.

I used diluted Elmer's Glue (Mod Podge would most likely work too),

approximately 10 sheets of music cut into strips for each pumpkin,

and immersed the strips into the diluted glue mixture.
Be sure to cover your work surface because it gets messy.
Then take each strip and "glue" it to your pumpkin.
I didn't want any of the green to show, so I gave my guys two layers of strips.
The strips above were used for the first layer because they were the edges of the sheet music and had blank sections.
For the second layer, I wanted more notes to show so I used the "busier" strips.

After the strips dried, I diluted acrylic paint and gave the pumpkins a little color.

After this dried, I added my plant....and...I wasn't pleased with the look at all.

Kelly's were so pretty with mums...

but...I didn't have any on hand. 

See, I told you, it looks like Wilson's brother.
My husband even agreed.

Plan B.
I needed something to cover the gaping hole at the top of the pumpkin...
hm...
 I just happen to have small paper plates that were fairly sturdy...
and
they just happen to be the perfect size, well, after I trimmed them a bit.

These were covered too with strips and allowed to dry.
Next a hole was cut out of the middle of the plate

 and a couple of sticks stem was inserted and glued in place.

Adding a little jute to the stems, moss to cover the plate, and burlap leaves, I was feeling better.

And for something a little extra, tendrils were added.
They are very simple to make:
immerse the jute into the diluted glue mixture and wrap around a straw.
(Secure them in place with straight pins.)

After they are dry, simply glue them into place with your hot glue.

Much better.
Thanks again Kelly for the original inspiration!

I'm joining these parties:
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Mary at Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday

Thought for the Day...gifts.

Welcome to...Thought for the Day.

It comes from my study of the Bible and things I'd like to share.

I hope you follow along each Friday.

"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms."

1 Peter 4:10

I believe that everyone has God given gifts. 

Some are apparent like musical talents or athletic abilities...

other's not so apparent.

Like the one who holds the door for you or who greets you with a smile...gifts of kindness.

Kindness, compassion, empathy...quiet gifts.

Whatever various gifts we've been given, and we use them as He directs, we praise God.

Basically...

big or small, 

when we use our gifts that we've been given, 

others will see Jesus in us.

Have a blessed weekend!

I use the Life Application Study Bible, New International Version (NIV) printed by Zondervan

An Apple a Day...

Since moving from the big city to a little town, things have really slowed down.

Life is running at a slower pace, there's time to stop and smell the flowers

or load up at the local market with fresh fruit...

like apples.

Guess where I'm going with this?

Guess what today's table features?

Yep...apples.

Kathleen over at Cuisine Kathleen 

gave us tablescapers a challenge to use apples as our theme for today's post for her Let's Dish.

My table is very simple, with just a touch of red.

Enjoy!

Natural chargers set the simplistic tone.

These white chargers are so versatile...they can be dressed up or bring a little charm to a casual table.

Add a few more layers...

and throw in mix-matched flatware and the table is complete.

Except for one last thing...this centerpiece...isn't it great?
Donna over at Funky Junk Interiors made one and featured it on her blog (with a tutorial!)

It's made from a vintage hand drill and fence boards.
(It's also so versatile!)

I'm also joining Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch for her Tablescape Thursday.

Be sure to visit both of these ladies' parties. There's loads of inspiration!

Thanks for dropping by...

enjoy the rest of your week!