Cut and Paste Pillow

I did not fall off the face of the earth! I've been tooling around doing stuff! Fun stuff! Going fun places and meeting with fun people! I took some time away from the computer :).

Two months ago, I lucked up on a great Wednesday yard sale and found this cutie chair for $8.00. It has been sitting in my study (the room which is a work in progress) ever since then looking quite sad! My friend Teresa and I went fabric shopping and FINALLY found some fun fabric to work with my color scheme--which I have finally decided upon! Y'all, take a look at this green zebra print! I love it!! It's going to be in a corner of the room that does not get noticed until now! I have another recycled chair in black and white zebra on the far side of the room. They are far apart enough that they look pretty cool and do not clash!

The chair still is in need of paint--after patching up a slew of nail holes, I'll get around to it. But it is raining here, and painting in the rain is not my idea of fun!! So, I leave you with these photos to tell the story.

The original pillow has been tossed into the trash. It was filled with goose down and quite expensive 20 years ago! It now had a musty smell that simply would not go away. And, I couldn't wash the thing--I'd have feathers all in my washing machine! So, I created a new pillow. Y'all, it is SOoo easy to make a new pillow....promise! I bought fiberfill stuffing this morning and was ready. All I did was measure an 18x18 square and cut it out. I did not actually paste the fabric together, but you could always glue gun it if you wanted to! Then I pulled out my handy dandy sewing machine, blew the dust bunnies away and plugged her up! Being the talented seamstress that I am (I took home-ec in 8th grade and made a beautiful apron!), I decided to use my favorite stitch...the straight stitch!! Only four sides and I was done!! Stuff that baby and sew up the little opening and fluff it and you are done! Finished! Then, I redid the bottom of the chair in the same fabric. I love that ginormous stapler! The original faded pink and red roses was not looking too swift! Gone!! Green zebra stripes instead! Can't wait to see the look on Hubby's face when he sees this manly study turning into Runner Mom's study!!

That's one of my rainy day projects that I completed today! I am quite excited! I'm getting there, slowly but surely! If you want to see more cool do it yourself projects, hop over to Kimba's blog for DIY Tuesday. There are some really darlin' ideas out there! Hope you have a wonderful day!

Sweet Blessings!

Last Yard Sale of the Summer!

Ya'll! I found another midweek yard sale down the street from my house! I seriously am not searching high and low for them! They just keep finding me! Take a look!!


How cute will this be after fresh paint and new fabric? I am going to put it to use with that little desk I bought! Only $5.00!!!
Yay!!! My favorite!!! White milk glass!!! Whoohoo! Five pieces for $5.00!
Getting brave! Someone else's linens!! (They have never been used--tags are still on!) 4 for $1.00.
It was only a hundred degrees when I tried on these darlin' winter scarves! They were only a dollar each. Love it!!
And last, a cute green container for silverware to be housed on my back porch. I have seen this one at Hobby Lobby. I got mine for $2.00. Make sure to hop over to Rhoda's to see what others found around town this weekend. I think this is my last one for awhile! I have way too many projects going that I need to complete.


On a serious note, please take a minute to visit Melanie (Bella Mella). She has a huge prayer request, y'all. Her 12 year old son, Andrew, has a brain tumor. She is asking for prayers for him. Please leave her a comment on her blog! Thank you so much!! She has been on my heart all weekend long. "The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer." Psalm 6:9


Sweet Blessings!
Susan

On Empty

I am tired. Even Moses got tired! (See Exodus 17:12). I would too if I had been trying to lead the Israelites!! Mercy! I've just been leading my boys, and that is hard enough!! It's been a busy week. School started. Cross Country moved from the cool early morning to the scorching afternoon. Supper got later! Just got home from a Women's Ministry Planning Retreat. Hubby and the boys have been cooking--preparing for a chicken bog (not blog but bog!) meal later tonight. I will fry up some okra that I bought from a roadside stand. Cannot wait! Yum! Y'all come on over, but if you do, I have a question for you.


I have this lovely tole tray that I shared with you months ago. I purchased it at a yard sale my church had to raise money for mission trip to Peru. $3.00 was the total. I loved it! Then, I tried to figure out where to put it. It's a little fru-fru for my study. So, I moved it into the hallway. It's just hanging all by its lonesome! It needs some company!! Some of you wonderful people please give me some ideas! I am stuck!! The title of my post also reflects my wallet!! I do sub next week--Praise Him!!


You can see what is tricky about this area! It connects with the stairs where I have a darlin' cage (my happy birthday present from the boys!) and a lovely piece of handmade pottery (my trip to Elaine's). Above it is the trusty Southern Living at Home mirror (I was a hostess and got a deal!!), a beautiful wooden sign with our name and favorite scripture, and lastly, my babies' silhouettes. So, what would you do to jazz up the area with the tole tray? On a "bu-jay," remember!! Hop over to Rhoda's for more yard sale goodies!


Can't wait to hear your ideas!! Hope y'all have a great weekend! I have some exciting news to share with you next week!! Oh, by the way...remember that sewing table I found last week at a yard sale? I decided to use it as a little desk in the corner of the study. I actually pulled out the Pledge and dusted it!! Good as new! I am not going to paint it while it's in this room. I've broken it in by piling it up with stuff!!



Sweet Blessings!

Yard Sale Prize or Not?

Y'all, I declare I have never read so many funny and precious comments about mayonnaise...of all things!! Danielle even popped back over to see which brand was winning!! You all are a hoot!! I believe the brand of choice--according to you all--is Hellmans. Not me!! I grew up on Miracle Whip!! And the Dukes mayo company is right down the road here in Mauldin! It's a southern item, but if the recipe calls for real mayo, it's the one I use! When it boils down to it, they all just have a tangy flavor that adds to a sandwich or recipe!! This was fun! Thanks for participating!


I told Rhoda that I would not be doing any more yard sales for awhile! I really meant it! But y'all, yesterday, while I was out running with the group at 6:30 am, some folks were setting up in front of a florist's shop. I ran by and strained my neck to see if there was anything worth looking at. Didn't see a thing that jumped out at me. An hour later, ran back by and looked from the road again. Got in my car and drove by and saw a piece of furniture that hadn't been there earlier. Kept driving and pondering and pondering and finally turned the mama mini van around. Can you believe that? I pulled over and got out...trying to look cool in sweat drenched shorts and a shirt...the hair was beyond fixing!! I didn't even have a spare hat in the car! But for Pete's sake, I was just going to a yard sale! Then, I saw the wooden furniture beckoning me over for a closer look.

Hmm....looked like a desk. I gently took off "stuff" from the top to open a back lid. It was a huge storage area with lots of spools of thread! This was a sewing table, not a desk! Solid wood and in decent shape. Then the owner walked over (after he watched me move all of his other treasures to the ground!). He said it belonged to his grandmother who would be 100. Then, he said the table was an antique of at least 75 years. Y'all, I'm thinking "not!" I do know my wood and finishes and time frames enough to be dangerous. I asked why then was he selling it? He replied he was down-sizing from a house to an apartment. Made sense. The price was $20.00. That's all I had in my wallet--and will be all I have until I substitute in 2 weeks!! I asked if he could do any better, but he said no. He did add some pictures that I liked into the total price though. Not sure I got a bargain, but I do have nice good sized table!! Not sure if I'll keep it or paint it and sell it! Decisions, decisions!! What would you do??? Hop over to Southern Hospitality for more cool yard sale finds.

Sweet Blessings!

So, How Was Your Weekend?

Isn't it funny how you think you won't be participating in a certain activity--say, like yard sales--because they conflict with your normal Saturday morning routine--like running??? That's the message that I left Rhoda at Southern Hospitality last week after my yard sale post. No time to shop when the weather is just cool enough to get in a good Saturday run. Or so I thought!

Saturday morning, God blessed us in SC with mild temps and practically no humidity--practically unheard of in the middle of July! I laced up my running shoes and took off around 7:30 (yes, I slept in!!). I was on my merry little way meandering through the neighborhood, when low and behold, a man was hammering a sign on a post. That means one of two things. Either his dog was lost, or he was having a yard sale! Yep, the dog was still in the fence, so this sweet man was in his driveway with a small amount of goodies scattered about. I told him that I would take a look on my return loop. And, I keep my word!

As sweaty as I was, I turned into his driveway and immediately my eyes darted around for milk white glass--no luck!! Then....I saw this! Oh, the possibilities!

Two posts ago, I showed y'all the little coffee table that I painted for a friend whose daughter is in a sorority at college. I got it to her this week, and they both loved it-wheew!! So, I figured that this little bedside table that I paid a whopping $2.00 for could also be turned into a cutesy collegiate table! That's my plan....a few weeks from now. I have a few canvases that I have to finish first. I'll show it to y'all when I finish.

In addition to yard saling and running, we FINALLY finished our summer sport--swim team! We've been doing this for 11 years now, and we love it! Both boys did a great job during the season and at this last meet. Child #2 is diving into long freestyle which is 100 meters--top pic (he is STILL working on his dive!!!). The bottom pic is Child #1 in the black swim cap doing backstroke--obviously :). We were almost late to the meet due to the fact that Child #2--so like his mama, bless his heart---couldn't find his goggles! He had to borrow some at the meet. Hubby loves to be on time, and well...we weren't!!! Such is life!

I DO hope that you all had a great weekend, and did something enjoyable! Looking forward to linking up with Rhoda and seeing your treasures. Make sure to visit her blog to see some of the really cool things gals found at yard sales this weekend. I KNOW that I will not be yard saling next weekend as we are road tripping to visit my in-laws in Tennessee.

I'll be posting again on Wednesday. Have a beautiful day!!

Sweet Blessings!

Treasures in Jars of Clay

I'm linking up with Rhoda at Southern Hospitality today as she shares some wonderful yard sale treasures! You wouldn't believe some of the things that people will buy...and then turn around and sell! Not being a yard sale queen (that's prime running time on Saturday mornings, y'all!), I rarely get to find these bargains.

Our church is sending groups of missionaries to Peru and Tanzania this summer. To raise $$ for the Peru trip, the folks going sponsored a huge yard sale last weekend to raise support. Fun!! I found some really cool things! I have darling circa 1950's pin (precious on a denim jacket) for 50 cents. The other two items are above. That's where I NEED your decorating help!! The clay jar was only $8.00--ugly, but $8.00. What would you do to spice it up? Some black spray paint , maybe???? Then, would you stick anything in it? It's in the corner of my taupe hallway in front of a mirror. Next, we have the lovely tray with painted flowers for only $3.00. I heart this one especially! Should I put it on a wall in my study--that is STILL a work in progress. (One has to be at home in order to work on one's home!! I've been subbing like crazy! But I am not complaining... it's moolah to help decorate!) The colors are just right for the study. How do I attach it to a wall? I haven't seen plate hangers quite that large!! Iwould really appreciate your tips on these two treasures!!

I love the scripture that my title is based on, 2 Corinthians 4:7. It says "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." Back in the days of Jesus, people would actually conceal their treasures in clay jars. These jars had very little value and were usually not very pretty--just like mine from the yard sale! Because of this, people would hide their valuables in these pots because no one would be attracted to their beauty. In this scripture, these pots represent how frail and unworthy humans are. You tip them over, they will shatter into a million pieces. When we are hurt or distressed, we too might come apart into a million pieces. When we allow God to fill us with His love, strength, and beauty, these pots (ourselves) become strong because we rely on Him for His power. It's all about Him and not about us. We cannot do it alone.

This jar that decorates my home symbolizes God's all-surpassing power. It's a great reminder of my Savior each time I walk by. It's just ugly!! Help!

Many Blessings!