Hope

May I translate? "Thank you to give us order.  We're very appreciate that.  When we have order, we have hope."

This is a photo of a thank you note from some of our Noonday collection artisans in Haiti. It was received in the main office and shared with us. Y'all, it's a thank you note to the customers who want to purchase their products.  See those two cute NEW bracelets? Those are coming out on Aug. 28 in our catalog for the fall! These artisans are beyond thrilled that American women want their art...be it jewelry, scarves, belts or bags. Your orders give them hope!

 

 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

God uses many ways to bring hope to His people. It can be through a smile to a stranger.  Acknowledging a homeless person to help them remember that they too are important. Providing shelter and food to those suffering. Taking a new mom a meal. Listening to someone who is struggling and just needs a sounding board and a hug. Purchasing a piece of jewelry knowing that it helps provide the artisan with a living wage--not just a hand-out-- for a pretty trinket. Sometimes I think we are too busy to remember that God wants to use us to give hope and show love to others.

I am learning to slow down and abide in Him. That was the word that I have held close to my heart this year. I am learning to say "no" to good things; things that are not meant for me during this season. Learning to lean in and to really hear what His Word is speaking to my heart and how He wants me to follow. This is not easy for a gal who wants a plan now! I am in "wait" mode.

This sweet note truly touched my heart. It's such a simple reminder that our words and actions carry more weight than we realize. So, I encourage you to be that hope for your family, friends, and folks that may pass through your life for just a moment.

Hope y'all have a great weekend! It's the last one before school cranks up this year. Child #1 has already headed off to the land of Williams Brice and is counting down the days until the first SEC game. Hoping that he plans on studying as well! Child#2 begins his senior year in high school. Cross country conditioning has been going on for a while, and our first meet will be in a week up in Charlotte. What are your plans this weekend?

Sweet blessings,
Susan

Summer Mantel--The End!

How crazy is it to spend almost an entire summer redoing and redecorating just one teeny tiny area of your house? Well, if you have been following me, you KNOW that I am that crazy mama! We have two weeks left until school begins here, and it's about time to finish....so I did! Then, come next month, I will start with fall mantel ideas :).

Here are some pics of the finished mantel with some cool pieces that I inherited, shopped my house for and bought--at the fabulous Real Deals here in Greenville! Lori and the girls will definitely help you if you have any decorating questions--I always do! I love the way it came together, and it gives a peaceful, cottagy (is that a real word?) feel for that dark portion of the den.

 Done!!! Yay!

 Lantern from Marshall's Home goods, blue mason jars from target, dead hydrangeas from my backyard!

 Blue vase and funky green frame from Real Deals.

 Vintage blue mason jars (the medium and tall ones), from my sweet friend, Cathy, who purchased them in Texas.

Green grassy stuff
( don't you just love my decorating wordage?) from Real Deals, milk white glass from my collection.

 

Hope y'all have a fabulous weekend!!

Sweet blessings,

Susan

Mantel Decor--Take # 1

Hey y'all! Just wanted to let you know that I am searching high and low to see what works best for the mantel during this summer season. After reading lots of blogs and looking a tons of beautiful pics, I see a reoccurring theme. There are girls out there in bloggyland that are very creative and CHANGE their mantel decor from season to season ( maybe even month to month like I used to with bulletin boards when I taught school! ). I am one of those that has kept the same fru-fru objects in the same place on the mantel from year to year. The only exception would be Christmas decorating. But we are in July (even though Hobby Lobby has their Christmas glitter out and ready to be sold! Have mercy!).

I digress....

So, my plan--note that it is ONLY a plan, please---is to change the mantel with the changing seasons. The season that we are experiencing at the moment is the rainy one...day after day after day! I don't want my mantel to reflect that at all.

I purchased these cute heritage collection Ball canning jars ( I do not can.) from Target after many of my Facebook peeps told me that I could find them there. And, they were so right. I cut fresh flowers from the yard, but I ran out of hydrangeas, so I clipped a few phlox to have a variety of colors. I pulled out my pieces of white milk glass ( still need to add to my collection). Then, I placed them on the mantel....

 

 

 

 

But, we have a problem....if you stare at it long enough, it will become very apparent.

 

 

 It's very pretty, but................................................................................................

They are ALL the same height!!!!!!!!!!!  Hardly any variation of height at all!!! I am not a symmetrical person--seriously. This bothers me.

So, with that being said, you have now seen Take#1. I have shopped my home, and there is not much left from which to choose. {sigh}

After some chit-chat on Facebook, my sweet friend Cathi told me that she has a collection of antique Ball jars that I can have!!! I am beyond thrilled! ( I get excited over old jars....what can I say?). They are different heights too. When we can mesh our schedules and get together, I will add her collection to my beginner one, and we shall have Take #2.  Creating a summer mantel may take me until the fall to finish it! And then, I will need a fall idea. Be thinking for me! Y'all are awesome!

Sweet blessings,
Susan

The Elephant Has Been Eaten....Whew!

Hey sweet friends! As I jumped head over heels into the mantel and bookshelf project, I didn't think about how large or daunting a task it would be. I am so very thankful that Debbie at Painted Poppies was there encouraging me by texting and calling to check on the "elephant that I was trying to eat...". If you break it up in to small "bites," a project this big is very doable.

It took under three weeks to do simply because I was doing some traveling in between. Had I been home and "focused," I could have finished much sooner! But anyway.... it is DONE!!! So happy! And, I love it! Turning the dark wood into white magnolia and lightly distressing it opens up the entire room. Even the boys like it! They noticed without even being asked to tell me their thoughts.

Would I do this again? Ask me in a few months, and I will let you know! I will definitely do smaller projects--even have a few bouncing around in my head.  I really do like the chalk paint (Maison Blanche) and its advantages (no sanding prior to painting, no primer prior to sanding, repeat those phrases!!). The paint and wax (how you seal it) do go a long way under normal circumstances--if you are working on small pieces.

So, here are the before, during and after pics of my "elephant"---

 

Excuse the icky fireplace--we have never used it. I will show you how I "fixed" it in a few pictures!

 

 

Coat number one of three!

 

I love the distressed look from just a bit of sanding.

 

 Done!!! Check out the fireplace "cover!" And by the way, the chair and red pillow on the left that look out of place will have their own makeover once I figure out what to do. Just bear with me.

I got the stained glass window from our church chapel when the building was going through some remodeling. I wasn't sure what to do with it, but then I saw something similar on pinterest. I love the colors and the fact that there are broken pieces in the panes. Just as we are broken people and have to rely on God each day is my take on this window. It speaks to my heart.

Here is where I need your help! I am not sure what to put on either side of the mirror. At the moment, it will just stay like this. I have candles that I can place there, but I like to think outside the box...so if you have any cool ideas, please share them with me.

Sweet blessings,
Susan

Compassion International in Nicaragua

Happy Tuesday my friends! As of yesterday, a group of Compassion bloggers began their adventure in Nicaragua! I am so excited about this! After my trip with Compassion in January to Guatemala, I am more than ready to go back. I met our little girl, Iris and her mom.  What a tremendous blessing it was to me.  Maybe next time I go it will be....Uganda? Only the Lord knows and His timing is perfect. In the meantime, I wanted to share Edie's post with you all. She is one of the bloggers who is there, and I love what she has to say. Hope you enjoy!

Sweet blessings,
Susan

Trial Run of Project "Mantel Make-Over"



OK, since it looks like I actually might post more than one blog entry this month, I thought that I would go ahead and get started on my den redo. Before taking the plunge in the mantel make-over, I decided to go small and try my grandmama's side table first as I begin to play with sidewalk chalk paint--once a kindergarten teacher, always a teacher! No, it's actually chalk paint, and it's very cool!

 



 

We have a local store that sells this fabulous paint....Painted Poppies. Do visit them and tell them that I sent you!

Here is the before pic of grandmama's table. I spent many a Saturday morning helping her with chores--including dusting this piece. It's one of my favorites simply because it was hers! And, she let me go crazy with the Pledge! It would really shine!!

Below is after coat number one. I went ahead and did two thin coats because I just wasn't sure how it would look.

I used "Antique Blue" and love it! Two coats did the trick---and NO priming or sanding. Gotta love it!

I did decide to distress the wood a bit with a sanding block and just a bit of sandpaper. I won't distress the mantel as much when I tackle it. But this piece turned out fine. I was pleased.

 

 The secret to the chalk paint is in the wax...the finishing touch. I used the clear wax as I wanted to keep the table a light color. I was amazed at how easy it was to use.

 

I learned quite a bit doing this piece. It really is not difficult, but seeing the daunting size of the mantel and the bookshelves, I might just do another trial piece (procrastinator that I am!).

Sweet blessings,

Susan

Project on the Horizon

Can you believe that May is over, and June is here? Mercy! I am not exactly sure when I started to sound like Mama and say that time flies as you get older....but I do sound like her! And, maybe that's a good thing.

 

Summer is just around the corner! So excited that this is the last week of school (although we have exams to study and stress over!!) for the kids in our district. Praise the Lord! I do have a few plans rolling around in my head for some summer projects. How about you all?

 

First on my list is to have a make-over. Not for me, even though I need one! No, I am thinking about the den. We have lived in this house for 7 years now, and I love it. I have also tried for 7 years to "heart" these dark wooden cabinets.

 

 Notice the lovely brass pulls-- circa 1980's---they will be going along with the dark color! I am thinking some fun and sassy pulls (maybe Hobby Lobby style!).

 When we moved here, we removed the front cabinets and painted the back wall yellow to brighten up this area. It helped a little bit...but not much.

We placed the mirror in front of the humongeous dark space to try and lighten it up a bit as well.

 

But y'all, it's still DARK!!

 

I just don't do dark. Sorry! I love bright, cheerful and clean color schemes. So, with that being said, I trucked on over to a fun store and spoke with some amazing and knowledgeable girls about

 

Chalk Paint!!!

 

Yes, sirree....I am taking the plunge. I am not going with Annie Sloan--it's a great paint from what I have heard. I am using one called Maison Blanche paint. It has a wider variety of colors from which to choose----and I am all about the colors. And, the wax is supposed to go on like butter! Having talked at length (I talked her ears off I am afraid!), sweet Debbie with

Painted Poppies, LLC has shown me a plan that I hope to implement soon....like really soon.  Like maybe next week if the clear wax comes in when it's supposed to. And my fingers are crossed.

 

So, sweet friends, what summertime projects do you foresee in the next few weeks? Other than sleeping in a bit!

 

Sweet blessings,

Susan