An Awesome Blog with an Awesome Giveaway!!

I recently entered a giveaway on a blog  that I saw on S.I.T.S.

If you've never been to this site, you should!

It's an amazing website to mingle and interact with other bloggers.

I came across Erins Awesome Blog.

Any blog that self proclaims itself as awesome haaaas to be

checked out.

Let me tell you, Erin did not disappoint.

At Alllllllll.

Her blog focuses on her daily life

but it also showcases her gorgeous photography

that she sells on her etsy shop and her website,

Rains on the Plain.

I had the pleasure of not only WINNING (yay!!!)

one her stunning works,

but I was also fortunate enough to interview this

wonderful woman.

1. Your work is very vivid and amazing.

 Where do you get your inspiration?

My inspiration is the beauty of life. I love using photography to

make a moment last a lifetime, a small splash become immortal or to

make an everyday sunset extraordinary. Using paints, pastels,

charcoals and other implements I reinterpret what I see around me

through the filter of my soul.

 2.When did you discover a love for photography?

I discovered photography by accident, I was actually taking
pictures of my paintings to use online. A friend of my fiance's sent

us an advanced camera body and I started using it to take pictures of

everything and found that I liked the art behind capturing pictures,

especially seascapes. Before I got that camera, I never bothered to

take pictures, they always came out blurry or not great. It was a

great creative discovery to find out how to use the camera and take

better pictures.

 

 3. Who is your greatest influence?

My greatest influence photographically are actually wedding

photographers. I don't want to be a wedding photographer, but I love

that they capture moments, scenes and joy in expression, people and

decorations. I read the blogs of Becker (http://beckersblog.com),

Jasmine Star (http://jasminestarblog.com) and Ashley Forrette

(http://blog.ashleyforrette.com/) at least once a week.

Outside of photography I am influenced by the loads of creative people

I meet through etsy and artistic venues like it.

 4.How would you describe your art?

I create art because of the sheer overwhelming joy that it brings.

My belief is that art is not only healthy but transformative for all

that are touched by it. I'd describe my artwork as passionate, joyous

and positive because it brings all of those things to my life.

 Now on to the fun questions....

5. Favorite day of the week ? Why?

I like Wednesday. It's the most fun to spell. My favorite date

is my wedding date 2/27/2010.

 6. What's your guilty pleasure?

A good bottle of wine and a bubble bath. Homemade ravioli. 600

thread count sheets and fuzzy LL Bean slippers.

7. Person you're dying to meet?

Tori Spelling. I just think she's adorable on her tv show with her

cute husband and kids.

 8. The one song you sing out loud every time you hear it?

The Way I Am by Ingrid Michaelson. It's a good song, even if it

was on a commercial.

 

Erin is soooo awesome (her blog says so)

that she is doing a GIVEAWAY

especially for Six in One Hand!!!!!!

One lucky winner will win a 6x9 print of her fabulous work

"Man in the Ground."

All you have to do is visit Erin's website or her etsy shop

and leave a comment letting me know which one you love.

The winner will be drawn on October 8th.

As always, if you blog about my lil giveaway

and Erin's awesome artwork,

you get an EXTRA comment!!!!

Whatcha waitin' for?

Go check Erin out.

You will be blown away..... I promise.

 

Home Again, Home Again....

Whewwww!

After two long days and a total of a eight hour round trip,

I am finally home from Warrenton.

WHAT A BLAST!!!!!

 Words can't even begin to describe all the junky goodness

that was there

(along with some fine antiques as well.)

My mind is racing and my dogs are hurtin'.

(There is a tub full of epsom salt waiting for me.)

I will post the giveaway this afternoon, but I had to give you

a teaser of the great finds available at Warrenton.

Told you it was a tease!!!

That's all for now folks!

I'll be back this afternoon to introduce you

to an amazing artist and an awesome

GIVEAWAY!!!!!!

I'm off to soak my aching feet and take a nap....

Zappity Doo Dah, Zappity Aye...

My bags are packed and my heart is a racin'!

I'm off to Zapp Hall in Warrenton, Texas.

This is my first year to go to Round Top and Warrenton and

I CAN'T WAIT!!!!

I feel like a little kid on Christmas Eve.

The Divine Mr. M immediately said "We have to go"

when I first mentioned it.

(Oh how I love him so!!!)

I can't wait to see all the awesome junk and antiques

as well as to meet the amazing vendors who work so hard at getting the best stuff.

Look out ya'll....

Here I Come!

I will return on Monday with LOTS of pics,

great finds,  and an

AWESOME GIVEAWAY!!!!!!

Be sure to check back and see what I scored

this weekened.

Psssst!

It's a kid free weekend, so there will be some newlywed time

with my hubby also.....YAY!!!!!

Honest Scrap .....Honestly.

I was recently honored by Lilia with

2 Brown Eyed Beauties

with a Honest Scrap award!

This means so much to me.

I am so humbled and thankful.

Thank you Lilia!!!

 Here are the rules that must be followed upon receiving this award:

1) Say thanks and give a link to the presenter of the award.

2) Share "10 Honest Things" about myself.

3) Present this award to 7 others whose blogs I find brilliant in content and/or design, or those who have encouraged me.

4) Tell those 7 people they've been awarded HONEST SCRAP and inform them of these guidelines in receiving.

 

 

So, without further adieu.....

 

1. I am honest....to a fault. I will almost always tell the truth...even if it hurts.

 

2. I hate blatant stupidity. There's no reason for it.

I don't even like stupid comedy like American Pie.

I just don't get it.

 

3.I love nursing! It's the only thing I ever wanted to do when I was little.

I believe that was the calling God gave me because I've been doing this

for almost fifteen years and I still love it.

 

4.Valentine's Day is my favorite holiday.

I'm a hopeless romantic I guess.

 

5. I hate infestations.

Two or less of any critter...I can deal with.

Three or more...my skin starts to crawl.

 

6. I prefer to sleep alone in bed.

I love my husband, but I truly enjoy

when he gets up early to go to work and I

can have the bed all to myself. :)

 

7.I am a professional patient.

I have a blood disorder and I have been

hospitalized 47 times in the last two years because of it.

 

8. I snort when I laugh.

I am normally this very composed person

but when I start to laugh, I sound like

the village idiot.

 

9.I've had a near death experience....twice.

Let's just say that almost dying

keeps things in perspective.

 

10. I am a nerd!

That's right...hardcore, book reading, knowledge hoarding nerd!

My high school letterman jacket was in...Academics.

My favorite TV channel is the History and Discovery channel.

I got it honest....

My grandmother graduated Valedictorian as did my father.

 

 

I would like to now pass on this award to seven blogs who continue

to inspire and amaze me with their

bloggy awesomeness (like that new word?)

every day.

 

 

Happy Nester

 

Hunter and Hailey's Mom

 

Just the Two of  Us

 

Mamie Jamie's

 

Sassafras Stuff

 

Talking Trash

 

The Junkin Yaya

 

Check these ladies out if you haven't yet.

They are amazingly talented

and full of inspiration.

 

I have to go find a place to hang my award now....

PSSSSST!  I'm having a givewaway on Monday!!!!!!

Be sure to check back then!!!!

It's Better to Give....

This is my great aunt Ruth.

She is an amazing woman.

At 86 years old, she still lives alone and cares for herself.

She is the most hardcore, honest, fiesty and sincere woman

I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.

When I talked to my aunt the other day she was down in the dumps.

My aunt has been ill for several years now

and I think it's starting to wear her down.

So I decided to make her something to cheer her up.

I started with this.....

This was a shadowbox frame that I had.

It was brand new and sitting around.

I decided that plain brown was NOT my aunt's style.

So, I added paint...

Heirloom white to be exact.

Two coats for great coverage.

I took out the glass and glued some gorgeous scrapbook paper to the back.

I then added a cross that I painted to coordinate with the look.

Still....no pizazz.

I decided to hand paint something inspirational

as my aunt is a great woman of faith.

Still....not feeling it.

Aging!!!!

That's what it needed!

I sanded the edges and the words.

I then used my favorite distressing ink to give

a burnished look.

My aunt loved it!

She placed it on her nightstand by her bed.

I hope it will continue to give her inspiration

as she has given me.

Picture This!!!!

I have a hallway that goes from my back door to the front of my house that has one empty wall.

I really wanted to display our family photos in a unique way that allowed people to see

a true reflection of us.

I purchased several old windows from a lady who was remodeling her older home.

I bought the larger windows for five dollars and the smaller ones for three dollars.

(although the smaller ones are a really good size.)

I  edited photos that I had taken of our children and

gave them the same effect to give the pictures a unified look.

I them printed the pictures and taped them behind the glass.

I even edited some of our wedding photos

and placed them behind the smaller window pane.

There was a nail hole in the window,

so I added a fleur de lis embellishment.

The Divine Mr. M measured and measured and measured

before hanging the windows on the wall.

There were open spaces left on the wall,

so I decided to add some architectural interest by adding

different pieces for texture.

This is the face of a dresser drawer that I found on the curb.

I loved the carving soooo much.

I painted it white and distressed the front to give it some age.

I then painted the knob with some Oil Rubbed Bronze...my fave.

I love the look it gives!

Here's the wall from the only angle that I could squeeze in.

(sorry. The hallway is very narrow.)

I added our family initial, a key, a door knob, and a large fleur de lis as well.

I also added the window from my great grandmother's house with a wonderful quote

 that I talked about here.

This is Mr. M's favorite project by far!!!

I love the originality and the aged look it gives.

Hope ya'll like it too!!!!!!

PSSSST!!!! I'm participating in Transformation Thursday with my girl

over at the Shabby Chic Cottage

and Make Your Monday with Twice Remembered

and Metamorphosis Monday with Between Naps on the Porch.

One More Time...............

I was soooo excited about this giveaway

but sadly Nicolette never contacted me after a month of patiently waiting

I finally had to take down the streamers and pop all the balloons.

So after redrawing a name....

Congratulations

2Browneyed beauties!!!!

Give me your contact info and this baby is YOURS!!!!

Heather Bullard inspired back door

I fell in love with this back door planter by Heather Bullard.

The simplicity of the jar in chicken wire with the ribbon and trims

just made me oooh and aaahhh.

I was so inspired I decided to make one of my own.

I did not copy Heather as she is an incredible artist

and could never be reproduced.

I simply took her look for inspiration and made this....

I decided not to use straight chicken wire.

Let's face it....I'm accident prone.

There was no way I was going to involve myself with sharp metal.

I did place my Ball jar inside this grapevine and chicken wire basket

I got at Hob Lob.

(It's by the wreaths.)

I then filled it in with moss and place my flowers in my jar.

The frames were the vintage metal ones that I purchased from GW.

I spray painted them black and then added scrapbook paper

and french wording that I tea stained.

The pocket watch was found for a dollar at a flea market.

(I'm still on the hunt for the one I mentioned here.)

It doesn't work so I thought it would be a great accent piece.

(Sorry for the sideways pic. I don't know what happened with this one.)

I added a bird with feathers and berries

to give a hint of fall and a touch of color.

I made the tassel in true Nester fashion.

This was alot harder than I thought.

In the end, I enjoyed the finished product.

I really love my back door now.

I have plans on changing out the flowers and trim for christmas.

I hope my creation inspires you as Heather Bullard did mine.

P.S.  I'm a little torn about the new "fall" look on my page.

Do ya like it?

Hate it?

Is it too busy?

Keep it simple?

Stay the same?

Let me know what ya think.

I value ya'lls opinion.

Pssst!!!   I'm participating in Metamorphasis Monday with Between Naps on the Porch

How to turn an old urn...into an old urn

One of my treasures when I hit junk paydirt

was this cute metal urn that I got for $4.

 As you can see, it was this weird green color with spots of rust.

I love rust. It makes my heart go pitter patter.

But the green paint made my stomach do something else.

So I decided to paint her.

She was pretty but she didn't have much character.

Besides, who wants to be around a girl that's all fluff ?

I decided this girl needed some grit.

I  went to some of my most trusted allies to give her a makeover.

Meet raw umber and burnt umber paint.

DIRT cheap!! Great mileage!!!

(I feel like I'm trying to sell a used car.)

I use these two paints to add a little age and give the illusion of worn places on my work.

I simply painted it on, let it sit for like 5 seconds

(I get freaked out if I wait  any longer...afraid it might get stuck like that.)

 Then I take my trust dusty soft rag and start to wipe it off leaving some in the crevices.

My new BFF (sorry spray paint) is Distress Ink.

LADIES!!!!!!!!

This stuff is DA BOMB!!!!

I don't know who Jim Holtz is or how he came up with this stuff but it is F.A.B.U!!!!!

It's in the stamping aisle at your craft store and is for paper but

paper...schmaper....

This stuff comes in ALL KINDS of finishes like old paper, vintage photo, etc.

It gives an aging like no other.

I dab the inkpad with a paper towel and then dab my urn.

I keep dabbing until I'm satisfied with the look.

Then I wipe off the excess with my soft rag.

I slightly dampened my rag for the ink to give it a softer look.

Just repeat the process between the paint and the ink until you have......

Something like this!!!!!

TA-DAH!!!!

She looks nice and rusted and patina-ed (is that a word?)

without the icky green paint.

Now all she needs are some dried hydrangeas. (hint...hint...) (talking trash?)

She will hopefully have a spot by my back door soon.

Just waiting on those hydrangeas.......

PSSSST! 

I'm participating in Frugal Friday at the Shabby Nest

and Thursday Transformation with The Shabby Chic Cottage

Things that make you go ...EEK!

Check out Matthew Mead's newest Halloween magazine: Hundreds of Spooky Treats and Clever Crafts for the Best Holiday Ever! Beautiful photos of easy, creative and fun projects and straight-forward directions and patterns that will appeal to crafters of every age. On newstands now throughout the U.S. and Canada!

As fall approaches, I can only think of one thing...HALLOWEEN!!!!!

I thought I'd let ya'll know about this great new magazine with TONS of ideas!

I will soon be starting all of my halloween decorating and I can't wait to show ya'll the cool things I have in store.

Can I Get a Woot Woot!!!!

I Won!  I Won! 

Tracey from the French Larkspur informed me that

I won her $150 giveaway!!!! Yayuh!!!

I've been doing the "Happy Spazzy Dance" for two days now!

The hardest part about winning?

Deciding what to buy!

She has such gorgeous items in her shop like these.....

and she carries Jeanne d' Arc Living items and magazines!

Go buy and check her out.

Tracey has such gorgeous items to offer.

You will not be disappointed!

I can't wait to show ya'll what I picked out.

Let There Be Light!!!!

See this little beauty of a pendant light fixture?

Cute but not real pretty?

(We've all met girls like that.)

Poor thing was on sale at GW for $1.49.

She had no self dignity left.

Insert one junker at heart, a can of Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint,

and an electrician who just HAPPENS to be

your husband.

(Yes that is sweat.. I'm a hard taskmaster.)

And you have one very pretty light.

She just needed a little makeup.

(oh, and a $8 globe from Lowe's.)

For ten dollars, she feels like a million bucks.

I love the soft glow she gives in my hallway now.

Just divine!

PSSSST!!!!!

I'm participating in  Southern Hospitality Thrifty finds

and Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphasis Monday
along with Sanctuary Arts at Home for a Before and After.

Go check them and all the ladies who have participated out!!

Relaxation Inspiration

As most of us in America take a day to celebrate Labor Day

and seek rest and relaxation from slaving away on our jobs,

I thought that I would provide some inspiration for such an event.

Better Home and Gardens

Imagine going to your place of solitude.

Your haven from the rest of the world.

A place where you could lounge on your daybed and read

while dining on fresh fruit.

Country Living

A place where you could take long soaks

in your bathtub and forget all of your troubles.

Alice W

Maybe you would enjoy a cup of tea.

Alice W

Or dine by candlelight in sheer serenity.

Whatever you do today, don't forget to take time to stop

and smell the roses and just relax.

I'm going to work on some projects.

(It relaxes me, okay?)