Thrifty Thursday Vintage Maps

I love old maps, especially fabric ones, but those are hard to come by. However, old atlases are still pretty easy to find at the thrift store. Today's thrifty Thursday project started with a couple of old atlases and those giant pick-up sticks I used last week (HERE). 

The maps in these old books are lovely, the colors make my heart go pitter-patter. But, the paper they are printed on is thin and tears easily. 

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! I am a sunrise and sunset watcher and living where I do, I count on seeing some pretty amazing skies most of the time. And, I KNOW the sun will show up and rise every day over the mountains to the east and that it will set each evening over the mountains in the west. When Job was suffering horribly, three friends came to him, wailed with him, and sat with him. They didn't know why he was suffering, but they were reliable and showed up anyway. We need to show up every day for others in our life. Whether you realize it or not, someone is depending on you to show up. Someone needs you to simply be there--to sit with them, to be present, to be dependable. Know that every day the world needs YOU to show up--someone is anticipating and hoping you will be there. 

Thrifty Thursday Pick Up Sticks Lamp

I recently found these at the thrift store: XXL yard game pick-up sticks. I wasn't sure when I bought them if I was going to upcycle, repurpose them or use them for projects. But, soon project ideas started running through my head, so they won out over outdoor fun.

I loved the colors painted on them and decide to use 15 of them (3 of each color) to make a funky lamp.

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! Like much of the country, it has been cold here in Montana. And while that is not unusual, for me it sure has induced a need to hibernate, more so than usual. I have been happy to stay home, avoiding social events, but that has made me feel a bit guilty. Why do we feel like we always have to be doing? It isn't from God.There are several verses in the Bible telling us to rest--from work, from worry and fear, from stress and anxiety. Jesus needed and took time to rest. When we allow ourselves time to slow down, to renew in quiet, to pause, and embrace rest rather than feel guilty about it, we are able to better connect with Jesus. Give yourself permission to slow down, receive God's gift of rest and grace, and enjoy the quiet days.

Rustic Grain Elevator Painting

For the past two months I have been playing with painting some of my favorite Montana scenes and spots. Here is my latest:

I use salvaged pieces of plywood as my canvas and scrap wood pieces and chunks as my paintbrushes.

This photo was my inspiration for this piece. My painting is not an exact replica, but rather inspired by the photo.

The background is my starting point, I usually use two or three colors. I then paint and fix and paint and add and sand until I am happy.

My final step is adding a frame, staining everything, and clear coating. I have sold a handful of these paintings and am enjoying the challenge and creative aspect of painting with scrap wood pieces.

Reclaimed Wood Hearts

'Tis the season...for HEARTS! I have been working on a few projects. This reclaimed wood heart art is an oldie, but one that is always a favorite. 

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! Do you ever feel like the glue that is holding everything and everyone together? Are you the keeper of the schedules, the encourager, the planner, the chef and taxi driver, and all of the other roles you manage keeping your family sane? I have complained to God about having to be the glue, asking him who is helping me keep it all together. He gently reminded me that HE is the glue, NOT me. I might be the bottle through which his glue is dispensed to my family, but Jesus is the bonding component. Through him all things were created and his ever-present embrace binds us to him. He keeps us from falling apart--let's lean into him and let Jesus work.

Rustic Heart Painting

I have been having a lot of fun painting with wood scraps on pieces of plywood. My latest painting was an easy, colorful, rustic heart.

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! Have you ever had to wait on someone? Waiting can make us feel annoyed, irritated, frustrated, and angry. Knowing how we handle waiting, it really is amazing to think that God waits on us. While we wrestle with our pride and independence or our feelings of inadequacy and unworthiness, he waits patiently for us to come to him. And when we finally do, he does not chastise us for making him wait, but he shows us mercy and grace and compassion. God created us to need him and he longs for us to realize that. When we do, he happily welcomes us with loving arms--no matter how long we have made him wait.

Thrifty Thursday Guest Room Vignette

My guest room is, well, a hodge podge of leftovers. AND, it has pink carpeting that we would love to tear out. But, until then, I have tried to embrace the pink by decorating with grey and white and few green and pink touches. I decided the room needed a more homey touch. I decided to start with some vignettes for the dresser and night stand. 

I scoped out vignettes on Pinterest and with a few pins in mind, I set out to the local thrift store. I found so many good things! These are just a few of them:

I put some of these, and a few more things purchased previously at the thrift store, to create a cute, farmhouse vignette on the top of the dresser in the spare room.