Shelf Decor for Fall

Y'all, I have been MIA! I was told once to never apologize for infrequently blogging. After all, I realize you are not hanging on my every word or project, but I do hope to jump back on the blogging boat soon. 

Right now I only have time for quick projects and these cute shelf sitters fit the bill perfectly.

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! Life feels busy right now and routine and I find myself going through the motions, doing the things, ticking off the list without appreciating the small, every day things. But then, something as simple as a sunset, can stop me and remind me to pause and enjoy the simple, still moments. Jesus wants us to take delight in life. He wants us to live a full and abundant and good life. God does not want the drudgery and mundane to steal our happiness and contentment. Pause. Breathe. Seek Jesus. Appreciate and live life where you are, today.

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! In the junking/antiquing business we often hear, "What is this worth?" We say it is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. In other words, you may have an incredibly valuable antique, but if you are hoping to sell it to make money and don't have a buyer, it isn't worth anything. We may have all of the faith in the world, but if we are acting without love that faith is nothing. Faith is powerful, but only when we pair it with unconditional love. Acting, speaking, helping, trying to change circumstances must be done in love. We will only change the world by becoming love with open arms and open hearts, by getting in the trenches with each other, by leaving the judgement to God. When we love first, we will move mountains.

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! Labor Day, the unofficial end to summer. I find myself holding on to the warm days, being well aware that winter will be here sooner than I want. One of the gifts of getting older is knowing that seasons are a part of life. Easy seasons are appreciated and savored, tough seasons are endured as they strengthen faith. And, through it all, God remains. He is faithful and present. He is the God who sees, who knows what we are going through and if we let him, will use our seasons to teach us unconditional love. There is a reason for our seasons (yep, that rhymed) and whichever you are in, hold on, relax and rest in the truth that it has a purpose and that it will change.

How to Build a Rustic Shipping Crate

I love building crates--they are easy and so versatile and useful. Let me show you how to make a distressed, shipping crate.

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! God wants relationship with you, period. Seems simple enough, and God intended it to be that way when he sent Jesus to earth. But, humans that we are, we complicate it. We tell ourselves lies as to why we don't have relationship with Jesus: we aren't good enough. we don't have it together, Jesus followers are weird and mean, I will be judged, it's just not for me, I don't need God, God doesn't care about me. While sadly there might be some partial truths in some of these thoughts, they are not God's truth. Jesus wants to tear down every lie that is keeping you from him. He wants you to know that he loves you and NOTHING will change that. He is pursuing you. That empty feeling, that place in you that you can't seem to fill with earthly things--Jesus wants to infuse it with his love, that is truth you can rely on.

Rustic Fall Sign

Fall is in the air...well, sort of. It is 90+ right now, but has been getting cooler at night. And for makers, fall creating is definitely here!  

(affiliate links)

Funky Junk's Old Sign Stencils make fall crafting a cinch. I used three of the fall signs to make this adorable, rustic sign perfect for a porch or garden.

I love these free standing signs because they can go anywhere. I start with a board, 2" x 4", etc. to use as the post. I cute bottom braces 10" long (or longer if your post is heavier) and attach them to the main post in a + pattern. this is the bottom of the sign.

I stenciled the signs on three different boards, each one weathered an as is. NOTE--the stencil prices you see are in Canadian which translates to a lesser price in the U.S. (see stencils HERE). Make a sign for yourself and a few for gifts and you have more than made your investment back.

I cut the signs to look like arrows and attached the with screws to the main post. I used a clear coat over all of it to bring out the natural finish of the wood. 

This is a super easy project, especially using the high quality stencils. I can't wait to share more places I have used these fun, fall signs. 

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! No, don't worry, I am not starting Christmas posts and not ready for Christmas at all. But, as a kid I loved Christmas and couldn't wait for the decorations, the special foods, the songs, and the gifts. I thought it all happened magically and I had no idea how much work my mom did behind the scenes as I impatiently waited for my favorite holiday. As an adult I have a hard time waiting for different things- a difficult situation to change, a loved one to step into who God created them to be, an answer to a long-prayed prayer. God is in the waiting, always working even when we don't see it or realize it.  God is active in the waiting, never ceasing to work on our behalf. Whatever you are waiting for, have faith that God knows, he sees us and he never stops working for us.

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! I am a shower crooner--honestly, the shower is the only space where this non-singer should be belting out tunes. I sing a variety of songs: Beyonce, Led Zeppelin, Jack Johnson, Bonnie Raitt, twangy country songs. One song I often find myself singing is from my childhood Sunday school days, "this is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it". Abraham Lincoln is quoted with saying we are about as happy as we make our minds up to be. I agree that we can choose happiness, choose joy. We can focus on the positive, we can see the small, everyday things as blessings, we can choose to delight in the ordinary, practice gratitude, laugh at the little moments. Please note, I do know that depression is real and for some choosing joy is not as simple as making up our minds that we are going to be happy. If that is you, please seek help. Thankfully, for most of us, it is a choice and switching our mind set can completely change our attitudes and view on life. Today, rejoice and choose happiness.

Rustic Tin Paintings

Hubby was speaking my love language when he brought home a truckload of rusty, corrugated tin the other day (the next day he brought home a truckload of maple flooring scraps!). 

I used a couple of the small pieces this past weekend for a couple paintings. I love painting sunflowers so I painted some on the tin. After blobbing (a technical painting term) some aqua colored paint on the tin, I painted several flowers.

(I do not know what settings I had my camera on, but these are blurry, sorry!)

I framed the tin and used stain over all of it. It is simple and happy and sunny!

I also painted a star (not as easy as it seems with the curves of the tin). I painted yellow first, then red, a little green and finally aqua.

Again, I finished it with a frame and stain. 

They are not perfect, but perfectly rustic and happy.

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! As a kid I remember trying to count the rings of tree stumps. I liked looking at the different rings, seeing the tree's story--the years of major growth and the years that the tree went through drought and tough times. If we could look "inside" others, we would see that we all have a story. Every person we meet has been through something, something that has changed them and helped them to become who they are. We need to take the time to see and understand each other's stories. All around us people are living out difficult circumstances. We need to seek out their stories, listen, recognize their pain, take a real and genuine interest in each other. When we know people's stories, we are humbled and we are better able to love each other. Take the time to ask questions, to look inside others and truly see them.

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! I love the mountains that surround our home in southwest Montana. Not only are they beautiful, they are constant, always there, and that is comforting to me. The snow levels or the cloud coverage on them may change, but they do not. Life is constantly changing. There are good days and bad days, times when we make the right choices and times when we do not, moments on the mountain tops and times spent in the valleys. But, through it all, God is constant and faithful. God does not change. The same God of the Bible, the one who rescued the lowliest of the low, the God who performed miracles, the Father who loved extravagantly and unconditionally still sits on his throne. When we trust God, live in his faithfulness and let him be a constant in our lives we can weather the changes in our lives.

Rustic Sunflowers

Sunny sunflowers make me happy. They are bright and cheerful and reach for the sun. I decided to paint some.

I call these rustic because they are imperfect and rough. I paint on pieces of plywood that are not smooth, using ONLY wood scraps as my paintbrushes. I started painting a dark blue, then aqua, then white for the background. I leave some spots bare wood so stain will fill those areas.

I then paint, layering colors. I started with black centers and light yellow petals. I then added a deeper yellow and a brown to the centers. I "shaded" and highlighted with whites and browns. I do a little sanding over the whole painting and then add a frame and stain.

These paintings have sold well for me, but better yet, I absolutely love creating them.

Why I Love Little Stools

I don't know if that post title makes anyone else giggle like it does me (maybe you are more mature and poop words don't make you laugh), BUT, I am talking about little wood benches today. I love 'em because they are so darn versatile. 

I recently came across a couple that needed quick makeovers to turn them into perfect little farmhouse pieces.

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! You have maybe heard the saying "standing in the gap", but what does that mean and how do we do it? God has always used people to bridge the gap and to help accomplish his purposes. God doesn't need us, but he is moved when we intervene for others. We bridge the obstacles and difficulties for others by praying for them. When people are struggling, when they are hurting and feeling beaten down and helpless, when they feel alone and forgotten, when they feel distant from Jesus or don't have a relationship with him, we can intercede for them. It is no small thing when we say will pray for someone and when we do God's heart is spurred to action. Standing in the gap changes lives.

Happy Fourth of July

Thrift Store Summer Decor Pinwheels

Today I am sharing more summer thrift store decor ideas for you home that including an easy project.

Thrift Store Summer Decor Centerpiece

Do you all have a decor closet or cupboard or box? I have one cupboard in my laundry room devoted to smalls that I like to decorate with throughout the year. It has things like artificial flowers, jars, trays, different orbs (wire, croquet balls, seed balls, etc.), things to use for table runners, candles and candlesticks, and other things that are almost entirely from the thrift store or from garage sales. So when I picked up this great, vintage feedsack from the thrift store,

I knew I could go to my cupboard and put together a summery, fourth of July centerpiece in no time. 

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! We have a multitude of birds in our yard and I have become a bit of a birdwatcher. I love seeing the different species nest and spending time in our trees and bushes. There are many birds that I hear, but never see. Even though I may not know where they are, God sees and knows and keeps track of each and every bird just like he sees and knows our every need. It may not always seem like God sees us. At times it even feels like he has turned a deaf ear to our pleas and we feel like he has forgotten us. But, rest assured, even when it doesn't feel like it, God sees us and knows the desires of our hearts. He is always listening. Trust that hears us and will provide for us.

One Hour Wall Makeover

Y'all (no, I am not southern but prefer a good y'all to you guys), I have not posted a project in a month! The reason for my hiatus, I am not sure?? I have been busy and I guess needed a break from staging pictures, editing, and writing. But, I have missed sharing with you, so I hope to be back. 

And my first project to share with you is this quick, easy, inexpensive wall makeover.