Home current projects our home about design consulting for sale Image Map

Thursday, December 19, 2013

"When you know something is in there you will look harder to find it".....

Today's Post sums up the purpose of this blog.

One day I was making 'Beer Can Chicken". Now if you haven't had this before you should try it. It's an amazing roasted chicken. You can use any type of liquid; beer, coke, chicken broth, etc.

So, I was looking for my measuring spoons in the drawer and I couldn't find them so I closed the drawer and started looking for something else to use. I then remembered that I placed the measuring spoons in that drawer so I pulled everything out until I found them. Yes, they were right where I believed they would be. I then clearly had the thought, "when you know something is in there you will look harder to find it." It felt like I was in the scene from the movie Field of dreams when Ray heard "if you build it they will come"....I just knew the Lord was referring to the treasures he placed inside of us. If you believe you have something of value in you, you will look harder to find it. This blog is a celebration of those discoveries I've found within myself during my journey of working on many many projects, as well as through the projects of others. My desire for this blog is to inspire you to find your treasure too.


Saturday, November 23, 2013

Fall Fireplace Mantel






You can create a great look on a budget. It helps to start out with a great backdrop. In a later post I will show you the before and after pictures of this fireplace. I HATED it! I was ready to rip it out and replace it with manufatured stone, but i decided to save my money for many many other things and paint it instead.... So back to the fall decor...I got the tin bucket at a garage sale for $1, I found the old books in 2 different places some are from Canton, TX (First Monday trade days in Canton, TX) and the others I got in upstate New York at an antique mall. I didn't pay more than $2 each but most were $1 each. My mom and brother-in-law gave me lots of grapevine so I used some here, my mom also gave me the pine cones from the trees around her house. I splurged on the ribbon that came from Paul Michaels in Canton, TX. The leaf garland came from big lots a few years ago. The Iron Ribbon came from Canton this summer for $5. The white pearl garland I got from a garage sale for $2, The sticks in the bucket came from my old tree in the front yard. The candle holders also came from Canton. Can you tell I really like to shop in Canton?! I wrapped a little piece of burlap ribbon around the tin bucket and added a few of Hobby Lobby's scrapbook flowers.

Basically you start off with placing a few large items on your mantel. I like to have something in the middle then balance each side. So I placed this metal basket I got at an antique mall in the center, then the bucket on the left and placed the candles on the right. I used thumb tacks to hold the mesh onto of the mantle. I folded the mesh in half then gathered it in the center and placed a pin in it. I then did the same on both ends of the mantel. Next was to place the leaf garland. I just draped it same as the mesh. Then I followed suit with the ribbon twisting it a little as I placed it, pulling the leaves out around the ribbon. Lastly, I draped the pearl ribbon on top. Once this was all done I gently placed the grapevine on top of it all, breaking it in places where it would not lay down properly. Don't be afraid of breaking off pieces and just laying them on top. And there you have it!

Happy Thanksgiving....