The Furniture Has Arrived Finally...The New Office Space

 I finally was able to get my furniture I bought while at the Round Top show last March.  (I actually bought one of the pieces in another room last September.  After 3 other shippers flaked on me...one who cashed my deposit and kept it...I finally found a shipper who would/could deliver.  Roll'en Hills Delivery is the company you want to work with if you need shipping from Texas.)  This is my old dining room.  We took out the carpet and put in hardwood floors, took out the chair rail and patched up the walls, added new wider baseboards, new curtains, and a new computer.  We still have to add the fan and get rid of the chandelier, and add some more lighting.  My husband will also install a flat screen tv over his desk if he can figure out how to get cable service in there.

 Here are the after pictures.

 I bought the Graflex camera at the Marburger show.  A few of the cameras my husband had collected, and I bought a few more at the flea market in Wimberly.  Did I tell you my husband is a photographer?

 Trying to make the bookcases look interesting but stay functional is difficult.  I took off book covers and put the books in all different directions.  The really ugly paperbacks I put on a closet bookshelf.

 I camouflaged some ugly books behind this little poster. 

 Others I hid by lining them up in an old locker basket I bought at Wimberly.  I wish I would have bought more.

 Other books worked as book ends and display risers.

 Here is what the shelf looked like in its entirety.

 I found two corbels for $10 each.  I think they made great book ends as well.

 These gears I found at Marburger.  They add interest to the shelf.

 More cameras displayed.

 The Graflex I bought at Marburger.  It is such a great looking camera.  It was the only one I paid very much for and even it wasn't bad.  The other cameras ranged from $5-$20 each. 

The new desk and computer.  We are in process on this side.


Link to Jennifer Rizzo's "Pretty up you plain jane party.

I Love Things That Have Meaning

Candice took a color class at BYU and she had to do a project. Being a photographer she wanted to tie that in as well (or maybe it was part of the class.) We got inspiration from a poem I had and put the first line of the poem on the quilt. "Home is where you can be silent and still be heard." The pictures are of my grandparents, great grandfather (in the kilt from Scotland), and other relatives. The flowers symbolize that they have passed away and are honored by their posterity. The quilt represents that even though my ancestors have passed away their character traits, genes, testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and talents live on through us. Hence, "Home is where you can be silent and still be heard."

I fabrics started out as white cotton that we dyed in the bathtub with acrylic craft paints, cut up into smaller pieces and sewed them back together. The stippling/quilting was done on the sewing machine. The jewelry is all inherited and also represents them. It is pinned on so any piece can be removed and worn. I have other jewelry that I put on there but I like to wear them and don't always put them back. I'm sentimental and they mean a lot to me. This small quilt hangs in our study.

This stitchery represents my other grandmother, Mildred Hunt. She was always looking out for us before she passed away. I still think she is up there, looking down on us, and watching out for our welfare. The purse to the left was hers. It is hand crocheted and very old. (1800's) These are in my studio. The walls are filled with all kinds of treasures that don't fit with my style anymore but I still love them.

Here is a close up. The angel represents my grandmother, our last name and the year we were married are stitch in their along with a heart that represents my husband. My children's names are stitched as well. Saundra White (I think that was her name), was the artist who drew the design for me. I sold her patterns called "I done My Best," in my store, Heartland Manor, and she was doing an artists open house for me. I did the stitching myself.

What do you have in your home that honors your ancestry? I'd love to hear.

Thought For Today - Goals

I heard recently that 80% of those New Year's goals are forgotten by February. Are you one of those people that have already dropped your goals? Here are a few quotes that might help you get back on track.

Remember, "A goal not written is a wish."

I found this one today in my Costco Magazine...hey, you never know where your inspiration will come from so I'm open to all sources. :) "Commitment attracts opportunities the rational conscious mind is unaware of." Brian Klemmer

So, if you haven't written down your goals and dreams, go for it. You will be amazed at how much you can accomplish.