Sunday, March 27, 2011

it's a keeper...

I wanted to show you a bit of  
 pretty


It hasn't been all work
and no play around here.

One of the things 
I am trying to keep in mind
as 
I sort
and 
decide
is:

Do I love it?

Does it reflect me?


This met my requirements.



It is
keeper.


I do love it.
It does reflect me.



It is unique, old and so pretty.

It has handpainted roses and words

I've had it for a long time
and
it has looked like this for years...


the dark green mat is from my victorian decor days
not right for today's look

in order to really make progress
I also need to finish projects
so after deciding that it was a keeper
I set aside an afternoon to work on it

I painted the mat
and
then went after it with my spritzer of coffee


much better, don't you think?




to address my last post.
I'm not sure why I posted all of that
I tend to be like that.


impulsive


But what I did not expect was 
your response
as raw and as real as my post was
your response was equally so
humbling, tear-producing, honest
you encouraged me to keep going,
you understood me-you struggle in this area,too.




because of you, my load is lightened.
of course, these comments from my girls mean the world to me.


I wish I had read this when we were visiting earlier! Becuase I would have told you that I CAN see a difference!! This post is real, and real is often raw, bringing tears. Keep at it....you can do it and still love your house!
By Mrs. MK on where am I ? on 3/22/11




I'm proud of you Mom. You are making great progress, and I am so glad to see you trying! :) Love you tons. And you should check out this: http://becomingmrsg.blogspot.com/p/graphic-design.html
By Mrs. G on where am I ? on 3/23/11




I have all of your comments, sitting in my inbox,
to read again 


I will publish  them as I make my way to your place
because they deserve a personal reply
YOU deserve a personal reply.


if any of you are concerned about the lack of comments,
don't be.
they are there.


You're
a 
keeper.

27 comments:

Blessed Serendipity said...

What a beautiful picture and it will look so lovely in your home. Love the little makeover you did on it.

Danielle

Karen said...

Your picture looks beautiful. I'm so glad your continuing to make progress. I'm rooting for you!!!

Jerri junque said...

As you I had to let the last post brew and work until I was ready to post. I have had your post on my mind for several days. I wasn't sure what to say, or how to feel. I have a shop and bring things home daily, small things. I pack them away and wait. Our daughter and 3 grandsons moved in about the time I opened the shop. I do horde these things until they move out. I am still with out words, I have no advise. I can only say, I have had you on my mind and I have added you in my daily prayers.

Blue Ridge Altered Art said...

I do not blame you for making this a keeper. You did a wonderful job taking it from pretty to gorgeous!!! ~~Sherry~~

" SHABBY JUNK" said...

Wow ,it's beautiful, just love it. Good Job!! Judy

www.MaisonStGermain.com said...

Well YOU are definitly a keeper:) I love what you did with the painting. And the questions that you are asking yourself before you keep your things are great. We can all learn from those questions, I know I can;) Keep going, you are doing great!!!!!
~Debra xxx
Capers of the vintage vixens

NanaDiana said...

Rene- That is a beautiful old piece of artwork..and I love that you took the time to mat and frame it. It is hard sometimes, being totally honest, isn't it? Most of us walk the line between total truth and little white lies. Some of us jump the line once in a while but most of us are cowards to the bone...lol..If I were smaller the cowardice would be closer to MY bone! I love that you bared your heart and soul in your post. You did good, girl...really, really good! xxoo Diana

The French Bear said...

You are a keeper......love this post....glad you are taking time for yourself too!
So sweet that your children are proud of you too, it is something so sincere that it does bring a tear....well I could just be a big softie too...
Hugs,
Margaret B

Unknown said...

ooh that's pretty you are doing a great job. I thought about something else to offer as advice. you need a space for items that are inventory so inventory doesn't get mixed up with personal items. this is something I struggle with myself

FredaB said...

I love what you did with your God bless Our Home. It turned out really neat. Looks beautiful now.

Hugs

FredaB

Debra@CommonGround said...

God Bless your sweet wonderful heart!!
hugs and love,
Debra

margit said...

Good morning Rene (in Austria it is now 7 o'clock in the morning);-)
this is a very nice handmade picture.I love them too.
sunny greetings
margit

daphne radke said...

I just love this piece, it's so beautiful... I can see why you would want to keep it! Hope you have a wonderful week!!!
Blessings~~~ Daphne

Crystal said...

Love the painted mat with your picture!! It looks beautiful! So glad you are making progress, it's very exciting!!!!

Sheila Rumney said...

I love your transformation of "the keeper". Absolutely beautiful...

Leah C said...

A beautiful print and most definitely a "keeper"!! I have to say, you really have been an inspiration:) God Bless...

bigeyedchick said...

BEAUTIFUL and so you! I love it! :)

Laurel

Sandi~A Cottage Muse said...

I love how you post Rene...thanks for sharing your heart and soul!

podso said...

First, I love what you did with the picture and the frame. Great work. Second, I feel your pain on your earlier post and appreciated the link from your blog friend about processing stuff. I've been doing that but have so much more to go. And now all the family heirlooms and historic stuff has landed in my house and needs to be sorted. Boxes everywhere. I hope you can find some joy in looking through things and making decisions ... all such beautiful stuff.

I like the progress room you showed and you must feel much better about having a start.

hugs, dotsie

NanaDiana said...

I can't believe that my post didn't go through! I'll bet that I clicked off before verifying or some stupid thing. What I said earlier is that is a beautiful old picture and I am glad that you matted and framed it now.

I think the responses you got were so real because YOU are so real...a true and genuine person that shows her heart. And, you have wonderful, encouraging daughters that are right there "with you".

Just remember it is a process...nothing happens overnight and it will get done...baby steps, baby steps, baby steps! Hugs to you- Diana

Rebecca said...

Sooo beautiful Rene! I have a small collection of old water colors and I wouldn't part with them either. You have such a lovely eye, it will be exciting to see it all come together. I am taking one room at a time and refreshing, I have put off for years because of the shop, it is nice to gain control again.
Have a beautiful week
Blessings
Rebecca

Paula said...

Hello sweet Rene`, I love this beautiful old painting and the beautiful words! You did a wonderful job painting the mat, aging and framing it! You are such an inspiration! Your mantle vignette is so pretty as is your home! I love the questions you are asking before you decide to keep or get rid of something. That is such a help. The comments from your daughters were so sweet! They adore you and so do I! I am going to comment on your previous post! Thank you for visiting me and for your kind words! You blessed me more than I can say! Love you sweetie! Paula

Paula said...

P.S. You are a keeper!!!! I love the vignette below the shelf too! xo

Kristen said...

Beautiful !

Your last post inspired me so much. I have lost connection with the part of me that loves our house being a home. I have been just doing what I needed to get by.

This week I have kept your post in mind and rearranged, lit candles, the fun stuff. Thank you for that !

FRENCH LAUNDRY said...

You are a keeper, Miss Rene'. You CAN do this.

Hugs,
Judy

Adrienne said...

It IS a keeper! So lovely and beautiful and inspiring to remember. And so are you, my friend!
~Adrienne~

just me... jan said...

Rene...
I'm SOOOO proud of you!!! You are one determined lady!!! You have set yourself a goal and you're sticking to it!!! You are asking yourself the RIGHT questions about the items crowding your home...I'm LOVING you for it! But BEST of all I think you need to give yourself a great big gold star for actually setting aside time to FINISH A PROJECT once you have determined to keep the item...my goodness dearie...do you realize how few of us do that??? I may be very organized and live without clutter, but I have LOTS of unfinished projects hanging over my head! So I'm sending out a "hug" to you sweetie...keep plugging along...fifteen minutes at a time, along with afternoons to complete wonderful projects such as the "Bless Our Home"...I would have kept it as well!

just me...VERY proud...jan