I am so blessed...

to wear the name.

I'm celebrating motherhood...

 I hope you are, too!

up close...

Your response and compliments 
have been overwhelming for my bedroom re-do.

It was so much fun and yet really, really  challenging.

I had a lot of questions regarding my bed linens 
so I thought I would answer them here.

My duvet over is from the Simply Shabby  line at Target

It was white-white 

so

I coffee-stained it for a softer, warmer look.

I wanted it to blend with the dust ruffle and pillow shams.

I had a lot of you ask whether I made the pillows...

NO, I don't sew if I can help it.

Isn't that what duct tape is for?

(Really, I admire those of you that do

 and maybe one day I'll
uncover my sewing machine.

I really should soon...
that girl youngin' of mine hasn't even touched it yet...yikes!)

The pillow shams and dust ruffle are from K-Mart's
 Country Living line

They are a soft shade of ecru 
with the sweetest tucks and  ruffles.

I love 'em!

This was a forgotten light fixture

I found when I was *shopping*  the barn.

ah-ha

It was already the right shade of off-white 

with the just the right amount of rust

All it needed was something to hold  candles

I found clay pot saucers at the thrift store, 
painted them and did a quick glaze 

so they would blend in.

My *always* banner

This corner gave me fits...it took a long time to get it right.

I *borrowed* this chippy white shelf from the family room

Originally, it was exterior trim from our house 
that we found in the chicken coop.

Have I told you about the chicken coop?

(That is where all of the architectural elements that the previous owners had removed were being stored

they were hoarders...really they were
and aren't I happy about that?)

My great grandmother's wedding certificate...
It hung in my grandmother's bedroom 
for as long I can remember.

I painted and glazed the frame...

I could go on and on but the day is calling me

(there's always next week:)

so 

until then

Happy White Wednesday!

Remember to visit Faded Charm Cottage 
to see more white wonders.

I've saved a few pics for 
Vintage Black Friday

so we'll see ya there. too!

The precepts of the LORD are right giving joy to the heart. 

The commands of the LORD are radiant, 

       
giving light to the eyes.

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Thursday was spent at the hospital...my husband's procedure went well...
everything was  as the Dr. expected. 
I am relieved ( and thankful)to have it over...

It was a bit nerve-wracking...
anything with the heart is.
I've spent the past few days taking care of him 
and 
making sure he doesn't lift anything over 7 #...
no easy task, I tell ya.
~
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~
This is going to be a busy week.  Really busy.
My  space at


The Shabby House 


has been neglected of late
because of 
 family issues 
and bedroom decorating.
We have an event going on this weekend 
so it's time to get busy!

It's about time...

It is so time...

for my bedroom reveal.

Before we start I'll give you a bit of history.

1. This room is an addition.

The house had 3 upstairs bedrooms but no bath.

The kitchen had attic space but not a second story

so 

we took off the kitchen roof
built  walls and put a roof back on

 to create our master bedroom.

2.We only  had  16 x 16 ft  to work with
so we had to be
 creative.

We wanted to include a walk-in closet 
and  
a full bath
 within that space.

I really wanted a claw-foot tub....a 100 year-old farmhouse just would NOT be complete without it.

~

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We'd had this decorating scheme for about 8 years.  

The wall behind the bed 

is a faux wall created  for a focal point 
and to fill up the corner.
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~

I was ready for a fresh updated look.

 I did (do) love the cabbage rose wallpaper
 but don't worry ...
I still have it in other rooms...

I'm kinda like that...

when I find something I love 
I get a little overboard
and keep using it.

this was my inspiration 

.

elements I wanted to bring in:

chippy white

vintage

romantic, warm layers of lace

wedding ephemera

things that  had significant meaning in our marriage

white furniture

I started with the bed wall.

(Remember the beadboard  from the chicken coop?)

this wall

became the standard 

as I moved around the room and worked on each section.

I would look at each section 
and ask if it was in keeping with the wall?

If  I started  straying from my standard  
then I would start over.

I remember something Cindy  from Cottage Instincts said 
that has really, really stuck with me:

sometimes, to get what you really love 
you have to give up what you  just like.

This kept me on track.

We placed the tub in the bedroom space. 

You can see we still don't have the faucet...
they're rather expensive...so I'll save my pennies.

I'm lovin' it!

My husband is lovin' it

Mainly, I think he's just lovin'
 that I'm finished 
and he can get out of the room at night 
without stubbing his toe.

I love the *warm- romantic--on-purpose* feel to the room.

I love that most  of what I used I already had .
I shopped my barn, my chicken coop, my parlor floor.

I love that I  re-purposed .
I love how I aged what looked too new. 
I love that I found the beadboard.

I love that we are finally using this highboy 
that belonged to my husband's mother.

(We weren't using it b/c of the finish...
we finally said *PAINT it and USE it!)

I love that I tried some new things (that's for another post)

I love that I'm getting better at going outside of the box.

I really am quite a purist.

I was able to use the un-painted cabinet...
to mix it up...and to like it!

Next week, I'll show you close-ups...
all the details 

that I had so much fun with
and 
pulled my hair out with...

I'll be linking to white wednesday at Faded Cottage Charm

 and 

My Romantic Home for Friday Show and Tell.

save the drama for yo' mama...

oh, ya

I am the mama...

To say that emotions are running high around here 

would be an understatement.

We are 3 girls and 1 guy living under this roof.

emotions abound

first, there's my fear... I convince myself  my husband is dying...

then there's Miss G missing her guy and her being sure they're never going to be able to get married...

and the girl youngin'  being...well, just being 13.

Boundaries,  Misunderstandings, and Faith convos.

  last night it came.  my meltdown.

I ranted...I raved...I cried...

I went to bed discouraged and exhausted from it all...

and this morning was not much better.

I  want it all to stop...

to have a break...to be happy... to have  everyone get along.... to communicate accurately and honestly...

to be happy.

~

~

~

But what I need 

is a change of heart.

.

To see

 that these challenges 

are opportunities.

(Thanks Leslie)

opportunities

to love.to serve.to walk in grace

 opportunities 

to depend fully on God for strength and joy

to examine my heart for selfish motives

to live this life on purpose.

1. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
   When sorrows like sea billows roll; 
2. Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
   It is well, it is well, with my soul.
3. 
   
4. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
5. Let this blest assurance control,
6. That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
7. And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
8. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! 
9. My sin, not in part but the whole,
10. Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
    Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
11. And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
    The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
    The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
    Even so, it is well with my soul.
12. It is well, with my soul,
13. It is well, it is well, with my soul.

After a great time of worship
some good family time

 a nap 

and even a  fun photo shoot...

things are calm again.  

We love, we forgive, we go on.

We acknowledge 
we are girls
and 

that maybe, just maybe, 

 emotions can run wild.

This act is now over...

updates, projects, and WW...

gosh, you're swell.

My honey's appt. went well...

(didn't mean to rhyme there)

the Dr. said it's not life-threatening

nice words when you're  at the heart Dr.

just annoying

(OK , we can deal with that)

the recommended treatment is catheter ablation

(inserting a catheter through a vein to fix the spot where the electrical impulse is coming from)

We're scheduled  for next Thursday

You know the worst thing about fear 

is what it 

steals.

It steals your today.

It steals your tomorrows.

It makes you afraid to dream. to plan

and I'm a planner.

I  get immobilized by fear.

I set my heart here:


Finally, brothers, whatever is true, 
whatever is noble, whatever is right, 
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—
if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—
think about such things. 
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, 
or seen in me—
put it into practice. 
And the God of peace will be with you.

Here's a little bit 

of what we were able to work on 

over the weekend.

These treasures have been waiting for us 
through the winter.

Yes, it's my masked-man.

He's the best..

He's my *jillian*(he preferred the title of bob) 

He pushed me to get a few things finished when I wanted to quit.

Next week is reveal week for my bedroom...ready or not!

Be sure and hop on over to Faded Charm Cottage 

for White Wednesday.