awards and such...

I received some wonderful awards this week

you are all so generous to me...

First, is from Sandi at Wayside Treasures

I just started reading her blog-
it is gorgeous and uplifting...
A True Treasure

Next, is this one from
Kelly at Rose Vine CottageTwo

and Kathy at Colby Cottage

Both are incredibly creative, friendly women who share
their love of home and beauty.

THANKS, Ladies
I am honored...




I'll be back to pass them on...

Just one more....

OK~2 More

Miss Madi
had a photo shoot
with Auntie
today.

Grandma's brag post...

It's been awhile since I posted about these blessings...

My oldest daughter's brood...2nd generation of homeschoolers..
reading, math and all of that good stuff!

You think your own kids grow up fast...

How can it be that Braden will soon be 7?

Nathan is a sweetie. the tender one at 5.

And Ian....well, he's almost 2!
It's so sweet to hear *'Gma Nae*.

The triplets are 4 months old now and just delightful...

eating and growing and soo much fun.


Cameron
smiley and happy

Blake, the big brother,
looks like his Daddy's side of the family

And Madison
pretty, petite, and the princess of them all

Brogan is 8 months and quite the charmer..
probably the happiest ,most contented baby I have ever seen!

Thank you to all who commented on my last post....it means so much to me...
I know it was going *out there*
and your kindness, compassion and understanding was most appreciated.

a bittersweet sale...

It started out like most days at the shop
arranging and re-arranging.

I had just finished a vignette when
an expectant* mommy*, Jennifer,
and her mother came into my space to shop.

They decided on this piece for the nursery

"What's her name?" I asked Jennifer.

"Olivia"

On a whim, ( I have never done this)
Can I take your picture with the piece?
I want to do a post for my blog.

Her mother says "Tell her the story".

Jennifer then told me of losing
her precious baby boy last January
and
now they are expecting this "new bundle of Joy".

We were then both in tears.
I am soo sorry and I soo understand.

You see, I lost my dear Joy 5 years ago
and my daughter her Ellie Rene' just last February.

And now, Jennifer is soo excited for this little one
and
I am soo excited to be a part
(I know a very small part)
of the anticipationand preparation
for her.

Miss Gracie's grew during those 5 dark years of healing.
It became my creative outlet, a reason to go outside,
to be able to cry while I painted,
and an opportunity to make something beautiful
when everything around me was not.

And now,
here she was
taking home this small part of me
for her joy.
I was blessed beyond measure
I hope she received a mall amount of blessing, too!Pray

for sweet Jennifer
and her precious Olivia (due in April).

less is more...

Right?

Simplify.

These are the buzz words of our time.

I have made a hard choice.

Some of you will remember that I sold
at 2 different shops.

It was wearing me down.

My family suffered
my home suffered
and my creativity suffered.

soo at my husband's direction,

I have left Downtown Treasures.

I hate to quit.

I want to problem solve, to fix it, to be loyal.

To quit is
to admit,
I can't do it all.

So now I will focus
at The Shabby House

and my house.

Sales will go down

but priorities will go up.

It's all good.

Less is more.

Let's play ball...

I love this.
I picked this photo up a few years back
because...

It makes me smile.

Inspiration...

Last night was *date night*

After dinner we headed up to the antique mall

I thought I would share

some of the lovely eye candy

Isn't this the prettiest dress you've ever seen?


Unfortunately, (maybe fortunately)

it was out of my price range

at

$365.00



but

it was pure beauty...

This is what I want
*Miss Gracie's*
to look like when she grows up!

What I'm lovin'...

1. my new "bootcamp"aerobics class

30 min. of intense cardio and weight training

2. This classic book by Elisabeth Elliot;

It's definitely a read-over-and-over book~

short and to the point.

3. my in-home barista and new espresso maker

4. the quiet and simple days of January

I've been quietly and happily at home.

5. pink candy corn

6. baby duty

7.elegant white 0n white

miss gracies faves...

These are some

of my favorite *Miss Gracie's* projects

of 2008.

Some are from my barn sales
and some are from
the different shops that I sell through.

I love to make vignettes.

But what I really love is the

Transformation process.

This is one of my favorite *before* pieces.

And *after*

*Miss Gracie's*

is looking forward to all the projects

of 2009!

victory...

Disclaimer:

Proud Mama ahead...

My daughter

really wanted this 4x4 rubik's cube

for Christmas.

10 minutes after opening

it was in pieces

on the floor.

144 pieces!
Tears.

We couldn't return it,
more tears.


Wait!

*You Tube*!

She sat there,

followed directions and put it all back together!

And *loved* doing it!

Now, back to *You Tube* to solve it.

It's hard.

I don't get it.

Tears.

Look at it again.

Confer with brother-in-law.

The only one in the family that understands these things!
More study.
Wait, I see it!

almost there

Look, Mom
I did it!

Life lessons

in patience,

problem-solving,

and perseverence!