Inspiration: Breakfast @ {Tiffany's}

Pin It Now! A long-term project of mine that may never actually be completed is my craft room.  It currently stands as a storage room - a storage room for every decoration project, scrapbook item, and photo album I own.  In a word....A MESS!!  My hopes and dreams for this room have been put on hold for the three years that we've lived in our home. Not because I didn't want to deal with it but because there were so many other things vying for my time and attention (bedrooms, living room, front room, etc.) So I'm in the planning and dreaming and scheming stage...gathering items here and there and hoping that one day they will all fall together into a perfectly gorgeous space.

Anyone who knows me well knows I adore Audrey.  Other than possessing a talent for playing both dramatic and comedic roles with grace, elegance, and sophistication, she also owns her own unique style.  Gorgeous!  Her Breakfast at Tiffany's character Holly Golightly was all about over-the-top. Holly's apartment is a little too retro for my taste. I'm inspired more by her opulence and larger-than-life flare.

Some inspiration:

Chandelier - Ikea

Can you see Holly seated here in her LBD?

This sofa it too adorable not to mention.  Although I love it,

it's a little out of my price range. 

Bath tub sofa - Reestore

Grenville Sofa - Beaumont & Fletcher

Pillow with Silver Detail - Target

Throne Toss Pillow - Target

Embroidered Medallion Pillow - Target

Luxe Faux Fur Pillow Covers - Restoration Hardware

Mirrored Nightstand - Pier 1

Paragon Black Ornate Wall Mirror - Wayfair

Venetian Gems Estelle Mirror - Wayfair

Glimmerous Wallpaper - Graham and Brown

Sandy Glass Table Lamp - Sweet n Sour Kids

Summit Crystal Candlesticks - Origin Crafts

Devos: {Biblical} Musings of an English Teacher

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While bringing us a challenging message about Moses and his surrender to God's will, my pastor mentioned a verse in passing. "...I am that I am..." {Ex 3:14}  When Moses asked the Lord under whose authority he should tell the children of Israel he had come, God simply says to tell them I AM had sent him.

My English teacher brain began to dissect this verse, and I noticed something I hadn't before.  The section of the verse "that I am" is a noun clause. I is the subject, is is the linking verb linking the subject to the noun clause.  This noun clause is acting as the predicate nominative that has the job of renaming the subject.  So I am is being renamed by I am. How interesting.

This noun clause is the equivalent of the word God in the statement, "I am God" or the word Creator in "I am the Creator." The Lord makes a strikingly clear description of Himself when He says that HE IS!

"Who are You, Lord?"
"I am."
"What are You, Lord?"
"I am."

Wow! Only the Lord could come up with a description like that.  It's somewhat of a writer's dream to be able to characterize something so strongly in such a few number of words.

All that is holy, good, strong, righteous, just, kind, loving, and so much more, GOD IS!!

Hope this blesses your heart like it blessed mine.

Terrarium {Beauty}

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After seeing a variety of gorgeous terrariums online and in stores, I decided to take a crack at them. This was actually one of last year's projects, but I wanted to see how well they did over a long period of time before I posted anything about them.  I'm no expert and I've had several people tell me that theirs did not turn out well. 

Here's the final product: 

Materials You Will Need:

• glass container 
• rocks and stones as filler
• activated charcoal
• plants (succulents are my favorite and seem to do very well)
• potting soil
• preserved moss
• decorative rocks (optional)

And here we go....

Step One:

Making sure that your glass jar is clean and dry, begin with about a one inch deep layer of preserved moss for drainage. I used craft moss that I just happened to already have. 

Step Two:

Add a layer of activated charcoal to prevent mold and odor.  This can be found in the aquarium section of most stores that carry pet supplies.

Step Three:

This step is not necessary but adds visual interest and additional drainage. Add a layer of rock. You can be creative here.  Large or small stones; colorful or neutral.  I wanted mine to blend in so I chose black aquarium rocks. (Sorry, didn't get a picture of this step.)

Step Four:
Add a layer of potting soil. Be sure to leave room for your plants.  I made the mistake of adding too much soil and then had to remove some once the plants were already in place.

Step Five:

Now for the fun part...plants! A bit of advice. Although apothecary jars are beautiful, I would suggest NOT using any that bottleneck.  VERY difficult to insert plants.  I had to use chopsticks!!  And I did some damage to the plants in the process. So use a container with a wide opening.

Succulents add an extreme amount of visual variety. 

They are so unique.

HARD!!

Final Step:

Add decorative elements. I used rocks that my hubby picked up in Arizona. 

And there you have it! It has been about ten months since I've put these together and they are still gorgeous.  There is no need to water them unless they begin to look extremely dry.  Because of the lid they water themselves. 

Occasionally trimming may be necessary.  I haven't yet had to trim my succulents, but I have had to snip the others. Try to keep the leaves from touching the sides of the container.  This will cause them to rot. 

One of the complaints I often heard about terrariums is the smell.  I have had no problems with that yet.  I mean, they smell like dirt but other than that, nothing.  

This guy was just too tall for the jars.

He also is doing great!

A Little Nest and a Bit {Yellow}

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Happy warm weather to you all!  Here are some wreaths I whipped up in honor of these sunny, blue-skied days. I covered grapevine wreaths with various types of moss that I purchased at a craft store. I found these adorable nests at The Dollar Tree. The ribbon is chevron burlap also purchased at a craft store.  This project was a little messy with all of the moss flying around.  I used a glue gun to attach the moss which added to the craziness.  In the end, it was worth it : )  I love the way they turned out!

Enjoy the sunshine and get some projects done!!

Stenciled Wall

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I've been a commitment phob when it comes to making a decision about my master bedroom. Blaming it on the inability to find "just the right thing," I've hummed and hawed over style, colors, and just about everything. Finally...finally I settled on stenciling.  I know, nothing new to the decorating world, but it was a breakthrough for me. When I began to search online and found that the stencils I loved came with the modest price tag of $40.00-$60.00, I quickly rethought my POA (plan of action...military life has rubbed off on me...acronyms....sheesh!).

Sooooo, Pinterest came to the rescue. This Blogger gives an amazing tutorial on how to make your own stencil CHEAP! All you need is paper, cardboard, a level, brushes, and paint...and a blank wall.

At first, I chose my own shape and downloaded it but found it was not quite the right look I wanted.  So I used the one she suggested. Here it is:

I didn't follow her instructions to the letter, but pretty close.  I taped a piece of paper onto my computer screen and traced this shape.  Make sure you don't make the shape to small or you will be spending a lifetime on this project.  I had to use two 8 1/2x11 sheets of paper.

After cutting out the shape, I folded the shape in half just to make sure it was symmetrical, trimming off anything that wasn't even. Next, I traced the shape onto a piece of cardboard.  Cardboard is wonderful because it is pliable.  Great for bending and shaping around my windows. Again, I folded my shape in half to check that it was even on both sides.

This is where the "fun" part begins.  Patience, dear friend, patience.  I didn't have a small enough level, so I downloaded a level app on my phone, and it worked wonderfully. I taped my level to my stencil, making sure it was VERY secure.  I guesstimated where I should begin by trying to make sure I would end with a full shape instead of just a sliver of the shape.  I was pretty close.  My windows made it halfway impossible.

After tracing, and tracing, and tracing, and tracing, I was ready to paint.  We already had high gloss white exterior/interior paint so whoopee! no trips to the hardware store.  Plus, no cost.  I grabbed some art painted brushes from my craft room and went to work.  I had to trace everything freehand, but it actually wasn't that difficult. Just time-consuming. Loooooove how it turned out!!  My Darling Husband loves it as well.  His words exactly: "It's beautiful, Babe!" Success : )

So I still have some work to do, but I think it's a wonderful start. 

I also got to finally hang the curtains I sort of sewed.  I loved the bluish/green color, but they weren't long enough. So I bought the cream colored ones and sewed them together.  Perfect length now.