Update on Life

Since I quit posting to my blog, we welcomed our newest granddaughter, little Eva Rose to the family on Oct. 17. We were able to head out for a week of joy holding her in Kansas.

 And here, Eva is all filled out, healthy and beautiful at one month old. She looks so much like her daddy that it warms my heart even more because it brings back so many memories of him.

I have kept busy with the wedding of my daughter on Oct. 7...

I was able to make her wedding dress...

And I made an advent ladder and felt owl Christmas tree for my older granddaughter, Isla Rose...

I also repainted my master bedroom...

I will keep the before and after tab updated with pictures for you to enjoy.

End of the Line for me...

This little blog of mine has been active for longer than I ever expected. I wanted to have my say and share with you my projects and encourage you, that you too could do the same types of things.

However, my life is changing. I have a 17 month old granddaughter that is more fun than I could have imagined.

And I have another granddaughter on the way to being here soon. I want to spend more and more time with them.

I have been blessed beyond your words of praise and have developed some valued friendships too.

Projects...do I have projects, yes. I just finished a couple that I haven't even shared with you.

Therefore, my decision, at least for now, is to stop posting on my blog but still share on my Forever Decorating Facebook page.  Please like my fb page and you will still see fun projects that I am doing.

If, and it's a big IF, I discover that I truly miss this little ol' blog, then I will come back.

I shall see...

Chalk Painted Jars, Barn Wood and Flowers...

As my daughter's wedding is drawing near...Oct. 7,

Halloween Decor

Fall Decor Tour 2016

Just a little bit of Check!

I love creating my own version of MacKenzie Childs style.  It's not that hard since it's just squares.

The REST of the Story...

This post was written from my heart to my son.
                      This is about his family,
                                                 his ties,
                                                          his family history.

And...
            It's about these quilt blocks! After you read this initial story posted in Feb. 2014, I will tell you the REST of the Story!

WhiteSageWares

A proud moment as a Mom...

Stunning Jewelry Art

My friend, Gail is not one to 'rest on her laurels' as the saying goes! She is always on the move, helping others and creating beautiful things.

From Boring to Crazy Cool Light Fixture

Okay, so I have been MIA again.
I have a good excuse...I have been working on a surprise for my daughter-in-law's baby shower, but I can't share that with you yet...
And helping my daughter start her Etsy account full of cool stuff she (with my help) has made...but I can't share that with you yet either!
And playing with my granddaughter, Isla Rose...

But the biggest thing, is helping my daughter get ready for her wedding Oct. 7! That's right, she had the baby first and now Isla's Mommy and Daddy are getting married! I am making the wedding dress so I will share that with you when it's done.

A Tisket A Tasket...

A Wire Basket!

You know, when you get bored of looking at the same old thing...

High Quality Wood Look Wallpapered Wall

I have partnered with Walls Republic to bring you an honest opinion of their wallpaper products. Plus, directions on how to hang wallpaper! Yeah

Garden & House Tour - Part 2

We continue on Part 2 of the Garden & House Tour...you can see Part 1 HERE if you missed it.

Garden & House Tour - Part I

 I just went on a garden tour and wanted to take you along. I also got pictures of some great old houses...

Front Porch Changes

We just had our roof re-shingled. Plus the gutter guys are coming next week, so changes are happening. My young and cute, handy dandy handyman can really do ANYTHING! He and his crew tore the old off and put the new shingles on. As usual, I had more on my list for him to do...

The Olive Bucket

Everyone, including me wants one or has one. I was lucky to go to HyVee and find this now on sale out in their garden area for 50% off. It was only $20 for a very large size.

A New Sun Tunnel & Granddaughter

My little granddaughter, Isla (pronounced Eye-La) recently turned one and luckily I have a cousin that has a creative eye and wonderful camera to capture some very precious pictures of her.

It's a Marriage of Pieces

This is a marriage of a cute table,


Paired with my sweet vintage ice cream chairs...



And I think they look great together!

Working in the Gardens

Several followers wonder why I take breaks more often than I used to...

I have slowed down on projects since I closed my antique mall booth...

And am enjoying life more at this slower pace.

I still keep very busy...

And this time of the year, you can find me in the gardens slaving away at all that needs to be done.

Here are examples of what hubby and I have been up to the past two weeks...

In the fall of last year, we purchased a new arbor for the honeysuckle growing on the back fence row. This year, we have added a gate.

Sweet BoHo Baby Girl's Room

The fun decorating continues...




This time with my granddaughter's bedroom.





They rent this home, so we were limited with how creative we could be with the walls.


This is looking in the room from the doorway...

Cute-A-Fying a Rental Kitchen!

Recently, my daughter and her family of three moved into a 'new-to-them' rental.

She wondered, "How do I make this place look cute and homey?"

We were not allowed to paint, and though the kitchen is a very small galley kitchen (saved by a roomy pantry), it has new cabinets, appliances and flooring.

And...

This bungalow house also has very high 10ft ceilings throughout. All nice features.

So what do you do when you are renting and want to cute-a-fy a space?

Fun Chalkboard Buffet Runner

My friend Amy, graciously is allowing me to show you this project that she did for an informal gathering.  Beware, you are going to drool!

 Amy used this Chalkboard Vinyl Surface purchased for $7.99 from Hobby Lobby...then

Vintage Swivel Frames

All I wanted was one vintage swivel frame. I just like them. On a trip to see my son and family last year, I mentioned to my oldest sister that I was on the lookout for one.

I Can't Believe I Clicked!

 Are you a fan of the daily sales
                           on Decor Steals?

I am...

And I think I had a very weak moment!









But CHAIR combined with ILLINOIS got me at hello!

Let Love Grow Tutorial!

In my possession was this rusty old scrub/wash board.

In my possession (sort of, go with me here) is a grown daughter setting up her new white kitchen with turquoise/blue accents.

In my possession is my creative brain and my daughter's recent words to me, "Mom, I really like the saying, 'Let Love Grow'."
Plus her love of succulents...




So I put the two together and came up with this live wall art.

How To Make Asian Beetles Run Away!

Do you have a problem with these stinky, biting Asian Beetles in your house? I do and I heard that you can use Lemon Oil on the areas they like to infest.  Instead of Lemon Oil for furniture polishing...

Magazine Feature

I have exciting news that I have wanted to share for over a year now!

I have a nine (9) page spread in the May 2016 Country Sampler magazine out now in stores!

Don't walk, RUN out to see what pages 48 - 56 have about my home.

Initially when they contacted me after seeing my blog, I was taken aback. I didn't think my home was suited for this magazine. Yes, I do have many country pieces, however over the years I have been refining my home to be more traditional with lots of vintage and whimsy.

They assured me that their magazine was trying to move from mostly Americana style to more of a country vibe.

New Pillows: Love At First Sight

I am ready for Spring even though its been a mild winter...

           Winter is my least favorite season and I am always happy to see it go bye-bye.





I fell in love with this fabric at first sight at Hobby Lobby and bought a yard.

Easter Decor + Architectural Salvage

I love collecting Architectural Salvage!


The key is to learn how to display my decor with and round it...

            allowing both to coordinate, share the spotlight and standout from the norm.

Without even realizing it, as I was taking pictures for my blog to share Easter decor, I realized that Easter decor was not the only common denominator in the pictures...architectural salvage was too!


These two corbels behind the bunny in the window make the bunny even more inviting to look at.

Logic Won Out!

First, I must say that one of the benefits that go with blogging is being able to categorize my pictures of projects and know when I did them.

Time flies and I just don't realize how much has been done until I see all the pictures and how long ago I did each one.

Now on to the reason that logic won out. 

I have a favorite Purdy paint brush that I use to cut in the walls before rolling on the paint. Mine was worn out and I needed a new replacement. As I was buying one at Sherwin Williams, I found a beautiful gallon of blue/gray miss tint paint for $5.

I bought it too.

Vintage Typewriter Collection

What can I say, we are collectors!

We collect so many things and you know you need three or more for it to be called a collection.

That is what happened when my hubby got the desire to collect old typewriters.

Most are kept in the media room...let's face it, it is really his domain since the rest of the house is mine!

Seems like an even trade to me!

Why I Call My Guest Bedroom The MC Room!

 I love MacKenzie-Childs style and if you never heard of them or haven't visited their store or website, you are really missing out in my book.

The style is so fun and whimsical. I am especially attracted to their Courtly Check.

But I am not willing to pay their high prices! I find that it takes the joy out of owning something if it's just way over priced for me.

So I take my talents in sewing and painting and make my own versions of what inspires me about MacKenzie-Childs.

Here is a sampling of what I have done...

Guest Bedroom Reveal ~ MacKenzie-Childs Style

It's finally done and I can now show you the complete guest bedroom reveal!

Pre-Reveal of My Other Guest Bedroom

I am so excited to have so many things happening at once. Between my wonderful new laptop, that I have to transfer all info/pictures from old computer to this one...



To the finalization of the Newly Redone Other Guest Bedroom...I will now call is my MacKenzie Childs Guest Bedroom since I have two guest bedrooms. I call the other one my Blue Guest Bedroom.


So lets get on with the Pre-Reveal...

Winter Cold Brings Redecorating!

What else but redecorating during a long cold winter.

More Winter Decor

I absolutely HATE computer problems. My laptop is good (so they tell me) but it is five years old and it has been in the 'shop' for a tune-up but it is just so slow...so I am researching laptops to buy a new one...frustrating!

But on to talking about this post! I have been decorating a Chiropractor's office for well over 10 years. It's an easy job and I go in about every 6 weeks and change the decor.

Winter Decor Favorites ~ Part I

Year after year, I do away with some seasonal decor, mainly because I keep making new stuff, but some are just my style and I still get a feeling of joy when I open the plastic storage totes and reveal what I have almost forgotten, as it was stored for almost 10 months. Notice the rock that was found above. It looks to be in the shape of Illinois which is where I live so it became a keepsake.