Day 18 Family Fun and Living in the moment...Loving my shabby chic

Day 18

Beautiful Blogs to visit and some fab Giveaways as I reflect on my love of shabby chic

Visiting a bed and breakfast in Weaverville, NC, 2009 and now we live near by                                              

Oh my goodness, thanks to Michele of hello lovely inc, I went to her blog and discovered all these new blogs and wonderful giveaways.
But first some of my pictures reflecting my love of Shabby Chic, these are from my old house in Orlando, I miss this house but love my downsized cottage

Soft peach walls and white furniture

                                                 My favorite sitting area in the baywindow

My nieces lovely chandlier

My New Cottage Shabby Influence

                                                        
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                                             And leaving you these wonderful sites to visit

FIRST SENSE giveaway http://firstsense.wordpress.com/2011/10/14/artist-love-michele-ranard-of-hello-lovely-inc-giveaway/

p.s. she's giving away hello lovely art or vintage bling!

http://hellolovelyinc.blogspot.com/2011/10/rachel-ashwell-on-creating-authentic.html

WIN Rachel's new SHABBY CHIC book

Giving away 3 copies!

Two giveaways @Heart Handmade


http://hearthandmadeuk.blogspot.com/2011/10/blog-giveaway-romantic-roses-and-pastel.html

Have a wonderful day...Safe Travels,
Di

Day 17 Family Fun , Living in the Moment Bookcase Reveal

               Day 17 Bookcase Reveal
This is how the previous person had the living room, nice but not my colors...  When I looked at the place they painted the room blue and everything was bare, so my mind could visualize all my white and blue fitting right in.

My fall decorating stays in touch with my white touches.  The pumpkin is my giveaway win from Freckled Laundry made by http://www.dreyne.com/. On one shelf I have my Florida plates and my fishing pictures with my Dad and Uncle Bob!

The pumpkin I made from a feed sack mixes with my piano rolls and mom's childhood books.  My sweet babies are mixed in.  My happy bluebird is there reminding me of my parents!

I still have my love of the sea mixed in.  My stoneware is mixed in and I love seeing it everyday.

Here is the entire section, the bottom shelves have our dvd's, players, grandson's books and games.

The next step I will be working on this week is the fall banner!!  Got my supplies and will share that in the week.

Visit Jen @ http://www.jenniferrizzo.com/ for a giveaway that is too awesome to miss.  I sure see lots that I could gift and keep for my family and myself!!
Di

Day 16 Family Fun and Living in the moment "A Fall Lazy Day"

                              Day 16
Look at every path closely and deliberately.  Try it as many times as you think necessary.  Then ask yourself, and yourself alone...Does this path have a heart?  If it does, the path is good.  If it doesn't, it is of no use.
----- Carlos Castaneda

                                               We went for an old fashion Sunday drive and it was glorious...

Curious where this path goes...
Come along with us, up the road...
Into the pasture to visit a beautiful spot...

There it is over the creek...

A country setting...

A country barn...A beautiful display of color...

And all just down the way from my house...I am blessed.
I was a lucky girl and stopped by one of my favorite shops on the way to let my daughter's dog "Chewie" out.  I found 2 surprises...  Anne Slone paint and wax and vintage nurses pictures.
First let me say to have a shop that carries the paint in my area is to fab for words.  Second, they will be attending a workshop to help us with out techniques and third, I am in love with Anne Slone paint.  Please visit The Pink House,  email is pinkhousetreasures@frontier.com if you need directions! 99 Weaverville Hwy. Asheville, NC 28804
My Second Surprise was while talking to the shop owner, Sherry, she told me about 2 old nursing school pictures.  We discussed the prints, looked at the uniforms (she was saving these from an estate she had purchased).  She just didn't want them to lay aside, when I asked if I could buy them and explained I was a nurse, she gifted them to me.  And now they will have a place in my medical case.
The 50's
 me in the 70's
                                                The times have changed quite a bit, but the path I chose does have a heart.  I love taking care of people and sharing my knowledge.  My path follows a family love, my great grandmother was a mid-wife, my grandmother, aunt and cousin were and are nurses.
Where does your path follow?

Safe Travels,
Di

Day 15 Family Fun with my daughter

Day 15 Family Fun

Wisdom tells me I am nothing.  Love tells me I am everything.  And between the two my life flows.
- Nisargadatta Maharaj

Being with my family is my life flow.  Their love is unconditional and always available!
Today was the day to be out and about in the fall weather. We found some fun items and a bunch of nice people when we went garage sailing.  One thing I must say, I always have a car adventure. Today, when I parked at one place, I couldn't get the emergency brake off. The roads are narrow and hilly. So finally after everyone is watching, the brake lever was found, I was able to get out of the driveway without hitting the other cars. But when I turned I went to a dead in and had to back up again!!

                            I seem to be in a purse mood lately!  I will be posting on my Etsy Shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/dibianna                                           

                                       No place like home...Don't you just love these ruby red slippers

                                                My $1 finds, pretty happy with these

                                                                   Button, Button, I have the Button

            In the Afternoon we took the boys (the little one and the daddy) to a walk downtown. 

Stopped for a "Spell" break at the bookshop

                                            Read a great children's book Scary Hamburger

                                               Early Girl Cafe...So good organic local food

                                              Even the buildings are getting ready for fall!

Have safe travels on your weekend,

Di

Day 14 Family Fun Harvesting Fabric

Day 14  Family Fun
Creating love one bite at a time, of should I say one stitch at a time

If we can slow to the pace of creation, truth will sweep like a flock of birds from the mountain we climb.  Mark Nepo

When my grandson gets frustrated his mommy tells him to take a deep breath to relax to slow his mind so he can think and feel.  I find this works for me also.  We did projects yesterday and the little one loved to stuff the fill into the apples, talk about fun.


I have been harvesting my fabric to create fun projects...my grandson's 2 1/2 and 6 had to have one for themselfs.  They helped stuff them and collect the sticks for the stems.
1.  Trace your apple template on to the wrong side of the fabric - cut 2. (I cut about 6 apples at a time, unless the fabric is thicker like the old towels).
2.  Sew around the apple leaving the top open.  Stuff to your desired fullness (not to tight)
3.  Hand stitch around the top, I started in the middle on one side and ended next to my first stitch.
4.  Place your stick down into the stuffing. Then gather the two threads (leave your needle on while doing this), pull lightly as not to break the thread.  Trust me I did this a few to many times, it broke, I started over.
5.  Now gather until it closes and tie it tight.  Now take the needle and go down by the stick to through the middle of the apple to the bottom and back up (this will create that cute dipple on the bottom). 
6.  Now if you have any gaps up top you can stitch it closed.
7.  That's it...I am thinking to add some leafs and lace.

Have fun!

A great giveaway here, you will lurve this...
Linking up with many friends on the side bar!!




Safe Travels, Di