JuNK-A-PaLOOZA

Friday I "kidnapped" my husband from work (early) and we headed south.  My goal was to make it to College Station before dark and check out my very first Junk Gypsy event...JuNK-A-PaLOOZA!

We arrived in plenty of time to enjoy the event. 

The first thing I noticed were the signs about the event being filmed.

There were camera men everywhere...and they had their cameras rolling.

There were tents set up and all the "junk" was spread out so it was easy to shop.

There was also a GREAT band playing.  It made for an enjoyable shopping experience.

There were several couples dancing and everyone was enjoying the music.

Me...I wish I could afford the boots.  Even on sale, they would bust my budget, but a girl can dream!

I knew Emily would be all about this turquoise sink and heater...

There were plenty of skirts in every color and size!

Peter was very intrigued by this truck.  There was a "smoker" built into the back. Great way to take your BBQ with you when you're on the road.

There was something for everyone...

All in all I had a fun time at the event, and I bought a T-shirt to commemorate the event!

We left the JuNK-A-PaLOOZA around 7ish and headed to Bryan to find a place to stay over night. 

College Station is fun...but it's a college town and we wanted a quieter setting.  We headed to downtown Bryan and to the LaSalle Hotel.

The seven-story LaSalle Hotel was built in 1928. The hotel is now owned by the city of Bryan, which temporarily closed the property for a $6 million renovation before reopening in September of 2000. The "boutique hotel" has its all-original terrazzo lobby floor and each  guest rooms is outfitted with period antiques and reproductions.

Keep in mind, if you stay here, that there is a working railroad track on two sides of the hotel!  The train is required to blow the whistle...and believe me you can't miss that sound.  But, the bed was comfy and I didn't hear the early morning train.

The staff was very friendly (the girl at the front desk was actually from McKinney...small world!)

and helpful.

We asked for a recommendation for dinner...something local (no chain restaurant.)  We were told to eat at Caffe' Capri.

"Best Italian Restaurant" Award! 

It was not too crowded for a Friday night (we were a little later than the dinner hour) and only waited about 15 minutes for a table.

We started with an appetizer of Spicy Ravioli (cheese and jalapenos). 

Our waited brought fresh baked bread to our table and with one sniff...I decided at that very moment that I was not going to share that bread..so I ate the first 'basket'!  Peter did "tattle" to the waiter...he brought more.  It wasn't like there wasn't more in the kitchen!  REALLY?

I ordered the bowtie affair - bowtie pasta with a sundried tomato pesto, mushrooms & chicken in a feta cheese cream sauce. YUM!  Peter had the tilapia special, which he declared the best Italian meal he'd ever eaten!  The prices were very reasonable.  SO...if you make it to Bryan, eat at Caffe' Capri! 

Bryan and College Station have a lot to do and see, so be sure to make time to explore the area.  I love the old theater "The Queen".  The sign on the marquee states "Save the Queen!"  You can click the link to check out how to help or donate.

We had a very relaxing stay in Bryan...and I can now check off a "Junk Gypsy" event from my To Do List!

Leaving Bryan and heading to Navasota and Brenham next....

till tomorrow,

debi

Sunday Thoughts

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

Elisha A. Hoffman, pub.1887
ref. by Anthony J. Showalter, pub.1887

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,

Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Refrain:
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Deuteronomy 33:27a (New Living Translation)


The eternal God is your refuge,
and his everlasting arms are under you.


(For you, Doris!)

12 New Things Revisited!

As you may remember, I blogged about the 12 New Things challenge from Like A Warm Cup of Coffee.

My list was to learn Dream Weaver in August...however my "teacher" has been on a mission trip to Uganda and we have had to set our first class for September 1st.  SO...I'll have to re-arrange my list and move Dream Weaver to September. 

I don't want to drop anything from my list, so I'm swapping the Bible Study (in September) with the Dream Weaver of August.  There may be other adjustments coming...my husband is already wondering which "power tool" I want to learn to use.  He would have me out in the garage right now, but it's been 105 degrees everyday, and I'd just as soon learn something inside right now!

I have joined a new small group and we are studying the Parables of Jesus...taking turns leading a discussion on each of Jesus' 40 Parables.  So far there has been great discussion from a very diverse group of people!

Here is my amended list:

August - Join a Bible Study on a Topic I have not studied 

September - Learn Dream Weaver
October - memorize a book of the Bible (I have a friend who does this)
November - learn to make bread from scratch
December -learn to make homemade fudge
January - Learn to play the Guitar
February - Learn more about photography
March - Learn to stamp silver
April - Take an art class to learn a new technique
May - Lean how to use a "power tool" I've never used before
June - Learn to make cheese
July - learn more about how to can vegetables

I'll keep you posted.  I've already looked into classes for the guitar and have been looking for an art class I can take online! I'm narrowing down which book of the Bible to memorize for October!  That one may take me more than one month...but I'll be starting...and (hopefully) finishing strong!

Exciting times ahead!

till tomorrow,
debi

Missy Z is back....

Missy Z was back to sew again.  She's been gone most of the summer...traveling with her grandmother and her sisters.  She's also been texting me to set up another sewing time for her.

Last time she was here she was a "sewing fool".  When one item was finished...she sewed another, and another.  I think she was so thrilled with the idea of learning to sew that it drove her to make more.

You can check out her last sewing "marathon" here:  Learning to Sew

We didn't have such marathon sewing this time...we took time out for shopping, swimming and eating pizza out at a new restaurant

Missy Z already knew she wanted to make a purse or bag for school

Once we shopped patterns, she settled in on a big bag that would hold her books.

She opted on a tye dyed pre-quilted material.  We started out following the pattern,

but by the time we got to sewing the pocket onto the other side...she was ready to try a little decorative sewing.  We used some pink bias tape and a little decorative stitch along the edges.

We added a pocket to the interior of the bag.  One was not called for in the pattern instructions, but what good bag doesn't have a deep pocket inside?  She also put in her first zipper!

Missy Z was so pleased with her sewing project.  She wanted to know if we could make some "extras" for her new bag.  She wanted to make a makeup bag, a tissue holder and a sunglasses holder.

You can see for yourself just how pleased Missy Z is with her newly completed bag.  Hopefully it was perfect for her first day of school.

Till tomorrow...
debi

Sunday Thoughts

I Love to Tell the Story

Arabella K. Hankey, 1866


I love to tell the story of unseen things above,

Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love;
I love to tell the story, because I know ’tis true,
It satisfies my longings as nothing else would do.

Refrain:
I love to tell the story,
’Twill be my theme in glory,
To tell the old, old story
Of Jesus and His love.

I love to tell the story, more wonderful it seems
Than all the golden fancies of all our golden dreams;
I love to tell the story, it did so much for me,
And that is just the reason I tell it now to thee.

I love to tell the story, ’tis pleasant to repeat,
What seems each time I tell it more wonderfully sweet;
I love to tell the story, for some have never heard
The message of salvation from God’s own holy Word.

I love to tell the story, for those who know it best
Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest;
And when in scenes of glory I sing the new, new song,
’Twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.


Psalm 66:16 (New International Version)
Come and listen, all you who fear God;
let me tell you what he has done for me.

Lake House

Last weekend my sister and I were away for our "sister retreat".  We were offered a friend's lake house for the weekend.  The house itself was first rate as a place to stay...but the lake, the surrounding yard and boathouse were absolutely beautiful.  We had such a relaxing time with no worries.  We could cook, if we liked, or go out.  Nothing was "too" far away, but we mostly stayed at home and enjoyed hanging out on the boat dock fishing and swinging in the hanging swings.

Sunrises and sunsets were God's glory.

I made a very small attempt to watercolor them.  I actually printed photos onto fabric then used my watercolor pencils to colorize the photos.  I glued the fabric onto canvas and used my "Fragile Crackle" to give an aged look to the two photos.

This was a sunset,

and this was a sunrise...

I hoped to create a "memory" to give to the family that loaned us their lake house. 

I wanted the two photos to look as if they were a panoramic view of the lake in front of their boat dock.

This was our view daily from the boat dock.

I painted dark blue around the edges (before using the crackle.)  Once both steps were dry I rubbed an aqua and pink color into the cracks so they would be subtle and not too dark.

 

These are the two parts before I sealed them with a sealer.

 

It's easier to see some of the cracks in this second one.

 

I have a couple of new techniques I want to try on canvas...but for now, these are finished.

I have several other projects I want to complete, so hopefully I'll have a productive week!

 

till tomorrow...

debi

12 New Things

Sarah Mae from "Like a Warm Cup of Coffee" is challenging us all to learn one new thing a month!
She has committed to taking the next 12 months to learning something new each month.


Just ONE NEW THING A MONTH!  That's all!

I've been thinking of my list...what would I add, what would I want to learn?  What if I only had a year, what would I want to challenge myself with knowing?
Here's what I've come up with...

August - Learn Dream Weaver
September - Join a Bible Study on a Topic I have not studied
October - memorize a book of the Bible (I have a friend who does this)
November - learn to make bread from scratch
December -learn to make homemade fudge
January - Learn to play the Guitar
February - Learn more about photography
March - Learn to stamp silver
April - Take an art class to learn a new technique
May - Lean how to use a "power tool" I've never used before
June - Learn to make cheese
July - learn more about how to can vegetables

I'd love for you to join me on my '12 Things' journey. If you're up for the challenge, start thinking of the 12 things you want to learn over the next 12 months, write them down, and commit to making them a priority.
Each month I’ll be posting my results of learning the above things – I'll link up on the last Thursday of each month with the others who have committed.  Make your list and come join us.
 
Till tomorrow...
debi

Wall Pocket

Last spring, while shopping in Grapevine. I found these cute wall pockets.  They were filled with different tags and baby items.  They were like little baby announcements and they were so very sweet.

My sister loves wall pockets, but it's not really something she can hang in her cubicle at work!  She really needs a little "pocket" to place on her desk. So, I came up with an idea...first, I "collaged" two pictures.  I used "His Eye Is On The Sparrow" music score and a picture of birds and their nest.

I printed the pictures onto canvas and cut out my pocket shape.  I sewed the two pieces together. 

I then aged my pocket with stamping ink and a large brush.

I also colored parts of the birds darker with watercolor pencils.

Next I headed to my vintage lace stash to find some pretty lace for the top edge.

I hand stitched some lace along the top edge and added a decorative button.

I also "shopped" my stash and found this great frame I bought on a shopping trip to Canton.  I love the 'iron gate' look.

 I added a small bird, a glittered tag and more decorative buttons. The two buttons along the top edge are actually brads and I used them to attach the pocket to the wire frame on the back side.

I made some tags to put into the pocket. I put verses and "sister quotes" on the front and backs of the tags and added some decorative details. I changed the string on each of the tags to ribbon or lace.

Next, I printed some old photos of my brother, sister and I on water color paper.  I hand tinted the pictures with water color pencils.

I filled the pocket with the pictures and the tags.

I liked the end result.  I have a few of these frames left and I have some other ideas for some more 'frame pockets.'

I also mentioned to you the quilt blocks I picked up in Palestine, but I neglected to show you a picture of my purchase.   Here are a few of the quilt blocks I picked up at Star of Texas Antiques.

I love each little girl...

pigtails flying.

Several of the blocks had little dogs embroidered on them, but only one of the blocks I bought had a dog!

Of course, I have plans for these...but more on that later.

till tomorrow...

debi

Sunday Thoughts

His Eye Is on the Sparrow

Civilla D. Martin, 1905


Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,

Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav’n and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Refrain:
I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Matthew 10:29-31 (New Living Translation)

What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

Recycle - Dried Paint Art

While we were working on Emily's house I saved the dried paint from the paint trays.  Yeah, I know, kinda freaky.  I just thought it looked too cool to throw away.  I wasn't sure how they would end up...but these paint "slabs" have been sitting on my drafting table (drying out) for several months now and I figured it was time to move them into a project.

  I first painted a large canvas with the back ground colors, which are similar to the paint colors.

Next, I cut different shapes from the paint "slabs" and glued them onto the canvas.

While waiting for all that to dry, I printed Emily's favorite verse using my all time favorite font, Bleeding Cowboy!  If you don't have this font you need to get it.

I thought I still need additional 'decorations' to enhance the piece.

I found these small baubles in my stash. (Left over from another project, of course.)

A few here...

and a few there...

Done!

I think it turned out pretty cool...considering it was dried paint someone was going to throw away!

Emily made sure she took it home with her tonight...so I think she liked it!

I completed two other project today...I'll post pictures once they've 'dried.'

till tomorrow...

debi