La Mia Vita, La Mia Musa

Wishing everyone a Happy & Safe Independence day!!

 

God Bless America..May Everyone have a safe and Blessed Holiday...

 

We will be having a subdued 4th.. How about you? .. Let's remember what this country stands for..what were the principles that It was founded on?..

pardon me for some salvage style...

okay..my camera is ca-put... my cell phone just died this weekend.. a fender bender.. but uhmm.. pardon me for some salvage style...hey.. a girl's gotta get her junkque on!! Right?

  { photo courteous of The Salvage Sisters'.. by Kathleen Hackett & Mary Ann Young }

 I just received my lot of fun 'salvage inspiration' books in the mail.. I can't share my own stash { thanks to my dead camera}.... so I'll share some of what I've found from others.. This is a pink tattered prom dress given new life as a table cover!!

  { The Salvage Sisters' by ... by Kathleen Hackett & Mary Ann Young }

These clever ladies have taken salvaged drawers and re purposed them as a shelving unit!! Now, I don't know about you..but I've seen my share of loan drawers at flea markets... I have one on top a 'regular' shelf that contains bills and mail.. but never would have thought of creating a wonderful 'unit'

how cool is that?!!

  { The Salvage Sisters'..by Kathleen Hackett & Mary Ann Young }

This is a fun wreath created with the 'funny papers'! ..I've used my share of the comic section of the newspaper for wrapping paper..garland..even on cards..but hey this is a super fun creation that would look soo cute for a child's room..play room..hey, even the front door!!

  { Courtesy of Flea Market Style.. by Emily Chambers..}

Well..let's see.. how many salvage items can you spy in this pic?...hmm. the awesome chairs.. the lights along the wall.. oh yeah..there are two license plates on the wall..

Soo...what have we learned from these pics?.. When in doubt..don't throw it out!! Hey.. how else could you use a vintage tattered prom dress.. okay.. if it weren't for the holes..I'd probably wear it.. but how about as window valance? Pillows for a princess bed?

The drawers.. like I've said.. a table-top container for bills and out going mail.. ohh.lets say a holder for those wonderful 'pitch pots' you've been wondering what you would do with..And a shelving unit to die for...

The funny papers aren't just for catching 'Fifi's' presents...

Okay Bellas.. just wanted to share some inspiration this evening amongst the 'rain'..

Ciao!

some flowers...

wahhh! my camera is officially dead.. these pics were taken with my Dad's camera...

  This is the corsages that were given to family..aren't they pretty!! White and green.. orchids..miniature white roses.. {The pic is of mine...}

The bridal bouquet was green hydrangeas..and the brides maids had white hydrangeas.. the pic above is of some of the center pieces.. I just love the composition and texture of the roses...carnations.. hydrangeas..{of course... some 'Spotted Cow' on the side!lol!}

 What shall I doo Bella's?!! No digital camera!! I'm kind of paralyzed...

Lovin' the heat up here in the WI.!!! feels like home.. How do you guys deal with the heat?... I'm just soakin' it all in!!lol!!

XO

what a wonderful wedding!

 We are back from a most wonderful wedding! The best part was being with friends and family...{This is the center piece on the tables at the rehearsal dinner}

Isn't this the coolest centerpiece!!?!! We were encouraged to take the strawberries home to our hotels!! Oh my gosh..at first glance I thought they were fake berries...I mean my gosh..those berries are huge!! As my uncle said...'Those are some berries on steriods..' lol!! But oh how delicious they were.. Fun idea for your wedding..shower or Summer fling!

hello..a bump..and trying to catch my breath...

 trying to catch my breath..

my memory card for my camera died... I've got a special wedding to go to this weekend.. hopping from ball game to work..to yard work..and trying to find time to create..

Well Bellas! I thought I'd share this bit of how to get a 'bump'!! ...Goin' to try this for the wedding... I'll share pics if it works!!

Yeah..a very special thanks to all you Bellas that visit regular like.. I do thank the Lord for ya!

Smiles!!

littlebits of ...

Now we are talkin'! It's Summer vacation time for the boys.. aannnnd I got a brilliant idea to use those little scraps of glass lying around on my table...little bitty charms..

See the little charm on the bottom...

Time for baseball... ice cream...

 We've been hanging alot at the ball field...

Whaaa!! I want Summer break too! I just loove it when the boys are out of school... we can all just hang out and have fun...but now..I've gotta work...=(

These little charms are 1inch in length and a quarter inch 1/4" in width..little bits of goodness.

I'm going to try and get some of these scrumptious monograms made for the store...

Ciao Bellas!

some color...

 Nothing like stealing a little time for oneself!

I was able to get in the studio...and created some lovelies!

This is the reverse of the above charm...

I'm sooo into turquoise right now..silver and turquoise is such a 'hot' combination for Summer..don't you think? What do you dream about? I dream about NOT having to work for someone else and that BellaColle' will be a brick and mortar store...

This fun charm is one I created for a very special wedding taking place this month... I think I'll add some Swarovski crystals to it! Ahh..a wedding..love.. commitment.. being able to dress up like a princess for a day..

This is the reverse of the above charm... the bride didn't want them..but I think a custom designed necklace would make awesome bride's maids gifts! The bride is having green hydrangeas as the flowers..

  Both of these flowers are from my garden... oh yeah..that's what I dream of too.. one day being able to call a Cannon Rebel mine... hehehe...

See the jump ring on the bottom..this too shall be adorned with beautiful Swarovski crystals....

 Do you do that? Do you dream in color?.. I do..lol.. vivid Technicolor!! Wonderful Carmen Miranda pop in you face color..lol!!

Okay Bellas!! I gotta boogie...

XO

ooh...someone likes me! smile..smile...smile...

 Merci beaucoup! Thank you Michelle..you are such a sweety! You really made my day. I haven't had a chance to create much 'cept a few new ones... And you still like it here! You are so talented and creative and such an inspiration. Please visit Michelle's blog here...

Here ya go...heres to ...

Lynn from the Vintage Nest                      Monica from  AllMinxedUp              

Lori from Ellenay designs                          Phyllis from Shabby in the City

Polly from Counting Your Blessings       Barbra from All About the Buttons

Kara from Innocent Charms Chats           Nikki from Whimsylove

Charlotte  from SimplyDivine Love

Ruthann from SugarPieFarmHouse

Gosh...I could go on and on... you gals rock! Every last one... I would love to give this to everyone who visits and comments here.

Hope everyone is having a great week...

XO

a happy Birthday...

  I can't believe he is 17! Yup..#1 turned 17...it seems just like yesterday we were wishing him a happy 1st birthday..and now..#1..you are a very nice young man..blossoming into a man { Can I say that about boys?!!lol! blossom.?}

We had cake..good food... and a wonderful time! May you be blessed with many many more birthdays #1! We love ya!

Muwah! XOXO

love, Mom..

a floor...

You are going to have to wear a pair of these if you are going to come and visit... the floor is a bit..shall we say.. a MESS!

See..we've had to deal with ucky brown indoor/outdoor carpet in our kitchen for the past 8 years!! I'm sorry.. I just can't see the logic in this. Our house at one time had 100 acres attached.{all gone save 2 acres..= (   }..It was a real working dairy farm ages and ages ago..The farmer & the wife..kids running in and out. I can just see all the uck from the barns being traipsed in...why oh why would one put carpet down?!!!

So.. Mother's day weekend.. I just couldn't take it anymore! This carpet is history! Come to find out there ARE five layers of flooring here in this kitchen!! 5 layers! Talk about 5 layers of foolishness...

 Yeah, the carpet..then a layer of linoleum, then a thick layer of particle board, two more layers of linoleum..Okay, the kitchen isn't that big so I thought 'shoot, #1 and I can get this done..HA!

We were into ripping things up for about an hour..that particle board is like trying to rip up cement with your bare hands.. to heck with that! So #1 called a friend... This young man in the orange sweat shirt is a 'local' which means he has grown up around here on the farms and well, knows how to work!! This awesome guy helped us get the floor ripped up finally!! Hooray for 'H'!! You rock man! ... Its's amazing what the promise of all the pizza you can eat will do..lol..

Can you see it?!! It's the prettiest thing!! The 109+ year old wood floor is in amazing shape. There are a few oily ring stains.. but I only think it adds character.. they will eventually be sanded..and varnished..There are no holes, gaps, or bowed pieces of wood! I just love it!

So, for now.. please bring your flip flops.. careful the gap between the doors! Don't trip! But..ahh... can't you just imagine the history this floor has seen!

Ciao Bellas!

i'm bAAaack!!

yes, that's right..I'm baAaack..I'm sooo happy! Just got my Mother's day present..Wahoo...

a super fast wireless card..now..I can surf at lightning speed! yippeee!!!

  ..gone are the chains..I know folks have thought some things..but really..I haven't visited because I just couldn't... not that I'm being a snob..I would literally sit for hours just trying to visit and well..waiting and waiting for a single page to load..that's just no good..my family was suffering..so I gave up... But, Thank the Lord..things have worked out... for now... I don't have to be silent anymore!

 I'm FREEE!!! 

its' soo liberating!! So... I'm back..I'm free to come and annoy all you fab folks!{ Thank you soo much to those who have visited faithfully during this silent time..}  I'm sure your gonna be like 'oh my goodness.. would you just shush!!'lol!

Oh gosh..I've got lots to share.. let's see..marvelous charms.. we've ripped up the floor in the kitchen to reveal amazing 109+ year old hard wood floors.. base ball.. and a birthday is coming up!

Ciao Bellas! I've missed you...