My Bella Colle My Beautiful Life

  Oh yeah! My Junk Posse 't' came in!!! Check out Stash and get yur own!! I'm always inspired when I visit there... yup..uh huh...I'm a member 'o the Posse...

{Courtesy Italian Country Design 2008}

Now...for a little...ispirazione meravigliosa...che cosa?.... wonderful inspiration... I have always been enamoured with Italy, always... I fell in love with this beautiful country the first few steps I took there... I wanted to share some wonderful ideas I found from Caroline Clifton-Mogg and her book Italian Country Design....

Aren't those Tuscan beds amazing?! I love the top of the canopy.. wonderfully romantic beds don't you think? I could lounge around there on a Saturday morning with me caffe'..{Oh yeah, in my dreams! LOL.. }

{ Courtesy Italian Country Design 2008}

As Caroline states in her book "From early Renaissance, it was Italian designs and styles that spread throughout Europe, and Italian artists and craftsmen who put those new ideas into practice.."

Those chairs are sleek...the dinning area uncluttered..but oh soo vintage!

I love the understated class of this room...like the company and food will take center stage during meals..not the fru fru..

{Courtesy Italian Country Design 2008}

How about this living room? I must admit..I'm a pack rat..I love all things shiny and shabby.... I just think this room is a breath of fresh air! It's eclectic and has wonderful loved items that add to the over all feel of the room... But have you noticed that these rooms are NOT stuffed full of stuff?!! It's a sleek elegance that doesn't need a lot of clutter.

{Courtesy Italian Country Design 2008}

Well.. I have a partiality to this room myself.. I painted the walls of our kitchen the color of these walls..This reminds me of the wonderful Italian country side..warm.. drenched in color...

Stanze molto belle! { Beautiful Rooms!}

Bei amici di buona notte...

..Goodnight beautiful friends..{I soo wish I was more fluent in Italian...please forgive if my pronunciations are off! } Happy Wed.!

XO

Happy Birthday to the Best Hubby in the world!

Today is my wonderful Hubby's birthday! "Happy Birthday Honey!"... I couldn't ask for a better husband or father for my children. I award you my wonderful DH this trophy in recognition for all your sacrifice and love you have shown us.... Well done my dear!

I found this trophy on ebay and soldered up the charm my self! Hey, like this idea? Let me make a charm for you!

Trophies are hot collector items right now! It took me foreva to win this little one! This wonderful sterling loving cup stands 6 " inches in height and is inscribed as an award for a golf tornement...dating from 1913. { 7/29...I forgot to add..yes! my DH is a golfer..oops..}

Out of the top of the trophy I took some silver plated wire and wrapped these curly "Q's" to hold pictures of the boys.. the boys actually suggested we could add their brides as the family grows!

So, here's to you my wonderful husband! Happiest of Birthdays to you.

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

XO

Are they listening?

It does a mother's heart proud.... LOL... Well, my first week of a 'day' job is complete.. And as I was getting into the car to go home, I checked my voice mail... Well, there was a message from #1 son.

As I was at work today our church rummage sale was going on and #1 & #3 sons went to help out. Lots of goodies there but I really wasn't expecting anything would make it home with the boys... But the message was "Uh..mom..call me.." , now what, I think? Somebody has broken something.. knowing my boys! lol

So, I call #1 back. " I just wanted to let you know that we are on our way home and I grabbed a couple of things that I think you might like." He says... Okay.. I have these images of the back of our pick up filled with all the those plastic flowers used for decorations... Some odds and end dishes?...'What on earth could they be bringing home?!!' I'm thinking .

Well, come to find out, it wasn't all those horrid images I had in my head! It was some wonderful pendant lights {I'll have to show you later} and this fabulous vintage foot locker and wooden bottle crate!

I tell ya...It does a mother proud that her babies know her taste! I guess I'm rubbing off on them..that they listen when I speak..and even watch what I do. Thrifty! That's what I want my guys to be! To enjoy 'loved' items and use their imagination on how they can repurpose them. You don't need to have 'new' all the time!

What fun items have you repurposed lately? I don't know what exactly I'll do with these finds... But I'll find something! LOL!

Have a wonderful weekend.

XO

Peace In!

What is peace? Is it the outside affect that your surroundings have on you? Is it the inner situation of your heart? Can you control the 'peace' level in your life? As I'm trying to shuffle things around..continue trying to create for Bella Colle'....assimilate to my other job.. there is peace.. because...you know why? .....I'm not in control! Sounds really weird..but the "peace that surpasses all understanding' is what's goin' on here... I really don't think you can have peace if you are trying to control your surroundings...'cause folks just aren't going to behave the way you want them to.. no biggy! Stop and smell the roses just 'cause... hey... smile at the person who get's your latte for you... What simple things can you do tomarrow that help center you? Me...hmmm... enjoy... the privilege of going to a good job... relish my children's laugh... my hubby's smile...a morning latte! Silly sounding I'm sure to some but if you don't stop and focus on the 'Peace' you can have in the simple things... Your just gonna plain miss it! Peace out Bella Peeps! LOL XO

beautiful sign

Well..completed my 'first official' day at work. Lots of information to absorb but thankfully my boss seems to wonderfully laid back! Lot's of storms rolling through our area lately..tornado to the north of us last night.. there are times when things seem so bleak...Dark as pitch.. and it ain't gonna stop! like 'gosh there ain't no hope!' But then something magical happens.. Something that just can't be explained that takes the strain and the pain away.. Well, those of us of faith... we know Who that is! This wonderful Rainbow went from one side of the sky tonight to the other!! If you look closely you can see that it is a double Rainbow! I took it personally..that it's gonna be okay. Sales may lag...I may have to get a 'big girl job' for now.. but that's okay.. it's gonna be okay. I leave you with this quote... Have a wonderful week! "Hope is the thing with feathers-that perches in the soul-and sings the tune without words-and never stops, at all."-Emily Dickinson XO

Live life like...

Just wanted to share a fun place...and a fun quote I found there! Visit Stash ...This blog is full to the brim of wonderful vintage inspiration!!... I guess I find it funny..down home humor...{ Like my wonderful relatives that have passed on...from the mountains of beautiful Georgia.... real and right there...Prais'n } Wonderfully inspiring for me when I stop and think about it... Because I love God... here is the quote... "Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, Satan shudders and says...." Oh shit! She's awake!.." { author unknown } I want to live life full tilt for God!.... So.. hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend.. maybe just stop and pause this Sunday... XO

Nuova carta & nuova lavoro

Here are two new sets of tags that will be going in the Shoppe These tags are 3 and 1/4" inch by 1 and 1/2" inch. Each lovely is unique with lots of glitter and vintage buttons.

French inspired and would make unique addition to your gifts... even fun labels for office supplies!

These are larger 4 and 3/8th" inches by 2 and 1/8th inches".. Each has a unique word and an authentic French button on them..I actually used...

A photo of a nest I took and another photo I took of my white rose wreath... I think I will see about investing in a better camera. I am soo getting into taking photos now and they make unique additions to my collages.

Alright... I'm taking a big step tomarrow..after 11 years of being a stay at home mom and working on our other business.. I will be re-entering the business world!

Living on one income has become down right ridicules thanks to the powers that be that keep raising fuel prices! Everything is going up and as we adjust our rates... well they just can't keep up with the sky rocketing prices..After 11 years.. It's a down right shame that moms HAVE to work out side the home! Please don't get me wrong..if you're a mom and you want to work that is one thing... more power to you! I am all for women having a career! But if you're a mom like me who looooves staying home with your children... you should be able to..but now.. because fuel and food and energy prices are increasing.. to maintain the standard of living one has been at... {We don't live high on the hog mind you! We've tried everything in our power to live on one income} There needs to be two incomes... I know things are affecting sooo many of us! It's just so though for lots now...

Don't worry my wonderful Bella peeps! I am not closing up shop... I will still be ever creating and thrifting and sharing all my wonderful finds with you! {hehehe..I'll have a bit more moola to put into Bella..shhh..}

So.. if you can find it in your heart..send your prayers and smiles my way! This will be a big change for everyone! I am truly thankful my younger two sons never had to be in daycare.. my hours would be while everyone is in school.. and at the most all three would be without me for an hour or so after school. #1 son is driving... so he can help chauffeur his brothers around... ANNND the best part is that I will be right in our tiny town! So if someone is sick from school I would be at the most 5 min. away...This will be a good thing..

"Mommy has a big girl job now!" LOL! I know there are so many amazing women out there that work outside the home... raise a family AND seem to be wonderfully creative with their "business of the heart"... I just hope I have what it takes to join their ranks! ;)

I do Thank the Lord for all His mercy and blessings!

Happy Thursday everyone.

XO

paper

Well... I've been working on some things... I have always wanted to create my own "artist papers". I've been able to come up with this design using some of my original collages as pieces. I'm feeling generous so.. if you like it and want to copy it... feel free to do so.. just give me the credit of creating it.... click on the picture to go to a larger version then right click and save! Just leave me a comment if you do take it... I'd love to know who likes it.

XO

Cost?

Thrift-ed bed frame & rails ..

Wood glue & elbow grease... $23.00 dollars..

Wonderful patriotic sheets from T.J.Maxx..$16.99 dollars...

Two cans of Navy Blue Krylon glossy spray paint...$6.00 dollars...

{We had the Lauren quilt and bed skirt... and a few pillows are missing..But..}

The joy of a wonderful bed that will grow with my sweet #3... priceless... Happy Saturday everyone!

XO

These boots were made for walkin'

Yippee! My Capezio vintage boots arrived! I love these things! Wonderful black leather and only a 1 1/2" inch heel...not too tall... and can't ya dig this wonderful toe decoration?

Ya' know the bestest part? Not one of the 'soccer moms' have a pair!! I just cringe when I pull up to any school function... the 'Mom' clique.. ya know? I thought I left high school ages ago and yet... there is still a pecking order..nope, not gonna do it!

{Courtesy of Shoewawa}

okay..okay..I know you are thinking I'm being juvenile...I don't like her (nothing personal)..I just like her boots! Capezio..just like mine!! The boots are fresh and fun and totally NOT the status quo!

{Courtesy of Gypsyville}

Oh gosh! How about these crimson babies?!!! That stitching rocks! Hey..into boots? Visit this wonderful link! Dimlights/Cowboyboots...

Happiest of Wed!

XO