Rhinestone Assemblage Bracelet

I only got one thing accomplished today and this was it!  A vintage rhinestone earring is repurposed into a bracelet.

I just didn't feel well today after spending the day yesterday moving furniture to my nephew's house.  Hopefully I will feel better tomorrow and I can get a little more accomplished!

Rhinestone Assemblage Earrings

And my vintage rhinestone obsession continues with these gorgeous aqua dangles!

Something Old, Something New

I have been wanting to do something with this vintage rhinestone necklace piece that I've had for over a year now!  Can you say PROCRASTINATOR?!?  Lol, well, I finally sat down and did something with it.

I added vintage glass ab beads from a necklace that I picked up somewhere in my travels and a little bit of chain from a bracelet I found in an antique store.

This is now listed in my Etsy shop.  I think it would be great for a bride to be!!  What do you think of it?

My Sister, My Friend

Today I'm going to get a little more personal on my blog.  I am going to tell you about my sister, Dawn.  She is fantastic!  When I grow up I want to be just like her.  She is the most giving and loving person that I have ever known.  She works 50+ hours a week, raises two kids (Katrina and Kyle)...make that three kids, I have to include my son, who is 26 and is all grown up, but she's always there for him and she manages to host every birthday and holiday in our family.  I don't know where she gets the energy!

She calls me every day on her lunch just to chat, see how I am and how my son is, who has been living in Denver for the past year.  She's just an amazing person.

As Christmas get closer and closer, I think about my sister.  She does whatever she can to make sure that everyone gets a gift that they will love.  She tries to make everyone feel special...and she does, she really does!  I love you, sister and I can't imagine my life without you!

French Linen and Old White Stenciled Dresser

She's finally done!  Whew!!  She's a little shabby, with areas worn down though the paint.  She's a little chic, with her Paris in the Springtime stenciling.  She's done in Annie Sloan French Linen and Old White and sealed with CeCe Caldwell Wax.  I ordered new drawer pulls for the bottom and they will complete her so she can be sold.

My camera sucks, by the way.  Maybe I'll get a new one for Christmas!!  Hint, hint!!

xoxo~Di

Paris in the Springtime Stencil

I have been killing myself to get all my painting projects done before my son comes home for Christmas.  My house is my studio in the winter and it is a total wreck!

A few months ago I fell in love with the Paris in the Springtime stencil from Royal Design Studio.  I saved up and ordered one, not knowing what I was going to do with it or even how to stencil!  My friend gave me a hideous yellow mid-century modern dresser from her dads estate and then I saw an AMAZING french chippy buffet from Create Inspire and I knew I had to copy it!

This is the dresser before...

Yucky yellow and I just do NOT like mid-century modern!  Anywhoooo...I am in the process of transforming it into this...

I have to wax, distress, dress it up with some hardware, yada yada yada, but hopefully I will have it done before the kid gets home from Denver!  Wish me luck!

What Is Wrong With Saginaw, Michigan

I have lived in Saginaw County all of my life.  I have been in Saginaw Township for the past 20 years, after moving out of the city when I got broken into a couple of times.  Now, the same types of things are happening in the Township.  In fact, tonight, there was a murder 3 or 4 houses down from my aunt's house.  Saginaw is one of the most violent cities in America.  What happened to it?  Where did we fail?  I remember being at my aunt's as a child and we wandered all over the place.  It was safe!  Now, it's full of hood rats and gang members.  It makes me so sad to see the area that I live in going down hill.  How far away do I have to move to get away from the violence?  Why do I have to flee my home where I raised my child?

I am lost.  I don't know what to do.  I feel and have felt for the past few years that I should sell and move on, but there are just not enough hours in a day to get my house ready to put up for sale by myself.  I could try to recruit my family, but I feel guilty.  They have their own lives.

Somehow, some way I have to figure this out and soon.  Property values are dropping as I write this.  It's a terrible, hard decision that I have to make.  Today, I am sad!

The Dreaded Jury Duty

Here I am stuck in the jury assembly room after 3 1/2 hours of sleep. Exhausted and annoyed, not knowing when I'll get out of here and I have to work tonight! Ugh! I know it's our civic duty and all, but this couldn't come at a worse time of year! I have a million things to do before my son comes home from Denver on the 20th, including finishing 2 dressers I have been painting! Wish me luck! I pray I am out of here soon and can take a nap!