Secrets that Amaze

Sometimes, when you think you're beginning to know someone, you find out something totally new, unexpected and wonderful about them! 

Such was the case this week while I was peeking about on my dashboard, looking at some of my favorite blogs. I found out Audrey of Elegant Economies likes beading and jewelry-making. I knew her only as Audrey the decorator and homemaker. Why was I shocked that she has OTHER interests, skills and talents? 
I am convinced; we are all multi-faceted, multi-talented, amazing human beings!

I first began to realize this fact because of my Mom. My Mom is a visionary. She has amazing ideas to create something from nothing. She is also fearless. I was blessed to grow up with a mom who told me, "You can do anything you want to do." 

My Mom was a Chamber of Commerce director in a small Texas town. She thought it might be a fun thing to do a melodrama as a fund-raiser. Nothing like that had been done before, but she began to research, found sources that published melodramas. She ordered samples, and began to plan. 

She began asking people if they might like to act in a melodrama. Church choir members, school teachers, farmers, dentists - you name it, she asked. Remember, she's fearless! 

She asked local musicians and gregarious types she knew would enjoy the comedy and being in front of a crowd. Before long, they were having practices and building sets.

In addition to the play, they had pre-event bluegrass music and follies skits. They joined forces with the local RSVP and Senior Citizen's group to make it a dinner theater. It was SUCH great fun! It also brought the community together in a wonderful way.

People who wouldn't have been comfortable on stage enjoyed sewing costumes and building wonderful sets. For a town of less than 5000 people, it was impressive! 

I learned that EVERYONE has at least a couple of marketable skills and talents. Most of the time, those talents have nothing to do with their "day jobs." 

So, tell me. What do you do besides re-style furniture or paint walls or sew curtains? What else excites you as much as finding a great piece of furniture or ironstone at a thrift store or flea market? 

Do you have any other passions that compete for your time? We know you love blogging... 

You may have guessed it already; I like to paint. I also like to make jewelry, which is why it tickled my fancy to find Audrey was a bead-freak, too! I can be a VERY messy gal. Different kinds of creative messes are always cluttering up my spaces. I love learning how to do something new, and that's ANOTHER reason I  enjoy blogging. TUTORIALS! Yea!


I have "created" since I was a child. I studied art in college. I worked as a graphic artist in the stone ages before computers. (No, we didn't use chisels and rocks, but we did do things by hand.) I made jewelry for a living for over 10 years. (That's another post!) 


But, here's the amazing thing. Once I submitted my life to Jesus Christ, when I said, "My life is yours. I want what YOU want, not what I want," my art changed. 


Wait, it's still not the amazing part yet. It's not really surprising that my art changed, that I wanted to glorify HIM with my life. 


The really amazing part is that I had stopped creating for a number of years. After my divorce, I was too busy just making ends meet, being a good mom, etc. But I KNEW that I would create again, and I knew I wanted it to glorify God. 


SO, when I picked up a paintbrush again, I didn't really know what was going to happen. You know what happened? I was BETTER at painting than I had ever been. Without practicing or even picking up a paintbrush in years, I got better. Now, you tell me: HOW did that happen? I know. I'll bet you do, too.


Do you paint? Do you sing? Are you a gourmet chef? Do you have an amazing stamp collection? Do you belong to a dance club? Do you play a didgeridoo? Inquiring minds want to know. Amaze us! 


Please comment and share with us. Show us another facet we didn't know you had. Post them on your blog. We'll visit and wish we could do it, too!


Word for the Day:


Exodus 31: 1-11 (This is a long one, but a good one!) 


1 Then the LORD said to Moses, 2 “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— 4to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 5to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. 6 Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you: 7 the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant law with the atonement cover on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent— 8 the table and its articles, the pure gold lampstand and all its accessories, the altar of incense, 9the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, the basin with its stand— 10 and also the woven garments, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests, 11 and the anointing oil and fragrant incense for the Holy Place. They are to make them just as I commanded you.”

May ALL the works of your hands be blessed today!

-Revi

Linking with:

Monday

http://makingtheworldcuter.com/ Making The World Cuter Monday

Tuesday

http://www.knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/ Knick of Time Tuesday

http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/ Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Wednesday

http://eisymorgan.blogspot.com/ Inspired by YOU Wednesdays
http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/ Wow Us Wednesday
Thursday 

http://savedbysuzy.blogspot.com/ Suzy's House Party
http://www.the36thavenue.com// Share Awesomeness Thursday
http://thriftydecorating-nikkiw.blogspot.com/ Thrifty Thursday
Friday

http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/ Feathered Nest Friday

http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/ Potpourri Party

http://www.atthepicketfence.com/ Inspiration Friday
http://www.myrepurposedlife.net/ Catch as Catch Can
Saturday

http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/ Saturday Nite Special

Feelin' the Love...

pink rose teacup from http://eleganteconomies.blogspot.com/

Sometimes we need a little encouragement. We need to know someone out there cares. We KNOW we are loved, but we need a little EXTRA something to lift our spirits. We need to be reminded we are not alone, we are heard, we are valued, we are appreciated. 

Antique Book Bundle from http://www.knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/

I've been AWOL this week - busy with things that have taken most of the time I usually spend blogging. Nothing bad, mind you, but out of the ordinary. And I had a couple of projects in mind that I wanted to post, only I had to DO them first, and to photograph them after doing them. 

SO, with less time than usual, AND with less LIGHT than usual after work, I find myself here on Wednesday evening wondering what the heck I might be able to post, having not even begun, let alone finished a single project I was planning to post this week. 

Then I remembered back to yesterday morning, which seems like such a long time ago! I took a little break to check my blog. I had such a sweet surprise waiting in my comments and Gmail; I was featured on two of my favorite blogs! As a relatively new blogger (first post - August 18, 2011), I have only been featured two times before. You can imagine my surprise and delight to find out two of my posts were featured in blogs I admire. What an honor and a delight! I love these blogs - they are both kindred spirits in different ways.

Angie at Knick of Time Interiors featured a little stool project I did recently. I LOVE Knick of Time - Angie finds the coolest stuff! Some of her (and my) favorites are vintage clocks, books and tools. She's recently moved into a new home - and we get to see her very creative approach to home improvement! One of my favorite recent posts of Angie's was, "Rust is like a joke...either you get it or you don't" Check it out. Thanks, Angie, for the feature!

The second sweet surprise was my precious new friend Audrey at Elegant Economies featured Revisionary Life and awarded me the Liebster Blog award!

Thank you, Audrey! Your timing was perfect, and I am honored you thought of me. Elegant Economies reflects Audrey's timeless and classic style - cozy and refined with a definite nod to feminine sensibilities! Two of my favorite recent posts are Cream Ware French Vanilla Yummy and In the Pink of Things. See photos at the top of this page and below for a taste!

Pedestal made from candlestick and plate - from http://eleganteconomies.blogspot.com





The Liebster award is given to newbie bloggers with less than 200 followers.(Ha! I could qualify 2 times!) Liebster is a German word meaning dear, sweet, kind, nice, good, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing and welcome. What's not to love about this?



The rules for the Liebster Award are:

1. Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you.

2. Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.

3. Copy and paste the award on your blog.

4. Have faith that your followers will spread the love too!

Here are my 5 blogs, in no particular order:

1 - The Dedicated House

Kathryn and I share a love for Rustoleum spray paint, candlesticks and cozy. See how these candlesticks looked before she revised them!

2 - The Apprentice Extrovert

Courtney has mad skills at reinventing furniture! See her latest office chair revision below and lots more of her fresh style at her new blog.

3 - Ethereal Plus What I Love

Francene is creating a beautiful, serene home, and she shares lots of information how-to with us!

4 - The Farmhouse Porch

This talented young woman paints charming paintings and has amazing vintage pieces for sale in Old Town Spring near Houston, Texas. I expect to be seeing lots more good things from her!

5 - The Salvage Collection

Amy is pretty fearless when it comes to refinishing a piece of furniture. She also has a great sense of humor! You simply MUST read this post about a fabulous table...well it was fabulous when Amy got finished with it!

I just have to wrap this post up by saying that blogging has been even more enjoyable than I imagined it would be - partly due to the love and encouragement so freely shared among us all. It never gets tiring to check your comments and read a nice little note from a regular visitor or a new one. The only down-side is that I'd REALLY love to meet you all at a coffee shop for some good conversation and girl-time together. Geography prevents that! The world is so small, yet so big at the same time...

Word for the Day:

John 17:24 (Jesus prays for all believers)

“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

If we never meet face to face in this world, may we all meet for a cup of something wonderful in the next!

-Revi