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

Finding Perfect Treasures

Most of us are visually stimulated creatures. We blog, partly because it helps to fulfill our need for beauty. 

We find inspiration in seeing how other bloggers reinvent, repair, paint, arrange, and display the treasures they find in thrift stores and flea markets. 

We are thrilled to find a little piece of history, a lovely patina, an interesting item that is no longer useful, but can be re-purposed. 

We don't mind repairing or painting. We even enjoy the process of adding value and purpose to an object someone else has cast off. 

But sometimes...

We find a lovely object that doesn't need a thing; 

No painting, no sanding, no staining, no stripping, no sewing, no nothin' is needed. It is lovely just the way it is.

And it doesn't cost any more than something we bought that need somethin'.

And sometimes we wonder why. We are amazed that no one else found it first.  But mostly we are thankful that we found something beautiful for a price that was no where near its value.


Word for the Day:


Matthew 13:44


“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field."


May you always recognize a treasure when you find it or when it finds you!


-Revi


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

http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/ Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/ Tuesday's Treasures

Wednesday

http://www.fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/ White Wednesday

http://www.thethriftyhome.com/ Penny Pinching Party

Thursdayhttp://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/ Under $100 Link Partyhttp://savedbysuzy.blogspot.com/ Suzy's House Partyhttp://www.the36thavenue.com// Share Awesomeness Thursdayhttp://thriftydecorating-nikkiw.blogspot.com/ Thrifty Thursday

Friday

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

http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/ Frugal Fridayhttp://www.findingfabulousblog.com/ Frugalicious Friday

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

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

Mingle a Bit and Get The Word Out

It's nice to get mail. I remember the days before computers and email and cell phones and Facebook. I remember when telephones were connected to the wall by a cord, the whole family used one line. A letter or a package in the mail was a big deal! For me, it still is a blessing when a package arrives. 


I knew this package was coming. I'd entered a giveaway by one of my new blog friends, Dawn at The Feathered Nest.  I don't usually enter giveaways, because I don't tweet and I haven't set up my Revisionary Life Facebook page yet. Some giveaways have so many steps! This one was easy. Just leave a comment! I was happy to find out I'd won. 

Mingle

Explore creative ways for bringing friends and loved ones together for entertaining, inspiration, and an all around good time! From artistic retreats to cleverly themed parties, Mingle shares unique ideas for all kinds of gatherings.


There are theme party ideas, decorations, recipes and ideas for how to make your gatherings very special and memorable. If you'd like a copy, click here for more information. Dawn has been featured in several Stampington publications!


She is one busy lady! She makes amazing collages, assemblages and textile projects using vintage fabrics, lace, and ephemera. She's a wife, mom, grandmom and artist. She manages SEVEN (Yes, seven.) BLOGS. She's a kind and considerate blogger - one who leaves sweet comments and encourages you. If you've not visited her, you should stop by! You'll be glad you did. 

In addition to this beautiful magazine, Dawn also included a little extra gift - some beautiful little egg shaped soaps! I love little fancy soaps. I'm going to save them for use during the holidays. 

Today I worked on a couple of things. I've been admiring deconstructed vintage book bundles on other blogs I follow. I love old books, and texture, and bundling them together makes them so sweet! When I went to a friend's garage sale a few weeks ago, she sent me home with a few boxes of old books. Some had been water damaged, and they were losing their covers anyway- the perfect subjects for my deconstructed book bundling project! 

There were a couple of Bibles in the mix. At first, I felt like it might not be good to deconstruct a Bible. They were falling apart. After some consideration, I decided they could be used in some of my mixed media paintings and projects. Today, the first few pages of Genesis became a new facade for some craft board boxes.

It's a different way to put the Word out there, for sure! But God works in mysterious ways, and someone might just read something, and they won't if it gets trashed or stuck in a box somewhere. Though I will not use them in a bundle, I have plans to use the pages in future projects. 

I plan to embellish my books with little treasures - old keys, shells, rusty washers, etc. I may do the same to the boxes later. Meanwhile, they might be good pedestals for photographing small items. 


Word for the Day:

Isaiah 55:10-11

¹⁰ As the rain and the snow
   come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
   without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
   so that it yields seed for the sower 
and bread for the eater,
¹¹ so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
   It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
   and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.


May all your gatherings be full of sweet memories, and may His Word accomplish His purposes!


-Revi

A Little White Stool-ish Thingy and Forgiveness

This is not the best way to start a conversation or even a blog post, but, please accept my humble apology. I must ask your forgiveness. 


I forgot to take before photos. I was SURE I had taken them in a batch of other things, but no. 


I've found it's faster/easier to take photos of several before things at once. It's a bloggish spin on Henry Ford's assembly line method of working. Do several photos at once. Paint several items at once. And so on. It's really an efficient way to work if you have limited time (don't we all?) and like white stuff (again, don't we all?)


When I found this little stool for $5 in a thrift store, I bought it. It has been in my hoarding place - the place that is really supposed to be a garage but now my car won't fit - for a few years. Now that I'm blogging and being accountable to all my new friends, I have been bringing things from my stockpile into the house to work on. This one came in a week or so back. 

A few posts back, I showed you a mirror I had painted with faux chalk-ish paint. My chosen faux recipe was adding 2 T. unsanded white grout to a cup of latex flat paint. (I chose the recipe because I had some grout stashed in my hoarding garage from another project.) 


I had used the same mis-tint flat paint on other items, and it didn't cover very well. It took several coats to even get a "shabby" finish - one that looked covered enough to sand off a bit. The addition of the grout made the coverage much better - see the inside of my little stool/box thing with only one coat above. 

I painted one coat, and a little touch-up second coat on the outside. I let it dry, which was pretty quick, and sanded to give it a worn look. Then, I rubbed a little Minwax Gel Stain walnut on, and sanded a little more. This recipe is a tad gritty, but workable.

The top of this piece was originally covered in a fairly worn tapestry-like fabric. Sometimes tapestry is nice, but trust me, this one needed covering in the worst way. 


I snipped another piece from my painter's drop cloth. I added a layer of batting before stapling it down. (Actually, it was a layer of an old comforter, which was really a layer of batting between a couple of layers of cloth. I had it, and didn't have to buy new batting, which is not cheap!)

The top of this piece opens to reveal a nice little storage box. I think I will use it at my bedside, so I can stick my CoQ10 and Iron supplements inside it. They will be accessible and hidden instead of looking ugly in their bright orange bottles!

I don't know if this is really a stool, because it had a crooked sticker affixed to the inside of the lid that said, "do not exceed 50 lbs" or something like that. I debated about leaving the sticker exposed in case I ever decide to sell this, but it was crooked! So, I covered it with creamy burlap. The raw edges and staples were covered in ivory grosgrain ribbon. Aleene's Tacky Glue worked great for this!


Voila, my new little shabby white glorified pill box! 

Today, I'm taking photos, painting several things, and getting a much-needed haircut! I hope you have a great weekend filled with loved ones, great food, and maybe a nice chick-flick!


Word for the Day:


Acts 10:43

All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.


May all your mistakes be forgiven, and may you feel the peace that comes with that forgiveness!


-Revi

Monday

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com Metamorphosis 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
http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/ Tuesday's Treasures

Wednesday

http://www.fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/ White Wednesday

http://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com/ Primp Your Stuff Wed

http://moderncountrystyle.blogspot.com/ Fall In Love Wednesday
http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/ Wow Us Wednesday
http://www.thethriftyhome.com/ Penny Pinching Party

Thursday
http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/ Under $100 Link Party
http://savedbysuzy.blogspot.com/ Suzy's House Party
http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/ Transformation Thursday
http://www.the36thavenue.com// Share Awesomeness Thursday
http://thriftydecorating-nikkiw.blogspot.com/ Thrifty Thursday

Friday

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

http://redoux.blogspot.com/ Friday Redoux Link Party
http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/ Frugal Friday
http://www.findingfabulousblog.com/ Frugalicious Friday

http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/ Potpourri Party
http://www.atthepicketfence.com/ Inspiration Friday

Saturday

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