Really Bad Photos of New Work

I'm breaking a new year's resolution to not show bad photos. 
Please forgive me, but I wanted to show you some bad photos of a recent project. 

I was commissioned to paint 3 12x12 paintings for a sweet family at my church. They're building a barndominium in a nearby canyon - a place of rest and respite. 

Each piece has a scripture - two deal with rest and stillness, and one is the favorite of the recipient. 

It was such a pleasure to paint for this family! They are a blessing to our church and community, and have blessed my family in many ways.

When construction is finished, and they're in place, maybe I'll be able to take some better photos for you!

Word for the Day:
Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.

Psalm 23:3

He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Psalm 46:10

Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

Old Bag Without a Rose

A while back, I found this old medical bag. 

I paid more for it than I usually would pay for something in a thrift store, even thought the condition was not great. 

I still don't know why I decided to buy it, except that the craftsmanship was really wonderful. Before it became damaged, it was a well-made piece. 

The inside is in great shape, but the outside is in tatters.
Still, it spoke to me.

I had no idea what to do with it, but since I'd bought it, I felt obligated to do SOMETHING. So I asked your help.

Many of you suggested roses. You've probably noticed, I am not much of a rose kind of girl. (I have a brown thumb. If I were to buy myself flowers, I'd get purple Irises, or maybe a wildflower mix or something. Flowers are not really my thing.)

But the idea of using it as a container for a plant was appealing. So, I went to Hobby Lobby and looked for some real-looking faux plant. 

I really wanted an asparagus fern or something wispy, but they were plastic. So, the airplane plant was my choice. It was on 50 percent off, too. 

It adds that little unexpected junk-turned-precious element I like so much. 

Any other good ideas for the bag? I like your ideas, even if I tweak them a bit to accommodate my brown thumb, plain Jane ways. Really. 

Word for the Day:
Song of Solomon 2:1

I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.

Linking With
Sunday
http://southernhospitalityblog.com	Thrifty Treasures
Monday
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com	Make it Pretty Monday
http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com	Mod Mix Monday
Tuesday
http://www.knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/	Vintage Inspiration Tuesday
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/	Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
http://cedarhill-ranch.com	The Scoop
http://farmhouseporch.blogspot.com/	The Scoop
http://www.astrollthrulife.net/	Inspire Me Tuesday
Wednesday
http://savvysouthernstyle.net/	Wow Us Wednesday
http://www.timewashed.com	Blissfully White Wednesday
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/	What’s it Wednesday
Thursday
http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/	Thursday Open House Party
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/	Time Travel Thursday
http://www.jannolson.blogspot.com/	Share Your Cup Thursday
Friday
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/	Feathered Nest Friday
http://www.jenniferrizzo.com/	Fabulously Creative Friday
http://homespunhappenings-tammy.blogspot.com	Rustic Restorations Weekend
Saturday
http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/	Saturday Nite Special

Thrifty Scores - Italian Style!

Wanna see my souvenirs from Italy?

No, unlike my friend Daniela, I did not just return from a vacation to Italy. Never been there. 

I have visited some wonderful, far away exotic places in my life, but never Italy.

You probably already know how I acquired my lovely souvenirs; thrift stores.

Some are great just as I find them, others need a little tweaking to make them just right for my home.

These are a perfect example. LOVE the frames and the domed glass. The little printed things inside...not so much.

See how much better they look just removing the "art"?

I'll probably do something to fit in them - maybe silhouettes of my children. I'll have to do a different frame for my third child, but that will work. I might even like it better!

I'll keep the tarnished metal, of course. This won't get painted.

These, on the other hand, will get some paint - but probably only over the "art" parts again. 

I love the shapes of these! The gilding and the black and white touches, the stamped designs - totally wonderful. But again, the "art" is cheesy little printed old master type stuff. 

It just doesn't do the hand-carved and painted little wood pieces justice. No worries, though.

Because I love tweaking things with paint. And these SOOO deserve a little tweak-time.

After they came all this way...it would be a shame to leave them only partially wonderful!

These 4 pieces were found on the same day at the same thrift store. I suspect they were souvenirs from someone's trip to Italy a few decades back. Some relative probably didn't appreciate them. 

My gain! 

Seriously, it's just stuff, and inexpensive stuff at that. But for now, it is appreciated. This is really my favorite kind of stuff to have; it's not expensive, but it's got charm. If it's ever lost, it's not a big deal. But for now, it suits just fine, until I get to visit wonderful places in person.

Word for the Day:
Philippians 3:7-11
7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Linking With
Sunday
http://southernhospitalityblog.com	Thrifty Treasures
Monday
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com	Make it Pretty Monday
http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com	Mod Mix Monday
Tuesday
http://www.knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/	Vintage Inspiration Tuesday
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/	Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
http://cedarhill-ranch.com	The Scoop
http://farmhouseporch.blogspot.com/	The Scoop
http://www.astrollthrulife.net/	Inspire Me Tuesday
Wednesday
http://savvysouthernstyle.net/	Wow Us Wednesday
http://www.timewashed.com	Blissfully White Wednesday
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/	What’s it Wednesday
Thursday
http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/	Thursday Open House Party
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/	Time Travel Thursday
http://www.jannolson.blogspot.com/	Share Your Cup Thursday
Friday
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/	Feathered Nest Friday
http://www.jenniferrizzo.com/	Fabulously Creative Friday
http://homespunhappenings-tammy.blogspot.com	Rustic Restorations Weekend
Saturday
http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/	Saturday Nite Special