The Lucky Winner IS....

Lisa atAnother Day Today AND Jonni!! OK..I decided to pick TWO winners for a couple of reasons....First, because I was overwhelmed by the fantastic response I got to my giveaway, and, secondly, because I had my kids draw the names this morning for me before they left for school. I have two kids at home and they both wanted to draw a winner from the bowl.

So there ya go!




Congratulations to both Lisa and Jonni. I will be contacting you for yoru mailing address right away.

Two of these little handmade peeps will be flying off to your house if the next few days. I just know they will look sweet with your Easter lovelies.

Now don't be too disappointed if you didn't win....I decided I would list these cuties in the etsy shop later today.

Stay tuned.

Thank you so much to everyone who joined in my 200th post celebration What a fun week this was of meeting new followers and discovering new and wonderful blogs.

Here's to the next 100 posts at Starview Sonnet!

You've Gotta See This....

Look at this GORGEOUS headboard!

If you haven't been to SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DECORATE this week, head on over to see this creation and so much more!

Cast your vote for your favorite.

So many talented decorators...so many ideas to "steal".

Just plain awesome.

How Wonderful.....

to get so many responses to my 200th post giveaway! I am just giddy with excitement about all my new followers.

I hope to visit all of your blogs and get to know you better.

Thank you for all your kind word about my little birds.

I am looking forward to announcing a winner at the end of the week.

Just a few random things on this Wednesday evening....
Here's some flowers in the cute little garden wagon I found last spring at the antique mall....
Isn't it wonderful to have the colors of spring once again?

Here's a special keepsake set I took out yesterday. It's a Beatrix Potter children's plac setting that I received from a special friend when my oldest son was born.

One thing that has really struck me lately is how we treasure things from special people that have crossed paths with us in our lives.

The little (or big) gifts of kindness stay in our hearts forever.

They are very powerful.

My Easter vignette will include this treasure. Hopefully I will have it done in the next day or two to show you.

And last, but not least.....I found this bread recipe at a wonderful blog--Sandra at Stone Creek Market yesterday. I just had to try it.

We made it last night--it is so simple and so delicious. Just look at these two beautiful loaves!!! NOTE: I could not get this photo to dowload correctly for anything...sorry it's crooked. Frustrating.

Anyway, check out the recipe and make some yummy bread in a jiffy.

Oh....and just one more thing....Look at this little treasure I picked up on ebay for $4.99!

Isn't it just too precious????

This will be part of my Easter display also.

It is so dainty and oh so sweet...maybe filled with eggs?

We'll see..

200th Post,, Garden Placemats & A Giveaway!

I am celebrating my 200th post today!

I am constantly amazed at how rewarding this blog journey has been.

I have "met" so many wonderful people, found a new way to stay in touch with friends and family near and far, and found creativity and inspiration beyond belief.

In honor of my 200th post I wanted to share these placemats I made yesterday.

I will be visiting family and friends in California next week. I am looking forward to seeing my dear friend while I am there. She shares my passion for flowers and gardening. We have spent some very special time in some beautiful gardens.

These will be a little gift for her.....a reminder of our shared passion and the wonderful friendship.

The gate graphic is from my wonderful friend Karen at The Graphics Fairy.

I added some handpainted terra cotta pots filled with the magic of spring flowers.

I am definitely not a painter, but I like the way my simple artwork added to the majestic old gate.

Now for a sweet little GIVEAWAY......

I would like to send two of these sweet little birds I make to one lucky winner...

How do you enter????

It's easy.

Become a follower of mine (if you are not already) and leave a comment for this post.

If you become a follower AND leave a comment, you name will be entered TWICE!

I will pick a winner (out of the hat) on St. Patrick's Day (Thursday) at 9:00 pm and post it on Friday morning.

That's it!

So glad you stopped by to help me celebrate. I will also be linking to Karen's Brag Monday with my latest placemat creation....check it out.

Sunday Morning, Daffodils and Projects

These beautiful daffodils are from my garden...a sure sign that spring is just about here.

If you have never planted spring bulb, do yourself a favor and give it a try. There is truly no greater pleasure than seeing them poke up from the ground on a chilly morning and bloom just days later. You can plant them anywhere, in clay pots or small planting beds. Se easy and so gratifying.

Some place mats I have been working on...

a few clay pots I painted last night....

a canvas piece that I made based on Dawn's tutorial at The Artist Class.

This is the 2nd Artist Class I have participated in. They are starting a new one. Go here for details. You won't be disappointed.

I'm just having so much fun creating and getting ready to do a little Easter vignette.

Oh....I am also just one post away from my 200th post! I can't believe it!

I want to do a giveaway for my valued readers. How about this? Let me know what you'd like to see for my giveaway post?

A little sweet bird just for you?

A spring banner?

Let me know...

Seize the day.

My Love Affair With.....

Birds!

As far back as I can remember I have loved birds...their nests, their eggs, their feathers...all of it!

Last year I started making birds out of paper clay. I just can't explain how much pleasure I get from crafting these little guys.

Here's my latest little feathered friends.

I decided they were important enough to wear crowns of glory.

They seem so right "at home" nestled" on top of a baking tin I got on ebay and painted with chocolate brown paint (another one of my favorite things, I might add).

The glitter eggs are from the Dollar Store, as well as the light aqua ribbon.

I'm just loving this shade of blue right now....can you tell?

Hope you are enjoying an inspired weekend!

I am.

DIY Friday Desk Lamp

The "before" photo of a desk lamp that almost ended up in the last yard sale.
I didn't get rid of it because it provides great light and my son needed a desk lamp.

I just hated the black and chrome look of it.

So...I finally made it a priority....

First I masked off the base and lamp with paper. Then I painted the chrome arm with Rustoleum paint in an oil rubbed bronze color. I moved it around several times to make sure I got all the cracks and crevices.

I did add a spray finish coat to the metal after painting it, since it will be moved around as the lamp is adjusted.

I printed out the vintage playing card graphic on onion skin paper (almost the texture of tissue paper).

I used regular old Mod Podge to apply the images to the lamp area and the base.

In hindsight, I wish I had used the matte Mod Podge instead of the gloss, but that is what I had on hand.

I think it turned out pretty good! Now my son has some good light directly on his desk. By the way, his desk was a prior DIY project aso. We used leftover hand-rubbed hardwood flooring from our house and mounted it on plywood. We trimmed out the edges and placed the desk top on two wood filing cabinets.

Instant desk with character!

What a great feeling to cross this project off my list!

I have so many projects in mid-stream right now and so many I want to start on. I'm sure many of you can relate to that?

But, there are just so many hours in the day.....

I will continue to practice one of my favorite practices....At the end of each day I try to focus on what I HAVE accomplished, not what I didn't get to.

That makes for a happier life : )

Hope you enjoyed this little project.

Happy Friday!

Reflections During My Walk....

While out on my walk yesterday (this is the beautiful view with new snow on the mountaintops).....

I realized that it has been almost a year since we moved into our home.

The process of building our home was full of choices, compromises and watching our budget.

All in all, I am VERY happy with the decisions we made.

These are definitely some of my favorite things...

My light fixtures from Murray Feiss (Chateau Collection)...

wall sconces...

entry way light

my two chandeliers in the master bedroom

the "just the right size" great room chandelier...

the lanterns with the adorable birds in the gallery

our rustic front door...

with my favorite detail--the speakeasy...

my shutters painted a favorite shade of red

the river rock stones we used for our chimney...

the copper farmhouse sinks...I used one in the guest cottage and also in the house..

I LOVE them....they are constantly changing in their patine (and I wouldn't recommend them for perfectionists for this very reason)...

those are my thoughts......

I am so grateful that we were able to experience building.

a house from the ground up.

It has been three years since we first laid eyes on this property on our first visit here.

What a perfectly beautiful place to live.

I hope your week is going well...