You Know, It’s Sunday… A Mother’s Day Sunday

It’s raining, and the house is quiet -  everyone is still sleeping.

I think back to what I’d consider easier days, when there were no money issues, or worries about where life was going to take us – there wasn’t a reason to worry about those things then – we just thought things would always be the same…   Time flew by,  the kids were little, and my life was filled with elementary events and keeping a big house in order.   I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t want to go back to that.   I was younger,  I had more energy, I was fit, my kids were toddlers and their problems were little ones…

Now my kids are older – my daughter turns 15 this week, and my son has been driving for 5 months.  My kids are bigger than me.   A second girl this year at their schools committed suicide this past week.   I can’t imagine the heartache that family feels, or if what that girl felt was any different than what my kids have felt at times….   I told my son ‘please don’t ever feel that THAT is an option when life gets bad’ and he replied   ‘oh mom, don’t worry, I like myself too much’.   

Thank you Lord!

I love my kids.  I am so grateful that God blessed me with motherhood.  I couldn’t imagine my life without them.   After church we are heading to my moms, to wish her a happy day.  I am taking her picture frames back to her – she dropped them off to me ‘gold’  and hoped I could update the finishes for her

I wish I’d have taken a before photo.  They are so pretty in person , I can’t wait to give them to her.  I used, if you can believe, CeCe Smoky Mountain Gray which is like a blue gray, and did a little crackling, added some silver tones, and a dark wax

I’m actually going to finish a piece of furniture in a similar combo this week, I love it so much

I love my mom.  I hope we can be to my kids, what my parents have been to us.

To all you Mom’s out there,  God bless you!   Happy Mother’s Day!

My Sis and Designer Friend Paid A Visit!

My sister is visiting from China this week…   she’s been living there for almost seven years…    Her and her hub work for GM – they’ve become so valuable there that the company keeps re-assigning them.

She doesn’t come home but a couple times a year – this visit was a last minute surprise,  perfect timing to see family/friends over the holidays.  Yesterday, she and her best friend Tamara Joseph,  an Interior Designer for Gorman’s Furniture at Lakeside, dropped by the store to say hello.

My sis brought me a special Christmas present,  a Beckoning Cat (his arm waves back and forth, palm up).  Such cats are believed to promote prosperity, their beckoning paws inviting passers-by to come in and do business

How cool is that?     Lucky we weren’t sloshing paint, my sis’s pretty cream fur sweater would have been toast

Thanks for the surprise visit!

My Store Neighbor – Fanci Footworks Dancewear…

I love my “store”  neighbor -

Teresa Young Foksa owns Fanci Footworks,  a Dance – Skate – Tumble – Cheerwear Retailer.

When I moved into my retail space I couldn’t help but notice the regular buzz of traffic frequenting Fanci Footworks.   It all made sense when I introduced myself to Teresa (go figure, she and I where mom’s to our same age kids all through the same elementary school!)  – she has owned Fanci Footworks for TEN YEARS!  Ten years in business and still open, still vibrant, a successful retailer!

How does one pull that off in todays world?    Well, my guess would be great  product selection, and just as great customer service.  Right?  You nail both of those, and you have game….

 I’ll end up buying something ‘she-she’ and I don’t even have a need for it  – my kid plays soccer, but I swoon over the fru fru…

Adorable…

Fun charms -

even  SOCCER BALL charms!

I told Teresa this needs to be offered in adult sizes – isn’t it romantic?

Not only did we end up with kids the same age, in the same school, but both our businesses are F F – Fanci Footworks and Fabulous Finishes…. cool eh?  And even better, guess what her dog looks like?

Bella!  She has a shepherd mix too!

Anyway,  I’m sharing this with you because I know I reach a lot of moms – and even though you might not be local to Metro Detroit, if you have a child in need of dance/cheer/skate wear and accessories,  Fanci Footworks sells online – they have not only an Ebay store but also an online store

Check her out

A Chalk Birthday Gift Created From The Heart, Using Caromal Colours Paints…

A good post for me to share today – my best friend/neighbor down the street’s birthday was earlier this week. She is my old friend that I’ve shared a ‘birthday gift giving’ thing with.  I mean,  I’m late 40′s, shes 50ish,  it’s not often something we do later in life ya know?   But somehow it evolved,  and I am grateful.

This  week has reminded me of that movie The Green Mile -  walking a slow walk to doom…    Each day this week,  I walked closer to the dreaded  ‘ Move Day’ …   I cried the morning of her birthday, it brought back many fond memories – not that we won’t still be friends after today  – we’re only  moving a mile away – it’s just different, you get that…

On her birthday I went to the store to work for the day and while there I created a birthday gift for her.   I got out one of my heavier oak cabinet door samples, one that had 2 hinges on the side for extra ‘effect’, and set to working painting it with my Caromal Colour Textured paints.   She loved this piece in my store

so I decided to create a chalkboard with that barnworn finish around the frame, only I used Candy Apple Red under the Mustard instead of the Paprika used on the piece above.  Below you can see both reds,  the Candy Apple is top left and a little brighter than the barn red Paprika below it

I painted the first layer, heavily stippled around the edges, with Candy Apple, and then brushed it smooth as the chalkboard front.   When it dried I brushed the frame with Chipping Creme, then when that dried I brushed on Mustard.  The chalkboard front I have a second coat of Candy Apple.  When the frame dried I sanded it back, and then brushed on the Toner and wiped it off -

I had these decorative nail hooks that I’d bought, unsure where I’d ever use them – they were perfect for this….  strong enough to even hold a set of keys

I love the idea too…. I want to make more and offer them in my store – how many cool combinations I could make….   But mostly, I love that I was able to make something,  just for perfect, for my friend

Thank you,  EVERYONE,   for your support and love and prayers that you have sent my family’s way.  I can honestly say that ALL of it has helped me walk this walk… God has blessed me beyond measure,  with loving family and friends and fine talents -  thank you for holding my hand through the darker times.   Today?  We move onward and upward to dancing in the sunshine!!!

<3  <3   <3     Patty