Update On Clayton

So I spoke with TOT today at about 1pm just before she went in to see Clayton. He was supposed to move out of ICU today but those plans have been shelved due to the concern over the fractured skull and intra-cranial bleeding. He is awake and off the respirator though which is fabulous news, and has already shown an interest in riding that 4-wheeler again. I am going to mail TOT a FOR SALE sign if you know what I mean. It will read:

FOR SALE~~Slightly used 4-wheeler
For info call:
555-uh-uh-boy

I will let you all know as soon as I get more news. TOT is exhausted I'm sure, but her daughters and grandson are there with her for support. Let's all keep up the prayers and positive thoughts as they seem to be working! Thanks to all of you who have left comments and who are keeping them in your prayers.

Hugs,
Shelley

Pray For Clayton

This morning, as I opened my blog to check on new posts I received horrible news that my friend Theresa of Time Worn Interiors son has been seriously injured in a 4-wheeler accident. She is flying to Texas to be with him today and I know right now she must be in a million pieces. I have experienced having a child injured in another state and felt the helpless desperation to be with him but had to deal with getting there first. Please pray for Clayton to recover and for God to wrap his arms around TOT and her family and give them strength.

Father God,
I am praying for the recovery of Clayton and for my friend Theresa to feel my love and strength around her at this impossibly difficult time. Give her the ability to put this in your hands and to know that you are with her at all times. I pray this in Jesus name.
Amen.

Touring Charleston

During my recent trip down south, I was fortunate to spend a day walking around Charleston. Although I had visited Charleston as a college student, I was eager to see the city again through a new perspective. Instead of taking a guided tour, I decided to explore on my own. I made a stop at the Calhoun Mansion (pictured below), the largest privately owned house in the city. There is a fee for entering the house, but admission is free to the fantastic gardens leading to the museum shop around back. The gift shop clerk was helpful in steering me down several alleys not typically travelled by tourists. As someone who loves details, Charleston was the perfect place for me.

Notice how the ivy has been clipped around the windows and the small door underneath this staircase.

If only I could have seen what was behind these wonderful doors!

Loved this beautiful greenhouse. I don't know any flowers who wouldn't be happy living here.
Of course, no visit to Charleston would be complete without pictures of beautiful houses.

My 100th Follower!

So another milestone has been achieved at SWEET PEA. Stefanie of ROSE PETALS AND RUST blog became my 100th follower!! Thanks Stefanie! I think it only fitting to send a little sumthin' sumthin' her way to mark the moment don't you? So, dear Stefanie I'm sending a thank you package to you on Friday and I hope you'll be pleased. It's a secret what I'm sending so as not to ruin the surprise. Be sure and check out ROSE PETALS AND RUST BLOG to see what she got!

Hugs to Stefanie and all my fabulous Followers, I appreciate you more than you know!

Shelley

WHITE WEDNESDAY

patina (n.) the sheen on any surface, produced by age and use.













texture (n.) a structure of inter-woven fibers or other elements.

Recover a Vintage Stool

Several years ago I purchased this little vintage foot stool on Ebay. Though I loved the lines, I wasn't too crazy about the brown needlepoint cover. Last month I completed a slip cover project for a client and fell in love with the Zebra fabric she choose. As luck would have it there was a small piece of fabric left over - perfectly sized for my stool.

Recovering this stool was an easy process. Simply take off the stool cover by removing the small tacks with a hammer, pliers and a puddy knife. Use the old cover as a pattern to cut out your new cover. Since I was using upholstery tacks, I made my pattern about a 1/2 inch bigger on all sides than the original. This gave me some fabric to fold under for a nice finished edge.

Center the fabric on the stool. Place one tack in the middle of each side of the stool, folding the fabric under 1/2" and pulling tight. Work from the center out, trying to evenly space the upholstery tacks, until you reach the corners.

Fold the corners neatly and tack in place. You are done!

I love how this new fabric looks. Such a change from the old. If only I was brave enough to tackle the chair I have had for twenty years that needs upholstering!

Mary Paulsen Folk Art Garden

I have just returned from a vacation down south and wanted to share the story of a remarkable woman. During my trip, I visited Mary's Gone Wild, the visionary folk art garden, doll baby village and bottle house of Mary Paulsen of Holden Beach, North Carolina. Mary creates bright colored paintings on the reverse side of old glass windows as well as other recyled goods. By purchasing Mary's art and leaving donations, visitor's to Mary's Garden have helped to feed tens of thousands of hungry children since 1996. Above is a picture of the outside of Mary's studio and below are photos of the inside, including her whimsical paintings. Notice the floor and ceiling treatments. Not a surface goes untouched.Mary recently completed the bottle house pictured below. She has saved thousands of pounds of trash from the local landfill by recycling unwanted goods into bright and happy "make you smile art."

The house is made completely out of bottles and includes her paintings for windows. The floor is painted and the inside is furnished with pieces that Mary has embellished.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Mary while she was working on her latest creation. She is deeply religious, friendly and was happy to answer all my questions. I am so glad I stopped by!

WHITE WEDNESDAY~~FRENCH LINENS

WHITE WEDNESDAY takes us to the land of French monogrammed linens this time. I have an addiction to these works of art and have a nice collection going (sorry not for sale--mine all mine). I am especially fond of the sheet that bears the monogram S and R, as those are the initials of Mr. Sweet Pea and I. Have you ever felt the weight and texture of an antique linen or hemp sheet? There's nothing like it ladies. And the monograms? Don't get me started...

In addition to my antique linen collection I also have an affinity for anything made from old linens, anything with a ruffle and anything made from high quality linen fabric. Hence the pillow collection featuring linen pillows from Carolyn Westbrook Home (used to carry these in my shop), a pillow made from vintage nightgowns that says Home Sweet Home, a pillow I made from an old linen corset bag, and my beloved ruffled shower curtain from none other than ANTHROPOLOGIE. Enjoy...