Little Things

LITTLE THINGS


"The race is not to the swift." ~Ecclesiastes 9:11


Well, that is good because swift I am not.

Instead I have learned to be content in little things.


THE KIDS TABLE

This week I accomplished a few more little things that were on my list.

I took the mismatched kids table and chairs and gave them a quick painting.

Somehow when things are unified by color they seem to match- even when they are different styles.

The result? Peaceful.


THE DINING ROOM


"Build houses and dwell in them." ~Jeremiah 29:5


When we built our home we had the vision of a reading room. After living in the house a while we realized that what we really needed in its place was a dining room. We moved the dining table in, but the books on the shelves stayed there. It wasn't relaxing. It felt cluttered, so I finally cleared the shelves.

Once the shelves were cleared and cleaned, I pulled out my collection of white dishes. I love the simplicity of their silhouettes against the dark wood. And I love transformations that don't carry a price tag.










IN THE MASTER BATH


I have been seriously lacking in the textiles department. Curtains and other coverings can be a big decision, but deciding to make a simple valance for our master bath wasn't. And it wasn't costly or time consuming either. With a yard of fabric, an inexpensive curtain rod and some iron on seam tape I created this quick treatment one night while the kids were in bed.




Did I mention that the rod was inexpensive? WalMart stocks these for just under a dollar.




Just rearranging a few things can make everything feel fresh and new. I'd rather find new ways to use old things than go out and buy the world. One of my favorite quotes is from Baldassare Forestiere who said:

"To make something with lots of money,

that is easy.

But to make something out of nothing--

that now, is something!"

If you haven't seen how he created something from nothing, you will have to read his story! You will be inspired.

IN THE KITCHEN

One of our favorite mottoes has long been: "Many hands make light work."

So this week an old frame got a quick spray paint and our motto was typed and slipped inside.

I moved a little lamp we weren't using into the kitchen and have been enjoying the coziness it lends.

SOMETHING I LOVE


It struck me the other day that all the patterns I love so well were displayed in Creation first.

Darling polka dot rain jackets take their cue from the Lady bug and the Polka Dot Grouper. My friends lovely Tortoise shell jewelry, well the tortoise shell. The animal prints, furs and so on are all bits of God's handiwork. And I love them.


So when I saw this fun Zebra print pillow, embellished with beads I thought it would be the perfect punch for these traditional wing backs. I actually spent money. $13. (at WalMart) The girls gasped- I thought one might pass out. But we all love it from any angle and we've recovered that Mom bought retail. Smile.


The little galvanized buckets were at the Target dollar spot and I think they make the sweetest little vases for flowers.

SOMETHING TO DO

The list of little projects goes on. It's always there. Some projects will happen sooner, some later.

Next I think I'd like to build a simple frame around this homemade chalk board. A little left over moulding and paint ought to do the trick.

But for now, it wears a new message. I thought this was sweet.

Have a great weekend!

May you be blessed,