Serendipity Sunday

Ah, Serendipity Sunday!!  My favorite thing to write about!

I love looking for that one moment that is unexpected and just makes me feel so blessed.

Sweet Charcoal sitting at my feet...

I have found that I usually find more than one…funny how that happens, huh?!

Do you ever wonder if what you do makes a difference in the world?

Do you ever wonder why you even try…

Do you just want to throw up your hands and give up because you don’t think anyone is paying attention, and believe me, I get it!

Ah, don't they look sweet.  These two would NEVER get into any trouble!!

We are so busy trying to do our own thing, that we don’t take time to see what others are doing.  We want people to SEE what I DID, and HEAR what I say, and LOOK what I am doing, and HERE, take my idea and make it yours, oh, and look what I am eating at this fancy smansy restaurant…ROFL

We ALL do it, and NOBODY throws a better pity party than me...I even provide refreshments and decorations!!

Chester!!  What are you doing??

I had decided a few years ago, that I was ONLY going to do my own thing. No longer would I buy someone elses pattern or paint the work of someone else...Baby, it is gonna just be ME and ME!

Chester...WHAT did you do to my sign??

Oh, you silly, silly girl...You NEVER for one moment considered WHAT you would be missing...the lessons you would not learn, the JOY you would miss in sharing with others, the FUN in painting something that your friend designed...

I can STILL see you, even with your eyes covered...Don't look surprised...Charlie KNOWS you did it, TOO!

Well, I got over that really fast.  I have probably learned more in the last three years that I have in a long time.  It has felt so good, and NOW, I also have gotten to know the blissful feeling of having someone to paint something that I designed...I have found that it is I that has gotten the most out of this by seeing my vision through the eyes of someone else.  Again, it has taught me that WE have so much to offer each other, and TOGETHER, we are unstoppable!!

The other night, a friend shared one of my blog ideas with me on fb...I cannot begin to really TELL you how happy it made me, and this is not the first time!

This is one of the cutest things I have ever seen!!  Oh my...What an imagination...

To see those little lightening bugs appear on a cookie, moved the corners of my mouth all the way up to my eyeballs!

Little Cookies by Cheryl Jones....oh, so yummy, too!

BUT then, there was more.

I received a message telling me to get to the Postie on Friday...HEY, you don't have to tell me more than two or three or four times!! (cause I forget...)

I DID not hide your sign...quit telling people that...I was Asleep...See me guarding it for YOU?!

I also re-found a gift that another friend had sent me, that got brought into the house, and promptly, he-who-shall-remain-nameless, pushed it under the couch~~out of sight, out of mind!

I love my snowman sign from Crystal...it really does pay to be up early, sometimes.  Charcoal gave his lick and sniff of approval!

On top of all of this, my elves were all acting like BOYS...mischief and mayhem all around...

I KNOW, some think that I am only bragging, and YES, well, I AM...

It finally dawned on me that receiving the many gifts I get from friends, literally, all over the world, has never been because of something I have done...

Um, Chester, I don't think that is the kind of umbrella one puts in their drinks...Another goodie from Cheryl

OH, NO...it is BECAUSE of WHO these people are...They are kind, thoughtful, loving, generous, talented and WELL, I am honored to call them friends...

So, Today, I thank Cheryl of Under the Lemon Tree and Crystal of Backwoods Artists.  You both have brought me more "warm fuzzies" than you will ever know.  Thank you, for well, being YOU!

Cheryl never forgets Charcoal, either...She is a good Auntie...

Please, everybody, go SUPPORT YOUR FRIENDS...buy their products...buy their patterns...give them encouragement...Love them...share them...it is NOT about any of us, individually, but about us collectively...we NEED each other.

AND, by all means, ALWAYS pay it Forward and BLOOM!

I LOVE my new sign made by Cheryl and the awesome jar and candy!!

I am simply blessed to create...and I am blessed to feel the love of so many of you...THANK YOU, Thank you, Thank you~~charlotte♡

Tutorial Thursday

Where is time going?  

 It is already Thursday and another week has almost disappeared!

Do you have plans this weekend?

We never celebrated holidays at my house, since Daddy had to milk every day, come rain or shine! BUT we always took time to be THANKFUL!

We would often go to a neighbor’s house to eat, or have someone to come here, but really, those days were always pretty low key.  Don’t get me wrong, my Mother was the Queen of Hospitality, so having someone over for a meal was quite common, and we always seemed to enjoy it.  I especially enjoyed when they had a child close to my age, since it was usually just me and my brother, so a new playmate was always welcomed…and yes, I loved being with my brother, except when I was his “raslin” partner…LOL

I want to be sure to say THANKS for those who gave their life in defense of this country.  Our country is not perfect, nor are her citizens, and certainly not her leaders, but we are FREE and we get to disagree with things and with people that we don’t agree with…

SO, be sure to HONOR the men and women who gave their lives for us to have this freedom, and ACT like you appreciate this freedom…be kind…pray for each other…pray for our leaders…treat others as YOU wish to be treated.

We ARE a GREAT Country, but a little respect for each other, SURE could go a long WAY…

God Bless America…Thank YOU for those who gave ALL…

When we went to someone’s home, most always, Mother carried SOMETHING.  So, to carry on this tradition for letting me in your little corner of the world, I thought I would give you something!

This is a quick line drawing that you can “whip out” to use as a hostess gift, if you need one.

OF COURSE, I used the only paint I have~~

DecoArt Americana Acrylics!  

 I strongly suggest that you give them a try.

The background is based in Harbor Blue.  I used 2 coats, sanding between the coats.

When this dried, I applied a good coat of water and painted Driftwood on the surface.  You want this to be wet, but it doesn’t matter that your coverage is not good.  You can see in the picture that mine is streaky, and that is fine.

Take a piece of Plastic wrap (Saran-type wrap) and place it on the surface.  Push the plastic wrap into the paint and remove it quickly.  You WANT the wrap to be crinkly.

See how cool this is!  You will always get a different background, and that adds to the fun.  

Use the colors of your choice and it is a neat background…Enjoy!

I am giving you the line drawing.  All I ask, is if you use it, please give me credit for the design, and do not claim it as your own, because, after all, it is the NICE thing to do.  I am more than happy to share. 

Also, share it with me if you use it…I love to give inspiration whenever possible.

If you would like to purchase the pattern, I have it in my etsy shop for a special price of $2, but by all means, you do NOT have to buy it.  I give because I like to share…Click HERE to go to my etsy shop

Happy Memorial Day as we REMEMBER…Always live your life gratefully, and you will find blessings all around you…I am simply blessed to create~~charlotte♡