Freebies Makeover, Mailman's Surprise, & A Change on the Horizon

Hey, ya'll remember me???

 Seems I pulled a recent Hank Snow in Blogland! ha!

It is good to be back, I've missed all the rich inspiration that so many have to offer!

And you know what else is pretty nifty as well???

Creating a project with freebies!

The 18 x 24 pictures below, were freebies that were thrown in at an auction 

with a dresser I purchased many months ago!

  

I've been tempted to throw them right on in the trash on several occasions, but my thrifty nature wouldn't allow it!

Not even sure how they ended up paired together, same frames, but different everything else!

I dismantled the pictures, and painted the frames with Annie Sloan Provence,
then distressed and sealed them with AS Clear Wax.

The under-mats were two different colors,
so they received a coat of black craft paint around the inside edge.
Using a foam brush with thin coats prevented brush lines.

And to continue my "no cost" make-over,
I printed the conch shell prints from Graphics Fairy.

The stool wasn't exactly free,
but it was cheap, which was way more than it was worth in the condition it was in...
nasty, nasty!
(below)

After removing 5 layers of stapled and hot-glued disgusting fabric,
I'm thinking I probably won't get my time back out of this piece.

But it did turn out to be a cute little footstool, don't you think?

Also last week,
the mailman delivered the nicest surprise to my door.

Awhile ago, I joined the Junkfest Girls Blog as their 1000th Follower.
As a show of appreciation, which I thought was so sweet, they offered to send a gift.
The gifts were beautifully wrapped, and included a "R" charm on each, how personal! :)

Along with a dear hand-written note, I received wonderful scented Junkfest Sugar Scrub...
   {LOVE the packaging!}

...and the Salvage Studio Book.  As a fellow junker and with a junkin' business on the side, I have so enjoyed this book!

Thanks so much, Lynette, Cassie, and Missy!!!  :)

On another note,
since Christmas, my life has been a roller coaster of sorts.
Particularly the last few weeks...

Many doors have been closed, "so to speak,"
And others unexpectantly opened.

Prayers being answered in ways I didn't anticipate,
but I trust that God's ways are much better than mine! :)

And in the midst of the "changes on the horizon," and adjustments, and acceptance of situations,
I've been slightly overwhelmed....
And it's not that it's all bad, it may turn out to be all really good, ...in the long run,
but it's "change,"... and the frightening uncertainty that goes along with change!

I ran across the following verse in a devotion, and what an encouragement it has been,
"You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great." 
Psalm 18:35 (NIV)

I'm not on a quest for greatness, but that His hand sustains me, ...what strength I do find in those words!

Anyhow, with all that being said,
one new venture for me, on March 1st, I will be into moving to a new booth at
Trash to Treasures Flea Market, in Castle Hayne, NC.

I'm really excited and look forward to Bello Market being a part of a great team of vendors!

If you live in Southeastern NC, you can also visit Bello Market at Carolina Country Peddlers Mall,
(Lumberton), in which I will soon be celebrating my one year anniversary with them!

{Random Picture below borrowed from T&T's Website, Click to link on...}

I hope to have more to share soon!
Painting up a storm to stock my booths,
and getting ready to make a few changes in my home, freshen things up a bit!

Updated window treatments are at the top of the list.
Want to make a guess at which swatch I'm leaning towards???

...stay tuned! :)

_________________________________

Linking Post To:  

Tutorial Tips and Tidbits @ Stone Gable
Wildly Original Link Party @ I Gotta Create
Open House Party @ No Minimalist Here
Creative Inspirations @ Embracing Change
Brag Monday @ Graphics Fairy