It's Official, I'm In Love

Yes, I fell hard this past week for Annie Sloan chalk paints.  I had read and heard so much about them on the internet.

I could not be any more pleased than I am.

They are wonderful--

No sanding unless you want to--

I sanded just a little bit on this piece after it was painted and antiqued.

It is a little costly but to paint this whole buffet, I used between an inch and an inch and a half from my quart of paint.  

Some pieces require a second coat.  This one did not. 

I should be able to do another piece or two with this same quart.

Couldn't find my extra camera battery and my battery was dead and the paint was already open--

So I had to go ahead and get started.  I have no "before" picture.

I loved this piece before--it was a dark olive green.

It is in my entry hall which is kinda dark so the piece was just a non-entity.  It was never noticed.

I opened the front door to take these pictures--to get a little natural light and oops, I see I missed a couple of spots with the dark wax but that can be remedied.

Just had to show you my $2.50 daffodil--

This color is called duck egg.

I think it is my favorite of all the colors.

I hope to do several more pieces in this color--

just to carry it throughout the house for a little continuity.

I will probably use a mixture of the clear and dark wax on the next piece I do.

I love this but would prefer that the antiquing be just a little lighter.

It was hard to make myself alter the beautiful aqua color that it was--

Have a wonderful week dear friends.

Work willingly at whatever you do,  as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Col. 3:23

© all photographs and text property of Dianne Hogue unless otherwise noted


linking to

Between Naps On The Porch

and

A Stroll Thru Life

Shabby Creek Cottage

Raised With Christ!

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 

Col. 3:1-4

© all photographs and text property of Dianne Hogue unless otherwise noted

New Every Morning

I painted this today.

God desires for Resurrection morning to happen every morning of our lives.

This verse reflects that.

It's one of my favorites!

Lamentations 3:22, 23

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed.

His mercies are new every morning.

Great is His faithfulness.

I don't think this is a finished piece--will let you know if and when I make changes--

if they are an improvement.  smile

Thank God what Jesus did on Calvary to make all of this possible for us is finished!

Happy Easter Blessings to all who visit here. May your weekend be filled to overflowing with all the riches Jesus  secured for us on Calvary.

© all photographs and text property of Dianne Hogue unless otherwise noted

WORD ART WEDNESDAY

 

A Resurrection Story

Tonight we had an appreciation dinner at Renewal Ranch for the teachers.

The residents spoke from the heart what was in their hearts--

They told of being broken and hopeless when they came--

Dead to dreams, wishes and prayers--

How wonderful to now hear of hope and newness,

Of life, happiness and joy.

What a week to hear these kinds of testimonies!

When Jesus took the sin of the world upon Himself,

the darkness, the heaviness, the stench

permeated the air--

But grave clothes could not hold Him,

Sin could not bind Him,

Death could not defeat Him.

When Jesus shut the windows of hopelessness and despair

and opened the doors of fullness and joy--

The aroma of resurrection filled the air!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

© all photographs and text property of Dianne Hogue unless otherwise noted

Textured Roses

It is still very cold here in Arkansas but I found these beautiful roses a few days ago at the grocery store.  They were only $10 a bunch and it was a big bunch.  I had company in from another state and they did the job of warming up our home with their incredibly beautiful colors.

Hope you are warm and cozy wherever you are.

Linking to Texture Tuesdays

Picture is textured with two layers of Kim Klassen's 0303, one at 62% and one at 94%

© all photographs and text property of Dianne Hogue unless otherwise noted

Pardon Me While Life Interrupts

I would say "Sorry for the absence," but that would not be true.  I did miss you but I had something that took precedence over my blogging--family!  My kids were here from Tulsa and with two other sons and their families who live here over visiting the past few days, we have been a tad bit busy. This is our newest grandchild, James, who is 3 and a half months old.  Thank you so much to those of you who prayed for him when his mom was having such a difficult pregnancy and when ultrasounds showed the umbilical wrapped twice around his neck.  I can't thank you enough for your faithfulness in praying for us.

© all photographs and text property of Dianne Hogue unless otherwise noted

A Thousand Yesterdays

~a bud holds the promise of tomorrow within the embrace of a thousand yesterdays~

~a bud holds the promise of tomorrow

within the embrace of a thousand yesterdays~

In yesterday's post, I needed a quote.

Rather than go looking for one, I decided to write my own.

The above quote is what I wrote.

My husband didn't "get it," he said.

I'm not sure I got it.

But I knew what I wanted to say and I knew what I wanted it to mean so I wrote the first words that came to my mind to describe what that was.

In retrospect, I think I am starting to "get it."

This morning I started thinking about the Ark of the Covenant.

~and its contents~

~tablets of stone with commandments~

~some of the manna that fell from heaven~

~and Aaron's rod that budded~

Actually, it did more than bud--it blossomed--

and it did more than blossom--it bore fruit--

and it did more than bare fruit--it bore ripe fruit--

I reread the story of the budding rod

and marveled at all the meanings therein.

Maybe someday we will understand all of them--

But in the meantime--

I can't help but wonder if one reason God placed it there

was to show us that all the investments He made in us

in all our yesterdays

will determine the beauty with which we bloom tomorrow.

© all photographs and text property of Dianne Hogue unless otherwise noted
Loropetalum from our yard--
Vintage pottery belonged to my mother-in-law--

Wow Us Wednesdays

Buds of Promise

linking to Texture Tuesdays

Texture 1301-reduced opacity

jasmine from my yard

© all photographs and text property of Dianne Hogue unless otherwise noted

My Little Living Room

These first three pictures are harsh in color because of the bright light I was shooting against.  My camera was rebelling I think.  The fourth picture looks almost exactly like the color of my walls and my furniture.

From my place on the sofa, this is my view.  It is hard to believe we have lived here 7 years and I just now finished getting it decorated.

I painted the picture that hangs over the love seat and just bought the architectural elements this past weekend at Hobby Lobby for $20 each--50% off sale.

The desk belonged to my mother-in-law and the stool was given to me by my good friend, Angie.

The drapes--my sister-in-law and I made them--mostly she did--she is an incredible seamstress.  I did a little pinning--LOL!

I painted the canvas to the right of the desk and just now put it in this particular spot.  It is my favorite spot I've had it so far.  It really needs light shining directly on it to get the full impact of the paints so the tiffany lamp works great there, especially since it has a tilt shade.  

I just acquired the antique oak library bookcase a few months ago.  It holds all my devotional and teaching materials.

Right above the library case is a hand-stitched 23rd Psalm.  I made that in the 1970's.  

Next to that is a lovely piece that my son, Jeff, bought me from Mardel.  The lady who does the calligraphy for most of Carpentree's line was my calligraphy teacher in Tulsa.  Her work is simply exquisite.  Mine looks like child's play next to hers.  If you have any calligraphy from Mardel, there is a good chance it was done by Marj.  Marj Miller is her name.  

To the right of that piece is another watercolor I painted and an Olan Mills picture of yours truly when I was about four years old.

The picture below me is one I painted.

The white pitcher is from Target (recently) and the forsythia is from my side yard.

I wanted so much to wipe up those forsythia leaves but I made myself NOT do it--

you know, they always leave some petals in the magazines--wonder why mine never looks quite like theirs?

I painted the portrait of one of my sons on the right end of the gallery and I photographed two of the four pictures of some of our grandchildren.

We bought the lamp many, many years ago--wish I could remember how many.

My husband was with me and he is prone to spend more on things than I am.

We bought a set of two and they were not cheap but they have stood the test of time.

I love them and would never get rid of them no matter what the styles dictate.

The only thing is, I need new shades--and none fit them from any of the cheaper places.

I did find some at a specialty lamp shop but oh my, they are so expensive--not sure I can ever make myself do that--

I started out years ago making things hand-stitched for our walls for thrift reasons.

Now I photograph and paint for the same reasons and I just like the homeyness that it adds to the decor.

--the personal touch--

Hope you enjoyed the tour of my little living room.  It sure is special to me and where

I spend a lot of time.

I guess my decorating style is eclectic because I like a little bit of everything--from farmhouse to Tuscany to Country French to vintage to traditional to Shaker to English Countryside--

© all photographs and text property of Dianne Hogue unless otherwise noted

Nearer to His Heart

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:8a

© all photographs and text property of Dianne Hogue unless otherwise noted