A Story of A Table

Once upon a time, in the past,

not so far back that it can't be remembered,

a young girl bought a table.

The money she had earned was 

very precious to her and so 

when she went to the thrift store to

make her purchase, she never

forgot the day.

She painted it and added a fabric skirt

and it became her very first real piece of

furniture that no one else had bought.

Many years passed and the girl became a 

wife, a mom, Grannie and great Grannie.

Every time she visited at her aging parents

home she saw the table in the closet

and wished she could ship it to her home

but it wasn't really worth shipping 3000 miles.

Then the parents were both gone and the 

house was being emptied.

The owner of the table looked at it longingly

and told the story to her sisters

who were helping go through the lifetime

of memories.

The table was given to a sister instead,

with the honor of refinishing it and selling it.

When she began to strip off the top 

 she found 4 layers of

wallpaper spanning many styles

and decades.

When the table was finally stripped and cleaned

it got a new coat of paint and a pretty knob.

Then a new era of the tables' story came to be.

Another girl wanted to have it

and so it was given to her as a birthday surprise.

This girl is the first girls only brothers' daughter.

So it was not given away to a stranger,

but only went to stay now in the same family

but a different house.

And the Girl who was resides at 

The Raggedy Garden

while the Girl who is resides at

A J Crazies

 In our family the Girl who was

is the story teller so this story is told

to honor her many gifts

and to share a little piece of her life. 

It's that time of year again!

This is my garage after a very 

successful day of garage sales!

Won't be parking in there anytime soon!

Painting and sanding,

washing and scrubbing...

I love it!

Summertime Look

I had refinished a coffee table

to sell at Rusty Glamour 

and it just did not sell.

Finally I decided I would take it home and 

use it in my house for awhile.

I think people need to have more

vision as to how a piece might be

added to their home as I think it

looks pretty darn good!

All I had to do was add in some teal

hydrangeas and it made everything go together.

The pillow covers were in the closet

and the little "soda" wagon was 

purchased at a garage sale.

It is waiting for the new baby to be

a photo prop, but in the meantime

can be my decor:)

Garage Sale-For Sale

I sure have been enjoying this years

season of Garage sales.

I know a lot more about what sells

at Rusty Glamour so I'm trying to be

more careful and think through my purchases

before I buy and also how much $

 it will cost to upcycle, so I'm sure to 

make a profit on all my items.

Here are some new ones that just

went in the shop.

 The piece of fabric above only required

one side to be cut and the bottom 

pockets sewed on, it fit perfectly on the

bulletin board!

 The technique on the bottles and holders is the

faux zinc with Annie Sloan wax and paint.

This is a lined bicycle basket:)

Front Porch Tales

I started on my front porch very

early in the spring and just forgot

to post pics until now.

So some of the flowers are a little 

past their prime.

Whenever I sit out on my porch

someone walking by will stop to say

how much they like it!

Kind of fun to know that I'm blessing

the neighborhood:)

My mason jars hung up as candle holders

are the one thing people really notice.

Whew, we made it!!

My youngest child graduated from

high school this week,

by the skin of his teeth!

When he walked across the stage for 

his diploma I went weak all over 

with relief...

He has been blessed with 4 wonderful guys

as friends since babyhood 

and they all enjoyed a grad open house

together. 

Go Guys!!

Heart Cry

Where is God?

Where is God? I question Him every day.

I know He's God of the good times,

but I'm asking Him as I pray,

"I've seen You years past in the bad times,

what are You doing or are You

working on this steep and uphill climb?"

No sign from Him hand written on walls,

His word lies opened but silent

it won't speak to my heart at all,

of these trials, troubles, yawning grief.

Is my heart sealed to protect me

from some other death that's like a thief?

A barren place, no En Gedi here,

seasons of joy replaced by dry,

no abundant rain to make all clear.

When He is silent I cry alone.

Is He really there, close at hand,

and why is He hiding His throne?

There's no burning bush, no holy ground,

though I seek and loudly call.

But He's not here when I turn around.

Dull gray leaden clouds, a brassy sky

my words bounce back to earth it seems,

my breath released in a shuddering sigh.

All I know of His love and grace,

all I've seen of Him lifetime through,

tells me He is surely in this place.

I wrestle him unseen in the night,

crying out that He must bless me,

daybreak dawns, He is gone out of sight.

I hold onto what His word has shown,

faith is not sight or none I have

It is the unseen that faith is known.

If questions remain, no answers come,

my mind troubled waters stir,

then into the pool this faith must plunge!

He is God when He is silent too,

He is God when He thunders loud

He is God when faith is sight renewed.

If He can't be trusted now then when?

I lean hard into promised joy

He fails me not--and peace reigns again.

By Karen Helmes

How Many Ways can I use Canning Jars?

I've been using canning jars in so many

ways for the items I sell.

I guess it's because it's that time of year

when a person thinks about preserving 

all the fresh fruits and veggies.

However I don't do that!

I use them in every other way though...

 Storage, candles, twine holder

The red candles are in jars inside a canning holder

I painted white.

All these are for sale at Rusty G

The Love of God

I kneel at the altar rail,

sun streaming in the windows,

loneliness assails.

I cannot go on in this,

I wail out within my soul,

alone, sad, adrift.

Up beautiful swells the song,

around me kneel His people,

I can't be alone!

Where God is, there is always love,

when His people love, He reigns.

I am swept above,

On wings of song, sacrament

I lift up my tear stained face

this is what is meant,

by trials His love is proved,

by sorrow is love redeemed,

faith again renewed.

Communion Sunday June 2, 2013

By Karen Helmes

Coffee Table w/ Chalk board

I found the perfect coffee table to redo. 

I was looking for something with squares 

and this was amazingly exact to what I wanted.

The main part of the table is Annie Sloan Chalk Paint
in Cream

with the wax finish, and the squares

are chalkboard paint.

Wouldn't this be great for grand kids
to write on or for

keeping score while playing a game?!
It will be for sale at Rusty G as soon as I can
fit it in my booth.