Valentine’s Day Themed Tiered tray

"Love is patient"

I grabbed a few of my favorite things on hand and styled my golden tiered tray with thoughts of Valentine’s Day...Cupid, roses, hearts and love!

~ Happy Valentine’s weekend!

Move over February

So long to February, this month of 'love & hearts' is over today.  But, my heart could not be happier as "Spring" officially begins in twenty days!!  Twenty days!!  Can you feel my excitement?!

Bring on March, and bring on Spring...I am ready!! 

Sharing one more heart for February.  This painted wooden heart is/was a Christmas ornament that my heart is happy to see all year long, and in different areas of my home!

It's one of many hearts around my place that I love to display.  I simply dangled it from this sparkly decorative box and then had to capture a photo of it, 'cause they looked sooo good together.  Even if the box lid was a bit crooked...oops!  Real life is imperfect!*wink*  Just keepin' it real!!

Come on in March, I've been anxiously awaiting your arrival!

Bye-bye Febs!...

XOXO

Heart happy in my Sitting Room

I love this corner of our sitting room. I felt it was perfect to share for the month of "Love."

I found the sweet little "Together Forever" pillow years ago. My love for "hearts" has grown over the years, and I find it hard to not bring every heart I see home with me!

The wire heart basket was a flea market find as was the gold heart sachet! I love getting to love what others no longer do. It makes my heart happy!

I put my heart into my home, along with items that reflect my love for hearts.

I gave this lamp shade a simple little makeover by adding roses to it, which I handmade.  I love how they kind of resemble old fashion roses. I think it has a romantic feel about it, but it would be so sweet for a little girl's room, too!  I have another in the plans.

An afternoon, some craft glue and crepe paper, and I gave my sweet little lamp a new look! I did this a couple years ago and it still looks so pretty!  If you like to see the post on how I gave my lamp a makeover, visit this link here.

I have this pretty lamp on my wicker desk in our sitting area, it sits across from the corner that is pictured above.

The pretty little ring-dish heart is a precious gift from my daughter with the sweet message "love you Mom" on it.  That makes my heart happy!

Happy Decorating!

Spreading some "Love & Hearts" around

I decided to do a little decorating by adding some touches of Love & Hearts in honor of Valentine's Day this month.  So I'm spreading a little extra Love around the house!  I wanted to do something a little different with more of a neutral look, for this spot.  I gathered a couple of my hearts from around my home and also added some love.

I dressed up this little area with a touch of love and hearts.  I can't resist heart shaped items, that cute iron piece is actually a drawer pull, and the burlap heart stand has a clip on the back for notes and such.

I found the book "From my heart to yours" at a thrift store.  The book below it too, the cover was torn so I helped it by removing it the rest of the way and added some jute twine to it.  I've done that to a few other old books now and I enjoy using them as extra decorating pieces, plus I like that they are neutral in color.

A closer view.  I took this photo with the lights on since it was a gray day, the Love is a wooden cut-out I got from Michael's a while back, along with a Live and Laugh to complete one of my favorite phrases...Live, Laugh, Love!

I found the cute burlap heart stand last year at Hobby Lobby along with the sweet, little, chippy, white painted drawer pull.  I'm in love with scrolled iron!  The hearts quickly became part of my heart collection!

I even added some LOVE and a heart to my chalkboard!  Speaking of scrolled iron!!...I fell in love with this when I saw it and had to have it!  I've had plans to repaint the chalkboard, it had a long scratch in it when I found it, it's sits on the "to do" list!

The true sappy gal that I am at heart, I've always been drawn to anything "Love" & "Hearts!"  Hearts can usually be found around my home, and or something with the word love on it, at anytime of the year!

I have a few other little decorating ideas I may get to, involving love and hearts, I'll share them later!

~From my HEART to yours~

Happy Decorating! :)

A bit of LOVE & Hearts for Valentine's Day

There was once a time when I may have added just a wreath or perhaps something with hearts on it to the front door for February, and in celebration of Valentine's Day.  With so much available these days, and so many creative ideas floating around, I have been more into adding some hearts and love, and yes, even a touch of red to my decor when February rolls around. 

I love my display shelf, it is my go to spot for holidays and in-between seasons.  I enjoy changing the look of it and seeing something different, since I often get the itch to change my decor.  I also like to change up my fireplace mantle too, but mostly prefer to do that for the change of seasons and Christmas.  My display shelf was something I wanted to add for those other holidays that come around throughout the year.  It gives me a space where I can be creative by changing the look of it using different themes and items, and I always like to challenge myself to do it in a cost friendly way.

I put together a heart and love display with a few things I already had and a few inexpensive items I recently purchased, all for under ten dollars. -The burlap heart in the middle (it has a clip/photo holder on the back), the rock with "Love is patient" on it, the "Love lives here" sign, paper doilie hearts, a Valentine's Day card, and the cute little red hearts and beads necklaces which I used for a garland along the front.-

I got into my craft stash and used some rubber stamps, a red ink pad, and a plain piece of card stock for the "I (heart) U" and then placed it in a pretty photo frame.  The wooden clipboard holds an actual Valentine's Day card, I liked that the front of it is a large gathering of heart balloons all forming a heart, some of them are raised red hearts.  I love hearts!

Since I love all things "hearts" this was a fun project for me!  And, I'll admit that I am a bit of a heart-gushin', sappy romantic when it comes to love, too!

X O

Have a Happy Valentine's Day!...

Celebrating our LOVE for others

With having a day next month that is all about hearts and love, I got to thinking about the things we do in celebrating our love for others and the many ways of showing and expressing it, not just in February, but all throughout the year.

~Giving a "just because" gift to someone you love is always nice.
I like it when I find an item that reminds me of a loved one and I just have to get it for them, and seeing the joy on their face upon receiving it!
Baking something yummy and delicious that I know they love, maybe using a favorite recipe.
A bottle of wine or bubbly to enjoy after a long day.
Surprising them with some of their favorite candy, sweets, or chocolate.
A plant or flowers to add to the home or garden.
A card that expresses my love for them.

~Some just 'because gifts' are not actual items at all.
I find it rewarding to do something special for someone.
An invitation to meet and enjoy lunch or dinner, perhaps at a favorite restaurant.
Offering to give a couple with children a night out alone together, providing child care for them.
A phone call to catch-up, to lend an ear and just listen, or simply to say "I'm thinking of you!"
A big HUG.  I am a hug-ger, hugs can always be expected from me!
A smile, it doesn't cost a thing, and it's very contagious.  And, laughter is too!
Show your appreciation for what others do for you, with gratitude.
Compliment their efforts, achievements, and also their appearance.
Be thankful, kind, and considerate.
Say the words "I love you" out loud, and often!
Small simple gestures with big impact that can brighten someones day.

 ~*~  ~ *~  ~*~      

I enjoy decorating my home and also re-decorating it, too.  That is very apparent for anyone who visits or reads my blog.  I like sharing ideas and tips on home decor, and helping others with what I have learned over the years, both personally and through my blog.  I enjoy sharing my home with my family and friends, and hope they feel a sense of warmth and welcome when they are here.   I feel that my home, and my home's decor, is a reflection of me and my tastes.  It's a part of me, part of the things I love, and part of my heart.  I put time and effort into making my home something I love, and I share it with those I love.

When family and friends are in my home I want them to enjoy being here and have the feeling of wanting to stay a while, being comfortable, relaxed, and most especially, loved!  Having them be a part of my life is important to me and worth celebrating, any day or anytime.  Sharing my home with those I love and care about is one of my favorite ways of showing them my love and appreciation for them.  Whether it's just relaxing on our porch together with beverages and good conversation, or preparing and sharing a delicious meal to enjoy together.

To add to our dining experience, I enjoy setting an inviting table in our dining room, with candles and a beautiful floral arrangement as a focal point.  I love flowers and using them in my home, so I've always enjoyed making my own floral arrangements, often using artificial or faux flowers.  But, I also use fresh flowers, and occasionally combine both fresh and faux.  Fresh flowers make an ordinary day extraordinary and add a special touch. Sometimes I find fresh flowers at the local grocery, it's hard to pass them up once they catch my eye and I literally "stop to smell the roses!"

I recently learned of a flower delivery service.  They reached out to me with the idea for this post.  Upon visiting their website you can enter your zip code to find local florists and unique floral designs that are available.  They also have a blog with a vast amount of information on flowers, and lots of inspiration for those like me who like to make their own arrangements.  But, if you want a professional to do the job for you, or you are planning to send flowers, check them out!  BloomNation, "Unique blooms that are always hand delivered and always local."

~*~ ~*~ ~*~  

I believe flowers are another way of expressing love, whether growing them in your garden to share with those that visit and view them, having them on display in your home to enjoy their beauty and fragrance, making something crafty using flowers for your home or someone else's, giving or sending flowers to lift someones spirit, celebrate their birthday, special occasion, or just to say..."I love you!"

Like flowers, love too, should always be blooming!

Thoughts and Things - This Week ... A Day to Celebrate!

On my birthday, 35 years ago today, we said "I do."

That's something to Celebrate!

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That's a lot of

Happy LOVE Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!  

A day of LOVE.  

So what better to display on my front door than those four letters!

LOVE... 

Lots of LOVE to you and yours!...

It's time to share some LOVE!

It's that time of the year when our hearts are reminded ...LOVE is in the air, and hearts are everywhere.  Do you see it?  Can you feel it?  With Valentine's Day approaching I've been thinking about LOVE.  I don't know about you, but I do have to admit to being a bit of a romantic.  This woman is all about, all of the sweet, sappy, heart gushing feelings associated with all things...Love.  I'm not ashamed of it either!  I believe it is one of the greatest feelings.

Of course there is the ever powerful romance type of love shared between two people.  There is the very special love you feel for family - your children and grandchildren, your parents and grandparents, your siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins and more - Also the love for friends.  There's the love for treasured items, favorite things, places, even our pets...I know I love my dog!  There are so many kinds of love.  You can share love, give love and yeah, also make love!

Isn't love grand?...

Speaking of all things love.  I found the black wooden LOVE plaque (pictured above) at Hobby Lobby and I fell in love with it, had to have it, so it came home with me to add more love to my life!  I'm reminded of LOVE every time I look at it!

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I created the LOVE-ly printable below after seeing the phrase (at the bottom of it), some time ago.  I wanted to use it in a frame to display some - LOVE - in my home decor.  It was so easy to make by simply printing it in the size I wanted and then adding it to a inexpensive frame.  I always love easy, and inexpensive!  You can download a copy for personal use, and make one too!  Click on the image below, then right click on it to choose "save image as..." to save to your computer.  I simply used my printer settings to choose the size to print!    

There that's more like it and what I had in mind!  I LOVE it!

Sharing some LOVE...

A Message to my Valentine - Create a reusable note board!

I made a special gift for my Valentine!  

A reusable note board I can leave messages on for him.

Isn't it sweet?

I had seen a similar idea and thought it would make a great Valentine's Day gift to my Valentine! 

I think it's pretty sweet! 

I first created a note on my computer (the hearts and the "I love you because..."), then printed it using my printer. I used an 8 x 10 sized photo frame.  I cut the paper to fit, and inserted the sheet of paper into the frame.  The glass can be written on with a dry erase maker, just like on a dry erase board!  I also added a few of my handmade paper roses to the frame.  I gave him the gift after our Valentine's Dinner Date.  Above is the first message I gave him.  

I woke this morning and found he too had left me a message...

I began my day wearing a big smile.

I do love him and our dog!...{smiling}

Happy Valentine's Day

Wishing you a very ...

Happy Valentine's Day

filled with love, laughter and special moments to cherish forever...

{Me and My Valentine}

XOXO...

Hearts and Love

I had fun putting a little touch of Hearts and Love on display for my February and Valentine's Day themed decor.  I gave myself a challenge in doing so of only spending a minimal amount of money, and using items I either already had or something I've made.  

...__________________...

Challenge accepted!

I have had this pretty beaded gold heart box for a while, it looks nice near the little glass candle holders that I simply added a small felt heart to the inside of, and an added organza ribbon tied into a bow.

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This pretty red heart that I made, is displayed on a gold leafed charger plate and has been featured here on my blog recently.  The white ceramic heart can be drawn on with a dry erase pen.  I gave it some Love!

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Love, Love Love...I think this was my favorite shelf of the three.  A few "Love" messages, a couple of them are old favorites of mine and a cute greeting card.  Two pillar candles that went from plain to Love-ly with the cute ribbon detail, I also shared a how-to here for these recently.  My "I Love You" sculpture by Willow Tree, a Valentine's Day gift from the Mister last year.

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Hearts and Love...

My Love of Purple

For my love of PURPLE

*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***

When the deep purple falls 

over sleepy garden walls

And the stars begin to twinkle in the sky...

image source

In the mist of a memory 

you wander back to me

Breathing my name with a sigh...


*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***

In the still of the night once again I hold you tight

Though you're gone

Your love lives on when moonlight beams...

image source

And as long as my heart will beat

Sweet lovers we'll always meet

Here in my deep purple dreams... 

I happened upon a link while on a search for deep purple.  I remember hearing this song

a long time ago.  It was actually written a very, very long time ago.

Enjoy! 

Interesting read on the song "Deep Purple"   wikipedia - Deep_Purple_(song)

A Little Light of LOVE

Another LOVE find...

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More Love, and Hearts too!

This charming little beauty spoke to me of 'Love', and will light up my home with a nice warm glow.  
A glass window with a beautiful message of Love, and holds a votive candle on the back.

 __________________

A beautiful message of Love!...

Monday Message

~ My Monday Message ~

Love of Family

~  *  ~         ~  *  ~         ~  *  ~

~  *  ~         ~  *  ~         ~  *  ~

~  *  ~         ~  *  ~         ~  *  ~

Friends are the Family we choose.




Love my Family & Friends...

Photo Collage - A Picture of L O V E

I've noticed there are a lot of different types of photo collages showing up at many of the home decor stores.  I recently made a photo collage for a gift, and I was very pleased with it, - you can see the post and tutorial for that here.  

I had the idea for this photo collage in mind after finding the 'letter' photos at the craft store, after which I found the black frame that I knew would be perfect for this project.

A Picture of LOVE

L O V E
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These are interesting photos of objects, or architectural elements, that appear to be letters of the alphabet.  The craft store had letter-photos that were in color, and in black & white.   I chose to use the black & white photos for this project because it was the look I wanted.  There are a few different photos for each letter to choose from.  I LOVE-d the look of these L O V E letter photos!  This was a simple and easy project that only took minutes to put together.

Interesting photos of letters in black & white.  The photos are 4" x 6".

A black frame 20-1/2" x 10-1/2", it was priced at 50% off the day I bought it!

After I figured the spacing for the letter photos, I then used double-stick tape to adhere
them to the paper that came inside the frame.

I do LOVE the look of my L O V E letters photo collage!


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 Now I have even more LOVE in my life...