Life Lesson #7: Persistence pays off Yesterday, Lori–a My Place to Yours reader from Ohio–shared how she wanted to restore some of her family's treasures for use as centerpiece items at her daughter's upcoming wedding. If you missed Part 1 of this story, take a minute and read it now...so these pictures will properly impress you. :-) Go ahead. We'll wait. When last we were here, Lori was soaking her Dad's naval hat...plus two runners and a baby dress from her Mother-in-law...in a sink of hot water to which she had added my all-time favorite linen cleaner: Restoration. So how did she do? Did her persistance pay off? How about we let Lori tell us the rest of her story? ... The ... Keep Reading...
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Vintage Linens: How to Preserve Your Family Heritage
Life Lesson #6: Heritage matters Not everyone is blessed to have family mementos from generations past, but if you are one of the lucky ones, please don't take them for granted! I recently heard from a reader asking how to get some of her family treasures back into circulation. I enjoyed hearing Lori's story. I always love hearing what you reader-friends have going on in your lives! I think you'll enjoy her story, too...so I invited her to do a guest post. Someday Lori hopes to have a blog of her own, but today, let's welcome her to My Place. Hello everyone. Susan is my vintage fabric hero. When our oldest daughter got engaged this past March, she originally wanted to wear my veil. I pulled it out of the closet for her to look at. ... Keep Reading...
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How do you want to be remembered?
Life Lesson #5: Live Today as you want to be remembered Tomorrow Handkerchiefs. They're not so common anymore, but for many of us, a simple hankie brings to mind women and events in our pasts. This one belonged to my maternal great-grandmother, my Nannie; its meticulous design lovingly transformed by hand into one of the few things of hers that remains. Every time I see it–tucked in amidst the crystal–I think of Nannie and the love she showed me for the first 8 years of my life. And every time I see a collection of hankies, I wonder about the woman who left them behind... Awhile back I came across a pile of handkerchiefs at a local thrift store. Someone had taken the time to affix a ... Keep Reading...
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How to think outside the box…
Life Lesson #4: Think outside the box Sometimes a little creative thinking comes in handy... but I often have to remind myself to do it! You, too–or is it just me? Since this series is about lessons I've learned from linens, let's look at a few linen-related examples of thinking outside the box. Do you have lots...and lots...of doilies put away? I mean, seriously, just how many doilies can you use at one time? Perhaps a few more than you think! Use a small one to cover the center design on a plate so your centerpiece "shows off" like in this Red Dazzle tablescape. Or stick a few in a fancy bowl for a burst of visual texture...or "sprinkle" them across your entire tabletop to set a ... Keep Reading...
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In a rut? Try something new!
Life Lesson #3: Try new things; don't get in a rut Whether in Life or tablescaping, it never hurts to try something new every now and then. The damask "runner" on this table is actually a favorite tablecloth. I'd never used it as a runner before–but I'll do it again! Click here to see the entire Inspired by Caramel and Cream tablescape. When's the last time you tried something new? Was it something as "no big deal" as a tablescaping trick–or something that pulled you out of your comfort zone? Perhaps it's something we can all learn from, so DO TELL! Did you miss a previous Life Lesson? They’re all listed HERE. Do you need more Autumn tablescape inspiration? Scroll down and check it ... Keep Reading...
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Some things have to be experienced…
Life Lesson #2: Some things simply have to be experienced I came across this exhibit several months ago while doing a search for "Irish linen," and I've been watching for a time to share it with you. Experiencing it online was powerful enough; I can't even imagine seeing it in person. So many handkerchiefs. So many names, lovingly sewn in meticulous chain stitches. Take a look... then come back and tell me what you think–and feel. Have you ever seen or experienced anything like this? What's something else you can think of that simply "has to be experienced–no explanation necessary"? Did you miss a previous Life Lesson? They're all listed HERE. ... Keep Reading...
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Life Lessons From Linens
This is a series of 31 posts dedicated to life lessons I've learned (or been reminded of) while working with vintage linens. With a few exceptions, most of the month's posts will be "quick reads" intended to inspire, encourage, or challenge each of us to pay attention to some of the things (if you're like me) too often ignored. As you read this random-order series, I hope you'll leave comments and expand upon my thoughts–or add life lessons of your own that may come to mind. I'll add each day's Life Lesson to the list as it's posted. Sunshine is a gift! (Scroll below this list to see the post.) Some things simply have to be experienced; no explanation necessary. Try new things; don't get in a rut! Think outside the ... Keep Reading...
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How to Choose Colors When You Don’t Have a Favorite
Some of you have asked how I ever decided on colors and style for this new virtual home of mine. I'll let you in on a secret: It wasn't easy! I love color, and I have some personal preferences, but I don't really have a favorite. So a few months ago when I started thinking about website colors, I went to my two favorite "collage" sites–Snippet & Ink and The Perfect Palette–and scrolled through hundreds and hundreds of inspiration boards. When something caught my eye, I added it to an idea file on my computer. The result of exhausting those two sites -- and myself? Six "final" color schemes. (Click any pic to enlarge.) Then I did the same scroll through pics on my computer–thousands and thousands of them–and added ... Keep Reading...
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BLOGGER, thanks for 3 great years … but now I’m headed to WordPress!
Looks like it's a 2 heads-up weekend! I gave you the first one in my last post. Here's #2: After a year of dreaming, months of planning, and several weeks of working with a blog designer, My Place to Yours is finally starting to make the move to WordPress. Today. It's really happening TODAY! My designer will start transferring all of my posts to WordPress. Then we'll work to make sure the new site is functioning properly and "all prettied up" just the way I want it. Hopefully everything will go smoothly and you won't even miss me while you're enjoying your long weekend! My Place is getting a total makeover. After you wouldn't believe how many inspiration boards, this is the one I chose. At some ... Keep Reading...
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For 31 Days in OCTOBER …
Why am I wishing away a whole month and talking about October? Oh, I'm definitely not wishing away September, but I want to give you a heads-up. In October, I'll be joining The Nester for year #5 of her 31 Day Challenge. If you're a blogger, you may want to do the same. Here's how it works: 1) Pick a topic you'd like to write about for 31 days. 2) Write ... for 31 days. 3) On October 1 (and for 30 days thereafter) link up your blog at Nester's site. Last year over 1,200 bloggers participated. I'll admit it. That many possible reading choices was a bit lot overwhelming, but writing a series was a LOT of fun. It was my first time to do anything like that ... and I can't wait to do it again! This was last year's series ... Keep Reading...
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A Fairy Tale Tablescape: Snow White & Rose Red
The colors of our late Summer roses made this week's tablescape theme an obvious choice ... perfect for a quick and easy, symbolism-filled table. The beloved children's tale by the Brothers Grimm tells of two young girls with personalities as different as these dinner plates. Two sisters ... Snow White and Rose Red Following the death of their father, they live with their mother in a home marked by both the absence of wealth ... and the eternal presence of love. The children are taught kindness and compassion ... for kin and stranger alike. One Winter night, the impoverished home is visited by a bear wishing to come inside to warm himself by the fire. The girls offer hospitality and friendship ... ... and the bear comes ... Keep Reading...
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Richard Simmons Travels to Brazil: Meeting the Children of Hope Unlimited
A couple of weeks ago I told you how wishing for a well turned into dinner with Richard Simmons. If you missed that story of God showing off, just go ahead and click the link. You've really gotta hear it. Then come back here and I'll tell you the next part. Really, go ahead. I'll wait... Last Saturday, Richard Simmons and two friends visited the campus of Hope Unlimited for Children in Campinas, Brazil. Richard and his friend Mauro Oliveira (who grew up at the City of Youth before Hope's time) are shown here ... receiving a warm welcome from a few of the children. The purpose of the trip? To meet the kids, learn about Hope's award-winning model of life transformation for abandoned, exploited, abused, and ... Keep Reading...
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How to Brighten the World’s Gloom Without Leaving the Comfort of Your Home
There's nothing gloomy about this little snaggle-toothed precious is there? Surely not! Isn't she a cutie? But what if I told you her story includes a dangerously unstable shack in the middle of a Brazilian slum ... with raw sewage running down the pot-holed dirt "street" outside the front door? What if I told you her father's not in the picture because he's serving a life sentence for murdering her mother? What if I told you her older sister started using drugs routinely before she was 11 years old, and no one did anything to stop it ... because that's just the way it is? What if I told you this little sweetheart had started down the exact same path? What then? Would the gloom begin to ... Keep Reading...
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A HANDFUL OF FLOWERS: Late Summer Tablescape
Summer is drawing to a close, and the flowers of Summer are disappearing in the garden. I picked a few of the last late-season blossoms to share with you ... as well as a few encouraging thoughts for the season ahead. A Handful of Flowers by Mary Dow Brine (1816-1913) Summer is gone, and the autumn winds Are stripping the leaves from the trembling trees; The garden is lonely, its treasures are blown Far, far away on the chilling breeze; The skies have lost their wonderful blue, And darken and change with the changing year; And the dead leaves lie on the roadside brown, Since nature has grown so sad and drear. I walked alone o'er the garden path: My heart was troubled with gloom and doubt. "Alas!" I ... Keep Reading...
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NOTECARD PARTY: Handmade
Happy Tuesday! Can you believe it's already time for another Notecard Party at A Haven for Vee? The guidelines are to choose four pics that have already been shared here at My Place ... so that's just what I did. This month, I've chosen the theme HANDMADE. I think these might make nice individual notecards, but I don't think I'd put them together in a set. See what you think ... Click HERE to read The Carpenter and the Staircase - Loretto Chapel (Santa Fe, NM) Click HERE to read A Stitch (Back) in Time Saved: Treasure in a Trunk Click HERE to read A Tray of Tranquility - My Time in a Brazilian ... Keep Reading...
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How Wishing for a Well Turned Into Dinner With Richard Simmons
Here I sit, shaking my head and laughing. I'm about to tell you a(nother) story of God's unbelievable, crazy-creative provision for the children of Hope Unlimited. Settle in. This one's a doozie! If you visit here often, you'll probably recall that I blogged every day on our recent trip to Brazil. I told you lots of stories ... but not this one. When we arrived at the City of Youth, I noticed these trucks. We were told there had been problems with the water, and that a new well was required. Hmmm... A new well costs more than a little cha-ching, and I knew it wasn't in the budget. How would they pay for this? We were told that the month before, a call came "out of the blue" from a man living in ... Keep Reading...
