..."re-calculating!"

...sometimes

~ life ~

sneaks up on you

and just when you have settled into a comfy groove

and think you have it all figured out

those north winds seem to blow out of nowhere...

you never know what those winds will bring,

you just know everything is about to change

let's be honest.

change is not always easy

BUT

i have found that it is a smoother transition

if you welcome change as opposed to running from it...

go with the flow, so to speak

and let it wash over you

it has been said that everything has a season 

and that ~ life ~ is not a dress rehearsal

and should be lived to it's fullest

no. holding. back.

no. do. overs.

good. is. now.

it has also been said that there is a reason for everything

and that GOD's timing is not OUR timing.

(can i get an amen?!)

so although it may seem random to us at the time,

it will be the very best for us, in the end

a door has opened in a different direction

and the time has come

for my family and i

to move back East where our families live

we have enjoyed our 7 year adventure here in the West,

and have become more of our true, authentic selves because of it

in all honesty,

it is personally bittersweet for me.

and yes,

i do have reservations.

 dare i whisper,

dear readers,

that there is a piece of me that will stay behind

and that piece of me, will remain at the sea

waiting for my return someday...

while the rest of me gets busy and

"re-calculates"!!

(i am currently seeking a most magical top hat ~ i'm going to need one to pull this off is 12 weeks!!)

((any leads for me??!))

i am not worried

quite the opposite

i am at peace,

and i will rise to the challenge

 of continuing on this wonderful journey

 we all call

 ~ life ~

i'm going home

and oh! what an adventure it is going to be!

sharing this with

Faded Charm's: White Wednesday

here's to those north winds!

...my seaside chariot

...hello lovelies!!

here i am!

life has been interesting this week, to say the least!

and i,

 well,

i have immersed myself into the completion of my 

~seaside chariot~

did you know that "chariot" is the french word for carriage??

romantic, isn't it?

someday, i hope to actually live by the sea.

i once heard this expression:

"the sea is my "Paris""

this is so true for me!

but for now,

i can only simply dream

and dream i did as i created this chariot!!

every detail is an infusion of sea inspiration.

my bicycle transformation began with a ladies pink and pearl, beach cruiser bike.

(how apropos!)

i spray painted all pink pieces of this bike

with my favorite spray paint color:

Krylon's brushed metallic in satin nickel

it is like a soft champagne color

and did you know that Martha Stewart has a new line of acrylic paints

 available at Michael's Craft Store?

i was so excited when i spied her new line and she has gorgeous new stencils too!

here i used her satin, multi-surface paint

in the shade of  "wedding cake"

(doesn't that sound romantic too??)

along with her stencil kit "cathedral lace"

this was a little challenging because of all the angles

JAMI

i sooo appreciate your ability to stencil like nobodies business

and reallllly wished you lived next door ~ for reals!!

but,

i did my best

and figure, i will be spinning along so quickly,

no one will be able to get that close to check out the perfection

or should i say, the lack thereof

HA!!

i made handle bar corsets 

i used a piece of canvas and sewed on an overlay of crochet lace

(do you see a theme starting...hhhmmmm????)

and then i attached a circlet of fabric rose trim to the very edge

you know i'm all about incorporating romance into everyday living!

here is my seat.

again, i just used some canvas and cut out a seat circle

then i made a casing to be able to tie it tightly underneath

i then hand sewed the crochet doily on the edge all the way around

so that it would fit correctly

i like how the edge looks like it is scalloped

i like to carry a blanket whenever we go riding

as you never know when you will need to sit a spell

and have a refreshing drink

so

a back basket was in order.

i really desired willow baskets on my bicycle 

they just bespeak elegance to me

 but

after further consideration,

i decided that this metal mesh basket may serve me better

as it is very dry and hot where i live and the basket would dry out very quickly

and we wouldn't ant that, now would we??!

this basket was originally black,

but i sprayed it with my favorite shade

and then made a liner out of linen.

more rose trim was added like on the handle bars

along the elastic edge

it is durable and washable

~ love that!!

this is the front basket

it was also black

can you guess what i did??

yep'

i sprayed that too!

and created a little basket bling

using an oval shell to which i "liquid nails" glued

a vintage rhinestone starfish earring to

as this was the front of my seaside chariot,

i opted to use the rose trim that was wider here

(you can find both rose trims at Jo-Ann Fabrics)

i like the softness that it lends on the linen liner

i wrapped a sea shell garland around this front baskets handle for added whimsy

another reason for choosing this basket was

that it is very convenient to use elsewhere

like say ~ at the farmers market

 or to stow any left over loster roll sandwich from lunch!!

(as if ther would be any of THAT left!!)

it can easily removed or replaced ready to serve you!

when i was all finished with my seaside chariot's transformation

i stepped back and was thrilled with her loveliness

but

something was missing!

no!

not a mermaid!!

(a new mermaid tail is being created as we speak ~ lol!!)

then

the idea came to me!

the last thing i created

was an elegant "vanity plate"

i used a small piece of  pine and wood burned my "seaside chariot" words into the wood

i then painted it and sanded it to my satisfaction

then i decorated to my hearts content:)

this is a reflection of who i am

so baby,

i happily embellished!!

i wanted to have a starfish in the front,

and in the back

so 

for my back starfish,

i decided to add some more bling

and flipped it over to the backside and attached rhinestones to the arm's channels

...and sewed lace trim around a few pieces of driftwood

a few pearl dangles and...

my chariot awaits!!

now,

to introduce her to the sea...

i hope you were inspired today

and encourage you to infuse bits of yourself into those things in your life that bring you joy!

sharing my sea inspired chariot with:

Common Ground's: Vintage Inspiration Friday

French Country Cottage's: Feathered Nest Friday

Freckled Laundry's: Air Your Laundry Friday

Romantic Home's: Show and Tell Friday

2805's: Potpourri Friday
the diy club's: 31-days-of-spray-paint

here's to fairytale sea chariots and carriages!

..."seascape" away with me!

...can you feel it?

the seasons changing??

soon it will be time for a delicious bowl of soup

but

oh dear!

how shall we serve that delicious bowl of soup??

come for a moment and "seascape" with me!

((seascape=escape to the sea!))

imagine a seaside inspired table,

that any bowl of soup worth eating,

could appreciate being served on....

romantic candles, enchanting dishes in the shape of shells, memaids and sea horses

lots of iridescent sparkle ~

just like the sun looks on the beautiful sea

like water diamonds...

i love to wear beautiful crochet beach sandals when i visit the beach

i had a set i hadn't worn yet

so i wrapped them around my candles that i gave a brush of metallic champagne wash too.

i rather like how they look paired together!

who knew?!

i know this is hard to see clearly,

but no bubble glass would be complete

 without a few extra large silver candy dragees floating in the bottom...

and

a mermaid matchbox to light those candles...

found shells, driftwood, and a mermaids lost gray pearl necklace

make a lovely table adornment

seahorse linen napkins, complete with lovely pearl shell napkin rings.

i found the seahorse download on etsy

and simply used iron on transfers to place them on my napkins...

and here i took a thrift store find ~

a sweet mermaid candle holder that was once brass

and spray painted it a champagne color

to which i then added a baking sea shell

attaching the two with "liquid nails" glue

 for a unique pedestal dish

for my table cloth

i used a most gorgeous skirt!

yep

you read that right!

one day thrifting

i spied this 100% silk beauty

and just knew right away how fabulous it would be as a "table skirt"

i laid an Ikea find, a bed coverlet,

over top,

then draped a capiz shell garland around the entire table for seaside whimsy

i made new chair slipcovers for my chairs

after i gave them a fresh coat of paint.

i chose linen because it wears like iron

this linen piece was made in Holland!!

i adore their flirty ruffles,

and most especially...

..their ballerina like leg ties!

and i ask you

what seaside table would be complete without a "bubbly" side table??

well,

life is to be celebrated!

so i say

~ CELEBRATE ~

a gorgeous little girls dress

can become the most enchanting "table skirt" too :)

lovely little details to delight your eye!!!

and one must have a seaside muse

no??

i don't think i need to tell you how i adore mermaids...

so naturally

she is this sea tables muse! 

i made her crown out of real seaweed

that i painted a gray-blue and then a soft silver overwash...

i enjoy a little table side music

so my mer holds a harp...

"sea" her starfish bracelet??

(i know, that was bad!!)

i knew she would be spinning around,

so the back needed to be beautiful too...

i really like how her paper vellum tail looks like the capiz shells

i so enjoyed creating this sea side table!!

now ~

 for the rest of the menu

to go alongside that delicious bowl of lobster bisque,

hhmmmm...

i'm thinking surf and turf!!

thanks for "seascaping" with me today!

sharing this "seascape" with:

Common Ground's: Vintage Inspiration Friday

French Country Cottage's: Feathered Nest Friday

Freckled Laundry's: Air Your Laundry Friday

Romantic Home's: Show and Tell Friday

here's to lovely settings!

...the beautiful sea

...hello sea fairies!

i am learning

that whenever i can visit the sea,

i must try and gather a piece to bring back

so that it may tide me over when i can not be there physically...

on the days that you visit the Pacific sea

 you never know how it will be

calm? clear? cold?

to enjoy your visit,

you simply must accept the not knowing...

the unpredictability

i visited on my birthday

and on this day ~

here was the view from my soul...

as i spent a small bit of time pondering my life's journey thus far

i could hear my beating heart

melding with the rythm of the waves...

and all that was contained within me

just

s

p

i

l

l

e

d

out onto the warm, soft sand...

the sea affects me this way...

drawing out of me visually,

what i can not express with words

i leave here humbled,

washed anew

and full of inspiration...

as i gaze out upon the majesticness before me

i am grateful for each moment

and look forward to the creative out pours of the salty sea air...

as i walk along the ruffled wave shoreline

and gather these pieces

~ these memories ~

i am always amazed at the beautiful "bouquet" of images

 they make upon my soul

and as i carry these precious gifts home

i feel that for a brief time

i have been carried away to wonderful dream

my heart smiles big

for i can not wait to share these treasures

with all of you :)

sharing this musing with

Faded Charm's: White Wednesday

A Beach Cottage: Good Life Wednesday

* sending out love and healing prayers to all those effected by the hurricane on the Atlantic coast *

here's to gathering dreams!