The Liebster Award!!!

Today, Dee, from My Painted Stuff awarded me the Liebster Blog Award. How exciting is that? I love awards and it's even sweeter when given by a peer. Thanks Dee!!

Where this award began is unclear but it is believed to have started in Germany, Liebster means favorite or dearest. This award features bloggers with fewer than 200 followers. Upon accepting the award the recipient must then pass it on to five more blogs of note.

Here are the rules:

1. Choose five up & coming blogs to award the Liebster to. Blogs must have less than 200 followers.

2. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.

3. Post the award on your blog. List the bloggers you gave the award to with links to their sites.

I am passing the Liebster Award on to the following blogs:

Debbie from Twice Nice

Julie from In A Happy Nest

Kerrie from Boxers, Cleats and Me

Julie & Sharon from Vintage Shabby Chicks

Lynette from Casa de Luna

Check out these blogs. You won't be disappointed! Thanks again Dee!!!

Chirp, Chirp, Chirp

Here's a quick project I completed a few weeks ago. Sometimes it takes me that long to get the camera out and get a good picture taken. I thought I would take advantage of the great weather and drag it outside. It's soooo much easier to get a good pic in natural light.

My plan was to paint the table red and be done with it. But once again I couldn't leave well enough alone and HAD to add something to the top.

This little birdie and curly branches added the right touch to this plain, square table. A little distressing adds a bit more interest.

I would love to know what this table was originally meant to be used for. It's taller than your usual nightstand and larger that your usual plant stand...but it will work for both. Very versatile :-)

I just had to throw in this picture. My little guy and I went to visit Grandma Murphy earlier this week. She turned 90 last September. 90!!!! Can you believe it? She has been such a wonderful influence and I thank God everyday for having such a great person in my life.

Here's the funny thing: we named our middle child "Murphy" after my grandparents. Well, my youngest, Tucker, cannot understand her being named Grandma Murphy, so he insists her name is Grandma Tucker...how cute it that? Gosh I love 4 year olds and 90 year olds! She just goes along with it. After 90 years she's now Grandma Tucker :-)

Have a great weekend...go play outside!!!



Linking to these parties

The New Design is Revealed!!!

I am soooo excited to finally introduce my new blog design! I have been wanting to have this done for quite a while. And I couldn't be happier. Kristen, of Simply Klassic Design, came up with the new design. She was wonderful to work with and very patient with me. She listened to everything I asked for and her customer service was top-notch. If you are looking for a blog designer, I would highly recommend Kristen!!!

I was shopping today and decided to treat myself. :-) Aren't these tulips just beautiful?!? Here's the crazy thing...once I took these pictures and loaded it to the blog I realized the colors match my new blog design.

Oh, happiness!!! New blog design + pretty tulips = a good day!

I Rocked It!!!

Last week I linked my latest project...the drop leaf table...to the fabulous blog Embracing Change. Stacey started her own Linky Party several weeks ago and it's growing like wildfire! Her blog is super fun and inspirational in it's own right and now her linky party is giving me even more ideas each week. Check it out...you won't be disappointed. Thanks Stacey for the wonderful honor!

In my last post I hinted about some changes coming to The Painted Turtle. One of them is my new location/work space. I've spent the last six months or so working in our basement when we temporarily rented the house we own next door to a young couple. Several weeks ago they moved on and now I've got my play house workspace back!!!

This was the house my in-laws lived in. Yep...right next door! And I would never have had it any other way. They were the most wonderful people I've ever known. My kids have grown up with Oma & Opa close by and we all loved it. They have now passed on and we all miss them every day. To many people it seems crazy to own a house that someone is not living in. But we cannot imagine NOT having that house as part of our lives. We still call it Oma & Opa's house.

Soooo...it is now my workspace and showroom. I'm so excited to get settled in and begin working and decorating. One of my first projects is to try to reupholster the couches. Did I mention that I don't sew...eek!

There is still one more major change to come and I'm totally psyched about this one! Stay tuned!!!