What A Great Weekend!

Hello blog world!!! I have been MIA but once you see these pics hopefully it will make a bit of sense.

I have been busy, busy, busy...painting, sanding, waxing etc...all for my annual show at the Lincoln Art and Balloon festival in my hometown.

And what a weekend it was! I love this show because so many great friends and family stop by to visit. Each year I meet tons of wonderful people and invariably make new friends as well.

It's also so fun to see how everything comes together in one place. Once everything was set-up I thought...WOW! I have a look!!! It really turned out better than I planned.

Check out my for sale page later this week. I plan to list all the items still available.

Finally, a big shout-out to my muscle for the weekend. Thanks so much for all your help guys! I couldn't do it without you!!!

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!!!

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!!!

GROW!!!

In my last post I was contemplating what my "word of the year" should be. I made a list of possibilities and left them on the kitchen table to come back to at a later date. Several nights ago my hubby says "I like this one." "Really...why?" I said. His answer was "because I think it truly encompasses all our goals for the year".

So...the word is...GROW!

I want to use this year to "grow" into a new business. I would love to see my blog "grow" into something special. We are "growing" a wonderful family. This word has now been wondering around in my head for a few days and I think my hubby is right. I cannot think of one negative connotation associated with the word "grow". It's cheerful, confident, energizing, and adventurous. Yep...I like that :-)

Here is my latest project. What?...you'd like to see what it looked like before? Ha! I forgot again. My brother's mother-in-law found this on the side of the road...thanks Susan!!!

I painted this piece using Annie Sloan "Provence" chalk paint. It's the first time I've used this color. It's very pretty. Actually much prettier than my pictures show. I'm limping my digital camera along until I can buy a new one. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!!! :-)

I had hoped it would be more intense. I'm looking for a great turquoise to paint my piano. But here's the great thing about this paint...you can mix and match to an infinite amount of colors.

This cute little table/secretary is great in so many place in the home. I've actually moved it around to several spots myself. It tucks into just about any spot seemlessly and can be used for a bit of storage and a small writing area. Although I could use it myself, I'm going to post it on my Items For Sale page.

Oh...and more exciting news for my little blog. I've surpassed the 50 follower mark!!! Whoohooo...way to GROW! And a big thank you to my friend Rachel for purchasing the harlequin table this week!!! I hope you enjoy it! My hubby was really happy to get a piece out of the house :-)

Until next time...have a great few days.

I'm gonna party here this week!

What an awesome weekend!!!

I've have just had the most incredible weekend! I participated in my very first craft fair as The Painted Turtle and it couldn't have been more fun or successful!

My town hosts an annual Art Fair and Balloon Festival every year. It's a wonderful event that has grown even more successful by adding a flea market and craft fair several years ago. I thought this would be a great time to introduce The Painted Turtle to the community.

I had soooo much support from my family and friends throughout this weekend. I couldn't have done it without the help from my great hubby, my friends Melanie and Guyla (and to their husbands who let them get away to help me out) as well as Jeff & Brenda. You guys are the best!

I'd also like to give a big "thank you" shout out to Red Hen Home who did a post in July about what she had learned when doing her first few shows. I kept all her advice in the back of my head while preparing for the show. Thank you so much!!! Your advice was soooo very helpful!

So these are all the projects I've been working on for the past few weeks. Lots of late nights but gosh I love it so much!

Two things I heard over and over this weekend were: 1. "I didn't know you did this." and 2. "Do you have a shop somewhere?" Well, now more people know what I do in my basement workshop. And, I'd love to have a shop someday. Thank you to everyone who gave me so much encouragement.

Now, I'm ready to get some sleep!

Many Many Thanks and My Postcard Table

I need to start out with some big THANK YOU's to a few other great bloggers. First, to Rachel at Holy Craft blog. She featured my Number 5 table on Wednesday. A big heart-felt thanks to her! Holy Craft is a great read and I look forward to checking it out everyday!

Also, to Amy and Emily at Sisters of the Wild West, thanks for featuring my Number 5 table as well. I'm so happy with all the great comments I've gotten on this table. Their blog is yet another one I read everyday. And their link party is always full of great ideas. Thanks girls!

Now on to a project I've been working on for a few days. I picked this beauty up off the side of the road. The broken glass and duct tape made for a scary looking table; but throw that away and underneath was an ugly duckling just wanting to turn into the swan.

This was a pretty straight forward project. I painted the table in Annie Sloan Duck Egg Blue and distressed it just a bit. It sat for a few days while I was thinking... (scary, I know :-)) The table seemed a little boring and I knew it needed some sort of kick. Then I came across a project at Red Hen Home. She had put a graphic of an old french postcard on the top of a coffee table and BAM!!! That's exactly what my table needed!!!

I went to The Graphics Fairy, a fabulous blog full of vintage images, to find the postcard graphic. I printed out the graphic and my great friend Kerry lent me her projector.

I was a bit scared to paint the image on the table because of the wording and fine lines. But the nice thing about the "shabby" look is that nothing has to be perfect! It just needs to look good when it's done.

I'm really getting into adding a little flair to table tops. I figure this way it will look nice whether you have something on top of the table or not. Two for the price of one :-)

I can't believe tomorrow is August 1st! It's been smoking hot here and the kids are starting to get restless. There's only so much swimming you can do. School starts in only 19 days. Are you ready?

I will be listing this table on my Items for Sale page soon. I'm also going to be a part of the Lincoln Art and Balloon Festival at the end of August! More information to come soon! Have a great week everyone!!!



I am also linking up to Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style and Miss Mustard Seed's Furniture Feature Friday. Another great week of inspiration I'm sure. Take a look!

A New Beginning

Welcome to my new blog and my new beginning.

I have been planning to start this blog for some time now. And I am so excited to finally post something! First a few shout-outs to those who have made this possible.

My husband and children have been so wonderful throughout this whole process. Whenever a new piece of furniture appears in the garage the kids automatically ask, "Is this for The Painted Turtle?" And my husband is and has always been so supportive in every new thing I do. This time is no exception.

To my good friend Tom, who is my go to guy for tech support. His latest act was to install a new keyboard on my laptop. The period, letter L and return keys haven't worked for about a year now. Thanks, Mr. T!!!

Also, to my "idea" girl Melanie, a big thanks! She is always up for a road trip to find new treasures and as her title suggests...full of ideas.

And to someone who doesn't even know I exist. Marian over at the blog entitled Miss Mustard Seed. I found her blog about four months ago and I check it out every day. It is such a pleasure to read her posts. She is so generous with her talent, expertise and experiences. One day I hope to meet her in person.

Finally, to my sister Tara, she is my first and so far only follower on this blog. She told me she wanted this recognition. So Tara...her ya go sista!

Let the games begin!!!!