Gratitude, Flea Market Finds, & a Winner

Blogging began for me as a way to promote the business.  But, it's become something different, it's so much more to me now.  The joy I get from writing and seeing all the talent on the pages of other bloggers is wonderful!  I can quickly loose an afternoon to blog-hopping, reading one inspirational post after another, finding mounds of support and creativity.  All of it being shared by some of the most amazing women I've ever had the privilege to meet.   Amazing women, many with whom, I have become friends with beyond blogging.  I meet the nicest people here!

On Friday morning, I was honored with the sweetest visitors arriving by way of Tricia at Morning T.  It seems she had written a lovely post about the Bedroom Makeover and my blog, and wow does she have a large number of readers!  And then on Saturday night lots more new visitors dropped by to say hi because Donna of Funky Junk Interiors had featured the bedroom makeover on her sidebar for the weekend as part of her Saturday Night Special Series.  Her site seriously rocks by the way!

Thank you ladies for the shout out, and thanks to everyone that has helped us celebrate our 5 year Anniversary by posting the giveaway button on your blogs!  And the biggest thank you of all for all the sweet encouraging comments....I love to read your comments!  Thank you for taking time to share your thoughts with me.  You make my heart so happy!

Now, indulge me and let me share something else that made me happy.  I threw this together yesterday, and I do mean literally "threw this together"....this one should make Donna's Funky Junk spirit smile!  It began with two pieces that I found at First Monday Trade Days. 

Check it out, it’s an old bread pan from a commercial bakery with its' wonderful aged metal and patina ( I bought a dozen of these).  And a vintage, iron sewing machine base with this great chippy paint.  These two pieces fell madly in love during their haul in the bed of the truck so I married them.  

I had intended to put a top on the iron base, but when I saw these two vintage cuties sitting beside each other during the truck unload, a light bulb went off and I thought….I wonder..??

As luck would have it, the spaces between the pans lined up perfectly with the brackets on top of the sewing machine base.

How sweet is that?  So I just plopped the bread pan on top of the base, didn’t even have to screw it in because it fits so snuggly between the pans that it doesn't budge.  I told you they loved each other!  Could it be any easier?  Well, as a matter of fact, yes!

Making it even simpler (as if this project needed that) was the fact that the each individual pan already had two little holes in the bottom (probably from being attached to some sort of factory apparatus) it was positively begging for plants!

How could I resist?  A quick trip to Lowes for a few 6 packs of annuals and voila!  It’s a flea market flower garden!

I’m “diggin” it!  How about you?

It would be perfect for an herb garden too….hmmm….  Another project…another day!

I have to tell ya, I get so much pleasure from repurposing and using vintage things in new ways.  Not only for the recycling benefits, but also as an outlet for creative energy.  It makes me smile to see what was once a sewing machine and baking pan filled with pretty flowers sitting on the patio.  The ultimate "go green"!

Okay, I know some of you are saying "get to the good stuff", so let me share the name of the winner for Giveaway #2.

Congrats to Sherry of No Minimalist Here!!

Shoot me an email (sales@laurieannas.com) with your address and I’ll get it right out to you! Thanks to all that participated and remember there are still 3 more chances to win.

We were busy bees over the weekend, so plan to join me later this week when I will share an outside patio area that we’ve been working on at 5^th Place Cottage!  And, I’ll announce the 3^rd Giveaway celebrating our 5 Year Anniversary!

Be blessed and have a wonderful week!