Creativity takes courage Continue reading

Simple Spring mantel, seriously, I am going simple? Normally, when it comes to decorating “simple” is not in my vocabulary. My mantel has looked like this. And this . . . And this . . . And many more looks. My mantel decorations change often during the year according to the season. The mantel is one place when you decorate it for a season and the whole room seems to carry the festive feel. Going simple is a change for me, but I like it. Now that I spend one day a week at Picture Perfect Interiors, I find myself... Continue reading

Slavery never ended Continue reading

Because I make window treatments daily at Stitches By Sturman, my windows in my home often get over looked or go for far too long without an update. I recently made new draperies for my dinning room, but am not really sure that I “love” them. When you work with fabric and design everyday, it is hard to decide on just that right fabric/design. I tend to change my mind a lot and see a new, better fabric regularly. When I commit and purchase the fabric, by the time I get the draperies finished, I may have come upon something... Continue reading

Spring will come . . . Continue reading

Happy Easter! Our family has been celebrating Easter morning for generations. I have been blessed to be raised in a Christian family, so Easter morning was always a big deal in our home. This picture I am guessing was taken around 1972 when our family lived Tulare, California. Yes, our dresses, shoes, and accessories were new for this special Sunday. My memories of Easter morning are full of baskets full of trinkets and candy, going to church, coming home to Easter Sunday dinner and the knowledge that Jesus not only died for my sins, but rose again on Easter morning.... Continue reading

I know that I said I was back to blogging, and I have been thinking about it. During that thinking time here are some things that I have been doing. My girls are both teachers so for the last five years we have gone out to the desert near Palm Springs for Spring Break. My Mom has a snowbird place there. She calls it “the spa”. When she and my Dad first went there the park was called Imperial Spa because of the natural hot springs that make up the pools and hot tubs. So each year we travel to... Continue reading

Pink is happiness . . . Continue reading

If you have followed this blog for any time at all you recognize that I have not been around much this year. I am still here doing my creative thing. I just have not been posting much. There is no excuse or reason other than I have lost sight of my purpose for this place where I share my thoughts, creative ideas, and just a bit of my life. However, I feel I am back on track, my purpose has been renewed and I am ready to reenter the land of my blog-o. So let the blogging begin once again... Continue reading

We all need to be aware of just how many slaves there really are in our world today. End It Continue reading

My 2013 started out at a conference called Abolition 2013. Wow, what was I thinking? This was a faith based equipping conference for folks they are calling “abolitionists”. It was three days of training to understand and effectively combat human trafficking and the sex trade industry in our modern society. Why, you ask would I attend such a training? Well, to start with, for the last year and half I have been involved in a ministry through our church that ministers to the dancers at the two “gentlemen's” clubs south of our city. Over the last several years I have... Continue reading

*This is a repost from Decdmber 17, 2010, my Dad's 1st Christmas in heaven. In light of the recent tragedy in Connecticut, as well as the passing of a few friends and family, I wanted to repost it. My First Christmas in Heaven By Wanda Bencke I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below With tiny lights, like Heaven's stars reflecting on the snow. The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away the tear For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year. I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear But the sounds... Continue reading

There is just something about a homemade Christmas gift that I just love. Not only does it have that one-of-a-kind, special quality to it, you know that it was made especially for you. Every year I am on the lookout for that special homemade gift idea that I can make for the special folks in my life. My goal is for the gift to mean just a bit more than a gesture given at Christmas time. This year I found these great ornaments at Homegrown Hospitality. Stephanie is a fabulous artist and offers online classes several times a year and... Continue reading

Let It Snow!!!!!! Continue reading

You are invited Continue reading

There’s something about candles that seem to promise a good time. Candles just might be the cheapest, easiest, and most impressive accessories out there. The flicker from a taper turns a simple meal in to a special occasion and the glow of votives bring a soft warmth to your space. This is why I love burning candles and always have. I especially like to burn candles this time of year, the flame of a candle just seems to make me warm. I don’t know why, its not like the fire is enough to create heat, but seeing that little flame... Continue reading

‘Tis sparkly Christmas Continue reading

Yay, I know I have not been around my blog lately. Life has just been happening and my blog has taken a backseat. But that does not mean I have not been creating. The holiday season always seems to inspire me more than any other time of year. I just don’t seem to have enough hours in the day to do all that I would like. So, I have learned to prioritize (okay, so it has taken me over 40 years to learn, but I am teachable) those things that I most want done. These upcycled sweater pillows were on... Continue reading

To Do List Continue reading

This past week I have spent my hours working for Picture Perfect Interiors in their booth at the Holiday Boutique. And when I say hours, I literally mean every waking hour. I have not put in this many hours of non stop work since I had an infant in the house. The excitement of setting up the booth and actually unpacking what had been purchased for the show back in March, was a little like Christmas morning. I have been doing drapery fabrication for Picture Perfect Interiors over 20 years but in the last year I have done all of... Continue reading

Recently a Pampered Chef consultant, friend of mine gave me a catalog when I told her there were some things that I needed. Really, the need started when Jeff made chili for a work luncheon and had a bit of trouble using the worn out can opener. He was very frustrated because he could not get the cans open. Being the great wife that I am, I decided to update a couple of worn out kitchen gadgets, one being the can opener. This is the one that I ordered. Anyway, on the front of the catalog there was a picture... Continue reading