GIVEAWAY -- One Day Only

Simple Serendipity will be giving away two $20 gift certificates to the shop.

TODAY ONLY

Go to the crafting chicks blog to enter. This week is giveaway week on the crafting chicks. Each day they are featuring giveaway to 4 different shops, so if you don't win something from my shop today, you might be lucky to win something from another handmade crafter out there.

Breeding

My mother in law once shared with me this phrase,

Poverty Breeds Creativity


Well, if that's the case then I have been busy breeding and

I LOVE IT!


It's true, though.

She said, "If you could go out and buy everything you wanted, you wouldn't have to be creative with what you've already got."

We were in the "struggling student" phase for 5 years while my husband did his graduate studies. I stayed home with the boys and we lived off student loans. I would guess that 90% of the items in my home have been given to us for free from kind, generous people--or things we picked up off the tree lawn and made our own. We were given this table and chairs by some students who were graduating and moving on up in the world. We were grateful to have a table that fit us all--with room to serve the food as well.

As most things go, after a few years I was antsy for a change. Not having the extra cash to drop on a new set, I decided to freshen up the old set.

The table was a honey colored wood that blended in with the floor. So, I painted it white.

Then, because I can't get enough red in my house, I decided that would be the perfect color for the chairs.



That chandelier was originally a brass fixture that hung in a different spot. A spot where it was destined to be a magnet to my 6'4" husband's head.

So, what's a gal to do?

Spray paint it.



Basically turning it from brass to beautiful in a few seconds flat.



Boy was I ever excited when I went through my mail the other day and saw the recent Pier 1 ad.



There it was,

my table.

(Well, close enough.)



$250 + 90+90+90+90+90+90 = $ 790


Hmmmmmmm........


I think I'll stick to breeding.

Giveaway Time and New Stuff

I'm sort of up and running again. Sort of. Well, let's just say I'm part way there. Hopefully black friday will get me all the way there.

anyway...

I wanted to announce another giveaway going on over at Eighteen25 . I love this blog. I get so many great creative ideas from these sisters. Check them out. And while you are there, be sure to enter the giveaway for a chance to win $25.00 to the shop.

I've got some new items to get in the shop. I've been dabbling in wire wrapped rings. They are so fun. I'm loving the new little additions to my jewelry box. Hope you do too.







And, on another note. I'm finally making some progress in my dining room area. Painted the table and chairs over the weekend. Painted the table white and the chairs red. Crazy, I know. Spray painted the brass fixture that was hanging in another spot and moved it over the table. Now I feel like I actually have a nice place to feed my family. I'll upload a picture soon. It's nice to check one thing off the never ending house list. Feels good.

dead computer

I think technology hates me right now.

Please tell me I am not the only one who feels like that?

First off, my camera died. Big bummer. I guess it was partly my fault for dropping it so many times. I used my trusty skills to duct tape it together, but that only lasted a short while.

Then, our 7 year old computer finally killed over.

What?
Rebooting a computer 30 times a day is not normal?
Who knew?

So now, I wait.

It does, however, create a tiny challenge to running an online business. I've been relisting items and such as often as I can, when I have access to a computer. But, for now, I won't be putting up new earrings and new blog posts.

Hopefully I'll be back soon.

And, maybe I should purchase one of those camera strappy things in the future.


FYI--coming soon
I'll be posting links to great holiday giveaways I'm participating in November. Simple Serendipity makes the perfect, affordable, Christmas gift. (Especially if you happen to win a gift certificate!)

Making Cakes

I have too many hobbies.

Making cakes is one of them.

Tedious, time consuming, messy, and


I
LOVE
IT

I had the pleasure of working on this one with a friend for her cousin's wedding. It was so much fun spending two days in the kitchen with my dear friend, baking cakes, whipping up some frosting, trying to get it chocolate-y enough, decorating it, and praying that 5 crazy children running around wouldn't mess it up (like they did the rest of the house).

I didn't get to see the finished product in real life, but according to the picture, I think it turned out quite nice.

I heard the bride cried when she saw it.

Happy tears.

That's always a good sign.

Giveaway Anyone?

Today on A Little Etsy Love, win a $20 gift certificate to my shop, Simple Serendipity

New In The Shop

I just listed this new flower pendant in the shop. I have lots more colors of these. I'll post a picture of the other colors soon. My camera is still dead. Well, it's on duct tape life support for now. Sometimes it works, most of the time it doesn't. :)