Grey Dey Thursday at Petite Michelle Louise's!

Good Thursday to you!

I realized that I had not posted all the pictures about the 

Gorgeous Greys Fabric Collage Inspiration Embellishment Kit

with Antique French Linens, Laces and Buttons


that I received for my Birthday in December from LuluLizinLalaland.

 This is the Grey Kit as seen in Liz Etsy Shop ~ LaCroixRosion 

Her shop is closed for a few weeks while they are at their cottage in France, however.

I showed you some of the items she included in the kit on my blog post about the

Anniversary Tag/Card  I made Hubby for our 33rd Anniversary this month.

However, I did not show you ALL of the things she gave me!

There are so many pieces it is hard to get them all in a picture where you can see them all!

I had these on the table in my "studio" (ha!) for a few weeks and just loved looking at them!

Everything is displayed on a silver cake pedestal I have and love to use.

I had a lovely tablescape for Valentines Day, but always forget to take pictures! So I left some of the 

table decor out to use in taking these pictures of the Grey Kit.

Liz dyed most of the laces Grey. With the same dye, she started with the darker pieces, and then added more water to the dye vat so the next few lace pieces would be a lighter grey. She did that a few times.

HERE you can see her lovely pictures on her post about making up the kits.

I am so amazed at how many different colors of laces she was able to come up with. I know each piece of lace takes the dye differently, and it is wonderful to have so many variations! 

Isn't that stem of millinery coral bells so pretty? If you know Liz, you know she loves vintage millinery flowers, so I feel very privileged to receive a stem of her finds! She uses them very judiciously!

All of these laces and trims, wide or narrow are so unique and I look forward to making a collage with many of them for Daughter*4's bedroom. We painted her room Grey and white this summer and have a few more things to finish before I show you.

 These sequins, pearls, faceted metal beads, and tiny seed beads she has found at a particular family booth at the French Brocante. For a few years past, they have been selling the remainder of their Grandmother's stash of lovely things for embellishing clothing she made for celebrities. They are very high quality embellishments, and are just gorgeous!

I forgot that I had only take SOME of the items out of the paper bag that contained my Grey Kit and after a few weeks I noticed the bag sitting on the counter across from the table. 

When I opened the bag, I saw the rest of the things I had forgotten were in the bag!

These GORGEOUS Grey Fabrics were also in the kit, there is a piece of Grey sweater fabric, two different pieces, a dark Grey and a medium light Grey, that are vintage french linen...heavy and will be wonderful for a collage! The piece of crushed Grey velvet is so soft and pretty, even that back side of it is an interesting texture that will be a wonderful option!

The three rhinestone beads that are next to the single flower are the kind that you sew onto clothing. If you look closely, there are two tubes on the back that you sew through to secure them to the fabric.  It is a little hard to see, but there is a piece of grey gauze fabric...I have a plan for that piece!

Here is a close up of the linens and the rhinestone beads. I cannot remember the name of these beads, I will add it when I find out again.

This vintage cupid I purchased at a local Vintage Store, Patina, in Richland, WA. It is metal and competely covered in Silver German glass glitter, both sides. It was just so cute, I had to get it! When we get our mantel finished on our bedroom fireplace it will live on the mantel. The dishes and bowls and all these candles were also part of our Valentine Tablescape. It was a white and silver, with pink carnations night of family love and fun. Candle Light Dinner on elegant dishes. I was not feeling well enough to do more, but we had fun and enjoyed Pizza by Candlelight!

Speaking of Love, I wanted to share with you again this vintage lace, buttons and music collage with the image of Jesus Christ that Liz sent to me a year and a half ago.

 Lately, I have been so gratefully feeling His love for me. Making a daily connection with Heavenly Father and my Savior is really helping me to find the balance I want to feel in my life. Their love calms me, and gives me hope and confidence that I can make the changes that will help my life be more balanced.

Liz was making some beautiful collages of  Madonna and Child and posting about them on her blog.
I thought they were so beautiful, but I was telling her how much I loved them and that
a collage of the Savior would be magnificent, as well!
Liz emailed me back and said "I just made one of the Savior!" and she posted about it the next day.
I thought is was amazingly beautiful and it made me smile and filled my heart with joy!
About a month later, I was having a rough day, and feeling a bit down and overwhelmed.
I came home from a long chat with a friend who was having some troubles with her children,
and I didn't have a clue how to comfort her. So, I was feeling a little sad.
And sitting on the counter, there was a package from Liz. I had ordered some vintage pans, I posted about it HERE, and included in the package was the Collage of the Savior that she had made!
I just began to cry, it was just what I needed that day. To be reminded that
He was waiting for me to come to Him for comfort and to have faith that He would comfort my friend,
in ways I never can know how to comfort her.
He knows how to comfort each of us because He felt what we feel.
So, I am reminded each time I see this amazing collage of how much the Savior loves me,
and how much my sweet bloggy friend thinks of me!
This gorgeous collage has a Vintange Image of Jesus Christ with the Sacred Heart,
a background of Vintage Music, and I LOVE music about the Savior,
surrounded by Beautiful Vintage Laces, crochet motifs and buttons.
On the very bottom of the collage she added this religious pendant that makes me smile
and warms my heart when I look at it closely.
It is a pendant of the Savior of the World, kissing a small girl on the forehead.

I close my eyes and can imagine that kiss on my forehead.
and in humility my heart soars because,

I Know That My Savior Loves Me!

Thank you, LuluLiz, for your kind and generous heart!

I am remined everyday of all my dear bloggy friends, I enjoy your comments so much and love the connections we make in sharing our ideas and creations and thoughts about life.
Hope you feel loved this week!
YOU ARE TIED TO MY HEARTSTRINGS!

HEART HUGS,
BETSY
POSTING AT
GREY DEY THURSDEY
THANKS, MICHELLE!
Go see what other grey lovlies posted there!

Family Surprise!

I surprised my family for my birthday in December...

I know that is backward, but that is how we roll around here.

Seattle, Washington

Our very favorite singing group was performing in Seattle and we HAD to go! 

Well, I HAD TO GO! So, I decided to take them with me. 

Our son and I worked it out so that he could stay at home for a few days after Thanksgiving

and then fly back to college from Seattle after the concert (cheap flight!)

We were so excited!

 

The Tenors, formerly the Canadian Tenors, have been a favorite of ours since the 

first time we saw them in October of 2009. 

Hubby, Son and Daughter*4

Our son, who is very musical, was not able to attend that performance and he was so disappointed. The next concert I took the girls to was while he was on his mission in Brazil. So, when I figured out we could actually make this work,  he was very happy!

Daughter*4 did not know about the trip until that morning. She woke up to get ready for school, and I told her to go back to bed, we had a surprised planned for my birthday. I had made arrangements with the school and her coach and everything was set. I had surprised her one other time with tickets to their concert, so when I told her about the surprise she said, "Really..? Is is what I THINK it is....REALLY!??!" I nodded my head and she freaked out a little jumping up and down and said  "You are so awesome, Mom! Thank you! I am so excited!", hugged me and got back into bed to sleep longer.

If you are not familiar with The Tenors music, 

they are Pop Opera. It is like four Josh Grobans...

Four handsome guys in Armani suits,

amazing harmonies, classy performances, their songs are all uplifting, their show is entertaining, clean and fun. Their music literally
brings me to tears, it is so beautiful. 

Here is a link to one of my favorite songs of

The Tenors

Of course, I could add their complete repetoire here,

they are SO wonderful, and even better in concert!

When we saw them in concert that first time,

I was in the beginning of an anxiety time,

This song was a real inspiration to me over the next five months of recovery.

I almost gave them a standing ovation on this opening number of their concert. 

We had great seats and just absorbed in all the music. It was their Christmas Concert and it really got us in the Christmas Spirit.

We have their Christmas CD, The Perfect Gift, and it was really hard to NOT sing along as they sang. 

We have been fortunate that after each concert the circumstances were just right that we have been able to visit with

the group. And after this concert, we were able to

visit with them again!

 

Daughter *4, now 17, got to visit with Clifton Murray, she was smitten by him after the first concert

when he spoke with her in a very charming manner, she was 13 at that time, and personalized her CD.

She was ecstatic!

This is our Son speaking Portuguese with Remigio Pereira, 

they both talk with their hands!

We were able to share some of our  Sheffield Sparkling Cider with them,
we have another time as well, and they were very appreciative. Fraser Walters, the one I am standing by, asked about the farm and the cider, they are interested in their fans and such appreciative performers.

Daughter*4 was in heaven in the center of all those handsome men!
Victor Micallef, the Tenor with the hat, has an amazing opera trained voice,
they teasingly refer to him as "Pipes" because he can really get the notes out there
in such a beautiful way.

Their newest CD, "Lead With Your Heart", came out last year and we
love it as much as the other two. "The Canadian Tenors", their first CD, is also wonderful.
They sing in English, French and Italian and it is all so thrilling!
As you see, I cannot say enough good about them.
If you love all genres of music, try listening to this group.
You will be impressed.

One of my favorites from the "Lead With Your Heart" album, is
"Anchor Me".

The first time I really listened to the CD,
I listened to the song for about an hour so I could learn the melody and lyrics.
It brings me such comfort, and I open my heart and voice and
sing it out...in the car, of course! And I cry.

It was a GREAT BIRTHDAY present to share with my family!

I hope you have music you love to listen to that touches your heart and fills your soul
with the Love for God, Love for self, and Love for Family.

Love is all you can take with you.
Feel it and offer it to all you get the chance to.

Life if so much more full when filled with Love.

Hugs to you,
BETSY

Grow your Blog Giveaway Winners!

Hello, all my wonderful blog friends and followers.

It has been a week, again...finally I am on the mend, but still feel like I need another week to get over this completely. It has been a bad bug. But I am happy to be announcing the giveaway winners!

Today, Daughter*2 was here visiting with me and we looked through all my

tag stuff and then some and figured out what the giveaway Tag Kits would include. I have felt so weak, I just couldn't even think about finding everything until today. It was so much fun to do it with her, though. I found some more energy!

 Included in the kit is a few vintage velvet milinary leaves, a strip of ribbon leaves,  similar to the leaves on my Fairy Tag, but they have a little smaller leaf.  There are three small pieces of lace fabrics to add texture to a tag. You'll find eight or nine vintage rhinestones to bling up a tag. 

There are vintage pearl buttons, sequins and beads, some bling buttons, and two heart charms.

It's from Betsy's Heartstrings...I have to give you a few hearts! Even a few glass beads are there to add even more bling if you'd like.

The white cotton lace is a piece from Lululiz, I love her laces, so I just wanted to share

a piece with you. I have also included a few lengths of Rayon seam binding

to use as a tie for your tags. And you really need a few glitter pens to add sparklies to your tag if you like. 

Also, included are a few vintage style images you can use for all kinds of fun tags.

It seemed easy to say I would offer a tag kit, but when it got down to it, I just couldn't decide what to put in...so, the winners are just getting lots!

Oh, I LOVE that vintage key, I found them at an antique store in my area. 

I really wish I could send something to all of you who commented. It has been so much fun to meet you and get to know you a bit through your blogs and comments. 

I asked my SILaw*2 to find me a random number generator, I had written everyone's name down in the order they commented, but separated into new followers and longer time followers.

He asked "What numbers do you need to go up to?"

I told him 1 to 10 and 1 to 25. He decided to be my random number generator! 

He chose the numbers "8"from my long time followers

 and "13" from my list of new followers. 

So, the winners are,

Catie An, from Catie An & Co.

and 

Shirley, from Shirley's Stitches

Congratulations gals! Such sweet Blogging friends I have!

Hope you all had a Happy Valentine's Day, I was well enough to make Pizza

for my Valentines! Woo hoo! But it was a candlelight Pizza Dinner.

It isn't what you make, it is who you eat with!

Maybe next week we can have a fancy dinner on the fancy dishes instead of just Pizza,

but it was still fun!

Hugs to you all!

Betsy

Tag Tuesday ~ Myths and Legends

Welcome to all my new followers! It has been so great to meet you at the 

GROW YOUR BLOG Party.

Vicki is just amazing and I am grateful to have been able to meet all of you!!!

Wow, it has been a rough month around here for us. 

Hubby and I have been feeling poorly all month and now we are spending time this week still sick!

This is the tag I made last week, but we were busy visiting Dr. Offices 

so I am posting it now. I have wanted to use this image for SOMETHING!

 since I found it on a vintage images CD 

I purchased on eBay years ago, before I knew about tags. Many

people use this image, but I think it is just too sweet 

to not use! ( I always wanted to find a fairy when I was a little girl! 

Maybe she would be my friend!!)

 I love these sweet little fairies! I wish I had a dolly that looked like one of these fairies! 

I used some stamps I bought in Germany a few years ago for the tendrils,

 I  LOVE tendrils and acanthus leaves. I had to attach the stamps onto clear stamp blocks myself, 

but I am happy with how it turned out. They worked!

I just think these are the sweetest representation of "Legends/Myths", which was a Tag Tuesday

 prompt a few weeks ago. I just wanted you to see that I am still making tags.

 I may not get to them every week, but every other week I think is okay!

 It is improvement!

I love the sparkles on the tag. It is NOT spring here in the Northwest, 

but the fairies get me excited to think about spring, while enjoying the winter weather. 

If we could just get well!!

Heart hugs to you all!

Betsy