Christmas Season 2010: Reflections....

This year has been filled with surprises of many sorts:
1. Natalie met an amazing man, (Jordan) that I adore.  God's planning had to have been perfect in this as he has the same type of humor that we enjoy....a little off kilter. I also like how they bring out the best in one another.

2. I have spent the entire year taking care of "Sue".  This is NOT the same thing as being selfish, rather it is caring enough about my relationship with my savior that I have honored myself in many ways; eating right, working out, pulling back from over-commitment and having healthy relationships. Somehow, I had gotten a few of these things so confused throughout the years.
Take for instance, relationships...I had thought I had established good boundaries in my life, but instead they were often times weak, (I made excuses for those in my life that were not honoring to me) and sometimes I created walls when I was afraid.  My Lord was faithful to show me..."Do you not believe that you are worthy of setting at the King's table? Why are you eating the crumbs off of the floor?  Come, dine with me. I adore you."  And so I began the climb into the chair and to enjoy His Words,  His affections towards me, His allowance of me to stop and to enjoy the life He has chosen for me to live.  He has a purpose and though the journey may be difficult at times, it works out for my good.  Yes, MY good!  Even my mistakes.  I have found that when I have stayed close to Him, that He shows a safe path, a way of escape when I am heading down a wrong path and a Father's heart.  He is my everything.

3. Then there was a 9 month period of unemployment in which I lost 70% of my income.  God had a plan there as well.  Not only did I search for work, I sat at His feet and quietly sought His will.  Back at Boeing I went to a job I hated and paid a fraction of what I had been making previously, but then, someone from my past remembered my work and got me on in their department....the way it happened was a miracle.  Now, I have had 2 extensions as a contractor and am back as a Project Manager, a job that I love to do and back at my previous pay, (minus overtime).

4. "Accidentally" a woman that owned a shop asked if I would make a bunch of signs for her shop in Langley WA to sell. I did, and they sold quickly. So, I began selling at "The Spare Room" in Everett, but my focus shifted to furniture, dressers, etc.  The latest is this Kids Art Center....(the shelves are chalkboard)

and then fabric candy cane pillows for the holidays (which have sold out once)

As I continue to trust and open my heart up to the Lord to continue to more and more in my life, I am sure He will continue to bring blessings...(sometimes they won't feel that way, but nonetheless they bring about what He desires and my heart desires).  I encourage you to seek Him with all your heart....not for what YOU want, but for whatever He wants.  In the end, it'll be good!

Holiday Happenings!

So glad the weekend is here! Busy time of the year for Boeing as they close out projects for the end of the year activities. It's also a busy time of the year for "The Spare Room" in Everett as the season has shifted to Christmas buying.

I want to bring up a prayer request for some dear friends of mine who are really suffering right now... please pray for the Kraft family...precious people who have a steadfast faith as they raise a child who has had a transplant.  Please drop by their site and give support. They are tremendous people of faith....they don't demand an explanation from God on why they have had this ongoing challenge, but rather they simply trust.  I am so proud of this young couple who have shown the Lord's grace so well in the midst of suffering. Here's the blog: http://livingwithbiliaryatresia.blogspot.com/2010/11/friday-follow-up-on-sarah.html?spref=tw


Besides meeting up with some friends and getting some tasks done around the house, I will be finishing several pieces of furniture, having a girls night out and going to a concert.

Come join me with Acts of God Drama as we celebrate a night of laughs at a fun Improv Night....All of these have been a hit...we expect a large audience and hope to see you there~

More mystery pics.....

Just got the mystery pics back...boy did we have fun!  Thank you to Tana and Matt for being such gracious and fabulous hosts!

This was prior to the Mystery Dinner... Here I was getting into character as "Tira Misu"
Here's the other characters!

I'm sad here, because they blamed ME for everything and I didn't do it.  The guy next to me did....

The Holidays....

Hi there....its been awhile since I have updated....
I've been busy trying to make enough product to get down to "The Spare Room" in Everett for Christmas. Somehow, I got this idea this year that I wanted to create vintage candy cane items for Christmas decor.   I have small  cane ornaments to place on a tree and large canes to put next to a tree or as a pillow on a couch, etc.   Here's a pic next to my fireplace.

Then I have gone to town making lamb, heart, flag, coffee, tree vintage ornaments.

Come down this weekend to "The Spare Room" and check out other items as well as the incredible store located right next to Comcast arena.

Enjoy the holidays and treasure all that God has given you! 

Blessings, Sue

Mystery Weekend and Sales!

Two more black dressers sold this weekend while I was away at Nob Hill Bed and Breakfast in St. Helens....did I mention that my daughter and the owner's son are dating?  Yep!  And I really like their son! Aren't they cute?

Here are a few pics for the fall weekend that was a lot of fun!  I am also glad I made some sales while away!  So I have now re-stocked "The Spare Room" and back to finishing up a major project at Boeing.  Whooohooo!

and my mysterious character....Tara Misu...who was a very questionable girl....

A friend of mine, Sharon, was Mama Rosa....

So off to work again.... the computer is calling me to do some real work....then I'll pick up a paint brush and off to Zumba.   Buh bye!

Re-arranging at The Spare Room

I added some new items, (mostly primitive) and re-arranged my space at The Spare Room....

Here's some newbies....

Old sheep cupboard

New Side table and dresser

Always have to have the pink and white for the girls (young and old)

Prim table runner hanging over shelves

And a primitive corner

and the grey blue door and dresser with other items....

Items you'd like to see?  Place a comment below and give me colors, items that you'd like to see!

Zumba Weekend!

Haven't worked out this hard since high school track!  The Hickory Girls from North Carolina came and led a Flash Mob at the north outlet mall then came down and led a two hour INTENSE Zumba class.   Oh my.....

Upon coming home, my cat ran away from me after taking one whiff of me. Everything hurts... I think my eyelashes are even sore!!!!

 Here's one of the many workouts we did....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afWIHbj0tb8...Lord, those ladies have energy....

I was able to see an instructor I think is fabulous at this event tonight...Roberto.  He's moving away to the east side of the state.
 
Tomorrow they lead off for another round of workouts and a fund raiser for the NW Sarcoma Foundation. Houseblend Productions donated this table runner and 6 placemats for the raffle which will feature many items.

If you haven't tried Zumba I highly recommend it! It's not only fun, but a great cardio workout!

Snuggling into fall.....

The fall has always been one of my favorite seasons.  I love the crisp air and coming home and snuggling into a warm bed after a long day.

 Hope you are enjoying the season as well.

Here are some chairs that I did a while back that I am looking forward to selling.  I've got this thing for old furniture and can't resist a chair with good bones.

Black background Whimsy chair

                                                          Soft blue chair

You're Beautiful! This song says it all!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WnAq0o2Xl8

Lots of black furniture!

I've been down to my little shop this week to restock some primitive items. The little black desk, black side table, white side table, pumpkin painted old screen, primitive tray and some shabby pink and white items have sold.  

So I have now replaced them with this coffee table:

and these black shelves.....

and another primitive tray:

and these trays...

This weekend I will be finishing up more items to take down on Sunday.  Black and white seem to sell for me.  Can't wait to get started....but have to tend to my "real" job! Looking forward to a fun weekend!

The Reward of Doing what is Right

New at "The Spare Room" !

Fall table runners, Black shelves

Primitive Star Table

The Reward of Doing what is Right

Over the weekend, it was made very clear to me the reward for what is doing right.  I heard a couple of sermons and saw the fruit in my life as I completed something I felt I was nudged to do. 

On the flip side of making wise choices, is the obvious...the bad choices.  What ever happens to them?

For the person who steals, lies, cheats, lives in rage, compromises their values, etc.....well, they get caught or live in misery and even if they don't (initially), God sees all and consequences will follow....

To see what lays ahead for our choices see: Deuteronomy 28 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2028&version=MSG

We can create good news or bad news for ourselves....I don't know about you...but I want the blessings...it may take awhile to get there, but they will come with right living!

Autumn is officially here!

The weather has definitely turned and autumn is officially here....my time flies!  I have been working on adding some new fall items to place at "The Spare Room" on Sunday....here are just some of the newbies!

Hand-Painted pumpkin Table Runner

Rooster Table Runner

Decoupaged Antique Stand

Fall Stuffed pumkins

Falls Screens

I also still have plenty of signs in various sizes and dressers, furniture, etc.White Princess Dresser

More....

and more!

The Lord isn't surprised...in fact...He has a plan!

This weekend was a kick!  Performed at New Life with Matt and Sarah from KCMS and it was a lot of fun! It was nice to see many of the gang from "The Follower" play and some folks from NCC.  I truly needed a good laugh after one of the most difficult months I've had in years.  August was not a picnic. I'm glad it's done and over with.  I know the Lord wasn't taken by surprise by family and other events that occurred, but He is faithful! I am hanging on to this scripture taken from The Message,

" Forget about what's happened;

don't keep going over old history.

Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new.

It's bursting out! Don't you see it?

There it is! I'm making a road through the desert."  Isaiah 43:18-19
 

Then Sunday off to "The Spare Room" after church to meet with a customer to get her custom order description and to re-arrange items so I can bring in additional antiques/art to sell. Hey...if your looking for some black, grey, brown or white furniture items...go visit my space...just across from Comcast on Oakes and Hewitt in Everett WA.  If not, take a peak any how there's some great items that other vendors have that are one of a kind!