Happy May 1st!


It is so beautiful outside today that I thought I'd send you flowers & a prayer. Everyone needs prayer whether you are going through a crisis or just living day to day. I find that I constantly seek after God. It quiets my spirit. I am in the process of teaching my soul that its satisfaction is in God, alone. I was  made to know my Creator. I am not going to find complete satisfaction in this world. I am not going to understand my life until I see Jesus' face. On that day I will be complete.

Heavenly Father,
  Direct our hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ. That we will dwell in the shelter of the Most High and will rest in His shadow. Cover us with your feathers so that under your wings we will find refuge. Let your faithfulness will be our shield.
Be close to us Lord and direct our paths. Show us your ways, guide us in your truths and give us an undivided heart that we may fear your name.
Help us to glorify you in everything we do. Open our eyes & our ears to listen and hear you speak to us. Be our constant companion, our stronghold, our rock and our comforter. Help us to  praise your holy name now & forever.
 In Jesus' name we pray.......


My Sweet Blogger,
Know that God loves you. Know He is with you everyday, through your storms and beautiful days. Pray fervently to Him who created you. Bless His holy name always.

I hope this post lifts your spirits.


Blessings My Friend,

Dinner & a Movie

Now that I feel human again, I decided it was time to entertain some very special people. I wanted to do something a little less stressful for me and fun for each of us. The two couples I invited knew each other, but really never sat down and broke bread together.

An Italian feast & a movie seemed just perfect........I'm Italian and I could cook Italian! So my menu was easy..... Ziti, meatballs, sausage, homemade bread & a green salad. I made a pound cake, sliced strawberries & pineapple boats for dessert.  I even remembered the whipped cream!  Picking out a movie was simple, "The Life of Pi". I hadn't seen it and I wanted too!

Now to pick out the DISHES! Anyone that has been a blogger for a few weeks knows that is the hard part! lol So many to choose from and so little time to get it all looking good! My husband solved my problem after a few days of indecision. He is so good at making up my mind! Everything went according to plans and we had a wonderful time! BUT.....

Long story short.....I FORGOT TO TAKE PICTURES!!!!

So today I reset set my table for you to see!

I decided on a cream tablecloth and a red runner for my Italian feast.
 I wanted it elegant but comfortable, nothing to fussy!

The dishes are American Cafe. They were given to me by my friend Shelly from Buffalo, New York. My husband chose these dishes because he said,"They looked like gangsters"! lol

 The grape & leaf motif on my wine glasses carry my Italian theme. The wine glass next to it, I used for  water & soda. I love wine glasses and use them a lot. It makes me feel classy drinking ice tea out of a large wine glass.

This is the American Cafe bowl. I used it for salad. Notice the bowl is oval.....

 I am all about bling, so I had to use a hint of  silver for elegance. Wedding presents from long ago.

                           I love my Princess House salt & pepper shakers!

I really like this picture taken in the mirror.....you can see my front door & hall closet.

 I thought I would share some basic tricks to teach your children/grandchildren how to remember what goes where on a table. My mom taught us very young and I have been forever grateful! I have been in situations where adults looked around anxiously at everyone, to see what silverware they should use.

Trick #1 - If you hold your hands in front of you, touch the tips of your thumbs to the tips of your forefingers to make a lowercase "b" with your left hand and a lower case "d" with your right hand. This reminds you that "bread & butter" go on the left and "drinks" go on the right. Once I remember on what side the bread & butter plates go on, then I remember salad plates too!

Trick #2 - Knife blades alway face the plate.

Trick #3 -Don't get thrown by all the silverware!  Silverware is used from the outside to the inside. The dinner fork is placed at the left of the plate. If a salad/appetizer fork is used it is placed to the left of the dinner fork. Your first course will be a salad/appetizer.

Trick #4 - Napkins can go in several places...They can go to the left of the fork, under the fork, on the plate or under the plate hanging down slightly. Always put the napkin in your lap.

We are causal in our house but I do set a proper basic table every time we eat even when we are using paper plates! I believe manners should be taught at home and used at home, then they become habit.

Thank you for visiting me. I am sure it will take me awhile to get back to posting on a regular basis.

Please leave a comment so I can visit you too! I need to catch up on everyone's activities.
I will be participating in Tablescape Thursday hosted by Susan at http://betweennapsontheporch.net/navy-and-white-perfect-for-a-beach-or-nautical-themed-table-setting/
 Please visit as many tablescapes you can and be sure to leave a comment. We love comments!


Blessings My Friend,

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty".  Psalm 91:1

Sweetladyelaine's is Closed!

Hi All,
I am back to being a blogger.....
I closed "Sweetladyelaine's Consignment Shop" on March 16th and finally emptied it this weekend. I have mixed feelings closing the shop.

So much has happened and I'm not sure where to start so here goes........
I closed the shop for several reasons but the biggest reason is because my husband lost his job in February. When he gets another job,we will be moving out of state! Moving AGAIN!!! Anyone that knows me, knows I just moved here January 20th of 2012. It came a little fast for me but then again everything does. I decided March 1st to close the shop on March16th. FAST!!!! I did a great job with closing, if I do say so myself. I guess being a teacher helped me stay organized. Now that's its all over, I am ready to get my house in order to sell.
Along the way I will share some great stuff that happened while I owned the shop. 

I loved being a shop owner but it was hard work! I had little...I mean LITTLE time to myself! Every waking moment there were things I had to do for the shop. I got up early to clean house. I worked 6 days a week, 10 to 5 and one night a week until 7:00pm. Sunday was my only day off and it wasn't really a day off. I usually painted furniture or helped my husband with a project for the shop.  From Thanksgiving to New Years I worked 10 to 7:00pm everyday. I was sooooo tired! But the ladies and gentlemen I met....... it was all worth it! God stood by me every inch of the way! I knew He would! The purpose of my shop was to glorify Him! I have to tell you, it did......more stories later.

I hope you will come back and read me again. I will be around and visit your blogs to let you know I am back....

Blessings,

Have a Blessed Easter! Our Savior has Risen........

AN INDOOR LOOK

I've been sitting here looking out the front windows of my shop and noticed the leaves changing.....I need to take a picture of the tree across the street. It is the most perfect beautiful tree! Of course its in a cemetery.....need I say more. PEACEFUL! I have been wanting to stroll through this lush green pasture but I haven't yet. I will, though and I WILL take my camera.

This morning I was up very early about 3am. I didn't feel well...allergies and no medicine. So I sat with Chloe on the couch and made some tea. Not sure what it is about tea, but it sure makes me feel better! I was looking at my mantle all decorated and decided to take a few pictures to share.
I have redone this mantle at least three times. I just couldn't get the look I wanted. I'm not sure this is it either! lol
Are you like me and look at dozens of mantles and love most of them? I then look at what I have to work with and say, NOPE! I just can't run out every season and buy more. I have to do with what I have especially now that I own a shop.
  Before you get all excited at the fact that you think I can buy anything I want in my shop, let me let you in on a little secret. There is good and bad to owning a shop! You want most of it. You can't have it because you wouldn't make any money! Your money would go to paying off your new items instead of for rent! So most of the time I say NO! It has been really hard. When I first started out, I would bring home a box of things and return them the next day realizing I couldn't afford to buy them. I will be honest and say I did bring home a silver pair of salt & pepper shakers. It is hard, extremely hard not to buy!


This is my fireplace in my living room.

Here is a close up.

This is a half of a bushel basket. I did have it hanging on a door and it fell off. I think I will put it on the front porch.

Chloe & my coffee table! I bought the iron candlestick holder at a garage sale for $5.00! I was going to sell it in the store but decided to keep it. lol See what I mean?
Both of the pedestals are from Goodwill.

This is on one side of my fireplace. I have indents.....I wish the builder thought like a woman and built bookcases. Men should not be designing houses! (If we designed them maybe we couldn't afford them afterwards. lol)
Sorry, but you can see the kitchen light in the Thomas Kincaid Picture.

I forgot to take the other side so I guess you'll have to wait until I get home to see the rest!


I am so happy you stopped by....come again to see what's up at Sweetladyelaine's!



Blessings My Friend,

Happiness is ....setting a table!

I am happy to be setting a tablescape today. This is just one place setting with all the pieces that I have for sale. I have had this in my shop for awhile and love it!

The pattern is by Metlox "Sculptured Daisey". Many of you have set a table with this pattern.
 It is made by the Metlox/Vernon Company in California. It was made from 1964-1983.
 My runner is a light green rug with rubber backing.



My centerpiece is a wire piece and I put the floral arrangement in it.

This might be a better picture of the centerpiece.

The sculptured daisey pattern is embossed on the rim. When you run your fingers over the rim you can feel the pattern. The pumpkins are glass.

My flatware is made by EKCO Eterna. It has brown rosewood handles.

Vegetable bowls, oval platters & gravy bowl. You can see the backs of the Canisters.

Before I forget, I want you to see the table that I am using.......a vintage 1970's, I think.

It is very narrow, 221/2 inches wide, but has the sides that make it wider.  Also the neat bench! A pretty cool table!

 

I am glad I had a chance to share with you. It was fun! I miss you......

Thank you to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for hosting Tablescape Thursday betweennapsontheporch.net and Coloradolady for hosting Vintage Thingie Thursday. 
http://coloradolady.blogspot.com/

 I will try to visit as many tablescapes and vintage places as I can......Have fun!


Blessings My Friend,

Getting Ready for Halloween???????

This is just a quick post to get your creative juices flowing.......
I took a Gold 8x10 frame and painted it glossy black. I then added a black bow and Halloween bells. I hung it on the utility door in my shop. A great idea and not very expensive.

 What else can you put in the middle of the picture frame for Fall or Halloween? I think the options are endless!

This is another idea......Use buttons and spell out "BOO"....a cute bow and your are done!

 

We are so busy that we all need fast and easy ideas. I am addicted to PINTEREST! Follow me! I am loving all the ideas. Hope you have a great day!

Blessings My Friend,

Where in the WORLD is Sweetladyelaine?????

I have to apologize to all my followers. I have been busy.  I have been so busy that I haven't even set a table or bought any dishes! Now you know I am a dish alcoholic and that means I am truly sidetracked. I have so much to do that I have let life slip by......NO MORE!

My Consignment Shop is doing well! I just didn't realize how much work I was getting into when I decided to do this! I thought I would show you what the shop looks like now.....

I am quite full but always enjoy new items! If you look close you can find me.....yes, I am always here! Six days a week and one late night!

 

 

I had to show you dishes!!!

 

 

I love this couch.....

 

 

I have lots of Princess House even April Cornell canisters! 

 

 

 

I am back and hope to keep sharing with you.......be patient with me. I am a work in progress! You know I love to blog! I am not giving up! I miss you all! So good to be sharing again!

 

Blessings My Friend,