Hymn of Promise

In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree; in cocoons, a hidden promise; butterflies will soon be free! In the cold and snow of winter there's a spring that waits to be, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

There's a song in every silence, seeking word and melody; there's a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me. From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity; in our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity. In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see. ~~ words & music by Natalie Sleeth, 1986 United Methodist Hymnal

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Blue Monday!


Hi everyone! I haven't posted a new post for awhile! Was busy, nothing to show off and my whole household was wiped out last week with the stomach flu!! So now I'm trying to get back in to the swing of things again! Don't have anything for Met Monday yet but I can post some pretty pics for Blue Monday! Sally over at http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/ hosts this fun event so I hope you'll go over and check out her blog and all the other blue posters!


Today, I would like to share with you my handpainted kitchen table. This particular antique oak pedastal table was given to my husband by his mother before we got married. It, in turn, had belonged to her aunt...so it is a family heirloom! Those of you who are familiar with my kitchen know that when I redecorated it I went sort of "wild" with wildlife! From stencils to stickers to rub-ons, if it's a flower, bird or bug it's on my kitchen walls! Well, the time had come when the top of our kitchen table needed refinishing again, but I had always had in my mind an idea to paint the top of it and so.. I did!!!! Then my husband comes home as I'm finishing up and has a conniption fit! Is that how you spell that?! Don't know if your DH's are like mine but it is sacreligious to paint over finished wood in his eyes! But being the selfish, if momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy, female I sometimes can be....Yes, it's true! I'm not the perfect little homemaker you all think I am..you do don't you?! anyway..I didn't care that he didn't like it! So there! And I have loved this table ever since! And guess what? His parent's love it too! Maybe one day he'll get over it...I do seem to notice that when he cleans his guns he just puts paper down and not a vinyl cloth to keep those caustic cleaners from eating away at my paint job....could he be trying to slowly but surely sabotage my lovely creation? Hmmmmmm!




I did use a stencil for my wrens. Yes, I cheated! I never said I was a Rembrandt! I mean for gosh sakes I have stickers on my walls because I can't paint the butterflies myself! But the really creative part that I am rather proud of is that I just used the stencil for the basic body shape and then handpainted the birds myself! The same with the nest and the eggs. The tree branches and leaves are all mine! I even think the bird stencil was actually a finch but we have a family of wrens that have been here since we moved in 16 years ago so I really wanted the birds on my tabletop to be wrens. The background is a light yellow that I brushed over the top and then dry brushed the sky blue over that! The branches go all the way around the edge of the table!


In the garden world purple flowers are sometimes called blue because blue is such a hard color to find in flowers. There is blue salvia and of course the beautiful blue delphinium that i can't grow down here in the south because it's just too hot for those gorgeous blooms! So even though my clematis is purple and white we will call it blue just for today! I just had to take pictures of my clematis so full of blooms! It's trained on the wrought iron fence we have around our pool! In the summer it will start losing leaves and not blooming much at all but right now it's absolutely gorgeous! Enjoy! and I hope you all had a wonderful Easter! Lauralu :)

36 comments:

  1. Your table is so pretty, and the clematis is, too! I hope you had a great Easter. We were SO busy with church, and my arms are killing me now...I'll have to explain that in a post, I guess!

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  2. Love the table. I love anything that is garden themed. You did a great job. I love your clemetis. I can't wait until it's warmer here and mine starts to grow.
    Hugs, Terrie

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  3. Your painting is superb! Hopefully, hubby will grow to love it - it's art! Linda

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  4. Mornin' Girlfriend...

    So happy to see you "out & about" again and that you're finally feeling better!!! Just wanted to stop by to see how you were doing...and to see how your Easter went? Ours was wonderful...getting to share in the kid's baptisms was glorious!!!

    Sooo..here we are, it's Monday and back to normal! Hehe!!! What's on the agenda for today, Sweetie? I'm so glad that you did a post on your sweet "birds and nature" table! I remember the first time that I saw it on RMS...just fell in love with it!!! Girl, you are a talented painter...not just anyone can go and paint such a beautiful scene!!! It really is a work of art...so lovely!!! Loved your beautiful photos of the climatis too! Sooo very pretty!!!

    Well darlin'...have a wonderful Monday!!! So happy that you're feeling better!
    Love ya,
    Chari

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  5. I don't want to get between an angry husband and his paint-brush-dripping wife, but you did an excellent job. Thanks for sharing. Happy Blue Monday.

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  6. Your table is just fabulous...I had no idea what to expect. My husband also believes that you should never paint wood....aaaarg! I am beginning to learn that I just have to "do it" and live with his chagrin! You did a wonderful job and I think it is beautiful.

    Blessings to you from Kansas,
    Valerie

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  7. I am from a "don't paint beautiful wood" family, too, but i think you did an amazing job and made this table so unique. If you think about it, if each generation modifies the table in each way it makes it even more personal, like adding on to a house.

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  8. Your table is lovely!!! You did a wonderful job...don't think of it as cheating just using all your creative options!!! Your flowers are fantastic...such a beautiful color!!!

    Have a great Monday!!!
    XOXO
    Cathy

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  9. Hi laura,
    I dropped by via Blue Monday. Your table is lovely, worth even someone (who shall remain nameless) "pitching a fit over". How do you like working at Curves? I started Pilates two months ago, and love it. Hope your feeling better...~Cathy~

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  10. Hi Lauralu,
    You did a wonderful job on your table. I love the whimsical birds on it. Happy Blue Monday!

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  11. OMG! Your table is STUNNING!! I love it! So glad you're feeling better! :-) L~

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  12. Lauralu, I LOVED seeing a close up of that table! You are so smart. I didn't know that the birds began as a stencil and then you painted inside the outline! Brilliant! Pretty flowers too. Glad you're feeling better. laurie

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  13. your table is amazing....just beautiful and the clematis~stunning. I cannot wait until more plants start blooming around here!
    Happy Blue Monday to you~
    Blessings,
    katrina

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  14. happy blue monday! awesome table.. and the flowers pretty too!

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  15. Wow! Your clematis are gorgeous! You are so modest, Laura Lu. Your table painting looks wonderful, you have to admit it, you are very talented!....Christine

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  16. Wow! You did a great job on the table. I could never do that even with a stencil. What is it with men and wood???? I'd love to paint my cabinets--maybe when he goes out of town :) YES YES Let's hit the thrift shops together!

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  17. Laura Lu!!! How ya been girl? So good to hear from you, and who knew you were so talented?? I love the table makeover. I remember reading on someone's blog recently that no man likes it when his wife wants to paint furniture. I've been saying this for years LL - men, they're all the same.

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  18. lauralu this table is beautiful!! You are so talented and I just love it!!! My dad was all about not painting wood too, I think is't a man thang!! lol

    Lou Cinda :)

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  19. Laura you are a true artist.. this is so wonderfully done.. Hope all is well in your world. Love, Cindy

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  20. Lauralu: If you have anything about Vanna please let me know. Thank you so much!

    Lou Cinda

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  21. How exciting Laura Lu! Advance Happy Birthday to you! When is your bday? We might be close, mine's the 29th. Dh's too!...Christine

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  22. Hi Laura Lu! That's amazing, unbelievable! No wonder we have similar likes. You know my hubby has the same birthday too. We will be in Chicago then...Christine

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  23. Hello Laura Lu,
    My first stop into your blog and I am loving your post. I will visit again.
    Joyce

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  24. No not my backyard. If you scroll down on my blog and see a past post for Susans Tablescape Thursday you will see that I took more beautiful photos like this at the Philly Flower show in March. Wish it was my backyard!
    Joyce

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  25. WHAT A GORGEOUS table!!!! Love those flowers too.

    Lauralu, I have been a terrible blogger lately. Thank you for visiting me and for the compliment on my daughter. She really is a sweet pea.

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  26. Lauralu- so glad to be back to blogland!! Well girl, what new projects have you been up to while I was gone?

    Breakfast nook got a paint job yesterday and hope to get the wainscotting up soon- I told DH I thought I might try doing it myself since he is so busy- don't know if I am kidding myself thinking I can do it but we will see.

    Have company this weekend and next weekend and working on our ministy update letter that we mail out to over 500 so we will see how fast the wainscotting gets done! I feel like this might be a year long project before I am through!!!

    When does your article come out? I think it is soon isn't it?

    blessings
    mary

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  27. Hi Sweetie...

    Just read the sweet note that you left about my pot rack...thank you for all of your compliments!!!

    How is everyone doing at your place? Hopefully everyone is feeling better and things are back to normal? That's really rough when the flu makes its rounds through the entire family!

    So glad that you like the idea of doing a "Sunday Favorites" meme! I thought it would just give us a chance to share once again some of our favorite blog posts! There are always so many new bloggers...and I just know that they would love to see everyone's past posts! Plus, I know that everyone gets busy on the weekends...maybe this would be a "quick-fix" to being able to publish a post on the weekend without having to do much work! Anyway, sure do hope that can join in...I'd love for you to!!!

    Love ya Sweetie...
    Chari

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  28. I am glad you all are feeling better. No fun at all being sick with the flu.

    I absolutly LOVE your beautiful table. That you painted it yourself makes it even more special!

    Your clematis is GORGEOUS!! I bet you do enjoy it! Have a great Earth Day!

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  29. Man, I didn't know you was sick? Hope you are feeling better now....I Love your table and yes some of us do have irrational Dh's... Im glad you won your battle. Love your flowers, and the photograpy of it all too. When are we going to see your magazine spread? Missed you too...~Athella

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  30. Hey Girl! I left you a little somethin' on my blog!

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  31. Hey Girlfriend...

    Just read the sweet little note you left on my music boxes! Girl, I was wondering where you've been...haven't chatted with you for a couple of days...have you been busy? What ya been up to?

    Ohhhh...I can't believe that you collected those pretty little music powder boxes! I didn't even realize that the one I had was a powder box till I started getting comments! It seems that everyone's grandma had one...they must be fairly old! Anyway, after I read your note...I just had to go to ebay and see what was on there...also wanted to find out a little more info on them! I did find several...seems like they came in a blue color as well...seen some really pretty ones! Oooh...I am wanting to start a collection of them too! They aren't real expensive so I just may! Hehe!!!

    Okay Girlfriend...I've just been holding my breath since Wednesday! I posted photos of the gallery art wall that I just finished in my living room...and I've waited for you to come by to let me know what you think! I am really liking the placement but I'm always open for suggestions! Soooo what do I need to move...wink! Hehe!!!

    Have a fabulous Friday, Sweetie...talk with you soon!!!
    Love ya,
    Chari

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  32. Ohhh...just had to comment (again...hehe!)

    I just have to tell you that Carole King's "Beautiful" has always been one of my favorite songs...in fact, in my younger days when I played guitar and sang...this used to be one of the songs that I used to do when I sang in an Italian Pizzaria on the weekends! I used to do alot of Carole King music! Sure brought back alot of memories hearing that song!!!

    Love ya,
    Chari

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  33. Hello, I just wanted to stop by and let you know that I have something for you on my blog. Please stop by and pick it up. Hope your day is a great one. Hugs, Marty

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  34. Love the table! I love to paint as well and am currently working on some fairies in my daughters bathroom! I totally get the fact that you can start with an outline but you do actually have to paint the inside yourself! You did a wonderful job on the birds! Hopefully hubby has grown to appreciate how talented his wife is! (I can relate, mine does not always appreciate my creativity ! ha!)

    Have a wonderful weekend!

    Karyn

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  35. Hi Laura, So glad you stopped by my blog since it brought me to yours. You have a lovely blog and I'm sure I'll be back.

    BTW, I love this table. You are being way to modest. You truly are an artist!! It's beautiful!

    Blessings, Marsha

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  36. Your table is BEAUTIFUL! Now, I feel so inspired to paint my boring oak pedestal table. It's not an heirloom, so I don't think my dh will be upset with me! Hmmmm - you have my mind spinning with ideas! Just LOVELY!

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Hello and God Bless! Thank you for visiting "Hidden Promise"! It's wonderful to get comments from you all! I think they are a great way to show our love, care and support of each other! Have a wonderful day! Lauralu :)