Hi, My name is Angela and I am an introvert.

August 8, 2011

Large crowds make me nervous.

Parties make me sweat.
Loud music and lots of people talking make me want to rock back and forth in a corner singing, Yes Jesus Loves Me.

I went to my husband’s 20 year reunion Saturday night. We went to the same high school, but I am wayyyy younger. I graduated the year behind him. I was excited to see everyone and catch up but I knew I was going to be nervous and uncomfortable. Hi, my name is Angela and I am an introvert.

It has taken me many many years to except the fact that I am an introvert. I’ve tried since high school to be the fun, loud, outgoing girl, and I succeeded. I fooled everyone including myself. I was the first one at the party and the last one to leave, I danced all night and I talked to anyone and everyone. But I knew deep down that wasn’t who I really was. I was giving the world what I thought they wanted and what I thought would make them happy. But I wasn’t happy.

The past two years I have done some major growing up. I have excepted myself for who I really am, I’m becoming my own best friend, and learning to love myself. I would rather be at home in my PJs reading a good book then at a swanky party all dolled up. I’d rather grab coffee or go on a walk with a friend then go out for a big girls night out. I thrive and get energized from being alone in my sewing room. I get lost for hours creating forgetting to feed my family or go to the bathroom.

As I sat on my bar stool sipping my tenth glass of water, I watched as everyone danced, laughed, and had a great time. It was sooooooooo great to see everyone and catch up. I wanted to take each of them one by one out for coffee so I could really hear them and really listen to what was going on in their lives.

I started to get a little down on myself for not being in the middle of the dance floor when an angel appeared. Angels seem to show up when I least expect it and need it the most. This sweet dear friend slide a bracelet on my wrist, hugged me and whispered how proud she was of me. It meant the world to me. Thank you dear friend.

I may not be the life of the party, I may not be the most exciting person in the room, I may sit quietly and just take it all in. But I am being true to myself and that feels really good.

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“Evening Tea”

August 5, 2011
I was at the neighborhood pool the other day (my second home this summer) when I ran into my friend Jennifer.  I have known her for several years but had no idea how much we had in common until I started this blog.  She also sews, paints furniture, and loves thrifting and flea market shopping.  She was looking for a hutch for her dining room and asked me to keep my eye open for one. 
 

Well look no further!!!! Guess what I had just picked up from Salvation Army the week before!!!  I must have stared at this piece in the store for 45 minutes trying to make up my mind if I should get it or not.  It was just so country looking and I didn’t know if paint could transform it or not.  I went ahead and bought it because it was in such good shape, solid wood, and had great storage.



Jennifer wasted no time (I love her), we loaded the 5 kiddos up and left the pool immediately.  We had to go see if this hutch was something that she could use in her dining room or not.

This piece was the exact size she was looking for and we both agreed that if painted black and distressed, it would look great in her dining room. 
(I can’t find my lens cap ANYWHERE!!!.  Actually its my husband’s camera that I have completely taken over.  The lens cap taunts me in this picture).


In my own little world.  I didn’t even realize my husband had snapped this picture until I loaded them into my computer!!  If someone walks up to me while I am painting , I usually scream really loud and jump 10 feet in the air.  I just get so lost in my thoughts or maybe it’s the paint fumes.



“Evening Tea”

Me and my friend and fellow thrifter, Jennifer with two of her three sweet kids.  Thanks Caroline for taking the picture!  We were both so happy with how this piece turned out.  Boy it looks better a lot better in her dining room then in my nasty garage!

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Explosion Diverted

August 3, 2011
Man, sometimes I feel like my brain is going to explode!!  I have all these ideas going on in my head that I can’t wait to tackle!!  I have a garage FULL of furniture that I have found at yard sales this summer screaming at me to be painted.  I have new cans of chalk paint that I haven’t even opened and a new waxing brush that hasn’t even been used!!!  I have had a greatttttttt summer but boy I am ready for, as my friend calls it, guilt free time!  My wonderful husband did take the kids out the other day and I had just enough time to work on this window that has been staring at me every time I walk though the garage.

I bought this window and two others just like it at Metrolina for $12.00

I bought this great book of beautiful floral paintings at Sleepy Poet for $1.00. 

I had no idea what I was going to do with it, but the colors and the paintings in it were just gorgeous.  I could have just cut out the pictures and framed them……..but then I remembered that window!

Surprise Surprise, Modge Podge!  I brushed on a thin layer of Modge Podge on each piece of glass and glued down a picture from my book.

I did open one of my new cans of chalk paint for this project.  Normally a blue green girl, I was excited to try something totally different.  Scandinavian Pink, such a soft muted color of pink.

I didn’t want to paint the whole window pink, just add a pinkness to it.  Instead of a brush, I used a paper towel to add a little pink here and there.

I sanded to blend the white and pink paint.  Once it was sanded the pink paint looked like it had been there as long as the white paint. 
OK….. I held out as long as I could but I just couldn’t help grabbing the blue paint.  I love pink as much as the next person but I think I have blue paint in my veins so I had to add just a little.

$2.00 Pitcher from a yard sale, .25 starfish from a yard sale, $1.00 bowl from Habitat Store, top quilt made by my grandmother, $4.00 bottom quilt from Salvation Army. 
Explosion Diverted. 
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh………… Ok now give me those kiddos!!!!
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