Autumn Leaves, Catching Dreams & A Winner

 Autumn was blazing beautifully here in Michigan the past couple weeks.

Because of the drought we had this summer, the colors were simply amazing this year.

 Rich reds, bright yellows, and "phajent"

(pronounced "fa-jent" in case you were wondering)~

a color that The Husband made up.

(Don't ask.  I haven't a clue where he came up with it.)

He insists that it's the brilliant, almost neon, orangey pink hue that you are lucky to see once in a while on sugar maples.

So, between plowing MONSTROUS piles

(I'm talking thigh deep at times, people)

of golden and phajent leaves...

[Yes, The Husband actually plowed them for me with our vintage tractor (a sweet 1947 International Harvester) because I was not making any headway by blowing them with my super duper Stihl backpack blower.  He hooked up the snowblade and pushed those ginormous piles into the woods surrounding the house. Saved me a ton of work. 
I married such a smart man.]

and putting my flower gardens to bed for the season,

dumping the pots of annuals,

putting away the wicker on the back porch,

and storing the multitude of pillows on the front porch,

I needed to do something creative.

I was feeling all brawn and no brain.

:)

I've been swooning over and coveting Tausha's gorgeous dream catchers ever since she first started making them.  "Romantic Homes" magazine even featured them when they did a spread on her beautiful Florida home.
When Sandy shared a wonderful tutorial on how she made one,

I knew what I wanted to try my hand at next.

There have been so many different crafts that I've had fun making ever since I started blogging.  You all inspire me so much!  Clay tags, Mod Podge transfers, stenciling, sewing vintage handkerchief buntings, painting furniture, making topiaries, stringing large wooden rosaries...
You've encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone and try new things, and I've loved every minute of it.

But making dream catchers has caught my heart and soul in a way that no other project has.

In the Native American Ojibwa culture, the hoop of the dream catcher signifies strength and unity. The circle of life.

Dream catchers were created to protect the sleeping individual from negative dreams while letting the positive dreams through.

The positive dreams would slip through the hole in the center.

The negative dreams would get caught up in the web and disappear when the first rays of morning sunshine struck them.

A feather tucked into the dream catcher symbolized a breath of air that is essential for life.

I found the supplies I needed at NocBay Trading Company and at Michael's.  After scrounging around in my linen closet and baskets of fabric for some vintage floral sheets,

I assembled everything in my studioffice and began creating.

It was calming. 

Zen-like.

Wrapping the strips of soft, faded floral cotton around the hoop.

Weaving the waxy sinew into a delicate web.

Tying on rustic leather cording strung with sparkling glass beads.

Tucking a white feather into a small, wooden sphere,

and adding a final decidedly signature piece ~

a small cross made from either a genuine turquoise stone

or balsam wood. 

It's a way of adding a bit of my own heart and soul to the dream catchers.

A simple way of passing on God's love.

 
 A hoop of beachy turquoise.

A circle of vintage plum.

A quiet ring of soft pinks and blues.

I will spend my winter quietly making these intricate webs of romantic beauty.

They will be sold in my booth next spring.

I will weave each one with a calm breath,

a satisfied soul...

and a whispered prayer.

I want to thank ALL of you, near and far, so much for entering my THROUGH THE FRENCH DOOR book giveaway and leaving your sweet comments. I wish with all my heart that I could have given each and every one of you a copy of this beautiful book.


~ ♥ ~

The winner was picked the old fashioned way.
The Husband pulled a name out of a vase for me
(before I refilled it with some fresh pink roses).

 

The winner is.....

Dore from Burlap Luxe.

Congratulations, Dore!

I'll be contacting you.



♥

~  Blessings ~

Linking to the linky parties on the lower right of my sidebar.

THROUGH THE FRENCH DOOR Giveaway

It's been such a long time since there's been a giveaway 

here at Heaven's Walk.

With the holidays right around the corner

(and - yikes! - they'll be here before you know it),

I thought it was a good time to have one.

THIS is what I bought for you

(because I adore you and want to thank you
just for being who you are).

♥

I suppose you know about Carolyn Westbrook's most recently published book?

If you haven't, it's entitled 

"THROUGH THE FRENCH DOOR".

The pages are full of romantic interiors inspired by classic French style.

Like beautiful fireplace mantels styled with delicious vignettes...

breathtaking outdoor spaces that are a feast for the eyes...

and bedrooms that make you swoon....

 all in Carolyn's stunning Oaks Plantation that sits on 53 incredible acres in the middle of Texas.

Can you even imagine being surrounded by such fairy tale splendor every day?

*...sigh...*

I know you'd love to see more ~ 
*wink*

and you certainly can!

All you have to do is be a follower of Heaven's Walk
on Google Friends Connect and
Linky Followers.

It's as simple as that.

For extra chances,

post this giveaway on your FB page,

post it on your blog or sidebar with a link back,

and be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry.

(Remember to include your email address in one of your comments

if you don't have it posted in your profile or have your "no reply" turned on,
so that I can notify you.)

One random winner will be chosen soon!

Best wishes on winning!

~  Hugs & Blessings ~

Linking to the linky parties on the lower right of my sidebar! 

Bohemian Rug Love

My obsession  
addiction to
love
for deep colored vintage rugs continues to grow.  

After nabbing a great deal ($40!) on one at

A {re} imagined Dresser

I met a new friend last week Sunday.

Michelle initially stole my heart when she sent me a sweet comment on my 

"Silencing the Noise" post (that you can read here.)
She amazed and humbled me when she shared that she was raising nine children,

was currently homeschooling eight of them,

and was teaching Annie Sloan chalk paint classes.

She also has an inspiring blog called {re} imagined,

and travels from antique market to antique market on weekends

with her loving and supportive family

selling her beautiful ASCP furniture and signs.

I know!
How does this woman do it all???

She is not only beautiful in person, 

but she has an amazingly beautiful spirit as well.
She is a walking testimony of a sister-in-Christ.

 This is just a small sample of the fabulous work she does.

Is she not the cutest thing....?  :)

And THIS is what I couldn't walk away from when I saw it in her booth

at Allegan's last antique market of the season last week Sunday.

A graceful beauty...

with beautiful embellishments, vintage pulls and dovetail joints.

Her perfection almost makes me weep.

Painted beautifully with ASCP in Old White with Pure White accents,

this elegant beauty now resides in my guest room.

I gaze at her every time I walk down the hallway...

and find myself stepping into the room just to look at the faded stencil

on the front.

* sigh... *

I am in complete and utter dresser-love.

A found vintage Florentine jewelry box adds a touch of aged gilding to the vignette.

Michelle gave me such a meaningful gift before I left.

{Thank you so much, Michelle!!}

A sweet sign she made

to remind us all

that we are loved...

always.

And so are you, my new friend.

So are you.

~  Blessings ~

Linking to the linky parties on the lower right of my sidebar!

Check out the October 20% Off Sale at Doster Emporium!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Historic-Doster-Elevator-and-Emporium/115089458505189