Giving treasured items new life...

A beautiful theme throughout the Bible is that God makes "all things new". Yes, He creates the "new" that is "brand new" but my favorite thing about God is that He loves to take that which is old, worn out, broken, dirty, cracked, and seemingly useless and He makes it new!! He is the renovator and the restorer. How creative it that!

He continually inspires me and the workings of my hands and mind.
Because of that, I thought I would share this opportunity with you..

If you have broken trinkets or worn out treasures lying around that you just can't part with (maybe something of sentimental value) and you would like to give them new life... I'd love to talk with you.

New life...
I enjoy the creative challenge of working with all sorts of "mediums/textures" to make one of a kind, unique  pieces you will love yourself or pass on in your family for years to come.

Examples: 
*broken jewelry/old watches
*antique/heirloom pieces
*old pictures
*awards/ribbons
* sentimental lace
* cards and invitations
* old letters
* newspaper clippings
* military medals/honors
* favorite old neckties
* keepsake handkerchiefs
* and on and on...

You get the idea...
We can turn your priceless treasures into functional jewelry pieces, brooches, shadow boxes, picture frames, trinket boxes, pillows, etc. It's a wonderful chance to"think outside of the box" and have some creative fun!

Here are some examples of what I am talking about: 
Most jewelry pieces begin at $30 and go up from there...

1. This picture shows "parts" from a client's favorite purse. The purse strap broke and she was no longer able to use it...

However after "reworking it" she was able to use it once more...

2. "reworking" a special brooch into a necklace...

3. "reworking" a broken dragonfly pin and special keepsake cross pendant...

4. old family pictures "re purposed"...

The possibilities are endless!!

To encourage...
I also cherish the opportunity to honor someone's life or family in a unique way by personalizing things like centerpieces/bouquets for weddings, funeral sprays, and remembrances of loved ones on anniversaries, birthdays and during holidays.

Here is an example of a remembrance piece:
This funeral spray honored the life of an amazing young man who loved God with his whole heart. In learning about Ben, I heard over and over again how he loved, honored, and preferred others instead of himself. He was a powerful young man of God and a warrior for Jesus. He claimed Daniel 3:16-18 as his life scripture!!

First, I arranged these palms, fresh roses, snow berries, and blue thistles into a 4 foot standing easel and then I personalized and attached this beautiful metal shield with a cross, Ben's name and his scripture reference in the center of the arrangement. The shield could later be removed by his family as a treasured keepsake.

FYI: An arrangement similar to this one runs approx. $150 and up.
My fresh flower arrangements are only available for delivery within the Dallas/Ft.Worth area.
The flowers cannot be shipped but personalized items can.

How can I help create a one of a kind treasure for you or someone you love?? 
I am already accepting orders now for the upcoming Christmas holidays.

Blessings my friends!
Brandy

Grand opening!!

Hi there!!

Today I am launching an online flea market!

It's called Feather Your Nest...a Fun and Funky Market Place!

I hope you will take a minute to stop by and check it out!
More and more items will be added daily so make sure to stop by often.
Perfect timing to shop for the upcoming holidays.

http://www.funandfunkymarketplace.blogspot.com/

Please share with your friends!

Blessings!
Brandy

My Love of Cinnamon...

I have a deep passion for cinnamon....

I love it in candles, and room scents but my greatest love of cinnamon is in food!
There is something comforting and familiar about the scents of something cinnamon baking in my oven. I am thrilled that my little nephew loves it almost as much as I do because that means I can bake special treats for him and every last bite will be savored and deeply appreciated.

So in honor of dear cinnamon I thought I would share a very simple, yet delicious recipe that I have recently acquired. It is probably my favorite morning treat. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Mini pull-apart Monkey Breads:

Note:
I use frozen biscuits instead of canned because I think they turn out much lighter and fluffier.
Canned biscuits will work fine, though. 

On a microwaveable plate thaw 6-8 frozen biscuits for 3-4 min. You are only trying to bring them close to room temperature where they are pliable and easily pulled apart.

Line a cupcake pan with a dozen cupcake papers. The taller the papers are ...the better.
It holds in all the goodie!!

Melt 1/2 a stick of butter in the microwave. Set aside.

Mix about 1/2 to 3/4 of a cup of sugar with 2 tablespoons of fresh ground cinnamon in a separate bowl and set aside.

Pull the biscuits apart into 6-8 pieces and toss in the cinnamon sugar mixture.

Spoon about 4-6 pieces of sugared biscuits into a cupcake liner. Add a spoonful of the cinnamon mixture on top and then drizzle about a tsp or so of the melted butter on top.  Do this for each cupcake liner. (6-8 frozen biscuits should make a dozen monkey breads.)

Bake at 375 degrees for 12 min.

For a delicious glaze my favorite trick is to buy a tub of cream cheese cake frosting and thin it down just a bit with some milk and drizzle it over the top of the monkey breads once they come out of the oven.

However if you do not have the  tub frosting on hand, you can also mix a cup of powdered sugar with a tsp of vanilla and 1-2 tablespoons of milk. This should make a simple thin, pourable glaze.

Since the mini monkey breads are in cupcake liners - they are easy to handle and don't make a big mess during clean up. 

These monkey breads are also perfect for a big family meal or for freezing. You can just pull out how many you need for the next day's breakfast.

I hope they are a BIG hit at your house!!
Let me hear from you...

Blessings,
Brandy

The Little Things in Life...

About a year ago my dear college friend Cindy, who is much more like a sister than a friend, gave me a little black wooden plaque at Christmas.

It simply says:

I can't tell you how much this gift has meant to me. Cindy knows me well!

It hangs in my home as a beautiful reminder of how God has taught me about ABUNDANCE over the past 10-20 years.

Abundance is a way of living. A way of looking at all of the amazing little things all around us that add up in big ways to bless us and add meaning to our world.

When I think of abundance I also think of words like....savor, relish, drink in, breathe, rest, trust, appreciate, hold dear, cherish, value....

Practicing the simple art of abundance means noticing details like...
                 ...the smell of a deep, soaking rain
                 ...the way a chocolate chip cookie melts in your mouth right out of the oven
                 ...a chill in the morning air
                 ...enjoying stories about the day around the dinner table
                 ...the scent of a favorite cologne
                ... being healthy and strong
                 ...the way your child smells right after a bath
                 ...reading stories before bed time
                 ...knowing what makes someone smile
                 ...feeling the burden of a friend's heart as if it were your own
                 ...seeing God's hand of protection over your family members
                 ...realizing the provision of God in direct answer to your prayers

No matter your situation in life...
In good times or in very hard times....
I hope that you will make it a practice to stop and breathe in and notice the blessings around you. There is always someone who is struggling more than you. Someone you might be able to encourage and bless. I heard this message loud and clear myself today. There are hundreds of blessings in our lives everyday just waiting for us to stop, take notice of, and appreciate them. Choose today to live a life of thankfulness. I promise if you do....in the end ...you will  know in your heart that you have TRULY lived!!

Blessings to you,
Brandy

Autumn is in the air...

I know...I know....it is not officially fall yet ...but it's almost time!

Time for...cooler temperatures

     ...pumpkin patches and hay rides

    ... homemade soups and delicious pies

    ...cozy sweaters and nights by the fire

    ...roasting marshmallows and bobbing for apples

    ...gatherings with friends and family

    ...turkey with dressing and hot cocoa

    ...football games and tailgate parties

   ....the State Fair and Fletcher's Corn Dogs!!!

There is a stirring of excitement in my heart for this glorious season and all that I hold special and dear. 

some of my favorite things....

It inspires me like no other time of the year!!! 

I want to bake ALL the time, decorate EVERYTHING in my path, and I want to savor God's AMAZING blessings in my life.

in my kitchen...

I hope you will join me here often...this special little blog place I named "Inspired Ideas" ...for all sorts of tidbits of inspiration, flavor, and beauty you can carry back into your world. It's going to be lots of fun and I truly can't wait to share it with YOU!

my sweet little family

Blessings of Abundance...

Brandy