My Wonderful Mom

      It's been a while since I've posted pictures of my wonderful mom.  I took a day off work this past Friday and went to spend some time with her at the nursing home.  She was in a fine mood!!  It was 'Go Texan" day (for those who don't live in Texas, we have a 'Go Texan' day during rodeo season and everyone dresses up in their best western attire!)  and the residences were dressed in cute cowboy hats and bandannas.  Mom was soooooo cute in her green cowgirl hat and bandanna so I caught her with my phone camera and thought I would share the pictures with you.  She is doing very well right now, although she is still wheelchair bound and has been since she broke her leg again this past October.  She has had so many problems/issues over the past 5yrs.--numerous surgeries, 2- broken legs, breast cancer and so much more.  She is my hero and I love her very much.

     I have, of course, included pictures of my little 'pooterman'!!  He will be 2-yrs old this Wednesday and I must say I love every minute of every day since he came into my life--yes, even the smelly diapers and the temper tantrums (well, maybe NOT the smelly diapers so much!).  He is the love of my life and I thank God without ceasing for making me his 'Gigi'.

     God is good and has blessed me so much and so many good things are coming--I'll share with you as things happen!!

 God Bless all and any who read this!
Pat, A Remade Life
be sure to 'like' us on facebook - 'A Remade Life Emporium'

'Aren't I cute?!?'

Momma having fun

Brayden showing off his '6-pack'!!

Me with an attitude!!

Brayden loves his food!

Working hard in the back yard!

My beautiful mom!

"Whatever" Purses are here!!!!

     As some of you may know I had foot surgery almost 5 weeks ago---and, although it went very well, a reaction to the meds and edema in my foot caused me to be laid up a little longer then usual.  Now, I am NOT one to just lay around and watch soaps (and what's up with cable?!-all those channels and nothing good to watch!!!) so I decided to try to get a little creative work in.  However, not being very mobile kinda limited what I could do.

     So, I gathered as many bolts of laces, trims, fabrics, kitschy items and STUFF that I could grab, sat myself down on my sofa, propped my foot up on a pillow and started sewing!!

     The one rule I made myself stick to was "JUST HAVE FUN"!!!   Under no circumstances would I let myself stress out over, 'does it look right?", 'is it too small', is it too big', is it kitschy enough', 'is it too odd'!!?? and on and on and on........NO!!

    And so I just started grabbing whatever was within my reach and sewed it on the purse.  Some purses turned out cute, some turned out a little odd, but ALL were fun to make!!!  And it was GREAT therapy as I recovered.  As a matter of fact, it was sooooooooo much fun that I decided to finish them up and I've posted them in my etsy shop for sale- www.aremadelife.etsy.com  .

     And that's how the "Whatever Purse" was born!!!  I do plan on continuing making them, even though my foot is doing better.  (I'm still in that silly 'boot' thing but will hopefully be out of it soon!)  Here are a few pictures of my Whatever Purses---let me know what you think!

Please be sure and leave me a comment, let me know what you think!
And be sure to 'like' us on facebook--'Remade Life Emporium"
Until then, God bless all and any who read this,
Pat, A Remade Life
www.aremadelife.etsy.com
www.lovethatvintagestyle.etsy.com

"As the World Turns"

     Some of you may not remember that phase "As The World Turns"!  It was an old soap opera way back in the day, very popular from what I remember.  And very poetic/true.  No matter what may occur in our lifes, the world keeps on 'a-going'!  And so do we.

     Our Christmas holidays were marked with my mom going back into the hospital for breathing troubles on Christmas Day.  She is going back to the hospital more and more often and staying for longer 'visits'.  She just got out this past Monday and went back to the nursing home.  Her little body is holding on but each episode takes more and more away from her mind.  She rarely lives in reality anymore, often forgetting where she is, why she's not at her own home, who's alive and who's not (this one is very hard on her--she keeps believing my dad is still here) and she is always very disoriented.  It's hard to see my mom that way---she has always been so together and snappy.  My older sister is retired and taking care of all the issues that come with an aging parent.  I feel bad for Barbara since she must fight her own battles as well.  Please say a prayer for my mom 'Goldie Marie' and for our Heavenly Father's loving arms to be wrapped around her.

     On a different note, I had foot surgery on my right foot 4-days ago.  I knew it was going soon---I taught water aerobics for over 18 yrs---that's 18yrs of jumping on the side of the pool like a crazy person--something had to give and I guess it's my feet!!  Bone spurs, bunions and a bone that needed to be repositioned are just no fun, but I got it done and I'm at home recovering.  Wish I could say I've been able to work on lots of new projects, but the truth is, the pain drugs have better much kept me 'out of the loop' until today.  I do have some ideas a-brewin' that I'll share as they develop!

   So, that's it for now, foot is starting to complain so guess I better elevate it and make it smile!!

                          Yes, those are frozen veggies on my foot---couldn't find anything else!!


God Bless all and any who read this!
Pat, A Remade Life

And Life goes on!!!!!!

Can't believe it's been 2-wks since my last post!  Things have been, well, interesting around here:

          - had a garage sale to raise money for my daughters trip to Puerto Rico--she's a dancer and
             going to a competition there!
          - my sweet precious grandson Brayden has started developing an attitude! (yes, the best
             baby in the world!)  We are trying to 'nip it in the bud' (quote from Barney Fife-'The
             Andy Griffith Show') but I'm having a hard time with the time-out thing--it just breaks
             my grandma's heart to see him sitting in the corner
          - my mom fell, not once but twice, and ended up with bruised ribs on her left side and
             twelve stitches in her leg!  Please pray for her--she is 88 and having more and
              more problems
         - we had a sale in my shop in Winnie this month and will continue to have sales until
            we close it down, probably not till October.

As you can see, the last few weeks have been full of events, some good and some not so good.  But life goes on and with God's grace we deal with it all.  Our heavenly Father is a loving Father and will carry us through, if we trust in Him!!

Here are a few pic's of some of the items we are selling at the shop:

It will be hard to close the shop, but God is leading us on to bigger and better things!  Please pray that we sell as much as possible---cause I DON'T want to bring it home!!

Thanks for stopping by and God bless all and any who read this,
Pat, A Remade Life

New Adventures are a-comin'!!

So, had a very busy weekend getting all my 'treasures' out of the antique mall.  It was a lot more work than I originally thought--who knew you could put so much in such a small space?!?!?!  Anyway, the antique mall is now just a memory.  It was an easy decision to leave--I wasn't making any money and it was becoming more and more difficult to get over there and work on my booth.  There are lots of good workers there and the fellow vendors I met were great.  Also, Kudos to the manager, Susan, who was always very kind to me. It was very much appreciated.

And now, on to our next adventure!  I still have to close down my shop in Winnie, TX ( now THAT will be work!!)  but that will be a much slower process, one we will probably spread out over the next few months. We are hoping to be out by October at the latest but really shooting for September.  In the meantime, I have begun working on my next project, one I am truly enjoying.  It's not something I can discuss at this time (I am working on trademarking it) but I will share a few photos.

It is amazing how God directs our steps when we let Him!  He is a loving heavenly Father and wants only the best for us in ALL areas of our lifes.  I know He is guiding me even though at first I wasn't happy about closing my shop--I couldn't see the path God was taking me down, all I could see was 'failure'!    But He has better plans for me, plans to prosper and excel (as He does for us all!)  God is good.

So here are the photos of 'what's to come', just a little sneak peak into an adventure I am looking forward to!!

And of course, a few pics of my wonderful grandson Brayden--sitting in the refrigerator!!!

That's it for now but there's lots more to come!!
God Bless all and any who read this,
Pat, A Remade Life

Winnie in June

The June show in Winnie is now past and was an 'eye-opener'.  I'll explain that a little later.

Friday was a slow day, as it usually is, but my son Jonathan did a good job and sold several things.  Of course, my good friend and helper, Kay was there as well and she is always a blessing to me!  Saturday started out well with our first sale of the day coming early in the morning so we had great expectations.  Unfortunately, the 'expectations' didn't pan-out and, although we made numerous small sales, the total earnings at the end of the day were disappointing.

Sunday morning broke hot and humid (this is Texas after all!) and somewhat slow.  The people started coming about mid-morning and we again were encouraged but the rains came around 1:30pm and that was pretty much that for the show!

And now to the eye-opener comment:  I have been battling back and forth with the decision to close the shop at Winnie.  Sales and the crowds have been down for about 5 to 6-months and the shop is barely breaking even.  It has become increasing harder to rationalize staying there and continuing to struggle through the bad times.  It would be different if I didn't work full-time or even if money was not an issue--but then, who doesn't have 'that' issue!!

I had decided to ask a vendor whose partner was getting out of the business if she would like to come into our shop and rent part of our space.  She's a great person and it would have been fun to have her there!  Unfortunately, she had already asked another vendor to come in and share her shop so that she wouldn't have to move out.  Makes sense and I'm happy for her to have found someone.

So, back to the decision.  My first decision was to get out of the antique mall in Spring, TX where I rent a small booth.  My overhead there is eating me up and the sales are also sluggish.  I plan on turning in my
30-day notice today or tomorrow.  I'll run a really good sale and hopefully will be able to unload items so that I won't have to haul too much to the warehouse.

And now for Winnie:  unless something changes over the next few months, we will be pulling out of Winnie soon.  I've got numerous pieces of furniture that need to be refinished/painted so I would like to get those redone and sold first.  I plan on putting a huge sale on the last few months there so again, hopefully, we will be able to unload stuff and not have to bring much back to the warehouse.

It has not been an easy decision and not one I've enjoyed making.  BUT, I know my heavenly Father has a plan for me, a good plan for us to prosper!  He will guide my steps and show me where I need to be at this time in my life.

I do ask for your prayers, that my eyes and ears will be open to His guidance and that my heart will be receptive to His will.  I have said all along that my customers are some of the best people in the world!  I have truly enjoyed them and have been blessed to be apart of their lives--I hope that in some small way I have also been a blessing to them!!

So, stay-tuned cause it looks like a new 'adventure' is on the horizon for "A Remade Life"!

Here are some pictures of a few things in the shop,

God Bless All and Any who read this,

Pat, A Remade Life

Introducing My New Logo!

My new logo is here!  As you can see, I've posted it as my header.  I really, really love this logo---it's been several yrs in the making!

'Back in the day', I studied in college to become a graphic designer.  I loved creating/designing/drawing and  hoped to make that my goal in life.  But things change, marriage happened, three children came and then divorce, things that redirected my life down a different path.  Creating was forgotten as I struggled to raise and take care of 3-children by myself.  It wasn't easy.  All thoughts of doing ANYTHING creative were lost to the daily grind of just making a living.

But my Heavenly Father is a good Father and He began placing in me the need, the desire to begin creating again.  And so, my business "A Remade Life" was born, a testimony to God's love for us and His ability to 'give new life to gently used items'.  But the process has been hard.  Unused for soooooo long, my creativity is slow in coming----ideas don't readily pop into my head as they used to, my 'creative' vision doesn't see like it did so many years ago.  But again, my Father God is good and I am learning all over again to be patient and listen with my heart to His voice, to have Faith in this area of my life as I must in all things!

And to remember that God's plans for me are higher than anything I could ever image---"For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope..."  Jeremiah 29:11

I love my logo--have I already said that?!  It's simplicity reminds me to slow down, stop making life so complicated, to let the love of God bloom fresh in my life everyday.  I'm sure I'll be tweeking my logo here and there over time, just like God is 'tweeking' me--- but the joy of this budding, new creative life is awesome!!  I will look forward to each day as a new beginning, a new 'dawn'---I hope you will come with me on this exciting journey!!

God Bless all and any who read this,
Pat, A Remade Life

New Logo in the works!!

I'm so excited about my new logo!  I've been wanting to have my own special trademark but just haven't taken the time to really move on it--I just let it float around in my head (a scary place!) for a while.  Well, I finally took control and went to a friend who has a print shop and asked for his help.  We talked it over and one of his graphic designers went to work on it.  He was a great guy and presented me with numerous options based on what I had asked for, all of them very nice-----however, nothing was 'clicking' with me.  I wasn't trying to be picky but the image in my head (remember, a scary place!) just didn't look like the computer generated logos he had created for me.  I wanted something more organic, more natural, more ME!!  Sooooooooo, I said a prayer, set to work, and my new logo was born!  I took it to the print shop to get it ready for my business cards, etc. and all I have to do now is pick the color of the card stock----I am just so TOTALLY stoked about this!!  Can't hardly wait to show it off--hopefully will have it back from the printers in a few days and ya'll will be some of the first to see it--sweet!!!

In the meantime, here are some more pictures of my shop in Winnie---I know you are getting tired of seeing them, but I'm doing ANOTHER reset so what you are seeing is a 'shop in the making'!

                             My son Jonathan's spot is really looking good--more to come!

                                  This is the front of the shop--still trying to come up with an eye-catcher

                            My ladies section--the bike doesn't go there permanently

                     My linen section is still needing work but it's getting there--this bike also doesn't belong here

                            I'll really loving my 'travel' section--lots of good luggage to choose from

This is the horse that's in my header above--it's handmade and really cool--there is also a vintage sled on the shelf above the horse

    Still working on the kitchen/houseware section but loving the big mirror on top!

                                                   Lots of vintage dollies to choose from!!

                                   A great portable artist easel--almost kept this one!!


Well, that's it for now but I promise to debut my new logo as soon as possible--hope you will like it too!!

God Bless all and any who read this,
Pat, A Remade Life
aremadelife.etsy.com
lovethatvintagestyle.etsy.com
remadelifeemporium.blogspot.com