Good Things To Come

Hello friends,

I’ve been quite busy in my spare time getting one of my stories prepared to have printed up in spiral book form.  Designing a cover and getting the format ready has kept me busy on my days off.  But the good news is that by early September my very first Christmas story, “The Christmas Pin Society”, will finally be available on Leisure Lane to order in “hard copy”.

I’ll post more about it as soon as I can.  If you would like a sneak peak click here.

Until next time, may happy days abound!

Marianne

Giving Vintage Linens and Things a Second Chance

Hello friends, and welcome to Leisure Lane…

Are you looking to give new life back to your antique crochet, knits, linens, blankets, and quilts?  My blogger friend, Terri, from Artful Affirmations was interested in brightening up a lovely antique fabric product she recently bought in England.   So I told her about a product that I had heard about a few years back when I belonged to a knitting/crochet circle at a local quilt shop.  And I thought perhaps there might be more of you interested in this product, as many of you collect vintage pretties.

I’ve never used the product personally, but I personally saw its results on a beautiful, yet yellowed stained old yarn woven and embroidered baby blanket.  It was made by the mother of a co-knitter in the group, but never finished.  She was in the process of finishing the blanket as she wanted to pass it on to her grandchildren.  She was using new yarn and she wanted to clean and brighten the rest of the the blanket.  Of course being packed away for so long it had developed those unwanted yellow spots.

The quilt shop employee suggested Vintage Textile Soak as the perfect remedy, so she bought it and tried it on the blanket.  At our next meeting she brought the blanket in with sparkling results!  It was brightened and cleaned, and the delicate embroidered flowers on the blanket were still beautifully preserved.

I couldn’t remember the name of the product, so I called the quilt shop (which most recently closed their locale in my area – whaaaaanh!), and they were kind enough to give me the name of the product and information of where to locate it.

If you are interested in giving your textiles new life ask your local quilt or fabric shops for Vintage Textile Soak.  If  you prefer going online you can find it at Star Spangled Sampler at  http://www.vintagetextilesoak.com/soak.html  If you are interested in Americana country decorating you can visit their home page at http://www.vintagetextilesoak.com.  

I hope this helps you.  You can also google reviews about the product.  Happy soaking!  And until next time, may happy days abound.

Marianne☺

Pink Saturday: When I Am Less, God Is More

Hello friends…

I wasn’t sure what I had to share for Pink Saturday today, but reading Beverly’s post I decided to dig through my files and find something of use to help with the Miracle Makeover cause.  Funny how God works…everything within us is of value to Him, whether we see it or not,  if we say “yes”, and just open our minds and hearts.

So here is my Pink Saturday offering…may it make a difference in the life of Charlie and his family.

Oh Lord, help me to understand that the less I do,
the more you can do; and the more you can do,
the more can be done through me.

copyright©2006 Marianne Coyne

God bless you, Charlie dear….may you “Live and proclaim the works of the Lord!” Psalm 118:17

If I were to list my blessings, this post would never end.  To forget those troubled things which are behind and move forward is not an easy venture for me, but I am learning.

I am ever grateful to God for teaching me more everyday about Himself and how to live within His Kingdom,  good health, my 21 year old son, Robert, and most recently God’s gift of being published.  All three gifts took years of much patience and faith, which I will admit was not always easy.  But I am learning that if we can get our thoughts to line up with the thoughts of God, understanding what He truly wants for us, then as Christ said, if we can believe, “ALL things are possible with God.”  Mark 11:22-24 along with Romans 4:17  have meant the world to me, and their profound and simple, yet not always easy truths are life changing in a dramatic way.  I wish that for all.

Until next time, may happy days abound.

Marianne

I’m Published!

Welcome to Leisure Lane, friends….

Today I received wonderful news in the post from Blue Mountain Arts.  My poem “A Friend” will be published in their 2012 Valentine’s Day card line.   Since Blue Mountain has purchased the rights to the poem, I have removed the May 30th post featuring the poem.

Thank you to all of my friends who have wished happy things for me.  God bless all of you with good health, prosperity, and love.

Until next time, may happy days abound.

Marianne

Handmade Thursday: August, August

Welcome Friends,

The days are getting away from me with so much to do lately, but I thought since most of Handmade Thursday’s lovely participants have children, you might appreciate a most recent little ode to August from a child’s point of view – school supplies are already the featured items in stores.  As well as painting and making handmade items, I love to write, and I’m inspired sometimes by the simplest things.

August, August

 August, August, month of gloom,
With thoughts of teacher and school room;
Of reading, writing, and lunch sacks,
And thoughts of lugging filled back packs.

 August, August, month of woe,
Reminding me of each kid’s foe.
I just want things to stay the same;
To shout and run and play a game.

 But wait a minute, I’ll not fret.
There’s four more weeks within you, yet.
Instead I’ll play out in the sun,
And have some more of summer fun!

 copyright©2011Marianne Coyne

To see more Handmade Thursday fun, stop by White Lily Green and say hello to our host, Tracy.  Until next time, may happy days abound.

Marianne

The above images are from http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com

Tea Poem Cheer

Welcome, friends…

I know that many of you are very busy with one thing or another…refinishing, restoring, reconstructing, redoing, reorganizing, and that can be rather exhausting.  So for those of  you who could use a little TLC while taking a moment to restore a little of yourself, who are feeling under the weather, or who just want to relax and take a breather, I’d like to encourage you with a poem.

Feel Better Tea Poem

So you say you’re feeling funny;
The sort that needs some tea & honey,
And you only want to sit down and unwind.

Then just put on the kettle,
Take your tea & cup and settle
In the biggest, comfy chair that you can find.

And don’t forget to stir in
All the love that I am sendin’.
Keep good cheer and happy wishes on your mind.

copyright©2010Marianne Coyne

I’m joining these Tea Parties:   Tea Time Tuesday with Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage.  Tuesday Tea for Two with Wanda Lee at The Plumed Pen, and Tea Cup Tuesday with Terri at Artful Affirmations.  Stop by and see more wonderful tea time fun.