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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

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    • Featured

March 11, 2011

Inspiration Friday Party No. 6

Six! Really!  I tell ya the weeks fly by in the blogosphere…don’t you just love that word…blogosphere.  I feel like Elf…“blogosphere..that’s fun to say!” Okay sorry, got off track a little! 

First, we want to offer a quick apology for last week’s link up mishap for the first group of you who linked up.  It seems they were changing servers in the middle of our party and somehow “lost” the images to all the links that were there before the change over.  We do not anticipate this happening again but…okay we’re just going to believe it won’t! grin!


Second, we want to invite you to enter our Etsy Shop of the Month Giveaway sponsored by the wonderful Kelly and her Etsy Shop Cotton Breeze.  The giveaway is open through the weekend!  So take a second to throw your name in the hat for a $25 credit to Kelly’s store!

Third, we will state once again in case you in anyway doubted our sincerity how honored we are that you link up your fabulous, awesome, creative and of course always inspiring projects, crafts, recipes, stories and devotionals!

If it inspires you in anyway we want you to share it!

So it is our pleasure to once again welcome you to

Our linky guests have begun to make it almost virtually impossible to *choose* projects to feature!  The bigger the party gets the harder this task becomes.  As you know from past Inspiration Fridays, we try and focus on newer guests to the party and people we haven’t featured before.  If we have featured you in the past, we’d love you to grab the “I’ve been featured” button on our sidebar!  We might have to start using a random generator to pick features I tell ya..they are all that good! 


~So onto the the feature portion of Inspiration Friday~


Up first we have a feature that caused us to stand up and take notice because we both have been wanting to do something like this in our own homes.

Lesha over at The Uncluttered Lifestyle transformed this:


yikes!


into this!!


Oh Lord, be still my beating heart!  “Lesha, if you hear noise in the night and your buffet is gone it wasn’t us I swear…oh by the way I get dibs on it first Vanessa!” To see how Lesha took this worn out neglected dresser and turned into this beautiful buffet visit her post: Dark vs. Light the Battle is Over. She will share all of the details with you!  Also say hi, while you are there.  She has entered the blogging community just recently and we want to welcome her!


Up next we have Dianne from The Inspired Housewife.  Dianne shared with us her “ugly lamps” that she rescued from a Habitat for Humanity Resale shop. 



 Head over and follow her on her journey to save these lamps from a life of hideousness on her Save the Lamps post.  She took these “butt ugly” (her words..grin) lamps and through some elbow grease and paint


Transformed them into these beauties!

There is nothing ugly about these lamps anymore!  We think they would be right at home in a Pottery Barn catalog!  You can read more about Dianne’s ugly lamp transformation here: The Ugly Lamp Reveal

We love posts that show us how to take what is often a difficult but necessary aspect of home design and turn it into something attractive and functional!  Heather at Tallgrass Design does just that!  How many of us have or have had these horrible little basement windows.  


They are a necessary design element but they are just not very pretty. Heather first covered the window with contact paper per instructions from The Thrifty Decor Chick then proceeded to add these


and then these


to create a faux window that gives the allusion of a nice large window in the basement


Doesn’t this look like the perfect place to curl up with a good book?  You can read more about Heather’s great idea on her: Basement Window Solution Post

And one last post to get you in the mood for spring and Easter and chocolate…okay so we’re always in the mood for chocolate around here.  This post is great because it’s chocolate without the guilt!

Jennifer at Closet Crafter shared with us these adorable stuffed chocolate bunnies!  


For real, we thought they were chocolate when we saw the photo.  They are just too precious!

Jennifer shares step by step instructions on how to make these “chocolate bunnies”

on her post: Chocolate Bunnies!


We think these would look so cute in an Easter Basket, don’t you?  Thank you Jennifer for sharing the tutorial on this!

Now don’t forget to grab your “Featured At” button ladies!
Now it’s time for you to share you Inspiration with us! Please take a moment to read the instructions and then link up your favorite posts!

We can’t wait to be inspired!

Love the girls at the fence,


After linking up to Inspiration Friday click the graphics below and pay a visit to our other
Friday Party Friends!

The lovely Courtney at French Country Cottage


And our beautiful friend Alison from Stuff and Nonsense

Let’s get this party started! 

It’s so easy to link-up…here’s a few rules to help you:


  • Friend At The Picket Fence in some capacity
  • Link Up any post you’ve written that has Inspired You and will Inspire Others-it can be a home improvement project, craft, recipe, story, devotional…if it inspires link it up!

  • Be sure to link back to your original post and not just your url (main blog address)

  • Please post our button (code in the sidebar) or a text link on your blog so others can join in the fun!
  • Visit another guest Okay we are trying this different ways.  So if you would do us the honor of following this one step for sure, it would be a gift to us!  Please try and visit at least the link directly above and below you!  We are trying so hard between writing posts, homeschooling, and taking care of our families..grin..to visit everyone’s posts. Sometimes we miss one and for that we apologize.  It makes us feed good knowing others are visiting people as well!  Thank you..it truly means a lot to us! 

So go on now and link up!



28 Comments Filed Under: Good Ideas, Inspiration Friday

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Comments

  1. Becca says

    March 11, 2011 at 12:17 AM

    DARN! I *soooo* thought I was going to be first linking up. 🙂 I am drooling over the transformation of the dresser. Wow! And, V, when YOU hear someone in YOUR house in the middle of the night, it’s me stealing it from you! LOL. Thanks for hosting, ladies! Becca

    Reply
  2. Natasha says

    March 11, 2011 at 12:18 AM

    Thanks so much for having me today. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

    Best wishes,
    Natasha.

    Reply
  3. Vivienne @ the V Spot says

    March 11, 2011 at 12:19 AM

    Thanks for hosting! If it’s any consolation to Becca above me, this is the first time I’ve EVER been the first person to link up. Ever. 🙂
    Again, thanks for hosting!

    Reply
  4. Michell @Girl in Air says

    March 11, 2011 at 12:37 AM

    Thanks for hosting each week

    Reply
  5. Shelley says

    March 11, 2011 at 12:45 AM

    Thank you so much for visiting my blog and inviting me over here! I can’t wait to look through your blog 😀

    Shelley

    Reply
  6. Rachel says

    March 11, 2011 at 12:56 AM

    Thanks for letting me link up to my first link party…. Hope to have some new creations up soon. 🙂

    Reply
  7. The Uncluttered Lifestyle says

    March 11, 2011 at 1:46 AM

    Hi Vanessa and Heather! Thanks so much for honoring me with a featurette (not a real word, but I like it). Working on table I’m hoping to finish in time to link up.

    Reply
  8. Lynn Richards says

    March 11, 2011 at 1:53 AM

    Hi girls!!! ahhh, my favorite party of the week!!! My tummy is growling looking at the chocolate bunnies and I am aMAZed at what people can see in ugly pieces of furniture. Unbelievable.
    thanks for hosting!!
    xoxox
    lynn

    Reply
  9. Kristine~Lakeshore Cottage Living says

    March 11, 2011 at 2:06 AM

    The buffet and those lamps have me speechless! Wow! I will have to go and check those out.

    Thank you for hosting!

    Reply
  10. Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door says

    March 11, 2011 at 2:31 AM

    Hi, Ladies! Thanks for hosting!

    Reply
  11. ⚜ ↁℯℬℬᴵℰ⚜ says

    March 11, 2011 at 2:51 AM

    Thanks girls for hosting your partay! Great features too!

    Reply
  12. The Polka Dot Closet says

    March 11, 2011 at 4:20 AM

    I am your newest follower and linking up for the first time. Thank you for hosting this party!

    Carol

    Reply
  13. Dianne says

    March 11, 2011 at 4:22 AM

    Thank you soooo much for featuring my lamps..I would like to clarify..I did not call them “butt ugly” Those were my best friends words…I would never talk like that…heheee…

    Reply
  14. Heather says

    March 11, 2011 at 6:16 AM

    Thank you so much for featuring my Basement Window Solution! I’m grabbing your button now to put on my blog!

    Reply
  15. A Vintage Vine says

    March 11, 2011 at 6:30 AM

    Girls, thanks for hosting, you two are the best! Love this blog!!!

    Reply
  16. saltbox treasures says

    March 11, 2011 at 6:41 AM

    Hi. Just found your blog and your Friday party and linked up for the first time. I look forward to joining future parties. Thanks for hosting.
    ~ Julie

    Reply
  17. Courtney ~ French Country Cottage says

    March 11, 2011 at 12:23 AM

    What a great transformation on that dresser!! Wow! Thanks so much for hosting ~ I’m all linked up!! 🙂

    Reply
  18. Sarah says

    March 11, 2011 at 9:37 AM

    I love this link party and that dresser is seriously lush! Thanks for hosting!!

    I am compiling a list of link parties and i hope you will drop by my blog and add this one!

    Loves,
    Sarah. x

    Reply
  19. laxsupermom says

    March 11, 2011 at 12:44 PM

    Wow! Talk about some terrific inspiration! I love that faux basement window – what a great idea! Thanks for holding this party each week.

    Reply
  20. alison says

    March 11, 2011 at 1:03 PM

    i’m all linked up and loving partying with you girls!

    blessings,

    alison
    stuff and nonsense

    Reply
  21. The Hopeless Romantic says

    March 11, 2011 at 1:43 PM

    Hi ladies, im Bonnie, ur lastest follower. Found ur blog purely by accident, and so glad i did! Thanks for allowing me to link up. Now that i know where u are, ile check back……..Im pasting ur button in my sidebar for easy access……….til next time….Bonnie

    Reply
  22. Jodie says

    March 11, 2011 at 3:12 PM

    Thanks for hosting. I am linked up and following now. Just found your blog today. I love a good transformation, that dresser is beautiful!

    Reply
  23. Katherines Corner says

    March 12, 2011 at 1:59 PM

    Love this post!!!!!! thank you for the linky too. Hugs

    Reply
  24. kara@elements-interiors.net says

    March 12, 2011 at 2:37 PM

    LOVE that dresser! Uuuuuhhh, Vanessa, if YOU somehow end up with that dresser…aaaaand, YOU hear a Bump in the night only to find that dresser GONE…it SO wasnt ME :-O Just sayin! Thank you for hostessing! Ive linked up a couple of things! Love you guuurlzzz!!!

    xoxokara

    Reply
  25. Santa's Gift Shoppe and Ideas says

    March 12, 2011 at 8:36 PM

    Hi..I’m Barb… I am your newest follower. I hope you will get a chance to visit my blog @ santasgiftshoppe.blogspot.com
    & get inspired by something for your family/home. I hope you will follow me as well. I am also still pretty new to Facebook & would really appreciate your creative support by becoming a “Fan” & “Like” it. Thanks so much!!
    Nice to meet ya new friend!!!

    Reply
  26. Buttercup Bliss says

    March 13, 2011 at 3:53 AM

    Just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your blog! I am still fairly new at blogging – your blog is one of my very favorites! Of course, it tickles me that you love all things southern!

    Thanks also for your blogging hints that you have posted recently. I still have a lot to learn.

    Again, I think your blog is awesome. I nominated you for a Stylish Blogger Award. Check out my blog for details at http://www.buttercupbliss.blogspot.com

    Lisa

    Reply
  27. Kristin @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia says

    March 13, 2011 at 3:53 PM

    Thanks for letting me join in on the fun a little late 🙂
    Hope you ladies are having a fabulous Sunday!
    XO
    Kristin

    Reply
  28. Kristin @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia says

    March 13, 2011 at 3:53 PM

    Thanks for letting me join in on the fun a little late 🙂
    Hope you ladies are having a fabulous Sunday!
    XO
    Kristin

    Reply

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I've been watching our cherry trees bloom for 12 y I've been watching our cherry trees bloom for 12 years now and every year I ohhhh and ahhhh over the blossoms like it's the first time I've ever seen them. I gush and I take photos (that look exactly like the ones I took the year before and the year before that) and I make my family come outside and look at them with me which you know they just LOVE to do. 😉 I think that is one of the main reasons why I love spring so much. On the one hand, it's predictable and yet, on the other hand, it still feels like such a surprise after the long months of barren branches.

And yesterday, as I was staring at the gorgeous blossoms for the umpteenth time, I couldn't help but think that I hope this is how I feel when our lives return to some semblance of normalcy.

I hope that the predictable feels special and that the typical feels anything but. I hope that I ohhh and ahhh over the simple things I've realized I've taken for granted. And, most of all, I hope that feeling doesn't go away for a very, very long time! 💗
Are you living with great expectation friends? Bec Are you living with great expectation friends? Because He is risen!

Happy Easter from my home to yours!
Lemon bars all ready for tomorrow! It’s going to Lemon bars all ready for tomorrow! It’s going to be a different kind of Easter for sure but some things don’t change. Have you been baking and getting ready for tomorrow? What’s one thing on your menu that you have to have every year?
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What could be good about the unspeakable pain he suffered? What could be good about the shame and betrayal?

Easter Sunday is so joyful, bright and cheery. Shouldn’t that be the day we call “good”? It just feels so much better!

But, I don’t know how to rejoice over His resurrection, unless I have felt the pain of His death. I have realized that in life the sweetest victories are the ones which were realized after a pain-filled journey.

And, so it is with Good Friday. I know there will be victory over death, but I can’t skip ahead in the story.

Jesus knew what was coming. He knew what he would experience. And he knew why he would go through it. He did it for me. He did it for you.

Do you know that? Have you felt it down in the very core of your soul? 
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Well, because, I can’t do it for myself!

There is nothing I can do to earn that kind of love and mercy.

That is why it is called GRACE.

His grace is freely given. We don’t have to pay for it. He paid the price for us already.

Do you remember that movie from years ago called “Ransom”? A couple’s young son was kidnapped and the parents went to hell and back trying to find him and pay the “ransom” demanded by the kidnappers.

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