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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
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  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

August 26, 2011

Welcome to Inspiration Friday No. 29!

Inspiration Friday Graphic1
WOWEE! What an incredible turnout at last week’s party! We just can’t thank you all enough for taking the time to come over and join in the fun and we know you are getting as much
inspiration from all of the incredible talent as we are.



Inspiration Friday continues to be a place where we want to hear about what is inspiring you.
Whether it is DIY projects, decorating, crafts, life experiences, recipes and everything in between.
ALL are welcome here!

Now, speaking of inspiring, Vanessa wanted to share with you how she was inspired by something shared at the party a few weeks ago.

Yep, that’s right folks!
Not only was I inspired by this recipe once, I’ve been inspired a shameful number of times since I first saw it!
These doughnuts were shared with us a few weeks ago by One Shabby Chick and as soon as I clicked on the link I knew I was in trouble.
Easy homemade doughnuts?
Sign me up!

After opening my can of biscuits I was faced with the dilemma of how to cut out the hole in the center.
No worries! The cap from a jar of sprinkles did the trick!

Fried up and generously dusted with that magic fairy dust (combination of sugar and cinnamon), they only lasted long enough on the plate for me to snap one picture!

My early riser on that Saturday morning gave them 2 thumbs up!
That is the ultimate seal of approval, don’t you think?

picketfence_20010

Now let’s get to the rest of our Features from last week’s party!

Lisa of House Dressing shared this absolutely gorgeous Floor to Ceiling Gallery Wall. Her entire home is just beautiful and she has shown here how to make a bold statement which still flows naturally with the other design elements in the space.

Here’s an awesome idea just in time for “Back to School” (which we are totally in denial about by the way!)!


Lina of Fancy Frugal Life transformed this $1 Goodwill lunchbox into this fantastic “note from mom” version with just a little bit of chalkboard spray paint!

We had several furniture re-dos this week! Seriously so much talent!
Two stood out to us for the shear amount of work involved.  Rebecca from You are Talking Too Much transformed what was in her own words a totally “BU-GLY (butt ugly)” sofa and chair into a gorgeous Pottery Barn inspired set!

You will not believe what she endured to rescue the foam for this project!
She is such a hoot and very talented!
Then we have the dynamic duo! Kahli and Milla from Design Par Deux! They took what was in their in their words a “fugly” (hehe…we love all of these creative adjectives for ugly furniture!) armchair and after teaching themselves to sew turned it into this

Double Take: Before & After Armchair
Yep…fabulous! Head over and read their very armchair makeover  post!
If you are in love with all things vintage than you will love this Mason Jar Soap Dispenser Tutorial shared with us by Kristin of Chi-Chi Studio Designs. I seriously need one of these in my kitchen and laundry room! So cute!

Kristin is so generous to share the step by step instructions on her blog, since she also sells these in her Etsy shop! So, if you don’t feel like tackling making your own you can always purchase one from Kristin!
And we wouldn’t be “Inspiration Friday” if we didn’t leave you with this very inspiring post from Lori at Always Learning.  A picture is worth a thousand words…

In this scary world we live in sometimes…having a “scary kind of love” is a blessing! Thank you Lori for reminding us that “newlywed love” can last throughout a marriage!

And thank you to all of our features this week as well as to all of you who share your amazing ideas, projects and inspiration with us each and every week!
If you were featured today (or have been featured in the past) please grab the featured at button located in our sidebar!
Are you following At The Picket Fence on Facebook?  Don’t forget we feature many of your links during the week on our Facebook Page! If you’ve been featured there, grab a button as well! Thank you to everyone who shared so many fabulous posts with us last week!  We appreciate you!
Now it’s time to share with us what has inspired you this week!
Thank you so much for joining us for Inspiration Friday at the Fence,
When you are done linking up head over and party with the other Friday Party Friends
The lovely Courtney at French Country Cottage

Our beautiful friend Alison from Stuff and Nonsense

Stuff and Nonsense

And the gracious Debra from Common Ground

vif187



Now all ya PARTY PEOPLE it’s time to link on up…here’s the rules!
  • 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! (MANDATORY)
  • Visit another guest. Please try and visit at least the link directly above and below you! We try to visit as many posts as we can but as Inspiration Friday grows and especially during the busy summer months, sometimes we miss some 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!
We would love to recommend this fabulous post over at Crafter Minds for a quick tutorial on partying at a linky party! We couldn’t say it better ourselves! “Linky Party Like a Dinner Party?”

This week’s Inspiration Friday is sponsored by

“specializing in vintage and antique items and creating
one of a kind pieces from the unexpected…”

If you would like to become a sponsor of At The Picket Fence and be featured during Inspiration Friday please visit our Advertise With Us page for more details!

45 Comments Filed Under: Inspiration Friday

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Comments

  1. Debbie--https://refreshrestyle.com/ says

    August 25, 2011 at 8:11 PM

    Yummy Donuts and features! I’m going to check them out! Thanks for hosting and making me want donuts!

    Reply
  2. housedressingblog.blogspot.com says

    August 25, 2011 at 8:11 PM

    Thank you ladies for the feature! Ya’ll always host such a fun party, and I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of it.

    Reply
  3. Brandi says

    August 25, 2011 at 8:27 PM

    beautiful features ladies. thank you for hosting. hope you enjoy the rest of your day.

    Reply
  4. marty (A Stroll Thru Life) says

    August 25, 2011 at 8:27 PM

    I’ve made those donuts for years and they really are fabulous. So glad everyone like them. Your little princess is darling. Thanks for hosting such a fun party. Hugs, Marty

    Reply
  5. Belinda @ Wild Acre says

    August 25, 2011 at 8:33 PM

    Joining in from England today, thanks for hosting! x

    Reply
  6. Kim @ Savvy Southern Style says

    August 25, 2011 at 8:40 PM

    I’ll take one of those doughnuts and apply it straight to my hips. Yum. Great features and thanks for hosting, girls.

    Reply
  7. Lakeshore Cottage Living says

    August 25, 2011 at 8:42 PM

    YUMMY! thank you so much for hosting. I just think you two are pretty wonderful! Have a great week!

    Reply
  8. Amanda says

    August 25, 2011 at 8:51 PM

    Oh my goodness! Those doughnuts look sinfully delicious! Yummmmm!!! Thanks so much for the feature last week! What a sweet surprise that was! And thank you for hosting again this week! Have a wonderful weekend!
    Best Wishes and Blessings,
    Amanda

    Reply
  9. Catie @ Catie's Corner says

    August 25, 2011 at 8:53 PM

    Those doughnuts look scary good! Thanks soo much for hosting ladies. I love the features this week. That chair makeover is gorgeous. I’m off to check it out. : )
    ~ Catie

    Reply
  10. stefanie says

    August 25, 2011 at 8:55 PM

    the two thumbs up is always the best!!!

    Reply
  11. Christina says

    August 25, 2011 at 9:02 PM

    Lovin the mason jar soap dispenser! I may be making one or two of these soon!
    Thanks for hosting!

    Reply
  12. Kahli says

    August 25, 2011 at 9:15 PM

    Oh my those donuts! Yummy! Thank you so much for the armchair feature Heather! We appreciate it 🙂

    Reply
  13. Debra @ Common Ground says

    August 25, 2011 at 9:36 PM

    Hi Gals, love those great features! Homemade doughnuts…yum! just linked up, xoxo

    Reply
  14. NanaDiana says

    August 25, 2011 at 9:40 PM

    Great features and I love your donuts..and I can see someone else does too! xo Diana

    Reply
  15. Lina - Fancy Frugal Life says

    August 25, 2011 at 9:42 PM

    Whoot whoot! That’s my little lunch box up there 🙂 Thanks ladies for hosting and for making my day!
    xo
    Lina
    Fancy Frugal Life

    Reply
  16. Richella says

    August 25, 2011 at 9:54 PM

    Vanessa and Heather, thank you so much for hosting this fun party!

    Those donuts look wonderful–I haven’t made those in so long! I’ll bet my boys would enjoy that reminder of things we used to do when they were little tikes!

    Reply
  17. Honey at 2805 says

    August 25, 2011 at 10:35 PM

    Absolutely terrific features! Thanks, ladies, for always being terrific hostesses! (The picture on link #60 was a bust, so you could delete it as I re-linked.)

    Reply
  18. Elaine @ Sunny Simple Life says

    August 25, 2011 at 10:39 PM

    Yum these sound so good for a weekend morning.

    Reply
  19. Tres Chere says

    August 25, 2011 at 11:02 PM

    OMG! I am making those donuts this weekend,they look delicious.

    Thank you for hosting. Hope you have a fabulous weekend.

    Reply
  20. Stuff and Nonsense says

    August 25, 2011 at 11:08 PM

    well let’s be honest…that furniture is just too good not to be featured…i think courtney’s featuring it too…giggle…all linked up girls!

    alison

    Reply
  21. Sherry says

    August 25, 2011 at 11:09 PM

    Your doughnuts look way too good and easy…I better not make them!:) Thanks for having us over!
    Sherry

    Reply
  22. Rosemary@villabarnes says

    August 26, 2011 at 12:55 AM

    Hmmmmmmm, donuts. Thanks for hosting.

    Reply
  23. Natasha in Oz says

    August 26, 2011 at 1:10 AM

    It looks like there are lots of wonderful projects and ideas being linked up again today! What fun!

    Thanks for having me today.

    Best wishes for a lovely weekend,
    Natasha.

    Reply
  24. Laura Beth says

    August 26, 2011 at 2:29 AM

    Thank you so much for having me!

    Reply
  25. Kristin @ Chi-Chi Studio says

    August 26, 2011 at 3:01 AM

    Thank you so much for the feature! This made my week!

    Reply
  26. Courtney ~ French Country Cottage says

    August 25, 2011 at 8:33 PM

    Hi Girls!!! Great features…and little Miss is too cute!
    Thanks for hosting! 🙂

    Reply
  27. Erin {Lavender and Lemon Drops} says

    August 26, 2011 at 4:16 AM

    I LOVE homemade doughnuts! Yum! Thanks for hosting 🙂

    Reply
  28. Eleni says

    August 26, 2011 at 4:56 AM

    Those are some great features:) And as for the donuts… irresistibly yummy looking!!!Thanks for hosting this great party:) Just linked up!!
    xoxo
    eleni

    Reply
  29. Graces Goodies says

    August 26, 2011 at 4:57 AM

    You are making me hungry!! Great post and thanks for hosting:) much appreciated!

    Bianca

    Reply
  30. Jennifer S. says

    August 26, 2011 at 5:00 AM

    This is my first time linking up! Thank so much for hosting. I found you over at La Famille blog. 🙂

    Reply
  31. Terrie says

    August 26, 2011 at 7:15 AM

    Yummy doughnuts. Tea time for me here in Hong Kong. Thanks for hosting. Love to share all inspiring blogs.

    Reply
  32. Nancy says

    August 26, 2011 at 9:09 AM

    Mmmm. Homemade doughnuts. Yummy!

    Reply
  33. Christie says

    August 26, 2011 at 2:50 AM

    The party is ROCKIN’! I have MISSED it and all the fun! I will enjoy looking through the links. LOved the lunch box with chalk..will be trying that one! The doughnuts are on my grocery list now! My kids will love that! Hope you girls had a great summer! Vanessa, weren’t we JUST discussing camp and what we were doing this summer…like yesterday?!! Love, Christie

    Reply
  34. Ott, A. says

    August 26, 2011 at 12:20 PM

    Thanks for hosting this great linky party and I wanted to invite you to stop by my blog for our Canning Week Blog Party where we are inspiring others to can their own produce. Each day we’ve posted recipes and tips on how to can and of course have some great canning give-a-ways. Hope you can stop by and join in the fun!! https://alattewithotta.blogspot.com

    Reply
  35. Curtains In My Tree says

    August 26, 2011 at 1:42 PM

    I use to make those donuts also. They are really good

    thanks for the gracious invite to your party

    Janice

    Reply
  36. Kathy says

    August 26, 2011 at 1:42 PM

    Yumm, Great idea.
    I am linking up with your Inspiration Fridays, I have been without a computer a few weeks so excited to join.
    Kathy

    Reply
  37. Megan @ PolishTheStars.com says

    August 26, 2011 at 1:49 PM

    I am a new follower and this is my first time linking up here. You have a great party! Thanks for hosting. 🙂

    Reply
  38. Sue says

    August 26, 2011 at 3:20 PM

    Haether and Vanessa~You rock! Have a wonderful weekend! XOXO!

    Reply
  39. Hollie - TheSevenYearCottage.com says

    August 26, 2011 at 3:37 PM

    Great features, thank you for hosting!

    Reply
  40. My Joys says

    August 26, 2011 at 5:04 PM

    Love y’alls blog! I’ll be following and linking up to your party! Thanks for hosting! BTW, The donuts look heavenly!

    Reply
  41. Robin @ Happily Home, After says

    August 26, 2011 at 5:31 PM

    Heather and Vanessa,

    I’m a first timer in your link party and wanted to thank you for the opportunity to participate. I’ve already visited a few other posts and am inspired by the creativity out there. I’ll visit more posts later.

    Wanted to let you know I also read the “Link Party Like A Dinner Party” article at CraftMinders; as a newbie (less than 2 months) blogger I really appreciate the insight and points shared in the article, and I have bookmarked it for future “refresher” reading.

    Robin
    happilyhomeafter.blogspot.com

    Reply
  42. All About Vignettes says

    August 26, 2011 at 6:05 PM

    Hi again Heather and Vanessa. Thanks so much for hosting. I’m sharing my updated 70’s kitchen.

    Reply
  43. Digital Scrapbooking Made Easy says

    August 26, 2011 at 7:23 PM

    Thanks for hosting! I’m your newest follower and LOVE your blog. 🙂

    Reply
  44. Wunkie's Mommy says

    August 28, 2011 at 7:31 PM

    Thank you so much for hosting and for your sweet comment on my baby blog! In the midst of all the Irene damage around us, it definitely made me smile. Thankfully we are all ok! Have a blessed Sunday!

    https://sweetsongbirdofmine.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  45. Kathy Owen says

    August 29, 2011 at 12:02 AM

    First time at the party, thanks for hosting.

    Reply

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Yesterday on the way home from school I had the ra Yesterday on the way home from school I had the radio tuned to my daughter's favorite station and a song that was playing had a line in it that really stood out to me. It made reference to a 'season of the sticks' which I think its safe to say must mean winter. I thought that was such an accurate, albeiet kind of depressing, picture of this time of the year.

While we definitely have more than our fair share of evergreen trees here in Oregon, we also have plenty of trees and bushes that are reduced to sticks during the cold months. But, this morning as I looked out my kitchen window, greedily sipping from my mug of coffee, I marveled at the beauty of the winter sunrise. The sky was all pinks and oranges with frost on the rooftops and a little bit of fog. And, I realized that part of why it was so amazing is because I could see it more clearly through the sticks. The bare branches allowed me a view that I wouldn't be able to see if those same branches were covered in leaves. Being stripped down to almost nothing revealed something magnificent.

We have seasons of the sticks in our lives too, don't we? Times when we feel as though we've been stripped bare and left exposed. It's easy to think that this is a place where all is ugly and dark. And yet, just like the winter sunrise was more visible because of the bare branches, the vulnerability we feel in the winter season of our souls allows us to get a glimpse of beauty that we wouldn't see otherwise. In the lush, warm seasons it's so easy to become comfortable. But in the bare, cold seasons we recognize just how much we need to rely on the One who placed the stars in the heavens and is sovereign over all.

If you feel like your soul has been stripped bare and you've been left exposed and vulnerable, may I encourage you today to ask the Lord to help you to see the beauty in this 'season of the sticks'.

“Answer me quickly, O Lord! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul." Psalm 143:7
I just went to make my mid-morning protein shake a I just went to make my mid-morning protein shake and grabbed a banana out of the freezer and was about to put it into my shake before I realized it was a frozen egg roll. Sooooo that's how my day is going so far! 🤪How about you?

It's honestly fairly representative of my state of mind these days as I can't seem to make the date on the calendar match the date in my spirit because it feels like it should be January 45th. Every year this month drags on and every year it seems to surprise me for some reason. In addition, my heart just feels heavy as I witness a lot of darkness and sadness around me. So, I'm choosing to control what I can control by making my house feel as cozy as possible, relishing the sunshine whenever it dares to peek through the clouds, gathering inspiration for warmer weather projects and, most importantly, resting in the comfort of the sovereignty of my Father.

“God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ So that everyone he has made may know his work..." Job 37:5-7
What if you could do something at the beginning of What if you could do something at the beginning of your day that would be a gift to yourself later on? That’s what we’re talking about on this week’s Tip Tuesday! #tiptuesday
The sun decided to make another appearance today! The sun decided to make another appearance today! It’s been such a lovely Sunday. Chocolate croissants for breakfast followed by church then naps/football/reading/etc and soon we’ll be heading out to dinner with friends. These are my favorite kind of weekends. Hope yours has been lovely too! 🌿
Yesterday was stormy and cold but today the sunshi Yesterday was stormy and cold but today the sunshine is breaking through the fog and my house just seems happier. We definitely needed to see that light streaming in through the windows and it’s a gift I don’t take for granted.

And yes, there are still twinkle lights on my mantle because those help when the sunshine goes away again. ✨
Happy weekend! The rainy and gloomy weather here i Happy weekend! The rainy and gloomy weather here in the Willamette Valley has me feeling less frustrated about my migraine forcing me to just snuggle up indoors and these flowers in my kitchen are lifting my spirits. What are you up to on this holiday weekend?
It’s time for TIP TUESDAY! This week, I’m offe It’s time for TIP TUESDAY! This week, I’m offering a gentle reminder from my own parenting experience after feeling my heart pricked with conviction about what was waiting for my daughter every day after school. I hope it will encourage you! 🌿#tiptuesday
The day after Christmas I found myself laundering The day after Christmas I found myself laundering and folding all of the linens we used the previous night as we hosted my husband's side of the family for dinner and other festivities. As I laid out each cloth napkin and folded them one by one, I couldn't help but be struck by what a simple, yet meaningful, task it was. It's such an honor and privilege to be the hostess and, at this stage of my life, I realize that this has almost one hundred percent become my role now. Our parents are in their 70's and have either downsized significantly or simply don't have the energy to take on hosting duties for a large group. I could resent this. I could feel overwhelmed by it. But, instead, I'm choosing to embrace it knowing that, someday, I too will pass the hosting torch and I hope that I will be welcomed with love and attentiveness. So, I fold the linen napkins, taking pleasure in the way all of the creases line up and how neat and tidy they look in the drawer of my dining room buffet. These seemingly simple chores are part of the lifeblood of homemaking and my attitude towards them can either be one of gratefulness or grumbly-ness (yes, I'm making up words now). 

And I’m choosing gratefulness. 

“This job has been given to me to do. Therefore, it is a gift. Therefore, it is a privilege. Therefore, it is an offering I may make to God. Therefore, it is to be done gladly, if it is done for Him. Here, not somewhere else, I may learn God’s way. In this job, not in some other, God looks for faithfulness.” (Elisabeth Elliot⁣)
Welcome to Tip Tuesday! I’m so excited to be kic Welcome to Tip Tuesday! I’m so excited to be kicking off the year with a brand new series! Each weekly installment will feature a tip for everything from your home to faith to parenting to family life and so much more. My goal for 2023 is to have far more personal interaction with this community while continuing on with the mission of weaving together all things heart and home. I hope you enjoy this first tip and I’d love to hear from you about whether or not you decorate for winter! 
#tiptuesday #organizing #winterdecorating
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. H “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” 

Here’s to beginnings. Happy new year friends! May you experience the majesty and sovereignty of the Lord in 2023 like never before! ✨
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