Happy 4th of July! (This Week's TFT)

Good morning. Wishing you all a safe and sound Fourth of July, here in the USA and for all of my friends and family in Canada, I hope you had a wonderful Canada Day! I shared some of your wonderful Patriotic projects and recipes on Shoestring Elegance's Facebook page, HERE
If you haven't already followed me there, you may want to now, as I do share your projects and recipes off and on during the week.

Do you have exciting plans to celebrate this Independence Day?! I'd Love to hear about it. Please stay safe.

It's ALL About Summertime! (This Week's TFT Party)

Hello beautiful friends, I'm so glad you are here. Welcome to this week's Thursday Favorite Things party! Are you all surviving the heat in your area? I sure hope so. I'm doing my best, but triple digit weather is not my cup of tea.  What is, however, re your beautiful link ups last week! How's that for a segue-way?  Enjoy your weekends and enjoy this week's wonderful Features. (Can you tell I was a little hungry when i picked these? Yep! They are perfect for Summer, though! 

Look atCarol from Comfort Spring's Strawberry Cupcakes! YUMMO

Summer Trends @ This Week's TFT Party

Happy Summer! Well, tomorrow anyway. I hope you all are enjoying this time with your families. Welcome back to this week's TFT! 

I'm so very glad you are here.

 No  time to waste! So many wonderful and inspiring things to see.

 Come see the Features from last week's party and link up your latest posts for this week!

Katie at Let's Add Sprinkles' Evolution Of A Color Crush LOVE!

I couldn\t decide what image I liked best! They were all so beautiful. 

New Summer "Go To's" at This Week's TFT Party!

My goodness, friends, I, literally, could have pinned all week!! You all are sharing so many wonderful projects, DIY's, Inspiration and the Recipes! Oh my goodness. Thank you so much for joining us and me here.  I'm finally getting an evening to breath, after numerous days of record breaking heat and couldn't be more thrilled. What more perfect way to end a great day than to share some of your wonderful posts! As I said I could have Pinned and Featured some 200+ link ups! Here are the ones that caught my eyes first!
Jamie from So Much Better With Age shared her Awesome post 5 Tips for Summer Decorating

Summer Lovin' Recipes!

Sorry, my friends I ran a little late today!! I have some of your wonderful features up now, and I will add more throughout the day, but I wanted to make sure you could join the party now! So please accept my apology and check back later today! FEATURES ADDED!!  Thank you for your patience! Please enjoy these wonderful summer recipes and party with us!!

Michelle from Thistle Key Lane showed us how to make this yummy  Strawberry Lemonade Sorbet Recipe

Summer DIY Inspirations (This Week's Favorite Things Party)

Hi friends, can you believe the day after tomorrow is June?! Already! This year just seems to be flying by. Just a few short weeks till Summer, hard to believe we are here already. I hope you all are in safe areas, with all the wacky, scary weather. I truly pray that you are not in a flooded state or one dealing with tornadoes.  Heads down, pray and get through.  If you are, please know that you have my prayers. With that said, you all are bringing some wonderful Summer Inspiration to the party. I sure hope you are enjoying it. As for me, I'll get through the summer, as I do every year, actually anxiously awaiting Fall. What can I say I'm a Fall/Winter kinda gal. :) That doesn't mean I can't appreciate the beauty, like this week's features!

FREE Beautiful Wallpapers For Your iPhone/Cellphone & How To Install Them.

It is not often, I hope, that I take too much for granted. I am or at least attempt to always be, completely grateful for the life I've been given, the abundance of love I have in my life, as well as the simple, material things that make living on this earth a little more comfortable or pleasant. It is with that in mind that leads me to share this information with you.  Because I decorate for my church, my family and friends, I am often (so lucky) to have numerous roses, greenery, filler, vessels, etc.. in my stash. And, because I just LOVE their beauty, I take tons of pictures of them!

Many times I've been told how beautiful the images on my phone are.  However, it was not until recently that I became fully aware that I had more opportunity and perhaps just a little more knowledge than a lot of people out there.  Not much, but some, especially as it relates to technology. If you are 40 or under, this is most likely old hap for you and you won't need this tutorial. But, if you are like me or older, cellphones weren't invented when we were tweens, teens or even in our 20's.

Holding Onto Spring ~ Favorite Things!

Hello friends and welcome. I'm so very glad you are here. Well, I must admit, I've got my nails dug into this Spring. Really not looking forward to the heat of Summertime. Thankfully, I don't think I am alone in that. Many of you brought a lot of wonderful 'Spring-y' styled posts to share and I was absolutely pleased to no end! Maybe if we wish it long enough..... Nah, "to everything there is a Season" right! That's okay by me, but it doesn't mean I won't savor every single second of this one!
I’m wishing you all a safe and peaceful Memorial Day Weekend.
On with your wonderful Features for this week. Too many to count, but here are a few I particularly enjoyed. I hope you do too.

Rebecca from Zucchini Sisters shared her tutorial on How to Make Candlesticks from Old Spindles
I just LOVE this! Such a great waste saver! Talk about thinking outside the box and repurposing with intention. These are beautiful, you simply must click on over to see what she started with!

Getting Ready for Summer..So Are We~ (This Week's TFT Party)

It's a glorious day, here, in Northern California! We are in the midst of a late and unseasonal 'Winter Storm'! If you know me, you know that I LOVE the Rain! So a few days of it off and on with cooler temps instead of unseasonally high temp weather suits me just perfect. However, unlike me, everybody seems to be preparing for Summer. Oh well, I've got my rain for now, so I'm a happy camper.  Let's take a look at some of your awesome Features from last week, all of which, would make any Spring/Summer home all the more beautiful!

Pam from Everyday Living shared her beautiful Monday Morning Blooms – Precious Memories

The Best DIY's For This Spring! (This Week's TFT Party!)

Welcome. I still can't believe we are already in the month of May! Are you getting sunnier weather yet? It's been very pleasant here the last few days, finally past that odd 90's we got at the beginning of Spring! Thank God! I'm not a summer person, it can get rather toasty, here in Northern California, I like to cherish the pleasant and easier weather of Spring. You all brought so much beauty and charm to last week's party, I'm just highlighting a few of the beautiful offerings.
Ashley from yarn scissors silk shared her beautiful DIY Redo - Upcycle an Old Faded Wreath. Fabulous Upcycle! I love these colors!

Memories of May, and the Queen of the Angels (This Week's TFT Party)

I was raised by wonderful Catholic parents. I grew up going to a Catholic school that we called the "pink prison" in light of all the current school and church shootings, I was ignorantly and blissfully blessed with complete safety and security. The innocence we enjoyed seems all but lost and I pray and weep for our children.  God save us from more of this kind of heartbreak. 

As popular stories go...I told you that so I could tell you this: Every May 1st at my school the Nuns and teachers would bring the statue of Mary out into the courtyard and we would place a crown

of roses on her head and sing a song... "O Mary we crown thee with blossoms today, Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May."
Please pray with me for our children and our brothers and sisters, that we may continue to gather in schools and at the churches of our choice and learn and worship without fear.

Embracing All Spring's Offerings! (Last TFT Party of April!)

I hope you all are getting some actual Spring weather! It has been rather wacky weather here! Rain..to needing a sweater for Easter Sunday...to, if you can believe it, 94 degrees on Tuesday!! I'm praying for some pleasant '70s! I've been busy doing decorations for my church and spring cleaning, but I love them both so you will get no complaints from me.  you all shared so much beauty last week, I just loved it all! Please know that my "Features" are just a sampling of all your wonderful link ups. If I really featured all those deserving, I'd have very little time for anything else. With that said, here are this week's features. Thank you for joining me here.

Jamie from So Much Better With Age's Canadian Spring Kitchen and Dining Room Tour is simply delightful. I just love her decor and her florals are to die for! This is just one little image, she has so much more! 

Happy Easter at the Thursday Favorite Things Party - He IS Risen Indeed!

Well, friends, Easter is just a few short days away and Spring has finally arrived. This is the first week that I don 't see rain anywhere in our next week forecast and it feels like Spring. Upper 70's yesterday, I was able to have all the windows open and give the house a real nice airing out, that you can only do at this time of year. I sincerely hope that you are all Blessed by the message of the Easter celebrations with the truest remembrance of what Christ did for us. He Is Risen! Such a powerful statement, and thankfully, and ultimately signifying our own personal salvation. Happy Easter, indeed!

On with your Features...

Pam from Everyday Living reminds us why we celebrate and just how truly important Easter is to all of us, not because of what we do, but because of what He did for us with her beautiful post: "Cherry Blossoms & New Life

Spring's Beauty Is Everywhere ~ Thursday Favorite Things Party

The rains have finally stopped, at least for now, and Sring is evident everywhere I look.  That beautiful scent from the blossoms of cherry trees and my very own star jasmine is simply intoxicating. As much as I love the winter and the rain, there is something very magical about this time of year. A time for rebirth.  Birds chirping everywhere, life is good, as my father would say. Welcome back to our Thursday Favorite Things party! If you are new, here, come on in and enjoy the glorious inspiration and creativity. Onto your features from last week's party!
Chloe from Celebrate and Decorate shows us How to make this beautiful Jaw-Dropping Floral Swag Chloe did a really great tutorial too! So you could make one just as beautiful!

MORE Spring and Easter Decor! (This Week's TFT Party)

Thank you for joining me this week friends, I'm afraid I'm running a little behind, so I am going to keep my intro short and sweet.  I LOVE everything you all are sharing. SO much wonderful inspiration, you truly make it impossible for me to choose.  This week I got back to writing and blogging with A Very Different Spring... (And, Why I Haven't Written) I'd love it if you'd give it a look.
Because you all should be featured, let's just say these are a Gorgeous representation of all your talent! Enjoy and pop back and look over some of last week's incredible offerings!
Paula at Sweet Pea's DIY Spring Embroidery Hoop Wreath 

A Very Different Spring... (And, Why I Haven't Written)

For many years now, I have shared with you the promise and hope of Spring by taking you on a walk in with me, either my mother's garden or my own, like "A Walk In My Mother's Secret Garden...Promises of Spring". It's just breathtaking and has always been something I love to share with you. 

Friends, this year is very different around my Mum's house and in my life, for that matter.

If you have noticed that I haven't been writing new pieces very often or sharing many new projects, lately... firstly, thank you for following along with me anyway, and secondly, there is a huge reason why and I hadn't been ready to write until now.

(My Mum's beautiful crabapple tree, between showers)

Easter DIY Inspiration @ This week's TFT Party

Hello friends, welcome back to the TFT (Thursday Favorite Things) weekly blog party. Every Thursday (through Saturday) blog writers and blog readers gather together to celebrate the joy of blogging by sharing all their awesome creative ways. There were so many wonderful things shared at the party last week, but I just loved these wonderful nods to the upcoming Easter celebrations. So many gifted inspirations for all things Easter! Here are a few that turned my head! 

Carol at Comfort Spring's adorable Bunnies for Easter-Free Printables really caught my eye with this sweet little guy.

It's All About...SPRING! (This week's TFT Party)

Happy Spring, friends. I hope you all are getting a little break from the colder temps and are able to enjoy the beginning of the new Season. It was a mixed bag, here, today. The first day of Spring started with heavy rain, but by 11:00 am it gave way to sunny skies! It was a wonderful way to celebrate the day. So, welcome back to the Thursday Favorite Things party. I'm so very happy you are here. I was looking for all things Spring and you did not disappoint.

 I'm amazed by your ingenious and insight. Thank you for being here. Now, onto my "Spring" features. I won't be throwing out many cans in the future, if I can make them half as beautiful as   

Mel from Decor Craft Design did! Her  DIY Spring Lace Tin Can Mug Flower Vase is adorable and the handle was the perfect touch. Love this!

The Top "Spring Blooms" DIY's ~ (TFT Party)

Hi friends. Welcome back to Shoestring Elegance and this week's Thursday Favorite Things Party!  We are now, officially, less than a week away from Spring! Where has the year gone?!  It's still pretty chilly here, but the rain has stopped, at least for now, and there are some beautiful signs of Spring around! 

Always such a wonderful time of rebirth and, of course, brings Easter ever closer. The birds are chirping, the blooms are blooming, what more could we want?! Which brings me to the features this week! I just had to go with all things "Spring Blooms" represents and you ladies sure didn't disappoint, so much talent and inspiration! Thank you so much for being here and sharing all your gifts.  Now, on with the Features from last week's party! 

First off, Amber from Follow the Yellow Brick Road's Easy Dollar Tree DIY Spring Tulip Wreath for Only $10.00 is simply divine, elegant and simplicity at it's best! I'm thinking I better get at mine.

Shabby Chic, Country Cottage and Lots of Spring DIY Inspiration This Week @ The TFT Party!

Hello friends. Welcome to all things March and beyond! I'm so pleased you could join me and Katherine and all the other beautiful co-hostesses from Thursday Favorite Things! We sure have fun enjoying all of your awesome creations. The Inspiration you all provide is unbelievable. I'm still a little slow going here, but you guys are knocking it out of the park!
Let's see your Features for this past week!
Cherryl from Farm Girl Reformed shared a wonderful roundup of 25+ BEST DIY Easter Decor Ideas. I just loved them all! This Spring Cupcake Liner Flower Wreath from My Pinterventures was so unique and fun! 

Claire from Pillar Box Blue's Making Beautiful Upcycled Coloured Glass Bud Vases was a wonderful How-To to get us going!