Furniture Redos

Aubusson Blue with Paris Grey wash

& Gold Leaf application 

Before & After

May seem like a rather strong color but this is for my Healing Room and I wanted fun colors!  

This was for my niece's room

This was quite a process (wish this was a better photograph).  Painted all over Paris Grey, details in Florence, including stencils.  All over wash of French Linen and then waxed with Clear Wax with Silver added to the wax.  It has a beautiful soft iridescent finish.  Most importantly Sydney loves it!

A long discussion was had about the condition of the top of the vanity before we started.  Since this is a pre-teen's room, subject to possible abuse (just being realistic), we decided to leave the veneer as is for now.  Her taste are very likely to change and we can do it next time around.

This was our project (among others) while my crazy sister Claire visited Texas.  Previously I had painted two matching stand alone cabinets for my parent's dining room in Paris Grey.  They liked them so much, they wanted their kitchen painted as well.  Took us a few days but we knocked it out.  After painting, the cabinets were then protected with a matte finish poly.

Wow, how did this get in here?  Harlow and my brand new grandson, Taj!

I wanted something else fun for my healing room.

This old blah piece was begging for something to take it out of it's misery.  Barcelona Orange with Clear wax mixed with Aubusson Blue.  Inside lid, Napoleonic Blue.  Inside cabinet a custom mix of Napoleonic Blue and Emperor's Silk to make a dark plum.  Stenciled in Napoleonic Blue.  Still shopping for fun hardware.

You're next Baby!

Last note:  There is a LOT of opinion and discussion about painting furniture and restoring old pieces.  From my perspective, and for my own pieces, I make that decision on a piece by piece basis. If it's worth restoring, then I believe in restoring it.  If on the other hand it is simply old, not superior quality and not a valuable antique then I have no problem having a little fun with it.  I don't do this for a business, I do it for fun!  And as my sweet husband says, "It's better than hanging out in bars."

Some Furniture Pieces I'm Loving Right Now!

These are my pieces I am looking at doing next

(more in the garage, sorry Jess)

Looking for unusual colors for my healing room!

I'm drooling over this one!!

Go bold or go home!

I'd write letters at this desk anytime!

This would go so well with my existing furniture

 I already painted in my Master Bedroom

Loving this teal tint!

Lavender and Luckenbach

Beautiful Texas Lavender

Today was a perfect day!  Beautiful skies full of big fluffy white clouds turning to thunderclouds and the glorious smell of rain off and on throughout the day.  Put the top down on the car, up again, down again, up again.  Sounds bad...far from it.  It really was perfect.  Finally after years of poor planning, I and a sweet friend of mine made it to the Blanco Lavender Festival.  EVERYTHING smells good there!  We just loved all of the vendors that take such pride in their homemade soaps, lotions, sprays, candles; you name it.  After a bit of roaming around smelling and touching everything and about a thousand "Oh look at this", we decided to run up the road a bit and actually go to a couple of the lavender farms.

Road to lavender fields

Lavender Fields

Mmmmm, smells amazing!!

 I want one of EVERYTHING!!!

In addition to the beautiful lavender there was a gorgeous peach orchard on the same property.  June is beginning of peach season here in Texas.  With all of the rain this spring, along with all of the beautiful wildflowers, we are due to have incredible peach crops!  I can't wait to start making peach preserves.  Peach with Pecans, Peach with Amaretto, Peach with Contreau, Peach with anything!!

These trees are loaded with peaches!!!

On a whim, we headed off to a favorite spot to have a few ice cold beers.  Just west of Blanco is the world famous Luckenbach Texas. At Luckenbach you will always find a "picker's circle"!  Folks just show up with whatever instrument they play, sit in a circle and play whatever music strikes their fancy. Today was a collection of many guitars, banjos, violins, a mandolin and believe it or not, a cello! It's an incredible experience where everyone is friends and you never know who you're going to meet and what part of the world they are from.  Pretty unique and very cool.  

About 25 pickers today!

Each one takes turns playing his or her own song, most of them originals.  Everyone else chimes in singing learning the words as they go and playing their instruments along with the star of the circle.  If you've got an instrument, just show up sit down and join in.  You will find yourself shocked and very impressed by the amount of talent!

Texas is awesome!!  It's no wonder there are so many people that move here so they can call it home too!

Color Filled World

Hello my name is Leslie and I AM a Pinterest stalker.  There, fine, I said it.  It is not an addiction I plan to seek help for.  How could I?  I get awesome ideas from there.  Well I think they are!  This one I love!  Duh, it's pretty cool, who wouldn't?

So here's the scoop....  I just happened to have a whole bunch of crayons sitting in a box and some canvases  I haven't used (other Pinterest ideas that maybe didn't work out so great).  I ordered a heat gun on Amazon!  Love it!  Got out ye old blow dryer, Exacto knives and covered my table with the roll of Christmas paper that if I have to look at one more year...you get it.

I used the knives to cut a slit in the paper around the crayons to remove it because I'm not looking to start a fire.  Put all the groups of colors together blues, greens, reds, etc.  As a side note; it gets a little warm in the area, don't set your crayons to close to your project.  

For the moment of truth.  I just started melting the colors over the canvas.  My original plan was to have a splatter effect but I was having too much fun making puddles, and then making them slide on the canvas!  I alternated back and forth between the blow dryer and the heat gun for different results.

One is never enough!

I like it better this direction

I've started a couple of others, but I'm still playing with them.  Here is a preview.

I think I see a whale in there!

Have a color filled day!!

"Know thyself" & “To thine own self be true.”

My beautiful daughter has Nosce te ipsum written around her wrist.  It is Latin and means "Know Thyself"   It's perfect and inspiring!

“To thine own self be true.” Also a favorite of mine, is spoken by Polonius in Hamlet. It means "Do not deceive yourself". To deceive yourself (kid yourself, lie to yourself) is sometimes easier than deceiving other people. 

The full quote is:

to thine own self be true,

and it must follow, as the night the day,

Thou canst not then be false to any man

This implies that so long as you do not deceive yourself then you will not be tempted to deceive other people. 

There is a shade of difference between not being true and knowing oneself and deceiving oneself.

As Polonius is so full of words, it is natural that the things he says be considered 'just a lot of words'. Polonius might not know the depth of his own words but Shakespeare did and it is up to us to get to it.

Think of this, how many lies have you told yourself over the years??  You're not tall enough/too tall, you're overweight, your nose is too big, you're not good enough, you're not smart enough...  Lies, all lies I tell you!!

Each of us is created beautiful and perfect, just as we should be.  I’m realizing no matter what other people say, do, or think about us, it is our opinions of ourselves that really matter.  Maybe it's time to retrain our thoughts, "Know Thyself".  Maybe everyone else around us knows that we are amazing but we don't know it about ourselves.  Take ownership of your own greatness!!

Ultimately the question we need to ask ourselves is:  Am I being completely truthful with myself?  I have said countless times over the years "If we could just spend five minutes outside of ourselves and see ourselves the way others do, we would instantly realize how amazing we really are".  This seems especially true for women.  We are ridiculously hard on ourselves.  Retrain your thoughts!!  What if you were kinder to yourself?  What if you complimented yourself, your great and perfect self?  How instantly would your life change?  

Fortunately, I am blessed with amazing people in life who do not hesitate to point out when I am deceiving myself and NOT deceiving them. They came to me in many different and beautiful ways.  They are "my people", my personal cheering squad and I encourage you to carefully select "your people" too.  If you want to be happy and positive then surround yourself with happy and positive people.  If you want to make healthy choices then surround yourself with people that make healthy choices. Erase negativity from your life and watch your life evolve into a life filled with positive thoughts and deeds everyday.  Seriously, who wants to be around negativity?  Be the person you want to be around. Let go of the stories/lies you have told yourself in the past.  Instead be kind to yourself.  Be truthful with yourself about your greatness, own it and live it!   And here's an idea; the next time someone compliments you, just say thank you.  Don't argue with them, let their sweetness wash over you.  Let it sink in, it's a part of you, a truth about you, just own it!

Could you start now?  Right now.  It is never too late! I challenge you to make a list of all of the super awesome things about yourself! Have fun with it, and remember "Know Thyself"  and "To thine own self be true".  

Namaste~

Day of the Dead ~ Día de los Muertos

Celebrating the lives of the ones we love and miss.

Of course those of you that know me best know that I truly believe that all of our loved ones are around us all of the time.  When I need help with math, I ask for Granddaddy Shane's help.  When I am looking for the perfect earrings or trinket to wear I ask for my Grandmother Viola's help, Hiking and outdoors activities (or when I am trying to remember a bad word in Spanish) my Granddaddy Mark, extra special prayers I ask for my Grandmother Marie's assistance in getting the word to the Big Guy.  I especially like the company of our sweetest friend Gordon while I'm in the kitchen cooking for my family and when things are loud and crazy with my girlfriends I know Robin is right by my side!  Unfortunately, there are many more and we deeply love them all.   That is part of life.  Enjoy each day we have with the living and celebrate the lives of those that have passed.

I hope this day reminds us all to remember the beautiful souls we have each been blessed with to share our lives.

The following is just a brief history of the tradition of Day of the Dead:

Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de los Muertos) is a Mexican holiday celebrated throughout Mexico and around the world in other cultures. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. It is particularly celebrated in Mexico, where it is a national holiday, and all banks are closed. The celebration takes place on November 1 and 2, in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these as gifts. They also leave possessions of the deceased.

Scholars trace the origins of the modern Mexican holiday to indigenous observances dating back hundreds of years and to an Aztec festival dedicated to the goddess Mictecacihuatl. The holiday has spread throughout the world: In Brazil, Dia de Finados is a public holiday that many Brazilians celebrate by visiting cemeteries and churches. In Spain, there are festivals and parades, and, at the end of the day, people gather at cemeteries and pray for their dead loved ones. Similar observances occur elsewhere in Europe, and similarly themed celebrations appear in many Asian and African cultures.  (source: Wikipedia)

A week with Harlow Michele

This was fun!  Put Harlow in a pumpkin!

Her Great-Granddaddy is smitten! 

Loving her GG

She's completely organic and fits perfect in the vegetable sink

Meeting her Uncle Shane for the first time

Bath-time in Lolli's kitchen sink

Swinging with Momma

Momma Tickling 

Playing the same piano her Great-Great-Great Grand Mother played on

On her way home at the airport :(

Healing Touch ~ What is it and How does it work??

Healing Touch ~ What is it?

Healing Touch is an energy therapy in which practitioners consciously use their hands in a heart-centered and intentional way to support and facilitate physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health.


Healing Touch is a biofield (magnetic field around the body) therapy that is an energy-based approach to health and healing.


Healing Touch uses the gift of touch to influence the human energy system, specifically the energy field that surrounds the body, and the energy centers that control the flow from the energy field to the physical body.


These non-invasive techniques employ the hands to clear, energize, and balance the human and environmental energy fields, thus affecting physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. It is based on a heart-centered, caring relationship in which the practitioner and client come together energetically to facilitate the client's health and healing.


The goal of Healing Touch is to restore balance and harmonies in the energy system, placing the client in a position to self heal.

What do the experts say about Healing Touch?

"IN A FEW DECADES SCIENTISTS HAVE GONE FROM A CONVICTION THAT THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS ENERGY FIELDS IN AND AROUND THE HUMAN BODY TO AN ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY THAT THEY EXIST."


-James Oschman Ph.D.
Energy Medicine, The Scientific Basis, 2000.


Healing Touch Research has been conducted in a wide variety of settings and with a number of different problems and situations including:


Cancer
Cardio-vascular disease
Death and dying
Endocrine/Immune function
Pain
Patient satisfaction and experience
Psychotherapy/Psychology
Post operative recovery
Stress
These studies demonstrate that there is support in favor of considering Healing Touch for providing integrative care and that patients assess it highly. Healing Touch research has been supported and/or funded by hospitals, universities, colleges, professional organizations, private foundations, and the National Institutes of Health, Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

How does Energy Healing work? 

Many theoretical frameworks on how energy medicine works exist in the literature of quantum physics and holistic healing. However, while the exact physics mechanisms can not be definitively described at this time, the cumulative results of numerous related studies on energy medicine and consciousness indicate strong support that "something is happening" and that recipients respond positively to energy therapies such as Healing Touch.

Over the years, researchers have developed ways to measure the energy field. Theoretically, by correcting any defects in the energy field, energy therapy practices may facilitate healing of the body, mind and spirit.

Energy therapies focus on removing energy congestion that form in our energy fields (aura) and energy centers (chakras). Once these imbalances and disturbances are cleared, the energy channels resume their task of integrating the body, mind and soul to restore health and promote healing. It may also help to prevent future issues by restoring balance to energy field disturbances, which could later result in illness if left unbalanced.

To gain a deeper understanding of the science supporting energy healing, please refer to the many books, journal articles and research findings written on this subject. Scientific evidence does exist that supports the premise that energy healing is effective. However, an experience is worth a thousand words, so the receiving of a Healing Touch treatment can do more to understand this phenomena than all the writings in the world.

What are the benefits of Healing Touch?

NON INVASIVE
Healing Touch is done without the use of invasive procedures such as injections, inserting tubes, medication or surgery.
EFFECTIVE
Research has shown that Healing Touch facilitates the relaxation response and enhances the healing process.
NON TOXIC
Medications can cause side effects and must be monitored. Healing Touch restores balance and harmony to our natural biofield without the use of pharmaceuticals.
ECONOMICAL
Healing touch does not require the use of equipment or substances and can be done in any setting. An open heart, a set of hands and a willing spirit is all that is needed.

What to Expect from a Healing Touch Treatment 

Healing Touch is a gentle, biofield (energy field) therapy that often facilitates a deep sense of calm and relaxation in the body-mind-spirit.

The treatment is typically administered while the client lies on a massage table with their clothes on. With your permission, the practitioner uses his/her hands to assess your biofield and proceeds to clear and balance it as needed using either off body touch (near body but no direct contact) or a gentle (still) touch over various areas of the body.

On occasion, one may experience an acceleration of the healing process and his/her symptoms may intensify for a brief time. When this happens, the recovery period of the illness is usually reduced.

What are some of the specific uses and facts about Healing Touch?

Healing Touch has been used in wound healing, pain management, stress management,  before and after surgery and chemotherapy, and support and assistance in the dying process.  Healing Touch is appropriate for all ages and states of health and/or illness.

Healing Touch Can Help You With:


 Pain Control 
 Neck and Back Problems
 Anxiety Reduction 
 Skin Problems
 Wound and Fracture Healing 
 Premenstrual Syndrome
 Multiple Sclerosis 
 HIV or A.I.D.S.
 Hypertension 
 Heart and Lung Disease
 Pre/Post Surgical Procedures 
 Headaches/Migraines
 Autoimmune Disorders 
 Diabetes
 Cancer 
 Grief Management
 Arthritis 
 Rehabilitation
 Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 
 General Well Being
 Disease Prevention 
 Spiritual Enhancement


Facts on Healing Touch:


 In 1995, 41% if the population of the USA used one or more of the alternative healing methods to either complement or substitute for traditional medical techniques.
 Hands-on touch modalities are used by more that 30,000 nurses in hospitals each year, and that the procedures are documented as legitimate medical techniques.


 There are teams of medical doctors and nurses combining medical skills WITH hands-on and energy techniques in MOST major cities of the United States.


 The world's first Touch Research Institute has been founded at the University of Miami's Medical School to further explore and document the benefits of touch therapy.


 Documented studies have already shown that with hands-on work:


• Surgical wounds and sutures heal faster
• Burns clear up significantly sooner
• Circulation and breathing improve post surgically
• Premature infants have enhanced growth rate

What about traditional approaches to health care?

Healing Touch compliments traditional approaches to health and healing.  It is not a substitute for them.

Note:  Healing Touch is being taught to Hospital Nursing Staffs around the world and is part of the curriculum in eighty universities across the US and abroad, including:

Harvard University

Duke University

The University of New Mexico

Endorsements & Accreditations

AHNA/CHNA Endorsement


Healing Touch Program has been peer-reviewed, and is endorsed by American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA). We are proud to be one of approximately 10 programs endorsed by AHNA. We are also endorsed by the Canadian Holistic Nurses Association (CHNA).

NCBTMB Endorsement

Healing Touch Program is approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) as a continuing education provider under Category A. Provider Number 150588-00

ANCC Accreditation

Healing Touch Program is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s COA.

Healing Touch Program is very excited to announce that we are now an accredited provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

ANCC is the world's largest and most prestigious nurse credentialing organization, and a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association (ANA). HTP is the first Energy Medicine education provider to achieve this status. We acknowledge the instructors and practitioners that make our program outstanding and thank you for all that you do.

How is Healing Touch Learned?

Since 1990, Healing Touch Program (HTP) has proudly granted practitioner certification to individuals who exhibit the professionalism, discipline and dedication required to meet the established criteria. The requirements are rigorous and are designed to instill knowledge, skill and confidence in the practitioner. The Healing Touch Certified Practitioner (HTCP) credential is recognized in Energy Medicine and allopathic medicine as a significant professional accomplishment.

People around the world and from all walks of life pursue the HTCP credential. Some are already professionally aligned with health care, others are interested in becoming aligned with health care and some find that their passion to do valuable work with others is fulfilled by doing Healing Touch. Many who receive the HTCP credential use it in a private practice setting as well as in another service profession.

Do I have to remove my clothes for a Healing Touch Session?

Healing Touch is non-invasive and may be done sitting or reclining. It takes approximately an hour.  The only clothing removed is socks and shoes.  The entire session lasts about an hour and fifteen minutes with brief discussions before and after the session.  

For more information or to set an appointment:

Leslie M. Shurbet

Healing Touch Practitioner

210.618.7434

lesliemichele@gvtc.com

So who do you think you are.....

Hank thinks he's a turtle

I am my soul in a body. What I mean by that is, I believe we are souls in this particular body for this time.  Well that's just real interesting Leslie...so what, you say?  Maybe think of this for a bit.  We are always so busy trying to find the next greatest thing.  New car, bigger house, just the right shoes, the best whatever (insert your thing here).  Our souls are just about love.  Just love.  Nothing else.  Just love. 


Try this for a day, and see if you still feel you need all those "things".  Really, what the heck, you've got NOTHING to lose.  Instead of getting mad at the other driver that is determined to take your life with his, he may have just received an urgent call about a loved one in distress, you don't know~ send him love.  The grumpy waitress at lunch, give her love; really look at her heart and hold it in yours.  Is that career her life's desire or is she working to send her child to college to have a better life than her own, you don't know ~ send her love.  The guy at the convenience store, send him love, the poor guy has to listen to people gripe about gas prices all day which clearly he has no control over.  He's in a job that he could be in fear of being held up at gun point at any time, you don't know ~ send him love. Leave a surprise note in someone's desk about something you value about them ~ send them love.  I personally don't believe the panhandler on the corner is Jesus, but I do know he needs love and just in case I'm wrong I'm sending it to him ;-)  


The list could go on and on but you get the idea.


Be the light.  Be the light throughout the day for yourself and for others around you.  That light is the soul, get out of the way and let it radiate.  It grows as you share it.  The world is full of songs, poems, books and quotes about love — and this is good — but what it needs most is deeds that express love.  So true.

Or does this turtle think he's Hank?

So maybe try this 'sharing love' thing for a day.  Sit in your awareness of how you feel.  Do you feel a little better?  Did you bring a smile to someone's face (I personally love the challenge, some are harder than others).  How do you think you made them feel just for that moment?  I guarantee you made a difference and you will probably never know how much, but doesn't your heart feel a little lighter for it?  You have great value and it's worth it!

So while my dog might think he's a turtle, Bless his heart, I know I am my soul.  I am here to love.

Love and Light,

LeslieMichele

Botanicals

 

The last of my collection of photos from the 

Botanicals from Balboa Park

Love the color!

Wow!

Kinda freaky

Sigh...

Super cool in an alien sort of way

Namaste ~ LeslieMichele