Bella Rosa Designs

We have moved

2009-05-26T15:56:00.003-06:00

I am excited to announce that I have a new blog which is directly connected to my website and you can access it here. In order to get things started, we'll be announcing a new contest soon - hope to see you there!

Blessings ~ Cherie

Quick Update

2008-08-07T09:08:00.004-06:00

I just wanted to let everyone know that my family has suffered a terrible personal loss and that I will take care of the contest and other business as soon as I return home. Please do live every day to the fullest and let your loved ones know how much they mean to you - it can all be taken away in an instant.

God bless ~
Cherie

How I spend my free time

2008-07-23T10:17:00.008-06:00

Here is our latest home improvement project - we refinished the hardwood floor in our living room. My hubby and I are the do-it-yourself type but I'll admit, he wasn't such an enthusiast participant in this project. It needed to be done, the finish on the floor was original and our house was built 40 years ago. It was supposed to be a weekend project but you know how that goes - it ended up taking two weekends to complete the job. This is a messy, smelly, somewhat back-breaking project but the results are very rewarding - just look at that shine! Only a few more steps - clean up the DUST that went everywhere and install the baseboards - then we get to the fun part - decorating!

Next on the list - refinishing the kitchen floor. I think we'll take a weekend off before we tackle that one. :)

We are featured in Hot Cottage Collectibles

2008-07-21T09:33:00.003-06:00

I am excited to announce that some of my antique and vintage items (including hand painted pieces) are featured in a new book by C. Dianne Zweig titled Hot Cottage Collectibles. It will be available this fall and can be preordered at Amazon.com.

I am Back

2008-06-20T06:59:00.003-06:00

After a tumultous couple of months I think things have settled down and I'm ready to get back to business-as-usual. :) I recently underwent surgery (hysterectomy) which was preceeded by a failed EKG test which set off a heart disease scare. After many tests (including a grueling treadmill stress test which proved one thing - I'm out of shape!!) it was found that my heart is fine it I just happen to produce erratic EKG readings. Surgery was done on May 28th - three days before my daughter's high school graduation - EEEKKKK - talk about too close for comfort! But I made it to the ceremony and all is well. Last week I had a bit of a setback due to overdoing things too soon after surgery but I learned my lesson and I'm doing my best to take it easy.

Now that things are getting back to normal, the house hunt will resume and I've got lots of updates and new products to add to the website. If only the days were longer - does anyone have some good time management tips for me? :)

PS -the Bible drawing will take place on July 31st - I apologize for it getting pushed to the back burner during my medical leave.

Blessings!
Cherie

Still Looking.......

2008-04-11T19:11:00.006-06:00

Well, the last house I posted isn't going to work out due to the location, so I'm back to searching. At least it's fun looking. :) Here is my next prospect - a 5,000 square foot Queen Ann Victorian complete with third floor ballroom. I think I ought to be able to squeeze a studio in there somewhere, don't you? LOL.

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend!
Blessings ~ Cherie

Another Possibility.....

2008-04-05T18:58:00.002-06:00

Isn't it a beauty?! I've spent the last couple hours searching for homes and stumbled across this one. I had to share, it's too pretty not to. The inside looks even more gorgeous than the outside. I have a feeling I will be calling the realtor on Monday......I'll keep you posted. :)

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!
Blessings ~ Cherie

It's a "Bad Day" CONTEST!! :)

2008-04-04T13:13:00.001-06:00

It was one of those days, you know, the kind where nothing is going right. I had just finished one of my hand painted Bibles and opened it to insert the ribbon marker only to discover that I had painted the cover upside down!!! Now, if anyone were to catch you reading this Bible, they would probably get quite a laugh out of it. Every time I look at it, that Daniel Powter song, Bad Day, goes through my head (and proceeds to get stuck there). :)

I certainly wouldn't sell an imperfect piece like this so I decided to turn lemons into lemonade - I will be giving it away. Because I really do need to get the hang of this blogging thing and also because it's more fun when you've got company, I will give everyone who posts a comment on my blog a free entry in my Bible giveaway - so post away - you can get one contest entry for each post you make until the contest ends (reply to any of the posts, even those in the archive). The winner will be announced here as well as on my website.

In the first picture, I attempted to show the upside down book/text. It's difficult to see in the photo, but trust me, it is backwards. lol.

****PLEASE NOTE****
Due to some spam postings in my comment section, I have had to switch to a moderated system. Rest assured, I do see all comments and will post the legitimate ones ASAP. Thank you ~ Cherie

The Beauty of Older Homes

2008-04-04T12:45:00.016-06:00

I've long admired the architecture of the past - the detail, ornamentation, and beauty, not to mention the individuality of the homes built at the turn of the century. Perhaps, because it wasn't a fast-paced world like we live in today, there was time to not only create, but attend to such high ornamentation and huge homes. (Or, more likely, it's because there were maids to help the "woman of the house" take care of the high-maintenance features of such homes!) At any rate, being a glutton for punishment I have long desired to own such a lovely old home myself. I keep reminding myself that I'm struggling to find the time to maintain the small, simple home I live in now -- so just how do I figure I will take care of a big, old Queen Ann Victorian? Somehow, that doesn't seem important enough to stop me, I'm determined that I will one day find "my" house. My high tolerance for dust will also be a big help, I'm sure. lol.

It appears that my long awaited dream home may be closer to becoming reality. We are at a crossroads - my business has outgrown our small home and we are getting tired of tripping over all my creations, inventory, supplies, etc. My husband has sold his business and is looking for a location to start a new one. Last, but certainly not least, my daughter is graduating from high school this spring - we had put off moving because we didn't want to uproot her and have her change schools during such a crucial time as the high school years. But now we are free, so to speak, and we've starting looking around. So far, we've only seen two homes. One would involve moving to a small town. Although I grew up in a small town, I've gotten used to living in the city and I'm not so sure how I feel about leaving - I rather like it here. But for this home, it may very well be worth it.

We did take a look at another beautiful house closer to where we currently live, but it just didn't say "home" to me, lovely as it was. My husband doesn't "get" that part - the reason I'm drawn to these older homes is the feeling they give me - some homes seem to hug you and envelope you with warmth, whether it's that sense of history or of many families having lived there before, I don't know, but it's something I don't sense in new homes. If I don't get that welcome feeling from a particular home, then I know it's not the one for me. I keep telling my hubby that it's a spiritual thing - and he shakes his head and tells me how much easier it is to take care of a newly built home. Yes, honey, I know, but.....it's just not the same. :)

I will continue to update my blog with our adventures in house hunting so I can share with you all the beautiful homes we see. In the meantime, if you do appreciate these lovely old houses, here is a great site to check out - be forewarned - you can get lost there for hours, admiring all the gorgeous homes of old.

http://www.historicproperties.com/

Enjoy, and I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!
Blessings ~ Cherie

Shabby Lane Shops

2008-01-13T19:24:00.000-06:00

Bella Rosa Designs is proud to be a distinguished member of the new Shabby Lane Shops! Watch for ads in upcoming national magazines starting in March!

Celebrating Friendship

2008-01-13T17:59:00.000-06:00

"Faithful friends are beyond price: No amount can balance their worth."
- Bible ( Old Testament ) Sirach 6:15

"My friends are my estate. Forgive me then the avarice to hoard them. They tell me those who were poor early have different views of gold. I don't know how that is. God is not so wary as we, else He would give us no friends, lest we forget Him."

- Emily Dickinson

Today I will take time to slow down and truly appreciate just how much my friends mean to me. I have been blessed with the most wonderful friendships for which I am very grateful.

It's all too easy in this hustle and bustle world to forget to take time for those we love. Please remember to let your friends know just how much you care about them, even if it's just a quick email - so simple to do, yet means so much.

Blessings ~ Cherie

A couple of new hand painted items

2008-01-11T19:11:00.000-06:00

I have finally found time to start painting again, and I sure did miss it! We've had so much going on here with my hubby selling his business and starting another - I do all the accounting for our businesses so it has been keeping me busy.

Here are my newest creations, up for sale now on my site http://www.bellarosadesigns.com/

I will be painting again next week - I've got a window and bathroom cabinet all prepped and ready to go!

Have a lovely and blessed weekend ~
Cherie

Hello and Welcome

2008-01-07T12:55:00.000-06:00

So glad you are here! I decided that a blog would be a great way to give you a peek into what goes on behind the scenes at Bella Rosa Designs. I thought it would be a wonderful way communicate with and get to know my customers a little better - to make the business a little less business-like and a lot more fun as well as informative. I will feature upcoming products and projects, giving you an idea of the TLC that goes into each of my hand painted pieces. I will also post some pictures of my own home - and believe it or not - it isn't filled with my hand painted roses. Somehow, I never seem to take time to paint the things I'd like to keep for myself. I have been on a bit of a redecorating frenzy recently, trying to incorporate my new passion for purple into my decor. When you first think of pink and purple combined, with a dash of another favorite of mine - a deep, vibrant teal - it sounds horrible - but it really isn't. I'll post some pictures soon to show you. :) But first, I wanted to share with you a couple of pictures of the most precious things in my life - my "girls". Of course my hubby is on my "most precious" list as well, but he doesn't like to have his picture taken.

I would love to hear your comments and suggestions, so please feel free to post.

Until next time, God Bless ~
Cherie