Where have I been?

This was a one rough week.....I have been feeling under the weather... & have not been able to work on some new orders & shipments... and answer some of your sweet comments...I apologize for the delays & am back on track now... xoxoxo Laura

Special Lady...

I said a prayer for You Today and I know God must have heard.
I felt the answer in my heart Although he spoke no word.
I didn't ask for wealth or fame. I knew you wouldn't mind, I asked him to send treasures of a far more lasting kind.
I asked that he be near you at the start of each new day.
To grant you health and blessings and friends to share your way. I asked for happiness for you In all things great and small, but it was his loving care I prayed the most of all.
-author unknown

This is a piece I am working on for a special lady who comes into my shop.. She has asked me to help redo some of her rooms in her home..this piece will go in her bathroom...
Have a great Weekend!!!! xoxox Laura

Exciting News...in the studio!!!!

Congratulations to the sweet gals who will be getting my Valentine's Day giveaways!!! I am excited to send some treasures you way!!! I also wanted to say.. God is so good this past week many exciting things have happened... my life has always been feast or famine.l.. I think it's time for a feast yes!!!! Hard work does pay off..I have to wait a bit before I can share some very exciting news but for now wanted to share a peek at something I made that is a part of a one of a kind clothing collection I will be selling here at Verbena.... My designs always change according to my mood & the time of the year... My new Spring designs will be handmade, clean & soft, with a touch of homespun, organic & recycled fabrics, a bit of an a vintage, a touch of romance & lots of love!!!.. I will have everything from jewelry , bags, clothing avail to purchase March/April..

Happy Valentines's Day... and the winners are....

Greedy Nan..... Shade of Pink Velvet Rose brooch.

Debby....... Original one of a kind Olivia Rose necklace.

Sandra Lee..... French block soap with glitter Rose..

Lets connect so I can get your addys and get you your treasures!!!!!
xoxoxoo laura

It's almost here!!! last chance to post for Valentine's Day give away...

Drawing Saturday evening... winners will be announced on Saturday evening!!!!
Scroll down to Counting my Blessings... Good luck!!!

In the nest...

If I were a Birdie...
If I were a birdie I would sing you a song
And have you come play with me all day long
But now I am busy making a mess
working & creating treasures for my nest..
So come back in a while and I will sing you a song
of all sweet things I've been making all night long! xoxoxo Laura

It's freezing here in Ocala Florida record breaking tempatures.. there is no heat In the store & my little space heater is not helping... so I will be here in my cozy nest working & baking... Verbena will reopen tomorow. xoxoxo laura

In the nest.. be back soon...

Many exciting changes & projects are in the works I will be back soon to post a new... xoxoxo Laura

Verbena Sacred Treasures inspired pieces...

My hands have been busy lately making custom orders on my tassel shrine box necklace.. This necklace I created from all recycled materials down to the buttons,I am excited to say it has become a favorite after posting on my blog as well as at Verbena.. If you would like me to make one for you just e-mail me... dellaporta@cox.net xoxoxo Laura
all designs are original please respect & do not copy.. thank you...

Je t'aime A NEW LOVE...

Cupid delivered new treasures at Verbena!!! What better way to say I love you or just love your self with these sweet little charms.. Each one is one of a kind... made with love... e-mail me for details.. dellaporta@cox.net xoxoxo Laura

TRADING PLACES.... NEW SPACES.....

HERE ARE SOME ITEMS I HAVE LET GO OF & REPLACED THEM WITH SOME NEW FINDS... TAKE A LOOK.GOOD BYE SWEET OLD SHABBY MANTEL... YOU ARE GOING TO A NEW HOME NOW I WILL MISS YOU BUT IT IS TIME FOR ME TO LET GO & MAKE SOME CHANGES AROUND HERE. THIS LITTLE ALCOVE WILL BE MY SPECIAL QUITE SPOT.. I WILL POST BEFORE & AFTER SOON...

TRADING PLACES....NEW SPACES... BOTTLE RACK..

FRENCH BOTTLE DRYING RACK OR TORTURE DEVICE??? O.K. I TRADED A BEAUTIFUL VICTORIAN DRESSER FOR THIS... PLUS SOME AMAZING ART & POUND S OF FABRIC I WILL USE FOR SOME PROJECTS IN THE WORKS....WHAT WAS I THINKING AM I CRAZY?

TRADING PLACES.... NEW SPACES.... LAVABO

A lavabo is a device used to provide water for the washing of hands. It consists normally of a ewer or container of some kind to pour water, and a bowl to catch the water as it falls off the hands. In ecclesiastical usage it refers to both the basin in which the priest washes his hands and the ritual that surrounds this action in the Eucharist. In secular usage, it refers to a sink for washing hands; the room in which it is kept is the lavatory.
I have been wanting one of these for a long time... as I was leaving an antique shop I spotted this piece on the garden wall... mmm how much is that oh the lady said you can have that for $60.00 SOLD!!!!! what should I do put it outside my front door filled with pretty geraniums???? or HOW ABOUT FILLED WITH FRENCH SOAP & LAVENDER IN A BATHROOM THAT HAS A CLAW TUB... MMMMM... OH MAYBE ONE DAY.. Let me know what you think.

COUNTING MY BLESSINGS.. VALENTINE' DAY S GIVEAWAY!!!

I have been wanting to do a give away for quite sometime now & what better time then Valentine's Day... right... One of my favorite things to do is to give gifts & bring happiness to others around me...my way of saying Thank you to all the sweet & creative bloggers who have become my friends though kind words & beautiful pictures.. Thank you for all your inspiration, humor & words of wisdom. I know I am a little quirky but I love to do everything in three's and love roses, I am giving away the following gifts for you... THREE items choose ONE.. leave a post next to the one you would like to have and just write a little something about one of the best things that happened to you this past week..mmm something to think about...xoxoxo laura
Drawing for each item will be on Valentine's Day I will post the names selected that evening!!!

COUNTING MY BLESSINGS... #1

ONE OF MY FAVORITE ITEMS... VELVET ROSE BROOCH.

COUNTING MY BLESSINGS ....#2

THE OLIVIA ROSE NECKLACE.. ONE OF MY SIGNATURE PIECES.. YOU SELECT A COLOR & SIZE...

COUNTING MY BLESSINGS.. # 3

EXTRA LARGE BLOCK OF ROSE PETAL SOAP FROM MARCELLE FRANCE. WRAPPED & DETAILED WITH A HANDMADE PAPER GLITTERED ROSE..

How does your garden grow?

This is a peek at a very exciting new project I have been working on. I will post the finished product & all the details soon..xooxxoo Laura

LOVE NEVER GOES OUT OF STYLE!!!!

A VERBENA SACRED TREASURE... OVER SIZED PEWTER TWIST TOP SACRED HEART EX VOTO PENDENT FINISHED WITH A COCO COLORED EXTRA LONG SILK RIBBON. ( i moved it up for the pic) Exvoto is a Spanish word meaning votive offering. The word comes from the Latin, meaning "out of a promise or vow" and these votive offerings are given or dedicated in fulfillment of a vow or pledge, or expressing a wish or desire. It is most commonly a personal thank you note to God, often taking the form of folk art. They are very public, yet very personal, professions of faith in God. BEING A COLLECTOR OF RELIGIOUS INSPIRED ITEMS THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU...
LIMITED QUANTITIES AVAILABLE $28.00 WITH SHIPPING.
XOOXXOO LAURA e-mail me to order dellaporta@cox.net

Make every day a NEW Happy New Years Day!!!!

DON'T FORGET TO STOP & SMELL THE LAVENDER!!!
xoxoxo Laura
If anyone is interested.. we carry a beautiful assortment of French inspired cards....
some are made by my twelve year old daughter.

Less is what I want a little more of....

In the decorating dept...(One of my biggest passions) a New Year always motivates me to reorganize, redecorate & refresh everything around me. A friend of mine once said when looking at all her stuff I don't own this ... it owns me... and sometimes I feel that way. Sometimes I get so overwhelmed with everything I just wish I could do two things ... one be like I Dream of Jeanie nod my head & it's all in order or hire some one like Extreme Makeover to come in and just tear all this down and make everything perfect... but as we know life doesn't work that way so for now I just have to make the best of what I have...little old me... to hammer , drill & haul stuff... my mission is to have less...have a cleaner look... but still be loyal to my Shabby Chic style of decorating.. Take a look at this home I am posting... I am totally in love with it!!! It still has that Shabby Chic Romantic feel but is cleaner more modern.... I just love it!!! I don't know what style to call it. Does anyone have a name? What is your style of decorating? I would love to know.. Lets give this look a new name I say this is the new look for me !!! Let me know what you think... xoxoxo Laura

My Dreambedroom...

What a feeling of peace I get when I look at this room...

Dream sitting area

My dream bathroom

To me this bathroom has a both a French feel with a touch of that old Hollywood Glamour...

My dream kitchen

My handmade cards.. designed & made by my daughter.

Bless This Nest

Artwork by local Ocala artist... ms. Mel... she is my favorite...

Gathering spot of nested treasures...

THAT'S ALL FOLKS!!!!

GOD BLESS... XOXOOXO LAURA

A touch of Tuscany & France... In Ocala?

I am posting some pictures of my mom & step dads home here in Ocala Florida...Like me, my mom is what I call a frustrated decorator... She has never had a professional help decorate...it's one of her passions...she is forever pushing furniture around with her hips and collecting piles of magazines & books ( being a Gemini helps) anyway I think she did an outstanding job on this home.... she is so talanted take a peek.. xoxoxo Laura

My mom Edie..

This is my mom Edie... she was so excited when I called her today & said I would stop by to take some pictures of her new home and post them on my blog. Anyone who knows my mom just Loves her ( including me) she has such great energy... she is very warm, funny, witty and extremely talented... she has alway been a frustrated decorator ( like me) as far as I can remember.. always moving around furniture, redecorating and collecting hundreds of books... anyway I thought it would be fun to see what she has created as I know we can never get enough of decorating pictures... I would say her style is warm, sofiscated & eclectic take a peek at Edie's place let me know what you think I will pass the comments on to her... Keep in mind I only took a few shots as the house is not completely finished.. I will post more pictures of the bedrooms, gardens etc... soon xooxo Laura

My step dad James Crupi & my daughter Olivia

Quiet area to sit and have some wine?

Living Area

My step dad calls these couches Gondolas... he still wants to know where the backs are.... they are made in Italy very comfortable & beautiful in person....

Living area

These old French Garden statues placed in the arched alcoves are one of my favorites...

living area

their library room

Holy water bowl sink

You know this is one of my favorites.. this bathroom is like a monastery... I love it I will take pictures when it is done. Oh bird cage wall sconces love them!!!

Tea stained Chandlier

My picture taking does not do this incredible piece justice... One of my favorites!!!

Party lights!!!!

This chandelier is from Mexico my mom fell in love with it & had it shipped ..

The unexpected...

Only my mother would put a garden bench in the shower??? I asked her where do your guests take a shower ... standing on top of the bench... she said oh I love it... it works....

Master Bathroom

Not completely finished.. I love this Italian marble top table with the bird cage on top.

Thoughts & Prayers for The Travolta's

To me there is nothing more heart wrenching & painful as the loss of your child or anyones child...It really effects me to think of what these parents go through... No words can express how I feel...My heart, my thoughts & my prayers goes out to my neighbors John & Kelly Travolta here in Ocala. I also pray for God to protect & keep all of our children safe... love & cherish each & every moment you have together. xooxxo Laura

MarieBelle...How Sweet it is...

I loved this shop... itself feels like something straight out of Amelie; tiffany blue trim, old timely-glass cases filled with delicate chocolates and other tasty confections.

There's also an adorable tea shop in the back that serves the most delicious hot chocolate, crepes and tea sandwiches.

My mom ( Edie Gourmet) has one amazing shop specializing in Chocolate, cheese & truffles so I am alway inspired by the presence of fine foods created in beautiful spaces This shop is a treasure... her are some picture I took to share with you... mmmmmm xooxo Laura

Step inside...

Filled with the most amazing hand crafted chocolates... and many more treats I loved this place.

Cozy Corner..

The best hot chocolate..how nice to sit in this little antique chair and have a cup of REAL hot chocolate... snowing outside.. my children by my side... what can be better.... well...

getting inspired

I love this... this is a great idea to take sheets of chocolate and tie BIG beautiful ribbons

beautiful packaging..

OPEN THE DOOR TO A NEW YEAR, NEW HOPES NEW DREAMS...

I WILL BE POSTING AND UPLOADING PICTURES WITH MY NEW CAMERA LATER... XOOXXO lAURA

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!! OFF TO THE BIG APPLE!!!

SORRY HAVING CAMERA TROUBLE SO I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO POST NEW PICTURES... I WILL HAVE A NEW ONE THIS AFTERNOON.. I WILL BE LEAVING FOR NEW YORK TO VISIT FAMILY.... CAN'T WAIT.. I WILL TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES WHILE VISITING NEW YORK CITY...SEE YOU NEXT YEAR... HAVE THE HAPPIEST HOLIDAY FILLED WITH ONLY LOVE AND THE BEST MEMORIES!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!! XOXOXO LAURA

VERBENA...Nested Treasures...Holiday Window..

Hi my blogging buddies...I was able to borrow a camera & took lots of pictures of my shop & my Moms... for some reason these are the only pictures I was able to download... I am going to see if I can retrieve them & post them for you to see... If not tonight tomorrow I will post.. I want you to see my moms wonderful shop filled with Chocolate, truffles cheese & lots of gourmet treats.. Her name is Edie & she is know as Edie Gourmet....Anyway hope you like.. my shop is very small..But ... the best things do come in small packages... right.
Oops.. forgot to turn the lights on the tree & outside... you get the effect I will take more pics tomorrow...... xoxoxo Laura
More pictures. down under...

Thank you Ocala Historic Preservation!!!

I was very surprised... and I am honored to have received this award this made my day!!!!! Thank You. xoxoxo Laura