Progress.....Fabulous Progress!!!!!

Yay!!!! Much progress has been made at the .com. I have learned soooo much thanks to "the geek squad" (aka some really...REALLY great , tech. savvy friends!) Lesson 1: watermarking photos (fancy for putting your name on your photos...cause you worked your hiney off trying to figure out the best way to take the picture and you don't want others to use your creative property)...and cause it just looks fancy! Lesson 2 Taking photos in the right light...direction...size..cropping.......never mind, let's get right to Lesson 3: when at the end of your technological rope...tie a knot in it, hang on, and put in a call... for help!!

It is with much satisfaction, that I am truly able to say..."hey, if you like this kind of schtuff, you can order it on-line at www.hiveforthehome.com!!! ahhhhhhhhh...This was HUGE for me, I am usually more tactile...hence my career. With the help of some unbelievably gracious friends..I now have a little computer swagger!

So, in celebration of this monumental achievement I am going to have a "give away"! (hence..the photo) Lurve this concrete hive In honor of our beloved mascot!! super snazzy for hiding your ball of twine with a little hole for dispensing. Here is how you can get your hands on this fab-o accessory! The first follower (through blogger or facebook), to refer 2 friends to follow Hive's blog...then it's all yours!! EASY-PEASY!! Here's how it's gonna go down.

Instructions:

1. Friend must post a comment stating their favorite item from the website.

2.Make sure to give the name of the referring friend in the post. (cause you certainly want your friend to win!!)

So what are you waiting for?! Get to tha gettin'!!

Technological Train Wreck

Jeweled Sacred Heart Cachette
Engraved Sacred Heart Cachette
Sweet Little Lamb and Watering Can
Miniature Garden Tools and Tiny Fuzzy Lamb Pin
Mini Garden Gazeebo with Chandelier
Mini Garden Trellis and Terra Cotta Pots
Wirework Bee Skep
Glitter Bird with Crown
Mini Terra Cotta Pots (another pic cause they're so adorable!)
Mercury "chocolate" bunny (named for its uncanny resemblance)
Hyacinth under Dome (or as I like to call it..."instant spring")
Hive Medallion Pin
Antiqued Reproduction Corona
Large Silver Engraved Sacred Heart Cachette
Metalwork Flower Candelabra
Ok, I admit it...again. I am a complete loser when it comes to the computer. It takes me twice as long to accomplish something, on the computer, as it would the average person. I have admittedly struggled for quite some time, with the uploading of images to my website. Honestly I had given up hope of ever really being able to wrap my little brain around the task. After several downloads (of photo re-sizing software), a purchase of a better camera, and an entire couple of days, taking , re-sizing, trying to upload and add content....I am now, exactly where I started. So..... I will press onward. I will post pics of my new items on my blog (take that little demons of discouragement!!) and if you are interested in anything you can e-mail me @ amyrotgerinteriors@bellsouth.net. Humph! (insert stamping of foot)!! More to come.... Happy Hive..ing!

......And a Little Fresh Garland for Good Measure.

I thought I would do a blog-a-thon today. I try not to blog when I have nothing to say, but when I do have something to say...it may be more than you care to read..anyhoo!! We had a special treat this year. A designer friend sent us a very special Christmas gift...a 75' fresh mixed garland!! It was amazing. We have had an artificial tree for several years and I didn't realize how much I missed the smell and look of fresh evergreen. Well I was like a kid in a candy store...I put it everywhere. I even added it to some of my artificial greenery and it made a huge difference! It was truly a special treat and I have enjoyed it so much! (Thanks Suzanne!! You are precious!)

Deck the Halls...Walls....Porch....Planters, and anything else you can get your hands on!!

Well the Christmas season is drawing to a close and it has been a while since my last post,but I thought this wonderful idea from our friends at Botanica was postworthy. Most of us have the winterlong dilemma of "what do I put in my planters/window boxes during the long months of winter?" I know I have! During those months when everything seems to be brown and dormant, I have wanted a more welcoming entrance than that of the "Adams Family". So at a recent show, I was trying to locate some dwarf english boxwoods for my planters and my friend Bryan from Botanica showed me this glorious planter filled with cut greenery!! He said his last through February! Now he lives in Charleston and the temps are a little milder up there, but I was all for trying it out. So here are some photos: nothing was planted!! all of the greenery was cut from evergreens in my yard, (except for the generous Magnolia donation from some friends) and pressed into the moist dirt in the planters.

China Doll

So this blog (when I take the time to participate) is mostly about decorating, interesting uses for common objects and my web store. However today I feel the need to give you guys a "backstage pass" to what's going on in my life...outside if HIVE. My family is in the early stages of adopting a little girl from China. This is something we have had many conversations and prayers over, for the past few years, and have decided that it's not "going away". So with timid hearts, we have boarded a "cruise for the crazy", yes, ladies and gentlemen....we will have three children...whose ages will span across 15 years. We are so excited it hurts....and can't tell you how much we love the, all too familiar, "why" response, or,"you are in such a good place with your kids now, why start over?"

I have learned a few things about myself over the years, some I still haven't come to terms with, but one is that I like to feel like I am in control of what's going on in my life. HA! Apparently this is not a character trait, or God would not be leading me toward this adoption. So I am not carrying this baby....I can't make sure the biological mom eats the right things, has enough to eat and takes care of herself during this pregnancy?? I think I could literally go crazy thinking of everything that could happen! Then there is this peace.....you know the one. The one that comes from having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The one that tells me that I am not in control....the one that says that He is.

We begin our homestudy this weekend, so I have tried to get started on the monumental task of cleaning......we are apparently very unclean, and didn't even notice. I am nervous for our home and lives to be put under a microscope, but I know that this is just a means to an end... the end being our new little girl.

So with that being said, this blog may go from decorating to adopting all in the same post....I mean you really can't expect me not to talk about my new baby...I'm pregnant for pete's sake. (on paper of course) So I will leave you with my prayer for today;

Lord,

I know that you are growing our hearts so that we will have a love for this baby, that is from you. One that exceeds the boundaries of the womb. The kind of love that put Christ on the cross....the kind that sent Him to die, so that you could adopt me. Thank you for this love. Amen

So another funfilled weekend at Scotts Antique Market for the Hive. I was relocated this month, to a space, a little more to the middle of the building.....much better!!! We had a great time, and everyone seems to still have a fascination with the crowns....so I will do my best to keep them coming. Along with the busy work weekend I found a minute to step away from my booth and do a little shopping of my own. ( hence, the scientific equipment) I have, for a while now been a little obsessed with collecting beakers, graduated cylinders, test tubes and the like. I have always loved how glass glitters when displayed in groupings. I really love the unique shapes found in scientific insturments. These are a few of the items I scored this past weekend....can't wait to create a centerpiece using them. I will keep you posted. Oh yeah, the starburst mirror they are displayed on was another score, hoping to use it for a ceiling medallion in the dining room. (crossing my fingers and hoping not to ruin it in the process!!)

Surprise Guest!!

It's time, once again, for Scott Antique Market. Today, however, we enjoyed a visit from Paula Deen. She is as sweet as she is beautiful...a true southern lady. I wonder if she had any idea that she was standing in the booth, of a serious "train wreck" in the kitchen. Never a dull moment around here!! Two days left of Scotts this month...don't miss out!