MyORC--THE CHAPEL

Hidden behind this jumanji jungle

is the original entry to 822, complete with my life long dream of a curvy sidewalk

after we bought the house October 2010,  I spent a few days making a way to enter

with Mr. PV's machete...chop chop!

this is how the entry looked...so unassuming

a sweet little cozy LITTLE thing

( you can understand why the mister wanted a more grand entrance)

we had recently returned from a trip to Peru

I have always loved churches 

especially the tiny ones along the country side 

Nicholson Ranch Winery Sonoma Valley

~~Inspiration~~

this tiny village chapel in Arequipa became my inspiration for the little vestibule that was to become

the heart and soul of 822

Are you ready for today?

we kept the porch just removing the sidewalk and door

the walls are very colorful...all four walls are painted like the photo

I painted my antique French Bombe chest, and use it for whatever collections I might want to display

this tends to be seasonal--always a prayer candle

and always photos of loved ones

an antique Easter card, a monarch butterfly and a robin egg

~pura vida~

I have a secret letter in my nicho that I hope someone will find years and years from now

hint:  It's a love letter

my Saint a Day from Santa Fe

prayer beads from Greece, fatima font from Rome

Mary is most inspiring mother of all time

As a reno girl living in the Texas Panhandle

I am not afraid of

• the wind blowing my hair-do
• going downtown with paint under my fingernails
• spiders in my cupboards
• a spat over concrete
• snakes 
• tornadoes
• rusty nails
• lead pipes
• asbestos
• professing that I am a Methodist Christian "Catholic Wannabe"

BUT I AM AFRAID OF THIS!

I took this photo without a flash in a large church while in Peru

I was zoomed in on a large altar...I give my word that I have not touched this photo in 

any way whatsoever 

and when I saw it the first time I nearly fainted...it kind of even scares me to still have it

I do believe that evil is alive and well in this world and that is why this tiny little space is so important to me

one doesn't need a hammer all the time

sometimes just a perspective of grace and mercy and humility

and of course

hope

~~We~~

• Replaced the door with stain glass windows via eBay
• Removed the carpet to reveal the wood floor
• Replaced the light fixture via Lowes
• Painted the mural
• Filled it with spirituality to permeate our home, our marriage, our family and our life

~~Biggest Challenge~~

The challenge here was to make the new paint on the walls looks as old as the walls in the inspiration chapel.  I did this by painting the bright colors first and then using a very watered down version of paint and letting it drip down the walls..using Peony about 1/10 parts water...several times

~~Favorite Thing~~

This space is filled with a wide collection, gathered over time, 

of many things one would find in a chapel

rosaries, crosses, prayer beads, books, bibles, angels, Madonnas, holy water and my cheetah chair!

These are a few of my favorite 

INSPIRING CHAPELS

Loretto Chapel Santa Fe NM

San Francisco de Assisi Mission Church Ranchos de Taos NM

St. Thomas Church Abiqui, NM

Tiny Chapel at Nicholson Ranch Sonoma CA

The Vatican

Saint Mary's Church Newport, RI

Notre Dame de Paris

Rosslyn Chapel