Life on an artistic shoestring at Highland Hill::

Small table, found curb-side

2010-11-03T15:09:00.001-05:00

I really don't know why anyone would throw out a perfectly good table like this wee one....

The finish was wanting, but a coat of creamy paint fixed that problem. I'm using it to hold one of my pots and later, it just may sit beside a chair, or out in the sun porch. So versatile - again...it baffles me why anyone would think it to be trash.... Not me, for sure!

Spring Trees painting....

2010-11-03T13:33:00.001-05:00

Yes, it's Fall, but I felt like Spring this week when I made this painting....

My curb-shopped concrete fountain

2010-09-30T15:14:00.001-05:00

Look what somebody threw out!

A 5' concrete tiered fountain, that's what! It has a broken spot on one of the pillars and some small cracks in the bottom bowl - but I think that concrete and silicone epoxy should take care of that.

I'm so thrilled! I've been wanting one of these for a long time, but could never be the first one to respond to any Craigslist ads.

And I really like the price of this - $ZERO. Fit's my budget to a "T"!

Look away if painted furniture makes you shudder.....

2010-09-24T18:12:00.001-05:00

A nice 2nd hand, vintage side table.

This was needing either to be stripped, stained and re-varnished...

Or painted a toasted almond color, which is exactly what I had on hand.

I think paint helps to define carvings.

This has 6 beautifully turned legs.

Nothing but paint was required to bring out its beauty.

This spot was getting too dark anyway. Ahhh, a fresh coat of paint does wonders.

A little fall decor is slowly creeping in....

2010-09-16T18:29:00.001-05:00

Appears that I have a "candy corn" theme going on....

Before/After Antique Secretary

2010-09-11T23:48:00.003-05:00

A couple months ago I bought a can of creamy white paint. First I painted a dresser. Then a stool. Then a table. And now it's an antique secretary that had seen better days. I had to use that orange goo remover to get rid of all the oil and grime (it's from Craigslist, so it's not *my* dirt and grime) ;-)

And voila'! I just LOvEs me some creamy paint! What a difference, yes?

My paint can is not empty yet....... and I spy another vintage table and chair.... stay tuned!

Just feel like posting some front walk pics.....

2010-08-24T16:24:00.002-05:00

This is just a temporary spot for the fountain. It will go in back, on the patio when the bricks and concrete are done. In the meantime, I'm enjoying the water noise right outside the front door.

We ripped up the carpet and painted the floor!

2010-08-22T14:59:00.009-05:00

Yes, we painted the floor. We have hated the Berber carpet in our home since day 1. It seems to shed fine fibers that coat everything in the house in a thick layer of dust. Our walk-in closet seemed to be the worst place. So we have started there.

Ripping up the carpet and pad exposed the rough plywood underneath. Nothing special here. It was what we expected. Lots of staples and nails removed. Hubby made sure all the screws were screwed down under the surface.....

And LOTS of wood filler and sanding later.......

THEN it was finally time to paint. We choose Bear Rug by BEHR at Home Depot. Gave it 3 coats. The lines between the plywood sheets disappeared.

Then coated it with varnish for 5 more coats.....

We have to nail in the molding "shoe" as the finishing touch.

We love it! It feels smooth, like vinyl and it will be a cinch to clean. Yes, hardwood would look lovely.....but that may come later when the budget review committee approves it. ;-)

Next room is the master bedroom. That will be a big job! Will post pics as we get into it.

I'm linking up to Between Naps on the Porch's Met Monday. Click on the butterfly to see more "Before and After" posts from creative bloggers:

Fountain and Patio are coming together......

2010-08-20T17:59:00.002-05:00

I've been searching Craigslist for the last several months for an outdoor fountain. Found 2, but both were cracked, so not good. Finally went to Lowes today to see if their's were on sale.

This one was originally around $300, marked down to $210, but they didn't have any left. Except the display. So I asked how much for that? Got it for $125! Bought an additional pump, since I know this one has been running all summer. Yes, it's dirty and needs a good cleaning - but I love a bargain!

Hubby is just about ready to pour concrete to enlarge our back patio.

That square is the spot for the fountain that will be filled with concrete. Hubby will be installing an electric box just behind that square for the fountain pump and for some landscape and Christmas lights. But I'm getting ahead of myself. A row of evergreens will be directly behind this patio edge to make a backdrop for the fountain. During the winter, when the fountain can't be ran, I'll have sparkly Christmas lights on the shrubs to brighten our view.

The corner piece is for the bbq grill....

The perimeter will be concrete and the interior will be vintage bricks.

More pics as this project gets further....

A little more curb appeal

2010-07-28T15:40:00.002-05:00

Being a lover of earthiness, like brick and stone....this week I decided to build 2 brick columns in front of the garages. Using antique bricks that FIL game me, I dry-stacked 7 layers...

And topped them with "aged iron look" urns....

Later, I will mortar them for more permanence - like when the weather actually gets cooler and I can stand being out there for more than 15 minutes at a time.

I think a fat pumpkin in each of the urns would make a nice fall display. And come Christmas, I will use cut some holly sprigs from my bushes. (Yeah, I'm thinking COLD weather!)

Toile shower curtain rod

2010-07-26T02:21:00.004-05:00

I'm changing out my kitchen window treatments so this wooden rod, covered in a toile fabric found a new home in the hall bath:

It snuggles up to the polka-dot ribbons and vintage drapery:

And lives cozily along with the coordinating toile wallpaper:

A little fabric, a little hot glue.......

2010-07-23T19:09:00.005-05:00

A few posts down I had shown a leather club chair from Craigslist that I had gotten. Some of the leather was faded, which didn't bother me at all. But soon I discovered that one of my kitties took a liking to the chair, too, and dug his claws into the seat part. So, to head off future kitty damage, I decided to cover the cushion with some upholstery fabric I had on hand.....

And following that, I recovered an old 70's orange ottoman with the same fabric:

Those shiny gold feet needed some black paint and the legs also needed some sprucing up.

Some hot glue and jute does the trick. Ha! Looks like it is wearing white socks with black shoes! ;-) I may think about staining the jute a little darker color....... another project just developed...

And there's my sweet Sugar............

Before and After hutch - from 'lodge" to "beach"

2010-07-03T19:39:00.007-05:00

Time for a change. This skinny bookshelf/hutch thingy has moved into the hallway for added storage. The finish is fine, here in the living room.....

But too dark for this bright room.....So it got a makeover with fresh coats of "toasted almond" paint and now holds my beachy momentos with plenty of room on the bottom for extra towels.

I'm keeping it close to monotone as I can and I love seeing my loved ones smiling back at me.....

Happy Independence Day

2010-07-02T03:43:00.001-05:00

My $50 leather club chair from craigslist

2010-07-01T23:01:00.003-05:00

Wheee! I love a good bargain! I spotted this on craigslist and jumped at it. Yes, it comes to me already distressed. I think there are leather kits for for putting the color back on where it's been rubbed off.

I have been looking for a leather club chair for quite a while and I had to drive an hour to get this one. Check out that great wood trim and nail heads. I haven't got to clean this yet. I can see some old, white wood polish in the grooves.

It's huge! I can even sit sideways with my legs dangling off the arm. This is going to be so comfortable to curl up with a book during the winter nights.....

And the color is just right. (well, if you overlook those rubbed spots!) But I don't mind this distressed look at all. This chair is sooooo heavy! 2 people can barely lift it. (If one of those 2 people happen to be me.)

Tell me what you think..... should I get a kit and color the rubbed off spots? Should I leave it alone? Does it look too shabby?

Before and After dresser.....

2010-06-22T15:29:00.006-05:00

I have a very nice chest of drawers that came down from Mr Artistic Shoestring's family and while it is a very heavy and sturdy piece, it had seen decades of wear and tear. (I remembered to take a pic only after I had removed the drawers and had started priming them.)

My choice was to either strip and stain ....or prime and paint. I went the easiest route and Ta-Da!!!

I love the way it turned out and can see and appreciate its trimwork and curves, along with the vintage hardware. The paint is "toasted almond" by Olympic Premium, sold at Lowe's.

I'm linking up to Between Naps on the Porch's Met Monday. Click on the butterfly to see more "Before and After" posts from creative bloggers:

My hanging gerranium

2010-05-29T17:28:00.001-05:00

Just planted this guy and it will fill out nicely.

I think there is something special about flowers hanging right outside your window - they are up at sight level and easy to enjoy.

Tea bags for roses

2010-05-27T18:18:00.002-05:00

I read where tea is good for roses. So I threw my used tea bags in a container in the freezer and waited for spring to plant my rosebush. I'm using them, still in the bag, as a top mulching. We'll see how it works and I'll report back later in the summer about this technique.

Curb-shopped area rug

2010-05-26T17:21:00.003-05:00

Can you believe that someone just threw this out? It's perfectly good and I'm setting it out on the driveway to wash it with a hose and some shampoo. It's under a tree and the sun is setting, so I don't worry about the hot sun on it.

I'd say it's about a 5x8' rug. Love the deep red color!

I saved it from a landfill and I'll use it for a long time. That's living life on a shoestring! Love it!

Potting up some plants...

2010-05-09T16:50:00.010-05:00

This is the best side of the house for planting because of the southern exposure. (The brick patio and the stone-walled garden were made from recycled material gotten from another Freecycle member.)

This is my first attempt at food growing. I have tomatoes and peppers here and a zucchini in the back yard. Planted some marigolds because I heard that they keep some insect pests away because of their aroma.

I've potted some sweet basil, boxwood basil, thyme, rosemary and cilantro. Oh, and a pot of a sweet potato vine. In the back is a coleus that I will either plant in the ground or in a bigger pot.

Cleaned and refilled the hummingbird feeder. And I'm getting my first rose on the Knockout Rose bush that I planted last week. The metal headboard that the greenery is climbing on and the birdbath were both from Freecyle.

Another Knockout Rose bush planted in the front yard. This is going to look so sweet in front of the picket fence section.

Got this nice potting table on the curb a couple weeks ago. The wagon wheel was a gift from sister KK and the folding door in the background was a curbside find.

Now I need some plants for my shady porch. I'll check in with Freecycle to see if any generous friends with give some to me....

Before and After linen cabinet

2010-04-08T19:27:00.017-05:00

For those of you who can't stand wood furniture being painted - look away now! You've been warned....... ;-)

Got a 14" deep cabinet from Craigslist that had a dark brown stain. This isn't a valuable piece, no dovetailing or important wood. As this is to sit in the hallway, the dark color just didn't work. It's ok as is....but I wanted something more rustic.

So I painted it gray and antiqued it with dark stain. The glass had to go because the door needs to shimmy into place and the glass would keep the door too straight to close. Bummer. I took off the top decorative thingy and have saved it for another project down the road.

I stapled on a thick fabric scrap that I already had. I actually like fabric rather than glass because of the warmth and tone of fabric - and more decorating possibilities.

Then I stood back and lived with this for about a day and decided that it was still too dark for the hallway and besides, the wonderful carved details were lost in that darkness.

So I started adding some blue and cream paint and more stain on top of that......

Ahh, now the details are showing up. See the little balls of cream on blue shells? All nicely carved. The staining helps show the depth.

I added the wooden flower because it seemed to need a little something there. I smoothed out the stain with a little more paint to even out the panels.

What a change in personality! This will give me more linen storage, right outside the hall bathroom, which has a gray and white toile decor. Sorry for the low lighting - I had to stand in the bathroom to get the full picture.

A great spot above to display my small collection of vintage Blue Willow Plates.

And what a nice coincidence that I had a plant container with blue vines, just like the fabric!

This is one of my favorite statuettes - a small boy and his dog is so sweet. Set on vintage books.

Nice gams....

I'm linking up to Between Naps on the Porch's Met Monday. Click on the butterfly to see more "Before and After" posts from creative bloggers:

Blueberry peach cobbler recipe

2010-04-04T18:02:00.002-05:00

This is very tasty, with lots of syrup on the bottom to spoon over the scoop of ice cream!

Ingredients:

* 2 cups self rising flour
* 2 cups milk
* 2 cups sugar
* 1 stick of melted butter
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 large can of sliced peaches in syrup, undrained, about 28 to 32 ounces
* Some blueberries - 1-2 cups, either fresh or frozen

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350°. Put melted butter in 13 x 9 pan. In a mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, milk, vanilla extract; stir until blended. Pour batter into pan and top with the peaches. Cover with foil (so the juice doesn't make a mess) then uncover after 15 minutes to brown. Bake at 350° for a total of 30-60 minutes, depending on the size of the pan.

Before and After pillow

2010-03-21T19:31:00.009-05:00

Got this pillow off Craigslist for $5 because I wanted to personalize it for my daughter's new, pinky bedroom. I was attracted to the black ribbon and sequins adornment. This is the Before:

And this is the after. I tea-stained it, sewed on pink heart-shaped buttons and added embroidered, iron-on lettering and a jeweled crown.

Looks fab on her pinky chair and she loves to see her nickname on it.
I'm linking up to Between Naps on the Porch's Met Monday. Click on the butterfly to see more "Before and After" posts from creative bloggers:

Down-filled chairs.......

2010-03-21T18:44:00.002-05:00

What is it with me and my love for buying Craigslist chairs? Dunno, but it's a cheap enough hobby.

Lookie here what I got today - 2 fine chairs that a family was selling so they could move to Florida. The first one was for $30 and is down-filled. Great upholstery and carved wooden legs.

The other chair was $13 and is a soft pink with mahogany arms and legs. It fits in great with DD's new pink bedroom:

I did sell my deacon's bench to make room for the pink chair - but with that money, I got 2 great chairs.

Now where did I put them?......

2010-03-07T20:16:00.007-06:00

A solution to one of my organizational problems comes in the form of cookie boxes. Yes, I had to eat the contents in order to use the containers. Such a sacrifice.

The boxes were cut down to size and DD decoupaged them with her wonderful scrapbook papers and stickers.

Velcro was applied to the backs:

And then the boxes were attached to (in this case) my computer.

Well, what have we here? There are my reading glasses!

Sometimes they will sit on the outside of the box:

And sometimes they will be tucked away inside. I have several pairs of reading glasses, but they were always lost - now I have a place for each of them and it didn't cost me a cent. Thats.........

A new life for an old wastecan...

2010-03-06T21:31:00.006-06:00

I remembered that I had this old, yet cool waste can that had been passed over at the local thrift store, but I knew it had potential. Yes, that icky fake gold metal again. It came in two pieces.

But look what a beauty it turned out to be! Classic black and white and I think it looks like it could have come from one of those fancy-schmancy high-priced catalogs. At least, I tell it so, poor thing has got feelings, ya know?

I did take some pics of it gracing the bathroom....but posting a pic of my toilet seemed so......indelicate. ;-)

Mixing a little old, a little new... a bedroom for a girl

2010-02-27T18:00:00.012-06:00

My daughter took over the guest bedroom and since this room was graced with my mother's dark, antique furniture, a little updating for a young-at-heart girl was my enjoyable project.

The drapes were to stay, but bright and colorful fabric was paired. Green and pink are the colors with lots of flowers. This fabric was picked up in the thrift store (it's actually 2 heavy tablecloths) and is used as a headboard slipcover:

This metal angel was also a find, and daughter has named it "Gloria".

Ribbons tied to a mercury glass type ornaments:

A close-up:

This darling pillow came from Craigslist for $5. I liked the classic black and white theme:

But I added some adorable pink buttons and the middle will be monogrammed with her initial "S". I'll post a pic as soon as it's finished.

Oh, and since this blog is essentially about designing on a shoestring budget; I gotta tell you that the sheet set was only $6 at Goodwill. Talk about luck! How cute is this?

Below, I added vintage plates above the Eastlake dresser. I like these plates because of the rose artwork on them.

Below is a shelf with more of the thrift store fabric to add some eye-catching color:

With DD's name on top:

Some nice silk roses in vases painted by DD. We added some ribbon for a fun, young look:

Also hot-glued some trim with tassels:

I found I like adding ribbon to flower arrangements:

The chandy I did some time ago fits this room perfectly:

Some artwork I have done. I added more pink so that it fits into this room:

More fun artwork:

A happy room for a very happy girl!

Sweet dreams, Shannon! This was a super fun project to do,

And of course, it was................

Blue Willow Pattern explained.......

2010-02-17T07:22:00.007-06:00

I've recently started collecting antique English Blue Willow china because I like the pattern. This platter was found at the thrift store for only 64 cents. But the story behind the painting is interesting, too.

Some versions of the Willow pattern have 3 people on the bridge, some only 2 or even 1. Most, but not all, have the 2 love birds. Usually, there is a willow tree, orange trees, a bridge with people, an island, a boat in the lake, a fence, and a tea house. Usually, but not always.
The borders might be different also. Some borders are decorated with butterflies and moths, some with fish eggs and some have a fleur-de-lis design. All love birds should be facing each other, but, their distance apart really is of no importance.

Here's the Chinese fable:

Once upon a time, a Chinese Mandarin of high degree lived in a Pagoda behind a strong fence and under the branches of a large orange tree. Nearby, a weeping willow hung over the river. This nobleman had a very beautiful daughter named Kong-Shee, whom he had promised in marriage to an old, but wealthy merchant, Tan-Jin.

The girl, however, had fallen in love with her Father's secretary, Chang, whom she met in secret and to whom she had sworn eternal fidelity.

When her Father discovered these meetings, he dismissed Chang from his service and threatened him with a lingering death, while he imprisoned his erring Daughter in her room overhanging the river until she should promise to forget her lover and marry the elderly merchant.

One day a coconut shell came floating past her window bearing a love letter from Chang. He mourned their fate and declared that life without her was worthless, and that if she married another he would commit suicide.

In her reply Kong-Shee proclaimed her devotion and told her lover that he must gather the fruit he coveted (herself) when the willow blossom was dropping on the bough. This hint gave him the approximate date of the wedding to the elderly man.

The wedding day arrived and Chang mingled among the numerous guests. He saw Kong-Shee and persuaded her to elope with him, but they were soon discovered, and as the pair were crossing the bridge her Father almost caught them.

Kong-Shee is carrying a distaff (emblem of her virginity), Chang a box containing hew jewels, and the pursuing father, a whip.

The lovers found a temporary hiding place in the small house at the end of the bridge, and signalled to the little boat on the water to take them to Changs home (in the upper portion of the design) but the angry father noticed them, and knocked at the door intending to beat them to death with his whip.

At this moment of danger, the Gods intervened to save the lovers, and changed them into turtle doves, which can be seen flying in company from the paternal vengeance. They lived happily ever after.

Two birds flying high,
A Chinese vessel, sailing by.
A bridge with three men, sometimes four,
A willow tree, hanging o'er.
A Chinese temple, there it stands,
Built upon the river sands.
An apple tree, with apples on,
A crooked fence to end my song.

A warm kitteh

2010-02-14T01:51:00.002-06:00

There's an old saying that "if you want the best seat in the house, you'll first have to remove the cat". So true. This is a scene that warms my heart and home.

Glass display case + thrift store drape panel

2010-02-08T19:57:00.003-06:00

Scored a very nice Waverly window panel at the thrift store last week and didn't know how I'd use it at the time. Then, I got inspired by reading other blogs and in an instant I knew what to do with it.

Here is my grandmother's dresser with my mom's glass display case on top. The contents are rather boring and they are really just sentimental objects to me, and not really of interest to anyone else. So, I wanted to store them behind a closed door.

Ta-da! A little hot glue, scissors and a ruler to cut up the 5 panels was all it took to bring these pieces up to date. I really like how it turned out. For only $3.99.

A tablecloth + a Craigslist chair = start of redecorating guest room

2010-02-04T22:01:00.010-06:00

The guest room will be changed over to a personal bedroom by my lovely DD who likes bright, clear colors. By chance, at a thrift store this past weekend, we found 2 large tablecloths that have all the great colors that she wants.

And then I found this beautiful chair on Craigslist ($50)- that had only been up on the board for a few minutes! I will pick this baby up on Saturday. My plan is using the more sedate colors/pattern of the chair to balance DD's bright flower colors. The rest of the furniture in the room is dark antiques, so I think this punch of color will liven and update the room.

The fabric will be used as a headboard slipcover and as a wall hanging. I'm getting started on this right away! More pics coming soon!

Just gotta tweak some more......

2010-02-01T17:54:00.005-06:00

Couldn't move on to other projects until this vignette got tweaked a bit more. I changed out the pics to make this about my dad, who passed over in 2002. Very handsome, loving and funny.

Into the apothecary jar holding sea shells from South Padre Island, (where we vacationed with sister Jane, who winters near there) I slipped a vintage pic of dad holding me as a baby.

I love that my home reflects what is meaningful to me. And isn't that the ideal we nesters shoots for?

lamp shades with ribbon

2010-01-29T14:36:00.004-06:00

Wanted to show you the finished lampshades (actually, I had made them already and just switched them out.) But look what a simple change in altering the flash does to a pic.

The above pic was taken with a piece of regular white paper over the flash. Below, is the pic taken WITH the flash. A very big difference. The pic above is more true to life. The below pic comes out looking harsh and cold. The white actually looks blue, doesn't it?

And after just 1.5 years of blogging with photos....I figured out how to take a better picture. Sigh....doesn't take me too long, now does it??? ;-)

What a delightful situation..... TWO antique Singers

2010-01-23T14:46:00.003-06:00

Wow - When Mr. Artistic Shoestring brought home the Craigslist Singer machine, he asked a neighbor for help bringing it in from the van. The neighbor, who is very, very nice, said sure and helped. Then he asked if we wanted ANOTHER one, just like this one. Heck yeah! sez I. (He just GAVE it away, happy to be rid of it!!)

Now I have 2 very beautiful, though very grimy antique Singers. The neighbor's wood cabinet is nicer, having 6 drawers, instead of the 4 on the other one. I looked up their serial numbers and both were made in 1919.

Isn't that a lovely appliqué?

I have been researching how to properly clean these and I'm pretty confident that I can get them looking pretty great.

Since I don't need 2 sewing machines, some lucky family member will be gifted one of these beauties..... Who? Well it just depends on who can spoil me the most! ;-)

Old Singer for an old gal..........Update

2010-01-20T23:02:00.009-06:00

I apologize for the blurry pics. These are from the Craigslist posting and I will take better ones later.......

I kept thinking about this sewing machine (for only $60) all night. It looks like my
grandmother's, who has turned 103. I used to play on the treadle by
climbing on and rocking. Good thing grams never caught me! Then, in
high school, I learned sewing in Home Ec on one of these old Singer
machines. My BFF, Deb, and I would have a race with ours to see who could get theirs to sew the fastest. We were both on the treadle. I laugh now to think how our feet looked, pumping that fast and us giggling the whole way!

I've convinced myself that I need this machine and I will
start sewing again if I had a treadle (I hate electric sewers - they
get away from me and get the thread all knotted up.)

So.....I emailed the person on Craigslist to see if this is still available for an antique of a gal, like myself. We exquisite antiques stick together like that. Huh, Lori E? LOL

Update: I'm getting it! Yippee! I can hardly wait to try it out. I'll let you know how it works very soon! From my limited research, it's called a Singer Model 66 Red Eye Treadle. Here are some pics from a website:

Wish me luck on this Craigslist piece - update

2010-01-19T02:22:00.005-06:00

Isn't this just beautiful? I sent an email of my interest - just hope I'm the first in line!

Update: I opted to pass. Here's why: Even though I was the first to respond to his ad, there were others interested in this piece, too. So, the guy tells everyone to meet at his place at 3:00 today. What did he expect us to do as we're all standing around wanting to buy the same piece? A bidding war??? (or a small riot) I told him "no thanks". This was nice and the price was right ($150) But there will be others. The fun is always in the journey!

Your library is now selling off their magazines...

2010-01-18T18:25:00.002-06:00

Every January, our library district (and perhaps yours?) sells their old mags at a dime each.

I don't spend money on mags or rags, but I will fork over 50 cents for these. Hurry on over to your nearest library branch to look over the selection - let me know what you found.

always a project....

2010-01-18T02:28:00.003-06:00

I sometimes go around the house and take pictures so that I can examine the scene through the camera's eye. It's strange that way....I see things that I don't see with the naked eye. That's where my project list comes in. In this pic, I notice the crooked lamp shade. It's vintage and I'm not exactly sure why it's leaning, but it's on my list of things to repair. And now that I think of it, I will cover the shade in an interesting fabric, too. I LOVE to fabric shop.....

I see another project in this pic.....

It's the old oil painting that my mom gave me. I need to buy the solvents that will remove the dark varnish so that we can finally see what this painting is about.

This pic was taken to remind me to finish the painting on this chandy. I want to add an antique wash to it, but had forgotten to get back to it.

And this pic is to show you what time it is that I'm up and walking around the house taking pictures. That's "a.m." Sigh. I'll sleep later. Right now, the house is quiet and I'm enjoying some iced tea and dark chocolate cookies.

Tropical Birdfeeder

2010-01-11T22:00:00.001-06:00

Just another little painting I finished tonight. Tried to keep a simple visual.

Virgo ......... redone

2010-01-09T19:33:00.004-06:00

This painting was done for sister KK, who took a strong disliking to it originally because it looked exactly like one of her unlikeable friends. So, it has taken a while, but I changed the face and hair and ta-da! Let's hope it now looks nothing like someone else she knows. So kk - if you want it back, let me know.

Martha?...... no, I'm not.

2010-01-07T19:16:00.006-06:00

Okay, so I tried my hand at making a cake from scratch. It smelled good while baking. But then the fun began. I used a bundt pan and the cake stuck to it. (I greased, but forgot to flour it.) I managed to get it out in pieces and kinda glued it together with icing. I had to use ALOT of icing. Did I mention this was a birthday cake for my DD? She's taking the ugly cake in good humor - we're calling it the "Exploding Volcano" cake.

After Christmas Cleaning and decluttering going on...

2010-01-07T16:16:00.003-06:00

I'm cocooning during this winter blast of snow and bitter winds and you know how it goes when you start organizing: one thing leads to another. I changed the lamp on this table.....

And then moved the library table next to the front door, with the matching lamps.

I'm not done yet, since I'm moving all the other pieces of furniture now. And it all began with changing out one lamp......

Adorable, couldn't resist, Thrift store side table

2010-01-05T20:31:00.005-06:00

What do you call this? Victorian, maybe? Anyway, I was at the thrift store today searching for a large luggage piece on wheels. Didn't find that, but I did happen to pass by this little beauty for $45. I took off the tag and stood in line to pay for it. Meanwhile another guy walked up to the table and was closely examining it, running his finger over the superficial scratches and deciding whether to buy it or not.

He even picked it up to move it to another spot in order to get a better look. All the while I was paying for it and keeping an eye on him and the table, lest he walked away with it to another part of the store.

After I had the receipt in my hot, grubby little hands, I went over and picked up the table, right in front of him. I had to lean in front of him to get it. I didn't dare look back at his face, but was listening to anything that sounded like a dirty word aimed my way. Guess I could have said "sorry" or something like that to ease the sting, ya think?

Even with my bad back, I got it loaded into the van by myself and that guy was parked near and I saw him get into his truck at the same time. So he must have walked out right behind me when he realized he just missed a good buy. (LOL - all that yard sale shopping techniques really pay off - if you want it - better grab it!) Poor guy, he was out-smoozed by a pro. LOL!

I haven't gotten it cleaned up yet. Should I leave it as it is or paint it white?

$5 Craigslist Chair

2010-01-02T00:32:00.004-06:00

Want to see my next project?

This baby is just $5 and the seller says it needs to be reupholstered. First, I'm going to see if it just needs a good cleaning. I love the lines and I can see that it needs a new seat cushion. I'll show you the finished project in a few days. With the cold weather coming on, I'm looking forward to working on this. Wish me luck!

Brrrrr... in Missouri

2009-12-26T14:11:00.007-06:00

A beautiful Christmas Day shot in Kansas City, MO. Taken by Shane at
Wunderphotos:Weather Underground

This site is a wonderland of great photos! A shout out to Sister Jane, who winters down at the Texas/Mexico border --- look at what you're missing! LOL

Just one of my "very cool" Christmas presents....

2009-12-25T15:47:00.004-06:00

I am loving my new cooler! This was passed to me from my mom, who had a little store on her farm that sold beer, soda and snacks, plus thrift items. This was the cooler that contained soda and candy bars. When the shop closed this year, mom started to remove all the items and asked if we girls wanted any of the coolers. "Heck yeah!" said I. This is a 6'2" Frigidaire Commercial cooler with stainless steel and on wheels. Thank you, mom!!! (That white square on the wall is where we had to remove an upper cabinet to make it fit into this recessed area by the food pantry.)

Hope you're keeping warm....

2009-12-25T04:47:00.002-06:00

I had to laugh when I came across this pic. Is that a sleeve over her head??

Quiet reflection

2009-12-15T12:27:00.004-06:00

Christmas in our home this year will be one of quiet reflection. We have lost family members this year and have shouldered our share of illnesses. There will be no brightly colored lights, no cheerful decorations or Christmas music here. Maybe next year. Until then, we will quietly gain strength and try to allow joy back into our lives. But I hope YOU, dear reader, have a very merry Christmas. Peace be with you.

Just for fun - some christmas kitties to spread good cheer

2009-12-12T17:19:00.003-06:00

From the LOLcats site (http://icanhascheezburger.com)

Just moving things around a bit....

2009-12-04T15:41:00.003-06:00

Wow, it's been a while since I last posted! Guess life got too busy in the last few months, but I'll try to get back on track to let you know what I'm up to. This is the hallway bath that I wallpapered earlier this year. (I know - gasp! - wallpaper!) I finally got around to adding a few decorative items to the blank space above the toilet. I didn't need a cabinet, since this room has plenty of storage space, with the pantry. (Don't hate me...)

The adorable boy and dog statuette was a gift from sister kk. I've had this wood shelf made from scrap trim for a long time. Included are vintage books, a cork buoy and a stone with "peace" engraved on it.

I've been moving a few things around and wanted to show you the hallway. With the white beadboard up, I placed the secretary in front and added a nightlight lamp and some vintage metal boxes.

Sorry for the bad lighting in this pic. This is where I keep my greeting cards and medical records. It's my own little space.

Not a big change, but making the ole home more comfortable for our casual living style.

Hey, some giveaways from my bloggy friends...

2009-11-16T05:00:00.002-06:00

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch is having a giveaway for 3 of Lisa Leonard ornaments!!
Barb's Good life is celebrating her 200th post with a giveaway
Blue Creek home is having a giveaway in celebration of her new boutique
Applestone Cottage is having a Pay it Forward

Sofa pillows from Goodwill....

2009-10-31T16:19:00.003-05:00

Amy loves to get in front of the camera to check out what is holding my interest....

Today, it's the cute pillows that I picked up at GW for just $2 each. This is the green fringed one. As you can tell from the mantle scarf, I do like my fringe.

This is in my parlor room, which is in the deep fall colors of greens and oranges. And the sweetest decor is Amy.....

The other pillow I got was in the deep russet colors. The fringe has some reflective quality, it seems.

What a deal and they fit flawlessly onto my vintage sofas....

A day at the pumpkin farm with family

2009-10-26T16:27:00.011-05:00

This was the funnel cakes and lemonade stand. The bees were liking very much the lemonade and swarmed around the yellow container. I stayed away....far away.

Lots of spooky displays..... This was a gorilla wedding scene.

Painted gourds.....

A mad scientist's lab..... More funny than anything. Even the rat in the lower right bottom looks a little crazed.... Click pic to see more of this - up close!

One of the loves of my life: Ian, my middle grandchild.

Ha! My hubby, running with the shadow kids!

Looks like someone needed just 1 white pumpkin....

There were many creative, Halloween displays. My DD is having fun with this one, pretending that the "thing" was leaning on her.....

At the teepee display, a horse made entirely from bamboo and old mops...

Isn't this a lovely fall display? Looks like a row of perfect teeth...with one missing in front.

There were so many displays that I'm sure we didn't see all of them.

And there were pony rides. This is my oldest gs, Jacob.

Turban squash, I believe......

This couple just got engaged. The guy had the pumpkins to say: "Will you marry me Kristen" You can see the family taping the event.... I turned to my hubby and joked that that was what romance is...... hint-hint..... yeah, he didn't get it.....

And me. With my new, crazy hat and big shirt to keep out the sun. They are both rated 50+.

We had so much fun!!!! I love fall and I welcome the coming snow! (Should I say that in a hushed tone??)

Mantle fall decor

2009-10-26T15:27:00.004-05:00

Okay, so I don't have a real fireplace (my hubby, the fireman, has gone to too many house fires that started with fireplaces, and so we don't have one), but I do have an old, wooden mantle that I can dress up for fall. I found a small bookshelf that fits in the opening and I decoupaged it in old sheet music and stain.

A piece of old sheet music is also in the vintage picture frame. ( It's tea-stained, but I don't think it shows up that way in the flash of the camera.)

The candles are handmade and still have the long wicks. These were a gift from my sister-n-law. The candles are in old bronze candle sticks that are dolphins blowing a water stream. (love dophins!)

The violin was recently bought off Craiglist and though I had planned to learn how to play..... I just haven't found the time, so until then, it will be a decor item. I like the look of the polished wood, don't you?

The old mirror is nice above the mantle, but I'm not one for mirrors by themselves. They seem kind of cold that way. But an old wreath helps with that.

The lamps are vintage and a gift from my mom. I added the updated shades and glued on some yummy trim that matched the trim on the drapes.

A garland of silk fall leaves rounds out my fall decor for this year. I do plan on making a Thanksgiving garland for my dinner company - coming soon!

Crazy!

2009-10-21T13:50:00.001-05:00

skillet cherry pie....

2009-10-19T17:13:00.003-05:00

This is my FIRST homemade pie crust! I only had whole wheat flour, so I'm not expecting a flaky crust, but more of a rustic bite. An iron skillet will also provide more iron to this to increase the healthiness. Ahhh, I can have my pie and know I'm getting some good stuff. (Ignore the lard in the crust....if I don't see it, it isn't there....)

Deacon's bench in fall colors....

2009-10-19T17:01:00.005-05:00

I'm taking full advantage of these wonderful days and dressing up the front porch. There's a place for you to sit and I'll bring you a cup of hot green tea. I have a cherry pie in the oven, too!

2 vintage sofas in place

2009-10-17T12:04:00.004-05:00

Finally got my 2 vintage sofas in place in the "sitting room". Got these off Craigslist and I love 'em. I have big, family gatherings and this makes for more seating.

The reason I like these so much is because of the simple lines and an earthy tone that comes from the wood trim. My house is on the "french country" side, so the curvy legs fit right in. As the cold weather seeps in, I am feathering the nest with coziness. Next will come some comfy pillows and afghans....

Haven't posted in a while because I'm being lazy....

2009-10-17T02:26:00.001-05:00

Yeah, I know. The dead possum is gross. But I feel lazy and blah, so this fits.

My favorite talking cat video

2009-10-06T22:40:00.003-05:00

Clothing Protectors

2009-10-06T01:15:00.003-05:00

From Jane at

Life From My Point of View - I'm copying her post to spread the word about these fabulous clothing protectors. These are simply GREAT and think of the many times we have stained our clothes because we weren't amply protected.

From Jane:
Look at these cool "clothing protectors". My niece Connie is creating them so we never have to worry about stains on our clothing anymore. If you are like Bob and I, there are times when we don't want to change out of our clothes and need just a lightweight protector. Here's Bob enjoying his chips worry free. The collar uses Velcro to close. No more "Shout" every time we eat.

If you would like to purchase:
Adults: $8.00 for 1, $7:00 for 2 or more.
Children: $5.00 for 1, $4.00 for 2 or more. You will be responsible for the mailing charges to your area.

If you would be interested, please email Connie at: girlfriday_service@yahoo.com She can answer any question you may have. Tell her TJ sent ya...

I have ordered several for my family. I am planning on ordering extras for company when having those BBQ outings and maybe as Christmas presents. What a great conversation piece.
If you know of others that would be interested, please send this post to them. Connie is using the funds to help with her children's music lessons. Her children are young and that's the best time for them to soak up all the knowledge they can. They are using their talents for the Lord and we are praying for a blessing in this area. Thank you.

Sofas from where else? (CL)

2009-10-04T18:11:00.005-05:00

Just when I thought I didn't need another thing from Craigslist, I find these charming sofas. I gave our sectional away today to my son, for he has a rather large family and could use the big-ness of it. I have hated that thing from the day I got it about 10 years ago. The texture of the material was rough, to me. And I disliked the "modernness" of it.

But this!.......is ME! I can hardly wait to get it home in a couple of days. And there are TWO of them. I'm getting both, of course. That should double my pleasure, for sure. I have some nice, vintage pillows waiting to hop on those babies! (oh, and it was $250 for both)

A before and after Hutch

2009-10-03T21:36:00.016-05:00

I'm participating in the Met Monday, hosted by Between Naps On The Porch . Go visit Susan's blog to see links to many more creative blogs!

Here is a $45 Craigslist hutch that I knew would give me much needed storage space. However, that 70's wood look had to go! But it's got good lines and is solid wood - that's why I love vintage furniture.

And now.....look at my freshly-painted hutch! You can see the good lines now. And it feels so clean and ready for my kitchen goods.

I also put up a neighboring baker's rack to hold baskets and boxes - what I have now is a "junk drawer" and THAT will soon be eliminated. The baskets will hold useful items, like scissors, rulers, note paper, clothes pins, etc.

It seems everyone in blog town has been putting numbers on baskets, boxes, trunks, stairs, etc. and I want to jump onboard. Here are my humble baskets with their imperfect lettering....but I'm calling the imperfection "charming". (Ha! with that definition, I have a lot of "charming" things around the house!)

A wire fruit bowl does the trick for a cheap and easy Halloween display.

For a little flourish, I added some wood embellishment.

Oops, I should have warned ya to look away! This is hideous and makes me a little queasy.

Ahhhhh, this is more like it. The hardware was painted a gun metal gray that I mixed up with a little black and white hobby paint.

Ta-Da!! I love it. And my pocket book loves it, too!

(Note: I lost 4 comments when I had to re-do this post because I reformatted my blog. Sorry about that....)

Mayonnaise on your wood

2009-09-27T18:44:00.006-05:00

I had a table that was covered in white water stains from an unfortunate move during a rain storm. This first pic is not my table (I forgot to take a "before" shot) but the marks looked the same. The white spots covered the top and looked like a film of milk.

I threw a table cloth over until I could get to the store for some refinisher - which is expensive and on the toxic side.

But, in the meantime, I read in Woman's World a neat little trick using mayonnaise and toothpaste to rub out the water marks.

Guess what! It really works! I used one of those sponges with the smooth side and a rough side. I used the rough side to work in the mayonnaise and the spots started to disappear almost immediately. I didn't need the toothpaste, since I used the rough sponge side. Look at the results and see for yourself..... Love those home remedies!

Off The Map - great movie!

2009-09-27T15:40:00.003-05:00

I have been watching a lot of movies lately, as I'm recovering from a full hysterectomy. I have got to recommend to you a movie that is wonderful! I saw it weeks ago, and I still find myself thinking about the scenes and characters. The scenery was breath-taking and the acting was superb! Have I used enough adjectives to convince you to go rent it yet?

Here is the synopsis from Rotten Tomatoes:

Across the ancient high desert landscape of northern New Mexico, an extraordinary family embarks on a lyrical journey of self-discovery that reveals unexpected moments of grace and the unpredictable but enduring nature of love.

In Campbell Scott's OFF THE MAP, the poetry of a time and a place marked by simplicity comes into full bloom. It's 1974 and the harshly beautiful wilds of Taos are home to 11-year-old Bo Groden (Valentina de Angelis) and her free-thinking family.

While constantly yearning for escape from her sparse environment, Bo passes the time with flair and imagination. She's a crack shot with a rifle and a bow and arrow, an artful plunderer of wallets and briefcases, and the compelling mistress of ceremonies for a moonlit three-ring circus of her own invention. Bo's home is an entrancing, challenging place that she will one day transcend to become the woman she was destined to be.

Arlene (Joan Allen), Bo's warm, earthy, and eccentric mother, raises most of the family's food in her vegetable garden -- which she prefers to tend in the nude. Meanwhile, Bo's father, Charley (Sam Elliott), the embodiment of Old West masculinity, is losing the battle with his inner demons.

When William Gibbs (Jim True-Frost) arrives, a hapless IRS agent with demons of his own, he soon proves to be a catalyst in the lives of the family during this watershed summer.

----- I hope you will love this movie as much as I love it. Let me know what you think after you see it. -------

Solid wood hutch - another Craigslist treasure

2009-09-20T19:06:00.003-05:00

This doesn't look like much now, but just wait until I'm done painting it. Found this on Craigslist for only $45 at just the minute that I was thinking that I could use more kitchen work stations. My kitchen is tiny, but I have a breakfast room that I will be using more for food prep and storage, and in which this will be placed.

On this piece, I will place rows of large, glass jars filled with oatmeal, sugar, tea bags, flax seed, etc. And the bottom space will hold my appliances. There's enough space for food prep, too. Hubby will fit in an electrical strip in the back.

When you have a kitchen floorspace of just 6'x6' (with 3 people trying to fix food at one time) then storage pieces have to work hard. And down the road, if I don't need this any longer, I'm sure I can get my money back. It's a winner.

Pumpkin pie decor

2009-09-20T02:14:00.004-05:00

I just baked the first of my fall pies tonight. 2 pumpkin pies with double the spices, since I like a strong-flavored pie. This pic was found on the net, but I liked the creative topping! Cute? You betcha, and one idea I will keep - I have several little grandchildren that would be thrilled to have their hand on a pie! MMmmm, the house smells wonderful!

Update To add: What I would do is trace around the hand on paper, and then cut it out. Lay the cut-out paper hand on the dough. Then cut around the shape and put it on the pie. Don't forget the legs!

A forgotten memory..... (and I have lots of 'em!)

2009-09-19T01:03:00.006-05:00

Do you ever have those moments when you see something and you get a jolt of sensory memory? I saw this pic today on a breast cancer news article and my heart jumped! These look exactly like a pair I had when I was a new teenager! The pink bow on the pink ballet slipper flats was my opinion (at the time) of high chic and sophistication.

I wore them with a pink, lacy dress whenever I had the chance to "dress up". I would never have brought up this memory by myself - this pic evoked it and I'm grateful for the girlish sensation I got from seeing "my" pink ribboned shoes again.

Award winning Pineapple Custard Pie

2009-09-12T18:58:00.003-05:00

Doesn't everyone love pie?! And pies are so easy to do. I used a ready-made crust for this, but sister Jane has promised me a great crust recipe for all my future pies. For the topping, I cut up strips of crust and made a lattice type covering.

Ummmmm, I just baked an award-winning (1st place at the county fair) pineapple custard pie from a recipe on this blog:
http://bigboldbeautifulfood.blogspot.com/2009/07/award-winning-pineapple-custard-pie.html
I'll update when this pie cools and I get a taste!

I'm a lucky person.......

2009-09-08T02:23:00.005-05:00

JOY JOY JOY!!!

I've been a little busy lately with medical tests and procedures, but now I'm back on track and recovering nicely from a full hysterectomy. I am soooo very lucky that we caught it early and I don't have to go through Chemo or radiation. It's all gone.

Thanks for the prayers and healing thoughts.

I'm feeling better each day!

Vintage door all gussied up

2009-08-18T21:08:00.011-05:00

Sister Jane (whose blog is:Life from my point of view ) came over to help me clean the house and make up some good nachos for my Bunko party. She thought my white door, which I had leaned up against the wall, needed some oomph. So she asked for a piece of fabric and she did this:

I think it looks great and I will keep it that way. Thanks Jane!

My house dusty??? Most likely.

2009-08-12T02:47:00.007-05:00

Dust Bunnies don't bother me and I have scientific proof. A while back I went to the allergist to do the whole schmear of allergy tests. And like most people, the results showed that I'm mildly sensitive to most of the categories on the list. EXCEPT...... get this .... dust mites! Hee-hee. So we can co-exist and live in perfect harmony. I just think that's so funny. Must have built up a tolerance over the years???
Oh, and the dust bunny pic is not mine...that beauty came from flickr.

Deacon's Bench - Craigslist find

2009-08-10T19:48:00.008-05:00

Hey guys, this is my 200th post! And I celebrated that today by getting a nifty deacon's bench for the front porch. It fits in perfectly and will hold pumpkins in the fall and a garland of mittens in the winter. It was just $35 and it will be fun to decorate it during the seasons.

That purply door is about gone...I'm repainting it a gleaming white. Won't that look fab against that black bench? Don't I sound all Hollywoody, darlinks?

For now, a simple green wreath will do.

Blanket Cabinet touch up

2009-08-10T11:06:00.003-05:00

Sometimes, it's just the little details that make or break a look. Take this blanket cabinet, for example. In an earlier post, I shown where I added the black embellishments and painted the wood knobs black. Now that I have had a chance to live with it...I knew it needed a little more sprucing.

So last night I painted in the boxy trim. I do think it looks better and it was just a small change....but one that helps to finish off the look.

Don't cha think?

Keep calm and carry on

2009-08-04T19:59:00.006-05:00

I took this wood frame with a wood back that had some 1980's style vegetable painting on it and made my own signage that is hot right now. Just printed out the motto in Word and glued on some vintage music paper and it's ready to be hung.

Keep Calm and Carry On was a motivational poster produced by the British government in 1939 during the beginning of World War II, and was intended as a "last case scenario" in order to stiffen resolve should the Nazis succeed in invading Great Britain .

Two-and-a-half million copies were printed, although the poster was distributed only in limited numbers. It was rediscovered in 2000 and has been re-issued by a number of private sector companies, and used as the decorative theme for a range of other products. Below is the original poster:

This saying is my mantra at present because this year has been so difficult and challenging. So it helps to be reminded to "stay calm" and carry on with life.
Yeah, I used to have snackies in those jars...but I'm on a diet, so I'm shopping the house for fillers for these. But maybe, come Christmas, they will be filled with cookies again. :-)

Nora, the piano cat

2009-08-04T07:00:00.000-05:00

Food Gawker

2009-08-03T17:16:00.002-05:00

Have you been to Food Gawker yet? It is my latest favorite food site! There is a picture for every recipe and there are THOUSANDS!!
http://foodgawker.com/ You will LOVE it!

Bench from Craigslist

2009-08-03T00:02:00.005-05:00

I just couldn't pass up this neat bench for $20! My son has a rather large family (8 of them!) and is in need of more dining table and chair space. He talked about needing maybe a bench. Well, hey, that gave me something to hunt and I'm glad I saw this right away after posting. I know he will love it! And if he doesn't.....I will swoop it back in a heartbeat! :-)

Hall Bath Reveal

2009-07-26T20:35:00.002-05:00

I found the neatest way to store extra toilet tissue and kleenex in this walmart item. I had been searching the net for a lovely storage cabinet and who wouldda thunk?

I treasure these vintage drapes with the black grosgrain ribbon and fringe. I also replaced the uninteresting door stop with this screw-in topper.

I love polka-dot ribbon and included some on top of the drapery. I painted the nautical star on the ceiling and am undecided on adding a quote around it, or Directional Letters (NSEW)

I originally tiled the shower with earth-colored broken tiles, but later decided on a crisp white. No problem - a coat of sealant and then 2 coats of glossy white paint did the trick!

This is where my wall mounted paper towel holder will go when I get one. See post below about that. For now, this will do. I also love the ceramic switch plate - you can feel the difference when you turn on and off the lights....it's a tactile thing and one of the little pleasures.

Bathroom reveal, Part Deux

2009-07-26T20:19:00.003-05:00

Here are some more pictures of my hall bath that I have been working on for the last few months. We have a new cookie-cutter ranch house that yearned for (ok, it didn't, I did) some unique atmosphere. I love toile wallpaper in bathrooms. Especially a dark grey and white.

I put up millwork pieces above the window and doors to help beef up the moldings. Very inexpensive and easy to do.

I found a fabulous 8' long piece of chair rail curb side one night that was brand new! I turned it upside down and placed in atop the chair rail that we installed earlier. This beefed up the railing tremendously. And it also provides a small ledge for maybe a nice starfish, perhaps?

The builder's fake cherry wood finish was sooo boring. I added some embellishes and painted the whole thing with a half bottle of hobby paint - in gloss black. Why not?

I did this mirror frame all by my little self. Again, this was one of those big, honkin' plate glass mirrors without any interest, what-so-evva!

SimpleHuman Paper Towel Holder

2009-07-26T20:12:00.004-05:00

For the hall bathroom, I have decided to not use cloth hand towels. The reason for this is to prevent germs. And I have this "ick" thing about drying my hands on a towel that is still wet from another's use. I believe I found the towel rack that will be suitable for the bathroom. (I bought a cheapo, plastic wall mount, but really hesitated to use - everything else in the room has been so carefully chosen to reflect a bygone era. Plastic-y things would fall short.)

This wall mount is from SimpleHuman at http://www.simplehuman.com/index1.html

The description says: To maximize space, the wall mount paper towel holder can be mounted to a cabinet or a wall in any position. The quick release knob detaches with a light squeeze of the buttons when changing the roll. A tension spring prevents unraveling and creates slight resistance to allow pulling off one paper towel at a time. The extra-strong mounting bracket provides superior durability.

Another pic of the hallway

2009-07-22T22:47:00.003-05:00

Which is more like a big rectangle, with 5 doorways. Here is another side of the beadboard project that I just completed. I've been wondering lately how this hallway would look with dark doors. I've seen some others in older houses and they looked great. What do you think?

Revealing hallway beadboard

2009-07-22T15:05:00.006-05:00

Putting the finishing touches on our hallway upgrade. We installed beadboard 3/4 up the wall and added molding on top, then painted. It really brightens up the hallway and adds much needed architectual detail. For this project, we used beadboard paneling - it looks just the same as the pricey stuff and we were able to bring it up to the 3/4 look. I really like the way this turned out and we have started putting up the beadboard on the kitchen cabinets. I'll be posting that project very soon.

Oh, and I'm finishing up the bathroom's new wood moldings, beadboard and toile wallpaper. I'll be revealing that tomorrow.

Violin from Craigslist

2009-07-22T00:14:00.002-05:00

Decided to learn the violin as a hobby. In fact, the whole family will be learning. It's funny how we all sound so awful, here at first! But we've got instruction books and the internet to help us sound even worse!

Eat Right 4 a Good Life

2009-07-20T01:04:00.003-05:00

I have started another blog just for healthy eating. The focus will be on the best food and drink we should consume in order for our bodies to maintain a healthy, disease-free life. This blog will be a compilation of information gleened from the internet and books that I'm reading. I need an anti-inflammatory diet - because inflammation leads to cancer and so food will be my greatest medicine to ward off any potential diseases. You are welcome to learn along with me: http://eatright4agoodlife.blogspot.com/

Brickettes on Craigslist

2009-07-08T23:48:00.009-05:00

Yes, I know that the 70's look of fake brick can be dreadful, but if one is careful of the design it can looks rustic or "up-to-the-minute" loft-like. These are my favorite because I don't have to worry about the weight of the bricks. And they're also hard to find - usually when someone cleans out their basement or garage. Then they advertise on Craigslist and I swoop down to snap them up! 9+ boxes for only $25 - that's a good deal!

My plan is to use them on a wall when we enclose the patio to bring a cozy feel to the space. The trick is to not use them whole - break them up like they were tumbled and used brick. Then use lots of off-white paint smeared across them to create a "grouty" old-world, look. You'll be seeing me use these later this year. Stay tuned....
If you want to see how I've used them in the kitchen, click here:Bricked Pantry

Bathroom redo peek....

2009-07-08T22:00:00.005-05:00

I have been working on the hall bath and wanted to show some of the details (with lots more coming later) Some toile wallpaper, some black painted cabinets with molding, and some gleaming white trim:

Yes, the ceiling is painted a light green. Painted the old light fixture from a copper color to matte black. Replaced the globes with the square kind. I'll show more tomorrow....stay tuned....

A skinny cabinet and bookcase found on Craigslist

2009-07-08T21:48:00.004-05:00

I am working on merchandising this, as Christopher Lowell would say, and am shopping around the house for appropriate items that will coordinate. I had been looking for something like this piece that would fit into that corner. Hubby is working on rewiring an antique lamp that will replace this little one. Tune in......

small decorative cabinet - Craigslist find

2009-06-15T22:56:00.003-05:00

I love unusual furniture pieces and this fits the bill with its folksy Swedish paintings. Couldn't pass up for only $20.

A little toile magic

2009-06-14T18:30:00.004-05:00

Here are my typical wingback chairs in the breakfast room. I'm slowly changing the decor to a french country look using fabric, antiques and ironwork.

I got 2 yards of red and light yellow toile material from JoAnns and cut up "scarfs" for the chairs. Just tuck in the material and voila'! Instant Fraincais! Amy, our darling furgirl is napping on the ottoman.

But something new has got her attention and she has to investigate.

Yes, those apothecary jars were just put there and knowing my kitties, I tied them to the mirror side with a ribbon. They love to play a game called: "Let's push this thing off and watch it hit the floor".

I had enough material left to wrap this pillow. This settee sets opposite the chairs.

I love instant decorating. Fabric really can make the mood in a room.

Bread Dipping Oil

2009-06-13T22:16:00.002-05:00

This is too good not to try! I am honestly in love with this! AND....it's at Walmart!

The lable says "focaccia with balsamic vinegar". You'll find it in the bakery section, by the freshed baked breads. I am going to use this as a pasta sauce next. Try it and let me know what you think. Be sure to shake it up real good to get all the herbs mixed.

Fancying up a straw hat

2009-06-13T21:42:00.002-05:00

I have to keep the sun off my face and so bought the first hat I found at Walmart that could do the job. But a plain hat like this just doesn't reach my artistic soul.

But in 10 minutes, I hotglued on some fabric and I sewed on a gorgeous turquoise pendent that sister KK gave me. Now I will be stylin'!

A little birdie told me....

2009-06-11T17:12:00.002-05:00

Saw something like this on Ebay and thought I'd do my own. Took it outside to photograph so the flash wouldn't wash out the colors.

Tractor Seat - another craigslist find

2009-06-09T12:08:00.002-05:00

Sister Michelle's birthday is coming up and this is my gift to her: An authentic tractor seat for her dining room. She lives in the country and this item will look so cute!

Poppies

2009-06-03T08:08:00.005-05:00

A little 5x7 I did last night to give to my sister for a housewarming gift- Fun to do and it kept my mind occupied. She just bought a tiny, but cute cottage and I'm encouraging her to give it a sweet name. I can't wait to see it all fixed up. This poor cottage has never been loved and it shows, but sister KK will change all that!

7 Ways to Use Leftover Buns

2009-06-01T18:02:00.014-05:00

Here's something neat from Real Simple site:

What to do with those extra hot dog and hamburger rolls? Make everything from a salami panini to pineapple upside-down cakes.

Recipes

Craigslist lyre table

2009-05-28T19:54:00.006-05:00

This was only posted for 3 minutes on Craigslist before I called to claim it. I am so drawn to furniture that has this kind of interesting features, like the nice carvings. I haven't cleaned it up yet, and polish the brass feet, but when I do, I'll post again to show the antique lamp that will make its home atop this lovely little table.

Guest room baker's rack

2009-05-28T15:18:00.004-05:00

Lori E asked me to post more of the guest room pics and I'm happy to oblige. This is the west wall and I put up the bakers rake to hold books, pictures and boxes. Nestled up to the rack, on the floor, is the lighthouse rock I painted.

Two of the picture frames contain my grandma as a little girl with her sister, and who is turning 103! And my dad, who passed from Alzheimers in 2002

Before and After - guest room bed header

2009-05-26T17:47:00.004-05:00

Nothing coordinated and the guest room was becoming a catch-all of unrelated things. But I had on hand the ingredients to pull it together. I had fabric and I had a window thingy (what's the name of it?) Anyway - here it is. I attached a little decorative moulding to the front of the thing and added those other things on top. (Today is not a good day for correct nouns- ever had one of those days?)

Before and After - guest room shelf unit

2009-05-26T16:00:00.004-05:00

Shopped around the house for the base to use as a blanket storage unit for the guest room. Then added the wood shelf that used to be in the laundry room, holding detergents.

Had some leftover toile wallpaper from the hall bath redo (will reveal soon in another post) that I added to the back of the shelf.

Added some decorative moulding to the front and some glossy black paint. Now I have a place to display my favorite sea related items at only the cost of the moulding ($15)

And I can finally use the cute boat wheel lamp by attaching it to the side of the shelf - it will be nice to read by. Toile fabric hides the cord prettily.