Cottage Hill

Saturday Spotlight - Craft Envy
Be Different Act Normal

If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!

Shakin' things up a little...

2011-07-29T10:57:00.004-05:00

I spend loads of time in this room -- a smallish bedroom near the kitchen (thank goodness) turned TV room. It's where I watch Netflex and the news and where I kick off my shoes and prop up my feet as well as my "pretend" office, where I blog and create these annoying run-on sentences.

These pics were taken a little while back. It's really looking a little shabby and not as in "chic".

Anyway, I need to shake things up a bit in here. You know when it's time and, trust me, (that sounded just like my son) it's time.

The furniture has to stay -- I'm not that tired of it yet. The rug stays, too, but I think I'll change the wall color and window treatments, put some new slips on the loveseat, and re-accessorize...j

*****

I'm linking up here...

No Minimalist Here
Fireflies & Jellybeans
Tales from Bloggeritaville
Brambleberry Cottage

French Cupboard
Beyond the Picket Fence

*Strut Your Stuff Thursday - Somewhat Simple
*Between Naps on the Porch
The*The CSI Project (8am)

If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!

Vintage Cup O' Joe

2011-07-26T11:10:00.011-05:00

My husband and I drink perked coffee. No fancy Starbucks brew for us. We take ours the old-fashioned way.

So, we were really irked this morning when our second new percolator in less than two years bit the dust. Fifty-six dollars, times two, down the drain. They sure don't make 'em like they used to.

Lucky for us, I'd found this sixty-something year old percolator a month or so ago. I think I paid $10 for it. I had been too nervous to plug it up. I never really thought it would work, anyway, I just thought it was cute.

However, desperate times call for desperate measures.

A morning without coffee is like....

Well, I can't even answer that until after my coffee.

We plugged her in. Expecting what? Sparks and an explosion, maybe? I was just thinking, please let the fire be small.

I really wasn't expecting a hot cup o' joe.

But, that's just what we got. It was great. She's hired.

update*update*update*update*update

Gail @ My Repurposed Life had another idea for my little pot. Check this out...

(click here for how-to's)

***

I'll be hooking up with...

*Get Your Craft On-Todays Creative Blog

*Nifty Thrifty Tuesday - Coastal Charm
*Twice Owned Tuesday@ House of Grace
Tutorials and Tips @ The Stories of A to Z
Tabletop Tuesday - A Stroll Thru Life

Today's Thrifty Treasures
*Metamorphosis Monday - Between Naps on the Porch
Made By You Monday - Skip To My Lou
*The House In The Roses

Mod Mix Monday - Mod Vintage Life
C.R.A.F.T.
Dittle Dattle
Making The World Cuter
The Girl Creative

If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!

Upcycled Laundry/Vegetable/Grocery BAG

2011-07-23T02:39:00.006-05:00

I've had my grandson for the last couple of weeks so I've "been away". He's headed home today and has some dirty clothes to take with him so we decided to do this little project together before he left.

What could have been a twenty minute project, if not for Noah's "help", turned into a good forty-five-er... but where's the fun in fast?

We upcycled an old sweatshirt into a bag that he'll use for his dirty clothes. The same bag could be used for toys, veggies or groceries as well.

I folded the shirt in half and free-handed the pattern with a marker.

Noah supervised the cutting out of the bag.

I cut slits for ventilation.

For the fun monogram I used yarn and a zig-zag stitch.

The stitching around the outside was done in the same blue as the yarn. I used a short stitch, for strength, 1/4 inch from the edge.

This type of fabric won't fray so there's no need to finish the edges...

Cute, and free, and useful.

***

I'll be hooking up here...

*Furniture Feature Friday - Mustard Seed Creations
*Show and Tell Friday - My Romantic Home

*Frugal Friday - The Shabby Nest
The Friday Flair - Whipper Berry
Remodelaholic Friday - Remodelaholic

Feathered Nest Friday - French Country Cottage

Feature Yourself Friday - Fingerprints on the Fridge

Flaunt It Friday - Chic on a Shoestring Decorating

A Little Knick Knack
Friday Fun Finds - Kojo Designs
*Transformation Thursday - The Shabby Chic Cottage

*Strut Your Stuff Thursday - Somewhat Simple
*Between Naps on the Porch
The*The CSI Project (8am)

No Minimalist Here
Fireflies & Jellybeans
Tales from Bloggeritaville
Brambleberry Cottage
My Repurposed Life
French Cupboard
Beyond the Picket Fence

If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!

Put A (Vintage) Bird On It

2011-07-06T17:55:00.005-05:00

Two things I love (along with those I'm related to and that cute guy I married) are anything with a bird on it and everything vintage. Hang around my blog very long and I'll prove it to ya.

I've managed to do both for this post. Twice.

If I were being graded on my ability to feed my fetish I'd have a 4.0 GPA for sure.

First, there's the baby diaper set I made for my sweet nephew's expected baby boy. I used a vintage pattern, recycled mens dress shirts, and a cute little bird applique. A+, since I'm grading myself...

Then, there's my new apron with, yes, a bird on it. The fabric is awesome. It looks vintage but isn't. I found it on the remnant table at Hancock's for $5 a yard and loved it so much I haven't wanted to cut into it. I think I'll give myself another A+ just for being brave enough to take a whack at it.

***

Tips for Upcycling Clothes

Go with the flow. Use the details already there. It'll add character without the work.

Use spray fabric sizing before sewing. The extra body makes it easier to sew and the fabric has a nice, crisp finish.

Double check all buttons to make sure they are secure, especially when making children's clothes.

***

A friend of my daughter's shared this YouTube video with me. It's just too stupid (and funny) not to pass along...

I get the message. Feel free to subtract a few points for this one. I desire it.

***

Catch me here -

Funky Junk Interiors

If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!

My Vintage Camper

2011-06-30T17:20:00.007-05:00

This is my "before" -- a camper I received (begged for, really)
for Mother's Day.

It has only two redeeming qualities...
it was almost free and it doesn't smell.

It has endless possibilities, though. Here are just a few...

I can do this...

Savvy Southern Style
*Blue Cricket Design
*Be Inspired - Room to Inspire

My Backyard Eden
A Beach Cottage

*Get Your Craft On-Todays Creative Blog

*Nifty Thrifty Tuesday - Coastal Charm
*Twice Owned Tuesday@ House of Grace
Tutorials and Tips @ The Stories of A to Z
Tabletop Tuesday - A Stroll Thru Life

*Nifty Thrifty Tuesday - Coastal Charm
*Twice Owned Tuesday@ House of Grace
Tutorials and Tips @ The Stories of A to Z
Tabletop Tuesday - A Stroll Thru Life

If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!

Uncle AG's Pie Safe

2011-06-28T15:08:00.008-05:00

This pie safe belonged to my great uncle, Asia George -- "AG". It was handed down to my Mom who loved him dearly and who helped look after him in his later years. He was such a sweetheart.

I "antiqued" it green, added the panel and painted the rabbits on it a hundred years ago -- during her "rabbit" phase.

Now that we're redoing her sunroom, it's time for a makeover.

Mom was a little timid about my painting over the rabbits. It was a little like erasing and drawing over a master piece I created in kindergarten for her. I, on the other hand, rolled creamy paint over them without even looking back.

We wanted something simple. Elegant.

We've obviously moved into our bird phase. I used a method I've used a couple of times before and birds I found on one of my very favorite sites -- The Graphics Fairy. You can check out my instructions *here*.

The room is coming together. The new curtain panels look awesome. I'll share some how-to's and after pictures later.

Can't wait to share the completed room!

Here's where I'm partying...

*Get Your Craft On-Todays Creative Blog

The Graphic Fairy
Today's Thrifty Treasures
*Metamorphosis Monday - Between Naps on the Porch
Made By You Monday - Skip To My Lou
*The House In The Roses

Mod Mix Monday - Mod Vintage Life
C.R.A.F.T.
Dittle Dattle
Making The World Cuter
The Girl Creative
Thrifty Decor Chick - Before and After Party

If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!

Somethings Gotta Give (and I guess it'll be me)

2011-06-10T16:08:00.003-05:00

I'm not "good" yet but I am "better". And, I was itching to post something. So I dug through my pictures (no wonder my computer acts like it's stuck in reverse sometimes) and found a few I had taken a couple of months ago when I was carving out some

workspace for Mr. C...

Something had to be done about a work space for my husband.

Nothing big. Just a place to lay his laptop down. In this little house, that space was NOT easy to come by.

I tried, I did, but I couldn't squeeze another desk in anywhere. At least not without moving something else out. But after moving here from our twice as big last house, I've gotten rid of just about all I care to. Anything more would just be too dang painful. Shoot me in the foot. I can handle it. That my stuff? That's pain of the unbearable kind...

So, I've been forced to commit the biggest ~~marriage~~ home office no-no there is. I'm moving him into the master bedroom and on to the cutest little antique table ever.

Here's a look at the "before" space ...

AND, the "after"...

Next thing you know we'll be on the Dr. Phil Show spilling our guts...

***

I'll be linking up here...
Savvy Southern Style
*Blue Cricket Design
*Be Inspired - Room to Inspire

*Furniture Feature Friday - Mustard Seed Creations
*Show and Tell Friday - My Romantic Home

If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!

2011-06-06T14:43:00.000-05:00

My back is out.

So am I. Hope to be "back" soon!

If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!

Rustic Trunk from Salvaged Wood

2011-06-02T17:27:00.007-05:00

I'll spare you the picture of me butt-up and knee-deep in our local landfill but I will promise you if you ever get a chance to dig around in one -- you'll be hooked!

I was when I found this pile of heart pine wood on my very first trip. Crystal ball...I see a second trip in my very near future.

The 1x6's were clean and pretty clear of nails. I'm saving them for my next "big" project -- a powder room addition. They'll make a beautiful, free ceiling treatment for the tiny room.

The 1x12's were nasty and riddled with holes. They looked like they had been involved in a shoot-out with a nail gun in which they'd barely survived.

We call that "character" in these parts...

I needed a(nother) storage spot for fabric in the guestroom where I sew so I just ignored all the negatives and carried on -- just like the sign says.

The construction was very basic. I added a stencil, applied randomly using stain, to add a little "something, something" to the basic box look.

I have to tell you about the quilt I plan to leave folded on the trunk. It's vintage, was a $10 find, and it has only one loose seam.

Oh, and it's amazing!!!

***

I'll be linking up here...

If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!

Fun Printed Lunch Bags

2011-05-28T15:50:00.010-05:00

As boring as a brown paper bag? Not in my world.

***

I've been making my brown paper bag baskets and delivering eggs in them for a couple of years. For a more personalized look (and to identify who they're from when left on someones front steps) I thought about stamping me some but then decided to try printing them on my printer instead.

And why not add a little something fun to the lunch hour as well?

Oh my gosh -- I love this idea. Karen at The Graphics Fairy has a million crazy cute graphics (for free) that would make perfect lunch companions. I picked one of these...

...and made this adorable lunch bag for my someone special.

It wasn't too hard, either. I changed my paper setting to 5"x10.5" -- the same as the bag. The printer ate the first three. Then I got brave enough to stick my hand in with the bag to guide it and, snap, it worked. I still lost a few but for the most part, they came out perfect. Just hand feed them, one at a time.

Warning:

I'm not really telling you to stick your hand in your printer -- I'm just telling you I did and I didn't feel a thing.

***

Here's how I make my little egg baskets...

So, how fun are these?

I can think of a million ways to use this idea -- how about you?

Come join the party @

*Frugal Friday - The Shabby Nest
The Friday Flair - Whipper Berry
Remodelaholic Friday - Remodelaholic

Feathered Nest Friday - French Country Cottage

Feature Yourself Friday - Fingerprints on the Fridge

Flaunt It Friday - Chic on a Shoestring Decorating

A Little Knick Knack

*Transformation Thursday - The Shabby Chic Cottage

*Strut Your Stuff Thursday - Somewhat Simple
*Between Naps on the Porch

No Minimalist Here
Fireflies & Jellybeans
Tales from Bloggeritaville
Brambleberry Cottage
My Repurposed Life
French Cupboard
Beyond the Picket Fence

If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!

So you want to talk about Chicken Tractors...

2011-05-24T15:22:00.010-05:00

I can do that. I just hope I can stop once I get started.

I have 13 chickens -- 5 assorted bantams and 8 Welsummers. I love them all. Even when they give me a little grief...

We keep them in a (somewhat) traditional chicken coop I made using an old satellite dish for the roof.

But, I also keep a chicken tractor in the garden. I rotate 2-3 of the girls into it every couple of weeks except for the coldest months -- January and February.

What is a chicken tractor? Chicken tractors are portable chicken coops without bottoms. They are one of the top 10 inventions of all time. I made that part up, but honestly, they are one of my top 10.

The chicken tractor provides shelter and protection while allowing the chickens to forage. Tractors can be used on the lawn, in which case you'll want to move it daily, or in the garden, where it can be left for longer periods of time.

The size of chicken tractor can vary greatly as can their design. However, most urban tractors are small-ish and hold 3-4 chickens.

The advantage of chicken tractors to the gardener is a sustainable source of eggs, meat (not me), and nitrogen. Chickens excrete a high percentage of the nitrogen they consume. Raising chickens on green forage in tractors will also reduce your feed bill by as much as 30%.

This is how it works in my garden...

Earlier picture of garden design

I have 10 beds in my garden, each 3'x8' (the exact size of the bottom of my tractor) and each separated by a row of bricks. When one of the beds is not in use, such as before planting or after a section is harvested, I move my tractor, sitting it down over the area where the girls can do their thing. They defoliate, de-bug, till, weed and fertilize the spot in just a couple of days. I will sometimes leave the tractor in one spot for 2 to 3 weeks but not too long so as not to overdo the nitrogen. I might leave it longer for a bed where I'd be planting potatoes (they love nitrogen) and move it sooner for a bed of peas -- they don't like too much of the good stuff.

Chicken Tractor Design

Chicken tractor designs are pretty basic and can be made from scrap lumber. Our chicken tractor was made to fit 3 laying hens. One end contains three nesting boxes (with a hatch to gather eggs) that provide shelter and nesting space.

This design works great for people in town that want 3-4 laying hens and have a small to medium sized yard. Those living in the country need a more predator resistant and slightly heavier model than those living in town.

I like these designs but there are hundreds on the internet...

Eggs

On average, chickens lay two eggs every three days and do not need a rooster to lay eggs. There are a couple of winter months when they stop laying due to shorter days but except for that, they are little laying machines. Our eggs have large, rich, almost orange yolks and they taste delicious. There really is a difference.

I love my chicken tractor. And who wouldn't? A true chicken tractor is portable and gets moved around but even if you don't need (or want) your chickens to be mobile, chicken tractors are the perfect solution to house your backyard chickens.

You'll be surprised but many town and cities allow chickens (with some restrictions, of course) so check it out.

***

Let's party here...

How To's Day - The Lettered Cottage (last tuesday of each month)
*Get Your Craft On-Todays Creative Blog

*Nifty Thrifty Tuesday - Coastal Charm
*Twice Owned Tuesday@ House of Grace
Tutorials and Tips @ The Stories of A to Z
Tabletop Tuesday - A Stroll Thru Life

The Graphic Fairy
Today's Thrifty Treasures
*Metamorphosis Monday - Between Naps on the Porch
Made By You Monday - Skip To My Lou
*The House In The Roses

C.R.A.F.T.
Dittle Dattle
Making The World Cuter
The Girl Creative

*Under the Table and Dreaming
The Tablescaper - Seasonal Sunday

I heart Naptime

If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!

Super Simple Garden Bench

2011-05-18T13:14:00.007-05:00

This super simple garden bench was made from lumber
I pulled from my scrap pile.

The 4X4's were pressure treated. The seat was a true 1X10x43 piece of cypress. My only purchase was the two inexpensive plant hangers -- turned upside down.

You can do this...

You'll need two 32" long 4x4's. Using post hole diggers dig holes about 16" deep and 24" apart. Thank goodness I don't do this for a living -- I'd starve slam to death. In fact, this might be a good time to appear helpless in order to attract some help.

Insert and test the posts to adjust the depth until the posts are the same height. You want have 16 inches above ground and 16 inches below ground. I used a level and laid it across the two posts to get them level.

BTW, If you haven't been rescued by now, forget it, you're home free.

Now, straighten the posts and pack the dirt back in around them. You can use the handle of your shovel to pound the dirt in around the posts as you go.

Center the seat on top of the posts. Screw down through the seat into the top of the two posts. Use four screws in each post.

Recycled sidewalk concrete was used to make the path and edging.

Now add your "brackets", stand back, and take a bow.

***

I'll be linking up...

Saturday Spotlight - Craft Envy
Be Different Act Normal

*Strut Your Stuff Thursday - Somewhat Simple
*Between Naps on the Porch

No Minimalist Here
Fireflies & Jellybeans
Tales from Bloggeritaville
Brambleberry Cottage
My Repurposed Life
French Cupboard
Beyond the Picket Fence

If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!

Hand Stenciled Zebra Print Fabric

2011-05-16T19:03:00.011-05:00

Even though spray paint was technically invented in 1949 by a man, Edward Seymour, it was his wife Bonnie who asked him to come up with it.

It wasn't clear what she hoped to do with her paint in a can but my guess is it wasn't painting fabric for her dining room chairs.

But, why not? I was tired of the fabric on my dining room chairs. I paid $50 a yard for it so I've had to

live with it (and myself) for a long time.

I was in love with a fabric and a color that existed only in my head. I'd have to create it myself.

I'm lovin' my new look...

And, what's not to love? The new fabric was cheap (painted on drop cloth fabric with 2 cans of spray paint) and easy.

***

The zebra like stencil pattern was cut from poster board and the back side was coated with spray adhesive.

The stencil was pressed onto the fabric.

I used the darker bronze color first. It's a metallic but it doesn't look metallic on fabric, thank goodness. I sprayed it on lightly -- not saturating the fabric so it wouldn't be stiff.

Then, I used the avocado paint to get the illusive color I was looking for.

***

Hot dog!

I'm showing this project off here...

If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!

To: Gina @ The Shabby Chic Cottage

2011-05-16T09:50:00.003-05:00

Dear Gina,

What a great plan -- rounding up a bunch of fun friends to remake two bedrooms in your cottage in three days.

I heard you had one opening left and I thought I'd write you this letter and let you know... I'm available and I'd love to join you guys!

I promise to be there for you --

building...

painting...

sewing...

and fetching coffee...

Of course!

Your Faithful Follower,
Lindy @ CottageHill

p.s. -- you had me at "We're gonna have a blast"!

Check this out...

I'm sending this letter to Gina @ The Shabby Chic Cottage via her linky party on Monday -- that is, if I get my nerve up.

You won't believe what she's up to. With the help of friends Lisa @ The Pennington Point, Cha Cha @ Sit Relax and Read, Polly @ Make Mine Beautiful and Angie @ The Country Chic Cottage, (and Lindy @ CottageHill if she's a very lucky girl) Gina will be redoing two bedrooms in her cottage in only three days. She promises crazy fun for one reader who will be invited to join in the fun.

It's happening July 21-23. Airfare and her guest cottage are provided. And food! Yummy food! I'm in!

Sound like fun? Check out the details *here*.

If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!

Vintage Style Hanging Light

2011-05-13T18:26:00.007-05:00

I'm trudging along...working on my list of 10 projects.

This one is #8. Feels like #800, but no, it's just #8. I'm counting.

I plan to hang this baby in my TV room where it's needed for reading. My floor lamp just bit the dust. It started turning itself on. Clearly that was not a good sign.

So, this skeleton of a light (I had no idea what to do with it when I bought it) is now the perfect replacement. It still needs to be rewired but for that,

I'll need a professional.

I was inspired by the hanging light in this room, my favorite picture ever -- except for maybe my kids.

Now I have one of my very own.

***

I started with this pitiful excuse of a hanging light fixture. I got it for a couple of dollars because it was missing a glass globe and was in need of rewiring.

I was busy looking for a replacement globe when I decided to try a cloth shade I already owned.

I loved the look but it was stained...

Solution. Strip it naked and give it a new outfit. One that's a little more fun.

I used pre-washed burlap and the old shade cover for a pattern. I hemmed the top and bottom and stitched jute along the edges to tie it on.

The plate that held the original glass in place was oversized and perfect for keeping the wire shade snug and straight. It will also help soften the light coming from the bottom of the shade -- great for a reading lamp!

I'm in love....

...with an inanimate object. Again.

***

BTW, I'll be partying here...

Savvy Southern Style
*Blue Cricket Design
*Be Inspired - Room to Inspire

Today's Thrifty Treasures
*Metamorphosis Monday - Between Naps on the Porch
Made By You Monday - Skip To My Lou
*The House In The Roses

C.R.A.F.T.
Dittle Dattle
Making The World Cuter
The Girl Creative

***
*Under the Table and Dreaming
The Tablescaper - Seasonal Sunday
I heart Naptime

If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!

Mercury Glass Candy Dish and a Project Update

2011-05-10T20:18:00.003-05:00

I admit it.

I have fallen down and blackened my eye when it comes to my plan to complete ten thrifty projects in 21 days. I'm not even going to count the number of days I'm over my goal. I'm not all that into kicking myself when I'm down...

Life got in the way and all I could do was let it.

I'm back today, though, posting two more of the promised projects so I could X them off. Number 7 could be marked off, too, because I've decided to make a couple more of the Trompe L'oeil Grandfather Clocks for my Etsy store and I have to save them for that...

***

I bought the vintage glass for 50 cents to add to my already too big collection of containers I use for cut flowers. I think it was a jelly jar in a past life.

This is my favorite type of container -- the kind that doesn't take a boat load of flowers to fill 'em up.

Isn't it sweet? The flowers are fresh from my backyard.

Then there was the candy dish in need of a little jazzing up.

I've seen some great tutorials for
DIY mercury glass so I gave it a try.

1. Tape it off

2. Spritz with water -- easy does it

3. Spray paint the inside of the container

This was super easy. The hardest part was getting the cap off of the spray paint.

Too solid...

Much better...

I did think it looked a little too "solid" so I took some packing tape and lifted a little of the paint off with it after everything was dry.

More tomorrow -- I promise!

Look who I'm linking up with...

If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!

Gail @ My Repurposed Life has a winner!!!

2011-05-05T14:35:00.001-05:00

Thanks to Gail @ My Repurposed Life, I got a lot of sweet comments and made a bunch of new friends.
Not bad for my first gig as a guest poster!

We partnered up to give away one of my paintings...

Reading Nook

And the winner???

momof2Boys

who left this nice comment...

Thanks so much, Gail. I'd love to do it again -- anytime!

If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!

Ballard Bird Knock-offs (with printable pattern)

2011-05-04T15:46:00.010-05:00

I "borrowed" this idea from Ballard Design. I hope they don't mind...

Ballard Design

Lindy Design

***

I love these vintage frames. They are two (in one) of the ten projects I'd hoped to finish...well....soon.

I can't imagine how anyone could let them go for such a low price -- just $4 for both. I can't imagine how anyone could let them go, period. But, hey, it works for me.

To make the paper I cut the birds from, I found a description of a mockingbird online and cut and pasted it into a Word document several times to cover the entire page. I changed the font to Arabic Typesetting, the size to 14pts, the type to white, the background to black, then printed it out on cardstock.

I didn't throw up over this step but I came close. This took an enormous amount of printer ink, I'm sure!!! The up side was it came out looking just like theirs, yes?

Using this pattern...

I cut the birds from my "special" paper and, using Mod Podge, glued them in place.

My details were painted on with a tiny brush but I think you could just use a fine marker if you wanted.

Perfection!

I'm hooking up...

If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!

Guest Posting and Painting Giveaway!

2011-04-30T07:00:00.008-05:00

You can catch me today at Gail's place--

I'll be guest posting and giving away one of my paintings...

16"x20" Oil on Canvas

If you haven't already, check out Gail's blog. This is one talented lady. She has an amazing way with wood! You'll find a couple of photo galleries that are
cram-packed with great ideas.

And, while you're there...don't forget to enter the painting giveaway!!!

Let's Party...

Today's Thrifty Treasures
*Metamorphosis Monday - Between Naps on the Porch
Made By You Monday - Skip To My Lou
*The House In The Roses

C.R.A.F.T.
Dittle Dattle
Making The World Cuter
The Girl Creative
Before and After Party at Thrifty Decor Chick

If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!

Vintage Overnight Case Turned Doll Trunk

2011-04-28T17:06:00.009-05:00

My grandtwins, Aubrey and Chloe, have a birthday coming up. Because I always make them something, I decided to use the overnight case (the third of my, maybe a little too ambitious, 10 projects in 3 weeks) to make them a trunk for a 1970's doll I found and for the doll clothes I made the poor little naked thing.

I'll have to find second suitcase. I predict a cat-fight over this one. I'll be ready with my video camera, though, just in case they stage a Youtube worthy brawl that'll make us all instant millionaires.

Before they were infamous...

The doll and trunk were the perfect size for each other. I love it when that happens. A good bath was all the baby needed but the suitcase was a very different story.

The outside of the case was in almost perfect condition and just needed a good cleaning and some furniture polish to liven it up. It turned out awesome...

But, the inside was just plain nasty. I ripped the guts out and re-lined it with a really cute vintage-y looking fabric.

This was a little tricky. Not hard, really, just tedious. Poster board was cut to fit then covered with the fabric using spray adhesive and white glue.

The fabric was stitched to the poster board to help it stay put.

I added a little pocket for storage, the ties to hold the baby in place and a bar for hanging doll clothes.

I'll be linking up at these parties...

Thursday:

*Strut Your Stuff Thursday - Somewhat Simple
*Between Naps on the Porch
No Minimalist Here

Fireflies & Jellybeans
Tales from Bloggeritaville
Brambleberry Cottage
My Repurposed Life
French Cupboard
Beyond the Picket Fence

Savvy Southern Style
*Blue Cricket Design
*Be Inspired - Room to Inspire

If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!

Vintage Suitcase Ideas

2011-04-25T15:17:00.005-05:00

The clock is ticking, I know, on my plan to finish my 10 projects in three weeks. If I were the panic-y type I'd be there. But, I'm not. I'm more the rollin' with the punches type.

So, when I realized I'd planned my 10 projects at the same time I was working on an out-of-town wedding for a friend, I just checked out for a week (which is more like a year in "blog" time) and planned on playing catch-up when I got home. The story of my life...

Remember my pile? I'm on the second of ten projects -- the vintage suitcase.

By chance, my husbands initials are CW.

I paid the most for it, $10, and thought it was so perfect on the outside I didn't even open it to look at the inside!

Bad move.

(I photographed it here so as to soften the blow.)

I spent the morning surfing the web for inspiration...

...and found all these pictures on Pinterest.

I have to admit I'm not 100% sure what Pinterest is except to say it's really very cool.

Very inspiring. And what do I have in mind for mine? You'll have to wait and see...

I linking up here so come and join the party...

No Minimalist Here
Fireflies & Jellybeans
Tales from Bloggeritaville
Brambleberry Cottage
My Repurposed Life
French Cupboard
Beyond the Picket Fence
Savvy Southern Style
*Blue Cricket Design
*Be Inspired - Room to Inspire

*Strut Your Stuff Thursday - Somewhat Simple
*Between Naps on the Porch
The*The CSI Project

The Graphic Fairy
Today's Thrifty Treasures
*Metamorphosis Monday - Between Naps on the Porch
Made By You Monday - Skip To My Lou
*The House In The Roses

If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!

10 Projects in 10 Days

2011-04-18T17:39:00.010-05:00

Yeah right! Sounds good but no way is it going to happen.

You know it. I know it. The paint on the wall knows it...

But how about 10 projects in 21 days? That sounds doable. And just look at these great finds! After an awesome bargain hunting Saturday I paid less than $20 for all of them!

I'm giving myself just 3 weeks to finish all of these projects and post about them.
Some are simple. Others? Not so much.

So who's going first? The cute little McCoy planter raises its hand...

I love the shape of this planter with its curvy little handle. The color is perfect, too. I was over that chip on the front edge as
soon as I saw the price --50 cents!

This was one of the easiest of the projects.
All it needed was a plant and a photo op.

I lined the inside of the planter with a heavy duty zip lock bag cut to fit, filled it with potting soil and tucked in some ivy I rooted in my kitchen window.

One down -- nine to go!

I AM INSPIRED.

I'll be linking up here...

C.R.A.F.T.
Dittle Dattle
Making The World Cuter
The Girl Creative

If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!

Tomatoes 101

2011-04-16T16:38:00.017-05:00

I grew up in the south where my next door neighbor was an elderly lady named Mrs. Ardis. She could grow just about anything and spent her days in her garden where I was always welcome. I realize now I learned about sustainable gardening from her although it was not called that back then.

8x6 Oil on Masonite

I painted one of my seedlings a couple of years ago...

I must really like tomatoes!

Mrs. Ardis rooted roses, azaleas, and hydrangeas by the dozens. She planted her cuttings in old coffee cans. Each was covered with a bread bag making a mini hot house. She grew her vegetables using seeds she saved from one year to the next. Once, she pinned a leaf to her kitchen curtain that sprouted tiny little plants all along the edge.

I was fascinated.

I was remembering her and her Dixie Cups filled with tiny tomato plants yesterday when I was working in my vegetable garden. I have wonderful memories of my sweet little Mrs. Ardis.

***

My first round of tomatoes were planted 5 weeks ago when they looked like this...

Now they look like this...

Planting Tomatoes

Plant a few hills early in the spring. If we get a frost, I just cover them up. I just planted 3 more hills and will add another 3, a month from now. I stagger my planting this way so that when one planting begins to play out, another one is just getting started -- I don't get all my tomatoes at once.

I purchase plants (shame on me) from the garden center. I like Celebrity and Sweet 100's and I look for plants that are not too leggy, stand upright, have no wilted leaves and no blooms.

Grow two plants for each member of the family who will eat lots of tomatoes, as a rule of thumb. If you plan on canning tomatoes or making fresh and canned salsa, use up to four plants per person.

Plant in a sunny spot. Place tomato plants in a site that gets full sun (7 hours or more daily). Tomatoes need lots of warm sunshine.

Prepare the garden bed by adding lots of well rotted compost if you have it.

Remove the leaves from the bottom half of the plant and plant deep in the hole burying 50-75% of the plant. This is hard for me to do when I buy such a nice, tall plant but it's a must! It makes for a stronger plant.

Give each plant about 1 gallon of warm water within ten minutes of transplanting to avoid transplant shock.

Space tomato plants 18 to 36 inches apart. Don't forget to leave yourself enough space to get in between the plants to water, weed, and harvest. Those cute, little seedlings may not remain that way for long.

Use a tomato cage or a tall stake to support the tomato vine about 14 days after transplanting.

Choose whether to use chemical fertilizers. I am lucky to have chickens and all the chicken poo I want. I use soiled hay from my coop as a mulch for each plant being careful not to let the mulch actually touch the plant. This is the only fertilizer I use because I have a chicken tractor that's been on all of my planting beds so the chickens have already fertilized each bed. If you choose chemical fertilizers make sure they are made for vegetables and not grass and follow the manufacturers instructions!

Shake your plant poles or cages gently once or twice each week for about 5 seconds once flowering starts to promote pollination of the blossoms (from one flower to another).

I'll have to post about chicken tractors soon but here is a look at mine in last year's garden...

Click on the picture if you'd like a little backyard tour with some pretty shocking "before" pictures!

Ha! Notice the tomatoes gone wild!

***

I'll be hooking with these fun ladies...

May 27 - Favorite appetizer recipe

*Furniture Feature Friday - Mustard Seed Creations
*Show and Tell Friday - My Romantic Home

*Frugal Friday - The Shabby Nest
The Friday Flair - Whipper Berry
Remodelaholic Friday - Remodelaholic

Feathered Nest Friday - French Country Cottage

Feature Yourself Friday - Fingerprints on the Fridge

Flaunt It Friday - Chic on a Shoestring Decorating

A Little Knick Knack

*Strut Your Stuff Thursday - Somewhat Simple
*Between Naps on the Porch
No Minimalist Here

Fireflies & Jellybeans
Tales from Bloggeritaville
Brambleberry Cottage
My Repurposed Life
French Cupboard
Beyond the Picket Fence

Savvy Southern Style

*Blue Cricket Design
*Be Inspired - Room to Inspire

*Get Your Craft On-Todays Creative Blog

If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!

Thrift Store Table meets.....its match!

2011-04-13T20:00:00.018-05:00

I paid only $15 for this little kitchen farm table so I don't mind so much putting it outside on my shabby carport turned breezy patio and hoping for the best. The patio is covered but the ceiling is so high it still gets wet sometimes. I think it will survive. But if it doesn't,
I can still sleep at night.

It needed a little livening up. So, I broke out the (New Avocado by Valspar) spray paint and gave it the update it needed to be able to keep up with the blue chairs I snagged for $5 each at GW.

What came next was a hard sell...

I may have added that last part myself.

These are my tools of choice--

And this is the "damage" they can do--

A little stain...

And I love, love, love this color!

He'll understand when he's older.

***

I'm linking up with Donna @ Funky Junk Interiors

If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!

Black Bird on my Clothesline

2011-04-06T10:56:00.010-05:00

All my adult life I've wanted a clothesline. My grandmother had one and I loved hanging clothes out to dry with her. "Mac" had a washing machine right in her kitchen and a large aluminum dish pan she used to carry wet clothes to the line. I'd give anything if I had a picture of her at her clothes line.

I'll have to be honest though, sometimes her towels were stiff as a board. In later years she started using that new stuff -- fabric softener. After that her towels were a "soft" kind of stiff. I happened to like stiff towels. I've never been better exfoliated in my life...

So, after living in a dozen neighborhoods hooked on restrictions (one being no clotheslines) I'm finally here, a place where I do anything I want.

First on a long list of atrocities was chickens, check. Next was my very own clothesline, check.

I did have one restriction of my own -- it had to be cute -- so I cut the cross boards a little curvy and added a "watch bird" for....... protection. Yeah, that's right, protection.

I don't know what the other birds think of him but I think he's wonderful...

Sheets on the line...

Life is good.

I'll be linking up here:

*Nifty Thrifty Tuesday - Coastal Charm
*Twice Owned Tuesday@ House of Grace

*Metamorphosis Monday - Between Naps on the Porch
Made By You Monday - Skip To My Lou
*The House In The Roses

C.R.A.F.T.

Dittle Dattle

Making The World Cuter

Beyond the Picket Fence

If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!

Re-pillowing (with video tutorial)

2011-04-04T17:08:00.014-05:00

This is a good look -- if I may say so.

But, when we have guests over, they sometimes look around, like a deer in the headlights, for a place to sit.

I have to admit, with all those pillows, my sofa looks a little...well...complicated.

I decided to go for a cleaner look when I found this yard of fabric for around $5. Jealous?

I love the fabric with the rug -- the only real color or pattern in the room.

Using a queen sized down bed pillow I found at the "Maxx" for $14.99 and a scrap of bronze colored silk for trim, this ginormous pillow cost me around 20 smackers....what a deal!

Making the awesome trim is easy even if explaining it isn't.

I cut 2-1/2" strips of silk 3 times as long as the length of trim I need when finished. What on earth did I just say? Let's try that again...

Say I need 1 yard of trim. I would cut strips of fabric 2-1/2" wide and would need 3 yards of it when stitched end to end. I hope that's better.

I fold the strip in half and stitch down the center, sewing little tucks in as I go.

Grab some popcorn and watch the video for details.

It's my first so I hope you enjoy it!!!

Once you get the hang of it, this goes really fast. I was able to make enough trim for my pillow in about 10 minutes.

Now you have the perfect 5/8" pleated trim with a perfect 5/8" flang for stitching.

Here's the new look...

Kick your shoes off, and sit a spell...

***

I'm partying with these fun ladies...

*Under the Table and Dreaming *Show and Tell Friday - My Romantic Home
*Frugal Friday - The Shabby Nest
The Friday Flair - Whipper Berry
Remodelaholic Friday - Remodelaholic
Feathered Nest Friday - French Country Cottage
Feature Yourself Friday - Fingerprints on the Fridge
Flaunt It Friday - Chic on a Shoestring Decorating

A Little Knick Knack

Saturday Spotlight - Craft Envy
Be Different Act Normal
A Little Lovely
Along for the Ride
Passion for Paint

If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!

Dog Silhouette Pillow

2011-03-26T14:35:00.013-05:00

Our oldest daughter is in medical school. We are very proud of her. She has worked awfully hard to get where she is,
weathering hundred hour days, sleepless nights, really gross anatomy and a 6-year-old study partner.

And even though she has let none of this get the best of her,
this just might...

Meet Jack. Fifteen pounds of completely adorable,
totally out-of-control dog flesh.

Of course, she's in denial, and thinks it's going to work out. I, on the other hand, have the job of pessimist -- what are mothers for? But, I can still hear her, at 12 years old, telling me, "You're responsible for that dog if you bring it in this house!"

We'll see. I won't mind one bit being proven wrong on this one though.

In the meantime, I've made my grandson (study partner extraordinaire) a pet of the tamer kind for his bed -- a "Jack" dog silhouette pillow similar to those I've seen in decorating magazines.

It was much easier to find a dog silhouette by googling "dog silhouette pictures" than to get Jack to sit for a picture. I enlarged the view and used a little cheat I've done before. I taped my drop cloth fabric
over my laptop screen and very lightly traced the image with a fine tip marker.

I'm not recommending this...I'm just telling you how I do it...
it's your laptop...

I traced and filled everything in with black markers -- how easy was that? I like the "drawn on" look, myself.

Back at the computer, I typed "Jack" into a document, enlarged it to fit and cheated again by tracing directly from the screen.

This all works best in a dark-ish room.

I drew the border with a marker around the edge.

There you have it --

***

I'll be linking up here:

*Under the Table and Dreaming

*Show and Tell Friday - My Romantic Home
*Frugal Friday - The Shabby Nest
The Friday Flair - Whipper Berry
Remodelaholic Friday - Remodelaholic
Feathered Nest Friday - French Country Cottage
Feature Yourself Friday - Fingerprints on the Fridge
Flaunt It Friday - Chic on a Shoestring Decorating

A Little Knick Knack

Saturday Spotlight - Craft Envy
Be Different Act Normal
A Little Lovely
Along for the Ride
Passion for Paint

If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!

Bird Lamp Tutorial

2011-03-22T18:34:00.007-05:00

It's another bird post. I'm at risk of an intervention, I know, but I have to show you how I (re)made this lamp.

I've done a couple of projects using this same process.

This one...

Click on the picture to see the details

And this one...

Click on the picture to see the details

It's fast. And pretty easy.

I'll show you again if you missed the other tutorials...

Color, circa 1987? Shade, a little too shabby to be Chic?

After a good sanding and a nice coat of creamy white spray paint it was looking pretty good.

I found these gorgeous birds at The Graphics Fairy, printed them out on card stock and carefully cut them out. I like using card stock for decoupage projects. It's easy to control. It doesn't wrinkle up when you hit it with a little Mod Podge and there's no curling up and rolling away.

I played around with the placement of the birds. I wish I could remember to do this before I paint on the limbs but, well, that would be someone else's blog, now wouldn't it?

I have a nice assortment of Plaid paints I used for the limbs and leaves. I get good coverage and I love the millions of colors.

I used Mod Podge (which I called Hodge Podge for years....sorry Plaid) to attach the pretty birds. I brushed a good heavy coat on the back, pressed it onto the lamp, then brushed some on the front of the paper as well.

I washed the entire lamp with watered down brown paint for an aged look. A good coat of clear spray paint, a little lamp shade love and there you have it -- another bird project because you just can't have too many of 'em.

If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!

Recycled Newspaper Pots

2011-03-19T17:06:00.005-05:00

I save seeds each year from my cutting garden for the next year. These are some of my favorites...

Peppermint Zinnias

Assorted Zinnias

I've started some flower seeds today. I'm thinking I should have done this sooner but.....well......wait a minute.......I'm thinking........

I made newspaper pots to sow them in and get them started. The pots are super easy to make, free, and earth friendly. And once your seedlings are old enough to move out on their own you just pop them into the ground -- paper pot and all.

You could get fancy (and expensive) with this project. Purchased newspaper pot makers cost $25 or more. Sure, they're cute...

Fancy Newspaper Pot Maker

But they don't really make sense when I can whip out a can of Campbell's Soup that'll do the job for free and later sacrifice itself for dinner.

Recycled Newspaper Pot How To

Tear a single sheet of newspaper in half and fold in thirds.

Wrap the paper around the can about 1/4" from the top edge. Not too tight -- you're going to have to slip it off.

Funny headline! I said the pots were free -- not the soup!

Secure with tape.

Fold the bottom edge in like this...

then this...

Keep folding...

...and folding.

Secure with tape and slip it off the can.

I fill the pots with dirt (also free) from my compost bin and keep the seedlings moist, not soggy, until they're ready to plant, pot and all.

Here's a couple of cute options...

Happy Gardening!!!

If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!

Bird Lamp -- 100th Post Giveaway!!!

2011-03-17T18:27:00.008-05:00

This giveaway has ended...
Yeah baby! This is my 100th post and I can hardly believe I made it this far. It's been fun...and sometimes hard -- with a life going on in the background that's had its ups and downs lately.

But I've hung in. I've made some nice friends and I've been inspired by all the very talented (and super funny) bloggers out there.

This is my big one-oh-oh post and I wanted to have a special giveaway.

I grabbed this curvy lamp at Restore for its shape and not its color. It was a funky shade of peachy-pink -- not my favorite color since 1987. Now it's a pale cream, covered with pretty birds (from The Graphics Fairy, of course) and ready for its close up...

Are you feeling lucky? It's going home with someone.

Maybe it'll be you!

Road Rules for getting up to 4 entries...

Become a follower (or if you already are one) - leave a comment letting me know.
Leave any comment on this post.
Grab my button and leave a comment letting me know.
Blog about the giveaway on your blog linking back and leave a comment letting me know.

Good Luck!!!

This giveaway ends Sunday, March 27th and the winner will be

announced Tuesday, March 29th.

If you enjoyed this post (and, gosh, I hope you did) please BECOME A FOLLOWER!

Shopping Your House

2011-03-12T12:00:00.008-06:00

Sometimes you're just (more than) ready for a change. It doesn't happen to me that often but when it hits me -- it hits me hard.

Lately I've been in that kind of mood but because I've been working on projects for clients, I haven't had time to "discover"
new accessories for myself.

The solution?

Shop my house.

I worked on the mantle and a spot or two in the kitchen myself. Then my Mom (whose timing is always perfect) came for a visit and she shopped my house for me.

By moving around some of the accessories already on the armoire in the master bedroom and adding things she found around the house she put

together a new look for me.

The prints had been stacked next to the armoire for months, waiting impatiently to be hung...

I still love the vintage book planter so, of course, it had to stay...

And the sweet little picture of Mr. Lindy had to stay as well...

What a handsome little man.

He still sticks his hands in his pockets just like that.

And believe it or not -- I knew him at this age!

This birdcage was a Christmas gift. The potted ivy seems to show up all over my house -- I think I could use a dozen of them.

Sometimes a little tweaking is all you need.

A Mother's touch doesn't hurt either...

I'll be parting at

*Blue Cricket Design
*Be Inspired - Room to Inspire

Savvy Southern Style
*Tea Rose Home
*Someday Crafts
Restore Interiors