Friday, August 20, 2010

My Mother's House

Phyllis Diller once said,
"Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling 
the walk before it stops snowing."

Well, I may be grown but all I'm trying to say is...I'm home for a visit with my mom...she has two beautiful guest rooms...this is the one I'm not allowed to stay in...
 The mattress and box spring are sort of "slip covered".  I really like the look.




I like how she used this china cabinet to hold "treasures" in a bedroom.



 This cute vanity was a $10 find. It's true.  My mother would not let me lie to you.



Can you imagine being the mother of a child that quotes 
Phyllis Diller? -- poor thing.




*To see the parties I link to and to join in the fun, CLICK HERE!

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Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Repurposing Dust Bunnies

Not really... But, please! please! please! let me be the one to come up with THAT idea.  

I have a friend who includes dust bunnies on her list of family pets.  
I myself use them as a “protective coating” on almost any surface in the house, but
I'm sure they have some other hidden potential.
Otherwise, why would God make them so plentiful?

Even if I can't yet repurpose dust bunnies I can repurposed these vintage light covers...
    
Repurposed Vintage Light Cover Tutorial


I've made hanging lanterns out of them for my fence.

You will need:
  1. Discarded light cover with a lip.  I think it would be cute to use a mason jar as well.
  2. Flexible heavy gauge wire
  3. Wire cutters
  4. Small solar light (purchased from Walmart's garden department for $2.50)
  5. Clear silicon 
  6. Hook for hanging



 Cut a length of wired about 10" longer than the circumference of the mouth of the light cover.
Twist the wire around the mouth of the cover forming two equal sized loops on each side. 
Snip off the extra stuff.



Cut a piece of wire for the handle.  Mine was about 22".  Using wire pliers, bend and curl the
ends, threading through each loop like you see in the picture.





Now, disassemble the solar light.  Just twist it's little tail right off.
You have to pull the little orange strip you see in the picture out to activate the light.


 It's hard to see but there is a little screw up in the open end of the light.  I put a little glob of 
silicon over the screw to block any moisture from getting into the light.


I just dropped the light down into the glob, making sure the light cell was 
facing up and open to the sun so it could do it's thing.  One of the globes was too large 
for the light to stand up in on its own so I used a large glob of glue 
in the bottom of it to hold the light upright.



The lights look great at night and really brighten up this little corner of my yard.

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ALERT!!!
   There's no fire or anything but I did just find this really cute, 
easy solar light project at Bobbypins Boardwalk 
 -- another super way to use the solar lights we found at 
Walmart for $2.50.  Check!  it!  out!


*To see the parties I link to and to join in the fun, CLICK HERE!

Linked to: DIY SHOW OFF
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Monday, August 16, 2010

Suite Little Guest Bedroom

I love a pretty little guest room.  
I decorated this one with a couple of my favorite 
little guests in mind...

Grand Twins Aubrey and Chloe!












The furniture was a hideous shade of mustard gold.  
That would explain why I paid only $250 for all 4 pieces!
 I made the tie backs out of flattened coke cans --  promise!
Just cut the shapes out, scored the details, spray painted red, gold leafed and antiqued.  
Sounds like a future tutorial ...




I found this pair of oil paintings for $50.  
They're old (the patina's real) and in less than perfect 
condition but I love them any ol' way.





Ask these two to do something they really don't want to do?
Chloe immediately holds up her finger to show you 
she can't (she has a hang nail) and 
Aubrey states flatly, "I can't want to, honey"!

Silly girls...

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I'm Linking up with 
Beverly's Pink Saturday!!!


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Please *click here* and take a look around 
my Etsy Store...


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Small Practice Paintings

A while back, I committed to painting "100 small practice paintings".  Not one a day like some very dedicated painters do (and I can only hope I might one day be a very dedicated painter) but just 100 of these tiny paintings, in all, ever.  This is a good approach for me -- not too much pressure,  keeping it open ended and the like.  Suits my personality because, really, I'm not a serious painter.

I paint for the fun of it.  And, sometimes, I paint fun things.  I'm on number 21 (and, yes, I'm counting) so I thought I'd post a few every once in a while starting with my first....

No. 1
8x6 - Oil on Canvas









No. 2
8x6 - Oil on Masonite







No. 3
6x9 - Oil on Masonite




No. 4
10x4 - Oil on Masonite
One day, when I get my online shop up and running, I plan to sell some of my paintings there.


I'm partying at the following Link Up parties:


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