the day after

Loooong weekend, OK show but now I've got to empty the van, clean up and catch up on laundry.  So much for having an easy day.  The booth looked great.  I love the door backdrop and the picket fence shelves AH made.  They come apart, are light weight and lay flat.

tool addict

I must confess I am married to a major tool addict.  If there is a special tool to buy to do a job AH has to have it even if he has a tool that may do the job.  Remember the TV show Tool Time?  That's Andy to a T.  I happened to mention that all the things I've been buying would be much easier to paint if we had a sprayer.  I'm thinking the one we have in the garage that is a pain to clean and very messy, but it does work. If we wanted to upgrade maybe the new sprayers where the paint goes into a cup and uses air pressure to work, cost $60-70.  No, the next thing I know he has ordered the Cadillac of high price hand sprayers and we are off to the big city to pick it up.  A friend tried to convince me he bought it because he loves me and wants to make my work easier.  I saw the gleam in his eyes and the rush he gets locating the best deal on the internet.  Maybe there's some love in there too but mostly it's that rush of getting a great new tool.  I'll let you know how I like it if and when I ever get a chance to use it, so far all I've done is move it off the kitchen table so we could have dinner.

Product update:  the sprayer works great.  The first time we used it we sprayed two coats on 15 different pieces in an afternoon.  The second time 10 pieces in half the time with almost no over spray.  The clean-up is the most difficult thing about the whole job.

home sign

I saw a sign similar to this at a recent street fair.  I loved the simplicity and colors.  A window is used for a frame.  I used Masonite as a backing, painted it black, used Elmers glue for the crackle and tan as the top coat.  After that dried over night I cut a star and letters with my Cricut.  I transferred the designs with carbon paper, yes they still make it.  I painted the star and letters by hand then antiqued the whole thing.  Attaching the painting to the frame and a saw-tooth hanger and it was done.

$19.50 day

I hit a friends basement and a nearby towns city garage sale last weekend.  All together I spent $19.50 and ended up with quite a haul.  Most will be cleaned up, sanded and painted for my upcoming show, a few things are for VCB and a couple of things I'll keep.

Doors from friend Kathy's remodel.  They will part of the new back drop for craft displays.

4 crystal oval bowls for .50  I'm thinking soap dish or a place to put pretty jewelry.

Nice size table $3.00

kitchen table, the top is damaged so I will just use the base free

ugly blue table just might become a bench with a new cushion it was in the free pile

Set of 4 sturdy chairs, maybe a garden bench or use the back hanging upside down as a towel rack

2 baskets and 4 plastic bags full of canning jars

2 identical metal chairs $2.00 each

fall mantle

It's that time of year when I like to change up my decorating to go with the new season.  This really isn't a mantle, it's the shelf above my couch.  AH thinks it's a little over crowded with all the candles so I might thin it out a little later.  Along with the winter curtains, gourds all over, different pillow covers and the color focus turning to deep reds and rusty browns the living room and kitchen look like fall is here.  It's 48 out this morning I think fall has arrived.  Next I'll change out the bed room and I haven't done the exterior doors or out side yet.  I just use what I have and will add in just a few mums or asters.

metal tray redo

I've tried a little zentangle on a couple of chairs and these thrifted metal trays.  I used a paint pen and drew on my basic design with chalk before I started.  A little spray of clear sealer finished the job.

game table

Frame+chalkboard paint +vintage legs+cat assistant= game table. A simple formula for a great piece.  The bricks and towel are there to weigh down the top until the glue dries.  Dusty, she just wants to help.

more happy birthdays

Happy birthday to my wonderful sons Nathan and Rich.  You have gone from being the cutest babies ever to wonderful young men.  I am so proud of you.  Love Mom

More projects

The project making continues here.  Our sun room is almost unpassable and the over flow is in my sewing room and our bedroom.  I need a studio I don't have to share with anyone, but I don't think we can put any more buildings on our property.

re-purposed cabinet door with decal saying then antiqued

This little stool was red, yellow, green and falling apart when I got it, now it's pale blue with a simple stencil.  It would make a great plant stand or table for a child's room. 

Some times I find thing  it don't need any work.  I'm keeping this hand made cutie as a cash box.

Happy Birthday

We have a lot of family birthdays during September but  the most important is my wonderful husband, Andy.  I couldn't do half as many projects with out his help and support.  It's hard to believe the first birthday we celebrated together was his 23rd.  He's now eligible for retirement.  How time has flown.

cream cheese fruit salad

My DIL Brandi and grand daughter made this wonderful salad for dessert this last weekend.  It's surprisingly light and tastes great.

1 box jello cheese cake mix, remove the crumb crust mix and use it for something else
16oz vanilla yogurt
1 container Cool Whip
3C mini marshmallows
1qt strawberries sliced
3 bananas sliced
Just mix every thing together and chill
I'm not sure if you can buy cheese cake instant pudding mix but if so that would work also.  You could switch out the fruit if you like something else, I'm thinking blue berries and peaches.

candle sticks

I'm still working on projects for the upcoming show at the end of this month.  I always pick up heavy brass lamps and candle sticks if the price is right.  I've turned a few into  new candle holders.  You just take them apart, remove the wiring, socket and harp.  Then glue them back together with E6000 and paint however you wish, be sure to spray with a clear sealer when you are done.

too busy

After traveling over the holiday weekend and all the craziness  here this blog just fell by the wayside.  I'm taking a few days to catch up, see you soon.