SNOW DAYS!

Remember when you were a kid and school was closed for a "Snow Day"? YIPPEE! I couldn't wait to get outside to build a snowman and a snow fort where I'd stockpile snowballs. Then we neighborhood kids would play for hours throwing snowballs at each other. We'd trek through "at least 4 feet" of snow to go sledding! The city closed off one of the residential streets that was perfect for speeding downhill! Our 'snowsuits' were wet and frozen solid with snow. WHO CARES! It was THRILLING and FUN!

Fast forward to the present.........I can't wait to come IN from being out in the snow and cold! How about you? Do you LOVE THE SNOW? Or would you rather be snug and warm in front of the fireplace with a mug of steaming hot chocolate (or your favorite beverage of choice)?

These "Snow Days" have given me an opportunity to complete a few more projects.

I did another 'ghost mirror'. The first one turned out so well, I decided to use the same technique on another antique mirror I had.

I used a scrapbook paper that looks like a French vintage document, some old sheet music, and added an old photo into the mix. I put a dark stain wash on the antique frame, which I wiped off to enhance the crackled finish.

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You've probably seen these little metal shelves before. They were popular in the '50's and '60's and used mostly to hold cosmetics and small items in the bathroom. This one has been spray painted white, then distressed a bit to give it an aged look!

I decoupaged old dictionary pages and French ephemera onto the shelves.

Now this fancy little shelf unit will look great in ANY room!

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What else can you do with a pile of old orphaned picture frames? Well, one idea is to turn them into a terrarium or display case! I've made them before and liked how they turned out. It's like putting together a puzzle! This bunch of frames was destined to become another one! The frames are larger than what I'd used previously, so it turned out to be rather tall!

For something different, I added an etched look to a couple of the glass panes. My plan was to have those panes on the top frames. Unfortunately, I neglected to make sure those panes fit the upper frames before I did the stenciling! When it came to putting all the glass in place.....GUESS WHAT!! It didn't fit in the top! The glass was for the frames on the bottom. UGH! Sometimes it just doesn't turn out as planned!!


That wasn't the ONLY problem! Yes, I had another 'junk-gone-bad' moment! GASP! One of the smaller frames I used didn't have glass with it, so I used one from another frame. Same size. It would work out okay - RIGHT? WRONGO!! It was just a TAD too big!!!!! But, of course, I didn't realize this until I was putting it all together. ACH-H-H! I couldn't believe it.

I ended up using the glass as it was. It's NOT perfect. It has character!

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As long as I'm confessing..........I had ANOTHER problematic project! TWO IN ONE DAY!! That's when you want to just throw up your hands and QUIT!
I've turned lots of old picture frames into memo/jewelry holders using chicken wire. Most of the time it's easy to attach the wire to the frame back. Wel-l-l-l, not this one!

The vintage wavy frame was beautiful! It's the back side that turned out to be the issue.

It looks fine from the front - it just doesn't look so pretty from behind!

Do you ever have things not turn out as planned?

Sometimes you've just gotta grit your teeth and CARRY ON!

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I saved the BEST FOR LAST!! This one is made from a wood end table - turned UPSIDE-DOWN! I forgot to take a before photo, but it looked kinda like this one. I had to remove the top part, which wasn't an easy task!



A cutie-patootie DOG BED! Isn't it adorable? What little dog wouldn't love to have their own bed!!



The cushion was a little tricky! I used a soft fleece for the top and French script fabric for the sides. The foam pad inside is so cush-y and cozy!

I attached wooden ball knobs to the bottom to elevate it off the floor a little bit - low enough for the pooch to climb in easily!

Happy dog dreams!

If you are lucky enough to have a  dog (or cat), you know about unconditional love! They love you no matter what! And, they are part of your family.  

If you don't have a dog, and like me, would love to have one........

"choose to take in someone who doesn't have a home

choose to feed him

choose his bed

choose to show him what it means to have a friend

choose to pet him on the head when he finally chooses to be your dog"

(from an ad for Nature's Recipe for pets)

ALWAYS, ALWAYS CHOOSE TO ADOPT!

To all you animal lovers - until next time.....

KEEP ON JUNKIN'!!



LITTLE BIT OF THIS, LITTLE BIT OF THAT!

I spend a fair amount of time perusing different blog sites and various magazines filled with 'junk' creations, getting ideas here and there, and trying to re-create them into my own plans and projects.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery........quote by Charles Caleb Colton

Right? Well, I don't copy other's ideas EXACTLY!  Mine always include my own personal touch of whimsy - enough to make it look SIMILAR, but NOT THE SAME! Otherwise it wouldn't be UNIQUE, now would it? Even with the vast amount of people that are into the re-purpose/re-create craze, there's still a never-ending supply of uniquely new ideas out there! That's what's so much fun about it!

LAMP SHADES
I've accumulated a plethora of lampshades lately in all shapes and sizes. I must have seen some inspiring ideas using lampshades to get me started in the collection mode!  Here are a couple of them featured in the most recent Country Living Magazine....


I actually HAVE the exact same one that's pictured on the right! I found it last year laying on top of a trash pile waiting to be picked up! I couldn't believe my luck!! I was visiting out in CO and it just happened to be during the same time as the town's Trash Days - an annual event that attracts ALL kinds of junk and junky collectors, like ME!! Anyhoo...I was thrilled to find it! Didn't know what I was going to do with it, but knew that I couldn't leave it to be hauled away LIKE TRASH!! ah, ha, ha, ha!

Isn't she lovely? Not a stain, tear, or missing tassel! It reminds me of a ladies corset!

I've had this next one for awhile. The fabric was in shreds, and after removing it, I sprayed the frame with a coat of white paint. My plan was to turn it into a hanging light. I attached a mini eyelet ruffle to the top and bottom, but didn't really like how it looked. I'm still re-thinking this project!

These are a few more of the shades I've acquired. Different shapes and sizes. The smaller ones will be more difficult to use as projects, since there's only one of each style! Would it look TOO ODD to have mis-matched shades on a chandelier? Then, again, WHY NOT??

       

To see if I could rescue one shade that was badly water stained - I incorporated that look with a vintage tea-stained ruffle and lace scraps and beaded glass trim. It's shown here on a small milkglass hobnail lamp base.

First, I modge-podged tea stained sheer voile onto the shade and then added lace and trim scraps. The decorative lace applique and the voile are salvaged pieces of a white wedding dress that was used in another project. Mini millinery paper roses and satin ribbon accent a lacey flower.

The pair of dainty milkglass hobnail dresser lamps were a Goodwill find! If I were going to use this little lamp with this shade, I'd give it more of an antique off-white color for a better match. Wouldn't you agree? 

You can see the darker marks of the water stain through the fabric. Makes it look more authentically vintage!!

MIRRORS

By now you all know that I have a serious love of old mirrors! Especially ones with the aged and fading silver backing. They reflect so much beauty. Some years ago, I saw what was called a "ghost mirror", where a faded image was visible in the mirror itself. I've always wanted to give it a try - here's what I came up with:

Isn't it beautiful? It's vintage sheet music and a lovely scrapbook paper under the mirror. I've looked at several tutorials on how to do this, but they all seemed rather lengthy and involved strong chemicals. So I came up with my own solution! Very simple and it worked quite quickly! I was so happy with the results!

The closeup shows the detail of the background. Notice the words "Gypsy Countess"! I couldn't resist! The frame is an antique with floral carved edges. It's very sturdy and heavy - perfect! It will be a conversation piece, for sure!

PILLOWS

I always try to incorporate a few pillows in my space. Fills in empty places, adds a bit of whimsy, and makes it all look comfy & cozy! This is one I just finished out of some muslin and stenciled letters.

I like ruffles!



WHAT INSPIRES YOU? 

THINK SPRING!!

XOXOX

TODAY'S MY BIRTHDAY!!

YE DITTY HAW!  I've hit the ICON YEAR! "66"

click on the picture below

I'd LOVE to be truckin' down that old "ROUTE 66" this summer! With the windows rolled down, and the radio blastin' out those classic oldies! WOO-HOO!

"GET YOUR KICKS ON ROUTE 66"!!