SUMMER'S FADING!



It's been awhile! And the summer is almost gone! I've been busy with yard work, getting the perennials divided that need it, cleaning up flower beds and starting new ones! It's the perfect time of year to start doing that. The rain we've been getting is great for new transplants! Everything is still looking nice and green.

WHAT I DID ON SUMMER VACATION

I re-did the pavers along the back of the house. Sound like fun?

 I wanted them to be more level to walk on!

What a mess and H-O-T!! - why did I choose the HOTTEST DAYS

to do all this dirty, backbreaking work! And the BUGS! ACK-K-K!

No amount of bug spray would keep them away!! 

If you live in Iowa, you know what I mean!

 

 But, I got it done - I was short some pavers toward the end,

 so the last couple of feet don't look so great!

At least it's reasonably level.

Now I can sit at my patio table and enjoy the view of the backyard!

 

While I was at it, I re-did the landscaping along the patio!

Made a dry bed stream using river rock to take away water from heavy rains.

 

See my cute bottle tree! Full of blue bottles -

 and, YES, I DID CONTRIBUTE TO THE COLLECTION!

 

 

I think 'RELAX' is an appropriate choice of words while sipping some fine wine on the patio!

 

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I managed to finish some painting projects in between my other chores!

 

Remember this ugly end table from my last blog?

 

Here it is in a fresh vintage white. Just a tad distressing and some graphics added on top!

VOILA!

 

 French Café graphics add the perfect touch to an otherwise blah table!

Ah! I love French script, it just LOOKS romantic!

Someday I shall go there!

 

Did I show you my off-the-top-of-my-head-design potting bench?

This is in the 'rough' (very!) stage!

I've had the vintage sink for years thinking I'd find some wonderful

carpenter MAN to build a fabulous potting table around it!

Well, I got tired of WAITING FOR THAT MAN!!

 

So I did it myself!

As luck would have it, I found a heavy chest of drawers at a barn sale

that works perfectly - well, not so perfect! - but I made it work!

I used pickets from a fence I found on the curb. I just KNEW they'd come in handy some day!

 

Can you say HEAVY?

I CAN!!

Now if I just had a POTTING SHED to put it in..........

 

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This poor little table was laying in a heap of pieces on the curb

and then I RESCUED IT!

Hard to imagine the top was split into two pieces!

What was I thinking!!

But, I got it all put back together again.

It's a lovely shade of aqua with a walnut stain on the top.

 

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 BEFORE.........

I call this "the Princess" chair!

  That's the first thing that came to mind when I saw it.

All tufted and pink velvet - well, not so much pink anymore!

 

Once upon a time, I'm sure it was very pretty!

 

Until someone let their kids or grandkids use it for a paint pallette!!

WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT??

 

And, to add to it's list of 'fix-its' - the springs were SHOT! Oh, my!

But, LOVE THE CURVY LEGS!

 

I only paid a dollar for it! How much work could it be!!

bah, ha, ha, ha! How often have I said THAT!!

 

AFTER.........

 

TA-DA! HER ROYAL MAJESTY, PRINCESS MAKEOVER!

I chose a Coffee Bean burlap bag from the local coffee roaster shop - don't ask me why!

 

I took this photo before I added a thick jute twine trim to cover the 1,001 staples!

 

The graphics look off-center, but that's how it was on the bag!

It's wasn't me.....Really!

 

She needed some PA-ZZAZ! So I painted her legs LIME GREEN!

HOO-LORDY! They are bright! LOVE IT!

 

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I saved the BEST for last!

 

This gorgeous little dresser is just precious!

It'd be even BETTER if I had taken a photo with its new hardware in place!

It really makes a remarkable difference.

I'll take another picture so you can see for yourself!

 

It's got these curves in the front AND on the sides!

They don't show up too well in the pictures, they are ever so slight.

I had to cut a new bottom for the inside, but other than that, it was in pretty good shape.

 

Look! The detail on the legs is so pretty - and no broken pieces!

 

Did you notice that I DID NOT PAINT IT!!

Only gave it a good cleaning and a protective finish wax.

 

I only added the numbers to draw attention to the details!

 

I love it so much.....I MAY HAVE TO KEEP IT!!

 

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Here's the next exciting projects I'll be working on!

 

Can you guess what it was?

If you guessed old record player cabinet - YOU'D BE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!

 

Can you guess what I'm going to do with it??

If you said "turn it into a bar" - YOU'D BE RIGHT, AGAIN!

DANG! YOU'RE GOOD!

 

Since somebody already did half of the work on the inside, it's going to be a

PIECE OF CAKE!!

 

I'm thinking turquoise with white chevron stripes and chrome - lots of chrome!

 

 

And then, I've got this carved wood buffet top........

Not quite sure how this will turn out, but it sure is purdy neat!

Lots of detail for me to play with!

I'll let you know how it turns out!

 

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Animal print is going to be the fashion rage this fall!

 

I'll be right in style! It's ALWAYS my rage!

 

 

 

I know you're out there! I can see you!

 

Stay well, my friends!

Until next time......

 

 

XXOO



SUMMER DAYS & THE LIVIN' IS EASY!

Summer! My favorite of all the seasons! I love it, but it seems to go by so quickly!! Do you think so, too? It's been a very busy summer! Even BEFORE summer got started!

In April my daughter turned the big 5-0!!

I can barely get those words to come out of my mouth! 

Anyhoo...she celebrated her birthday with a 'HAWAII 5-0' themed party -

 and I mean P-A-R-T-Y!!

50 YEARS OF MEMORIES IN PHOTOS!

Here's my baby before the party - the lei she has on was hand-made and sent to her from a friend in Hawaii. It's rosettes made from intricately folded leaves. It was stunning! 

 

All the guests came in tropical, beachy costume!

There was a lot of dancing, food, and FUN!

 

This is the outside bar area at the beautiful Glenwood Canyon Resort

where the party was held.

www.glenwoodcanyonresort.com

a fantastic place to stay and have a great adventure in Glenwood Springs, CO

 

It was a fabulous party!

I won't bore you with the OTHER 400 PHOTOS!

 

Another MILESTONE BIRTHDAY celebration!

 

We celebrated my mom's 100 YEARS YOUNG birthday with parties on July 3rd, and on the 4th, and again on the 5th! What a great time to have a birthday! There's celebrations and fireworks everywhere! Almost all of the grand and great-grand kids were there! Mom had a wonderful time!

She sure doesn't look or act like 100 years old! She's very fortunate to have been healthy and active all of her life! Happy wishes on your birthday, Mom, and many more to come!



My sister, mom, me, and my daughter at one of the parties.

 

I MISSED SEEING THE FIREWORKS!

My favorite thing to do on the 4th!

(this would have been the BEST way to view them!)



 Laying on the beach looking up at the glitter-filled sky!

 

This summer I've been taking advantage of all the bounties of the local Farmer's Market

and trying to eat healthier. My garden is starting to produce fresh green beans and there

are tomatoes ripening nicely on the vines. Can't wait till they're ready!

 

 

We need to have it this way again!

 

My perennial gardens are in full bloom now.

 

 

Stuff just grows where it wants to.....kinda unruly.....like ME!!

 

Bugs are out in full force, too! BAD ONES and THE GOOD ONES - Fireflies, that is!

 

 

As a kid, did you ever try to catch them and

put them in a  Mason jar? It's STILL FUN!

 

Okay! now on to the topic of my PROJECTS!!

I decided to take a break pause from working on any more STUFF for a while, but 

I just can't seem to stop myself when I find a piece of furniture in need!

 

I saw this sitting on the curb one night on my way home from work - so I HAD TO RESCUE IT!

Basic kitchen cabinet - bonus: it still had the shelves and all the shelf clips! SCORE!

 

 I added casters to the bottom. My idea was to make this into a functional island piece!

After I stood it upright, it had a tendency to tip to the front, so I had to remove the casters

and spread them out further for better balance. MOVING ON..........

 

I wanted the back to look finished, so I decoupaged old dictionary pages to it!

And added trim to the top, bottom and sides.

 

After re-attaching the cabinet doors and adding new knobs, it looked kinda BORING.......

so I added chalk painted rectangles to write messages or words of inspiration!

 

Painted the shelves and decoupaged old pages to the inside, too!

Holy Cow! Sorry my garage floor looks so bad! Can you tell I'm a messy painter!!

 

It would be the perfect as a 'Coffee Bar' or 'Martini Bar' - whichever your drink of choice may be!

 

I got this footstool at a garage sale - I can't find the 'before' photo - but, trust me, it was NASTY!

I cleaned it up, tore off the disgusting cat-hair-covered fabric, and painted it antique white. I used a seed sack fabric for the top and some burlap scrap for the ruffle trim.

 

AFTER: A Funky Footstool!

I love vintage seed sacks! They're so colorful and STURDY!

Here's a closeup of the decal.

I was really being lazy when I put the ruffle on with a hot glue gun while using my fingers to scrunch the burlap! Quick & Easy-Peasy! I'm all for that!!

 

Okay! Now I know that everybody's Grandma had a chair like this at some point!

I picked this one up at the thrift store really cheap!

BEFORE:

Tacky embossed vinyl seat covering - probably chosen because

 it was easier to clean up spills and it doesn't stain!

 

Very feminine and curvy.

 

AFTER: Sweet!

Painted with my version of off-white chalk paint, lightly distressed and outfitted with a fashionable new seat cover! I chose to use burlap to give it a 'RUSTIC ROMANTIC' look!

I purchased the burlap coffee bean bag from

a local coffee roasting company, 'Sidecar Coffee Roasters'

http://www.sidecarcoffeeroasters.com/

 

I stenciled a vining rose design on the burlap fabric to compliment the carved rose on the chair back.

 

Details of the carved rose design.

 

I can see this being used as a vanity chair, desk chair or fitting in perfectly

with similar style chairs for dining. Which would you choose? Hm-m-m?

 

Isn't this trophy ADORABLE!!

I spied it at my favorite thrift shop! A darling dancing couple! I can

imagine them doing the waltz or fox trot. Whatever was popular at the time!

 

The cashier said they look like "Arthur & Katherine"

(Arthur Murray Dance Studios, for those of us who remember "way back" then!)

 

It was difficult to capture the intricate detailing because it's so shiny. There wasn't any

engraving on it to determine who, what or when! Don't know what to do with it!

It was just too precious to pass up!

 

Let's see......what else have I been working on........

 

Love this old 'Arts and Crafts' style desk! It's solid oak and very heavy.

BEFORE:

In fairly good condition, but not very well cared for. Edges around the top are pretty banged up. Black water stain ingrained into the top - most likely from a potted plant.

 

I like the open shelves on the side.

 

It even has a drawer in it!

This is one piece that I really didn't want to paint - GASP! I KNOW! I'm surprised, too!

 

I patched up the missing chunks of edging, cleaned it up, and tried to remove the

deep water stain - I tried various techniques, and sanded it, but wasn't able to get it out.

I used a dark stain/sealer combo over the entire piece and left it at that.

 

I know I have the AFTER photos - just can't seem to find them!

 I'll take some new shots and post them next time!

 

Here's another 'BEFORE' project....

Just your basic, ordinary wooden end table.

 

I've finished it, too! Geesch! What's up with me and not getting

all my photos downloaded!

 

SORRY!!

You'll have to wait until next time to see it, too!

 

Maybe what I need is some 'MEMORY PILLS'

Yeah! M&M's! Chocolate!

I'm afraid those tiny portions wouldn't be enough for me!

 

There's a few things I want to do this Summer......

 BETTER GET BUSY BEFORE SUMMER IS GONE!

 

What's on YOUR Bucket List?

 

 

 

XXOO