almost finished

 I saw something similar in a magazine while browsing at Barnes and Noble the other day.  My husband went to work building one for me out of scrap wood.

This morning, my father put the first coat of paint on it.  While it dries, I am considering the options.  I'll likely opt for a light distressing and a final waxed finish.  I already have ideas of what to place atop this sweet pedestal...

pleased as punch

After many hours of contemplation,

we decided to leave this hanging rack in its rustic condition.

My wonder-working husband dismantled an old, useless ladder

to fashion this 57 1/2" long piece.

I envision it hanging in a laundry room or entry hall.

I have neither --

so we're posting it on a few Facebook buy/sell pages.

Meanwhile, I'm "pleased as punch" at this re-purposed item!

I looked up the etymology of that phrase and found this at Mental Floss:

The pleased Punch in question is not a drink, but a puppet. 

The traditional, ages-old Punch and Judy puppet shows feature the married couple 

battling each other with clubs. 

 In the original story,line hunchbacked, hook-nosed Punch 

eventually beats not only his wife to death, but also his infant child, 

with a policeman, a doctor, a lawyer and the Devil. 

Punch is deliciously self-satisfied with his sadism, constantly uttering his catchphrase: 

“That’s the way to do it!” Punch’s strutting pride in his awful deeds is what led to the coining of the phrase of being “pleased as Punch.”

Hmmmmm.  Maybe it's NOT a phrase I should continue using! 

white it will be

After a tour of a large, new (to us) antique mall 

where we focused on painted furniture to gather ideas for paint colors,

we settled on WHITE for this piece.

It is going to be beautiful!  

In the meantime, the top of this fine nightstand was sanded

and finished with a couple of coats of polyurethane.

It's a beauty!

from inspiration to transformation

 This box caught my eye the minute I saw it a month or so ago.

I find old wooden boxes hard to resist, but there is a limit to how many a person needs....

It sat taking up space in our garage until I had a brainstorm over the weekend.

Fortunately, I have a live-in HandyMan to convert ideas into realities.

NOW we're talkin'!

The drawer was missing on an old side table we'd picked up somewhere,

so he unfastened the legs and attached them to the box.

I'll post the finished product after paint & other finishing touches.

(I think it may already be sold.)

who knew?

Who knew where my "dotting" would lead?

(See my last post to figure out what dotting is.)

Ever since it caught my eye several years ago at a farm auction,

this beleaguered cat sat patiently in a flower bed waiting for a make-over.

I had seen one of Hap's done with big polka dots and was just about to apply them

when I got THIS brainstorm.  

I got out some old (REALLY old) paints, added a little water & stirred 'em up;

then dug out some old stencils and went to work.

After she dries, I'll polyurethane her so that she holds her look proudly.

Who knew I'd get so crafty in my old age?!?

spots and dots

 Spots and Dots, I believe he calls his art technique!
Michael "Hap" Hapner, that is.

This bicycle and the artful flowers (see below) made of vinyl records

caught my eye on the House and Garden Walk we took over the weekend

 Today I decided to see what I could do.

I got out this pink metal fan (I'd painted it pink for another project),

 squirted out some paint I had on hand,

decided to try toothpicks,

 and here's the result - so far!

I'm off to purchase a couple of brighter colors to continue the project.

It takes LOTS of DOTS to fill in the space.

(No wonder his bicycles sell for as much as $3,000!)

Warning:  "Dotting" CAN be addictive, 

but on the positive side, it requires very little paint...

I think I would prefer a dark background paint next time.

And spots?  Not sure how to "do" spots.

But then again, that's the thing about creativity --

there isn't necessarily a "right way"...

 Still dotting....

When I finally finish the fan, I'm going to ask my husband to use his

"new" old welder and attach it to a metal rod so I can put it in a flower bed!

waiting for the paint to dry

Pardon my excitement.....but I can't help myself!

My husband is Working Wonders with a couple of unrelated pieces

he uncovered while cleaning out our garage and rearranging his work space!

I can't wait for the paint to dry so I can stencil some metallic gold medallions

(or something) on the toes of this one-of-a-kind table!
You can click on the bold words above to see the project in process.

my creative man

 After fashioning 3 of these chalkboards out of sample cabinet doors
 that we had been given a long time ago,

 my husband made this tree out of scraps remaining from the project

 and presented it to me on Christmas morning!

I had this idea in my Christmas file on Pinterest.

I might stencil some words on its "branches" 

when things calm down a bit around here!

Meanwhile, I'm just enjoying looking at it...

My creative man works wonders!

i think i "can"

 After seeing the VERY creative "Christmas talisman" Darla fabricated,

 I tried MY hand at it.  (Well, my husband's hand, actually, since

 he was the one who did the bending of the tin can lids.)

MY part was to wield the can opener and select the pictures --

the hard part, you know...

I still need to find a couple more tabs for hangers

and a bauble or two to decorate the corners like Darla did.

But meanwhile, I'm enjoying this creative venture

(and trying to figure out a menu or two that will supply some more can lids)!

By the way, when you're over at Darla's blog,
BE SURE to use the sidebar "index" and take a look
at her OTHER talismans.  They are SO interesting!
 Disclaimer:  I am not a promoter or "believer" in talismans in the traditional sense.
I think of these as purely ornamental.

don't judge me too harshly

 My husband had errands to run in town, 

 so I went along and we ended up at Barnes and Noble

 where I browsed through the latest magazines.

 I liked the chalkboard that you see above.  

 I'll do SOMEthing like that after I erase the turkey on my own...

 I photographed the small tree with the blue ornaments 

 because I needed a visual to arrange the blue bulbs

 that I currently have sitting in a wooden bowl--
waiting.

 THIS one (above) I like 'cause of the books and the "Tip" to the right.

 (I think you can see why I like it.)

THIS photo is of the front of a building I passed on my short walk 

to the Post Office this morning. 

I don't have the equipment to photograph it at night.

(I sure wish I could.)

Please don't judge me too harshly for getting into the Christmas spirit so early.

This Thanksgiving Season HAS graced my life.

I am thankful for all the blessings I enjoy

and find my creative energy DOES thrive in the atmosphere of gratitude.

(Sometimes I feel like Mrs. Blandings whose style with words AND decor I adore)...
I can go on, do gush, and fail to force myself to slow the heck down on some occasions.  I can be what I'd like to define as "passionate,"
 but others may see as undone.

Labor Day Weekend - Trivial Pursuits

Architectural pieces, heavy (cast iron?) and hiding in our garage,

make good bookends!

 

50 cents!  Can't wait to wear 'em!

 A few of my Labor Day Weekend finds (above)...

a look to copy (below - from a magazine browsed through at Barnes and Noble)...

a craft to try (below - also from a magazine at B & N)...

and a surprise from my closet--

wrinkled but fitting!

color burst

 Nothing more "thrifty" than a can of paint!

I'd bought a pint matched to a piece of furniture I needed to touch up.

Enough remained to paint the shelf my husband cut to add to the bookcase (above).

Now it holds all the children's Golden Books
I've purchased at garage sales and thrift stores.

This is one of the first places our grandchildren head when they come to visit!

I'm not so proud of  this photo of our old radio/phonograph unit, 

but I wanted to show the board my husband painted with the same paint
to fill in the gap at the back.

Some time ago, we "gutted" it,  Now it serves to hold our small boom box
(in the slide-out drawer)

and some magazines and a basket of ribbon below.

I'm enjoying this most recent Color Burst!

old stuff...new eyes

 

 We treated ourselves to a very short getaway.

Seeing sights like these as we wandered through the shoppes that were open

 (it's not actually "the season" yet), we gathered ideas and enthusiasm

for using some of the spare parts and pieces

we've gathered over time to create some new pieces.
I'm already looking for a corner in which to place the open cabinet (below)
after we find a door to split and refurbish!

 A couple of shoppes specifically asked that no photos be taken.  

So I'm relying on my memory and brief descriptions scribbled 

in my journal to remind me.

It's time to see old stuff with new eyes!

better than a card?

 I don't like to visit a sick or hospitalized friend without taking SOMEthing.

For this special friend, I took a hammered-tin angel 

(thrifted Christmas tree ornament)

and typed out a verse that I hope is reassuring.

I glued the verse to an attractive background,

cut around the edges,

and tucked it under the angel "wings".  

Nothing fancy.  Just "me".

I think it's at least as good as....and maybe better than a card.
I sure HOPE so!

tweeking

"...one of the ways I attempt to create at least a thin layer of authenticity 

is to shun holiday or theme specific manufactured decoration."

 

When I read this quote at French Kissed and saw her incredible photos

I realized it expressed what wasn't quite "right" with my mantel as arranged yesterday.

It wasn't so much about the orange as the

Halloween-specific manufactured decoration.

So I'm tweeking today.

I'll also be ironing this table runner...

 and finding the perfect spot for this white ceramic pumpkin  that I created last year

or the year before (or the year before THAT) at a ceramic shop.
(Time flies when you're 62!)

Saturday Sense-ation

To me, "chic" is not an appearance but an experience. 

Necklaces I made years ago in a camp "Craft Shack"...

I'm planning today's "chic-ness" to include as many (if not all) of my senses as possible.  I've already begun...I've put a Sense-atio-al Soup into the crockpot.  Potatoes, celery, onion, zucchini, and carrots with a little bit of evaporated milk (leftover) & seasonings.  It looks GREAT - and there should be a wonderful scent awaiting us when we return from a walk at the mall later this morning.  It's just TOO hot to walk outside today.  (I'm a bit of a wimp.)  We'll end our walk at Barnes and Noble where I'll enjoy the sensation of turning the pages of some of my favorite magazines. 

While  at the mall, I shall do a bit of "chic-sighting".  I got this idea from the Queen of Chic this morning (see her post HERE).  Then later, while we're enjoying the soup back at home, I'll select some background music to accompany our conversation.

Fun to wear/Full of memories...

I'm looking forward to a Sensational Saturday.  

It will end this evening with my weigh-in.  

Two weeks ago I embarked on a return trip to health.  

I journal it on my Power, Love and Self-Control blog. 

(The experience of good health is the Ultimate Chic-ness!)

Sense-ation is my word for the day.