New Year, New Resolutions?...or stick with the old ones?

Once again the New Year approaches and I am puzzled as to what my resolutions will be.  I seem to pull out the same old ones every year and I never seem to stick to them, but maybe this year will be different.  Weight loss is always at the top of the list and I start out well but then life kicks in and I never seem to find the time needed to take to shop for healthy meals, much less fix them.  The next on my list would be to learn the word, "No."  I always seem to over commit myself into helping other people out.  I know the feeling of being the lone person working on a project and I hate others to have to do the same, so I have a tendency to place my own things on the back burner.  I am sure people probably think I never finish anything or that it takes me forever, lol.  So.... so far we have weight loss and the word "No."  I guess my third item would be to finally start developing the art I would like to produce. For Christmas I received a set of paintbrushes and two tubes of paint from one of my students and had another former student stop me to say they really wish I could teach art....maybe this was old St. Nick's subtle way of saying stop making excuses and get to work. 
The New Year begins in two short days.  I guess this time next year we will know whether this will be the one year that I stick to the 10th anniversary of two of my resolutions.  Maybe throwing the third one in will be the charm for commitment this year. Wish me luck.  As for all of you, may you have the courage to stick to your resolutions, follow your dreams, and have a very Happy New Year! 

New Years Eve Cupcakes

New Years Eve Cupcakes

These are so cute....wish I had more time!

Pinterest

I am sure that I am not the only one that has discovered the new pastime of Pinterest.  I click and add so many projects that I think at my current calculations I will need to live to be a 120 and in good health to finish.
  I am one of those imaginative dreamers that loves to create and explore different mediums, if only you were paid to do these types of things. I save so many items because I think, "Hmmmmm...I could make something with that."  I seem to be the first person people dial when they have an unusual object they are looking for or a creative project they need help with.  I run and grab my supplies and dash to the rescue like some super craft hero. (And I have the second degree glue gun burns as proof.)  I have been referred to as eccentric, eclectic, a pack rat....though no one has ever had the nerve to say hoarder, I am not that bad. I have even taken those quick tests online that repeatedly label me as 80% right brain thinker. I get excited when I see books like Why Right Brainers will Rule the Future.  It gives me hope.  Until the final battle when we gain control, I will continue to search for new ideas and creations....which may mean I will be a little slow blogging, these things take precedence.   I have included two pictures from my current pinterest idea file that I managed to complete today.

Thrift Stores 2

I also discovered this frame for 95 cents at Goodwill.  I spray painted it a bright teal and placed a mixed media piece that I had painted for a Klimt challenge.  I keep telling Ben this is part of "going Green" but I think he sees it as more junk but humors me.

Love Thrift Stores

Well, as you can tell I don't do well at blogging.  With the start of a new school year and Nana's recent diagnosis, I have been a little short on free time.  I did get a little bit of thrift store time this morning and found a beautiful treasure.  I have always wanted a spinning wheel and have always been outbid at auctions.  Today I discovered a spinning wheel chair. I realized what it was from my addictions to all the restoration and antique shows.  Often when a spinner would die the family would make the spinning wheel into a chair.  Anyway, I was happy.

Thursday.....School Starting on Monday....Blah!

How is it your last week of break always seems to fly by?  I always have a whole list of things I want to do but never seem to get them all done. Last week when we went to Roanoke I stopped by Goodwill and found a really interesting hutch top and Ben being the ultimate furniture party pooper said dishes would not lie flat in it, so very sadly I walked on.  Yesterday we revisited the same store and there in all its glory sat the hutch top, I saw this as an omen...not that it was so ugly that no one else would purchase it but that it was meant for me to have! I promptly walked to the nearest shelf, found a plate and discovered it would lie flat within the cabinet so I immediately stuck my tongue out at Ben.  I know this was very childish but that is the relationship we have, lol. So I happily leave with 4 of my favorite ornate gold plastic frames and my hutch all for under 42.00.  We have a galley kitchen and I think open cabinets will help give the illusion of more space. Since our house is almost 110 years old and I want the pieces in the kitchen to match the character of the house.  Now if Ben can just make me a concrete farm sink, lol. I think our kitchen is going to be like a Italian kitchen, when we move all the pieces go with us. Buyers will walk in and say, "Where's the kitchen?" Well, I guess I better go get Ben out of bed to go get my treasure! Will post pictures later.

What to do, what to do, what to do.....

So, one of the things I discovered in reading Wishcraft was that I had a Renaissance personality, lol, now that may sound really great but what it basically means is that Ilike to have a lot of different irons in the fire at one time. In other words, da Vinci was apparently ADHD.  So while I fully intend to continue my furniture remodeling pursuits, I also like to venture back to collages and sculpting.  After purchasing the most recent copy of Art Doll, I have decided to work on some Halloween pieces.  I think Halloween actually ranks up there with Christmas for me.  Though anyone that knows me knows that I can be one of the biggest scaredy cats out there. I am the child that kept garlic powder in their nightstand to fight of Barnabas Collins. (My mom didn't have cloves of garlic) Hopefully tomorrow I will have some in progress photos to post.

Post Vacation

Well, back to reality....summer is coming to a close and it never seems long enough to do the things you wish.  I have made a few amazing discoveries, one if anyone is at a point in their life where you wonder what you really want to do.....you should read the book Wishcraft.  It's a great little book to help you pinpoint the things you truly love.  I think my biggest problem is I am a creative soul stuck in an education system that no longer values creativity.
I have enjoyed browsing blogs this am looking for artsy projects.  I am off to comb thrift stores now looking for supplies.  There are a lot of creative and inspiring people at there...take time to look at their amazing ingenuity. I am constantly amazed at what I find.
I ran across a recipe for White Chocolate Peach Dessert Pizza at http://www.alovelyplacetoland.com/.  This will definitely make my grocery ingredients needed list.
Have a great day!

DO you ever really finish?

I think one of the worst parts about starting a project is cleaning up after the project.  I discovered I was not alone in this thought, several days ago when we finished up painting  my son made the comment that we should leave the clean-up for my husband.  So either these thoughts are genetic, or universal! If you have ever been in my house you know I am constantly working on something whether trying to redo a room or working on an art project.  Ben always says he has to pay close attention moving around in our house because he never knows when I will take the notion to move or change something.  For example you can go into the shower with a bare bathroom wall and exit to find one of my 3-4 foot mermaid collages on the wall, or take a trip to the bay and discover I painted the couch while you were gone.

One of the great things about living in a house that is over 100 years old, you are not afraid to do anything to it, especially when you see what previous owners had done of the the years!

Night Stand Stages

Room Update

Okay, I know my three followers are anxiously awaiting a room update, haha. I had to take a few days off to visit a very dear friend.  I really credit her for my love of antiques and my ability to find ways to reuse items.  I have been very blessed to have her and her family in my life.
So I hit Walmart today for some bargain sheers to place under the valance that I hemmed on my way to Richmond yesterday.  The bed is actually belonged to my mom when she was a little girl, the nightstand is my Goodwill find, I bought the rocking chair at a tag sale for 4.00 because it had a busted seat, and I picked up the lamp at Hobby Lobby for 6.99. (It had been 69.99) The material for the valance is actually material my mom purchased at an auction in Covington when  Salterini furniture went out of business. It was suppose to be used in my bedroom when I was little.  I wanted a bright pink room, I am not talking girly pink, I am talking bright in your face pink! My mom won the battle, my room was painted girly pink and the material was stored at the back of the closet. The good news is I finally got to use the material!
If you follow my blog you will notice there has been a slight change in my nightstand, I added legs.  I think it gave it more height and made it seem less clunky. The frame is an old one that I found in our garage and I think I bought the miniature frames for 25 cents a piece at a neighbors yard sale.  Anyone that knows me knows that I can save some of the strangest things but in the end I seem to find a use for them.  I have been described as eccentric and eclectic, both seem to fit.  I seem to be the person my friends call when they are seeking something unusual......wonder why?

Old Walls

Putting up molding on old wavy walls is quite a challenge, especially when one is working on it by themselves.  You start think of creative ways of having someone hold the opposite end.  At one point I thought of enlisting my golden to help hold but then that would involve placing a dog treat strategically in the correct place and hoping it lasted long enough for him to stay in that position. Then you imagine someone watching you on a hidden camera getting quite a laugh especially when you are spreadeagled against the wall. Twenty nails later I finally get it to hold long enough for the liquid nails to dry....that's what spackling it for!

Home Renovations

Ok, is it just me or does anyone else think HGTV may exaggerate the short amount of time it takes to renovate a room? It took us two days just to get up all the carpet, tacking, nails, and staples.....I think carpet layers insure job security by making it such a difficult job to remove.
So here is what the room looks like on day 2.  Ben is still smiling and no "special" language has been used.  So far today I have not had to say the word sarcophagus, apparently my husband doesn't know the word stop when moving cars and furniture.  After an intervention with him we asked him to choose a word that meant stop to him and it was sarcophagus, not even going to mention my son's suggestion here.....my reply..I will be dead before I can get that one out!

Nannie's Table

This is an old farm table that once belong to my grandmother.  I am going to paint it the same color as this nightstand shown in an earlier post and use it as a computer table.  You can see my three helpers below the table, Coltrane, Clancy, and Hank (the cat).

Auction Purchases

Recently attended the auction of a very dear friend and purchased some items that I remembered from my childhood.  These are a few of the larger ones that I came home with.  (My sister purchased the clock for my birthday.)  Will be sure to share where these end up in my house.  I will definitely attend more auctions with Nicely's Auction Company in the future!  I have been wanting a vintage stove but shuddered at the reproduction  prices.  When I saw this stove I knew I had to purchase it!  You have to admit they are like old classic cars, look at that hood ornament on the top!  Venture over to the link below to see some refurbished vintage stoves.
http://dreamstoves.com/portfolio.html

Bedroom Remodel Project 1

I purchased this end table at the local Goodwill for 9.50.  I plan to use it as a nightstand.

Daddy

Since I have spent most of the day painting furniture for the back bedroom, I decided to post a vintage picture of my dad doing the same.  This is dad painting outside of the dry cleaners that he owned and operated.

Hall

To see the original hall check out my April blog at the right.

Hall Remodeling Continued

Okay, finishing up a few projects in the hall before moving to the bathroom, and the back bedroom. I decided to paint the tops of the steps red which in the beginning seemed a little daring because past experience has taught me that red is not an easy color to get rid of! Also, Cullen asking me, "So, do you like it?" made me a tad bit nervous. The antique lamp on the hall table was on of a pair purchased at the auction of a very dear friend.  End the end I liked the red but must admit it was difficult to paint on an old and uneven surface.

Summer close to beginning....

Monday will be my last day of work before beginning summer vacation.  So many projects, so little time!  Check back to see my documented progress.  Wish me luck!

Cake-Cupcake Platters

Okay, these are the pieces that I went to the Goodwill to purchase....when I also walked out with a table and chairs!  Each piece is separate and has been glued together with household epoxy, then spray painted with frosted glass spray paint.  The next step will be to paint each piece, though at the moment I am liking the frosted look on the clear pieces.  The navy blue piece is currently drying after being painted. Will publish follow up pictures.  http://www.centsationalgirl.com/ is the inspiration for these pieces. Each piece is a glass plate, two of the bottoms are crystal candlesticks, and the third a crystal candy dish.

Goodwill Find

I have been on a search to find a long dining room table.  I ran across this set at Goodwill when seeking supplies for another project, my cake servers.   The table should measure btw 6 and 7 ft with leaf inserted.  Appears it will be easy to sand a finish.  I plan to order to fabric chairs to be used at both ends.  It was made by Kuchins Furniture Manufacturing Company under the name Color Kist.  They were only in business from 1929 to 1940. 

Hall Remodeling

I guess the best place to start is the entrance to our home!  The picture above shows the "lovely" shade of brown that we started with, yes, it was once in style.  On the right you will see where Handyman Ben added the larger planked bead board to the bottom 2/3 of the wall.  We chose Behr Premium Plus in Lemon Balm to paint the top portion of the wall.  If you have an older house, I highly recommend paying a little more and getting this brand.