Hang on to your shirts/blouses ......new ideas to be explored

Just HAD to share an updated photo of other collars for jars, etc. Earlier post introduced you to this cute idea BUT I wanted to emphasize that you do not have to do these on a sewing machine. In fact, the first one I completed was done on a machine and I pulled out all the stitches and used a slip stitch. Much neater job and ease of turning under the hem. Try these EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE A BUTTON AT THE NECK. They would look great in a bathroom to store cotton balls or Q-Tips. Personally I like almonds and M&M's in mine. The black and white check blouse had NO BUTTONS, just ties. Wow - this blouse was an antique, so I sewed the ties on and hemmed as usual. It looks great. Thanks again to Jane for posting photo of the magazine.

Ah.... the joy of repurposing.... AGAIN

Recently while visiting my cousin Patty in Alexandria, VA, I was introduced to the cutest publication entitled Flea Market Style - 2011. Living in a small town, I don't always have the opportunity to grab this cute magazine due to quantities available and I jumped at the chance to obtain another copy. What cute complimentary ideas to any home.... I am on a serious hunt for nice shirts or blouses that will allow this idea to be embraced. A way-too-tight blouse proved to be a good choice as I made a cute collar for an old glass jar. Look around your house; you probably have some of these. I like to keep almonds in easy reach and this looks so cute. Try it - Thanks Jane (for posting photo of magazine).

Snow covered clear jars (amost snow like)

Just had to give a sneak preview of a few of the items featured on our recent Open House tour. What a great time we had. My son assisted in moving this cute project to another level by using a product on the glass BEFORE adding glue and snow. This makes for easier cleaning. I drew the tree and he taped it - did his magic and waited hours for the snow to dry completely. They are so pretty with just a hint of glow at the bottom of the tree - Hope you like it. Look for more posts - perhaps tomorrow.

Autumn greetings from my front porch to yours

Sorry I've been out of touch for a while - too much going on and just couldn't get in the groove to blog. But I'm back today - Happy Friday also. My son just completed a makeover of my front porch. Removing a "not so good brick job from years ago", marks and scuffs from deck boards to original concrete substance was quite a feat, but it looks great. Our small 8x12 porch took 25 bags of concrete mix - I could not believe it. I look forward to this new smooth finish for many years. Enjoy the pillows from a previous post - I thought they would look great on the two chairs, flanking the small round table displaying an antique crochet piece. I made the large fall arrangement from my stash of stuff in the basement. Not a penny was spent on this autumn look. You gotta love any project that doesn't cost money.

Using what you already have . . . . . . sometimes it is GREAT

My friends call me the "queen of recycling" - I love it. It's a great way to save the planet, save some cash and who out there doesn't like doing that? My son had a few pieces of shelving left from our bookshelves project and I was pondering what to do with perfectly good boards. I had spotted on a blog months ago something similar but did not want to copy exactly, so I chose another route. Rather than use fretwork and painting the whole object, I decided to install a cute ROUND frame I've had for years, tossed in a drawer downstairs and then the real fun began. I love taking photos and must have hundreds like many of you, but I was seeking the "perfect one to compliment the look I was going after" and this is what I come up with. It is all painted white and houses a beautiful photo I took over six years ago after a brief shower of snow. I love how all the trees around Carl's workshop stand out. You gotta love a free project once in a while. This gem will be enjoyed during Christmas season and I can even display other favorite photos.

Framed piece for all to see and enjoy

Sorry this was delayed in being posted with first post. Blogger was not the usual ease of use today. Photo would NOT upload. Here is the finished framed small plate. I found just the right spot to hang this and enjoy it so much. Look on right side of screen under LABELS to read post that should have been included with this one.

Newly dressed treasure for all to see

Don't you just love a new look for a treasured piece; perhaps a small plate from a previous collection; perhaps a wedding plate from a grandmother's house - Anything can be mounted on the appropriate mat and framed. Having the best framing expert can be helpful and I'm fortunate to live in a town that has one. Jonathan is a friend and does wonderful pottery pieces, teaches classes at our local museum and he also owns a great framing shop and is great to work with. I found these two lovely small plates at our local DAV thrift shop (the set of four had been broken up and only these two remained). Of course, since there was red on one plate, I knew my cousin Patty would love to be the new owner AFTER I had Jonathan frame them. They are so pretty - try this look on a treasured piece - I bet you have just the spot on a wall and you can enjoy the piece much better than moving it around in a drawer or china cabinet. Lucky me - I spotted these for less than $3 and already owned two really nice walnut frames.

Getting dressed for a "new look"

Don't we all love to create new spaces? I do. I love bookcases and have been toying with an idea to have some installed, but kept putting the project off. My son is visiting and has some great carpentry skills, so we got together and he came up with this look in our small TV room, off the kitchen. Living in an old house has some advantages, because of niches and areas jutting out, etc. This area housed a nice beveled edged mirror that I wished to keep, so the approach worked out great. I love the way the shelves wrap around the wall and framing the mirror. You can see a small section of shelves that face the kitchen. All of my cookbooks are stored here now for easy access. I've never been a fan of all books on shelves; I love to sprinkle in treasures and objects I love to be around. I'm very proud of my son's efforts - he did a great job in just two days and I'm fortunate to have a sister close by who LOVES to paint. She opted to assist in this task and the whole project was moved to COMPLETION within three days. You gotta love a plan that works this smooth.

Sinks are NOT just for washing up. . . . . . . . .

Saw something similar on one of my blog searchs a couple of weeks ago and thought about duplicating the look. Earlier this spring while roaming the woods behind our house, I spotted an old iron bathroom sink halfway buried in leaves and debris. It stayed put until yesterday after I talked my husband Carl into going among the poison ivy leaves and pulling it out. A good scrubbing was all that was needed to move it to a usable state and I spotted a perfect spot for this HEAVY gem under the stair landing off the deck. We had a bit of a struggle to install it with sufficient holding elements, but soon we had it mastered. I ventured to Lowe's and rescued a wave petunia plant on the discount table for only $3. It looks so cute - just had to share this one. Also, for those that are following posts, I promise to get back to the slipcover project TOMORROW. I have to drive that little project to completion. Thanks so much for stopping by our blog. We have ALL been a little absent lately.

From matress frame and pickets to wall art w/ pots

I guess if I were to sum up the most recycled items in one project - this one has to take the blue ribbon. 100 nice, strong bed springs are awaiting another project, but - listen to this! I caught the ending of a HGTV post recently and only saw the finished look with small clay pots, so I set out to create this same look for an area underneath our covered deck. The bed frame was still around AFTER cutting springs loose, so Carl used that wood to make top and bottom of this frame. Lucky for him, there was two 4x4 posts already installed in the area needed to house this new project. After much measuring and using some old pickets left from another project on the deck - YEARS AGO - this cute project was on its way to being enjoyed again. The hardest part was getting paint to stay on the wood - even though it was primed, it soaked up about five cans of spray paint. I had all the appropriate other items to accent the piece, just had to gather them all up and affix to the frame. The back of the area was not pleasing to look at, so I did some quick thinking and retrieved a good sized piece of burlap from another project and we stapled a finished edge to two strips and nailed it to the back of the 4x4 post. It turned out really good and we can't wait to have guests come by and see our newest project. Re purpose - rethink outside the box - it's usually a good idea. Hope everyone had a wonderful Fourth of July weekend.

Repurposing a good thing into a BETTER one

When I spotted the two hanging metal wall sconces at our local DAV thrift store, I knew instantly where they would end up. Green was the original color and of course I had to have them spray painted BLACK. Carl, my ever present painter of all things I need, took the task and did a great job I might say. I wired them together to make a single four arm candelabra which hangs above our little bistro table on the screened porch. It's so cute. Excluding the cost of the can of paint, I have only $2.50 in this cute item. Looked everywhere for some glass votives that would fit in the opening, but failing this venture, I thought of several candles left over from Christmas luminaries I could put my hands on without tearing through fifty boxes in the basement. Hope you like it...we are enjoying it so much. As always, with lighted candles, NEVER leave them unattended. Enjoy during the time you are eating and then blow them out, remove candles and store away from sunlight.

Cottage accents for any place

Found these two cute picture frames painted white with bead board added as a background. The large chrysanthemum flower was added for color. These were a "quick fix" for a previously owned B&B cottage. I think they add a punch of cottage accent any place. On a porch, perhaps a hallway, even a guest room. The cottage look is always neat and refreshing.

Borrowed idea to stunning enhancement

My cousin Patty used a cherished teapot and inserted an ivy plant in the bottom of it and displayed it on her living room fireplace mantle. It looked great; however my ivy is in a huge pot and the area I wanted to use something like this did not allow sufficient light. So............I sought to do a similar project, using one of my teapots. I must have checked every Christmas packed box in the basement for the electric lights that I planned to place in the bottom of the teapot. Finally..............they were located and then I proceeded to find suitable flowers or greenery to complete the project. It packs a big punch, didn't take too long to do the thing and I love it. Thanks cousin Patty for a great idea.

From tray stand to flag stand - how easy is this?

A couple of years ago while visiting my aunt Lucy, she asked if I could use a discarded small tray stand she had picked up at a yard sale. Since I was traveling by train, I asked her to keep it for me when I visited again, by car. This was done last summer and sure enough, it was still waiting for me. As soon as I looked at it and placed it in the car, it dawned on me that it would make a neat and very original "garden flag" stand. How cute is that? Of course, my husband Carl had to do the dirty work and remove the screws and four rods that were in place to hold the trays and prime and PAINT the thing. Sorry to say the flag had to be trimmed just a tad to fit in the opening (Carl drilled a hole on either side at the top)to hold the dowel that holds the flag. This cute little number sits proudly on my front porch to greet guests as they arrive. I think of my aunt Lucy each time I look at this piece. She always re purposes things around her house and I imagine she has passed that gene down to me. So..............the next time you spot one of these at a yard sale or thrift shop - bring it home and do the same thing. You can find these somewhat larger also. I love it and the history behind the projects says a lot also. I appreciate the fact that my aunt Lucy was kind enough to save this little gem for me rather than discarding it. What a shame that would have been?

See previous post from a moment ago

Looking for Spring - hop on board

Thought I would share this cute cart my husband Carl constructed out of recycled wood from an old tea cart I mentioned a few posts back. He kept the iron wheels from the cart, knowing that one day I would ask for them for another project. I wanted something to use on the front porch to say "Welcome" to guests and love spring tulips and daffodils. Living in the country - we have the usual critters and the squirrels love to dig the tulips and devour them. So - to avoid more destruction of planted tulips in the ground, I decided to shop for some nice silk ones. They will work fine and even look like the real thing at a distance. Of course, when I know the tulips and daffodils have spent their blooms for this season, I will pull them out and store them for another season. Then I'll use my real life plants like geraniums or other potted plant that will look good in the cart. This little beauty will take center stage for many of the projects I already have in mind. Carl outdid himself on this one - it's a definite keeper.

Before Kitchen Project

Located this old photo from twenty years to post which enables you to see what the kitchen looked like earlier. Updated photo of finished cabinets to follow.

Welcome February - month of the Valentine

There's something about Valentine's Day or the month of February to make us stop and think of a special person in our lives. We are special because we have someone special in our lives. Wanted to wish each of our guests a wonderful February and take the time this month to do something special. I used a wreath from years past - cut the flowers off stems and drew a half heart on paper and had my husband Carl cut two pieces out of a left over piece of decking board. After he cut the two pieces out, I asked him to drill a hole around the edges (large enough for the stem of the flower). I hot glued the inside edges of the heart. All of you that know me - I can NOT draw even stick people. After placing the flowers around, I saw the shape taking place before my eyes and thought "how easy is this" - wow - To cover the edge of the wood, I rummaged through my stash of ribbons, etc. and found a piece just long enough to hot glue and cover; all I had to do to finish this nice piece of work was to hot glue a small red and white ribbon in the center of the white ribbon and then a bow was tied and it was hung between the two windows in our small den - we hibernate here during the winter months - Carl watches his old westerns and I sit on the couch perusing magazines and books and thinking of another project.

Refreshing Before & Afters - Kitchen Project

What a Difference...

A few feet of Crown Molding can make! Our main floor bath is tiny (circa 1954) and I'm always looking for ways to make it seem more like the luxury baths that are so popular these days. Last year we had replacement windows put in and we removed the old window with panes and replaced with the glass block window (love it!)...we have plaster walls and the previous owner had wallpapered without a backer and when I went to remove the paper the plaster walls were coming with it! I found the paper with a linen texture and we put that up a few months back but i wanted crown molding to really finish it off...we bought the molding several weeks back but jim was putting it off and then today i came home to find he had started it...here's a before without and one section with it! Amazing what a difference it makes to add the crown molding doesn't it?