time flies

Happy Wednesday everyone! I wish it were a cold, windy day so I could say "h-h-happy w-w-windsday" like Piglet, but ah well... :) This is a little project I've been meaning to do for quite some time. It was a really enjoyable project and I'm pleased with how it turned out. 

 The clock on the left is my make-over project. I forgot to get a "before" pic, so this one will have to do. I've always loved this clock (unlike the one on the right, which ticks so loudly it drives my husband crazy and therefore is not allowed it's battery...) but you know me and my love affair with color and all things cheerful. Not that everything has to be painted... but this clock's turned wood post was such a great candidate I couldn't pass it up.

 Here is the finished clock - LOVE IT! :)

Stay tuned for more clock adventures. There is a BIG ONE coming up in the near future that you won't want to miss! It's part of my Fireplace Mantle Makeover! Look below for the sneak peek! Mua-ha-haaaaa!

Have a great day eveyone! 

P.S. I do not like Roman numerals. I have no idea why.

bigger than a breadbox

Hey Gang! I hope everyone had an enjoyable Labor Day!

Many of you commented or contacted me about my new breadbox. It never ceases to amaze me, the things that catch everyone's eye! You wanted more so since I live to serve, I'm giving you more! First I will say that I have 2 of these boxes - one is smaller and nests inside the larger box.  

This is my old breadbox - which was an awesome breadbox for many years - I still *love* the fabric on the outside! But I will now repurpose it somewhere else around here. Holding firelogs, Luna's babies, magazines, toys, all my flip-flops... you get the idea. 

I found these boxes (and my old one too) at Home Goods. For some of you, your Home Goods may be shared with Marshall's(?) or TJ Max(?)... I can never remember which one. Our Home Goods is on it's own, which I like much better. Gosh, do I ever love that place! It took me a few years to warm up to it. The inventory changes all the time, so you have to go more frequently - and I've also learned the hard way that if you see something you adore, you'd better snatch it up.

Many of you asked what the boxes were made of - - - rolled magazine pages! Cool, huh? I love all the random colors. Over time I have picked up several other similarly made items from here and there. I've noticed the pages are usually from foreign magazines - mostly Asian - because I can't figure out one word anywhere! 

I keep Legos in the smaller box :) And the larger one - my breadbox - can hold a LOT of bread! At least 4 loaves, if not 5. Or, if you're our family, a loaf of whole wheat, a loaf of organic whole wheat with seeds, a loaf of sourdough, assorted tortillas, muffins, croissants, etc, and a large bag of bagels. Unless the bagels are from Dink's because those bagels are as big as my head.

 The *coolest* part of these boxes are how they're secured together! This is the underneath part of the lid. It's like a support system of heavy metal wire that acts as an anchor for the clear, heavy nylon fishing wire that weaves all the rolled paper together. And OHHH YES... these last 3 pics will definitely make it into my Zagg portfolio in the near future! 

One more example of how the little things really are the BIG THINGS! Something so simple bringing so much *cheer* into my life! LOVE IT! :)

goofin'

 So yeah... I'm just goofin' around making stuff...

 ... enjoying some flowers John got me :)

 ... loving this adorable soap container my cousin Shell sent me!

 ... taking pics of my new bread box...

... trying to stay out of trouble, but you know how hard that is!

And... working on more projects as my back starts feeling better! I've got some great before & afters coming up so stay tuned! :)

wearing the lampshade (aka: granny out... chic in)

~ GRANNY ALERT! ~

As much as I love antiques - primitive country especially - I felt my house was on the verge of grannydom :/ A few years ago I began a granny sweep of everything I owned. Classic or unique pieces (quilts, wood furniture, etc.) were left to enjoy as always. Anything that looked like it could easily associate with a doily or granny-scented powder, needed to skedaddle along it's merry way, or be turned on it's ear by being updated. My bedside lamp, above, is the latest project in throwing caution to the wind.    

It all started years ago when I saw this GINORMOUS floor lamp by Jonathan Adler. It was so exaggerated yet so creatively fun, I just loved it. I loved how it took an older design like a turned wooden lamp base, and forced it into something modern yet still functional. That design remained in the back of my head, and I knew it was just a matter of time before I made my own version of it with my bedside granny lamp. 

I started the usual way, this time using a bright white lacquer that dried to a very hard surface. I used exactly one can, and then about half a can of high gloss acrylic top coat (optional) - just because I wanted as much sheen as possible.

 I decided to go with a simple drum shade to give it more of a modern impact. I nearly went NUTS trying to find one (!@#$%^&*) and ended up ordering from Lamps Plus online. Since there was a slight color variation in the white of the lacquer and the white of the shade, I decided to embellish the top and bottom of the shade with some VERY fun cloth ribbon I have been saving. 

I used a hot glue gun to tack the ribbon down about every 5 inches. I also decided to take this ribbon to the very edges of the shade, instead of leaving a small band of the shade showing as I did in a PREVIOUS LAMPSHADE PROJECT. It just looked better that way somehow.

Then I folded the ribbon over to make a nice flush seam where the seam of the lamp shade was, and hot glued that down as well.

 Yippee! It looks very cool and I am happy with how it turned out!

~ final outcome: granny out... chic in ~

Now THIS, my friends, is what we call updating an old style into something fresh and modern! I realize you can't do it with all granny stuff - and that most true antiques should be left as they are - but I'm really happy with how this project turned out!

The reason I decided to use the ribbon I did, is because it's fun colors match the retro table cloth of "American Vacationland" hanging above my bed. For my next project, I will be attempting to turn this retro tablecloth into a headboard. Yes, you heard me correctly. Attempting a headboard. Without a net :/ Oh! The little lamp on the right side got a cheerful new lampshade too. Embroidered, folky-looking flowers - inexpensive, from IKEA.

Happy Happy :)

the haps

 In between the usual blog posts about projects and boys and life, all kinds of happenings have been going on around here. One of the funnest things was a mysterious package that arrived from Singapore. And look what was inside! A tiny chocolate bar?! Now, why would I have ordered just a few bites of milk chocolate all the way from Singapore? Well.....

 ..... because LOOK! That tiny chocolate bar is actually an 8gb USB flash drive for my computer! HAH!!! Is that the cutest thing or what?! I had so much fun picking it out - but boy, was it hard to choose! I found everything from diet Coke bottles to peace signs to ladybugs... and everything in between (much of which shall not be mentioned here and yes I'm still in shock :-0 )

 So here it is in action, as I'm filling it up with photos to be printed out elsewhere. I *LURVE* my little chocolate bar! AND... look what John got me! A *PINK* silicone keypad to go over my laptop keys! TOO COOL! I've scored big time in fun gadgets :)

 So getting back to all the comings and goings around here... you can see there have been a LOT! And right in the entryway seems to be the place where everything is immediately dumped :/

 One coming/going we were excited about in a bittersweet way, was Davy & John's buddy Darren (far right) leaving to study in SPAIN for 6 months! So I had to sneak in a pic of him on movie night as we were watching Pinnochio... much to Davy's annoyance (hehehe). Have an AMAZING time Darren - we love you! :)

 Now, with all the testosterone around here, you have to realize that things can get competitive. The ping pong games/tournaments/ceremonies we've had over the years are legendary. There has been a LOT of arse-whooping here lately :-0

 Well. You know how picky I am about straws. One terrific thing about adult children who love Wendy's, is that when my supply of straws is low, they are more than happy to replenish it for me!

 Not to mention they will also go to the store for me if my diet Coke supply is down. Looks like we're gonna play Bowling With Coke doesn't it! LOL! I have to stick up for myself though, and say that my diet Coke consumption has gone down a lot, and it's NOT JUST ME who drinks it either! Just sayin!

 And now that the Mouse is back in school, he is back to his favorite pastime during classes... drawing tribal designs on his hand and arm instead of listening intently like he should be :/ A few days ago he came home with his entire ARM covered! The worst part is... I have to admit, it does look really cool :/

Last but certainly never least... my beautiful church girls :) More comings and goings in their lives (and tears in my eyes) as the oldest ones - my precious girls in the back row - leave for college and start their adventures. I know every single one of them will make the world a better place, because that's how awesome they are! I love you ALL! :)

~

STAY TUNED FOR MORE FUN!

boy joy

 Davy, 20... Matthew 15... Daniel 25

I am happiest when all my boys are together :)

John too! :)

I knew it.....

 ..... weirdies.....

 Awww..... Luna! :)

Matthew - first day of school - August 18th, 2011 

Sophomore year - Hart High - almost 16

xoxo