A Makeover

I can't believe it's been over a week since I posted. Dolly and myself have been sick this last week. Plus my dad and my brother were visiting. They are from Canada, but go down to Mexico every year. They were on their way back up and stopped by for almost a week. My mom is flying home a little later. Here is the view they have in Mexico.

Our view is a little different these days too, except it is the view of the house. This is what it looked like when we moved in 2.5 years ago. I absolutely hate the red (actually more like orange) brick!

Well, my dad and brother are painters, so they went to work and painted the brick and the shutters and door. I love the way it turned out. I am going to do a painting treatment on the brick to make it look more like brick and give it some dimension.

I also managed to hit a neighbors garage sale on Sat. I got these tables and this plant stand for $2 each. I thought they would look good in my patio room.

Saturday Project

More progress on the outside patio room today. I got this room divider screen from freecycle. I always forget to take my before picture, so here it is laying down with some primer already on it. The print was kind of an old world map style...but I wanted something different.

Here it is completely primed. I had to use 2 more top coats of white semigloss paint.

Here is what it looks like now. I'm so happy with how it turned out. I used wallpaper for the middle. I do have to fiddle a little bit with the wallpaper to make sure it's going to stick. I'll figure that out tomorrow. I am tuckered!!!

Beautiful Artistry and a Makeover!

If you've never heard of an artist named Gail McCormack, you must check her out here. Her paintings are just amazing!! I decided to buy a print for my sister as an anniversary present. Here is a picture of it hanging in her bedroom. It was so pretty she wanted to look at it every morning and every night.

As soon as I can afford it, buying a print for myself is high on my wish list. Gail and her husband are both extremely talented.

You may remember this wicker set I bought off craigslist for $20.

It's amazing what a little spray paint can do to transform a piece. I plan on sewing some cushions for the seat in a nice shabby chic material.

Shabby Chic & Coffee Filter Roses

Well, today is the big day!!! You know what I'm talking about...The day we all have circled on our calendar!

Taxes??? Not a chance!!! I'm talking about the day that Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic series comes out on dvd!!

There are actually 3 different dvds and I think 3 episodes on each. I can't wait till mine come. I used to watch her show on Style, and was so sad when it was gone.

I also had another custom order for some roses. This is a picture of the first coat of paint. I had to mix it myself to get the right color.

Here they are with a deeper color added for dimension. I hope she loves them!!

My Kitchen

Well, since it actually snowed this weekend (where is this global warming I keep hearing about??) and there's no way I can work on my outdoor room, I thought I'd concentrate on another room.

My kitchen is very small. It's a galley kitchen, which would not be my first choice. What can ya do right? You work with what you have! Here is a picture of my little nook with the chalkboard and the pictures I added.

I plan to paint the cabinets, but that's going to have to wait. I have a huge list of projects I want to get done before that. I've been working on a recipe box with all my favorite recipes, so I decided to use that project for last month's article on SSR (see my sidebar for a link). Here is just the start of it....I have many more to add.

And speaking of my kitchen....I had the fabulous opportunity to visit Trader Joe's for the first time ever. It was in St. Louis, about 3.5 hours away. It was so worth it though. I was able to stock my cupboard and freezer with goodliness!!! Here is some lemonade I bought. How delightful that will be in a wine glass.

Here is some chocolate covered edamame. I have been wanting to try edamame for a very long time, but could not find it at my Walmart. These are so good!!! They remind me of chocolate covered espresso beans...but without the jittery buzz.

Tagged!

My first tag...how exciting!! I have been tagged by Ronda at Art by Ronda Juniper Ray. Check out her blog....it is so cool!

1. Name your two favorite Scrapbook Topics: My Dolly & Friends

2. What are the two best places you've been to: Quito, Ecuador & Las Vegas

3. Name two things you do every day: Internet & create new projects for myself

4. Name two things that pretty much everyone knows about you: I'm very crafty & I love to make people laugh

5. Name two places that you wish to visit: Hawaii & Australia

6. Two things that you may not know about me: I can't move my pinky toe & I don't like my food to touch

7. Name two nicknames that you had at some point in your life: Tyke & Queen of Lip

8. Name two interesting jobs that you've had (good or bad): Worked on a Dairy Farm & Mail Carrier

9. What are two fun things that you do after work: After work?? is there such a thing when you're a mom??

10. Name two things that you would like to learn: to play the piano & how to paint (artistically)

11. What were the last two things that you downloaded or CDs that you bought: Hinder CD & Nickelback's Rock Star

12. What were the last two books that you read: French Inspired Home & The pillow book

13. What two TV shows or movies from your childhood do you still enjoy watching after all these years? The Little Mermaid & The Wizard of Oz.

I will have to think about who I want to tag. I will post again tomorrow!

Inspiration

Since it was raining here today (and is supposed to continue through most of the week), I could not work on my outdoor room. So, I decided to look for some inspiration. Here are some outdoor rooms that inspire me! I found these on the Coastal Living website.

How glorious it would be to sit under a canopy or roses! I have got to learn how to grow them.

What an ingenius idea to create a room from fabric. I love the simplicity of this! I bet it's beautiful at night too.

I love the country feel of this...so charming! What a great idea to use arbors to create a "room".

Love the flowers here. I wonder how long it took to grow?? The pop of color with the blue containers is fabulous!!

Can you imagine having this view?? Especially with the flowers overhead. Oh how I miss the ocean!!

I just love the colors here. The cream is just so......well, creamy!!!

Ok, this isn't exactly an outdoor room, but it just takes my breath away!!

I love the colors used in this room. I plan to paint my cement pad with a patina color...but, now I'd really like to paint the ceiling (which would be the underside of the deck above).

Pink and blue!! Need I say more??

I hope some of these outdoor rooms have inspired you too!

Bargains & Projects

Well Mr. T and I actually had a child free weekend. His parents came and got our dolly friday morning. Oh what to do with this new found freedom??? Why shop, of course!! It was so nice to be able to browse at leisure in the stores. I found some fabulous bargains at Marshall's, Michaels, and Big Lots!

Now my sister and I have an understanding that when we are out and about and see something really cool that is shippable....we must get it for each other. Marshall's had some beautiful tea cups!

This is the set I bought for myself.

And this is the set that I know my sister will love!!

I also found this pretty teapot. I am so drawn to robin's egg blue these days!

Michael's had this beautiful iron urn (and I had a 50% off coupon). I filled it with pink and blue balls and I really like the way it turned out.

This was also 50% off at Hobby Lobby. I thought it would look so pretty with some plants in each pot in my outdoor living area.

Speaking of my outdoor living area....I got this wicker set off Craigslist and I'm painting it white. This was my other goal this childless weekend. I did manage to get it painted, I just haven't taken a picture of it yet.

This is the before picture of my outdoor living area. I plan on painting the cement floor. I found an old iron bed frame on Craigslist (set up against the house), that I will also be painting white. I need to figure out the outdoor cushions though. I also have a candle chandelier to hang. I'm so excited about this project, I can hardly stand it.

I did manage to sprain my ankle this weekend, so I didn't get all the projects done that I wanted to....but I did have fun anyways.

Roses, Roses Everywhere

I had an order for a white set of roses. I had not done white before and was a little nervous to get the color just right. I am just thrilled with the way they came out! Can you believe these are made from coffee filters?? Watch for more bouquets being added to my etsy site.