Saturday, September 7, 2013

'Horsin' Around'

I know you're thinking...
what the heck is she talking about?
It's a mini book I did recently.
It's for a friend of mine, here in Arizona.
(HOME is still Oregon, ya know)

Last year sometime, when I met her...
she invited me to her house... and I brought along
my daughter and her kiddos.
why???
'Cause she has horses!
I took a bunch of photos...
and FINALLY got around to getting it DONE
to give to her.
(I haven't yet)
The book now has little notes written in it from the kiddos.


I used an old Heidi Swapp mini stencil to spritz the flower!





The 'fluff' at the side of the tag is tissue paper fringed with 
my Martha Stewart fringe scissors, that my darling daughter gave me!
I lOve them!!! 
 Notice the little 'window' at the right that gives a 
sweet little peek to the next page...
I put printed acetate paper between the paper!
I used several punches to create the dimensional 'flower'.
Up close and personal...
I used a border punch on the side(s) of the page...
And last, but not least...
I have save thin corrugated carton paper...
and thus... I can create some fun accents, like the heart!
Up close:
I am 'helping/teaching' a group of friends from Fry's
in making one for themselves.
Talk about LOVING it...(me!)
and those times reminding me of how much I lOve teaching!
I have missed it terribly.
 
All the materials are 'old' from my seemingly never-ending stash.
Someday... hopefully... it will be used up!

thanks for visiting!

Monday, September 2, 2013

The White Dining Set

My daughter picked up this dining room set,
including 6 chairs, the hutch, 2 leaves, and a dry sink
at a garage sale for just $250!

It is in excellent shape, with beautiful curvy lines.
You can see the original dark finish on the hutch..
of which we still have to paint.
Kari re-did and painted the dry sink...I'll have to share it later.
(it's in her living room)

We painted the table set and re-covered the chairs
a few weeks ago.  It was hard work, as it was HOT!

This is walking into the dining area.


It was such a HUGE difference!
The table set was so dark... and the white just brightened it up!
Made it such a happy bright space.


We love the chairs.
So pretty and curvy...


And oh yeah!
The cushions... Kari found the fabric... we re-covered the cushions.
And we jumped up and down... and squealed!!!
love them!!!


The view from the kitchen: 
You can really see how dark the table set was,
via the hutch.


Don't you love Kari's collage walls?
She is such a pro at this.
























Here's a close-up of the goodies in her hutch.
She is just so talented when it comes to putting stuff together.


The chair again... notice the finely detailed distressing?
Gives them that extra neat looking little touch.


And... Kari made these beautiful slip covers for these chairs!
(I tried a year+ ago... and failed miserably... so sad)


And a final picture of her beautiful, updated, stylish dining room set!


thanks for visiting!

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Summer Mantel

So... here's my mantel that I've had up all summer!
I can't believe I'm so far behind, that I'm just now getting around
to sharing it.

This is the wall that you see when you walk in the front door.
(Although.. no one EVER uses the front door!)


Details of the Mantel decor:

 
 Yes, I or Terry made or upcycled everything you see here.
I've shown the owl(s) before... still LOVE them!
Terry made (i painted) the houses late last year.


Oh yeah!  I got the red lantern at Ikea several years ago.  
I 'stole' it from my bedroom!
I drew, and Terry cut out, and I 'decorated' the 
little wooden flip flops.
(don't you love 'em?)



 Just a bunch of fun things!



This is the table top decor on the TV table Terry made.
I planned and Terry cut out the little mason jar stands.
Terry also made the little wooden box for me!
Everything else are up-cycled 'found' things.
And yes, I made the whirligigs.


I've had this old quilt star for years.
I thought it looked fun in the old jar!


So.
Summer is about over.
...already...
Guess I gotta change out my mantel for fall now.
Fun never stops, huh?

thanks for visiting!