Giving Thanks

Wishing you and yours a blessed holiday!

The Hubby and I will be busy visiting family and decorating for Christmas!

I will be back with new posts on Monday.

XOXO

A Subtle Change with Paint

Hi All! I hope you had a great weekend. Are you ready for Thanksgiving? I can't believe it's this week, seems like time passes faster and faster as you get older. Please make it stop!

This weekend was a busy one for us, we painted our entire downstairs which consist of an entryway, living room and dining room combination. It is about 500 square feet. Wow, painting is REALLY exhausting, especially when you have to move around furniture. It was like a chess match move this here so we can paint there. Now move it back to get to the next section.

Saturday night the Hubby and I had backaches from all the bending and stretching. Since I wasn't about to cooking we ordered pizza for dinner. And had Advil for dessert...lol. We did managed to get about 80% done on Saturday and finished up the remaining two walls on Sunday. Oh my word, do I love the difference. The rooms feel so much more cozier!

Here is our before picture of the living room with our cream walls. 

And now here's the after... 

Did you notice the subtle difference? The wall color on either side of the fireplace was changed to tan. It is called Tiramisu Cream by Behr. Who would've guessed a little paint color can make such a difference. I feel like I am sitting in a new room. The actual color is a tad darker than it appears in the picture, I was battling with the light streaming through our sliders.

So tell me, what projects have you transformed with paint?

Friday's Fancy

Oh Fall, why are you such a short season. 

Your brilliant colors only stay for a fleeting moment. 

Until next year!

Have a wonderful weekend!

a Visit to the Elephant's Trunk Country Flea Market

A few weeks ago the Hubby and I went to the Elephant's Trunk Country Flea Market. I have heard great things about this flea market and this was the first time we had a chance to visit. As we passed through the gates my heart starting to sing. Oh my word, what a flea market, so many vendors, so much to see at first it was a little overwhelming.

Let's start with a little history. The Elephant's Trunk Country Flea Market began in 1976. The first markets found aisles named after New York City streets or alley-ways. The market was held on Sundays, and in 1976, the presence of fifteen vendors was a "big" day! Now up to 400 vendors can be found on any given Sunday. 

The Hubby and I decided to start at the back and work our way to the entrance. There was so much to see, such a wide variety of items. We wander up and down a few rows before our tummies told us it was time for some breakfast. There were about 6 different food trucks. One made mini donuts... Oh the smell, it was so tantalizing. We got egg sandwiches and of course a bag of mini donuts. 

My first score of the day was a wooden sign that said "outhouse". I just fell in love with it and it was a steal at $10.00. It now hangs on the door to my downstairs bathroom. Cute...

So, I have been on the hunt for an old milk can, I have found some at other flea/antique markets but they were either too expensive or rusted out. Well as luck would have it I spotted one with a vendor that sold dog treats (of all places). It was painted red, it was chippy, and absolutely perfect. I thought to myself this must cost a pretty penny. Before I had a chance to ask the vendor the cost he said, "you like the milk can, $15.00 and its yours". I could not get the words "I'll take it" out of my mouth fast enough. This is displayed on my front yard with my fall display. What a score!

Then I found this great artist that made figures out of scrape metal and beautiful flower/evergreen arrangements. I saw this lovely arrangement with a log as a base. It was perfect for Grandpa's grave. It is about 20"w x 14"h and only $15.00. Isn't it just beautiful. The artificial flowers alone would have cost that much in a craft store.

It was a fantastic day, even the Hubby had a great time. There was such a mixture of old, unique, and creative artisans that there is something for everyone.

The market closes for the winter so I will have to wait until spring to visit again. I hope I can last till then...

What are some of your favorite flea market finds?

Have a great day!

Upcycle Crafts

Hi All! I hope you had a great weekend.

Upcycle. What exactly is ‘upcycling’? Basically, upcycling is using an item that no longer has any worth to you to create something that has value or is useful. There are so many creative ways to upcycle things that we throw away on a daily basis. 

I thought it would be fun to showcase a round up of craft projects made from items that would most likely end up in the trash. Check out these fabulous upcycled craft ideas I found on Pinterest. 

Yarn Holder

http://www.realsimple.com/new-uses-for-old-things/new-uses-bathroom-items/yarn-holder

Paint Bucket

http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/paint-hacks?sub=2143875_1083963

Thermos Lamp

http://www.houseofhawthornes.com/2014/07/how-to-turn-thermos-into-lamp.html#_a5y_p=2096954

Bucket Lamp

http://postris.com/popular-pin/90853/1/repins/30/0/

Stool Wrapping Center

http://www.2littlehooligans.com/2012/06/08/fat-quarter-friday-wrapping-paper-organizer-tutorial/

Have you upcycled products? What have you created?

Friday's Fancy

Old Wooden Frame... $25.00

Small Boxwood Wreath... $10.00, 

Finding the Perfect Place to Display your Treasures 

Priceless...

 

 

Have a great weekend!

My First Goodwill Stool Makeover

Hi All!  Do you know what day it is.....  Hump Dayyyyyyy!!!!

I follow many great blogs, craft blogs, decorating blogs, refurbishing blogs and many have expressed their love for chalk paint. I was intrigued. One day as I was trolling my local Michae's Store I came upon and bought a new line of paint from DecoArt Americana^® Decor™ Chalky Finish, I could not wait to give this a try.  I read through a few of their tutorials on their website and it looked as easy as what I read about on other blogs.

Now was the hard part, what small furniture makeover would be easy enough for me to try my hand at. I decided a stool is a great way to start. So I hunted and hunted, then one day on lunch I decided to check out Goodwill. There it was a perfect candidate. 

It had a laminated top and with some work I was able to peel most of it off (picture above is with the laminate removed, so excited to start I forgot to take my before picture). Then I took my palm sander and sanded and sanded some more. I kept the seat the natural wood, just applying a natural Crème Wax and painted the legs Carbon. I love the look of real wood against painted wood.


Drum roll please.........

Not bad for my first transformation. Amazing what a little paint and love can do. 

What projects have you used chalk paint for?

 
 

Fall Touches to the Front Yard

Hey Everybody, I hope you had a fantastic weekend. I spent Saturday organizing my craft supply area and Sunday doing odds and ends.

This post is a little late, it has been in the works but the weather and my little Otis's surgery delayed me on finishing this one up.

 

Two weekends ago we did a little work to our front yard. Even though we live in a condo there are still things we like to do... like decorate for the season. After removing the dead lilies and garden containers with flowers that have seen better days, it was time to start adding some fall touches. The hubby and I went to a local a farm Geremia in Wallingford, CT. There we bought mums, gourds and pumpkins. They also had fresh baked cookies coming right out of the oven, so you know some made their way home with us. Oh boy, were they yummy. 

For the center of the yard we put together a big ole pumpkin, a potted mum plant, and smaller gourds. 

To the right of our walkway we put another potted mum, pumpkin and a metal sign we picked up at the Christmas Tree Shop (don't you just love a bargain). 

A little further up the walkway, on the left, I have my wooden cart (read about where I found it here). Can I tell you just how much I love this cart... Tons. No, I'm not kidding, everytime I come home and see it, I smile. (I am already thinking up ideas to use it in my Christmas decor). I filled the cart with hay, added a basket filled with plastic apples (bought from Amazon) and more gourds and a pumpkin. 

Now for the front porch. 

To the left of the door on my jack-o'-lantern mason jars (see how I made them here). 

Our front door has a leaf wreath. 

To the right of the door is wooden create with a pumpkin, some artificial leaves, and my milk bottle carrying crate with a milk bottle holding a bunch of leaves (read where I bought it here). 

Above that we have a decorative wooden rake that hangs along the door.

And last but not least a place for the birdies, tho none have made it home yet, a pumpkin bird house. We got that one a few years ago at the Christmas Tree Shop.

I can not believe we are already into November, in a few short weeks it time to set up Christmas decorations. But lets not think about that and enjoy what we have left of fall.

 How have you decorated you front yard for fall? 

Surgery for our Sir Puppy Paws

Happy Friday Y'All!

I am forgoing Friday's Fancy today to tell you about the week we had with our puppy, Otis.

Last Wednesday (10/29), Otis, had his yearly preventative care visit. When we arrived at the office we found out that Otis was the Preventative Care Pet of the Day and he received a certificate for a free nail clipping... Sweet! 

During the visit we discussed some growths on his skin, nothing serious (sebaceous cysts), but there was one on his front left paw she was concerned about, it looked like a basal cell tumor. She recommended that Otis have surgery to remove it and while he was under she would remove the other cysts and a fatty tumor that developed between his chest and belly if we like. We asked her opinion and she felt since he was already in surgery why not take care of the all, we felt the same.

Let me just say here that Otis is doing great. 

Friday was a long day, I dropped him of at 7:30 am and went to work. It was hard to concentrate since my mind wandered thinking of Otis. I watched the hours tick by with no call from the Vet. By 3:00, not hearing from the Vet, I couldn't take it anymore so I called. He was in surgery and doing well. Thank goodness, I had anxiety about how he would handle the anesthesia, with him being 7 years old. (The Hubby refused to call me all day afraid of hearing bad news). At 4 o'clock she called that Otis was recovering and doing well. They did take off more cysts than we discussed, 12 total and the fatty tumor. That is 13 sets of stitches. My word, my poor little puppy. 

We were able to pick him up that day at 6:30 pm. They had to take us into a treatment room to give us the discharge instructions. He was coming home with antibiotics, pain medicine, and thyroid medication. When they did his complete blood work-up they discovered he has hypothyroidism, which is something since he is a hyper puppy. The Vet said being hyper is unusual, if you knew our Otis you wouldn't be surprised because he has never been a typical puppy. The Vet did state that this could be why he developed the sebaceous cysts and gained a little weight. 

When they brought him into the room he was so happy to see us and we were very thankful to see him. Then we saw the stitches, oh the stitches, he looked like a little frank-n-puppy (ironic since it was Halloween).  Here is the breakdown of all the stitches: 4 on the head, 1 on the neck, 3 on the back, 1 on the front right leg, 2 on the front left leg, 1 on his back left thighs, and finally his belly. And to top it off he was wearing a cone and bumping into everything (he wouldn't stay still long enough to get a picture of him wearing the cone). 

He bounced back instantly once he arrived home. He couldn't wait to eat and drink, which we had to hold off an hour. He was so over tired, but like a little kid, he would fight it. 

This tiredness did not last long by Sunday the "Can I have a Cookie Face" was back!

 

We heard from the Vet on Tuesday and the test came back from the biopsy, it was not a basal cell tumor but only a sebaceous cysts. YEAH!!!!!

And here we are a week later and he is doing great. Stitches come out on Wednesday. His hair is already filling in. The Hubby and I are both grateful everything turned out great. 

We received so many prayers and well wishes for Otis, the Hubby and I are very thankful for each and everyone!

Treasure Hunting in North Conway

Hi All! Today I am heading back to our trip to the White Mountains of New Hampshire to tell you about this wonderful and delightful antique shop we came upon. 

No vacation would be complete without some treasure hunting. 

This great shop is called Our Favorite Things Collectibles. Let me stop and take a breath, wow, what a treasure trove this shop is. Upon walking through the door you were confronted with a feast for your eyes. There were so many wonderful items. We were lucky as the shop was a few days from closing down for the winter. 

The women in the shop were just lovely, like you were talking to an old friend. The owner, Carole Cotton, has been taking visitors on a trip back in time, sharing items from the past, for over 10 years. She was quoted in an article written about her in the Conway Daily Sun where she stated: "There's magic in the items, and I love to evoke that sense in my customers as they go over every nook and cranny of the jam-packed, unusual store. It doesn't matter one bit if a person doesn't purchase an item, everyone will receive a token gift when they leave and more than likely a hug after a warm and ‘real’ conversation,” Cotton, never one to hide her enthusiasm and love for life — and who says she is proud of her nickname, “The Crazy Lady.”  “It's about us, the people, the gratitude of real and warm words. We are all in such a rush, so self-absorbed, and so afraid to reach out to one another, that this small cabin on Route 16 will change that!”

Can you not see why I fell in love with this shop? I could have spent hours there. If I lived in the area I would stop in all the time, to look, maybe buy, but mostly to talk to the wonderful ladies who work there.

I really had to keep telling myself there is only so much room in our car. But, I did score 2 items!!!! YEAH!

Wood Carved Frame 

Don't you just love the detail?

Milking stool from Yugoslavia 

Isn't she just adorable?

 If you happen to be in the area this little shop is a must!

 

Felt Pinecones

Hello Friends! I am always looking for a craft that I can do while watching a little tv with my Hubby. This is that sort of craft. I saw this pin from BHG on how to make felt pinecones. I took their template modified it a little.

Freezer paper 

Felt: two complementary colors 

Coated thread or thin twine 

Quilting Needle 

Beads (optional) 

Instructions to make 2 pinecone ornaments:

   Preparation 

• Print out the patterns on freezer paper (available, below). 
• Using an iron on medium heat, press freezer paper, shiny side down, onto felt (one of each color). 
• Cut out scale, I left freezer paper on so I can reference the size more easily. 
• From either color of felt, cut 10 small squares (1/4-inch to 1/2-inch square) to use as separators between pairs of scales. 

Make the Pinecone 

• Thread needle with coated thread. 
• Slide scales in two-color pairs, with a square separator in between pairs, as follows: 

Two A scales, square, two B scales, square, two B scales, square, two C scales, square, two C scales, square, two B scales, square, two B scales, square, two A scales, square, two D scales, square, two D scales, square. 

• Shift each pair of scales to position individual petals between petals of the prior pair. 
• Fold E half-scale pieces in half and thread through corner to make the top of pinecone. 
• Pull the thread tight and tie off. OPTIONAL: you can add a wood bead to the top before you tie it off.
• Cut the thread long to make a loop for hanging. 

Now you are ready to use it for decorating. I plan to hang mine on my Christmas Tree but the possibilities are endless. 

How would you use your felt pinecones for decorating?

PDF Download of Printable Template
This template will make 1 pinecone all the same color. If you are using 2 different colors, then the template will make 2 pinecones

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