Monday, November 30, 2009

make it monday...


Last week I worked on these projects

that had been *brewing* for awhile.





I'd had these cute little jars sitting at the shop for awhile.

Nobody was interested.


Then I found these cute mailbox numbers

and...



other *black and whites* that I worked on







Maybe this will keep me motivated to keep going...

on those piles of unfinished projects.

~

~

~
In the meantime, I 'm still busy...
busy cleaning my kitchen.
One thing leads to another and then another;
but it is getting clean!

Feels good.

So far, I have resisited the urge to

re-paint!

What good is cleaning if I can't re-decorate?
Oh ya, it keeps the health dept. away.
Anyways, I'm hoping
to get to where I can take photos
for White Wednesday.

Another motivator.


Talk to ya later,
Rene'

Saturday, November 28, 2009

sparkleliscious...

This is where you would have found me on Black Friday.
This nursery puts on one of the prettiest Christmas open houses around.
My Mom and I took the day off, and went to check it out.

And this wreath...
it was...

PLASTIC!

It reminded me of my grandmother.
Isn't it funny...how everything comes back?
There was the plastic vintagey wreath
right along with the all of the other glittered goodness.

And then there were these pokey things...don't know what they are called.
And when I showed them to Mom she said,
"Grammy used to make those"





I had a really good time of just browsing...and resting...
and enjoying all of that glitter.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

my thankful heart...3

and a little white wednesday
Thou hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more, - a grateful heart;
Not thankful when it pleaseth me,
As if Thy blessings had spare days,
But such a heart whose pulse may be
Thy praise.
~George Herbert

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

my thankful heart...2


I am thankful for our traditions.


Traditions bring continuity...a sense of uniqueness to our
family...the building of memories.

2 of my favorite thanksgiving traditions are:


homemade pumpkin pie
to see how we do it read here and here:
and the M family turkeybowl...

Monday, November 23, 2009

my thankful heart...

This morning I am thankful for ...sleep.
You know, the all-night, sleep like a log kind.
The kind that when you wake up you are ready to tackle the day ahead.
I needed that kind of sleep.
My posts have been kinda one dimensional lately.
That's because I really didn't think you wanted to read
about my intensive cleaning
of the insect-infested pantry
(note to self-don't ignore those little moths)
or the never-ending attempt
to get everything under cover
(and maintain some bit of an organized plan)
before it snows.
That's what I've been up to around here...
So we begin this week of concentrated giving of * THANKS*
and my favorite holiday...

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

shabby house whites...












This is what I've been up to...last week was our Holiday Open House...I do have to admit it was a stuggle to prepare for...I always feel like I'm a season behind anyway and then the way retail moves in christmas so early...now am I 2 seasons behind? But it was my last big push of the year and now I can turn my attention to home...pumpkin pie and fall cleaning...ahhh...back on schedule.

a very cool old house turned antique store where I rent the back porch to sell my many projects

Monday, November 16, 2009

got tea?

Have you been over to cottage instincts, yet?
Cindy is a hoot...she is real and always is working on great projects.
She is hosting a "i made it with what i have" party...
I signed up, thinking,
" I'll get to that pile of lampshades , or that box of bottles, or
maybe even make a pillow."

But that didn't happen...it was a such busy week
getting ready at The Shabby House
so I dug through my files looking for a project
and I found *her*.

I wanted a vintage manny
but those are pretty rare around here.
So I bought 2 mannequins off of ebay
1 to sell and 1 for me.

She came with bright white fabric...


Now for the vintage, water-stained look...
TEA
I love it...instant age!

I used dark tea in a spray bottle and just went at her.
I spritzed on several light coats
letting it dry in between.
The patient girl that I am...I got in a hurry...and switched to coffee...
much quicker and much darker.

I love how she came out blotchy...just like water stains.

We use tea stain all the time round here...
on fabric, on ribbon and lace, on paper,
and even on our clothing to get that shade we are after.
I just use whatever black tea we have.
How about you...got tea?

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

white cupboard love...


I have a thing for old cabinets...

Remember this one?
I put this beauty up in my inspiration room


I had great fun filling it up with all kinds of pretties.






Have a fabulous week!