Notes from A Cottage Industry

Office romance...

     Last week, on January 23rd, I celebrated five years with the organization I work for. (that's half a decade, people!) After being a stay at home mom for, well, forever, I began working for this organization as a part time receptionist.(You may recall way back when, I shared that I wanted a job where I could wear cute shoes...) Five months after being hired I became the full time receptionist, then a department coordinator and now I work as a program manager. *sigh* Looking back, this job has helped save my life this past year.

*sigh* Anyway.

I thought today you might like to see where I live the 40 plus hours a week of my not-so-ordinary life. Come on in.

Yes, people. This is it. My little part in corporate America. The not-for-profit place I work, that allows "Dance Party Fridays", and has a swear jar sitting on top of the community kitchen 'fridge. The place I go each day that has become a sort of second home, with friends that are truly like family.
     For starters of course we have the utilitarian issue standard L-shaped desk that the rest of corporate America has as well, but let's take a look see beyond that. (oh, did I mention I have a second floor corner office? Not to brag, but oh, baby,! How I love to watch it snow from this room! Now, all I need is a thrifted electric fireplace...)

     Here is my K mart dinette office table where I hold meetings and keep my vintage typewriter, (I have two of them. One here at work and one at home) complete with a word of the day, or week...yes, sticktoitiveness is a word... I think....actually I keep words ready for my moods...I print 'em on pages from an old dictionary (please don't hate me 'coz I dismantled a book. It was old and in quite bad shape and we all use online dictionaries now anyway, right?)

     I have 2 bookcases that house paperwork, mixed in with family photos and accessories, but my pictures didn't come out to well, so I'll edit this post later today after I take a couple more pictures today at the office...

     Someday (sooner than later)I hope to be making my living actually following my bliss, creating things, but as long as I am working here I'll do my best to make my workplace feel as welcome as my home does, (even if I do have generic office furniture) and I'll continue to wear the cutest shoes in town. 

The laundry room door o' my dreams (what a difference a door makes...)

   

     Sure, some women dream of fancy homes, or jewelry, or fabulous shoes. (OK, I have been known to lust after fabulous shoes myself...) but, really, for me it's all about the details. The things you might not have noticed, until they are improved upon, and are now a focal point in a room.
       Aah, such is the case of my newly installed, freshly painted, oh, so charming French door from the kitchen to the laundry room. It is a thing of beauty and a joy to behold, for me anyway. Previously, there was a circa 1966 flat panel interior door, complete with a little kitty door at the bottom. One can only surmise that the homeowner before me had a kitty and kept the kitty litter box in the laundry area.


     I have waited and saved and finally got the door hung a week and a half ago (by Jed, the oh so incredible handyman) and then I painted it up and hung my sweet lace curtain. You see, the laundry room has a wonderfully large window above the washer and dryer and now the light can stream in to the kitchen, with the door closed, so everyone doesn't have to admire my very old (oh, let's call 'em vintage, shall we?) washer and dryer.
     I also placed a darling lamp with a toile shade (it has been waiting a year, out in the garage for this very moment!) on top of the dryer...and soon, very soon, I'll be sharing pictures of the laundry room itself. (You see, I have further big-but-cheap plans for this little gem of a room, but it will have to wait until after the big wedding!)
*Sigh* For now, I am so happy and content, just to peek into the kitchen and look at the wonderfully cozy lil' door in my little jewel of a cottage.

Shower invitations!

The third wedding is fast approaching. The bride-to-be and her fabulous fiance' left last night. They have flown back to the northwest after a quick visit here in town, where they were buttoning up some wedding details. I hate it when they leave, any of them. We had the local newlyweds over for dinner and I hated it when they left too. Somebody tell me it gets easier....anybody?
    Anyway.
    To keep my mind busy and focus on all the upcoming happiness, I thought I'd share the latest wedding doodads. Uh huh, it's the shower invites!
I know, the text is all blurry, but you can still get the idea I hope. Don'tcha just love that brocade looking chandelier stamp? I love it. I love it so much, it occurred to me that it might be a neat thing to use on the table and place cards at the wedding. Hmmm, ya, maybe. I'll try out a couple of ideas tonight after work and run them by the bride-to-be...
*sigh* I just get so excited thinking about all these little details and projects that I probably won't be able to fall asleep tonight.

Some Valentine conversation napkins....

...to spruce up the table for Valentine's day! Oh, I think these are sooooo darling! The sewing Queen of northern Nevada machine embroidered them and they are fabulous. Sooo Valentine-y!I can think of so many cute table settings, all built around these cuties...a breakfast, a tea or a romantic dinner soire'.

She made them at my request and we have 2 sets of four, each napkin embroidered with a different Valentine wording!
They're available for $20 per set, plus $5 shipping and packaging. Just post a note in the comments, or send me an email and I'll be happy to send you a Paypal invoice, first ordered, first to get them!

**edited to add** Thanks! They are sold. There is a chance (I will know by tonight!) that there will be more of these cuties next week, so if you're interested, let me know and I will add you to the list!

52 weeks of words to live by.

    
     Can you believe it? I can't. I think I am going to take all 52 posts and make them into a nice little book for myself to remember all them all, each one meaning so very much to me.
     I'd like to give each and everyone of of you that has traveled along this journey the past 52 weeks with me a giant hug. It's been 52 weeks of personal growth for me, that's for sure.
I did the drawing this morning (Wow! Sooooo many comments! The pile was ginormous!) and Jen R won the drawing for my anniversary of 52 solid weeks of words to live by. Shoot me an email with your address Jen, and the "Believe" charm necklace from Cathy Penton will be on it's way to you!

Words to live by- week 52

Thank you all for reading my blog, and my "words to live by" for this past year. I'm so very happy and blessed to have gotten to know you all.

Oui! Une jolie chemise!

     That's French for a pretty shirt in case you didn't know. And it is!
My, oh my. I adore it! Have you heard of Wendy Troupe? Her online shop is tres fabu. I felt the need to share it with my closest friends, since I knew you'd love it too. I found this wonderful tee here, and I am sure I will be back for more wonderful items, as my budget permits. Oh! She has a Blog too. (Both of her sites are linked on my sidebars.)
The detail work on the transfers is simply too sweet.( And there were more styles to choose from. I had trouble deciding.)

Even the back of the tee has Wendy's logo up near the neck, which is a work of art into itself...and notice the darling bumblebee on the sleeve?

     It's all done on a very lightweight fabric, with those non hemmed sleeves (I am sure there's a name for it..?) that makes it all the more irresistible.
     One last thing andI promise I'll hop down off of my soapbox. The packaging. So nice, with a lavender sachet and a thank you note for the purchase....
*sigh*  I just love these kinds of special details.

angel wings- a work in progress, and opinions wanted.

     I'm starting to take down all my snowflakes and snowmen, and replace it all with hearts and angels..all things Valentine. I put my wings in the diningroom for this season and I am still playing around with what I want to use as accents with them..

Click on the pictures to enlarge them if you like...so far I am leaning towards the "Be Mine" blocks, because it seems more Valentine-ish...but I tried old books as well...which do you like best?

A Valentine craft from Ms. Crafty..the Queen of Cute!

     With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I simply had to share one more fabulous gift Ms. Crafty and her sis gave me last weekend, using the ever useful clothespins! (who knew you could do so much cute stuff with simple clothespins?!) It's a lil' Valentine clothesline, complete with Valentines!
     Of course, she began by packaging it up in an oh, so very cute way.

     Everything was all neat and tidy...and cute!

Sooo cute. The cutest, in fact. Hmmm, I am thinking we should crown Ms. Crafty the Queen of Cute. OK, done.

It's another craft thats so easy to make, and would thrill your favorite Valentine.
*sigh* Isn't there someone you know that would love one of these?

Window pains

         How do you like what I've done with my windows in the workroom? Oh yes, I am happy, happy now, but you should have seen me last Sunday (alllll day long...aauuuugh!) and then some more time spent last night. Oh yes, last night I was ready to pull out all my hair, trying to hang those roller shades. Did you hear all that screaming and stomping my feet? Ya, that was me.

*sigh* In the end, I think it was worth every minute.

          I think window treatments can be the toughest element in completing a look for a room, and they can literally make or break the look as well. In this case, I used what I had. Some remnants of the ticking fabric that the sewing queen of northern Nevada re-slipcovered my old piano bench with, some battenburg lace place mats, and some twigs from a very old grapevine wreath. Along with that I added some reproduction travel postcards, my favorite word on a banner of Robin's egg blue and mocha toile scrapbook paper and a little nest (you know I had to do that!)
    Here was the window treatment before...practical, and obviously affordable, the previous owner bought a ready made mini blind to undoubtedly create privacy and provide insulation, but...can we say boring? (So totally not me.)

    I mean, the windows themselves (original to the cottage and single paned..) are so charming, so cute, and they let in so much sunshine (..OK, and cold air.But, did I mention they are cute? No one will ever call me practical) that I had to find a way to showcase this so I could enjoy the cuteness of it all.

And, so I did.

Bee-utiful.

     Ms. Crafty and her sister came over last weekend for lunch, and once again, they outdid themseves in the creative gift department!
     I just had to share these bumble bee place cards along with their fabulous hand made gift bag. Is this not the cutest bit of springtime?!

     They are made from ordinary clothespins covered in scrapbook paper and adorable little bumble bee wooden cutouts glued in place...and check out the darling little cards to write the guests names on....Looooove it all.
*sigh* It's pure genius.
     Thank you Ms. Crafty and sissy, for the presents and your friendship!

How's about a little Q & A...an award and a milestone celebration giveaway?

     Whew! I am posting really late today, but time just got away from me...
    I get so many questions and sometimes I fall behind in answering them, so I am going to answer the ones I can think of right now. If I've missed any, just post 'em here and I'll edit the post with more! Sound good?

1. How do you do the furniture repainting and antiquing? I shared that here.

2. What color Blue paint do you use? I shared the recipe here.

3.What kind of printer do you have?
It's an HP PSC 1350 all-in-one printer scanner copier and I think it came from Walmart, about $100 when I bought it, probably replaced with newer version by now in stores.

4.What software program do you use to make your invitations and place cards?
Broderbund Printshop Ensemble III...a very very old version (at least 10 years old!)

5.What do you use to fuzzy up the edges on your photos?
Professor Franklin's Instant Photo Effects...I love it! It's made for beginners!

6.What is the name of the black color paint in your cottage?
I use Behr Brand (and I prefer eggshell finish, but you can use whatever finish you like) and it is called LAMP BLACK.

7. Can you show the inside of the composition book?
Sure!

8. How do you increase the font size in WORD to make it huge?
To make the font larger, highlight the font. Now go up to the font size box (where it shows 72) and type in a bigger number, like 150 and hit ENTER. The highlighted letter or word should jump up to that size.

edited to add...

from Tina-
9. I would like to know about your blue dishes. Where they came from and/or brand. I have found similar ones at Ballards and Penney's, although I am wanting the creme color 
They are the ones from Ballard or from Horchow I think, but I got them at TJ Maxx.

and from Gabrielle-
I got two paint swatches...Behr..one is 'creamy white and Innocence....have you used these colors before?
No, I haven't tried those shades. I have Behr TOASTED CASHEW in my living room and hall though.... 

From gail-

11.What kind of glue did you use on the composition books?

We used regualr craft glue. i also think spray glue would work great, if you spray it on the backs of the paper and then attached it to the comp book.

from holly-

12.Could you tell us or show us how to make one of your lovely pennant banners?

I make them in the Printshop program listed above. I do it as a POSTER, with 1 letter at a time per page, then edit to do the next letter. I draw 2 angled lines (in Printshop) making a big "V" and have the letter centered within the "V" if that makes any sense. I saved the template and use it over and over again.

from Judy-
13. How do I show an award on my blog?   
You right click on the award picture, click on save image as...and save it in with your pictures. You can even rename it if you need to.  

Oh, I forgot to share a napkin ring from this past post..and in fact, it's one of my favorites...new this season, on clearance at 60% off at Pottery Barn!

Look what I got today!!! Special thanks to Kathy for this wonderful award! There are way too many daily dose of love kind of blogs on my list to pick just one...so, if you're reading this, and you have a blog...consider yourself tagged!

Next Sunday marks 1 full year of words to live by. Wow!In fact, it was last mid January that I began posting everyday...and in the past 12  months, I have only missed 3 days of posting. (I'm not sure what this says about me...either I am devoutly dedicated or I need some professional help...or maybe both) At any rate, I think that I'll get on the celebration bandwagon with all the other blog giveaways out there in bloggyland! All comments from today through next Saturday night (on any posts) will go in a drawing for a prize in honor of the big occasion., so make those comments! I'll do the drawing next Sunday morning at 7:00 a.m. and announce the winner. Sound fun?

Oh, and here's the prize..... A fabulous Cathy Penton charm necklace!
Good luck, and thanks so very, very much for reading my blog and becoming my friends!

Words to live by - week 51

“Make every thought, every fact, that comes into your mind pay you a profit. Make it work and produce for you. Think of things not as they are but as they might be. Don't merely dream - but create!”

Robert Collier

Where this woman creates-the updated tour of my workroom

   
     Need a piece of paper? It's inside the closet in the paper organizer, of course. Some staples? In the middle drawer of the 3 drawer bird house, right where they belong. *Sigh* I love being tidy, but it doesn't come naturally for me.

Step right up, and welcome to the ten cent tour of my almost totally done, (for now) newly re-invented, completely organized and charmingly decorated workroom slash home office; AKA Command Central.(Hey!Look and you can see that I even got Jed the amazing handyman to hang my fabulous chandelier that I bought 8 months ago in sweet little Camas Washington!!!) It's where all my creative messes begin.

**edited at 7:00 pm Saturday night to add: I accidentally posted this post this morning and quite a few of you were wondering where in the heck the photos were!I wrote the post, but it was before I took my pictures. That was when I thought I'd get the window covering project completed today,as well as a little something on the far left wall. Well, I was busy, busy all day long, and time got away from me, so the tour is of everything except the window treatment, which you can see from the mini blinds, hasn't been updated yet, and the last wall...you'll see it soon though, I promise!**

     When I first moved into my sweet little fixer upper cottage a year ago on December first, my home office was not a priority. It was enough to focus on getting through today and tomorrow, and still coming to grips with my suddenly single life. Time passed. Slowly at first, then faster. I survived. I made a real home for myself and the puppies. Life came back.
     Now, a bit more than a year later, I am down to the last room in the cottage to personalize, just for me. (I know I will never be really all the way finished, as nesting is such a passion with me...a therapy of sorts...but this is the last room in the cottage for me to put my personal mark on)
I have a three bedroom cottage, and this is one of the bedrooms, nice and sunny, with a closet and a big cheery window. It's a pretty generic bedroom.
     As I've already mentioned in other posts, I've decided the best way to start of 2008 is by being 100% organized with my computer, my crafts, my bank statements and bills, and my supplies. (2008 is gonna be my year baby, and I had better be well prepared!)
     You know, it doesn't matter at all how big or small your creative space is. If things are orderly, things run more smoothly. Simple as that. There's a peacefulness to order; a sense of calm that can only be found (no pun intended) when things are in their proper places, don't you agree?   

     I began by emptying the room of everything except the large furniture pieces and my computer. (I put everything in the many empty rubber made tubs that previously held Christmas decorations. Thanks to cleaning out, handing things down to the kids, and donating some things, I ended up with several empty tubs.) The tubs were moved to my guest room and brought back into the workroom one at a time, cleaning and organizing as I went along.
     Once the contents were out of the room, I painted.(after I deliberated for far too long on if the new gallon of paint was really the same color as the kitchen and my bedroom) Oh, I can't get enough of that soothing soft Robin's egg blue-green-gray. Yummy.
    Finally, it was time to figure the layout of the furniture.Wow, less is more. The room feels twice the size it was a few weeks ago. Really.
    Lastly, (and this was the long tedious part) I began dragging in all my supplies and tools and such, a box at a time, making a donation pile (oh, my teacher friends were thrilled with these craft supplies!) a trash pile and a "this-doesn't-even-belong-in-this-room" pile. Oh yes! That's when the real fun began. The arranging, the tweaking, the discovering long lost craft tools...the organizing. Yes!

    I've still got to do a bit more fine tuning, but all in all, I am pretty happy with the way it's looking so far...and I think the puppers are enjoying it too.

Inspiration Friday - Napkin rings

      I love pretty table settings, and includes pretty napkin rings and place card holders! They inspire me to create wonderful table scapes!
     Today I thought I'd share with you some of my favorites that I have collected over the years. Most of them I have had for fifteen years or more. They never go out of style, and that's why they're such a good thing to have on hand.
    I have plain white ceramic vase style napkin rings that can be dolled up with ivy, or flowers, or holly, or even glittery faux poinsettia's, depending on the season and the formality I am after...

Think of all you can do with these....I have antique silverware handles that have been crafted into dressy rings...

I have these darling ceramic carrots (I've had them for about 20 years now!) that are perfect for any garden theme tablescape, and for a cheery Easter time meal too....oh, I am inspired for spring to hurry up and get here now!

    For breakfasts, or lunch, or when it's just me (yes! I set the table for myself, don't you? If you don't you should.)I have these sweet little tea pots...

    OK, I cheated on this last one. It's a WalMart Christmas ornament.

I changed out the ribbon and I tie it on the napkin...still one of my favorites...and oh, so inspiring.

Not your ordinary composition book...

Anything can be made to feel special, even something as ordinary as the basic stock composition book. My crafty friend shared this idea with me a few weeks back when we met for crafting, and lunch and girl talk.
Actually, we met the day before crafting at the scrapbook store to pick out papers we liked. Oooh, mocha toile. Doesn't get any prettier than this. A coordinating paper for the spine, another coordinating paper for the inside covers and the back...add some ribbon and craft glue, and you're ready to get to crafting.
     The process was so easy that I was done in no time at all. Just use the comp book as your template, trace around it, cut out the paper, glue it to the book (inside and out) with craft glue, being sure to glue the ribbon ties in place first. Once it's all glued, add more ribbon to the spots where your different papers connect, and you're through and ready to impress  your friends with your designer notebook.

The composition books are sold everywhere. She picked ours up at good 'ol WalMart for next to nothin'. (Did you know that they make mini composition books as well?)Gosh, the total cost for this little craft project was less than $3.
Here are some all-done-up mini comp books that Ms. Crafty gifted me with....

Now, I ask you, am I am a lucky girl, or what?!
I can think of about a million and two ways to use these darling comp books...
*sigh* Oh, they're perfect little gifts for that special someone in your life.

My top ten projects of 2007...

Cindy shared hers yesterday, after she got the idea from Manuela. How fun, to look back over the year and remember all the fun projects!Here are my top ten projects of 2007 in no particular order...

1.Furniture re-do 101. This was the little table in my bedroom, and I shared a tutorial on how I paint furniture.

2. Seashell cookies for my son and daughter-in-laws wedding reception.

3.My kitchen cabinet redo...this was my largest project of the year by far. Anyway, I made it last longer than any other project of the year!

4.The paper cones. They are just so charming....

5.The angel wings, dress form dress up...wait till you see what i'm doing with the wings for Valentine's day!

6. The garden sign. *Sigh* OK, I am ready for spring now.

7.The white highchair redo...I am ready for grandbabies, in case anyone cares to know.

8.The entire backyard foofy-fying. Did I say i'm ready for spring yet?

9. The kitchen hutch...not only was it cheap, it was such a big transformation...

10. The dining room table swap slash redo....

I could go on and on....I can't wait to see what 2008 brings!

It's all about the monogram...

     Look at what arrived by post today! Mmm hmm...it's the invitation for the upcoming wedding! This wedding is the third in exactly twelve months, and by far the largest and most formal of the three.
      We looked at oodles and toodles of cards online and at the bridal show (Such fun!!) Then, I made several different design mock ups and the bride-to-be selected the one she thought was perfect for her big day.
     There was a lot of printing, and cutting and cropping and stacking and sorting and counting going on last week in my living room while I watched the food network, followed by packaging them up and mailing them off to the bride-to-be. She then spent the remaining weeknights tying knots of ribbon and filling the envelopes.
     Whew!It was quite an undertaking, but, let me tell you....in the end they came out looking just like she wanted. Formal and classically elegant. (and for mere pennies on the dollar compared to what the professional printers wanted!)

*sigh* Worth every minute.

Second post today...A nice award..and news of a give away!

Oh gee, oh my! Janet gave me the You Make My Day Award! I am so flattered and honestly always surprised when someone, anyone, says that I make their day, really. Thank you so much Janet!!!

Janet is also having a birthday (tomorrow!) and a giveaway for this fabulous book. (How do I know it's a fabulous book? "Coz it's put out by Romantic Homes magazine...that assures me it will be wonderful!)

Anyhoo...hurry on over to Janet's, stat, and leave a comment, so you'll be entered to win..and be sure and tell her I sent you!

(Moderately) Extreme Makeover

     I cleared out about 70% of my old holiday decor items this past Christmas season. When I had finished paring things down, I had a small pile of items that I still loved, but needed some updating...foofifying if you will, to make them more of my current look. While I would not call myself a pack rat, I don't like to give things away just because they no longer go with my home decor, or I am simply tired of the color they are painted.
     Such was the case of Mr. Snowman here. He's so danged cute, but I am so over red right now. (never say never, 'coz he may get painted back to red someday...)  I want to keep the snowman/snowflake/let-it-snow theme going on through January, so he got a new coat..of paint.
It's not taken from the best angle, but here he is "before"...

     He was adorable then, and he is adorable now...

    The difference is that he now goes better with my color scheme, and he's not so much Christmas-y as he is winter-y.

Aah, the things a girl can do with 30 minutes and a bit of paint, string and scrapbook paper.

words to live by week 50

The little things? The little moments? They aren't little.
-  John Zabat-Zinn

*sigh* True dat.

Inspiration Fridays - Nell Hill's brand new Stylish Weddings Book!

     The newest Nell Hill's book is out, and since I am in the midst of planning the third and final wedding of my three kidlets within twelve months, it was of enormous interest to me.
For the most part it is about wedding ideas, yes, but much more than that, Mary Carol Garrity shares more of her fabulous tablescape ideas and details, details, details.

It will come as no surprise to you that my favorite part of the book by far is the section on using black and cream accent colors...ooooh, I loved it!

While this book doesn't seem to be as long as her others, it is full of great ideas and inspiration, and I feel even more inspired to focus in on the details of this last blissful celebration we're preparing for.

...and there was light. (an update on the electrical problem...)

And it was a very good thing.
     And, Jed the oh-so-amazing-handyman-extraordinare said it wasn't my fault. That's right, people! It was caused by some strands of copper wire up in the kitchen nook chandelier that touched some other live wires and apparently when I threw the breaker to turn on the power, it surged through and then it all happened.    Well, something like that anyway. Bottom line..not. my. boo boo. That being said, I assured Jed the oh-so-amazing that my electrical working days are through. (Yes, I've seen the light.)
     Oh, and the total bill for Jed lighting up my life...(literally)... $40. I told you he is oh-so-amazing.

*sigh*  I'm just really feeling grateful and blessed tonight....and enlightened.

Lesson learned... the hard way

     Note to self- You are a lot of things, but you are not an electrician.

*sigh*.

It's been a little dark here at my cottage the past few days. Mmm hmm. My old dimmer switch  in my kitchen nook blew out three weeks ago and I completely lost my mind decided that I could replace it myself, because I live in a fantasy world consider myself "handy".
     "How hard could it be?", I thought to myself. I mean, the worst thing that would happen is that it wouldn't work, right? Wrong. The worst thing that can happen is that you can blow out all the power in one half of your lil' cottage.(Okay, the very worst thing would be that you could burn down your little cottage, but ending up with no lights in 4 rooms of your cottage is not good either...) Then, after the worst has happened, you have to wait several days to get someone that actually knows what they are doing to come over and take a look see. Today is that day.

*sigh* I am not an electrician.

Warm hands, warm heart

     A week ago I went to a friends home for lunch and to do a bit of crafting and she surprised me with these beauties. I had admired her darling mittens a few weeks before, and she told me that they were just simple mittens from Target that her sister had crocheted roses on to. (How ingenious is that??? Man, I wish I could be patient enough to learn to crochet!)
   Her presentation was just as cute as the mittens. She put the mittens in a corsage bag, tied with a polka-dot bow and a stamped card that read "Happy Winter".

Now, I ask you, how special is that? Pretty darned special. Just looking at them makes my heart swell.

*sigh* Lucky, lucky me.

Totally free two minute art project

    Everybody's doing the monogram thing these days...Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, Ballards Designs, Horchow.... and me.
Isn't it classy looking? Ya, I thought you'd like it. That's why I just had to share this easy-as-pie and basically free idea with all of you today.
     While cleaning out the workroom, I've been going through all of my old scraps of paper, pages from magazines...and ads. I came upon a Pottery Barn page where they are actually selling printed letters of the alphabet. Are you kidding me?! Who is buying these things? Are they charming? Yes. Sophisticated? For sure. But to pay money when we can all just print a letter out on our deskjet printers..? Pul-ease. I want to meet the folks buying these, 'coz I have a bridge I want to sell them.

Anyway.

I also ended up with a semi large collection of assorted picture frames. Some small, some not so small, you name it. I took a frame I liked (an old TJ Maxx clearance find for $3.99) and I then printed the letter in WORD in a large font.(I think the font size was 160) I centered it on the page, then I took the glass from the frame and laid it over the paper with the letter "B" on it. When the letter was centered, I drew around the piece of glass, and then cut out the square. I placed the glass and the paper back in the frame and I was done.

So...I am thinking these will make fabulous gifts.(Maybe for Valentines day? Gee, I hope my kids aren't reading this...) Frame one, or do a collection of the same letter in different fonts, (masculine or feminine) how cool would that be? Or spell out a  word, like L O V E or H O P E or B L I S S in 4 assorted frames with one letter in each, and done in different  fonts, then place them together to form the word?

**edited to add: OK, to get your font size larger than 72 in WORD, all you need to do is highlight the lstter (or whatever) and then in the font size box that reads 72, click and type in the number you want to try...say...175, then hit ENTER. The highlighted letter will enlarge.

Oh. My. Gosh. My mind is reeling at the many ideas you can create here, for free, people!

A great tip Award!

Jen presented me with this award today! Thanks Jen, that was so nice!!!
I'd like to pass this award on to my sweet friend Dawn next!

Words to live by - week 49

 "Winter is the time of promise because there is so little to do - or because you can now and then permit yourself the luxury of thinking so."
-- Stanley Crawford

Workroom/Office update:Foofified Bookcases and a way cool computer table

    Here's that second post of the day that I said I'd share if the power stayed on.
    I shoveled the driveway early, early this morning. The snow is still coming down, periodically (I love it!) and I can see that I am going to have to bundle up and shovel again.

The workroom slash office redo continues...and continues...oh, so slowly.
I've been painting the hutch bottom/table/desk for what seems like a week. (Remind me never to paint something that large dark green again. It takes too many coats of write to cover it up when I get tired of it.)
All whining about the time the paint job took aside, I love the new and improved desk-y, table-y thing. It was originally a 2 piece hutch. I've had it for more than twelve years. It was time for a new look, so I decided to omit the hutch top, since it was in pretty sad shape actually, leaning a bit to one side. Instead, I thought I'd add skirts to cover my printer, computer tower and other craft supplies and use the long base as my computer/work table. Perfect!!!!!!!!!! Just exactly the length of the window, it sits where I can look outside and watch the snow coming down.(As you can see, I haven't tackled the window treatment yet..soon though, very soon.)
     As for the bookcase mdf back dilemma, well, since cash flow is a real issue in my world, I decided for the time being to use what I've got...pages from a couple of old books are covering the backs of both cases for now. Later, when my ship comes in I'll do something wildly pretty, but for now, I am kinda likin' the look.

    I am also going to attach bun feet to the bottom of each bookcase as well, to give it a more finished look.

    The organizing and rearranging is going well...I keep bringing in just a few items at a time, putting them in their perfect place, so I can actually find them when I need to use them later.
    And the purging. Oh my, people. You really should try this in your creative space. Just like the rule for clothes in your closet, if you haven't used it in two years, donate it to someone who will.   
     Luckily I have about 50 teacher friends, and they can always use crafty stuff. I can't quite put into words just how good it feels to be getting this room organized. Organized and comfy.

*sigh* It's like a peaceful, calm aura has blanketed the room, and it feels so nice.

Perfect snow day

       A huge snow storm blasted the biggest little city last night and is supposed to continue through today. On a Saturday.
     Usually when we get a nice big storm it falls on a week day and I have to shovel my driveway, go to work, slip sliding on the drive to and from. I carry my cute shoes while wearing my clunky snow boots, when it is quite obviously slippers-at-home weather.

    But not today. It's the weekend, and I am home. (Oh, happy day!)

    *sigh* We're talkin' uber nesting here, people. I am so very happy and content, being right here inside my warm and cozy cottage with the dogs. I have a stack of books, and some Trader Joe's butternut squash soup set aside for lunch. For the morning though, I am quite satisfied to watch it snow, as I sit by a roaring fire sipping hot chocolate with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles, thankyouverymuch. I want this day to go on for one hundred hours. Really. Saturdays in winter just don't get much better than this.

    In a bit I will head back into my workroom to do some more organizing, and reinventing...and I'll share a few pictures if the power stays on.... if not, I'll be curled up by the fire with my book and a French vanilla candle burning.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall...

    Oh yes, I'm still working in my workroom/home office, and I am having a ball setting it up in such an organized fashion!
    You saw this mirror in the "before" state already, but here it is again.

    It was originally on top of an old dresser, but the brackets that were to hold it in place were broken. Of course, I had big plans for it, just not sure what the big plans were.
     I've been hanging on to it for a year and a half now, waiting for that right spot to jump out at me. Looking at the two bookcases with the old piano bench (newly re-slipcovered in the same fabric as my dining room chairs, by the Sewing Queen of norther Nevada!) I knew I had finally found that special spot.
    The first step was to tape it all off....

    Oh, and I had plans to add an appliqué to the top area that had been broken off before I got the mirror.
     I primed it with my favorite..Kilz water based primer....

    A couple more coats and I was ready to antique the piece....

I added the antiqued appliqué (I always antique appliqués before attaching them, and then do a bit of touch up)and I hung it on the wall....

I sat back and admired the look. *Sigh* Nice. Just the look I was after. And it didn't cost me anything but my time.

Hmmm, now, what am I going to do with the ugly mdf board on the backs of those bookcases?