I chose Painting

I have so much to do today and what did I do when I got up this morning. The dishes, the laundry or dust? No, I painted this little bench. I think having this blog is really beginning to take over my life. I like sharing my projects with everyone. I also find so much inspiration on the blogs that I visit each day that household chores have taken a back seat to painting, planting and paper crafting. Well, I will be quite honest household chores were not really up there on my list of favorites anyway. I love this blue color. Thank you Stacy for finding it for me. It looks great inside and outside.

Too Perfect?

A few weeks ago while the weather was still stuck somewhere between winter and spring I bought a few bunches of fake pansies. I was so excited to put them in pots and put them on this chair on the front porch. Now, with the all the beautiful days I am beginning to wonder if they will last much longer. I am thinking they just look to clean and perfect. Maybe I should distress the pots a little. Can something be too perfect?

Going overboard on Clips

The return of the clothespin clippies. I have received a lot of compliments on the clips I made a few weeks ago. The clips in the picture below are much larger than an everyday clothespin. They are about 6 inches tall. I am seriously thinking about selling them on Ebay or Etsy. I would love to hear from anyone who has sold on either site. I really need to get organized and join in the fun of selling. I may even check out a few local stores.

Have a wonderful Weekend

Brown and Turquoise

I can scratch another project off my list. I stepped out of my color comfort zone when I painted this planter brown and turquoise. I had planned on painting all the odds and ends on the deck red and blue. I love the all American beach look. That all changed when I bought the brown fabric at Jo Anne's. I definitely like the change.

I made a few more signs, they do add a touch of whimsy to the deck. Who doesn't like whimsy? The pots needed to be painted black. The natural clay color did not seem to match the brown and blue of the planter. All in all I am happy with the outcome . A few more projects for the weekend and I should be done.

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Sunshine and Seventies

The warm weather continues here in Rhode Island. I spent most of yesterday outside. I did a little more planting and painting. The pansies look great planted in these containers. I have been looking for containers that would fit the railing on our deck. These are great they are adjustable.

I haven't painted anything I would call decoraive in years. The walls in my house and a few outdoor things for sure. I came across some unfinished signs that I bought last year. Why not make a few for outside? I found one brush that really was not suitable for fine lettering and flowers but I made do. The signs are primitive to say the least. I was not too sure if I liked them, but outside they do look sort of cute. Not my best work, but I am not an artist, just someone who happens to have a brush and few tubes of paint.

I tied a bit of ribbon to the signs and I called it a night. I hope everyone is enjoying spring in their neck of the woods. It is already in the 70's here and the sun is shining. All I need is an iced cofffee and who knows what I may accomplish today.

Head board and More

My daughter has been looking for an iron headboard for about a year now. They can be quite costly so we have been looking for one at the local consignment/antique stores . Never fear, my father found one . His neighbor had put this one out for garbage pick up. It also comes with a foot board . The price could not be better, it was free. My daughter wants to paint it a brighter color. I think it would look nice red or maybe mustard yellow. It will go nicely with the dresser and mirror she bought last weekend. Since I was ay my parents to look at the head board, I want to share a picture of something my father built in his back yard. It is an out house, that he is using as a shed. I can not believe I am sharing this, but I think he did a nice job with it. He has been retired for about ten years now and keeps busy building all sorts of things. He has built a lot of furniture over the years and too many lamps to count.

This is the handle to the out house door. He made it himself out of a piece of sheet metal and then sprayed it flat black. I have no idea how he does all this, but I do know he has all the right tools. We shake our heads a lot, I mean a lot at his ideas. But if he is happy, who are we to judge? He likes to work with wood, concrete and metal. I am sure I will share more of his work in future posts.

Finish what I Started

I need a little nudge in finishing my outdoor projects. I would like things done before the first of May. I tend to start things but never really complete the project before I move onto something new. By posting this yet to be finished project for all to see, I may just finish what I started.

Swinging into Spring

As I said, I love to spend time on our deck. We have had this swing for years and it needed a little pick me up and this is how it turned out. This picture is the after, the before picture is not that appealing, that is why I saved it for last. I bought the fabrics at Jo Anne's last week. The deck is really taking shape. It just needs a few more flowers and one more umbrella and it will be ready for the summer. I spent most of Sunday sitting on the swing listening to the Red Sox game on the radio, they won. I am an avid New England sports fan. Later on our daughter took a drive to the beach and brought home chowder and clam cakes from a diner called Iggy's. We are having such a nice spring here.

Beautiful Day

The weather was beautiful today. I found it hard to focus on the projects I had on my to do list. The sewing machine happens to be inside and all I wanted to do was go outside. You have to take advantage of sunny warm days in April because in late May you could be wearing a winter jacket. I did manage to get a few things done. I love the new wreath on the shed door. I bought it at Jo Anne's yesterday. By the way they are having a big sale this week. All in all I had a nice day that ended at a camp fire where smores were made.

A closer look at the flowers I planted yesterday. Please indulge me while I get accustomed to using my new camera.

The shed was a birthday gift a few years back from my parents. I thought it might need to be repainted this year but all it needed was a wreath. Scratch one more thing off the list.

It is all in the Barrel

I did a little planting today. I filled two whiskey barrels with flowers that should be able to make it through some cool nights. The colors are so vibrant. I tend to lean towards red, yellow and purple flowers. Whiskey barrels are my favorite containers. They really withstand the cold winters we have in the north east. Last year I needed to put rocks in the dirt to hold up some plants that were drooping. This year I left them in just because I thought they looked good. There are four candle holders, the red ones are rather tall and did not fit in the picture. I love sitting out on the deck at night and lighting the candles. Look closely and you can see blue stones that I threw in just for fun.

Placemat Pocketbook

I put together a few things as a thank you for a friend. She ordered the tissue holders for the brdal shower. She has bought things from me before and I just wanted to let her know that I appreciate it. The pocketbook is made from a placemet. Last summer I bought a very pretty placemat and after looking at it I thought it could be turned into a bag. I came home and googled pocketbook placemats. I had no idea that people had been making them for years. I used mine all last summer and it held up very well. I hope she enjoys her bag and the little extras.

Getting back into summer Shape

My favorite spot in the summer just happens to be in my own back yard. I spend a lot of time on our back deck. It gets alot of sun in the afternoon. I have been working on getting it back into summer shape. I have planted a few flowers and repainted some things that should not have been left outside all winter.

I need to recover the cushions on the swing and buy more plants, but it is definitely looking better. I bought this sun today and hung it outside. I have plans to put a small plant stand underneath it. First, I must repaint the stand. All in good time.

Junking is a girl's best friend

This weekend was spent shopping with my daughter Tarah and her friend Liz. We went shoe shopping first and then hit the local consignment stores. These two girls love junking. Who knew? My daughter fell in love with this bureau and mirror. The problem is she lives three hours away and already has a bureau. After much thought, on her part. I am going back to the store and see if it is still there. Her father thought it was nice until she asked him if he would drive it to her. It lost some of its luster then. Thank you, Tarah and Liz for a fun weekend.

Little patch of pansies

Just a small example of instant gratification. With a bit of warm weather over the past few days, I made my first flower purchase. My favorite flowers are geraniums, red in particular. But for now these purple pansies will have to do. They make such a difference already. I will add flowers as the season progresses, but for now I am grateful for my little patch of pansies.

Black and White Pictures

I have no idea what to call this project. I just like to decorate pictures. I have just recently started doing this craft. I have bought a few books on altering pictures, the ideas are endless. These examples are very simple, but it is a start. The young couple in the first picture happens to be my parents. They will be married 52 years in July. The boy on the swing is my older brother who turns 50 years old today. Happy birthday, Wayne.

The proof is in the ground

Many blogs out there are posting the signs of spring in their area. I was determined to find proof that spring was actually making an appearance in my neck of the woods. Well, Rhode Island has jumped on the spring is in the air band wagon. I am happy to say that I did locate a hint of a few perennials in the back yard. The front door of our house now has a lovely wreath on it. I now need to make a list of the annual flowers, potting soil and flower pots I will need. White paint is needed to refresh the front porch. The screen door could use a coat of paint too. It looks like crafting will take a back seat to outdoor work for a few days. At least until the rain comes this weekend.

Cigar Box

Making flowers, making flowers that is all I seem to do. The weather here in the northeast was beautiful yesterday I even had the doors open letting in some much needed fresh air. Hopefully, I will be able to buy some flowers for outside soon. Purple and yellow pansies would look great on my back deck. My daughter keeps this cigar box on a bureau in her room. It might be nice to make one for myself. I think it would make a nice pocketbook. Not to use everyday of course but just for fun.

Clothespin Greeting Cards

I added a few greetings to the clothespins. They would look cute clipped to a gift card or maybe on a gift bag. I want to make a few more. I thought they would look cute with butterflies or lady bugs.

Papered Clothespins

Last night I felt like doing something creative. I did not want a mess because it was rather late. I had seen an idea similar to this and I already had the clothespins so why not give it a try? I papered the long side of the clothes pin and added a flower. That wasn't enough, I added the leaves and a button. I had a bird pattern handy, why not try the bird? I like the distressed look, I used an ink pad to give them the worn and tattered look.

Changing of the Blog

My daughter helped me with a few changes to my blog. Okay saying she helped me is incorrect. She did the work and I watched. I really like the changes. I enjoy blogging and think that I will love going back and looking at my first posts. I am striving to get better. I also hope to be more creative and not so critical of my blogs. We are all friends here. The picture is of a calender I bought at Barnes and Noble during their After Christmas Sale. I did not intend on hanging it, I bought it for the beautiful artwork. It has found a place in my kitchen and adds some color to a once dreary corner.