Back in Black

This was the piece that we found at the Pentwater Village Garage Sales in June.  I don't even want to tell you what we paid for it, in case I want to resell it!  Hee hee!  It was a big ol' mess when we bought it.  It had a glass door, with a beat up drawer that was in pieces.  I had Ken repurpose it for me to use at my booth at the store, "Not So Shabby".  We brought it down there the other night and it's a great way to house all the little accessories that made my booth feel too cluttered. 

A shot of the before and after of a dining set that I finished last week.  I actually did two in the past week and a half.  I'll post the other one next time.

I have a love/hate relationship with this Benjamin Moore black paint.  I think I posted before that I've used this paint for the last 10 years, but just lately it's given me some trouble with large pieces.  It's supposed to have a self-primer built into it, but I'm finding that it doesn't cover as smoothly or roll out as nicely across the tops of tables.  It is really unforgiving if you try to double back and smooth out the roller marks.  I love it for small items and metal.  I think when this can is done, I may leave my first love and see what else is out there.  (No, not a metaphor for my life right now).

Then I paint a piece like this one, and I absolutely love the sheen.  As usual, I'm very indecisive.

And, last but not least...."Happy Birthday to me".  You know when I posted the picture of my backyard deck, and I was hinting to my husband that I wanted a pergola built over that area for my birthday?  Well, that didn't exactly happen, much to my pleasant surprise, because this is the before and after of what I got for my b-day in July...

My old Mongoose mountain bike that I've had for 15 years.

My new "Giant" hybrid.  I LOVE this bike. My family got it all tricked out for me with a speedometer, cell phone bag, and water bottle.  Kennedy got a new bike too and we are having so much fun biking long distance together.  The first night we made it almost from Grand Haven to my sister's house on Holland's northside, but Kennedy hit a tree, a deer almost hit me, and it was pitch black on the path so we called it quits.  We'll try again soon.  The pergola will have to wait 'til next year. 

Comments...

Dog Days of Summer

I feel as lazy as Libby when it comes to hot summer days!  Actually I've been quite busy and I thought it was about time that I showed you some things other than paint, paint and more paint. I just HAD to take a pic. of Libby after she stuffed herself into the pillowcase of the pillow that was in her cage. I think her shredding the pillow was her way of agreeing that I've been too busy to play and go for walks.  She was far too cute to punish for that.

I've been putting some things together for a friend's wedding at the end of July.  She is getting married on the beach and everything is going to be casual, beachy, bright and simple.  Below is a picture of Brecken (my 10 year old), putting together some guest cards made out of white cardstock and colorful strips of scrapbook paper.  At the reception, we'll have guest write their well-wishes on the cards and hang them from rope stretched across the wall by the entrance.  We'll put them in a photo album next to their pics for a nice keepsake and recording of who attended.

The bright pink bride and groom cards will be attached to bright lollipops that will sit in mini buckets of sand for guests to take home.  (See buckets below).  I found 40 galvanized tin buckets at a garage sale earlier this spring. They were brand new. Unfortunately, I snagged them from a bride-to-be that never made it down the aisle. Oops.

Here's Brecken helping me put together some pinwheels.  We're going to put these in the sand leading to where the bride and groom will stand and around the make-shift gazebo. 

I used bright colored scrapbook paper in the colors that will coordinate with what the bridesmaids are wearing.  I glued two different patterns back to back using "Mod-Podge".  Spray adhesive would work too, but I didn't have any at the time.  You cut diagonally from each corner inward and stop about 2 inches from the center.  You then fold every other corner down toward the center.  Super simple.  Hold together with a tack or decorative pin.

Here's how the pinwheels turn out.  All I need to add now is the sticks.  I buy them from Hobby Lobby, cut them in half and spray paint them white.  Here's some that I made before.  I've used them for centerpieces for graduation parties, birthdays and my friend Abby has them hanging in each of her dining room windows from ribbon.  Festive and fun way to add some pizazz without spending a lot.

I thought this was a cute idea too. Abby gave me a b-day gift last week and brought it over in this unique little gift bag.  Sorry this picture isn't the best, but this tiny little pinwheel is too creative!!

There are so many other places to add them....to the backs of chairs, to a little girls room instead of pennants, placed inside mason jars and used on an indoor sunporch...make them out of fabric and add them to t-shirts, lampshades, or scarves.  See Martha Stewart's website for additional directions. 

I had to give my pets equal screen time.  Kennedy just returned from Camp Geneva last week, and Brecken left today for camp.  I guess Esker didn't want to be left out.  Sorry Esker, maybe next time.

Comments...

Well, hello.

Hi guys!  Sorry it's been a while since I've posted. I enjoyed a warm, relaxing holiday weekend with family and friends and hope you did too.  I thought I'd dig through a few blog archive photos to show you a random sampling of what I've been doing with my summer.

These are some things that I've made, painted or repurposed  for clients and for the store, "Not So Shabby". 

This weekend, July 9 and 10, downtown Zeeland has their annual sidewalk sales.  Come on down and check out my booth at "Not So Shabby".  It's pretty full right now.  I've put all the things that were in the window display in my booth.  Thanks to all of you who make it a regular stop!  I've been having fun meeting so many new and wonderful clients!

Comments...