31 Days

October 17, 2012

 Tonight I picked little red Styrofoam berries and pine cones off an old Christmas wreath. This needs to be something else and I have a plan. So now I have a naked wreath ready for redecorating.

October 16, 2012

 This finish is a jacket. The hem came out sometime last fall and I stuck it in the sewing room. Do I need to say I never got around to fixing it? Almost a year later I can wear my jacket again. Good thing because our cold front has arrived.

October 15, 2012

I like buttons. I buy buttons at thrift stores, garage sales, and estate sales. I throw the buttons I buy in a basket waiting for a rainy day. 

Well, today was a rainy day, not really, but it was Monday and therefore kind of blah. So, tonight I pulled buttons off cards, clipped threads, and got my basket emptied.

I have an abundance of white buttons. My little jelly jar is overflowing. Same with the brown ones.

Awe! Look at the little umbrella button. Perfect for my rainy Monday project.

October 14, 2012

Yay! We have internet. 

This project is one I've put off since we remodeled the living room in 2009. When I redecorated I went with browns, taupes, you know, neutral colors. I fell in love with a burlap lampshade from Ballard Design. Of course I can't find it now, but it was similar to this one at Pottery Barn. This was a relatively quick finish considering I've had three years to think about it.

I more or less measured my burlap by rolling the lampshade up in it and then trimming off the excess. Very scientific, let me tell you. The hardest part was figuring out the seam coming up the side. I'm still not 100 percent happy with it, but I'm hoping some sudden inspiration will hit and I'll be able to fix it and be happy with it. Of course, I could just turn it to the wall and forget it. The whole thing is hot glued to the frame.

It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I like it.

October 13, 2012

 Day two with no internet. I'm beginning to have withdrawal systems. It's sad.

I spent the afternoon reclaiming the garage. I took a desk, tri-fold mirror, two headboards, and a rocking chair to the storage unit. These are projects for a later date and were in the way. I'm trying to figure out how to make a painting booth in the garage so I can work in there when it's windy. It's not like any of our vehicles will fit in the garage and not because we have big cars/trucks. It's just a super tiny garage.

October 12, 2012

I'm writing this in Word. Our interest is kaput since the thunderstorm that rolled through a bit ago. I'm glad for the rain though. 

I had planned to sew tonight, but we lost electricity for a bit and short of breaking out the treadle or sewing by hand it's not happening. Tonight's finish was moving all the finished projects to the basement. Now I can truly walk upstairs without stubbing my toe on an extra chair or table that's hanging out. 

October 11, 2012

Today I plan to finish straightening up the mess I have on my kitchen island. Right now it's a sad sight and I can't find anything. So for now, this is my finish. Maybe tomorrow I can get a sewing project done. 

How's that for a brutally honest picture?

October 10, 2012

Today I finished a paper fan that was started close to two months ago. Nothing like dragging projects out forever.

The cones are an old dictionary pages, the flower is an old pattern and some sheet music, and a little doily for different texture.

 The unfortunate thing about not finishing this sooner is some of the cone tips are a little smooshed. Oh well, at least it's done.

October 9, 2012

Ta Da! 

Tonight I finished two tote bags and six kitchen towels using graphics from The Graphics Fairy and Citra Solv. Easy peasy. These are Christmas gifts. 

The tote bags would be really cute with ruffles or something else added. I might have to think about doing a little more. But, for tonight, it's a finish.

October 8, 2012

Day 8, this is getting harder. I used the product of yesterday's finish to finish today's project. Flowers made from pattern pieces, a clock face printable, and a dusty grapevine wreath. I thought it turned out pretty cute.

Looking at the picture it's pretty obvious I need to do some fluffing down about 5:30. If that doesn't work I'll add another flower. 

October 7, 2012

Today I finished up a bunch of paper flowers for tomorrow's project. I used some really dated pattern pieces for the flowers. I have a computer box full. I hope it's enough to finish up day 8.

October 6, 2012

Today was spent finishing up a promise I made to my mom several weeks ago. This morning we went to garage sales, drove to Hinton to an Arts & Crafts show, and then visited junk shops until noon. While I don't have anything physical to show for this finish, I do have the memory of spending time with my mom.

October 5, 2012

This little table was painted about a month ago and I just never got around to giving it a protective finish. Tonight I gave it a coat of wax and a good buffing and now it's shiny and ready to hold something special.

October 4, 2012

I'm cutting it close today. I'm not going to admit how long this has been laying on the dining table. Possibly since the last family gathering. Well, let's just say a while. 

Without flash

With flash

This is a dictionary leaf tree. I cut the leaves out of old dictionary pages, aged with walnut ink, and heated them in a warm oven so they'd curl a bit. I took a paper-wrapped wire tree and gave it a spritz with walnut ink. Using Modge Podge to sandwich the branches of the tree between two leaves. I covered each leaf with MP to keep them from being too brittle and it seemed to bring out the aged look a little more. The base was turquoise blue and I gave it a coat of eggshell/ivory paint.

Unfortunately it seems like there's not a good place to take pictures at night. Use your imagination with the colors. Crazy stuff!

October 3, 2012

My project today was to finish up DH's family Christmas cards. Yes, it's early. We have Christmas with his mother the middle of December and that will be here before I know it. These are all signed, tucked in envelopes, and addressed. Total time one hour (most of which was spent looking for the address book). 

Now I just need to remember where I put them so I don't have to redo them.

One project off the dining table. Many more to go.

October 2, 2012

This is another embarrassingly quick finish. I did this mirror here while back, painted the frame, put the mirror back in, and covered the back. All that was left to do was put in the swivel screws. 

I bought the swivel-type looking knobs at Hobby Lobby in the knob/handle department and had DH cut off about 1/4 inch so they'd sit flush. I used E-6000 to hold them in place. Done in a matter of minutes. 

This went to my office tonight and now I have a place to check my hair during the day without walking a mile to the ladies. 

That's two projects out of my kitchen. The clearing off the dining table is next.

October 1, 2012

I started this little bench about six weeks ago. I had painted the frame, covered the seat, done the transfer, and applied the burlap ruffle. All that was left was trim to cover some staples. This took me about 15 minutes to finish.  

Graphic compliments of The Graphics Fairy

September 30, 2012

I've decided to join the Nester for 31 Days in 2012.

My 31 days topic is finishing up projects.

It might be a craft project or a household project I've been procrastinating over for a while now. Goodness knows I've got quite a few unfinished projects to choose from so who knows where this might go.

Joy