Chalkboard Paint

I've seen some interesting things done with chalkboard paint lately. I guess it is the old school teacher in me that is taken with it. Here is the first thing I tried this week. I bought a cheap thrift store silver tray. I wanted to keep the edge silver and the curvy lines made it hard to tape off. I spayed some of the paint in a cup and painted the curvy part.Then I taped off the edges and sprayed the center. Unfortunately I left it outside to dry and it got some trash/leaves in the wet paint! So I cleaned it up, retaped it and sprayed it again. Then I took it back inside to dry!

And here is the finished product!

Now I have a can of paint and I'm not sure what will get the treatment next!

Spring Fluffing

I've been fluffing my nest a little bit with some Easter/Spring decorations! I just found these cute chick silverware holders that I bought last year at Target -after Easter 75% off!
Last week I had bunny napkin rings out with some thrift store napkins. I added the carrot embroidery.

This was my Salvation Army haul last week. I don't usually find much there-but the prices are usually less there when I do find something! Notice the tarnished, old cheap tray... I had a project in mind for that. I'll post about that if it turns out!


Do you remember these loopy daisy place mats? 70's style? I think they were made on some kind of loom.

Stuff for some outside fluffing- hanging tealight, chenille pillow sham, little violet plate and berry bowl.

This Italian tray was SO dirty but I liked the green color. So for a quarter, I cleaned it up and I think I'll use it for St. Paddy's Day decoration next year. I know it is not Irish....but neither am I!! Also I got some fabric pieces for a quarter- veggie print and fish print- I was thinking patio napkins....

The chenille sham and daisy place mats have found a home on the front porch. All ready for a warm day, a new magazine and a glass of sweet tea!

Wordless Wednesday

Snip-It!!

I took a class on how to make this nifty little gadget last week! It is a pin cushion and trash bag to sit next to your sewing machine! I always put my pins in my mouth as I sew (BAD-I know!) and drop my threads on the floor. This solves both problems. It was easy to make! I sent one to my "Take Time to Relax" swap partner because she likes to sew. Most of the time I find sewing relaxing! So here are the directions:

You need: (You will have enough to make 2)

3/8 yard fabric for outer bag

3/8 yard fabric for lining

1 yard thin boning

sand or rice (we used desert sand from Lowes garden area)

Directions:

1. Cut:

rectangle 17.5" X 10" of outer fabric and same of lining for bag

rectangle 6.5" X 8.5" of outer fabric and same of lining for pin cushion

rectangle 4" X 6" of one fabric for strap

(Since I already made one from this fabric -I found that I did not have a big enough piece for the outer pin cushion so I had to make a seam and sew two pieces together to get a 6.5 X 8.5". Then I used a piece of muslin to make the lining piece.)

2. Fold strap and sew seam (sew with 1/4" seam) -Leave ends open. Turn right side out.

3. Stack pin cushion fabrics (2 layers to keep sand from leaking) . Center strap on 6.5" side of right side of fabric.

Fold. Sew through all layers on 2 sides. Leave end open.

Turn right side out.

4. With outer fabric for bag- Fold and sew seam in side and bottom. Leave top open.

OK- the next part is a little tricky! Make square corners by sewing across the corners of the bottom of the bag -2 inches from corners (see pictures)

5. Repeat #4 with bag lining fabric, except leave a 3 inch hole in the side seam to be able to turn the bag.

6. Center strap on seam of right side of outer bag.

7. Put lining (right sides together) inside outer bag. Match seams. Sew around the top. Pull outer fabric through hole in lining to turn right side out.


8. Sew along the top edge of bag. Sew a second line 1/2" down to make casing for boning. Leave a 1" hole to thread boning through. Cut boning 18". Use hole in lining to put boning between outer bag and lining. Thread boning in casing. It will overlap itself. Sew 1" hole closed.

9. Fill pinchusion with sand. Hand sew opening.

10. Hand sew opening in lining.

DONE!!

He Promised Me a Rose Garden....

When we were dating DH sent me lots of roses. So many that I was a little afraid that he was getting some kind of kickback from the local florist or that he was going in debt to win me over! It worked. But the real clincher was that he promised that if I wanted a rose garden that he would plant one! Over the years I've had several bushes that barely cling to life, but, he still indulges me!

This weekend he planted these Knockout Roses on our hillside landscape project. I have been told that they are drought resistant and grow quickly in our area. I sure hope so!

I am not sure what these are...??? A friend gave me these to root last fall. She said they look tropical and will spread. I can take cuttings in the fall and root more. I'll have to ask her the name again. She has them around her pool and they will help screen the area.

And here is the Great Wall...complete with junipers and pine straw. Now if we could just have a little warm weather we will spend every possible moment out here!

My Stressful Week and Relaxing Treat

My family knows to stay out of my way when I have a dentist appointment coming up. I'm such a baby.... My dentist's mother used to have to come to my car and bring me in....then sit with me...holding my hand and giving me Kleenex. Now he just gives me a "happy" pill to take an hour before I go. But, that does not help my family the week before I go! I try to stay very, very busy!!! So Tuesday I had a sewing lesson, followed by a shopping trip, then I came home to find this...

My "Take time to Relax" swap gift!!! I was not very relaxed at this point so I decided to save it for my after dentist reward! I had to earn it!

Wednesday I went to the dentist and slept the rest of the day....after effects of the happy pill???? or relief that it was over???

This morning I remembered the box!!! Yay!!! Just look at the goodies!

A handmade tote (more about that later)...new magazines (for the bathtub- later) and the most wonderful Amish Cinnamon Bread!!!!

Here you see the bread (2 pieces missing) that will not last to see another morning once the Kids get home. I sat down and ate the two pieces like a wild animal- remember I had no solid food yesterday- It was so good! Thank you so much Amanda! You really made my day!!! Your box is on the way- I had to finish something at my sewing class Tuesday!

And the tote- so cute- when I went to my sewing class I couldn't find my old "teacher" bag to carry my supplies in. So I carried them in a Wal-Mart bag! Oh the shame! I hid it under the table! And the door prize was a cute little sewing tote.....I didn't win...So this will be my official Sewing Class Tote Bag! Love it!

One more thing- Karma- my fear of the dentist has made it full circle! Son #2 has just announced his engagement. He will be married in December -TO MY DENTIST'S DAUGHTER!!!!!! Truly-she is lovely and I am so excited for them!

Hand Bags!

Oh! How I love them! But not the $$$$$ ones, cause I do not want to feel guilty if I don't carry it all the time or if it is out of style but not worn out! I usually carry a small bag because I tend to keep stuffing things in it and never clean them out until I change purses. I have many handmade purses from my custom bag making days and several that have pugs on them. Random tagged me to show off my current bag.

1. Take a picture. This is the bag I carried yesterday and have not switched it out today. I wore a bright pink dress to church with black shoes...so.....

2. Tell how much it cost. My SIL gave it to me for Christmas -so I don't know. But, I love it even if she didn't buy it at a thrift store! I usually don't buy thrift store purses because I HAVE to wash previously loved items before I can use them!!!! But, I do LOVE a sale purse like Random got!!!

3. What is in it? Glasses, keys, wallet, change purse, brush, envelope of cat food coupons, 2 coupon booklets -Proctor and Gamble and Target, pen, church bulletin, Kleenex, cell phone, and a Ziploc of paint and fabric samples

See what I mean??? I stuff things in it!!!

4. Tag others- Open season on this! Anyone who wants to play - show your stuff! I am tagging Lucky to Be Me - because she is new at this and I want to know if she is carrying the Purple People Eater at the beach!