Tolentreasures

What a weekend! It went this way and that way and basically provided me with blog material for the week. So, we will start with bunnies. Managed to get a few of those painted. Finished this one from Wednesday night painting. And some little magnets for the Spring Section of the Open House The hoarder in me says keep these tubes. But the Reduce the Hoard person says pitch them. They are heavy, but what to do with them? and where to store them?   Skip on down to see what they are from.     Saturday morning was GET ALL THESE T-SHIIRTS CUT UP AND OFF THE SEWING ROOM FLOOR morning! And while I was there (in the sewing room, that is )       I found this box of macrame cord, left from my aunt's craft stash. One rug finished and one rug almost finished.   Another almost empty box!     That looks really crooked...it is just the way it is l...

  A new board for over Kamden's bed. Would not want him to have an identity crisis, because it is still Kendall's name up there on the wall. And one for an order.   In my paint room, there is so much stuff laying around.   I see something in the stash in the basement, I drag it to the paint room, on the second floor and sometimes it sits and  doesn't get painted and so... the hoard begins to move to a place we see everyday.     Trying so hard to get it cleaned up.  I am trying to finish a few things, drag a few more back down that I don't feel like painting yet, and only bringing them up one at a time.   Wouldn't it just be easier to CLEAN it?

I can't claim this as my own, I am pretty sure it came from Marie at Marie's Country Woodcrafts http://mariescountrywoodcrafts.blogspot.com/ Go check her out, she is a wonderful painter and has the greatest patterns to sell! Pricing and marking things drives me crazy. I would much rather be creating. But, here is a little tip. Print your tags on the computer, regular card stock works great. Leave a blank area on the bottom.  Cut them in strips, Take the thread out of your sewing machine... and sew along the top edge of the blank area. It makes a nice perforated edge on your tag for your price. If the person is buying your item for a gift, they can simply tear off the bottom and leave all of your information on the tag. It not only allows the receiver of the gift to know that it was handmade, but it leaves all of your information for future sales! I know these pics are backwards, not enough coffee co...

Before you think I have some major revelation into nagging, I am just telling you one incident. I have had lots, but this one could have had some scary consequences. My MIL has been wanting new carpet for her bathroom. She has been "wanting" it for awhile. Hers was "powdery." Eww. Having lived in a house where the carpet was burned in the living room from where the previous owner had started his Harley, (another story, another time ) I wasn't totally sympathetic to "powdery." Plus, it's a tiny little bathroom and I could not imagine what they would charge to come out here in the sticks to do a tiny, little, powdery bathroom. So, JWS and I tried to talk her into tile. We lay tile, we have all the tools, and furthermore.... "Powdery" can be easily cleaned off of tiles. You would have thought that we suggested making the floor a bed of nails or hot coals...

JWS came home from town yesterday with peppers. A lot of peppers! He made this pepper relish that is delicious on burgers, chips or just a spoon! I painted, and painted... and painted some more! Jenn wanted to take the boys to see the dam. They had seen the sign yesterday and wanted to know what it was. This is about a mile from our house as the crow flies. As the Chevy goes,  a little farther. So this evening we went for a ride. So close and yet I had not been there for a few years. Mahoning Dam is a Corp of Engineers Flood Control Dam. The boys were impressed. http://www.lrp.usace.army.mil/rec/lakes/mahoning.htm A little friend that we saw on the way in. And the surprise. JWS brought this home for me yesterday. An Ipod! I love it! I spent the evening last night loading music on it. What a guy!

Guess you can't start on them too early. Finally finished this milkcan. Some dark houses... and the deer heads are done! Well, at least the three that I had a deadline on. Hope to get the other one done this week. Pics of those tomorrow! Aren't you glad I warned you?

Finally finished this. Girls, Girls, Girls Wonderful Band Concert Mail from Sheila. Thanks so much! Shelby loved it. Snow in February. Added more details Painted for boys. Three finished scarves. A finished rug. Pot of chili for the week. Tyler's Basketball Practice. Dinner with Friends. Laundry is done. Church on Sunday. A visit with Kendall and Shelby. A wonderful gift. Three words will not work here. Shelby wrote a book as she calls it. Twenty some pages of our/her life so far. She gave it to my Sunday afternoon and I read it Sunday night. What a gift. So many memories and hearing them from her point of view was amazing. I laughed. I cried, I will treasure it forever! And now, on to another work week! Monday, here I come.

Before we start, here are the warnings. THERE IS NO LINE DRAWING! THE COLORS ARE FLEXIBLE! THE BRUSHES ARE SUGGESTIONS! OK, that being said.... Relax and have fun with this. I used: #2 long liner 1/2 " glaze wash brush #4 round brush. Paints Decoart Americana Khaki Tan or Sable Brown or any other beige. Bleached Sand Light Cinnamon Black Antique Gold Avocado Midnight Blue Russet or Background color of choice Blanket color of choice Any long skinny wood item would work for this. Measure out where you want the checkered border. Paint that area with Bleached White and shade the edges. Allow to dry and then tape the area that you want to remain white, and then paint back over the tape. Below you will see those steps from left to right. Repainting over that seals the tape and does not allow the next color to seep under. It makes for a really clean edge. I painted the top Russet. The bottom can be sponged or crackled or distressed and can be any color. At this point you can cut a pi...