Random Bits Of Me

EVERYTHING IN GENERAL AND NOTHING IN PARTICULAR
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Friday, October 28, 2011

Creepy Vintage Cat & A Rocking Chair Makeover

I picked up this old concrete kitty at an antique shop about a month ago.
It's all chippy and kind of creepy looking.
Great for Halloween.


This old rocking chair belonged to my mother.
She bought it when I was born and passed it on to me when my daughter was born.
It was an ugly red with gold cushions.
I had thought about donating it to Goodwill, but changed my mind and gave it a fresh coat of paint and made some new cushions and a slip cover for it.

I recycled some old muslin drapes for the slipcover and made a pillow from an antique egg mash bag.

Now it's good as new.

See ya soon.

Karen


Monday, October 24, 2011

White Kitchen Accents

I love the look of an all white kitchen, but my kitchen is just three years old so there's no changing it now.
The cupboards are dark cherry and my chairs, stools and counter tops are black.
Even with two skylights and three big windows it still seems dark, so I've made all my accents white to brighten things up a bit.
This table and little cabinet were a chippy green.
I painted them last week with a fresh coat of white.

This shelf was made by a friend years ago and was also green.

The display box was found in a barn a long time ago and had been green as well.

There are white ironstone dishes here and there.

A pretty white apron.


There are many more white accents throughout the kitchen and it is a much brighter room now.
I think when I paint the walls next time they will be white too.
That should be all it needs to really brighten things up.

See ya soon.

Karen


Sunday, October 23, 2011

Next Years Meadow

There's not much color left along the creek now.
The beautiful flowers that bloomed there all summer are gone and in their place are the makings of next years meadow. Dry pods and fluff that the wind will scatter about in random fashion.
Soft neutral hues that remind me that winter is just around the corner.

Soon these will be glittered with snow.

Mother  natures frosting.

One last wish.

And finally a pop of color that lasts all year long.

I hope you've gotten out to enjoy the last of the beautiful  Fall weather too.

Karen



Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Golden Trinket Boxes

I started a small collection of these wooden trinket boxes.
I found them at flea markets and junk shops while treasure hunting this past summer.
I'm not sure how old they are or what they were used for.
I only know that they are pretty, I like them and I can use them for organizing small things.
They all have lovely decoupaged pictures on them.

Perfect for holding jewelry.

See ya soon!

Karen


Sunday, October 16, 2011

Feedsack Bag

This is another one of those projects I've been meaning to get to for months.
I'm not sure what this sack was from, but the texture and weight of the fabric was perfect for making a purse.

It's lined with french ticking fabric.

And has a handmade wooden button.

I think I'll save this for Spring use.

Karen


"I Can Make That Myself"

If you're a crafter like me, perhaps you think like I do.
When I'm shopping and see something I want, I look at the price and say to myself, "I can make that myself for a lot less".
Then I purchase the materials to make the item and never get around to actually making it.
Well, I finally did.
I made ruffles. Ruffled pillows and ruffled sheets.
The one on top is a thrifted find and is made of cotton and is embroidered in the corner.

I made the white linen ones.
There are two with ruffles around the edges and one with ruffles covering the entire front of the pillow.

I also made two for my chairs.
They are beige with blue flowers.
I added a big ruffle to the top of the sheet too.

I repurposed a tattered old tablecloth to make these lavender sachets to hang from the bed post.
You can never have too many pillows or lavender sachets.

I think it's time for me to nap now.

See ya soon.

Karen

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

A Shabby Corner

Over the years I've changed the look of my home many times.
I find the shabby look to be the most comforting and cozy.
I especially love white with a little color here and there.
This is a corner in my bedroom.

It's a little space where I keep pajamas, hankies I've collected, and lavender sachets.

These are some sachets that I made last night.
Some blingy jewelry that I've been collecting.

I love the softness of shabby decor.
I think pillows with ruffles will be my next DIY project.
See ya soon.
Karen


Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Indian Summer Blossoms

We've been having Indian Summer Weather here in PA.
This past weekend was beautiful.
The sun was shining and it brought out what I expect will be the last of the flowers in my garden.

Beautiful white mums.

There are red and yellow mums too, but I like the white ones the best.
I brought in a few of the roses to enjoy.

Hope everyone has a blooming good week!

Karen

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Unfinished Space

My master bath is one of the spaces that we haven't gotten around to finishing yet.
It's a room that I rarely enter, but it has the best tub ever for having a relaxing soak, so I took some time to spruce it up a bit today.
Some fresh flowers from my garden.

A basket of fluffy white towels.


Some pretty white linens here and there.

Some fragrance and fancy soap.

A few other odds and ends.

After spending all day dusting and scrubbing and sprucing up, there was no time left for a leisure soak in the tub. Maybe tomorrow.

Karen

Unconventional Crochet

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I've been playing around with some new crochet techniques.
Here are a few designs I've come up with using some antlers and jute.

I always prefer working with natural materials rather than synthetic.

I like working with vintage materials as well and these antlers are vintage, if there is such a thing as vintage antlers.

I found a box filled with antlers in my mother's basement.

My father was a hunter and these are the remains of his younger years as an outdoorsman.

Although I've never been a fan of hunting, I thought I might as well make use of these.

I had them cut to size and holes drilled, then bleached  them and stitched them to crocheted jute baskets.
I sort of like the way they turned out.
They seem appropriate for this time of year.
My father passed away in October 2000.
These are for you DAD.

Karen

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Paper Roses

I just love things made from vintage sheet music.
A few months ago I was lucky enough to find some for next to nothing at a garage sale.
I followed the instructions from a tutorial I found HERE and made these sweet paper roses.

I dry brushed some seed starter pots with white paint and filled them with styrofoam and moss.

I tore strips of cotton gauze fabric and glued them around the pots.

I added a torn bit of gauze,

a bow,

a flower cut from some old lace,

and a pearl.

This vintage wire basket seemed like the perfect place for them.

Thanks for stopping by.

Karen