Spring is Definately Here

Blogger Being A Bit of a Bugger

I really wish they would  just leave Blogger alone. Seems like they have made MORE changes. I have only just got used to the LAST ones!

 No wonder everyone is migrating to typepad, I might just have to look into that myself if this continues.

Union Jack Cushion Patterns

Hello all. 

Spring seems to have sprung.

I love seeing all the piccies of bulbs coming up on UK blogs. We don't have nearly as much luck here.

Hmm, so I got my new glasses today...this is going to take a while to get used to, but I do have to say, they warned me about that.

I am loving the fact that the UK seems to be in love with its flag these days...RULE BRITTANIA..

I would dearly love to make a cushion/pillow depending on from whence you come, with a shabby chic flag on it. Bare in mind, I DO NOT QUILT. But if anyone has any suggestions, please let me know.

Keeping it Real

Hopefully we are all still keeping it real in our blogs. Life goes on and so do our woes as well as our triumphs. 

This is my wonderful son William, who is in the Army. He is still in ATI (school), but doing really well. He had to traverse some rough waters, but kept his chin up.

It is terribly hard for our children to leave home, leave all their friends and everything they have know, shave their heads and say 'Yes Sir' (the last bit was me being a wee bit sarcastic).

I salute him and all our young men and women serving their countries.

I had the day off from work today. Usually nice, but today all I did was sleep. Still having horrid headaches, probably brought on by my doing our household budget this morning. 

We come out $500 in the hole every month!!!!!!

Cut out things you might say, but I have cut out everything I possibly can. All I can think of is that I need to go back to work full time. Now that is REALLY depressing.

So before I start blubbering all over my keyboard, I will show you something nice that I was able to buy with proceeds from an Etsy sale.

Gorgeous fabric from Sew Graceful.net.

Not sure what I will use it for just yet, but it did make me smile!

ONWARDS AND UPWARDS, I say!

See you all soon....

Headaches

Sorry not to be on so much, I have been plagued by horrid pain in my head. I took my blood pressure when I had the headache and that seemed ok, so off to the eye doctor I went.

I will not worry you with the cost of the visit (lord knows I am worried enough)

but apparently I need a much stronger prescription than I had before..

I will let you know how I see you in two weeks lol.

See what $5 can buy you for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Another party entry for a Tuesday.

Great Goodwill finds and all for around $5.  That being said, the candle holders were from Dollar Tree as was the tray that I spray painted.

The two larger hobnail glasses are plastic for 59 cents each, and the smaller one is glass for the same price. I originally bought only two; there were about six of them available. After kicking myself quite a few times, I went back to see if any were left.......woohoo I found two more!

Totally Turquoise

I made this tray a while ago with a bit of spray paint and a Dollar Store tray. I decoupaged a graphic sticker to it, now it is ready to receive all your bits of scrap paper with some magnets.

Linking this to Turquoise Tuesday @ thesinglenester.blogspot.com.

Good Times

I hope everyone had a great weekend.....I know I did.

Work was very busy and I was tired out when I got home yesterday. I changed the clocks and had a GREAT nights sleep.

Today my oldest son Eli, turned 30. Time has flow by so fast and I remember clearly the day he was born. 

I also reconnected with my younger son who is 25 and in the Army. He has had a few tough days, but is going really well. I am planning on going to visit him for the weekend soon.

All in all it was a good weekend for me.

Let me know how your weekend was.....

Fail Friday....

I will do Fail Friday again when I have some interest in it.....I can't do it with out you!

Done and Dusted...for now

I think I can live with this look. 

Let me know what you think...

Decon/recon of Blogginess

I beg your tolerance dear friends. I thought I might make a change to my blog's look since my aesthetic has changed a wee bit.

 

Easy peasy, right? waaaaaaaaaa, not so!

But I will push on through to the other, more beautiful, side....

CK here I come....ish

Three days off in a row...and this is only day two! I have been able to get so much done, and am excited to share it with you.

We over here in the good 'ole USA have yet to enjoy the delights that Cath Kidston has to offer. Her books are available, as is some stationary, on Amazon, but anything else one would have to order from the UK. Too spendy for me. So I am on a quest to interpret her look in my own way.

Look what I found in my stash of vintage linens that I haven't looked at for years......  

In a former life in California, I had the great fortune of being able to shop the Rose Bowl Flea

market every month. I forgot that I had bought these about 10 years ago! Vintage aprons that will be cut up and used for some other purpose (they have a few stains etc, obviously well worn by the previous owners). Though I do have to say, I think I will trace a pattern or two from them, they are quite simple to make but lovely just the same.

How about this tea table cloth eh? Pretty sweet. This will stay intact.

I was excited to wake up this morning to an etsy convo from someone who was interested in 12...........12 no less, tags that I had posted in my shop. I had only shown 6 for sale. Naturally I ran off to make them right away....just awaiting her confirmation of purchase.

***NOW THE BIG REVEAL***

See that stash of fabric? Not quite CK or Tilda, but looking good for the shabby price.

I spent half the day yesterday scouting fabric sites for anything I could afford, it only cost me abject frustration.

Ten guesses where I went to scout for fabric today....

KK I have champagne taste on a beer budget so to Wallyworld I went.

I won't bore you with the details of how there was no one to serve in the fabric dept. and how I had to cut my own fabric, and how the poor, dear lady didn't know how to ring it up...nor the issues it caused at the check out...

SCORE FOR ME

do Not look closely, the fabric is very poorly made, but hey, it's going to work for me...

Just living a shabby life.....*wink*

Merci Bien!

Thank you so much you lovelies who replied to my post for Fail Friday, I did try to prepare people but I suppose one needs notice for such a thing. Let me know if anyone would like to do it again next week.

Finally Fail Friday!

Hmm, ok here is comes, some horrible adventures into crafting (the really, really bad projects I burnt ceremoniously).

First off, for your entertainment, I would like to present my version of distressed crackle made by a well know gentleman....

Now in my estimation this was a huge fail all around. Not only did I not like the product, but it looks like the wooden plaque has been in a fire then painted over. Perhaps I was using it incorrectly, but I threw it away. Not the plaque, that will be sanded down and save.

Next....

My first attempt at spray painting a plate. A white plate, I might add. It looks like the polka dots are turquoise. I don't know if you can see from the picture, but where I pulled off the dots, it peeled a bit. Next time I think I will do a reverse pattern.....speaking of....

Am I going dotty or just plain potty? For you non English types 'going potty' and 'going dotty' refer to going mad...which does not mean going to the loo or being angry..hehe.

I bought this mug at the fabu $1 store and thought I would have a go at painting it. I first made a stencil out of double stick red stuff (that comes in tape form too). Then I got out my new DecoColor pen and drew in the dots. I think they look a bit splotchy myself, but when checking out other crafters hand painted pottery using this method, I discovered that this is the nature of the pen. Anyway, not going to make these to sell after all I don't think.

AND MY LAST MASSIVE FAIL

  

I have an awesome camera and have no idea how to use it properly.

Tomorrow is Friday, time to expose your most embarrasing Fails!

Ok Ladies, I hope you are getting geared up for tomorrows first 'Fail Friday'! The link is open in Tuesdays post (because I fail at understanding how all this linky business should work properly). I was a little premature in my set up...but at least it is there! hehe....

Now I just need to get brave and choose something awful to show you......and it won't just be a project!

See you all tomorrow.

Join me for the first Fail Friday.

Welcome to the first FAIL FRIDAY! I am encouraging everyone to show projects that were either a total 'fail' altogether and never to be repeated, or to show a project that failed but then was resurrected to all it's glory. I think this will be a great learning experience for us all. We will learn what NOT to do, and more importantly, WHAT to do to ensure success. We will also probably have a good laugh in the process. Now I am off to find one of my sad fails to reveal to you all.


Show and tell time ladies!!!! See you on Friday!!!!

Stains on Vintage Linens

Does anyone have any tips for removing stains on vintage linens? I just got out my stash that has been in storage for ages and ages. I would love to sell some of the pieces but think an attempt to get rid of some of the spots would help ....some of the spots are rusty looking.
I would appreciate any help anyone can give me.

Merci Beaucoup mes amies