Ta Da! I Tried It Thursday...

... Need a really good excuse to go to Starbucks & keep every little scrap of fabric you ever have?! haha  This week I tried this simple & super cool gypsy bracelet project by Candace Jedrowicz. I love upcycling/ recycled projects, wearing bracelets and there is no shortage of fabric in my studio, so when I saw this project I had to try it! There was only one drawback... I am not a jewelry maker, so I don't have nice jewelry wire. So I pulled the wire out of my wire ribbon to see if I would like these before I went & purchased nice wire. (it actually doesn't look bad at all) These bracelets make up quickly  & look better in person.  I like lots of texture so I used painted fabric, glittering ribbon, lace, vintage fabric that I did free motion embroidery on & a vintage zipper.  I think I like them enough to buy wire next time I'm at the art supply store.  I plan on adding beads, buttons, seashells & charms.  I am going to try putting some beads on the wire before I start wrapping it to see how that works out. The possibilities are endless. Just might find some of these one day in my shop.  I will post a follow up picture when one is completely finished. 

God Bless & Create a great day!

Bed Bugs...

... We don't have them here, but this one might have a few. Coffee in the morning or picnic in bed ?! You know I don't have that much of a green thumb this photo was found at inspirebohemian.blogspot.com

Upcycled Reuse Terrarium Project

These are 2 that I made using thrift store finds. I have 3 more made since I took this picture. They are addicting & look so pretty in my garden window! Add some ribbon, beads, knobs, etc... These are so fun and would make great gifts too.

If you make one I'd love to see it. Please send me your photo and I will post!

Mango plant update : It's still alive!!!!!! I haven't killed it yet! Hopefully I'll be able to grow these too!

A Day Late...

... I spent this weekend pulling everything out of my walk-in closet, there were mountain size piles of clothes in my living room. Pants, shirts, shorts, skirts & dresses. Then jeans, pants, tees and blouses, color coordinating everything as I put it all back. It looks amazing and it feels good to have that done. I've still got to go through all my shoes and underwear drawers. Hubby & I loaded big boxes of clothes that I don't wear, won't ever wear, never have worn or don't fit to the thrift store just this morning. Then I saw this video. Wah Wah I might have to go buy a few back now! hahaha

Loved & Loved Again

I got out and raked a little today. I have to admit it felt good. As far as gardening goes I'd say raking is about the extent of my talent. It's a shame I'm not kidding :) It got me daydreaming about decorating my outdoor room. It's a good size circle area with 2 granite walkways leading up to it in the middle of a little grove of oak trees in the upper portion of our property. Other than 2 black iron rocking chairs it's a blank canvas. Because I am not a gardener, I decided to divide my yard up and make little "rooms", that might help me tackle it or look at it in a different way and I have enough area to make a few good size spots. My goal is to make if flow and fun to walk through, not difficult to care for - container gardening all without looking like a junk yard.

You know I love upcycled/recycled/re-purposed art and objects. A well loved item transformed to love all over again. If you have some things you've made for your yard I'd love to see them! One of the things I plan to make/re-purpose are birdhouses made out of plastic coffee cans. My hubby feeds them so we might as well give them a place to live too. I plan to paint them and hang them at different lengths in those aforementioned trees. I'm calling it my "Coffee Condo Project." So stay tuned, that's soon, I can't wait to show you the project. Save a can! Here are some things I fell in love with. You can click on the pictures to be taken to the blogs, websites, tutorials, etc... I found some great places today!

Ut Oh. I might be saving cans now. I'm already saving coffee cans and we won't speak of my jar cabinet. Picture this spray painted with shiny copper paint, black w/ glitter to twinkle at night, turquoise or that lushious lemon-lime color next to it! Wouldn't this be a great outdoor room divider, or privacy screen? This Dino almost makes me want to crawl under the house to retrieve a box of old toys because I know there are a couple of dinos down there. Almost. Another super fun piece I will be making! There is scrap wood pile leftover from my hubby's wonderful deck I will be diving into.

These next 3 I saw at BHG.com and fell in love them. I think the chair shelf would be great in my outdoor room I am gonna be working on this summer. *summer? doesn't feel like summer, not yet* Next time hubby is in the mood for a nice cigar I'm gonna ask him to get me some more boxes, I used all that I had in an altered art frenzy. I do have one untouched box that is my hidey hole for the tv remote & other assorted things. I've got lots of hidey holes. The other day I couldn't remember what I did with a sink stopper. Oh yeah, I put them in a big ceramic acorn next to sink. I hid the sink stoppers & strainers in there. I'd much rather look at the acorn. My largest hidey hole is an antique armoire that we gutted, added shelves to and it houses all of our stereo equipment. I am now keeping my eye out for stray silver in my thrifty travels. I have so much stuff to box up to take to donate, it's now on my Things To Do List. Wait donate and then bring home stuff..hum.. hubby probably won't notice the camping silverware missing for awhile. LOL