Creative Stuff – Page 3

March 5, 2014

A Prettier Place for My Trash

Who says trash receptacles have to be dull, boring, and/or ugly?

I’ve been using a pine cabinet to house the trash can in my office since October 2011. That’s when we moved into our Virginia home.

This little cabinet used to sit in the kitchen at our Maryland house. The VA home has a trash can cabinet in the kitchen, so we no longer needed this little cabinet, which Meg-proofed our kitchen trash.

The cabinet, with its unfinished pine exterior, has been on my mental list of things to paint for a long time. It was boring. So I finally decided to add some color.

I actually painted it during my lunch hour and then waxed it last night.

While it may not be the most beautiful thing I’ve ever painted, at least it’s now a bit more interesting.

For those of you who might be pressed for time and/or don’t care about the whole reincarnation process, here’s a before and after pic.

What do you think?

For those who like detail and seeing a painted piece as it evolves…

I used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (ASCP) and wax. Of course.

My friend, Carol, asked if I’ve started working for “that company” yet. I guess I talk about the stuff too much?

Sorry, I can’t help myself. It’s so easy to use. And it’s fun transforming old stuff.

I snapped some pics of the piece in its various stages with my phone.

trashcan_3 — With Arles added to the drawer and panel.

trashcan_4 — After Olive was added to the frame.

trashcan_5 — After Olive was added to the top.

trashcan_6 — After applying one coat each of Clear Wax and Dark Wax.

trashcan_7 — Face on shot of the finished product.

There you have it. A quick and easy project. Instead of disposing of that boring cabinet and replacing it with something new, I have given it new life.

Hey, does that make me a furniture God?

What do you think?

I’m not sure it fits perfectly with the yellow walls, but am planning on embellishing the front with some butterflies. After, um, I locate said butterflies. I’ll be sure to share another image once that part is done.

February 20, 2014February 20, 2014

Hit Me With Your Best Shot

Several years ago, over a period of months, I participated in a weekly photo challenge, You Capture. It was a fun way to force myself to do something I enjoy, but don’t always have time for.

You Capture was very successful, but it became too difficult for Beth, the host blogger, to manage. Nothing against Beth. She’s a lovely lady, but she also happens to be an entrepreneur AND mother of four. So she has absolutely no spare time.

I met some really cool people during my You Capture days, one of whom is Beth’s Mom, Mary.

Mary reached out to me recently by e-mail, saying…

Long time no speak right? I visit your site sometimes but I just haven’t been a good commenter. I have however missed checking in with you regularly. I go back to the days of You Capture when we all shared pictures and comments and stories and I really miss it.

Know what? I miss it, too. Which means I was really tickled when Mary went on in her e-mail to say…

Although Beth hasn’t started You Capture in the same way where it’s open to everybody, one of the participants is trying to get a photo challenge going. This is only her second week, but so far I’m the only one who’s joined. Others have posted pictures on Facebook, but it’s not the same. Anyway, when I think of the people I miss the most from the You Capture days, you’re right at the top. You’re such an interesting writer and gifted photographer! So I thought I’d send you the link to Nancy’s photo challenge in the hopes that you might join in.

I was touched that she remembered me. AND, her e-mail just happened to coincide with the arrival of a brand-new camera lens. So I decided to join. Here’s my entry for the week.

My Favorite Shot

Folks who know me, know I have a story for everything. That image hangs in a group on Caroline Street in Olde Town Fredericksburg, Virginia. It appears there is or has been an art movement in Fredericksburg — MOREart!. I don’t know if the smallish mural pictured is part of that or not. I will have to investigate further.

Other Images I Want to Share

Photography is art. It’s taken me a while to realize that good photography doesn’t have to mean perfect images. My images don’t always have to be completely in focus. They don’t have to be technically brilliant, i.e., perfect lighting, strong composition, sharp, etc., they just have to please me. I’m not trying to make a living here, I’m just trying to capture images I enjoy.

I like Immortalizing little moments that mean something to me. Here are some of my other favorite captures.

The first two images were also captured in Fredericksburg with my old lens.

All of the images that follow were captured with my new lens, a Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS II Telephoto Zoom Lens.

snowmelt — Snowmelt (it was 60 degrees here yesterday!)

That’s it for me this week. I hope you enjoyed my captures.

Visit Nancy’s blog to see the other entries.

Thanks for hosting this, Bacardi Mama.

February 2, 2014February 2, 2014

The Fine Art of Lacemaking

We had a much-needed break in the weather yesterday. Temps climbed into the 40s. Can you believe it? It was fabulous.

It was a great day to be out and about. And thanks to my friend Janet, who owns The Empty Nest in Old Town Warrenton, I got to see something really cool yesterday. Lacemaking! Demonstrated by five members of the Piedmont Lace Guild of Virginia .

In addition to paint, Janet loves vintage textiles. She LOVES them. Really.

I’m not sure how Janet met/discovered this group of ladies, but she invited them to do a demonstration at The Empty Nest.

Piedmont Lace Guild of Virginia's Lacemaking Demonstration — Piedmont Lace Guild of Virginia’s Lacemaking Demonstration

The image above shows the ladies. Clockwise, starting on the left: Elke Roeschke (Knitted Lace), Birgitte Tessier (Bobbin Lace), Joy Schaya (Needle Tatting), Anita Barry (Shuttle Tatting), and Bonnie Swank (Needle Tatting).

I’ve seen lacemaking before. Both of my grandmothers used to crochet doilies, Christmas ornaments, and such. But I never thought of their work as lace. It was, though. As I learned yesterday, lace can be made with various widths of thread. And crochet is only one of the techniques used.

Bobbin Lace

Seeing images of bobbin lacemaking Janet shared on her site is what made me want to see the demo.

Look at all of those bobbins! Click on the image for a larger pic so you can see more of the detail.

Antique Bobbin Lace "Pattern" — Antique Bobbin Lace Pattern

The pattern shown in the image above belonged to Birgitte’s Aunt in Denmark.

Knitted Lace

It was quite interesting to see the various techniques.

5_knitting — Elke Roeschke was demonstrating Knitted Lace, but she crochets, too.

4_knitting — Note the fine-ness of the thread. Knitting isn’t only for yarn!

Needle Tatting

Bonnie Swank and Joy Schaya were both demonstrating needle tatting.

Bonnie very kindly and patiently explained needle tatting to me. It was fascinating to watch.

7_needle_tatting — Needle Tatting in progress.

Joy Schaya was making little florets in case any children wanted an example to keep.

11_the_piedmont_lace_guild — Needle Tatting (red florets at top of image)

I was tickled to learn that the snowflake ornament I’d been admiring, shown in the image below, was made by Bonnie.

She said the ornament was an easy project (for her) and took about two to two-and-a-half hours.

Shuttle Tatting

Anita Barry was doing the shuttle tatting demo.

The ladies had brought a number of items for display, too.

14_needle_tatting_toolkit — Bonnie’s Needle-tatting Toolkit

It really was something to see. Thanks again, Janet, for hosting them. And a huge thanks to The Piedmont Lace Guild of Virginia for the very interesting demo.

To learn more about the guild, visit their website — http://piedmontlace.org/. New members are welcome at any time. If you sign up, let me know. If I didn’t already have so many hobbies, which I don’t have enough time for, I’d join in a heartbeat. I think making lace would be awesome. How about you? Help keep a dying art alive!

January 25, 2014January 24, 2014

Adding a Bit of Color

Who doesn’t like color?

Oh wait, there ARE some people who like white. You know who you are! LOL.

But I prefer color. Usually. I mean, white does have its place. There’s nothing like a blue sky full of big, puffy, white clouds…

In general, though, I prefer things to be in color. Which is why I almost always include pictures with my posts.

I like using images, too. Either pictures taken by me, graphics I have created, or free graphics I find on the web.

My favorite web source for free images is The Graphics Fairy – http://thegraphicsfairy.com/.

Vintage images are The Graphics Fairy’s specialty. But she’s got a wide variety and a whole slew of cool images you can use for free.

I was at that site recently when I saw FreeVintagePosters advertised.

Being a curious person, I clicked, and was delighted to see a vast array of vintage poster images. Like that cat poster on the right.

How cool is that?

Their About blurb says…

FreeVintagePosters.com is a 100% free posters, free printables resource. We offer hundreds of high quality printable posters in advertising, travel, food/drink, art, movies, westerns, military, magic and much more. These posters are perfect inspiration and research for designers and graphic artists.

They’d be great for decoupage projects, too.

Chem ’em out. Really.

Here’s another angel blog (freebies!) advertised by The Graphics Fairy… MeinLilaPark.

Under Funny Sayings, which is one of her MANY categories of free graphics, I found this sign…

I found this cute hedgehog divider at MeinLilaPark, too.

And that’s all I have to say about that.

January 6, 2014

The Snowman Factory

Did I tell you December was busy? I decided to get crafty this year and make a few snowmen.

Fancy Stitchery

This cutie was first. It took far longer than you might imagine. I’m a slow rookie.

I think she turned out pretty good, considering that was my first stitchery project.

She will be a pillow one day…

Yarn Ball Headed Snowpeeps

996097_10202087867031298_1936263662_n — Yarn Ball Head Snowmen

1463246_10202097752958440_808501624_n — Yarn Ball Head Snowmen

1511373_10202087866751291_343207152_n — Yarn Ball Head Snowmen

1512486_10202087852430933_810307760_n — Yarn Ball Head Snowmen

1521733_10202097752318424_1785020184_n — Yarn Ball Head Snowwoman

Canvas Snowmen

I started these because I wanted to give each of the kids a hand-made ornament. But I ended up with quite a few of them. They were really easy to make, although decorating them took some time. The buttons all came from Aunt Pearl’s button stash, which she gave to me last year.

1459763_10202039184174257_1910638749_n — Group Shot

I really love how the bunting turned out.

Mug Rug

I took another class as Kelly Ann’s Quilting and learned even more new sewing skills, which allowed me to make this cute little mug rug.

1506055_10202045877941597_1399605069_n — Mug Rug

1484732_10202045745218279_1861325559_n — Mug Rug

As much as I loved the mug rug, I decided she should go live with Amy.

And that’s it for the snowman explosion of 2013. LOL.

November 29, 2013November 29, 2013

Finally, Your Chance to Help Drown Me in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

The company that makes the paint you may be sick-to-death of reading about here is having a very cool contest.

I could win paint. LOTS of it. Plus a bunch of other stuff. And you can help.

How? By voting for me.

Please vote for this entry in Snap & Share Your Stockist Holiday Contest!! Click here to see it: http://bit.ly/1b41vlV

Just imagine how much fun I could have with the entire line of 31 colors. Plus wax and other stuff. And brushes. And books! Oh, the possibilities would be endless.

So, please vote. Ask your friends to vote, too. I don’t usually ask much of y’all, right?

The contest ends on December 8. You can submit one vote each day, too.

I’ll stop going on about it for now, but I sure would appreciate your help.