Furniture Upcycle

I recently refinished a dresser for a friend of mine. She had a brown dresser and wanted to "perk" it up a bit so I painted the outside a creamy yellow color and the drawer fronts a burnt orange color. Once the paint was dry I took the sander to it and distressed it a bit. The color was not vintage enough for me so I took some brown paint and rubbed it over it to give it more depth. Once the paint was dry I glued vintage music sheets to the top and outside. I put poly all over the piece to finish it up. I love it and more importantly my friend loves her new dresser too!! Thanks Lynn for giving me a fun new project, keep'm comin!!

Shells Galore!

This summer we too a trip to visit our cousins in Clearwater, FL. It was so much fun with the boys getting to spend time with their cousins like we used to when we were kids, building tents with blankets and sheets over the dining room table. Having their secret fort made everything so exciting, from eating meals under there and briefly spending the night under there (although that didn't last as it got "too scary!")

We spend a few days on the beach and there were a few seashells but finally, on our last overcast day we took the boat out to Caladesi Island and found tons of amazing seashells. The boys cast their nets and found many live creatures, fish, starfish, crabs. It was the best day at the beach ever!

Since I had hit the mother load of seashells and had no time to clean them all properly before we went home, I had to figure out a way to take them home without us passing out from the stench of a rotting, fishy smell because a seven hour trip home in the middle of summer closed up in the car would surely be a recipe for disaster. So I double sealed them in black trash bags and took my precious shells home (I had 3 garbage bags FULL!). It worked the ride home was successful and I moved on to properly cleaning them. I rinsed them in bleach water and layed them out on the back deck to dry for about a week (the cat was so curious about it all and was very perplexed why there was this scrumptious fish smell without anything to taste).

So, from the story you can tell that was about 6 months ago and I have just gotten around to doing something with all those shells.

I started by sorting them into types of shells (oh my aching back!)

Then I took this bust I had gotten a couple years ago that was covered in these ugly corn husks and began gluing. Oh the wonderful things a hot glue gun can do!! It took several days but it is finally finished and I LOVE it!!

Although this took alot of shells I have plenty left, what do you think I should do next? I am thinking furniture or something big and bold, let me know what you think!

MULE CAMP MARKET FESTIVAL

DOWNTOWN GAINESVILLE, GA

OCTOBER 7TH, 8TH - 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

& 9th - 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.

The City of Gainesville or Mule Camp Springs as it was once known, hosts this rich Appalachian festival at the foothills of North Georgia Mountains.  This festival showcases various mountain arts and crafts. The family can enjoy mule rides, live music and great food, while the kids enjoy the petting zoo and many other activities.

The City of Gainesville and Hall County welcomed the world in 1996 as a host of the Centennial Olympic Games. Lake Lanier was the site of the Kayak and Towing events, and our area became known as the "Hospitality Capital of the World". Once again, the community and the Gainesville Jaycees wish to show you our hospitality by inviting you to the 2011 Mule Camp Market Festival on the Downtown Square in Gainesville, Georgia.

Busy Working

We have a month until we are doing a big arts and crafts show in Gainesville, Georgia. So we have been very busy making new products for everyone to see and enjoy and buy at the show. We will have everything from furniture, home decor, outdoor decorations and jewelry. So please stay tuned to the dates and times of the show so you can come see us and our newest creations!

Curtain Redo

I took some simple stock curtains from Target and added a ruffle to the edge to give it a little extra touch. I have added just plain fringe to stock curtains before but I wanted to do something different this time.

So, I bought an extra panel and cut it in 5" strips, ran a basting stitch down one edge and pulled the end of the string to create a ruffle.  Once I had all my strips pulled into a ruffle, I sewed them on to the edge of the curtain panels and left the raw edge fringed a bit. I love the texture it adds to the curtains without adding more color. I am sure you could try this with any color curtain at your local "Big Box" store. And if I can do it I know you can too, it is simple!!

This is a picture of my summer look for the mantel, although I have added more shells as the summer has continued and we have collected more from the beach. I love this look and hate for the summer to end, but will keep you posted when I change to my fall look. 

Do you change your home for the seasons? What is your favorite season changing idea?

NEW ITEMS TO SHOP SATURDAY

Just a glimpse at some of the items you will see at the Arts & Craft Show Saturday at"The Garden" shop located at 43 Broadway Avenue in Braselton, Georgia! COME SEE US!!

COMING SATURDAY!!

I am going to be selling at an Arts and Crafts Show this Saturday in downtown Braselton, Georgia starting at 10 a.m. It is at a little nursery on the corner of Highway 124 and Highway 53. Take I-85 north to Exit #129/ Hwy 53 and Braselton, take a right toward "downtown" Braselton and you will see the vendor tents set up on the right.

Below is a small selection of some of the items I will have for sale. The other vendors on site will have more jewelry, furniture, custom frames, paintings, photography, gourd creations, plants, and home decor. Lots of things to see COME SEE US!!!

"To Do" Magnet Board

Spruce up your office area with a new magnet board. In shades of blue, it has a ribbon to hang it on the wall.  There are vintage magnets that come with it. One is an old pin and the other is a "sight word" card for all the "good" stuff you have to add to your "to do" list. $10