Valentine Tweak

I decided to tweak my mantel for Valentines. I have a collection of vintage Valentine cards, many of which were sent to my aunts when they were is school. (They came from my grandparents basement.) I just tucked them into my coffee filter wreath. Easy peasy.

This little plate isn't overtly Valentines, but I loved it straightaway. Puppy love...the sweetest.

Wishing, dreaming and hoping

It happens every January. There's a shopping void. Lately I've been filling that void by window shopping for wall art and decor at the CSN stores. The greatest thing about CSN is all the selection. The bad thing is how to decide what to buy... so many choices. Look at those cute owls.

I really like the look of this glass bowl. Great for Valentines without being over the top saccharine.

I also love the look of this paint able wallpaper. I've been thinking of doing something like this on my kitchen ceiling...hmm, decisions.

Table to footstool

As always, I already started painting before I remembered to take a before picture. As you can see,  this little table has a dark 70s finish. I decided to lighten it up a bit.

Here it is with a coat of primer. Note, the pile of pans in the left hand corner of the photo. Yeah, that's how I roll.I can't be bothered putting the pans away before I start to paint.

I made a little "pillow" to go on top of it. I may tweak it a little more. It's a little tall for this chair, but my saw is on the blink right now. For now, I think it looks cute and when I can get it cut down a little bit, it will make this a super comfortable place to read a book...as if I ever have time to do that.

Little works big on love

I've been busy making artwork for a unique sale our local museum is having. It's called the Titillating '20s Bash and Petite Parlour. The event has two purposes: first to introduce its Fabulous Flappers exhibit and to raise money through a petite art sale. The museum is consigning tiny artworks, 4"x6" for sale for $30 a piece. The Ella Sharp Museum gets half and the artist gets half.

As soon as I saw the fundraiser, I wanted to be involved somehow. I love The Ella Sharp Museum. It was one of the first places I ventured out to when we first moved to the area.

It took me a little bit, but eventually I came up with a big idea for these diminutive pieces of art.

 I'm calling the series "Don't forget your Mitten." I made 9 different "Mittens" in all.

 I felted sweaters and then cut out the shape of Michigan. Well, technically I just cut out the lower peninsula...please don't be offended Yoppers. I love the U.P. I spent wonderful family vacations there. My grandmother spent much of her childhood there. I settled on doing just the lower portion of the state because I thought it was so fitting with the theme, "Don't forget your Mitten."

 I sewed buttons in the approximate spot of Jackson, Mi my adopted hometown and the location of the Ella. I hope people will respond to them. I think they have a quirky, happy attitude. Things have been pretty tough here in Michigan, so I thought we could all use a little happy.

While I mostly focused on my love for the long suffering Michigan, I also couldn't resist a little puppy love.

"Dachshund Valentine"

Inspired by my own little "love."

To find out more about the sale and the party (which sounds really fun) go the the Ella Sharp Museum site and scroll down until you see the Titillating '20s Bash and Petite Parlour.

When a fire isn't really an option...

I could so relate to Sarah at Three Boys wanting to find a solution to her fireplace dilemma. Using the fireplace, an old, gaping one, a little like mine, seemed a little dangerous with little ones running around. Leaving it empty, however, was an invitation for her kids to play in it. Messy. (Sarah's fireplace, is totally awesome...the kind of fireplace people dream of...just problematic for children.)

Like I said, I could relate. When we first moved into our house, there was a screen in front of our fireplace, which my son was endlessly knocking over. BANG.

I decided to put my globe collection on display there, but to my son, who was only 1 at the time, they looked like great big beach balls. My cherished collection was toast ...no fire needed.

So this is the solution I have settled on for now. I actually got all the pieces at different times. The little trunk was given to me by my grandmother when I was in high school. I can't remember where the middle suitcase came from, but the big one also came from my grandmother. It was in her attic and she let me have it. I didn't realize at the time that it had been her personal suitcase (she was a bit of a collector.) When I got it home I realized it was embossed with her initials-- prior to her marriage with my grandpa. They were married just shy of 67 years, so that makes it one old suitcase. It shows its age, but, hey, I do too.

And so for now, this is my solution.

Sarah, came up with a pretty awesome solution too.

But maybe one day, when our kids are older...we can sit and relax by a crackling fire.

I'll be happy too wait a good, long time for that day.

Coffee Filter Wreath

My friend ended up with a Sam's Club portion of coffee filters and a coffee maker that didn't use them. "Can you use these?" she asked.

I quickly said yes, because all over the blogosphere I had seen coffee filters turned into beautiful creations, including wreaths. Inspired by the Nester's version, I decided to try to make my own.

I think they are a great ode to winter.  

I also made one for my friend. (I think she liked it.) It's a really easy project. The greatest concern is not burning your fingers on the hot glue. I had no problems with my first wreath, but I got my finger once when working on the second wreath. Not bad odds, considering the number of coffee filters---a gazillion---it takes to make a fluffy wreath.

A transformation

The clutterbug gene runs in my family. As of late, my Mom is trying to combat the clutter in her house, which can be good because she passes along some of the stuff she doesn't want to me. It can also be bad because she passes along some of the stuff she doesn't want to me. (:

She gave me this old wastebasket/hamper thing (it's turned upside down in the pic.) It was falling apart, but I thought it had potential...I'm a sucker for a scalloped edge.

I decided life as a plant stand would be a fitting fate for the sad little piece. I added legs to boast it off the ground and covered it in antique sheet music. I have decided for sure if I'm keeping it, but I am very happy with how it turned out.