My Very Own Magnetic Bulletin Board

I do adore Ballard Designs and when I received a recent catalog I immediately loved these magnetic bulletin boards.  As I looked at them I thought ... I can make that! So, with a few modifications, that is what my weekend was this past weekend and I am pleased with the end result. Mine ended up a bit more... ornate (nobody ever accused me of being a simple girl)

First off, I started with a 12x18 piece of sheet metal from my neighborhood hardware store (approx $7). These pieces of sheet metal come in various "thicknesses", I made sure to pick one on the slightly sturdier side. I had some black and white toile already (free! after I have owned it for more than a year I count it as free! heehee) that patched my black and white bedroom perfectly, and I picked up some velvet ribbon to add as an accent ($3). The more expensive and surprisingly difficult item to find was a 12x18 sized frame ($30). I was hoping to find a more decorative, but you will see how I jazzed it up in my own way.

Using a hot glue gun, I affixed the fabric to the piece of sheet metal. I then criss-crossed the velvet ribbon over the top, attaching when the ribbons crossed. *Note: I ran out of the velvet ribbon and had to go to three stores to find more. Really? Sheesh. Also, I think I would measure better next time. It just doesn't look as polished to me... but a good first try regardless.

The end product.... still maybe just a little bit too plain for my taste, and certainly, plain old refrigerator magnets simply wouldn't do. The magnets on this bulletin board need to be special. Another visit to my craft shop and I found these fun crystal and silver items in the jewelry making aisle, as well as some fun vintage-y medallions ($9) I used them to create some magnets, as well as a pretty little bow on the top corner of the frame.

So now, for roughly the same amount of money, I have a beautiful 12x18 magnetic board to coordinate perfectly in my bedroom, on the wall over my reading corner. I can easily hang pictures, magazine articles, wish lists and of course... inspirations.

Note: There is still time to enter for my Halloween giveaway! See post below...

A New Cake Stand

I went to the farmer's market on Saturday, as there are only a few more left before we must wait until next year rolls around. While wandering about, I happened to end up in the "craft" section, honest mistake, really. I came across a booth full of lovely little cake stands, all different sizes, heights and types.

Upon further inspection and discussion with the crafter, it turned out that these adorable and wide variety of cake stands are simply plates adhered to a glass candlestick.... some new, some vintage.

Um... stinking cute, and I had cash burning a hole in my pocket... so, after MUCH review, here is what I went home with:

Now. If you are somebody who typically receives a plate or tin or basket of Christmas goodies from me... don't be too surprised if this is what it is delivered on this year. I can't wait to go "plate hunting" for the makings of my perfect cake stand gifts. I think the biggest challenge will be figuring out what adhesive to use.

Now, how in the world can I improve upon this already clever design? Hmmmm... let me think. How, oh how, can I make this cake stand even more perfect? OH! I know!.....

chocolate, caramel, ooey, gooey brownie goodness

The 4th of July

Happy Fourth of July! We have had a great one so far! We have the rare treat of high temperatures and clear skies for this glorious 3 day weekend. I am trying to relax and enjoy as much of it as I can. We had friends over last night, and excuse to make some onion straws to top burgers...they have been demanded for all future gatherings to follow! I found some perfectly red, white and blue ribbons for some roses in my little antique milk jars. I wanted to mix some little flags in with the roses, but ran out of time to hunt some down! Next year, maybe.



I also was able to finally use my newly hung homemade chalkboard! It is looking a little bare on our kitchen wall, but no fear... I have some ideas for friends to keep him company. Just a matter of time...



I had seen similar chalkboards in boutiques for $200+ dollars (it is a large one!) and decided to just make one myself. It has been a slow project, but with hubby's help we finally got it done! We picked out a frame (16x24) and a piece of sheet metal from the hardware store. I primed it, and painted it with chalkboard paint... we plugged it into the frame, and backed it with some foamcore board to keep it steady. Then viola! I love it. It makes me happy! I will be sure to take pics once the wall is more "done".

Project: Dining Chairs

I recently decided that what I really needed was some new adorable dining chairs. I knew I could find some chairs easily and cheaply someplace. I wanted some that could be painted white, and have the seat cushions re-covered with my favorite Heather Bailey fabrics. Within a few weeks of deciding this... on a drive home, I found some. Right in my own neighborhood! As we drove by I saw them with a box sitting atop shouting at me "FREE". It was a nice evening, so after dinner I buckled the 2 year old into his stroller, and away we walked... time to check out the chairs. As I got to the chairs, I realized the box atop declaring "FREE" actually contained lots of mason jars. Hmmmm. Is it the chairs or the mason jars that are free? Well, I could see somebody sitting in the living room and decided, instead of just assuming and taking items from my neighbors, I would just inquire. I knocked at the door and could almost immediately see the mistake I made. A man's voice gruffly yelled from inside "Get back, get back" while a little dog barking could be heard. Oh. He opened the door, and no sooner did I begin to ask him then a little dog snuck between his legs and ran past me into the yard. "Oh goddammit" he yelled. Oops. Several minutes of chaos ensued, causing his wife to emerge and assist. Finally the dog was corralled and calm again.
"So sorry... just wondering about the chairs" I asked.

"Honey, do you want the chairs?" the woman asked me, slightly exasperated.

"Yes, Please" I reply.

"Go ahead and take the chairs".

"OK"

I get back home and hubby asks, "So, how were they". Great... then I tell him the story.

"I don't think I can go back for them, I am SO embarrassed"

"You had BETTER go get them!"

So I did... and I am glad I did because I think they turned out pretty nice. I sanded them down, primed them, painted them white and every so slightly "shabbied" them with some sanding paper, then covered them with some new fabric. I can't convince hubby that we should paint the dining table white to match (opposites attract... I love painted wood, he loves natural wood) so, instead I invested in a white tablecloth (Shabby Chic line from Target).

Before:

In Progress:

Project: Stained Glass Window

An old "found treasure" was re-invented in our home this week. When we lived in our old house this hung in our kitchen window. I loved it to pieces... but in our new home, there just wasn't a place for it. All our windows had blinds installed making it hard to find a spot to hang nicely , and it really needed to be hung in a window so the light could shine through it and display it at its very best.

About a year ago we had all new windows installed and the blinds went back up everywhere, but the kitchen, but still the stained glass sat in a lonely corner. I had other plans to hang it in our bedroom when just a couple weeks ago, while trying to fall asleep (isn't that when all the best ideas come to us?)... DUH! I can hang it in my kitchen window again, and even better... the colors of the window are nearly exactly the colors in my kitchen! Reds and greens! Brilliant!

So finally... my antique stained glass window has a home again!

Project: Faux Tin Walls for the Kitchen

About a year ago, I painted our kitchen... a cranberry red and white. I left one space unpainted, and purchased some faux tin panels to put up. A year later... I finally got around to getting them up. Hubby took the 2 year old on an "adventure" so I could get it done. I cleared away everything from the counter tops (allowing me to also clean up the counters and appliances! Nice!)

Before:

I will not be including any extreme close up's, as it is quite clear, I am not a professional. In fact... it is so far from perfect that it is a good thing we have so much on our counter tops!

A couple weeks ago I also picked up a neat old Swedish (?) scale at an antique store in Cashmere, WA. It is pretty neat, and I had been wanting one for awhile.

Project: Outdoor Chandelier

This weekend, I tackled a few projects around the house. The first to be completed: Outdoor Chandelier.

It was inherited from the previous owners who left it looking quite dilapidated. A few years ago I decided to try and restore it to it's glory. I spray painted it silver and my niece and I strung some beads around it. A few years later... here is what it was looking like:

Not so cute anymore, so I stripped off the peeling silver, covered it with a "rusty metal" primer (probably should have done that first time!) and spray painted it white. It still has a "shabby" look, which I love... just not as shabby as before. I found a pretty garland at Michaels and hung it around the arms, and hung the whole thing up with some pretty gingham ribbon (my fave).


I can't wait to dine "al fresco". I imagine some pretty linens and nice white plates, with the candles lit above. I will be sure to update some pics when that happens.

*Note: As soon as I finished taking the above pictures, I looked up and saw an enormous eagle flying only about 10-15 feet above me. The crows were squaking and chasing after it....I was so dumbstuck, I totally forgot I had a camera in my hand, and didn't get any pics! Oh well. It was pretty amazing!

Floral Frog + Wire Egg Basket

Over the weekend, I made a trip to the local antique store "Bad Girls Antiques" to pick up a very "shabby chic" rose print I had seen the weekend previous. I kept thinking about it, and decided to go ahead and get it. Well, once I was there, I couldn't help looking around for any other treasures that might be hiding out. At the check out desk, there was this very interesting basket. An antique egg/fruit basket. I had a hard time thinking what I could do with it... but still got it. What the below picture does not show is how it can be moved into so many shapes. It can be tall and skinny, or fat and round... ideally you could snugly keep your eggs safe by molding the basket as needed.

Now, I don't really need to contain eggs... but I do like to keep flowers in the house when I can. So I had the idea... a bowl with a floral frog tucked into this basket would be sweet. And now, I have this sitting on my dining table, right beside me. My favorite flowers, peonies, filling the air with the most lovely scent. So happy.

How I spent my Sataurday

The holidays are winding down, but before they ended totally I was due to do some serious baking. I did, and I have the back ache to prove it.

I spent all day Sataurday baking.

My kitchen looked like this:

But it was worth it, because I have many dozens of cookies to give to our friends and family, and some delicious desserts to share at our family get together today:

Here are some giant snowflake cookies I presented on specially painted plates for each of the children in the family. They turned out really well!

An Easy Fall Craft/Decoration

I am feeling particularly excited for the holidays, and you woud know this by the level of holiday decor/holiday magazines strewn throughout the house. In one of these many magazines, I found this easy fall idea... and in my opinion made it even better! With a roll of toilet paper, a quarter of a yard of fabric and whatever you have handy to create a stem and leaves you create an easy "pumpkin". Set the roll on the fabric and bring up the edges to tuck in to the center. The original version used pipe cleaners and felt for the stem and leaves, and a very bright orange fabric. I swapped them out for a more folksy look with cinnamon sticks as a stem and a silky ribbon as the leaves. Took me about 5 minutes to produce this, and can easily be disassembled for next year! A special thanks to me resident photographer, Dan. Thanks sweetie!