Showing posts with label botanical. Show all posts
Showing posts with label botanical. Show all posts

Friday, April 6

Things To Do When Your On Bed Rest

 I can't believe it's been 60 days since my last post.
I won't even try to explain the last 50, lets just rewind to March 26.
No, those aren't the kids new toys.


Right after I finished with Paper Cowgirl I had surgery on my left foot to correct a bone disorder I was born with.
It's caused me terrible pain this last year. 
It was pretty extensive surgery that included a new joint, breaking & re-setting of bones. 
Unfortunately, the doctor will only do one foot at a time so I'll repeat this fun again in about 6 months.


Don't you love my tattoo?
It's comforting to know the doctors needed cue cards.
That's my Step Mother Mary Alice in the back ground.
Do you think she's napping because my kids wore her out?
She dropped everything & came from Mississippi to take care of us for the first week. 
I'm so grateful to have loving family & friends.


I was pretty good about following doctors orders the first week, but I'm not a person who can sit for very long.
One good thing about being stuck at home is having time to get things off my 'to do' list.
Like my homemade herbarium. 
I can't afford the real deal so I faked it.


This was an easy & inexpensive project. 
 I bought a set of six prints at a garage sale about a year ago.
The pictures were ugly & the frames were bright blue but they were only $3.


I painted the frames red, then white, sanding between coats. 
Then used a Ralph Lauren glaze on top.
They need some more sanding, but you see where I'm going with this.

 I used beautiful ledger pages from Jamie & some of my vintage botanicals. I blogged about them here.


Since I'm on pain killers I thought Kevin should hang them!
 I would have shown you the whole wall but then you'd see the dirty dishes all over the table. 


Onto my next project, a slipcovered wing chair.
We inherited this great chair & ottoman from some friends.
But the color wasn't right for the room.

 I've always wanted to make a slipcover but could never work up the nerve.
 After watching these video tutorial's from Miss Mustard Seed,  I grabbed a $10 drop cloth & held my breath.


I'm so proud of myself! It turned out even better than I had imagined. 
Now I want to slipcover everything in my house!


I've read a lot of books & tutorials about slipcovers but Marion's gave me the confidence to just do it.
She has really simplified what can be a complicated process. 
The best thing about it... it's free!



It's not perfect & I did have to use the 'ol seam ripper a couple of times but I think it's pretty darn good.
I'm working on the foot stool now, I'll show you soon.
Happy Good Friday!

Tuesday, March 1

Confined creativity

Sometimes being stuck at home is a good thing.


 I managed to do some creating while treating the sick.


Inspired by a new cabinet card & some vintage pressed flowers , I made this little collage.

About six months ago I found this box of botanicals on etsy.
There are about 30 specimens, all amazing & perfect.
For a long time I couldn't bear to use them.
I would just take them down, open each yellowed sheet of wax paper & stare!! 
 But following Karla's lead, I'm using the good stuff!
This precious girl was also an etsy find.
The keywords I searched with were
'tiny shoes'.
Please feel free to add her to your collection!
I also changed my studio for the umpteenth time!
 Cannot think of a better thing to do while under quarantine!
(during photo)
 This change was a result of a suggestion from Dawn who thought I could use more surface space for work & display. 
She encouraged me to bring in 2 more desks, & 2 bookcases & a few other pieces.
She was right! I love it.
The big desk on the right belonged to my Mother.
 It's very old, & very big.
It's pretty dinged up, I'm trying to decide if I should paint it.
The best thing about my new & improved art room is the sewing nook!
No more kitchen table sewing for me!
The 'nook' was originally a wet bar.
A must have for all 80's homes.

  The bark cloth panel hides a pass through into the living room.
I guess that's how you pass the Whiskey Sours to your guests!
 I'm still tweaking, I need to paint this bookcase white.
And hang more things on the walls.
 But I love having all of my supplies right at my fingertips!
I always include a 'Bolton' knock off in my re-dos.
Can you find one here?
 I stole borrowed this utility light from the garage & used an old doll skirt to shade it.
 Unfinished work hangs waiting.
 Collections.....
& obsessions!
Thanks for the positive thoughts & wishes for my kids health.
Their all at school today & so far no calls from the nurses office.
Yippee!