Blooms & Rooms

I spend a lot of time doing laundry, usually about 20 loads a week.

Really.

Since I spend so much time in there I decided to try to make it a little cuter. 

This raggity old coffee sack was part of my Round Top haul last year.

I totally stole borrowed this whisk broom idea from an old magazine.  I don't remember which one, do you?

One of five Ikea cabinets I own, you'll see a couple more at Karen's party next week.  This room is so narrow that it was impossible to photo the entire piece.

I love it so much, it's huge, holds a ton of stuff & looks like a built-in.

A little shelf over my sink.

My window sill.

A primitive hanger from one of my many collections.

When I rearranged my house last week I moved this old enamel topped cabinet to the garden.

I found this very tarnished silver trophy bowl at the thrift store.

I love this variety of Coleus, it grows so fast & can take our Texas heat!

I found this big silver piece at a garage sale a couple of weeks ago, it's actually a wine cooler from Louisiana Downs.

Remember my cool bird nest with the book in it? I blogged about it here.  I finally bought a cloche at Hobby Lobby this week with my 40% off coupon.

I hope your all having a great week, I'm still working on Paper Cowgirls, WBC & some other special projects.  I'm so spending July in bed!

20 Days!

Okay, I have a reoccurring dream. It begins with my class this month at Paper Cowgirls. I walk into the room, which is filled with anxious artists, waiting to be taught some cool projects. The only problem is.... I have nothing.

NOTHING!

This dream is worse than the one you had as a kid, the one where you show up for school naked.

This nightmare takes place in someones store, I don't remember whose. As a stall tactic, I give the students paper & a pencil & tell them to sketch something. In the meantime, I'm frantically running through the shop trying to find things that will work for our class. I look over my shoulder to see the disgruntled looks on their faces....

I get back to digging through boxes, looking for a piece of lace, anything!

I wake up in a cold sweat & realize it's time to get my act, crap, ideas, 'IT' together.

My kits are done, & they are pretty cool, if I do say so myself. So my focus is working on swaps & vendor night. I went through my sweet stash & started assembling piles for collages.

A perfect mix of pretty & dirty.

Just like a cowgirl.

Wait till you see what I do with the bullet casings,

& the pretty whites....

& some resin bobbles.

Oh, I finally ordered the Ice Resin, the result is awesome. I do love the amber ghost like effect you get with the regular 2 part resin, but this stuff is crystal clear! See if you can tell the difference. The 2 blond girls were done with the Ice Resin, the others with my old stand-by.

I will defiantly be demonstrating this in class.

If you don't hear a lot from me in the next month, now you know why. I'm trying to make sure my nightmare doesn't become reality.

Between Paper Cowgirls & no Mothers Day Out, I'm in a big mess.

At least I have live-in help.

My Agapanthus are blooming at last!

When they are finished in the garden.....

For dinner they are preparing a nice pasta primavera.

Oh, don't go calling social services!

I'm good to 'em.
If they do a really good job, I let them split a Popsicle 3 ways.
Hee Hee

Weekend from my weekend!

Wow, talk about a wild weekend! I need a weekend, to rest from my weekend. - You know what I mean?

Friday we worked on getting our vegetables planted.  If they make it to harvest it will be a miracle.  The kids have already dug them up & re-planted them 5 times. 

They also think if you water them every hour they'll grow faster.

Saturday was our neighborhood garage sale.  Instead of participating, as I should have, I continued to help the economy!  On garage sale mornings, the kids get a couple of dollars from their piggy banks, we pick up Dunkin Donuts for nourishment (aren't I a good Mom?) & hit the road.  My kiddo's love finding treasures of their own.  Our rule is, if you bring something home, then you have to donate an old toy to Goodwill.  Now that I think about it, we've probably bought back our own toys! Full circle right?  Here's a peak at my haul.

I love these stitched dish towels, the birds are so cute.

Lot's of little jewels.

The rhinestone safety pin was .50!

Old French school notebooks, they contain tons of maps & pictures.

And the linens & lace! I'm so dang happy people don't appreciate these things.

They were practically giving it away.

The last house we hit was grunge paradise! Rust everywhere.  I love the way the residue from the vanilla stained that bottle. Very cool.

I told you there were some rusty treats! Look at that crazy sprinkler on the left. Great base for an assemblage.  I bought a bunch of mason jars & covered jam jars.  Someone told me they are actually snuff jars?! Whatever they are, I cannot get the lids off. Age & rust have seared them together.

I jumped all over these Army accessories. I love the olive drab color, & the wool on the gloves is wonderful. Wish I could find a sweater like that. Don't you love the number on the canvas bag? I will so be using that in some sort of collage. There was also a little shoulder bag to hold a canteen, my son confiscated it to play GI Joe. I found a very cool puppet show/lemonade stand for the kids at one house. They spent the rest of the weekend making funky, ghoulish Kool-aid & pawning it off on everyone in sight. I wish I'd taken pictures.

My greatest task this weekend was getting my new blogshop open!

You've heard the quote 'it takes a village' right?! Well I have 2 super stars working on my blog. Our sweet Karen, & Michelle at Shabby Creations.  Michelle is the whiz who designed my beautiful header last year, she also created my blog shop.   Karen is working so hard 'foofing' up blogland, but took time to help a poor friend. She talked me through the process of setting up shop, & what she couldn't explain over the phone, she just did. 

 Dawn talked me down off the ledge a couple of times, & Rose kept me laughing through it all.  Rebecca & I shared our shop trials & triumphs via email.  BTW, Rebecca's new shop is ready too!

I'm pretty proud of myself & grateful to my friends for helping me to accomplish one of my goals.

These pictures are from 'the shoppe'.

So now you know what I meant about needing another weekend! Hope your's was great too!