giveaway

Find me here all month for a chance to win one of my vintage Fisher Price necklaces.

.... want to guarantee your odds? Pick one up in my shop.

color my world

Even though I am still nursing my snowboarding aches, I had quite the productive weekend. Not only did I go to a great small business workshop, but I finished my window too.

As you remember, she started like this....

and became this.

I was going to do them all different colors, but really liked the way to 2 bigger panels looked in the coordinating pale blue. I little more tied together. Provides privacy, but still lets thru some great light.

I was planning on suspending it from the kitchen window.... but, I took these photos in the hall and living room windows, and it looks pretty cool there too. I'll just have to make more.

And, because I had all those scraps of glass out and my glorious tool, I was able to whip this door out as well.

I picked it up in MN, at the awesome Junk Market sale from Kim, when it looked like this.

Chances are I will be selling it at my next fair, but for now, it still needs to be treated and glazed before it goes home with a customer. Although in the same color family, the panels all have different grains and textures, which plays well off the simple weathered white paint. It is very groovy and not just because of the tie-dyesque glass.

Busy week ahead too....finishing up the Dream Desk, or at least putting in some good quality time on it. I still have a good 2-3 weeks before I deliver it.

snowboarding....check.

Instead of the fancy, schmancy dinner to celebrate Valentine's Day, Nate thought of doing a something a little different. Snowboarding. It has been on my list for the last few years and with a beautiful 30 degree, sunny day and the Olympics to inspire us...we were off to Tyrol Basin.

I had heard from a few people that the first day is pretty rough (I would agree). Even if you are a skier, getting use to being strapped to a big board took a little getting use to, beside the challenge of getting up, once down. We took a lesson (highly recommended) and after that hit the bunny hill. The learning curve is actually really steep. After just 2 hours we were both able to make our way slowly down the hill and even stop. Oh, don't get me wrong we are far from hitting the half pipe, and after my numerous falls, I am nursing a seriously sore tailbone, but I will definitely be trying it again. Watch out Shaun White.

Thru different times in my life I have made these "things to do and experience" lists. Some folks get a stressed out by 'lists' but I think of them as little challenging reminders. Mine have no time limits or guilt, just things I have a burning desire to see or experience. A bucket list I guess, although I am not a fan of that title. I have never been a big journal writer, but have always jotted down different goals, dreams, ideas. Just that simple task of putting pen to paper breathes a little life into them.

I recently found a list from 1995. I high five'd myself on the quantity of items I had crossed off (take a fencing class, learn about wine, skydive) and laughed at the ones I have now zero desire to fill, remembering, it is always my prerogative to change my mind. I tend to gravitate towards the repeat ones. If they have made it on a few lists...I really try to make it a reality. So, beside snowboarding.....seeing the aura borealis, windsurfing, swinging on trapeze, playing a song on my guitar and a flea market trip thru Paris are all on my short list. Maybe this year, maybe next, but the more it lingers in my head, the greater the desire to experience it. That is really all it is about for me....the experience.

What does your list look like?

images found here & here

giving green - the shutter shelf

Last fall, our dear friends, the Judge's, moved into a beautiful 'green' home outside Milwaukee. Complete with solar panels, sustainable wood, radiant heat flooring, the whole 9 yards. When thinking about a housewarming gift, we knew we had to pull out all the stops and give them a gift as equally green as their home.

It started with an idea I saw in a furniture book from the library, turn old shutters into bookshelves....and just my luck, I have a spare set of shutters.

These were pulled out of the FREE bin at the ReStore. Great condition, just a few nail holes. Mine in fact, they also served as a display rack at my summer show, so this is a triple use.

Our friends new home has a very open, log home feel. Their style, however, is a bit more modern with an Asian feel. Hmmm, how to meld the two? Recycled, rustic, cozy, with clean, modern, Zen. The easiest place to start, the palette, ....black & red.

Since I wanted to a create a worn look, I started with the base, a rich cool red, and worked backwards.

Once dry, I took a tea-light (sans metal tin) and rubbed it on random edges and corners. You can use any wax. This is where the top layer of paint is NOT going to stick. Leaving it easy to "wear" it off. Then 2 coats of your top color, in this case black. Don't be afraid if you forget where you waxed either.

...you'll be able to see where the wax is. Then, take a medium to light sandpaper and sand off those spots. Smooth up and down strokes make things look the most natural. The red peaking thru instantly ages the shutters.

Now, the assembly begins and where Nathan enters. Using a reclaimed piece of cove molding, he ran it down the entire length of the shutters and shaped the form.

Since we wanted this shelf to be sturdy, Nate drilled in wood screws as well as securing with wood glue.

The concave shape of the trim, made the angle easy to set and even though it is on the back...gave it a nice finish.

Next the shelves, once we decided on the heights, Nate got to cutting.

Reclaimed faux bead board, again from ReStore.

The style is traditional and linear, but with a bright paint job, the modern comes out.

The top, another reclaimed wood piece, but this time floor board. Nice groove detail, but thicker and a little more substantial. Extending the top just a little bit really framed out the piece. Painted black and securely attached, our shelf had a roof.

After careful measuring, gluing and nailing, the 3 shelves were attached. Because he had added braces to each side of the shelf board, they were much sturdier and also gave him a good place to set clamps.

After a good 24 hours to set, neat trim strips (actually the only new thing) were painted black and nailed to the face.

The result ! Positively inspired. The shelves are tall enough for their Buddha, and the base and other shelf could easily house a plant, candles or books. Truly unique, truly custom and truly green.

and when the light comes thru the shutters.... positively Zen.

This project might have opened up a whole new custom realm for me. Is there such a thing as 'salvage enlightenment' ? Namaste.

testing...1, 2

Last Friday at the SWAP, I snagged 10 of these wooden test tube holders. Zillions of options here. Just massing them out in a unique tabletop collection, inserting actual test tubes and using as bud vases, or they could easily hold taper candles for a rustic candle display.

There are faint traces of numbers marking each specimen, I am assuming. In my opinion, that just adds to the charm. I'll keep you posted on their 'after', and since I bought more than I can use, where you can get your very own.

happy groundhogs day

Wow that time again already!

..a few of my fav's while searching 'groundhog' on Etsy

Groundhog hair print

amberalexander

sleeping groundhog bottle opener

forknspoon

Brigid the groundhog (with reversible burrow)

mamaroots

shadow journal

mamaroots