Trash to Treasures . . .

I used this frame/print in a bathroom for a few years and ripped it off the wall and thought to myself, "What were you thinking?" I love the width/design of the frame, so I've had it in a neatly stored pile (who am I kidding) because I thought I might use it again. So . . .

I painted the frame a cream color

Sanded to distress and stained with a darker color. Then rubbed bronze paint to desired patina. When I "rub" on a color, I usually put a dab, a dollop, or a streak of the paint and then take a slightly wet rag and rub the color around - this dilutes the strength of the color and makes it possible to get the color in all the grooves. Then you wipe off the excess, leaving the desired amount.

Finished Project - rubbed with a little green paint to add some depth. I found the print for .50 at another favorite store, Habitat for Humanity. You MUST find this store in your area and make it a regular. It's basically a thrift store for home improvement items and you will discover treasures for a bargain.


More Pennants - apparently they are selling at the store so the owner has requested that I make a few more.



I purchased this old window on Craigslist which required #1 Husband's help to get it home. I think I heard him muttering and sputtering as we were taking it to the truck. Several months later and multiple "gentle" reminders, it is now hanging on the wall and it is perfect.

I have been on a creative binge lately and found some old tarnished trays at the Goodwill that I mounted (with the assistance of Liquid Nails) to some formerly hideous candlesticks. I painted the candlesticks black and then rubbed bronze paint on them to add patina. I found some old sheet music at another thrift store and ripped it to make a garland - I have to admit that it made me cringe to destroy the music, but I love the garland as an accent - it also looks great shredded. The bell cloche (you'll have to ask Heidi how to pronounce it) is the rage and I found the glass part at the GW and then added the knob - once again using the black and bronze to make it look like it had a story to tell.

If a tree falls in the forest . . .

Did you hear this big bruiser fall? For two nights in a row last week, our power went out. We had high winds and this old tree was the culprit on the second night. We stopped to count the rings and it looks like it was about 60 years old.

Time Worn Textures

I had a few minutes to kill before I picked the girls up from school and noticed my camera in the seat beside me . . . I did a little trespassing (just a wee bit) and grabbed some shots . . . If you can tell me specifically where each item is, you might win a prize . . .

Creative Wanderings

A sunny day in Colorado is sort of ho-hum, but a sunny January day in Oregon is cause for celebration. Oh, except when it shines through the (dirty) windows. It almost feels like Spring today.

One of my favorite things in our house is a little shelf unit (only about 5 inches deep) at the end of the refrigerator that has plate racks for my do-dads and rods for kid's awards/artwork. I think perhaps this seasonally changing decor is a colossal waste of time, but . . .

In my perusal of other blogs, I have loved what some creative gals have done with burlap. I fashioned a burlap wreath last night - very simple. 4 inch strips of burlap strung on a wire coat hanger - I added a button garland on twine. One thing that's awesome about burlap is that it's inexpensive - only $2.99/yard.


What a great Holiday - an opportunity to tell the people you love that you love 'em. I wrote 10 traits that I love about each of our kids on the sheets of paper. Milah really liked it and Sten hasn't said anything (although I suspect it gave him a "warm fuzzy") I'm waiting for my paper in return . . . hmmm, still waiting . . .

More burlap . . .

This old enamelware sign hung at a Red and White grocery store and was saved from a trip to the landfill many years ago. It is sitting in the basement and I'm not sure where it's home will be, but I'm going to find just the right spot for it somewhere . . .

More burlap . . .

If you want your name on burlap - just let me know. It's very simple but it looks classy in a Pottery Barn/Ballard Design kind-of way.

I made these penants with (you guessed it) BURLAP and an accent fabric. I have started selling things at a store in town, so we'll see if they go. I loved the bird material - kind-of vintage/old lady-ish.

Another penant (with burlap) -

This is the headquarters of a crazy person. Creative minds feel most free while working in a bit of clutter.

Logo

What did I say a few weeks ago? Something about keeping "trash talk" off of this blog?! Sorry for one more entry, but here's the logo - hopefully you will soon see it on billboards and buses (Ha!). Our buddy, "Slick" is still around, but this buff dude will be doing all the work to Slick's garbage trucks.

Grrrrrr!

Argh! As of the New Year, we are now required to dial the area code on local phone numbers. You would think I could remember this - obviously NOT! Perhaps by June or July, it'll finally sink in. With every call I attempt to make, a friendly female voice reminds me of these new guidelines, I guess I'm a little dense . . .

Hard at work

It is exciting to see Scott so thrilled with this new venture. If it was up to me, I would've sat in the middle of that mass of wiring and hoses and cried (or screamed), but Scott welcomes the challenge and the first retrofit is nearly complete! He mystifies me with his knowledge and capacity to learn. The company service rep that has been helping him this week is impressed with his appetite - said that Scott enjoys food more than anyone he's ever seen.

Hmmm, let's look at it this way . . .

Lisa and Susie - head shelf painters - this is less than 1/2 of them

Ain't that the way it goes . . .

Let's see, we've been the proud owners of a shop for just 2 weeks, right? And, what is it they always say about a mechanic's personal vehicles? Inside of 2 days, we've experienced a mishap with 3 different vehicles. Go figure.

Junior Mechanic

If you'll recall, a few months ago a friend gave Sten a Suzuki Sidekick with a disclaimer that it wasn't in perfect working condition. Sten has discovered that it had a cracked head (sounds painful) and purchased one on Ebay. He plans to install the new one and sell it for his Ford crewcab fund.

Sten amazes me (imagine it, I'm his Mother) with his mechanical knowledge. He is in auto shop class right now and the teacher said that he knows more than any kid he's ever taught at his age. I have to toot Scott's horn on this one, because he's spent countless hours patiently teaching Sten. I used to get so frustrated because Sten would destroy every toy and break things down to the smallest possible pieces (the tires were always the first to go), but I guess if you know how to put things back together, that gives you a license to tear them apart.

We're Open for Business!

They are giddy with excitement and will more than likely NEVER have clean hands again.

My desk at the office - I scrounged in Mom's garage sale finds for this perfect piece of grungy furniture. Some might say it needs to go in the back of a garbage truck, but I love it.

Some old garbage truck ads and a fitting saying, "Opportunity is missed by most because it is dressed in overalls (or coveralls) and looks like work."


Our itty bitty kitchen. We have been battling an ant infestation and the little ant traps don't seem to be cutting it - we're going to have to bomb the place.


Advanced Waste Automation has opened their doors and they are ready to service, maintain and repair your refuse trucks (especially if your arm is caput). We rented a shop in Lebanon near the airport, so please visit us sometime - even if you don't drive a garbage truck. It is a little smaller than we would like, but it will work for now. I have started a blog for AWA and you can check us out there - I will try to keep the garbage chatter down to a minimum on this one. But, Whoo Hoo- we're excited!