random five - feeling crafty

I'm not sure what it is - but lately I've been feeling crafty - 

in a diy-make-cute-things sort of way that is, nothing evil lurking here...

But first,

this was my favorite find at the fair a couple of weekends ago.

Greg and I like just about anything black lab - and this one was impossible to pass up.

Truly

On a whole different plane of craftiness,

I found these felted wool dryer balls on Pinterest and for whatever reason

just needed to make them. They're great - everything you could hope for and more.

 (from dryer balls, anyway)

I add a few drops of lavender essential oil and my laundry has never smelled more fresh.

Also from Pinterest, I made one of these diy reed diffusers.

I used a blend of lavender and cedar, which is a soft restful scent.

Truthfully - I haven't noticed any scent diffusing from this thing,

but I did get a good night's sleep - so who knows?

For even more crafty fun, I whipped up a batch of lip balm.

There are lots of recipes out there, but I made up my own.

Yeah, this stuff should be called

"Lip conditioning-moisturizing-kick-ass-best-ever-turn-back-the-clock balm"

I'll probably tweek the recipe anyway, just for fun.

And finally - I made my third batch of soap this week.

I have the little bars curing on the kitchen table - all lined up like tiny little soldiers.

Greg gazes upon them in a perplexed sort of way -

"You know, I think we have enough soap for a year, here"

Hmmmmmm

Yes, he's probably right...

and yet - I really don't think I can stop.

Soooo - family members you should probably beware,

Christmas - it is a-comin'

But hey, maybe I'll also throw in some of my

lip conditioning-moisturizing-kick-ass-best-ever-turn-back-the-clock balm.

How about you - up to anything crafty lately?

Have a great weekend!

Random Five Friday @ A Rural Journal

five on friday

1) My week of all 50 mm is coming to an end. I was afraid this challenge would be limiting, but I'm actually liking it so far. This week I learned the importance of moving around (yep - with my feet) and choosing different angles when feeling limited by the focal length. Up on deck - 18 mm.

2) Also on tap for next week Kim Klassen's Picture Pro-cess for Elements 11 course. I'm pretty exciting to learn some of the ins and outs of this program.

3) I have a love/hate relationship with social media. I love blogging and Pinterest and - well - let's just say I'm not overly fond of Facebook. I closed my account (gasp!) a few months ago and have yet to miss it.

4) I finished my granny square blanket. Newbie effort - for sure - but I'm pretty happy with it. And now, I'm needing a new project - time for a visit to the yarn shop.

5) Ummm - there's no number 5 - so I'll just wish a happy Easter to all who celebrate it, and to everyone - a wonderful weekend!

rustication project - spray painting brass

If you have been following along from the beginning

AND

you have a very good memory,
you might remember my mission to rustify  rusticate add a more rustic feel to Away.
I know - it's been a long time since I've even mentioned it.

It's just that somewhere along the way I discovered that most days I'd rather be outdoors exploring.
Last weekend was kind of rainy, drizzly, miserable...
so, today I'll be sharing one of my rustication (did you know that's a real word?) projects.

Whew , so anyway -

this lamp was left behind by the previous owners.

Normally I would like this lamp as it is - but it is definitely not rustic.

Sooooo - you can probably tell where I'm going with this.

Out to the garage...

I gave the brass a light sanding and a coat of spray primer,

then added several light coats of Rustoleum Oil Rubbed Bronze.

Super easy project (not sure the fumes did much for my health, though).

I switched out the pleated shade with a burlap one.
And although I'm pretty sure I just ruined a nice brass lamp, I like it better like this.

And then, just for the fun of it - since I still had some paint in the can, and was getting a little trigger happy,
I painted this candle holder.

I don't remember what it used to look like, but at this point,
does it really matter?

I'm joining

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Thanks for dropping in!

bathroom re-DONE

I almost didn't post this - because - well, you know - I'm not a decorator.
And -
I never intended for this blog to be about decorating
(a craft or project now and then - maybe - but not decorating)
But then, I've been talking about it for months, so I feel that I should see it through.
So - you may remember (if you have a very good memory, that is) that this mini-makeover all started with this PB cartography shower curtain. -

and these maps that we found in a country store in Newfane

and the simple desire to add something of my own to our new getaway.

But then - well - you know how it goes. A new shower curtain leads to new towels which leads to fresh paint which leads to new wall hangings, and new window treatments, and new fixtures...

You get the point.

So, just to refresh your memory

Before -

And now -

I kept the walls light (BM Vapor) which is a slightly creamier white than the Designer White that was on the walls before. The roman shade is from Country Curtains and is insulated, which will be good for winter.

I painted the vanity and framed the mirror

Added a shelf

and a little "art"

The farm-themed picture frame was tucked in the back of a drawer. I had just the photo for that!

I copied the Apache blessing off of a greeting card - and played with the fonts a bit. The frame was my first experiment with glazing.

This antique stool I found in the basement family room.

I liked it too much to leave it down there, so I put it to use holding our towels.

So, there you have it. When I ordered the shower curtain, I really had no idea this would become such a project.

Oh well - I'm liking it!

Thanks for dropping in!

burlap table runner

A couple of weeks ago I was browsing on Pinterest when I ran across this from Antique Chase:

Antique Chase - Hand Knotted Burlap Table Runner



I pinned it immediately, knowing this would add a pretty rustic touch to our Vermont getaway.

Doesn't it feel great to pin something KNOWING you'll actually make it?

I measured my table, adding 6 inches for overhang and 12 inches for fringe on each side. I rushed to Joann's and came home with...

the much less rustic oyster colored burlap. I really do struggle with this rustic thing...

At any rate, I layed everything out to measure...



and I really do need to start using my table more. My helper - yeah - not really all that much help.

I only wanted my runner to be 18 inches wide, so I cut my bulap 37 inches wide and made a seam starting 12 inches from one end of the runner, ending it 12 inches from the other end (for the fringe). I turned it right side out and pressed it.

This part, pulling the cross threads, is slightly tedius - but only slightly. I pulled enough for 12 inches of fringe, but in retrospect, 9 inches would have been plenty. It's all a matter of preference.

Knotting is easy, just try to make sure they're uniform and face the same direction.

And voila, you're done - quick and easy table runner.

When I put it on my table, it fit perfectly and I was feeling pretty happy. But then, as I was walking by our little sunroom I remembered that I had been meaning to get something to protect my antique table from the sun.

Soooooo

The runner is a bit too long for this table - which would be an easy fix - except that I kind of like it this way.

No - I really like it this way!

Do you ever make something and then like it better when you use for a different purpose?

I am really enjoying my new table runner!

I am joining:

Little Red House for Mosaic Monday

A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday

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cabinet facelift

If you’ve been following along, you might remember my bathroom project – from long, long ago. Okay, so this project is taking forever. I’m learning the hard way, that projects on a vacation home kind of drag…..

Anyway - as part of that project, I gave the builder’s stock cabinet a little facelift. To refresh your memory, here it is before. Sorry - bad angle, but you are all probably familiar with cabinets like these.

I admit there was a part of me that said “don’t even bother” and another part of me that felt skeptical about painting laminate. So I did one of the things I do best – research.

Zinser Bulls-Eye 1-2-3 primer was highly recommended for laminate. I’m pretty sure there are others that will work, but this one requires no sanding (I sanded a little, anyway) and it is supposed to have great gripping power.

I thought about painting it something dark (more rustic) but wanted to keep it pretty neutral, so I chose a soft off-white color (BM Muslin). It’s just slightly darker than the paint I used on the walls.

The part of me that tends towards traditional style probably would have left the cabinet like this. I really like that the new hardware adds a little bit of a rustic touch. Even so, this is not saying "cabin" to me.

So against every impulse in me that was screaming “Noooooo!!!!!”, I lightly sanded the painted surface, sanding it down to the wood is some spots. Then I used Minwax stain in Provisional which I brushed on with a foam brush, immediately wiping it down with a cloth. (Sorry – no pictures of this process. I was much too traumatized to be thinking of photos.)

I probably could have distressed it a little more - but really, this is all I could handle. This room is so narrow, it's really hard to get a good shot.

We’re going to be switching out the faucet, and framing the mirror.

Here it is in process – after my first failed attempt. (Please ignore all the piles of stuff you see in the reflection) There are lots of tutorials out on the web for framing a mirror – and when they say to use Liquid Nails – please, please, please use Liquid Nails. Not all glue is created equal!

After a minor melt-down that went something like
“I JUST WANT THIS PROJECT TO BE DONE NOW!!!!!”
(there may have also been a little stomping around)
We tried again, and this seems to be working – if it doesn’t, there will just be no frame on the mirror. I’ll let you know….

I’m happy with the finished cabinet. Of course, the cabinet I really want would be something like this -

Pottery Barn William Sink Console

But I am liking this change – a lot!

So now our bathroom is almost done – phew!

I am joining:
The Newbie Party at Debbiedoo's
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
Power of Paint at Domestically Speaking

Thanks for dropping in!

mountain cabin chair redo

I know – I’ve been a bad blogger. Work has been crazy busy – you know - the kind of busy where you come home from work hours late feeling as though your brain has turned to mush and about all you can manage is flopping on the couch – and checking through pinterest.

Hey, at least I’m keeping up with my research!

Anyway, I’ve been busy busy busy. Lots of projects in the works. Right now I’m in the midst of redoing three lamps, my bathroom project is almost done – almost – I'm refreshing two adorable mirrors that I picked up at a little antique shop, I just finished some Adirondack chairs (that I think I might redo again, ugh) – and this is just for starters…
Plus we went on a great hike that I’d also like to share at some point.

If you know me, you also know that this is probably the only time you’ll hear me say this -
Thank goodness for rainy Saturdays!!!
Whew – an opportunity to catch my breath and just putter around the house.

Anyway, I digress.
So do you recognize the chair?
Yep- it’s the one I found while on my spring cleaning frenzy.



chair before

I really like white wicker - it says "cottage" to me.
But – as you may remember, I’m trying to add more of a "cabin" feel to our mountain getaway. Unfortunately, white doesn't seem quite right.

Dark brown spray paint to the rescue. This one is Valspar Brown Velvet in the satin finish. (I really need to learn to take pictures of my projects while they're in process)

I ran out to Joanne's for fabric repeating "think cabin, think cabin, think cabin" - (my natural inclination is more cottagey)

I found a remnant in a nubby tan and brown and thought "aha - cabin!" (smile - and a remnant no less - I'm so proud of myself). I took it home and layed the whole thing out, using the old cushion as a pattern.

I had a little more help on this project than I really needed...

I put it all together and found a couple pillows and a throw down in the basement.

- and placed it in the guest room.

I'm pretty happy with it. For the cost of a can of spray paint and a fabric remnant, I feel as though I have a new chair.
Of course, the pillows need a little "snazzing" up. New pillow covers is somwhere on my long to-do list.
So - what do you think? Does this say "cabin" to you?

I am joining:
Newbie Party at Debbiedoo's
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm

Thanks for dropping in!

needed - bathroom update

I’m not sure why, but I am fixated on redoing (as in redecorating – not renovating) this bathroom. I think it all started when I found this shower curtain on the Pottery Barn website

PB Cartography Shower Curtain

Greg and I are both map nuts, so you can imagine how perfect it is – AND – it was on sale - (joy!)

Or, maybe it’s just that sometimes I feel as though I'm living in someone else's house - and the bathroom should be a fairly easy place to start - right?

Whatever the case, this bathroom is getting an update!

I love red, so this shower curtain will probably be moved to one of the other bathrooms (which I would also like to update a bit).

I really need something on this window. Greg laughs and tells me that there is nothing outside other than bear.
I don’t care; privacy please.

I really don’t like this vanity. It was a popular style 20 years ago, but now it’s (really really) dated. Replacing it is not happening right now, though, so I’ll have to work with it. Can a laminate cabinet be painted? And what should I do about this mirror and light fixture?

 I think this is turning into a little more than a gallon of paint and some new towels...

I’d like to keep the room light and work with the cream and greenish-gray of the shower curtain.  It's hard to tell in these photos, but the fixtures are almond - not white - sigh...

 I love the look of these bathrooms.

Country Living

Shelburne Buff - Favorite Paint Colors Blog

traditional bathroom design by burlington architect Smith & Vansant Architects PC

I'm hopelessly color-challenged.

 - and I’m still not sure I even have the right colors…

I guess I have some painting to do. I’ll let you know how it all comes out.

Thanks for dropping in!