Decking the Halls

 We've been busy decorating for Christmas.  I need to put together a centerpiece for the dining table, decorate the front door, finish upstairs and then stop the madness.

 I put one of our aluminum trees in the kitchen this year and filled it will Putz houses and churches.

I've picked them up at estate sales and didn't realize how many I had collected.

 I went back to red and aqua in the kitchen sink window this year.

 The tree doesn't have tinsel on yet but but I am hoping to have the energy to finish that tonight.

I'm subbing a lot right now.  It's good though because Christmas Vacay is on its way!

And y'all know just how much I love it when the house is ready, I have no where to go and I can just look at my tree or run past it and watch the tinsel sway.  It's a thing.

Drab to Fab

I talked Shelly into going to Franny's estate sale on Friday morning.  We haven't been junking much this summer.  I don't need anything but I hadn't seen Shelly in a long time so it was a good excuse. Once we got out and away from projectland (our homes) it seemed as though we couldn't stop.  We zipped to Everson (got skunked) and then back to Second Chance in Lynden.  

Shelly found four lamps for a dollar apiece and a huge warming tray for a buffet  (if we have a Mad Men party, it will be perfect) and she bought an iron.  I found three bar stools for six bucks each.  I've been looking for something to use with the tiki bar.  I told the thrift shop volunteers, Shirley and Doris Mae, that if I couldn't make the stools pretty by five o'clock I was donating them back.

I couldn't bear for Hubby to come home and see another half finished project.

Shelly brought me home, we dashed through my fabric stash and then dashed over to the farm to go through her stash.  Obviously, I didn't have time to go to a fabric store.  Initially my idea was to paint them including the vinyl but I decided I liked the brown with fabric.

 When Shelly was leaving my house it was about 12:30 and I told her to come back at five to see the finished project and enjoy a cocktail with me.  We laughed.

I don't have a lot of photos during the project, too busy.  I used the drill and took the stools apart into five pieces plus screws each.  Disclaimer: I am terrible with a drill.

 Peeling off the price tags didn't work so I left them.

 If someone had bought these to use as is they would have been pretty unhappy when they took off the price tag.  The vinyl was thin and came right off with the tape.

Now, a disclaimer, if I'd been doing this project with Gerrit or for a customer I would have removed all of the vinyl. These are for a tiki bar I take to trailer rallies and I only had several hours to complete the project.  Short cuts were taken.

I had just enough fabric for the front of the chair backs and just enough of another fabric for the back of the chair backs.  The seats took more than I thought.  I used painters drop cloth and I tore into some feed sacks that I had in my stash.

 I was just finishing when I saw one of those price tags through the fabric! Grrrrr I took it part and re did the front.

 It was a flurry of activity because when I decide I am going to get'er done that is what I do.

At one point I was bleeding and wrapped a scrap of fabric around the cut.  No time to get a band aid.

I took apart the first stool so fast that when I went to put it back I'd no clue how to get it back together. So, I took apart the second one and took note.  Deep breath.

 I pulled the tiki bar out of the garage, cleaned it, changed into a mumu and texted Shelly at 4:16 to give me five or ten minutes and then come on over.

 The snacks weren't gourmet, but the gin and tonics were icy cold and the new upholstered stools were pulled up to a staged bar.

 Shelly was surprised, dare I say, shocked.

Hubby came home and he was surprised too.

I love a project with a tight deadline and the constraint of using what I have in the house.

So, while Hubby and Shelly were surprised I was smug.  And tired.  And sweaty.

I'll see you at the Mt. Baker Trailer Rally.  The open house is on Saturday afternoon.

There is will be a food truck, a cupcake shop and a car show.

I'll be sitting at my tiki bar because my new bar stools are comfy and they spin!

Random Catch Up Today

On Saturday my family gathered at Greenwood Cemetery to remember my Aunt Shirley .  It was so good to see family and remember my aunt. 

After wards some of us went out for lunch.  My sweet Mom misses her sisters.

A Decor Project

Some of my readers remember that earlier this summer I was looking for old books with blue or green covers.  The local thrift store had their half price sale in August and I finished my project using a lot of 12 and 1/2 cent books.  I felt like it looked a bit dark so I bought a lamp for a dollar and installed it behind.  It gives off some pretty back light and makes the gold on the bindings pop.  Thank you to everyone that left books on my doorstep.  I loved the wood rounds that I had in the unused fireplace but I also knew that spiders were camping behind the wood and it was time for a change.

Of course, now Hubby want to read the book on the bottom.

Trailer Restoration

Oh Ava Jean! Hubby and I got home from camping and we felt a bit overwhelmed by Ava so we listed her on Craigslist.  We felt as though we should maybe step back from so many projects.

Hubby was working so I took care of the ad. Please, please, please, for pete's sake, the next time I want to place an ad on Craigslist remind me NOT to do it. If I ever want to sell something, please  remind me to put it at the end of the driveway with a free sign or bring it to Goodwill or something. Actually, anything but Craigslist.  

Oh, I've bought things on Craigslist but selling is different.

When I put in the ad that the trailer needs a total restoration and needs to be rewired, I am not kidding.  You cannot buy it and live in it tomorrow if it is a gutted trailer.

I had so many emails, calls, offers of hundreds of dollars more than the asking price if they could just come right now with cash in hand, yadda, yadda, yadda.

Long story short, though it may be too late for that as I have rambled on here.  We are keeping Ava Jean and plan to restore her. I still love her and my design for her.  Hubby is still good with restoring her, we were just temporarily overwhelmed.  The three days she was listed on Craigslist are three days of my life that I will never get back.

Pioneer Woman and Kassie

Kassie and I have our tickets to meet Ree Drummond in Seattle. I think Kassie is Ree's mini me.  A gorgeous red head moves from the city to the country because she is in love with a rancher/farmer.  Yep, same song, second verse.  This trip to meet Ree is just the beginning because Kassie and I are going to Oklahoma to The Mercantile someday.

Oh Bo, I love you. Yes, the ring did end up in his mouth. It was retrieved and I hope Max doesn't try that trick again.

I love this picture, it was just after Max got the ring back.

Back to School

School starts for me tomorrow. Or not. Since I substitute teach I have no idea what day will be my first day.  I bought some new back to school clothes and my bag is loaded.

I'm ready!

That's all for now, and honestly, that's enough.  Enjoy your day!

Always Learning

On Saturday I went on the Bethany Holiday Homes Tour with Shelly and Jean.  The homes were beautiful.  Since I have been there, done that regarding the tour, I really appreciate the home owners.  It's a lot of work and vulnerability on their part.

We saw a lot of creativity and I like to learn from others so I'll share some decorator tips I learned on the tour.

1. A vignette in an old aquarium is beautiful.  I also learned that though I thought I'd thrown our old aquarium into the garbage, Hubby saved me from myself and took it out. 

 2. Take the cabinet doors off of just one cupboard and add depth and display to a bank of cabinets.

 3. Christmas peeps on a stick are really cute in the hot cocoa bar.

 4. To hang a poster use an old yard stick and clips.  This is an easy way to change the art and keep it fresh.  It's also much less expensive than framing.

5. I can finally use some of the old window frames I have to frame a group of pictures.

 6. Clear picture corners exist.

7. Modern and vintage can be mixed tastefully, and no one does it better that my Aunt Judy.

8. Tricia knows how to make lighted marquee signs and I want to make one.  

I'll be calling her for tips.

 9. I have hung garlands and ornaments on antlers but not lights.  I like it.  I have some antlers I've been thinking about painting and these green ones sealed the deal.

 10. We are having a mild December, so why not add poinsettia to outside pots that are in protected areas?  Easy and pretty on the porch.

 11.  Nothing new here, just that I have good girlfriends.

12. The ollie bollen on the home tour is amazing.  It's the best!

It's A Lot of Bling

 On Friday I had some studio time with the girls.  We worked on wreaths.  Big, shiny, bright shiny brite wreaths.  It takes a lot of ornaments to make a wreath but it's okay because we have a lot of ornaments.  And doodads, and bling and bits and bobs.

 We can laugh at ourselves and our slight obsession with vintage Christmas.  It's a lot of laughs and a lot of stuff and frankly, we are just a lot.

 I made a wreath and I had in mind who I was going to give it to but I wasn't sure if she'd want it. So I asked her and assured her that she didn't have to take it.  My new daughter-in-law, Angela said she'd love to have it.  So it's all hers.  And Sam's too, of course.  Sam views Christmas trees etc. as pagan symbols.  But as far as Christmas goes that kid married his mother.  HAH!  Angela begins decorating right after her birthday.  In October.  Oh, That Sam I Am, your Mama is laughing.

 I had errands in town on Saturday.  I know, I know, bad idea going on a Saturday but I had things to do.  On the way home I made a quick stop and scored.  Twenty five cents each, yes please!

 There was a little Santa behind the counter, I asked, we negotiated and he came home with me too.  He's a piggy bank and a good example of Made in Japan spaghetti trim.  His moustache is huge and sticks out away from his face.

I am making many Christmas gifts this year and of course, I can't share until after Christmas is past.  It has been such fun for me to create for the people I love.  I'm off to the studio again today.  

Enjoy the sunshine today!

Glamping Prep is Hard Work

 Hubby is really digging into the '57 Aloha.  There's no looking back now.  He's ready to peel off the metal.  We aren't kidding ourselves any longer; this is a total rebuild.  I am going to restore the ice box and we are still considering options for the stove.

 From the very beginning I wanted turquoise and red with hints of pink and green for a color theme in the Aloha.  Sort of a Cath Kidston print color palette.

Then we went to Maui and I saw the indigo in the ocean and a postcard with coral and aqua blues with a bit of yellow.  

iwantthat...

 We had our dinette benches reupholstered several months ago.  My upholstery guy was looking for a project so I went ahead and had those done.  Whew, the postcard goes with the vinyl.

 I went to see Denise at Lynden Floor to pick up some flooring samples.  Hubby needs flooring STAT.  This is how we do projects, I dream and dilly dally and then I possibly hold up the show because without warning he needs the next piece.  We've built and remodeled many houses with this method for 25+ years.  It works for us, kinda.  Also, I needed to choose Formica for the counter top and the table, but I think I have some time...

Next stop was Grandiflora for some inspiration, besides I had a gift certificate burning a hole in my pocket.  I found the Life is a BeYOUtiful adventure artwork with my color palette.  Some pretty posies for my design board(a table centerpiece soon) and some groovy straws for the tropical drinks we are sure to enjoy while camping in the Aloha.

Oh and the Places You'll Go by Dr. Seuss ornament for whimsy. 

Then I took everything home and I played.  Bliss for me.

 I'm not sure about the Formica yet but I chose flooring.  It's to the left on the picture above.  

It's not orange or coral.  Whew.

 I have bedding from Pottery Barn picked out which if I ordered it, the trailer value would quadruple!  Of course, if I could afford that particular bedding I'd probably just stay in five star hotels instead of camping.

But, a girl can dream and that is what the Aloha is all about...

And then, because it rained all day Sunday I played with my pictures with a fun phone app.

The good news is that Hubby is already talking about our next trailer.

Happy trails...