Canvas Covered Travel Notebooks

Today I covered some little blank books with tea stained canvas. I made little canvas tags for the covers too. I can add pictures to the covers, or leave them as they are. I am trying to get ready for a craft show in Wyoming in a couple of weeks. These would be great for people to use for their travel notes or a keepsake.

Decorated Torso Cut-Outs

I bought 3 pre-cut torso shapes over a year ago. Today I decided it was time to do something with them. The first one I covered with a piece of old pattern tissue. Then I added a band of buttons around the neck, some lace, an old pin and a little bit of flowery ribbon. The second form I covered with tissue paper from Stampington. I added charms on a chain around the neck, some old rusty scissors, pins, buttons and an old flower & butterfly. These forms were designed to hold jewelry, and can always be used for that, but I like to turn things around a bit. I think the third form will be covered with muslin so it looks like a mini dressform. Another day!

Plant Markers

Here is another idea I saw on Pinterest! These plant markers are made with old silver. The ones I saw on Pinterest looked like they had a drawing of vegetables and their name, decopauged onto silverware. I decided to paint mine. I started by painting the inside of the spoon with paint you bake in the oven. Then I drew the name and plant on the spoon with permanent ink.

Baby Bear's First Adventure

I took Baby Bear out for our first camping trip! Since it was our first outing I headed out in the desert, about 15 miles from home. It was my first time pulling my camper and everything went great. I set up my camp, relaxed and was in bed by 8:00. I woke up to coyotes howling nearby, but other than that I slept like a bear. Get it? I packed up this morning and made it home safe and sound. One down and I hope there are many to go!

Vintage Coffee Accessary Case

Summertime is here! We are out of school so let the creative-time begin! Well, let the cleaning and reorganizing begin anyway. I have to get my art room at home cleaned before I can really play. So today I dug in, and look what I found. I'm not sure where I got this vintage coffee case, but I cleaned it up and got it ready for my camper. I think I may paint the outside, but I want to leave the inside just like it is. I tried the coffee pot today and it works like a charm.

Shutter Shelf

My husband made a couple of these shelves for me. He took a wood shutter and built a base on it to hold a couple of items. I painted one white and then I painted this one blue.

My Quilted Desk Chair

It is time to update my classroom a little bit. I found this chair in the unwanted area of school stuff. I had given my last quilted chair away and I decided I would like to have one in my classroom. I think I will have a table that's Decoupaged instead of having a desk. This should go nicely with it! This is the before picture: This is the after picture:

Antique Scale

Old Garden Tools

Cocktail Picnic Basket

My sister gave me this basket for my birthday. It's perfect for a cocktail picnic. You could have sushi, little hors d'oeuvres, cheese & crackers, etc. Mix up a little cocktail and a little romance. Perfect!

Casual Picnic Basket

This basket is fun and just right for a summer's day. I didn't pack food in this basket because I am giving it away at our end-of-year staff lunch at school. What food would you pack in this basket?

Picnic Baskets: What's Your Style?

It's that time of the year when picnics are so lovely. I like to pack a pretty lunch. These are the times when I go all out. I want the basket to look as good as the food tastes. This week I am going to post about different picnic baskets that I like putting together. I will start today with a wicker basket I picked up at a tag sale and dishes that I found at Crate & Barrel. I added some place mats and napkins, utensils, a wood box to hold sandwiches, a container for a side dish, and blue bottles to hold water. Next I will pack the picnic food. I made sandwiches with toasted English muffins. They have avocado, prosciutto, egg and provolone cheese on them. Yummy! I will include a salad and fresh fruit. Oh, and a nice wine to sip. Cheers to today's picnic!

Wire & Bead Bubble Wands

I loved those little bottles of bubbles with the wand when I was a kid. I thought it would be really fun to make bubble wands the last week of school. I had wire and beads at home, so I started to experiment. I made one out of light weight copper wire. It was ok, but it really wasn't sturdy enough for kids. Then I made one out of steel wire. It was sturdy, but I think it would be hard for kids to manipulate. I ran to the store to get heavier copper wire. It was pretty expensive for as much as I needed. I found a plastic coated steel wire. It was perfect! I made a circle with the wire around a coke bottle. I twisted the wire and left about 5 inches to put decorative beads on. Then I twisted the end of the wire into a coil shape, and attached a little beaded strand on the end. It was easy and I think the kids will love them them as much I do!

Spring Humor!

Antique Sewing Album

I have been working on this book for a long time. I bought the album at an antique store. Instead of putting pictures in it, I decided to fill it full of antique sewing items. I have pages from old magazines, buttons, scissors, etc. It is a nice way to store sewing item that I want to enjoy and keep forever.

Lace & Crochet Lampshade

I bought a lamp with a lampshade I didn't care for. I took the fabric off the shade and reapplied lace, needlework, cotton fabric and some crocheted pieces.