patchwork wallpaper... I NEED SCRAPS ASAP!!

For the past two months I have been scouting Lowe's, the neighborhood thrift stores, even a variety of other areas local home stores, all to try and find wallpaper sample books. Apparently most stores simply toss them as soon as the paper is discontinued! BLASPHEMOUS!!! don't these people know the gold mine they have at their fingertips!?!?! So many crafts, so many projects, so many walls, so many pieces of furniture in need of a good wallpaper scrap collage!! I'm so depressed first because hello people it's called recycling and repurposing! and secondly, I can't seem to get a hold of any of these glorious books and here are a few reasons why I so desperately, and I mean DESPERATELY want them....



1. Sweet Sweet Life's A Truly Bright Spot (my favorite site of the day!)
2. Garrendenny Lane's Wallpaper Wednesday
3. Posie Gets Cozy's My Patchwork Wallpapered Closet Door
4. Home's How to make a Patchwork Wall
5. Hub Page's Decorating with Wallpaper (lots of cool ideas here!)
6. Hub Page's Decorating with Wallpaper
7. Parlour's Wallpaper Patchwork
8. Apartment Therapy's Look! Patchwork Wallpaper
9. Pixtal Peep's Dont Toss that Scrap Wallpaper!
10. Two Straight Line's Patchwork Wall
11. Ikea's Live Idea Inspirations Wall
12.Garrendenny Lane's Wallpaper Wednesday
13. Designwali's Friday Fun Fabulous Kiddy Rooms (and there are tons of AMAZING kid rooms featured on this site!)
14. Pixtal Peep's Dont Toss that Scrap Wallpaper!
15.Garrendenny Lane's Wallpaper Wednesday
16. Blondie Blu's Winding Down (check out this cabinet before and after!)

So for all of you flea market/thrift store/ home store HUNTERS keep me in mind if you happen to come across any fabulous wallpaper scraps! I would be so ecstatic and I'll love you forever and ever!

Addy needs a new bed too!

Addy is in desperate need of a new bed herself, a whimsical-day dream perfect bed suitable for a little girl with a huge imagination. So I believe the winner is the pallet bed (#3). I already have all the parts to make it, but I can still daydream about all these other fun ones too right!?!



1.Country LIving's: DIY canopy bed
2. Lori Danelle's: DIY Toddler Pallet Bed
3. Design Sponge's: Before and After- Ashley's Pallet Bed
4. New House of Art's: Combo color aqua and pink nursery room design
5. Country Living's: Bedroom Designs (pic #40)
6. Moxii's: DIY make your own headboard
7. Project Nursery's: featuring Pottery Barn's Allie Bed
8. Rafter Tale's: Kids Room Decor Ideas
9. The Land of Nod's: White wooden platform bed
10. House Beautiful's: Romantic is Tailored
11. Country LIving's: Bedroom Designs (pic#46)
12. Little Lovely's - Little Tour: Novogratz children's rooms
13. Ohdeedoh's: How to make an upholstered toddler bed for under $40
14. Country Living's: DIY door headboard
15. Flossie Tea Cake's: featuring Flea Market Style by Emily Chalmers
16. Craft: Akame's Igloo Bookhouse (yes this is a bed!)

There are so many I like, I even love these a whole lot! ( although the third is actually a baby crib I still love the patchwork wall!)




1. Photo by Annalea Hart
I have no idea if it is ok to feature someone's stuff from flickr? I copied the pic from google but is this ok to do?
2. My deco Blog: featuring Designer's Guild Bed Linens
3. Decorator to the Star's: Decorating the Children's room



ahhh too many beds to choose from. I swear I would have to have a hundred kids before I got sick of decorating kiddie rooms! ugh so frustrating I love them all!!! what is a mama to do!?!?! which one can you picture for this little lady?

Another reclaimed wood sign for ya!

Earlier last week I took apart an old table, the one good will had rejected. Most of what was taken off was completely pulverized and rotted particle board, but there was one lonely little piece of wood, that I was convinced needed to find a new purpose for existing. As I was strolling through other people's blogs this weekend I came across a sign I thought was super cute. I found The Polished Pebble via one of my favorite blogs, The Lettered Cottage.  I am so glad they decided to feature her, because this woman created such a beautiful home! Here is the picture of the sign I really liked (the Lunch Sign).

( I also love love love the pillow!) You definitely should go check out The Polished Pebble's blog and the pictures of her home featured on The Lettered Cottage, because I for one can't stop myself from going back over and over and over! So anyway back to the original point, here is my own version of the Lunch Sign.

One of these days very soon I will get to start actually decorating with all of these things I have been making! April 4th is the date the movers come to pack up everything and make the long haul to Minnesota!! My Dad just told me that Minneapolis got 12 inches of snow though :-( I was sooo looking forward to Spring, I guess I will have to be a little patient! My parents however live in Hibbing, (a hour and a half south of Canada) and they just got a few flurries, so that seems promising. I will be living in Duluth, right off of BEAUTIFUL Lake Superior, hmmm...I wonder if there is driftwood that washes on to shore here?!?! (does freshwater have anything to do with it being driftwood? I mean to me the name implies wood that has drifted, but I have heard it is the salt that has absorbed into the wood that makes it so twisted and gorgeous?) Ok, get back to your Monday, I have rambled enough!

Cuba needs a new bed!

                        This is my other baby, Cuba! (Yes, she is celebrating Mardi Gras with her own bling!)

She came to me when I entered into seclusion for that year so I could really paint (it's not hard to do if you find a cute lil country home, in cherokee county I promise, the scenery is awe inspiring!) One morning she just appeared in my comfy chair that sat on my front porch! I guess she was unwanted by her owners for some reason, and they just dropped her off in the country. The poor little thing looked starving, was covered in ticks the size of dimes (no exaggeration), and just needed a  little love, and yes her sweet little face is an accurate depiction of her disposition. So sweet,  can run for days, and let's Addy do just about anything to her with no retaliation whatsoever. The only down sides to her are two things... 1. she is terrified of car rides, which is totally understandable seeing that she was just left on the side of the road. and 2. she sheds quite a bit. So before we move 15 hours to Minnesota, I believe it is time for her to have her own STYLISH bed to shed on because let's face it those doggie pillows get nasty fast, and really aren't that cute.  So here are some pictures I like. I do have an octagon side table I could use to do this too! Tell me what you think, what bed does my Cuba need?



1. Design Sponge's - Lisa's Dog House
2. Design Sponge's - Kirsten's Suitcase Dog Bed
3. Decor Demon's - Dog Day Afternoon
4. Junk Camp's - Here Kitty Kitty. Cat Bed Junk Project
5. Try Handmade's - How Much is That
6. My Love is Growing's - Suitcase Dog Bed
7. Morning T's - Out with old
8. Design Sponge's - Dog crate/ Desk
9. Better Homes and Garden's - DIY Round Dog Bed



A Pink Inkling

It has rained all day long here. Very gloomy :-(  So I took a long siesta with my Addy bear, I never take naps it was wonderful! I didn't feel like crafting today, but looking at pretty pictures on the internet. Does this occupy everyone else's time like it does mine? I can get lost in it so easily, well that is if Addy isn't needing anything and is content playing on her own. So on days like these, where she is happy to be on her own, I take advantage! I thought I was going to do a yellow inspiration board, but was surprised to be drawn to pink this evening! Pink is so romantic, it makes me smile (as most colors do!) Anyway here are some pretties!

1. Skinny Mommy's - A touch of Pink

2&3. Blissfully Domestic's - Decorating a Cottage in Pink and Green

4. Interiorly's - Pink Accent Wall

5. Marley & Lockyer's - The Nitty Gritty

6. The Art of Indecision's - Make Me Smile Monday

7. Home Stage's - Cottage Style

8. Alamodeus' - Palatable Pink

9.Lily Love Lock's - Shabby Chic

Hope everyone has a wonderful lazy day Sunday!

Turquoise Inspiration

So I am trying my hand at these inspiration boards I see all over the place! I am however technology impaired (well at least to all of you super bloggers I am!) Feel free to send suggestions on how to make these speedy fast because this took me over an hour and a half to do. In my defense I spent at least 45 minutes trying to locate links to many of these pictures I had saved ages ago because I thought they were so beautiful, yet didn't save the links! Only one I was unable to find, so to the jewelry picture owner, I apologize! Anyway, as you can tell I am loving turquoise this week, I think next week it might be canary yellow, but who knows! Anyway happy spring to you all!
 P.S. Thank you to my dear friend Ashley for teaching me how to link to other people's things without having to include the forever long web address!! Love you friend! **** Update I found the Jewelry link!! wooo!

1. Borrowed Turquoise- Living Room
2.Traditional Home-  Chandelier
3.Scaramanga- Hutch
4. Perch- Candle Holders
 5. Borrowed Turquoise- Furniture
 6. Everything Turquoise- Headboard
7. European Paint Finishes- Rustic Cabinet
8. Charlotte Magazine - Something Blue jewelry
9.Shell & Seaglass- Table and Chairs



yummy yummy blue

Aparrently I am on a kick for a watered down tiffany's blue, meets teal, meets robins egg blue, Blue. I love it, maybe it's spring, or maybe its because I feel clean just looking at it. I don't know why but I love it! Today, Addy and I took a short jog through the thrift store again and bought these goodies. The only thing I didn't take pictures of is the kiddo broom Addy just HAD to have. She is busy sweeping as we speak, did I mention this broom talks, sings, and reminds her not to forget to sweep under the table!? Sure hope child labor laws don't get me, because I will welcome a helping hand on sweeping any ol day! Anyway here are my finds... (I plan on starting my own collection of random pieces of china since regretably my Mom will probably not be gifting me the Vietnamese/Japan/China anytime in the near future)

These saucers were 25 cents a piece so I bought all they had (8)!

Two dollars!

They have birds on them, and since my name means bird, (thus I collect birds) I had to get them. It was just a single bowl and smaller bowl.

The table cloth is actually round and it is linen. I love me some linen, its so airy and feel good. Plus it was only two dollars!

Anyway off to paint a sign!

Dear Vietnamese China, please convince my mother to give you to me....

Last night I was peeking through some of the boxes my mom has had on a shelf for years. I love doing this because in general she will give me anything I want if she hasn't opened a box in years. For those of you who don't know, in my family, all of us girls are into doing things creative. My mom's an avid quilter and crafter she makes beautiful homey things, my sister is awesome at scrapbooking and making baby stuff like onesies burpcloths diaperbags pillowcases etc. My younger sister is the most amazing writer and is rocking in college (all the prof's love love love her, they want her to be their prodigy) and she is a jewelry maker. Then there is me, I do a mixture of it all, from fine arts, to crafting to repurposing old unwanted items! So back to the original point, I find this box filled to the brim with China, beautiful blue flowered silver rimmed china. Apparently my uncle brought it back for my mom from Vietnam, when he served during the 'conflict.' Like most people creative my mom and I tend to collect things that are beautiful, or could one day be made into something beautiful, and parting with these things is often very difficult. She has collected over the years many many beautiful plate settings, from Christmas patterns, to Fiesta ware, to classic Ivory and the list goes on, and on and on. So when I saw these I thought just maybe she would, despite the emotional significance behind where she acquired them,  gift them to her favorite middle child! She would get to see them displayed all the time and I so heart them! So far its a no go. But I ask you these two questions... 1. can it be china if it was brought from Vietnam (the back says Fine Seyei China then JAPAN?! written under that and under that Elegant Lady 7002)? and 2. Wouldn't this look so beautiful with my cottage - esque  home?!

There is a whole set of these with bowls, dinner plates, salad plates, tea cups, saucers, etc. I'm not sure how many place settings there are but my mom doesn't buy any place settings unless she can get twelve. (but my uncle bought these so maybe this didn't happen?)

Anyway if you are still reading this I give you mad props, because I doubt anyone is as interested in these plates as I am! On a side note I made a chalkboard last night!

The pictures were taken when the lights were low, so sorry about the darkness!

anyway that's all for now!

random DIY

so yesterday Addy and I spent an hour and a half at the park. It was such a beautiful day, the weather was PERFECT! While she played I noticed the playground was filled with chunks of wood. I have seen pics of these sunburst mirrors on the internet that I really like so I decided to try my own. Luckily I keep a ton of plastic bags in my car, so I grabbed one and started gathering wood. (Is this horrible that in a way I stole from the park? it was less then a hundred pieces out of hundreds of thousands!) Anyway I dipped them in stain, found an old mirror and started gluing. I don't know how I feel about it, but it isn't the sturdiest thing in the world, so it won't last a 15 hour move north I can guarantee you that! Oh well, it was a free craft and it occupied my time! After we left the park Addy and I went to a thrift store and I found some awesome finds! A few of the things I had to give a quick paint job to, but in total I spent like 6 dollars! I can't wait to start decorating though. I hate making stuff and then directly putting it in a box. SO DEPRESSING! I can't wait to see it all come together! As Addy says (a quote from Llama Llama red Pajama)  just be patient mama. It is supposed to be just be patient for your mama but she doesn't like prepositions quite yet so the quote takes on a new meaning.  Anyway here are pics of my finds and the sunburst mirror made from stolen park goods ;)

The sunburst mirror

my $1.50 oil painting of the little dream barn that one day I will own and turn into a studio...

$1 print. I thought he was cute what can I say

 He can now be found in a simple gold frame. This shelf I made from random wood found in the garage. The hooks are from a standing coat rack that I am going to turn into a tree coat rack so there was no need for the hooks on it so I repurposed them for this. (the tree coat rack is an idea from design sponge and is SUPER CUTE so one day I'll get that done)

gotta buy a few hangers for it in order for it to b functional!

cute lil mirror for a dollar!

these r super cute with teeny tiny oil paintings inside. they were fifty cents each!

Ialso bought a cute ceramic vase but I forgot to take a pic and I'm making a chalkboard to fit a frame I have! Anyway I guess thats all!

The table even Goodwill Rejected!

So this past weekend the whole family came down to my parents to help load and haul stuff to Goodwill. This was not what we did the whole weekend of course, we did play games, eat delicious food, and as Addy calls it have "dance parties." Through all of the dumping there was one particular table that I secretly really wanted, knowing that I too will be making a long haulin move I decided to keep my mouth shut and let it find a new owner via Goodwill. However, upon returning I noticed my Dad (I love this man so much!) had placed it in a stack of my things. When excitement beamed across my face (how did he know that I wanted this I never said a word!?!) he said shhh...... Goodwill wouldn't take it and I'm not going to the dump today (this was all said with that mischievious smile that all wonderful Dad's have when they know they just made their child's day, despite the fact that their spouse might not like that she didn't get to depart with junk quite yet.) Today I set out to make the once table saw table that had a completely rotted top my own. First thing first I got my sunglasses on to protect my eyes from flying particle board particles. Got all the gross rot off, nails out, and started sawing wood for the top, and when I say saw I mean handsaw because I do not own power tool regretfully :( This process took forever and I think my right arm muscle might be a little bigger after I accomplished that feat! Anyway I didn't take before pics, mostly because I forgot, but here are some Afters! Yet again the stuff I decorated it with is really random, because my pile of boxes is getting GI-NORMOUS!!  So please forgive the decor, I literally dug through my recycables for most of it! I am just so pumped Good will wouldn't have anything to do with this! I imagine in my next home maybe turning this into a planter or even using it as desk like this, or maybe a home for painting supplies, or cookbook the possibilities are endless and I am feeling full of happy energy today because it is a PERFECT day the weather is soo Gorgeous. Now that I have just written the longest run on sentence about nothing, I will be going now!

oh and here is a pic of my first attempt at a monkey fist knot paperweight

It will take practice but one day it'll look as good as the ones you see on design sponge or boats (I think this knot is one sailors use but how would I know!!??!)

Before and after $5 goodwill chair

I'm really excited about this before and after! It was a ton of fun to do and for once I left the wood color alone! Really all that was done was reupholstering the double layered teacher's lounge esque fabric with cigarette burns throughout and adding some spray painted moulding (sp??) and wood pegs to cover the screws! In total I spent around $20 dollars (this include the five dollars it took to buy the chair) fixing it up! I have tons of left over moulding and enough fabric to make a pillow or something fun!

BEFORE...

Really in truly this fabric was a faded blue thick scratchy tweed of some sort with brown plaid lines, yeah yuck!

AFTER'S!

The wood has some scratches and dings but idk I thought it added character? What do you think should I sand it down and re stain or what?