{Post 1,391} She's HERE!!

Not a great picture, but here we are from last night.  My eldest son's girlfriend stopped for overnight.  She is going to be in our area (within an hour) for the next month.  This was the first time we met.  I would say we all got along swimmingly.  Her name is Kimi (pronounced like it's spelled Kimmy).  I am driving down to meet her and her father tomorrow for supper.  I will also be visiting my sons who live in the same city.  Lot of fun times ahead.

{Post 1,390} New Project on the Horizon

Trying something new soon.  Elaine over at Elaine Adair Pieces inspired me to paint a 24" square quilt block for my new office wall.  I am going to mark the lines between the colors with this tape and just leave the tape in place.  Forever.

I got it at Advanced Auto Parts.  It is a "detailing" tape, solid black, and it's 1/4" wide.  I am going to paint the sides of the board black, then lay the tape down to distinguish the different areas of color.  I'll paint the edge of the plywood black and hang it with "Velcro" command strips.  Forty feet for $5.  Hope it is enough.

{Post 1,389} The Day in Pictures

Well, this is PART of the day in pictures.  I have done a few more little projects.  On some of them I have procrastinated a long time, only to find out they only took a few minutes!  That's how it is with me.  You're chuckling because you NEVER do that, right?  

I touched up paint from our remodeling in January and in our guest room.  Kimi came around 7 PM.  We are fast friends already.  It seems like I've known her for years and years.

Here is my scrap wallet for my Grandmother's Flower Garden blocks.  I keep this in my wallet so I can see what fabrics I have and which one I need more of.  I don't think I need any more at all.  This is very full.  The box of fabrics will probable make more than one quilt.  I guess if I use up the fabrics making another quilt I can call it the great-Grandmother's blocks or something!

Here is Elisabeth with Timmy dressed in overalls.  And I thought little boys couldn't possibly be as cute as little girls.

I spray-painted my new stools this afternoon.  They need to cure for a little while, but they turned out soooo lovely.  I think I've admired them out loud about 100 times already.  They add so much charm to our kitchen.  I used up paint from 3 different cans.  They were relatively close to each other in color!!  All shades of tan.  I used the two with the least amount to put on the first coat, then used the most full can to do the last coat.  These were a steal for $8 each.

{Post 1,388} Store Scores

I had such a GREAT shopping day.  I hate to shop.  No, that is not exaggerating.  I hate it.  I hate spending money.  I hate the time.  But lately, I have started to not thoroughly detest it.  Now I'm even on the verge of "enjoying" it.  I have been wanting a pretty bed frame.  The one we have was my grandmother's.  She gave it to us when we got married.  Honestly, I have never liked it.  It was made for a double bed.  We have a queen-sized mattress and box springs, so we use a frame that stands alone and just pushed the headboard up against the wall with it.  

Even though I was longing for a new frame, I didn't want to spend much on it.  As I looked at home made ones, I concluded that I'd have to spend at least $100 to MAKE one like I wanted, and even then, I was not sure it would turn out like I wanted.

So here's a partial recap of my shopping day.

On our way back from picking up the intended item (last in the pictures), we stopped to gas up our friend's truck that we borrowed.  There was a Goodwill adjacent to the gas station, and I was compelled to go in.  I am not sure why.  But I ended up getting some real gems.  

Above is an oval picture frame.  It looked like something my grandmothers would have had.  I love things like that.  I entertained the idea of making it a chalkboard, but I'm going to let it marinate.  It holds an 8 x 10 picture.

Next up is two perfect condition (just need a little cleaning love) kitchen counter stools.  Our 3 little ones are so pathetic.  Wobbly, uncomfortable, and just not trustworthy.  These were $8 each.  Since I had the truck, why not get them?  They will match my kitchen perfectly, and there's not a thing wrong with them.  Sturdy and lovely.  I couldn't believe my luck!

Here's the beauty I was going to pick up.  This is my new headboard!!  It is EXACTLY what I pictured having in our room.  The footboard is exactly the same design but has no wrought iron.  The best part is that I didn't want to spend more than $100 on it.  I got it through Craig's List.  It was advertised for $200 (originally cost $600, or so the previous owner said).  When I was looking at it, I kept seeing tiny scratches.  I had planned to restain it and then seal it with furniture wax anyway.  I was sure every imperfection would be covered up and fine.  As I was thinking about it, the seller said, "Will you take it if I lower the price a little?"  Before I could respond, she said, "Will you take it for $100?"  A little to me would be $180 or so.  I could barely believe my ears.  I felt like I'd won the lottery.

{Post 1,387} New Quilt Hanger in Stairwell

This was another of my painting projects from this past weekend.  I used to have the quilt hanging on just a dowel with screws holding up the dowel.  The problem was that I hung different sized quilts there, and sometimes the screws showed.  Not a problem now.

The hooks are single-hook robe hangers from Lowe's.  The end caps are from Walmart.  I didn't glue them on so I could easily change out quilts for seasons, etc.

{Post 1,386} Reveal of Pallet-wood Sign

Here is the hardware I screwed in by hand to hang my pallet-wood sign.  It worked wonderfully.  Especially since I already had two screws in the wall where I had hung a quilt previously.  They were in the exact right place for hanging this.  I just had to make sure I put the hardware in the right place.  I did!!  All by myself!

Here is the finished sign.  It has a layer of "darkening" on it that I would have made lighter next time.  It also has something you cannot see in the picture but is very evident in person.  A coat of paste furniture wax.  It gives it a fantastic luster.

While I'm showing guest room decorations...this is a wreath I made for the room a few years back.  I love grapevine decorations.  The curtains in the room are purple, cantelope, and sage plaid with a cream background.

The closet is on the right as you go in the room.  I got this "Bless This Home" sign at Hobby Lobby.  I like it because it's black print on clear glass that allows the wall color to show through.  Purple is my favorite color.

Always carry a 40% coupon if you get to go to Hobby Lobby.  I always see something I would like to have.

Last, but not least, in there.  My inside-the-wallbed decor.  I have been looking for something for this space for years.  When the ironware was 50% off last Hobby Lobby visit, I finally settled on this.  

For those very observant folks, the basket on the left is actually a shower caddy.  When the wallbed is down and in use, there is no place to put glasses, phone, alarm clock, whatever.  My daughter had the brilliant idea of attaching this to the inside wall.

I have one tiny spot of paint to touch-up in here, and then I think we're ready for company Tuesday.

{Post 1,385} One of My Weekend Projects

This is one little spray-paint project I wanted to finish this weekend.  The back piece and "P" are laser-cut wood I bought at Michael's.  Tip of the day:  NEVER to go Hobby Lobby or Michael's w/o a 40% off coupon.  The wooden pieces ended up costing <$2 total.  

This measures about 7-1/2" wide by 11-1/2" tall.  It may very well be my next wedding shower gift.  Fast, easy, cheap.  Brides love monogrammed gifts.

What appears to the inside is actually hot-glued to the flat piece of "background" wood.  I just took a piece of tablet cardboard and hot-glued on a piece of burlap, overlapping it to glue on the back.  Then I glued it to the front of the wood after I spray-painted it black.

I have a couple more posts coming with other weekend projects.