Mish Mash

Sunday was a great day. It was one of those days when you have so much to do that you don't even know where to start, but little by little things get done and by the end of the day you can smile and say, "Yep, today was a good day!"

I told you I would show you some of the things I found at IKEA on Saturday. Here is my little white lantern. It's so darn cute. I bought a silver one like this from IKEA years ago, and it has been outside on the table that's on our deck for years. I thought this one might make a cute centerpiece on the kitchen table. Maybe some evergreen around it with some little pine cones and maybe some funky ribbon or something tied to the ring on the top, the little candle burning...could be cute....not sure...we will see.

Here is the fabric that I bought. Just 1/2 yard to make the secret something for my living room. No, not a pillow. I will do those once I find a couch cover. I have to order some parts, so I won't have it done for a while, but I will show you when it's ready to make it's debut.

Here are the three matted black frames I bought. My son Matt takes some awesome photos that we sell in FourDogDay. I framed three of my favorites. I might hang these over the new chairs, but I need to get the lamp first so I get the height right. If not, there is another wall where they will work. I think they look awesome!

This is our built in shelving in the living room. We have always painted the back wall of it the color of the walls, but Irv wanted to try it white this time. I love it. I put some books, photos, and little things on it today. This is the shelving that I want to put all old black and white photos in black frames on. I think that would look great.

The family photos that are on the shelf now will go around Matt's Family poster that I hung in the hallway today eventually.

The living room is really starting to take shape. I haven't found a little table for in between the chairs yet, but I dug this out of the garage today! Guess what Irv is going to do?

I bought this darling....but very old and grungy snack tray at a garage sale this summer for $1.00. It has about 10 coats of paint on it, so Irv is going to sand it and probably paint it. That will be our end table for now. I thought about papering the top maybe....

We found a little end table at Bed, Bath and Beyond that was cute but it was $40 and I know I can find one resale for next to nothing if I keep looking....so we'll use this for now and if we find something resale that we like better....cool...if not, I think this will be perfect!

So, that was the day for me. I hope your weekend was enjoyable. Make Monday an awesome one for yourself!

Productive Day for Me

I apologize, but this is going to be a short post. I am exhausted! Irv and I headed out this morning to give blood. We try to do that regularly, but it never seems to work out that way. I am O negative, plus I have never been exposed to some kind of common virus, so my blood is "extra extra special" so they tell me. I decided today to make our next appointment right now and maybe that way they won't have to call us 100 times to ask us to come in. :)

Next we headed out to Michael's Craft Store and Joanne Fabrics. I bought some bare wood picture frames that I will paint and add paper to, and some fabric to finish up some pillows. Next we visited three resale shops where I hit the jackpot with plates for cake stands, and little miscellaneous cups and containers that will be turned into pin cushions.

I got photos to kittilili who is designing my new business cards. I decided on this leaf photo for the FourDogDay side with the phrase..."Visual Poetry...photographs and note cards." Part of that phrase was suggested by Cecile/DreamCreateRepeat . Then for MyOtherShop, I'm going to use my hip black and white coasters for the photo with the phrase..."Accessories for the home...eclectic, whimsical and functional. Part of that one came from Pickles on Pizza. So, thank you everyone for the great suggestions. I can't wait to see what the cards will look like. I'll share them with you as soon as we have the final design!

The rest of the day was spent sealing coasters, photographing coasters, painting picture frames and finishing up some odds and ends so I can get them out of my workspace. I got so much done, but my back and head are telling me it's time to close up shop for the night. So have an awesome evening...pizza is on it's way!

Christmas Cards to Remember

When my kids were little, I always let them make our Christmas cards. I had them draw a beautiful picture and then we had the cards printed on red or green cardstock. We always put their name on the back to make it an "official" card. When they got a little older, they lost interest in creating our card. That's when I started purchasing them. For a long time it was Hallmark, and then I transitioned to the cute line of cards at Target. I never thought about making my own cards...until this year. I own a card shop! There is no way I am going to the store and buying cards this year.

I mentioned in a previous blog that I had selected one of my son's beautiful mountain photos and I am making our cards. They are turning out quite nice. I scanned one to show you. It's done on white cardstock, and I chose to use black photo corners to attach the photo. The picture itself is so gorgeous, that this way people can keep the picture and even frame it if they like.

While I was making my cards, I thought about how fun it would be to send my brother and sisters a special card this year. So, I started digging through my old photographs to find ones that would be special.

My sister Karen is a few years older than me. She lives in Tennessee. I see her a couple of times a year. I found a "very posed" picture of her and me that I am going to use for her card. I will write something about sisters and friendship and love and make it very personal. I just love her pants!!

My sister Kay is a few years younger than me. She lives in South Carolina and I see her every few years. I found a cute one of the two of us dressed in our little coats and hats. I'll write something very special for her as well.

My sister Ann, or Sis as we have always called her lives in Arizona. She and my brother Jack who lives in Georgia, are a bit older than my other two sisters and me. Their dad died when they were quite young. Mom remarried and had Karen, me and Kay. There is a 10 year gap between Sis and Jack and the three of us. Do I have you totally confused yet?

Anyway, in my digging for photos to use for cards for Sis and Jack, I came across a Christmas dinner photo from the early 50's. The photo was obviously taken by my dad, since he isn't in the picture. The only other person missing from this picture is my little sister Kay, and I am guessing that my mom was pregnant with her when this was taken. The picture has three of my grandparents in it, my grandma's "boyfriend", my mom, Karen, me, Sis, Jack and my brother Bob who died in an auto accident many, many years ago. I just love this photo! I plan to write something about family in their cards. I don't get to see either of them very often, so I want to make it very special.

I think I will get the pictures ordered and start thinking about what I want to write in all of them. Christmas is about family and the love we all share for one another. It's about traditions and special memories. I wonder what special memories we will be making this year....