Can I Do It All In 42 Days??

If you read my blog on a regular basis, you know that I was reading the book, "Lost and Found". The book gets passed along from one person to another via our blogs. You can read about it here. Well, right now the book is on it's way to the UK to my blogging friend, Jam and Jerusalem. I'm hoping it makes it's way around Europe for a while and then finds it's way back to the USA!

I spent the entire day so far buying supplies that I will need to make things for Fair Diddley (my very first craft show) next month. It is very scary to me to spend that much money on things when I really have no clue if any of it will sell. Of course, I am hoping it will, but my understanding is that with craft shows, you just never know....they can even get rained out! I'm looking at it this way.....what doesn't sell at least can go into FourDogDay and MyOtherShop and also be used for the next show. It isn't like it will all just be sitting there.

We did price a tent though and that was a bit more than I am ready to invest, so I will be renting this time. If I do really well at this show, maybe I will buy one for the next show. Today I found a ton of candlesticks and three darling little plates at the Goodwill store to make cake stands with. I'm still on the lookout for more plates though. I bought some darling little cups and saucers to make a new thing with. I bought some boring ModPodge and sealer and about 8 different really awesome fabrics to make pillows. Yesterday I found a big piece of Waverly fabric at a resale shop for $1.00!! The pillows I make with that will kick butt! I also bought tons of ceramic tiles and sweet old Irv is in the garage right now sanding the rough edges down and cleaning them up for me.

So, as you can see...I have my work cut out for me. I have 42 days to make a ton of stuff and get it all packaged and priced!

Wrigley woke me up at 3:00 a.m. to go out and then I couldn't go back to sleep...I spent the next 3 hours sitting in bed with my paper, pencil and clipboard designing my booth for the show and making many, many lists! I came up with some fantastic ideas for the booth that I will share with you at a later date! One of the plans involves Irv dragging a very old and yukky bookshelf out of the very back corner of the garage that is full of gardening supplies right now....and turning it into a nice display piece for my booth! Poor Irv!

Have a wonderful rest of the day!

What Ever Happened To The Day Of Rest?

Did you ever have one of those days...where at the end of the day...you can look back and say, "Holy crap, did I ever get a lot done today!" Well, I had one of those days yesterday. My "to do" list was long, but knowing I had a three day weekend, I wasn't really concerned. I just dug in and got going. Things just all fell into place and things that sometimes don't work quite right, worked right. Irv and I even spent a couple of hours in the afternoon running etsy errands...buying supplies for the new idea I have for MyOtherShop and even grabbed some great sandwiches at PotBelly. There was a guy in there playing guitar. It was great!

I even found the fabric for the card box for Tresa's reception. We have been looking everywhere for something that goes with her color and floral theme and haven't been able to find a thing. I found it yesterday. Cute green fabric with tiny little ivory branches with tiny little ivory leaves. I'm going to cover a box with a slot for people to drop their cards in, and the florist is going to put some orchids and greenery on the top of it! Woo hoo! Now I just have to figure out the easiest and best looking way to cover it....glue, carpet tape or actually sewing it to fit the box. Not sure yet.

Tresa's necklace is done. She thinks she is getting it next Saturday at her dress fitting, but I am giving it to her at the shower today. I sure hope she likes it. I have this nervous little feeling. It's hard to create such an important piece of jewelry for someone with very little guidance...and I do not make jewelry as I've told you in the past....so wish me luck. I'll post a picture of it tomorrow so you can see it.

I also hit the resale shop this week and found some interesting little pieces that will be turned into kick butt pieces for MyOtherShop! Quite a mix...picture frames, candlesticks and a very unusual bunny! You can see the before pictures and then when I'm done with them I'll post the afters! What fun!

Well that's going to be it for today. I really need to start getting myself presentable for the shower today. Have a great day everyone!

Fun and Fancy Serving Plates

I can't take credit for this idea, because I actually saw it in a magazine earlier this year and fell in love with it. I set the magazine aside, meaning to make one...one of these days. The magazine and the idea was long forgotten when my daughter-in-law, Bernadette came over one day and gave me one her mom had made...and I was in love with them all over gain!

I would like to introduce you to my Fun and Fancy Serving Plates! I make my serving plates from old and new plates that are attached securely to a candle stick or base of some type. I think they are so cute and make great conversation pieces!

I think these are such fun pieces and very versatile as well. I would like to eventually be able to find enough old supplies that I can make all of them from recycled materials. My personal supply of older plates that I was willing to part with was limited, so some of the ones I have made are done from new plates and candlesticks.

I keep scouring the thrift stores and have found some cute pieces to work with. Some of the older ones have so much character. I look at their worn spots and little bumps and bruises and I see a piece that was well used and "loved".

It's wonderful to take those old plates and make them into something new for someone else to hopefully use for many years to come. The larger serving plates can be used for cakes or even cheese and crackers or dessert bars or cookies. The smaller ones can be used for candy or even next to the sink to hold soap, a sponge or your rings and watch.

The is my absolute favorite. The plate is new, but I found the martini glass at the thrift store. I wish there had been more of them, but unfortunately there was only one.

Thanks for looking at these great pieces. I do have a few more in my shop. Feel free to stop by to take a look at http://www.fourdogday.etsy.com/.