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Look What My Hands Have Made

My New Bed Skirt from Damask Table cloths

Oh it has been too long since I have written, I am ashamed to say...however, I have been creating a bit around my home and thought I would share what I have been up to. This last summer I was given a big bag of beautiful linens. I couldn't believe the generosity of my dear sweet friends, Carolyn and Tom. Tom's mom had passed away and they were dealing with her estate and gave me these linens because they knew I would appreciate them and use them! So of course, I had to put them to good use. Not only to remember them by, but also because these linens were so beautiful.   Well in and among this bag were several antique, white, Damask, table cloths and of course dollies galore!

 My Sweet Little Lamp Shades

                                                                       

Believe it or not I decided to cut up(yes I did and yes I cringed when I did it!) and use the table cloths for skirting for my king duvet in our master bed room and I used one of the cut work, round doilies,  to make designer- like covered lampshades to fit the antique sconces I purchased from the Farm Chicks Show last June. I chose this doily because of the heavy scalloped edge and simple but raised thread work.Yardage at the fabric store, for this project, would have cost me an arm and a leg because of the design I wanted. Not to mention, I would never be able to find anything this fine and durable. For the lamp shades, I found  a self adhesive, designer shade at Joann Fabrics-perfect! This handy and simple product, allows you to remove the protective covering, use the covering to trace the paper as your pattern, then cut and stick on your fabric.Super simple! Both shades took me less than 15 min. to make!

Details of Skirting

The old saying the right tool, for the right job is so true. So instead of spending my money on yardage, I spent it on a ruffler foot for my Bernina sewing machine. Oh- my- word- this baby is worth it's weight in gold!! AND it  allowed me to create my dream bed covering in- oh about 30 min.- Waaa Hooo! Now I already had a handmade duvet cover that my mother had passed down to me and this is what I used to attache my skirting to.Then I put my decorative duvet on top. This way I can change out the duvet if I need to wash it or just need to change decore.  So here it is in all its lovely-ness!

Butter Dish to Posh and Pretty Bird Feeder

So how does this silver butter dish and wooden candlestick become a Posh and Pretty Bird Feeder? Read on and I will share.

This is another one of those projects on my list, like the last post, and with a little drilling help from my man, I was able to cross this project off the list today.  I sure am happy with the way this second-hand treasure turned out too!

At the beginning of the summer I went to the funnest place on earth! No not Disneyland - well this might be considered a kind of Disneyland for Farm-Girlie-Grown-Ups- but Farm Chicks! Wowee talk about super cute junk! Holy Cannoli, did I load up! It was so fun being with my gal pals and finding one-of-a-kind treasure. This silver butter dish was one of those wonders I couldn't pass up.

So here is the how to turn your second hand treasure into Posh and Pretty Up-Cycling At Its Finest: 

Flea Market Treasures to start

1)First I hunted down a wooden candle stick at a thrift store that was proportioned the way I liked. The candle stick I found was actually held together by a very long screw- a happy accident- because this allowed me to
2.) drill a hole in the bottom of the dish part and then
3.) re-assemble the footing of the candlestick to the underside of the dish and the main portion, to the inside of the dish.

bottom of candlestick to bottom of butter dish

4.) I then had my man drill 2 small holes through the top on either side of the finial and through the candle stick so that I could

top of butter dish bird feeder

5.) thread black wire through the top, through the candlestick, and back up through the top of the butter dish. This allowed me to  secure the top of the butter dish to the feeder but also allowed me to

6.)wire wrap a hanger to hang it from.

Ready for some wholesome bird seed!

Voila a most lovely bird feeder for all my little feathered friends! Don't you just love how a wee twig is the perfect little perch for the birds to eat from!

Faux Metal Frame-I Love Paint!

Faux Metal Mirror

Yesterday, I finally finished something on my long list of projects. It was one of those projects that wasn't essential to life as I know it and so often it would get re-slated to the end of the list because other important things would come along. 

However, yesterday was the day, yes, finally, I was able to get-er done and I am so excited about the finished product.

Filigree Details

This mirror that I got handed down to me was a light wood color that had been white washed- super cute but disappeared on my cashmere color walled. It has great lines and filigree that I wanted to accentuate and make it look like old metal!

I took Silver Chrome spray paint (yes for a car- it was all we had in the shed), black and brown craft acrylic, a ratty old brush, and went to work. 

First, I taped up the mirror portion and then sprayed most but not all places with the silver. Then I painted a  black color washed over it (little black paint and twice as much water) working quickly so that patterns didn't form on the surface and the black went into the design crevices, making it look solid but translucent. I kept adding layers until it looked metal-ish to me. Some areas I let the silver poke through. Once the black was dried I added the brown for "rusty"areas. I wanted it to look really old and weathered. I like how it turned out and it really just pops off the wall too. Man do I love paint! It is this frugal woman's best decorating tool!

Painting the Hives

The anticipation of getting our bees is mounting. They are due to arrive this coming weekend, so despite the crazy Northwest weather, I had to get outside in the fresh air and paint the hives. I am glad that it was a fairly clear day out. They look pretty boring without any color.

Here are the Deeps and Supers unpainted

David is still finishing up the lids and bases to the hives, that is why you don't see them in the pictures. But I was able to get the Supers and Deeps painted. So what do you think of the colors I finally chose? I think they will be beautiful in our someday orchard, bordered by luscious lavender bushes. I can almost taste the honey.

Here they are painted.

Bee Keeping and Honey Eating

Oh I can't wait! Bee keeping and honey eating. I have wanted to keep bees for about 5 years but my adventure was always met with apathy from those closest to me. It is hard to pursue a dream if everyone around you is poo-poo-ing it. But, I have finally won over my best friend, my husband. And together we are going to keep these amazing, busy, little creatures.

Just last week we picked up our hive kits and soon we will begin the adventure of building our hives. Our bees are due to arrive around the end of March so we had better get cracking!

I already have a hive design in mind. Now, if they are going to be in our yard they will be wonderful to look at. Our bee keeping teacher just smiles at me every time I tell him that they have to be pretty. I envision copper trim and a tin tile roof with periwinkle blue and cornflower blue paint. When they are done I will post a picture. For now I continue to dream...

For Lent Fasting and Feasting

I created this for my studio

FASTING and Feasting

During Lent and always fast from discontent; feast on gratitude.

Fast from complaining and feast on appreciation.

Fast from bitterness and feast on forgiveness.

Fast from idle gossip and feast on purposeful silence.

Fast from judging others and feast on the Christ within them.

Fast from emphasis on differences and feast on the unity of life.

Fast from apparent darkness and feast on the reality of light.

Fast from thoughts of illness and feast on the healing power of God.

Fast from words that pollute and feast on phrases that uplift.

Fast from anger; feast on patience;

Fast from pessimism: feast on optimism.

Fast from worry; feast on divine order.

Fast from negatives; feast on affirmatives.

Fast from unrelenting pressure; feast on unceasing prayer.

Fast from hostility; feast on nonresistance.

Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion to others.

Fast from personal anxiety; feast on eternal truth.

Fast from thoughts that weaken; feast on promises that inspire.

Fast from shadows of sorrow, feast on the sunlight of serenity.

Fast from discouragement and feast on hope.

Fast from facts that depress and feast on anything that inspires.

Fast from lethargy and feast on enthusiasm.

Fast from suspicion and feast on truth.

Fast from problems that overwhelm us; feast on prayer that gives us the strength to get through.

What will be your fast? What will be your feast?

~Anonymous

Day 3 Joy Dare

3 Lines you overheard that were graces...

You can have the last piece, my daughter says to her younger brother at the breakfast table. That is hard to do when bacon is your favorite.

You are such a good artist. One student to another in my art class during show and share time.

The prayers of my children.

Light that caught you, a reflection that surprised you, a shadow that fell lovely...

This morning as we are driving to co-op. It is misty and the clouds are purple-gray with power and as morning starts to awaken an orange glow penetrates the gloom and rims the clouds with brilliant reds and oranges and all I can manage to utter in awe as we quietly drive is thank you Lord...

Joy Dare Day 2

A gift outside, inside on a plate...

This winter has proven to be a gift outside for me. Here in the Pacific Northwest the long gray days can wear on a girl. But this year God has been so kind and orchestrated many days without rain. Days with blue sky and crisp cold. I will take these even the overcast days with no rain any day of the week. I am so grateful it has allowed me to be outdoors more which is good for my overall peace of mind, health and spirit.

Inside, a gift we have had for many years is our wood stove. It is beautiful. And gives us such a warm cozy feeling. I am always content with the wood stove and a cracking fire inside.

A gift on my plate is nutritional food. I am so grateful to live in a country with so many food sources and options. To be able to provide good wholesome food to my family is a wonderful gift and one I often overlook.

Three Graces from people I love...

Today I was late getting my daughter and friends. They were so gracious even the hostess who had them late was cheerful and gracious to me and my lateness.

My husband is so kind to me. His love language is acts of service and I am so grateful for all the skills and now-how that God has given to him I don't believe I have ever had to call a repair man of any kind to fix things in our home.

The grace of prayer. I have many people in my life who pray for me and my family. Nothing is better than that.

Taking the Joy Dare

Oh dear I am getting a late start... not that unusual. I have decided to use the prompts of Ann Voskamp's Holy Experience Blog. When you visit, scroll down till you see One Thousand Gifts in 2012~ the Joy dare for the month of January. You can print this pdf for yourself and you too can get into a good habit in this new and promising year of 2012. I am going to do 2 a day until I am caught up and on track.

Joy #1:3 things about myself I am grateful for.

• I am a creative thinker. I don't like looking through the same lens as most people. I feel that life should be lived in full color and out loud with lots of laughing, preferably at the beach.

• I am a resolution seeker. It is difficult for me to function in life if a problem is not resolved. I don't sweep things under the carpet easily... now if you were to actually look under my carpets you would find plenty of dust and treasure but that is a different story

• I am an adventure finder. I love to travel and I am always up for a day trip somewhere. It is getting everyone else to board my boat that is the hard part. I don't mind change because I know it is good for me and gets me to grow in other ways, like getting out of my comfort zone and going somewhere new.

Today's Joy #6:One thing in my bag, my fridge, my heart

• I am always trying to dance the dance of the purse. Keeping it functional, with enough room for all I need, when I need it, but then again, not loading it in such a way as to throw out my back. With that said, I have my sons's Hot Wheels car cam-recorder in there because you just never know when I will get the chance to do cool skateboard trick and need to record the bird's eye view of it! See I am already on my way to the Chiropractor...

• Eggs. Colored eggs. Home-raised eggs. We have a flock of 12 girls who have been very good to us. So good, that we have started an egg route in 2021. I now have 4 folks on it.

In my heart...all silliness aside. One thing that has been on my heart is how to navigate parenting high schoolers gracefully. I want to transition into the mentor/encourage-er role and leave the high-alert, duty filled, character training, over-protective, worrier mom behind. I want to let go and enjoy my older kids. Make memories, have adventures, get to know the person emerging. The days of hard-core parenting are fleeting and I am not sure I am acclimating well to the new job description. I am so glad that God's grace is new everyday. And that I don't have to do it alone. He is the greatest parent there is and even knows who and what my children will become. He has plans for them. To prosper them. Plans for their future and their hopes. So what am I all worried about? This promise is for me as well.

Out with the Old and In with the NEW!

Life is full of changes. New year. New Journal. New ways to spend my time.

Things are changing...I am changing, which is a good thing. I am shutting down my website, The Patchwork Heart, Co. at the end of the month. She has been a constant friend and wonderful creative outlet for me through many of my own growing years. Those years where you figure out a bit more about who you are and who you are not.

I feel as if I have come to a place of change. It is a curiosity for me. I often feel in my deep places a sense of unrest without the knowledge of its cure. But over time I see the pattern form and I keep ruminating on it until I am ready to move ahead. Carpe Diem. That day has come.

I want to thank you for your patronage and the years of support and friendship. I can still be found here on my blog and what I have left in product will be sold willy-nilly on Etsy. The final close date for the website will be the end of January. Happy New Year!

Simple Woman's Day Book Nov. 2011 Entry

eFOR TODAYf

Nov. 2, 2011

Outside my window...It is an amazing day here in the Pacific Northwest the air is cool and crisp the sun is shining. I feel the nostalgia of the Fall season.

I am thinking... about how it has been so long since I have blogged. That life is full of unexpected changes and that there are many, many gifts that I am grateful for in my life.

I am thankful for...Hot apple cider in big mugs. Our wood burning stove with firewood chopped and stored. The last of my home grown tomatoes- farewell…till next summer. Lots of art supplies. My bible.

From the learning rooms... we are trying to work through colds and sniffles not so fun. We are accomplishing some work so I can’t complain.

From the kitchen... This is the time of year for homemade soups, turkey barley and lentil with kielbasa are on the menu this week for lunch.

I am wearing... the usual comfy clothes with socks to keep my feet warm

I am creating... not much these days. I am trying to sketch at least once a week and I am currently partially done with a sketch called Falls treasures with things I found on a walk one day.

I am going... to see the movie The Help tonight with a friend

I am reading...Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby, The Scarlet Pimpernel.

I am hoping...for a spiritually meaningful holiday season

I am hearing...lots of coughs, sneezes, moans and groans from my loved ones, I don’t like the cold and flu season

Around the house...we have been upgrading, fixing, and puttering around doing all those little things that at some point add up. It feels good to cross things off the list as the winter season approaches.

One of my favorite things...my morning time with the Lord and my husband.

A few plans for the rest of the week: I hope to attend a theater production of Pride and Prejudice at a local playhouse and have a dinner with my brother and his family

Here is picture thought I am sharing... wonderful Fall scene

Mention my blog and offer a link back to the main page of my blog. http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Proctor Arts Fest 2011

Yep! It is that time of year again. I am busy getting things ready for the Proctor Arts Festival

this coming Saturday, Aug. 6th, 10:00 am-6:00 pm

located at N. 26th and Proctor, Tacoma

This is a great local festival and there is always fun for everyone! Great local artists, juried art exhibit, the farmers market, food, music, pet parade, fun fest and family stage just to name a few. Do you need more reasons to come? That right there is the perfect Saturday for family fun!

Here are a few pictures of my booth from last year of

The Patchwork Heart, Co.

I hope you will stop in and say hi!

My Oldest and my helper for the day!

Some artwork and wares

More re-purposed little pretties!

Simple Woman's Day Book July 2011 Entry

For Today July 26, 2011 ...

Outside my window... It seems that the day hasn't quite decided what to do, should I rain, or shine my sun, or be cloudy? I tend to pay no mind to such days.

I am thinking... about all the ways to be grateful in my life- 3 of us were recently in a car accident and I am so grateful that all involved were not injured seriously everyone walked away.

I am thankful for... This fragile and fluid life the Lord has given me. That the seasons of my life change and I am growing and learning. Thinking and seeking. I pray I never become stagnant.

From the learning rooms... a bit of math and a bit of summer reading to catch up and get positioned for next year’s studies. For myself I am learning about eco-dyeing and natural fiber paper making. I also am learning about watercolor journaling and art journaling.

From the kitchen...I am learning to remake jam that didn't gel ugghh two batches one strawberry and one peach-lavender good grief couldn't get it right to save my life. I also have been picking snap peas like crazy.

I am wearing... yoga pants and cotton tee the standard

I am creating...a few bits and baubles for my upcoming Proctor Art Festival, painting, and thinking about some artwork for our family room.

I am going...to the farmers market on Saturdays for fresh produce that I don’t have in my own garden.

I am reading...I just finished the Ditch Diggers Daughters by Dr. Yvonne Thorton and I am going to start Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

I am hoping...That we are able to take some time to vacation this summer on the boat and finish up the house projects especially the patio in the backyard.

I am hearing...sweet quiet while the kids are at camp but I am missing them all the same.

Around the house...Things are starting to feel more settled, as if everything is finding its way back to its resting place, its own living spot. It is so good to reorganize life after a long stressful couple of years.

One of my favorite things...my new dutch door at the back of the house and our six new baby chicks.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Dinners out with my husband and some relaxing walks along the shore

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

My new dutch door I really feel like a true urban farm girl now!

Mention my blog and offer a link back to the main page of my blog. http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

The First Annual Urban Coop Tour

View or our day yard and coop entrance

We used all re-purposed materials for our except chicken wire

Have you heard of a historic tour of homes? Well move over historical society, there is a new nest in town! To my delight, in early spring I entered our coop to be on a tour of urban coops in the city of Tacoma. This ingenious ideas was hatched by Lisa at Gardensphere, where I buy my organic feed. This tour de Poulet was the first annual urban coop tour in Tacoma and yesterday, was a landmark day in the world of urban chicken keeping.

We spent the sunny, warm day, in our back yard with our hens, talking and educating folks about keeping chickens in the city. We had hundreds -YES HUNDREDS- of people from all walks of life, come asking questions, learning and enjoying our flock of 7 hens. We shared our coop building tips, critter control stories, what to do if they get sick, we talked of breeds and of course the sheer goodness of eating home grown eggs! It was a delightful day. What made it wonderful was not only were there beginners on the tour, but also experienced chicken people who just wanted to see other coops, share information and have fun!

Gardensphere made maps with nine different coops all over our city for people to visit. If folks visited all 9 and got their stamps at each place, they could redeem their maps and recieve a 15% discount for a starter coop kit. Now that is just plain cock-a-doodle fun! Thanks Gardensphere!

Layers Of Color Guest Designer

Hey Friends!

Here is an update. I am the guest designer for my dear friend Laura at Layers of Color. I created two different cards for her this month. Here is this weeks card in celebration of Mothers everywhere. I used the Love Chapter Stamp for the background text and Sent with Love On Your Special Day as the sentiment. I hand painted the photograph. I really love the sweet nature of this photo, it reminds me of the hugs I still get (once in a while) from my ten year old. Big and right around the neck!

Thanks for stopping in for a visit, Enjoy!

What Have I Been Up To?

Good question!

Oh blog land I have missed you so! I have spent quite a bit of time taking care of business at home. I have found that I am only able to do so

many things at once. Can you relate? So rather than fight it and collapse in frustration and defeat, I am choosing more wisely. This means less time on the computer and more time in real time- kapish?

But, I have been up to some fun projects that continue to keep my creative heart pumping. Remember my mixed media altered bird book Livre d'Oiseaux? Well it will be exhibited with the Puget Sound Book Artists! If you are in the Pacific Northwest in the South Sound Region please come and visit!

Puget Sound Book Artists Opening Reception

Thursday, June 2, 2

011, 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Exhibition Dates: June 2 –July 31

Collins Memorial Library, University of Puget Sound
Tacoma, Washington

http://pugetsoundbookartists.org

Please note: This summer, the library front entrance is closed for construction. Temporary access will be
on the east side of library building, in the library parking lot by the loading dock. Entrance is down the ramp.
Library Hours: http://www.pugetsound.ed/libraryhours.

Feeling rather Grateful-February 2011

It snowed today....so soft and feathery, big fluffs of heaven raining down. It caught me racing around, thoughts racing, my agenda spinning, but then...

I was memorized.

And watch.

It was so ethereal.

I could feel my eyelids relax into their blink. I wrapped my arms around my excited ten year old.

The beauty of the day stopped him for a moment too(which doesn't happen too often), when he said, "Look Mom, Mr. Downing's trees are dreadlocked with snow!" Oh sweet boy! What a perfect description.

The rumble of the city seems to stop too, just to listen for the quiet of the snowfall for just a little while.

I really don't do this enough both the stopping and the listening. There is such great value in both of those things. Speaking of valueable things, here is a snippet of my grateful list for February.

I'm Grateful for:

• Wee little babies
• Chocolate brownies
• Capable Children
• Chirping birds in the sun
• Walks to the park
• Time to myself
• Reconciliation
• White feathery snow that makes us stop and listen
• The boyish-man hands of my oldest son rubbing my tired shoulders
• Spring bulbs
• An evening off from activities

I also using a set of scripture prayers complied by Bob Hostetler called 31 Ways to Pray for Your Children. (new thing #3)

Todays's prayer:

Faith " I pray that faith will find root and grow in my children's hearts, that by faith they may gain what has been promised to them" (Luke 17:5-6, Hebrews 11:1-40) Lord may they actively seek to worship and grow their faith daily in you. I pray that when they have turned from it, they will feel as if their bones are moaning,

(Psalms 32:3)

that this would serve to remind them of the path of righteousness and return to it. ~Amen.

This Event Takes the Cake!

Thanks for stopping by on this tasty blog hop. I hope you have been inspired! This is my entry into this fun event. A special cake! I call it: Vanilla Sugar Spice Cake. My husbands favorite cake ever is Spice Cake. I just couldn't make one slice...I had to make a whole cake! All these fabulous stamps were just begging for it!

This cake, takes the cake! Sorry I couldn't help myself...LOL

I have made this mixed media piece from a round box, turned upside down and covered with designer paper from my stash. To make it more interesting I have stamped it with hearts from Fleur Hearts set in a pale pink. The cake topper is made using a cupcake liner and I used 4 more, folded into sugar crusted rose buds. The large brown sugar crusted roses are made from sewing pattern tissue paper.

I have used pattern tissue, cupcake liners, glittered covered leaves, gems, pearls, pink glitter, lace, clear pink bubbles, stacked sequins, white dove, and these LOC stamps:

Flowering Gems clear art stamp set

Fleur Heart clear art stamp set

Happy Wishes clear art stamp set

Nature Walk clear art stamp set

Renaissance Hearts clear art stamp set:

Tasty isn't it? Let's have some more!...You're invited to feast your eyes on the Layers of Color Design Team and Guest Designer's Cake Party treats! Make sure to visit all the blogs and leave a "sweet" comment too! You won't be disappointed!

Layers of Color

Beatriz Jennings

Dawn Burnworth

Diana Queen

Grace Nywening

Gunn Thelin Knutsen

Guro Aarre

Heather Jensen

You are here: Heather Wombacher

Iwona Palamountain

Janice Whiting

Jennie Harper

Jessica Fick

Joan Ervin

Julie Overby

Kazan Clark

Keri Lee Sereika

Linda Lucas

Maxine Diffey

Melisa Waldorf

Nina Brackett

Sharri Seffens

Suzanne Czosek

Be sure to swing by Layers of Color Boutique and grab a FREE Cupcake Card Template!Your little party favor for joining in the fun! And when you subscribe to this blog and leave a comment, you will be entered into our Party Favor Drawing to have the chance to WIN this yummy Layers of Color art stamp set!...

Birdday Party art stamp set

See didn't I tell you this party "takes the cake!" So many fun things to win and see. So "have your cake and eat it too!" (I know, I know! I just can't help it! LOL) Have fun!