Projects Keep Popping Up!

This post has turned out way longer than I intended, so settle in and enjoy. Sorry 'bout that!

You know how it is when you're excited about a new project and can't wait to see it to its fruition. That's how I've been feeling about my living room redo at the moment. Several days ago I ordered my new sofa but it'll take 8 to 12 weeks to arrive from the factory in North Carolina. I can hardly wait! But meanwhile I have some other projects in mind. I've been doing a bit of shopping. Bit?! That's an understatement! But I'm watching my pennies pretty well. If I know I can do it myself, I'll give it a try; if not, I'll think about it a lot before I buy something.

For instance, I saw a photo of a room that had 2 different curtains on one window. I mean one side of the window had a completely different curtain than the other side. Pretty neat actually. Then I saw a room that had 2 curtains on one side and one curtain on the other side of the same window. That got me thinking what I could do. So I bought the pink and cream taffeta curtains—btw, those curtains I got from Overstock.com and they are extremely well made, lined and everything—and then I purchased a french-looking floral print fabric to put with  them, a yellow background with red/pink roses and a tiny blue morning glory. I'll put one of each on each side of the living room window. Here, let me show you what I did as I just threw the yellow fabric over the rod. In reality, this looks beautiful! I also knocked over a pot with a fern in it on the table beside the sofa, knocked over a bottle you see on the shelf, had to stand partly on the sofa and table, lost my footing and almost killed my self trying to hang those 5 yards of fabric for the photoshoot. What we bloggers won't do for a photo. :-)

Okay, I got back upon the sofa and pinned the fabric up there after cutting it into manageable lengths. I also think I should take down that shelf and extend the rods out further, but the other side of that window doesn't give me the ability to do it. I may be stuck or come up with another solution. Hmmmm...I have a feeling Love Bunny is going to kill me before I'm through if I don't accomplish the task for him by falling off the sofa.

Then I looked at my chandelier shades and decided I wanted some new ones, a different look. So I purchased 5 and am redoing them also. There will be roses on them and ribbon but a bit less fancy than those on there now. I'm so excited I could just scream.

Then I got the idea of painting a tall bucket I purchased recently from Joanns to hold wrapping paper for me. (Can you tell now I've recuperated just fine from the surgery 6 weeks ago?) It was a mottled green or slightly verdigris color. I wanted pink and yellow stripes. Hubs told me that would be very difficult since it was wider at the top than the bottom. I purchased some artist's tape at Michaels, which actually looks and acts like the blue tape house painters use but with a fancier price. (Don't be fooled, chicks, get the blue tape at Home Depot.) I measured a couple of times and put the tape on. (Hubs was still giving me attitude that it would be difficult.) I had to position the tape about 3 times and let it "fall" naturally to the bottom. Several trips outside to give it light coats—I say that but I screwed up at one point and had to wipe some serious yellow drips with a paper napkin—and then I looked for my pink gloss paint and had none. I had white gloss though, so as I was impatient to see how it would look and knowing I could repaint it if I wanted, I painted it white. After about a half hour of drying I brought it inside, whipped off the tape, showed it to hubs and gloated. Here are the photos of both side. Stripes? Perfect! My first try. I tell ya, I'm on a roll!

 

Then I wanted a "wash and wear no-iron, put right back on the table from the dryer, white ruffled tablecloth."  For everyday use we have a white piece of vinyl but every single time we have spaghetti or lasagna and, since I'm a slob, there are always red splotches on it. The red does NOT come out even with vigorous scrubbing with a sponge and detergent. The problem is I want 2, 3 or even 4 or 5 ruffles on it and I have no idea how to do multiple ruffles around the edge unless the top where I would sew it on shows but I don't want that part to show. I don't know if it's even possible to do it without cutting a bit of the cloth off, putting on one ruffle, sewing the piece back on and then putting the next ruffle on the bottom. I think multiple ruffles make it a bit lovelier. Okay, I googled it to see if I can find the trick to how it's done. Here's one made from a bed skirt. This lady did one that way.

This lady did it from scratch with lots of drop cloth fabric.

 

Another bed skirt ruffle.

Okay, since I have lots of fabric from a very soft old sheet and I've already torn it into 4" pieces and I have a ruffler, I may as well make it myself from scratch. The one tablecloth on the table sitting outside I like better than the other two. I want a very ruffle-y cloth and I can do that with my ruffler. Sigh. It's just another thing to add to my to-do list. But this project might just push me over the edge!
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I've told my daughter I want a clock like this. She's a mosaic artist and can definitely do it. I love this little beauty.

What a delightful way to serve ice cream to friends! Wrap the cones in scrapbooking paper.

Cute and small bedroom.

Another house on a waterway. I believe this is one of those towns in the Netherlands, Belgium or somewhere near them that doesn't have any roads in their town. All shopping, etc. is done by bicycle or walking.

Sweet blue door on an old stone cottage.

Frosted or sugared rose.

An early snow? Beautiful no matter what.

A bouquet of roses to enchant your heart this morning.

Sweet place to sit and relax.

Another beautiful way to display your flowers—on an old rustic cart.

This is one, just one, of my all-time favorite places to have in my backyard.

Beautiful in pink satin and lace. An envelope to hold some letters or hankies.

Do you remember these? I do.

A rose-filled room. A favorite with me of course.

And I wouldn't say no to this little beauty either!

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Linking up with Inspire Me Monday
and
Mosaic Monday 
and
WOW

On My Soapbox Today

I've been down more than I've been up lately—physically, I mean. I mentioned to hubby I've been a bit slow on the uptake when we started running out of undies. He's pretty good about reminding me though. Work has been gnawing at my heels but I've pretty much resisted. Trying to keep house is a real chore but I do manage to at least change the bed linens and vacuum and mop.
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I read an article that a school, I think in NY, is paying kids $5.25 an hour to attend summer school. Now, why in the world would they do that?! We pay taxes for them to go to school and then they turn around and give them that money to attend? My thinking is they should be glad to go for free to get an education. Education is their future. What's going on with this world? The Japanese kids go to school 6 days a week for longer days than here in the U.S. and are excellent students and have become smarter than most nations. Typical school day in Japan:
8am - 4pm: Classes at school
4pm - 6pm: Clubs and sports at school
6pm - 7pm: Time for a quick dinner
7pm - 10pm: Juku classes—extra classes for entrance to University
11pm: Back at home to do homework.
After midnight: Time for 5 to 6 hours of sleep.

A lot of our kids today are lazy for the most part, but they have so much potential and are just wasting it. I love kids and want them all to succeed. It's a shame. If you don't count yourself among the them, count yourself blessed. Please, please encourage your children. They are the future of our country.

When we've gone to our children's and grand-children's graduations from high school and college, it's been the students from other countries who are the top achievers. That's a sad comment to have to post but it's been accurate. This is in California of course where there is a high percentage of ethnic groups. I wish them all well. I absolutely love seeing kids whose parents have given up much to come here and make fruitful and successful lives for themselves. My daughter-in-law was one of those people. After all, this country of ours, the U.S.A., is the greatest country on earth.

Well, I warned you I'm on my soapbox today! ;-) 
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Good morning, and yes, you are!

Darling bedroom but I would put some curtains on that window for sure. Look at that teacup floor lamp.

Any chair can be covered in this fashion every day not just celebrations.

Imagine the hours of drawing this gown must have taken the artist.

A place so private you don't need doors, just sheer curtains.

Or a private dining area so secluded.

Vintage collection of dishes in blue and pink.

An exquisite lamp.

Another exquisite one of wood that casts the shadows carved into the lamp.

I love froufrou!

A beautiful brooch.

I was thinking of this kind of sofa/settee, but I don't think we'd like sitting on it as our primary sofa.

Creative homeowner has 3 shower curtains so she can decorate with any colors she wants.

Aaaaaaah, I do love this entrance to this home.

I'll never again look at old used cake pins the same way. ;-)

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Faces

Our faces. Yep, faces. I look at faces all the time in stores and restaurants wondering what kind of person they are. I'm always smiling so I'm guessing mine shows that I'm approachable. Unless you run up to me and I don't know you then I put on a face that definitely says wary, unapproachable and definitely back off! I'm not very trusting in situations like that. I live in a relatively small city of less than 100,000. Not big by big city standards but our town is friendly, very friendly. It has a certain essence. I think it might be because there is a private Christian college here and the students are very nice and kind. They work at the fast food places and many restaurants and it shows in their countenance how kind they are.

Now, I have a friend who has a sibling and their countenances are so much different it's hard to believe they're even related. His is of a sweet almost childlike quality. He is one of the kindest people I know. His sibling, however, has a face that is hard. I don't know the sibling at all, but just guessing that person has lived a very different life from him. He's so child-like in his demeanor and his countenance it's hard to believe he's even real. But he is. Kind, considerate, loving, compassionate, wonderful husband, father and grandfather, according to his wife, and I believe it as I've seen him with all mentioned here. Just the kind of person you'd want as a friend. A leader when he needs to be and a faithful follower when the situation changes. I love this man. I believe God loves each of His children and gives us equal measure and I fall far short but I do believe we'll all be judged on our hearts someday. I certainly hope so because I need all the help I can get!

So look at the faces of people around you and while not judging, just see how they appear to you. It's an interesting game to play. We can guess all we want, but the true measure of a person is what is in their heart. And we have no way of knowing that. I try my best not to judge and I fall far short of my expectations. Sigh.
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For all you lovers of french things, I present you with this. ;-)

And for all you lovers of small cottages, this is your beauty today.

For all you lovers of frou-frou, ME, I posted this photo. Ribbons, bows, lace, trinkets and crystals.

Cute ideas for your house, yard or tree.

This is fabric in frames. What better and cheaper way to add pizzazz to your home?

A quiet respite for you with hyacinths and their lovely fragrance.

Do many houses here in the U.S. have only a two digit number? I wonder.

I thought at first this was cheese but I'm not so sure now.

A magnificent two-story room for you lovers of big houses. The window cleaning alone would deter me from buying it. But it is gorgeous with that view.

This is probably more to my liking.

I have a ladder and we tried to do this with it but it was too short for our corner tub. I'll figure out something for it though. I need room for my books when I'm doing a soak.

Pretty display of momentos.

My favorite kind of door—french—and sheer curtains for its windows.

Easy idea for a party or just to pizzazz up a room you like to be in.

Tiny but cute.

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A chore: there is nothing to it but to do it.
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