Inspiration

Being in the plumbing and heating business, every month or so we take in a load of scrap—water heaters, furnaces etc. for a little extra cash (which, consequently, has helped us build our emergency fund—see DaveRamsey.com for more info on that). 

But getting back on topic, I know this sounds crazy, but if they'd let me, I could spend hours looking through bits and pieces of scrap for funky projects. I guess that’s taking the saying "trash to treasure" to a new level, isn’t it. The other day I saw what I think was an old wire egg basket as we were driving in--it would look so cute on the porch with flowers—but, alas, we can give ‘em scrap, but we just can’t take it! 

{I crack myself up!}

After thinking about the fact that something so disturbing to some simple as a scrap yard would give me inspiration to create, I wondered, where did this come from?  Am I totally strange and/or deranged?  (No one answer that!)

Then I found someone to blame for my behavior—my dad!  Yes!  It was Dad who would load up all 7 of us kids and take us to the dump.  (Ok, that didn’t come out right!  Starting over…it was Dad whom we’d accompany to the dump with our load of trash.  That sounds better!)  This was way before the world thought it necessary to fight germ warfare with anti-bacterial soap and trash was just thrown into a can.   We could roam the mountains of trash to our hearts content finding a good Barbie doll that might have a scratch on her leg or a dinged-up Matchbox car, just as long as we were looking out for the front-end loader!  Then Dad would holler and we’d all come piling into the Travelall International and head home to wash our hands with our trusty bar of Zest before supper.  Gone are those days for sure!  (Before you begin wondering what kind of dad would raise his kids that way, ‘those poor, deprived things’, I will add that we were a very blessed bunch of kiddos who went to Disneyland and Sea World, took more-than-a-week camping trips, and we even got out of school early one year to take a 3-week trip to California.  What a dad!) 

I’ve come a long way since then.  Now, just talking about all that trash makes me want to go take a shower!   I don’t go looking for treasures at the dump—not that I could if I wanted to.  I won’t even dumpster dive, though I have been known to curb shop once in awhile.

I find my inspiration to create by more refined means.  Thrift stores, yard/garage/patio/car boot sales—whatever you call it in your part of the world.  I’m also inspired by other people’s blogs, ideas on Pinterest and Etsy, the library. 

What inspires your creativity?

Thanks for stopping by.  I’m off to my shower!

God bless,

Brenda

Hooked on Hooks

I like hooks.  Actually, if you haven’t noticed already, I like a lot of things! 

This was originally a dark red 4th of July sign I found at Good*will  (I always forget to take the before picture.)  It was nice enough, but I bought it with the sole intention of repurposing it.  I left it the same color, and it was already dinged and scratched up the way I like it.  I added the hooks I bought at Hobby*Lobby.  I Mod- Podged a page torn from an old accounting ledger.  Perfect office decor.

I had been looking for just this size to put in our entry/office to hang our coats and jackets.  I hung it about 3 1/2 feet from the floor so Grace could reach.  I hang a canvas bag on one hook to corral all of our scarves, gloves and mittens.  In the summer it’ll be perfect for jackets and umbrellas.

You can see this old ledger dates back to 1953.  I love it!  The handwriting was in super tiny illegible cursive.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great week!  I’m also participating on our family blog here.

God bless.

Brenda

Favorites

These first two pics are projects I’m going to take a run at.

I saw this pic in my JunkMarket Style magazine and tucked it away while keeping my eyes peeled for a birdcage.  Lo and behold, last summer & just down the street there it was.  The exact birdcage!  I’ll tweak it to fit our office.  A project for this summer.

My cousin, Kristy, sent me this one she saw on Pinterest.  She knows I had my veggie garden in tires last year.  I think this would be something to spruce up under my window in the front of the house.  I’d probably just do five for starters, and mine wouldn’t be the really wide tires.  Hope my husband agrees!  {ok, I just showed my husband.  He said I could do them all…and put them in front of Mrs. C’s house next door!} 

 

This chair was part of a set which included 4 chairs and a small table.  A friend and I saw it on the curb while visiting down in Phoenix.  There was no way we could fit the whole kit and kaboodle in the back of my Trailblazer, but I did manage to get two in.  I gave one away and kept this one.  I took the seat out and the planter set in there perfectly. 

Here’s a close-up my sis took with the Morning Glories winding their way around it.

Ah, just a little longer and I can start planting my flowers.

God bless,

Brenda

I’m also participating in the A-Z Challenge here.

What I Enjoy

I enjoy tearing paper.  It’s so much easier for me to tear than to measure, because I can never get it right when I try to measure exactly.  Maybe I’m too much of a perfectionist.  When I tear paper, my mistakes look like they were done on purpose.

This was the first altered clipboard I made using an old Barbie pattern for my theme.

I enjoy the chippy/shabby look—and old windows!  This window already had the perfectly skinned-up look.  I rubbed diluted brown, gold and red acrylic paint onto decorative vellum paper and inserted them behind the panes.

I enjoy playing with blocks!  I found these at Good*will.  The only thing I remember about them before was that they were UGly.  But scrapbook paper covers a multitude of ugly, I say!

There is so much more I could tell you that I enjoy, but I’ll save it for another time!

God bless,

Brenda

I’m also participating in the A-Z Challenge here.

Deals

For my “D” word I thought I’d give a list of some of the deals I’ve come across in my thrifting adventures. 

A box of these vintage pictures frames I bought for less than a buck at the closing of a yard sale.  The lady saw me looking and said “Take the whole box”.  I’m still deciding what to do with them.  Something funky I’m sure.  Any ideas?

Anyone remember these crocheted owl hand towel holders?  I suppose it’ll go good in my kitchen, but I don’t know.  I’m not big on those eyes staring at me.  I’m weird that way (I don’t eat black-eyed peas for the same reason!)  I’m thinking I’ll put it in my Etsy shop.

 

Three white pitchers - $1.00 each.  Aren’t they pretty? The yellow hankie in the first pitcher is chiffon and belonged to Sunny’s grandma.  (Seems like a chiffon hankie would be a little slick to me, just sayin’.)

This really long valance I bought at Good*will for 75% off.  Since we were living with my sis at the time, I obviously didn’t have a place to hang it, but it was yellow.  I like yellow!  Little did I know it would fit perfectly on this bank of farm windows in our kitchen! 

Yard sale season is starting soon, though I’m seeing snow falling outside my window as I write—typical Colorado weather.  I’ll be posting my treasures on here periodically, so come on back any time!

{I’m also participating in the A-Z Challenge on my family blog.}

God bless.

Brenda

Snippet Calendar

This is my altered ‘snippet’ journal/calendar.  I started with a Kraft blank journal and began tearing pages, painting, adding scrapbook paper, stamping—whatever my little ol’ heart desired!  It’ll end up being a three year calendar before I get to start on another one.  I haven’t decided on what I want on the cover, so you don’t get to see it yet!

If you haven’t noticed already, I like to tear paper!  Not only because I don’t have to measure, but because I think it looks fun and unique.  I’m filling in blank space with my one of my favorite scriptures, Psalm 91. 

My word for 2012 is ‘Resolve’, so each month will have that word written somewhere on the page.

Can’t make mistakes with rubbing or smearing diluted acrylic paint.  I like the aged effect.

As you can see, I’m already behind on April.  No entries yet. 

I enjoy turning the page to a blank slate every month.  The joys of the previous month are memories that will last a lifetime and the mistakes and regrets I will work on and hopefully learn from.  But now I have a new month…what will it hold for me?

And speaking of good memories, May is Miracle #2 month.  Grace’s birthday.

What I enjoy about my journal/calendar is that it’s about who I am now.  My thoughts, my daily activity (no matter how boring or exciting it is), my scriptures.  Someday I might look back and say, Wow, I was really ‘out there’!  But for now…

Thanks for stopping by!

God bless,

Brenda

I’m also participating in the A-Z Challenge on my family blog.

Buttons and Burlap

I love buttons.  And buttons love me ‘cause they don’t get thrown away around here, especially colorful vintage ones! 

All of my white and mother-of-pearl buttons are rounded up in a thrifted spinning spice rack.

To those of you handy with a sewing machine (that would be you, Reva and Aunt BN!), turn away or cringe!  Here is my attempt at making burlap curtains for our office.  Notice I said making not sewing!  The width of the burlap was exact {thank the Lord!} so the only cutting I had to do was on the ends (don’t look too close, because they are not straight!)  I did fray them and then carefully added the iron-on hem to keep them from fraying any further. 

 

My saving grace:  clip-on curtain rings!   I was a tad skeptical seeing as the clips are very small, but those puppies have a grip!  Hats off to the person who invented them for having pity on us non-sew-ers!

Thanks for stopping by on your A to Z April Challenge rounds!  I’m also participating on my family blog, It’s All Good!

God bless,

Brenda

A is for Apron

These are some of my aprons that have ended up being one of those ‘accidental’ collections.  Remember the back-in-the-day aprons made from terry dishtowels?  The white chiffon is a vintage wedding hostess apron.  There is a cute wedding bell on the heart-shaped pocket.  On the right is a very unique and very old apron that belonged to my husband’s grandmother.  It shows an embroidered woman with a swinging skirt.

This pic is a repost for the sake of new bloggers.  Another of Grandma’s aprons, I love the turquoise-embroidered chiffon.  The old rake head was a curb shopping find, perfectly chippy red.  And, yes, those are old blue faucet handles!  The utensils were found on Ebay.

This is a cute, thrifted, pale yellow cotton eyelet apron with a heart-shaped pocket and scallops.  A perfect ‘between-houses’ window covering.

Thanks for stopping by!  Click on the link on my sidebar for more info on the A to Z April Challenge.  Come on back tomorrow for the letter ‘B’ (buttons and burlap).

I’m also doing the A-Z Challenge on my family blog, It’s All Good!.

God bless,

Brenda

Stacy asked

What is the number one thing on your bucket list?

Do you realize that I just figured out a few weeks ago what is meant by ‘bucket’ list?  {slapping forehead} Takes me awhile!

If you’re expecting an answer like skydiving, rock climbing or bungee jumping, sorry to disappoint!  My bucket list includes nothing that involves heights, rocks or free falls.  I’ll keep my feet on the ground thankyouverymuch!

Having said that, I’m sticking with the simple things…

I would enjoy the experience of eventually having grandchildren.

I would enjoy traveling across the U.S. seeing the sites and visiting friends and relatives along the way. 

I would like to go to NYC.

I’m sure there are more things I’m not thinking about right now, or will pop up later on in life.

Exciting, I know!

Thanks for asking, Stacy.

God bless,

Brenda

Diane asked

What is your favorite season?

Why Spring, of course!!!

After contemplating each season--except winter, because that’s definitely at the bottom of my list—I’ve come to the conclusion that each one evokes a unique ‘feeling’, but Springtime brings an added newness and fresh hope that is over-the-top for me.

{In all fairness, I will give winter a shout-out with a quote I remember that says, “For every winter there is a Christmas”.  But, still, I’m glad it’s over!}

Thanks Diane!  btw, Diane also has another blog, Diane’s Dream designs where she offers her really cute handmade wristlets and other cute items for sale.  You’ll just have to head over there and see for yourself.  You won’t be disappointed!

It’s All Shed Those Socks & Shave Those Legs Good!

;)

Brenda