20QTSThing Question 9

…20 Questions Til Spring Thing…

Day 9 Question:

Message/organization board:  magnetic, chalk, cork or white board?

The only one I have right now is a cork board in the kitchen. 

I do have a perfect cupboard door that would make a great message board painted with chalk paint.  Have any of you worked with chalk paint?

This was a personalized message clipboard I made for my sister with her dog, Myrtle, as the theme.  It was the first personalized one I made.  Under the pad is recycled sheet metal, so if she didn’t want to use the message pad she could use magnets.  Myrtle loves sticks so I thought gluing a ‘fetching’ stick at the bottom made a great pencil shelf.  The tags with her name written out on were inexpensive ones I bought and then tea-dyed.  I enjoy working with torn paper, perfect for this project since Myrtle loves tearing up newspapers…what dog doesn’t?!

And here’s my niece, Myrtle.  The most human-like dog I’ve ever met!

Guess what I get to kick off my first day of Spring with?  Jury duty!  March 20.  Oh well, maybe it’ll get cancelled, otherwise I will do my duty!

…20 Questions Til Spring Thing…

Remember, my surprise giveaway will be held on none other than the first day of Spring!

What is your decorating style?

I’d have to say mine is an eclectic mix of shabbied up vintage thrifted finds!  Not your one-word answer, I know!

I love peeling paint and dings—see that old chair rung above the coffee mugs?  My sis found that by the river one day and thought of me!  Perfectly chippy which makes me perfectly happy!  Of course, not everything I own has to be chippy.  This wooden tool box turned spice rack belonged to my father-in-law.  The spice jars I found at GW.  The labels are in German!

 We were given five old windows, two were this size and three are long and narrow with 10 panes (I’ll share what I did with those later). I was going to paint and re-shabby this one up, but decided I liked it just the way it was.  I added vellum paper in the panes.

 Thanks again for participating!  Feel free to scroll down and answer any questions you’ve missed.

I love Spring!

Brenda

(I've been using Live Writer to upload my posts, but for some reason today it's not working for me, so I had upload from here in Blogger.  That being said, I noticed there's an ad link connected to the word 'windows' in my post.  I don't like that, must be a blogger thing which I don't have time to fix right now.  Just sayin'!)

20QTSThing Day 7

…20 Questions Til Spring Thing…

Day 7:  Do you enjoy gardening?  If so what type—flower/landscaping or veggies/herb?

Last year we grew our first ‘Firestone’ garden--we planted everything in tires.  It was very unsightly when we parked those puppies out there and seeded.  (Thankfully the garden was perfectly situated between 2 garages and, as you can see, a garage across the way.)  But once all the plants started coming up, it started looking a little more like an actual garden rather than the dump!

We had so much fun tending and watching the garden, and we’re still benefiting from the surplus zucchini & green beans in the freezer.  We just finished the hot Anaheim peppers.  Note to self:  less zucchini, more peppers!  They were delicious!

I appreciate all the participation I am getting with my giveaway, especially over on my B.E. Creative Co. page on FB.  Thanks to all of you!  ‘Like’ me there, ‘follow’ me here gets your name in the hat twice!

The contest guidelines are above this post.

Brenda

20QTSThing Days 5 & 6

…20 Questions Til Spring Thing…for your chance to enter my surprise giveaway on the first day of Spring!

Day 5:  If you could or had to live in any other country other than our wonderful U.S. of A. where would that be?

Day 6:  Where is your ‘go to’ place for solitude?

My first answer would be Italy.  Grace and I have been studying the European countries this year and, out of all of them so far, Italy seems the most appealing.  Anyone been there?

My ‘go to’ place is a nice little spot in my bedroom where I have prayer time and devotions, do some journaling or just sit and relax.  I also enjoy the solitude found in my daily walks (weather permitting).  It’s peaceful and on my particular route there are no loose dogs to mess with…BUT, I have pepper spray and I’m not afraid to use it!…and speaking of solitude—now where was I?!  ;)

Leave me a comment here and ‘follow’ me and that counts for two in my surprise giveaway!

(remember, if you’ve already answered this question on FB your name is already entered.)

Be blessed today!

Brenda

giveaway rules are above this post

20QTSThing Day 4

…20 Questions Til Spring Thing…

What do you like to collect? and if more than one collection which is your favorite?

I know that was 2 questions but only one question mark!

I have quite a collection of buttons.  I could sit for hours sorting through a newly acquired jar or tin of old ones.  Some I keep, some I use in my crafting.  I have them sorted and displayed in my craft room in little clear votive cups as well as in a thrifted spice rack.

And most of you know I love vintage patterns.  You can read about that here.

Thanks for stopping by!  Don’t forget to leave me a comment for one entry into the contest.  And if you’ve missed any previous days’ questions, just scroll down and check them out.

If you’ve already answered the question(s) on FB then I’ve already entered your name into the contest, so there’s no need to re-enter your answers again here.

Brenda

Giveaway questions 1-3

Here are the first 3 questions I’ve asked on my 20 Questions Til Spring Thing on Facebook.  If you’ve already answered these on FB or on It’s All Good! blog then I’ve already entered your name into the contest, so there’s no need to re-enter them here. 

1.  What is your favorite pastime or hobby? 

My answer:  Of course most of you know by now that mine is thrifting and doing artsy-fartsy things with my finds!

2.  What is your favorite quote or motto?

“Right is right even if no one is doing it.  Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it.” --unknown

3.  What are 2 or 3 favorite colors in order of preference?

Yellow is my favorite color mainly because it’s cheerful and makes me happy, but right now I’m liking pale pinks and sage greens (together).

Just comment with your answers to each question and it’ll count for 3 entries.

I’ve listed the contest rules above this post and they will remain there until the drawing on March 20.  You can also go here.

Don’t forget, if you start ‘following’ this blog that counts for one!

I look forward to your answers!

Brenda

My First Giveaway

Welcome to my blog!  I’ve had it for awhile, but I’m just now ‘stepping out of the boat’ and promoting it on my family blog as well as Facebook.

You can read my intro/bio if you click on the B.E. bio tab above.  Feel free to look around. 

Your feedback/comments are welcome.

My giveaway (which will be a surprise) is going on at my B.E. Creative Co. Facebook page which was launched last Monday.  I’m calling it my 20 Questions Til Spring Thing.  I’ll be asking a question each day that will help me get to know you better.  The drawing will be on March 20th, the first day of Spring!  First question was Feb 29.  If you’ve missed any, feel free to head over to Facebook, and enter your answers.

{Added 3/2—I realize some people are not on Facebook, so, to be fair, I will post the daily questions here and on my It’s All Good! blog}

Here are some ways to get your name entered in the giveaway:

• ‘Like’ B.E. Creative Co. on Facebook
• Answer the daily question I post (20 questions = 20 entries!) {Added 3/2—questions can be answered on either FB, this blog, or on my It’s All Good! Blog = one entry per question}
• I’ll also throw your name in the hat if you leave me a comment here on B.E. Creative Co. 
• For another entry you can even ‘follow’ me!  (Though I wish they’d come up with a better word than ‘follow’.)
• And one more entry if you link back to this blog with a post about my giveaway on your blog.  (Please let me know if/when you do.)

Thanks for stopping by!

Brenda

For the duration of the contest the rules will be posted above.

Seeing a pattern here?

One of my all-time favorite things to look for while out thrifting is vintage sewing patterns.  This seems a little odd especially since I don’t sew.  But I love this particular ephemera of days gone by. 

Sometimes I find little surprises inside the envelope that get me to reminiscing—a little piece of ric-rac or a swatch of green polka-dot material. 

I wonder to myself if whomever followed through and made the outfit, or did they start on it and then lay it aside?  Were they making it for themselves, or perhaps was it a mom teaching her daughter how to sew her first dress?  Did they try and copy the look on the envelope cover, or did they get creative with their material and embellishments?

Since I don’t sew, as mentioned above, I use my vintage patterns a little (or a lot) more unconventionally.  I like using them in my altered art projects.  It’s calming for me to work with this type of medium--in this case, repurposed clipboards.

I also enjoy collecting ric rac and vintage sewing notions such as the gold braid in this piece.  And don’t get me started on vintage buttons and costume jewelry!

Here’s the green polka-dot surprise I found in a pattern.  And remember fish-net stockings?  I thought I was something special when my mom bought me a pair of those!

 

I love this BoHo pattern.  PEACE and Flower Power were the order of the day back then!  I simulated the choker the gal on the left is wearing with a strip of purple velveteen, snaps and white ric rac. 

This is one of my favorite pieces.  A combination of ric rac and big buttons.  The clipboard is vintage as well.

 

What about you?  What is something that gets you to thinking back in the day?  I would love to know your story!

God bless,

Brenda

(All of these pieces are included with the items I have for sale in my Etsy shop:  B.E. Creative Co.  Feel free to browse and let me know what you think.  You can also click the widget on my sidebar.) 

I love thrifting

Three words that make me really happy!

I love going into a thrift store not knowing what I will find that will make my heart pitter-patter a little faster.  The element of surprise some call it.  I can honestly say that it doesn’t take much to make me happy. 

My buttons/spice rack

My husband is more than thrilled that my tastes are thrifty, I’m sure!  Sunny enjoys going with me, though he spends most of his time in the book section.  I don’t know if he’s just humoring me or really enjoys our haunts into the land of cast-offs.

I like to think that this lifestyle has rubbed off on my daughters.  But Chels isn’t big on thrift stores.  Since she mainly looks for clothes, she admits she doesn’t have the patience, especially at Goodwill where the clothes are sorted by color, not size.  I don’t blame her, that’s one of my peeves as well.  But she has told me she looks for bargains anywhere she shops now.  And when she finds one, she always tells me she learned from the best.  Awww! 

Long valance $1.00

Grace likes going for the same reason as me—the thrill of the hunt.  She’s managed to collect nearly all of the American Girl books over the last couple of years.  A huge savings!  She also heads over to the baby clothes and has collected enough clothes for her baby dolls and her own baby’s layette someday! 

Various thrifting finds/or things inherited

Nearly everything in my home has come from thrift stores or garage sales.  Some items have been given to me, and I’ve even been known to *gasp* curb shop.

Just goes to show you—you never have to buy retail!

Welcome!

I would like to formally welcome you to my new blog:

B.E. Creative Co.

You may know me already from my other blog 'It's All Good!' But just in case we haven’t met, I'll introduce myself.

My name is Brenda Eddy. I like to say I live one block west of Main Street in Smalltown, USA (pop. 1200). That's in beautiful Colorado, by the way.  I have been married to Sunny for 30 years. Together we have two wonderful daughters: Chelsie (24) and Grace (10).

The purpose of this blog is to be able to express myself through altered art using an eclectic mix of items as my canvas.  I will also share ideas and pictures of fun and funky thrifting finds I run across and use in either my art pieces or home decor.

I like unique.

Different.

Unusual.

I enjoy creating things out of repurposed, recycled or just plain cast-off items. Not necessarily to keep them from the landfill--though I do feel that's important--but it also makes me wonder about the story behind the object. How far has this traveled? Who used it and for what? You know, 'back in the day' kind of stuff. That's what interests me.

Switching things up is my thing. Hanging vintage utensils from an old chippy rake head, filling an old, blue Ball glass jar with vintage marbles and sticking an antique faucet through the lid, making a pie bird's nest in a vintage hand-cranked meat grinder--these things make me happy.


I hope my blog will be inspiring as well as a launching pad of thoughts and ideas that will hopefully help you realize you can 'create outside the box'.
{If you are interested in having a customized altered photo book made, you can click here or on the tab at the top of this page for examples and more information.}

Feel free to visit my Etsy store, B.E. Creative Co.
Blessings,
Brenda