Smoking Stand

I found this cute little smoking stand at the flea market the other day.
There was an ashtray on the top, but here's how the haggling went down:
Me: Would you take any less for this "old beat up" thing ? (my way of implying it was of no
value)
Man with a few teeth: How much is it?
Me: Well, the tag says $25.00
Man with a few teeth: The Winston ashtray on top of it is worth at least $25.00
Me, with a big smile: Well, actually, I don't want the ashtray! (sounds like it should be free,
right?)
Man with a few teeth: How about $20.00?
Me (smirking): I thought the ashtray was the most valuable part of this - are you trying to trick me? (making "puppy dog" sad eyes)
Man with a few teeth: OK, final price - $15.00.
Me (trying not to do the happy dance in public, acting cool): Well, OK, I think I will take it (picking it up and handing him cash)
Man with a few teeth: Hey, give me that ashtray, I'm gonna try to sell it for a few bucks!
So I sanded it and sprayed it with every blogger's favorite Heirloom White - AND I don't like it!! It's too yellow for my taste, but I'm too lazy to spray it over, so the color stays.
And then, my favorite part, what I call the "doodling". I painted harlequin diamonds on the drawer and I striped the bottom of the legs: I am going to "doll up" the knob...but here is my problem....I never know when to stop the doodling. I want to add some black checks, tan polka dots on the side, some more stripes....
What do you think? Should I quit or keep going?

Who's going to be my 100th follower? The black and white checkered knobs will be yours! As soon as you sign up, leave me a comment and I will email you for your address!Joining Thrifty Thursday with Tales From Bloggeritaville

A New Lampshade

I saw a wonderful tutorial on Creations from my Heart recently and I left a comment for Sherry telling her that I was going to try this. She made it look so easy and her instructions were so clear. I didn't strip my shade as she did, but rather covered over everything. Sherry inspired me to take this old shade and transform it:
I chose 5 different fabrics (these were "samples" out of a fabric book), cut them to shape and used a glue gun to adhere each one:
I had some old trim which I used to cover the center seams:
I had some leftover fringe from another project which I glued on the top:
And I used a different fringe on the bottom of the shade:
It took little time, little imagination and was a great way to use up old scraps:
I put it on an old crystal lamp (that was my husband's grandmother's) in the guest room - but it might end up in my bedroom because I LOVE it so much!

I am joining Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm and 2nd Time Around Tuedays at a Picture is Worth 1000 Words and Tutorial Tuesday at Hope Studios

Black and White Check Tutorial

I have recieved numerous emails asking how I painted the checks on knobs. So, here's a quick tutorial - its very EASY. Buy 2 white knobs:
Pencil lines down center and across center:
Use those lines to create wider lines (the width is your choice), both ways:
I begin in the center and color inside every other block to create the checks:
Ta-Da....
I use a Sharpie Marker with a good point - and I use a Krylon Gold Leaf marker to trim the edges:
I trim the edges with gold:

These photos are not too clear, but I think you get the idea. Imagine the possibilities... polka dots, stripes, zigzags, flowers....so easy to do and there is no reason to spend between $10.00 and $30.00 for a knob!! If you make some, share a photo with me!

I'm saving these as a gift for my 100th follower- and I am so close!!

I am joining
Made It Monday at the Persimmon Perch
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
Motivate Me Monday at Keeping it Simple

Fred the Garden Gnome

Look at what showed up at my house the other day. He is going to live in my herb garden this summer and I think I will name him Fred. Fred is probably not a typical name for a gnome but that's his new name!
I was the 100th follower of Jacqueline at Once Upon a Fairyland who writes delightful little tales about gnomes and also has a new attitude on life - she is giving herself some personal attention - check out her new hairdo!! Thanks, Jacqueline - he is adorable!

A WINNER - no thanks to my husband

I'm just too lazy to figure out where to find (and how to use) the random generator thingy that picks a winner, so I counted up the entries and asked my husband to pick a number - here is how it went:
Me: Hon, pick a number between 1 and 49
He: 53
Me: WHAT?
He: 53, why?
Me: I'm having a giveaway on my blog and I need you to choose a number BETWEEN 1 and 49.
He: What are you giving away?
Me: That lampshade over there, the one I decorated.
He: We don't need another lampshade, do we?
Me: I AM GIVING IT AWAY!
He: Oh, to number 53?
Me: (dialing the phone) Hi Joni, pick a number between 1 and 49
Joni: Number 7
Me: Thanks. I'll talk to you later
Joni: OK, bye
He: Patti, who won?
Me: #7, JULIE from LESS THAN PERFECT LIFE OF BLISS
He: Are you going to tell her that I picked her?
Me: Of course I am!

Julie just decorated her porch and this lampshade might look cute on a lamp with all her black wicker! So, Julie, e-mail me your address (ppultorak (at) gmail (dot) com) and I will send this off to you.

My Giveaway and the Cheap B*tch's Giveaway

Don't forget to enter my giveaway here

AND

Stop over to the Cheap B*tch for a fabulous giveaway - a $75.00 gift card

Off to see Carter...

Don't forget to enter giveaway
Click here for last Thursday's post










School vacation and I'm off to spend some time with this cute little guy

“The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook”

Reminder:
Lampshade Giveaway ends Thursday night
To enter, click here to go back to last post





I am a member of Pssst and occasionally get information and free products from General Mills. I have just received the following information about a new cookbook, “The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook” by Erin Chase
The basic idea of this cookbook:
• To make dinner for your family every night for $5 or less!
• To prepare healthy meals using natural and wholesome ingredients!
• To encourage and inspire others to do the same!

“The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook” is available at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Borders, Overstock and Walmart.

Here's a sample recipe from the cookbook:

Beef Tacos

……………………………………………………………………………………………………..

1 cup white rice ($.20) ¾ pound ground beef ($1.12) ½ onion, chopped ($.15) 2 teaspoons ground cumin($.10) salt and pepper 8 Old El Paso taco shells ($.75)

1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce ($.25) 1 plum tomato, chopped ($.53) 1 cup cheddar cheese ($.75) ½ cup sour cream ($.15) 4 ears of corn ($1)

In a medium saucepan, bring 2½ cups of water to a boil, add the rice and bring back to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork before serving.

In a large skillet, brown ground beef with chopped onion. Drain excess fat. Return the beef to the skillet and add the ground cumin, salt and pepper and ¼ cup of water. Simmer for 4 to 5 minutes.

Add the cooked taco meat to the taco shells and top with the shredded lettuce, diced tomato, and shredded cheddar cheese.

Remove the husks and silk from the ears of corn and boil the corn in a large pot of water for 4 to 5 minutes or place the ears of corn in microwave-safe baking dish, cover with plastic wrap, and microwave for 7 to 9 minutes.

Serve Beef Tacos with Rice and Corn on the Cob.

Cost: $4.91

Reprinted by permission from “The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook”

More Black and White Checks and a GIVEAWAY

Remember the knobs I painted a while back?:

Well I just bought the cutest jar with a white lid at the Christmas Tree Shop...and it needed some checks, too:
I just roughly drew pencil lines and colored in the checks with a marker:
A polka dot ribbon under the rooster finished it off!I filled it with my ice tea bags - doesn't it look great beside my cute little butter dish from Anthropologie?

NOW, for the GIVEAWAY - - I never did anything special for my 1 yr anniversary, nor did I celebrate my 100th post, so I am giving away this cute lampshade I made:
I began with a little white shade and colored in harlequin diamonds.

Of course it needed more, so I pleated some polka dot ribbon for the bottom and added a small ribbon on the top rim. The shade will sit on a small bulb and will fit any small lamp.
To ENTER:
1.Leave a comment for 1 chance
2.Become a follower for another chance
3.If you choose to post about this, leave me a message and I will add your name for a third chance

Maybe I can finally make it to 100 followers AND if you are my 100th follower, bring it to my attention and I will have something special for you!! Winner will be chosen in 7 days!

I'm joining Thrifty Thursday at Tales From Bloggeritaville
and Transformation Thursday at the Shabby Chic Cottage.
and Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

A quick sewing lesson because of a pet peeve...

I have been sewing for over 40 years and I have taught Fashion Design and textile classes for many years, so I consider myself quite experienced. Like anything, practice makes perfect, but in order to sew well, one must comprehend how something is constructed first. The difference between something looking handmade and something looking professional is all in the small construction details.
This is a pet peeve I have that I need to share with all of the inexperienced, or those brave enough to teach themselves.
Pillows are easy to make, BUT the difference between a professional looking pillow and a "I made it myself and it shows"pillow:
Step 1: Always leave the opening on the bottom CENTER, a hands-width wide:
Use a 5/8" seam allowance and ALWAYS snip the corners at an angle so that you get clean, sharp, "pointy" corners when you turn it right-side out:
and most importantly, learn how to sew the INVISIBLE (or blind) stitch to close it properly. No one should EVER be able to find the area that you stitched closed!

I hope this helps all of you to create pillows that look expensive and professionally made!

Joining Tutorial Tuesday at Hope Studios

Milk Glass Memories...

Milk glass reminds me of my childhood. I can't pinpoint the memories, I just feel them. I have been searching for pieces in thrift shops and garage sales and have decided not to pay more than a few dollars on each piece. So far I haven't spent more than $2.00 on Fenton, Westmoreland, Hazel Atlas and Indiana milk glass pieces. I like the snowy white milk glass and I am partial to hobnail.

Just recently I found this Fenton candy dish at a garage sale for $2.00 - couldn't resist it.
And I found this sweet Fenton perfume bottle vase (1930's) for only $.99 at the Salvation Army thrift store:
I also found 8 more Hazel Atlas candy dishes at various thrift stores to add to one that was my mother's. I would like 3 more! I use them as salad/fruit bowls and I paid between $.39 - $.79 for each:
This is a sweet Indiana Glass Grape Harvest candlestick that I bought yesterday for $.99:
I'm not sure when to stop buying milk glass - haha - any suggestions??

I am joining Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays at Coastal Charm and 2nd Time Around Tuesdays at A Picture is Worth 1000 Words