Black spray paint and a little table

I had this cute little table that I bought years ago at TJMaxx. It was copper and I painted it to match my sunroom. It has been in the cellar for that past 6 months and I decided to give it a spray of black paint.
I removed the crystals, sprayed it and replaced the crystals....quick and easy...and here it is:
I'm joining Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch and Thrifty Thursday at Bloggeritaville...check it out!

I've had enough winter...

We have had plenty of snow in NY and it is COLD.

I want to see flowers.... I want to drive on clean highways....I'm tired of wearing gloves and scarves....I want to go to the beach....I need some sun....I am having "summer withdrawal".

So, I made reservations to go to Florida next month...and it better be WARM down there...or else...

Carter

This is with whom I spent the holidays, my grandson, Carter:
Just looking at these photos brighten my day.
Hopefully they brought a smile to your face today.

Taking it one step further...

So many of us are using tote bags now rather than "paper or plastic". This is one I made using a basic pattern. The difference is that I added embellishments. First I painted one side of double sided, fusible webbing with Jaquard Lumiere paints. These paints leave a wonderful sheen. I then ironed torn pieces of the webbing onto the front side of the bag (prior to assembly).
I also added some oriental coins and charms (glue and/or stitch) and some words printed on computer printer fabric. I didn't want these items to "catch on anything" and fall off so I layed a piece of copper colored tulle over the whole piece and stitched around each embellishment.
The stitching also will "catch" any pieces that might fall off
And to amuse myself (which I do often), I added a "designer label" inside with my photo on it! This is also computer printer fabric, just stitched onto the pocket.
This "one of a kind" tote is just what I need when I run to the grocery store or farmer's market.
And if you don't sew, you can embellish a purchased tote bag with markers and doo-dads to make it unique!

I'm linking up with Sew and Tell for the first time...visit to see who's been sewing what! and also Made It Monday at Persimmon Perch...go visit there, too

A Pleasant Surprise

I came home from work today to find a package from my friend Andrea.
Andrea is the best "knitter" I know. She can knit anything.

Now I can do a lot of crafty things, but I can't knit. I actually bruised my stomach knitting - don't laugh - it actually happened - and it hurt!

For some reason I can't finangle the two needles and the yarn with 2 hands, so I used my stomache to brace one of the needles - that is how the black and blue appeared.

The "mean knitter lady" at the local yarn shop told me I was a "hard knitter"...what ever that means... and she was of no help. I continued to knit, my way, and the bruise grew. It was unsightly.

The worst part was that I was left with a few scarves that looked like a toddler's "old ratty blankie" and that black and blue bruise below my belly button lasted for days.

So, I was thrilled to find this lovely shawl in the package today along with a pretty handmade card:
I met Andrea years ago when we were in a rubber stamp club together.
She makes cards...I buy Hallmark! She has since moved to a warmer climate and lives in NC. I stayed in cold, snowy NY. Because of our distance, we are now email and blogger pals.
The shawl is going to be my 'blogging/tv shawl" It looks beautiful draped over my couch and will come in handy each evening, just the perfect size to wrap around my shoulders and keep me warm.
Thanks, friend, you made my day!

Andrea has 2 blogs:
Needle Notes where she shares her knitting projects
and
Holy Hormones where she shares info on bioidentical hormones replacement therapy.

More Mackenzie-Childs

I found a few more MacKenzie-Childs pieces on Craig's List this past weekend.

Did I need them? Of course not. Did I have to have them? Nope. Would the world fall apart if I didn't reply to the posted ad? Hardly. Did I reply by e-mail immediately? Of course.

So I bought 3 pieces today. The bowls were 2/$25.00 and I think I will use them alot in the spring...

...and how could I refuse a $5.00 candlestick?
Thrifty? Perhaps not, but a great deal for me!

I'm joining Leigh at Bloggeritaville for Thrifty Thursday....don't be a party pooper...stop by!

Plum, Eggplant, Aubergine...it's all purple to me

I have the urge to redecorate - already - and I've only been in my new home for 6 months.

I love change...and I haven't had purple in my house since the bedroom I had as a teenager.
So, off to Marshall's and TJ Maxx for a few accessories....
And to Joanne's for fabric...and I removed the soft cornices I made this past summer:
The best thing about this window treatment is that it is so easy to make and inexpensive, too. I started with a paper pattern of the shape I wanted:
and I cut 2 out of fabric and lining:
Then stitched them together on 3 sides, clipped, snipped and turned then right side out, leaving the top open:
I hot glued a trim on the bottom...

Stapled the top to a 1" x 1/4" slat of wood and nailed them to the inside top of the woodwork:
And then took this crappy photo...how on earth can you take a photo, sans flash, when it is so bright and snowy outside?

So I waited til nighttime to take this photo:
Total cost: under $6.50 per window
Fabric - $4.50 (with enough leftover to make a pillow)
Lining - $3.00
Wood - $5.00 (a little flirting with a guy at Lowe's and he will cut it for you)
Trim - had it leftover from another project

Now you can see why it is so easy and cheap to change these window treatments! Off to make a few pillows....

I am joining Leigh at Bloggeritaville for thrifty thursday...don't be a party pooper...stop by for a visit

CD Jewelry - a great idea for Valentines Day

I love accessories...jewelry, scarves, buttons...any type of "accoutrements" that make a statement. I have a gazillion pins and necklaces and some of my favorites are ones I have made. Here is a quick way to recycle some of those old CDs:

Directions: Heat a CD in boiling water and cut into odd shapes. Cover a CD piece with an embossing ink pad and then with double-sided embossing tape, crinkling it so that it does not stay flat and has some dimension to it. Sprinkle on enamel embossing powders in different colors and heat (the tape will shrivel a bit). If you want the CD to show thru, do not emboss the whole piece. Before the powder dries, sprinkle on some beads, curly wire, sequins or sparkles so that they adhere to the embossong powder. Attach an adhesive pin on back.
If you are making a necklace, punch hole before adding embossing powders. Do not let any powder get into the hole. Add a jump ring thru this hole and hang on a cord. (not sure why this photo is sideways)

I'm joining the Made It Monday party...go visit to see what The Persimmon Perch made-can't beat that!!! Also joining Met Monday...take a hop over there, too!

And...lucky me - Look at what I won from One Cheap B*tch...a cute sleep mask. Go visit Jeanine to see some clever Valentine ideas: (another photo sideways - what am I doing wrong?)

An Update on Candy Canes...

Earlier today I wrote a post asking what I could do with leftover candy canes...... I just found 33 ways to use candy canes at typetive.com:

Use them whole:
1. Stir your hot cocoa
2. Stir your hot tea
3. Stir your coffee (works for lattes & cappuccinos, too)
4. Stir your cocktail
5. Stir your milkshake
6. Snap off the hooked end and dip the straight piece in the chocolate of your choice for homemade “reception sticks”
7. Candy Kebabs (spear marshmallows and roll them in sprinkles or other crushed candies)
8. Valentine’s Heart (I’ll try to kitchen test this over the weekend)
9. Edible Fondue Sticks (best for marshmallows)

Crush them lightly:
10. Ice Cream Sprinkles
11. Cake Sprinkles
12. Cupcake Sprinkle
13. Frosted Cookie Sprinkles
14. On top of Whipped Cream in your Hot Cocoa
15. Roll marshmallows in them and eat them whole, toast them in the microwave or drop them in hot cocoa

Make Candy Cane Sugar:
16. Sweeten your Hot Tea
17. Sweeten your Iced Tea
18. Sweeten your Hot Cocoa
19. Sweeten your Coffee or Mocha
20. Use to rim your Cocktails (or this one)

Use them in recipes:
21. White Chocolate Candy Cane Fudge
22. Peppermint Four Layer Cake
23. Chocolate Mint Layer Cake
24. Peppermint Ice Cream
26. Make your own Peppermint Ice Cream Sandwiches
27. Chocolate Candy Cane Sandwich Cookies
28. Candy Cane Chocolate Chunk Cookies
29. Candy Cane Brownies (these are vegan!)
30. Chocolate Peppermint Pinwheels

31. Peppermint Meringues
32. Add to Rice Krispies Treats
33. Candy Cane Cheesecake

But I am thinking of making these fabulous shoes instead:

Leftover Candy Canes...

What can I do with a gazillion left over candy canes? I have leftover peppermint bark, so that's out. I've eaten enough peppermint cheesecake to add a few pounds on my already "fluffy body". I have dipped them in chocolate and packaged them in pretty cellophane bags and everyone I know got a bag. AND I STILL HAVE SOME LEFT! I hate to throw them away....so any bright ideas out there?