Spooky Socks Make for Easier Midterms

 

 

There's finally hints of autumn here in Southern California.

A few dropped leaves. 

A few cloudy skies. 

Cooler weather (at least for a few days). 

And aisles of candy in the stores.

 

Of course, everyone knows that this means Halloween is near.   I think this is one of our favorite holidays--when we rush to the fabric store, only to find there aren't any more patterns left for sewing that "one-of-a-kind" fairy costume.  "Don't worry, we'll wing it (no pun intended)," she says to her pouty little girl.  And so it goes.  The last minute costume making. 

 

Oh how I miss those days!  [camera pans to woman crying, although we all know she's secretly jumping for joy.]  My girls are practically grown ups.  Daughter #1 is out on her own [and she can make her own costume now].  Daughter #2 is away in college.  So what's a crafty Mom to do? 

 

As I prowled strolled through Rite-Aid the other day, I spotted a sign that read "50% Off All Halloween Items".   Close by was an end aisle display of not-so-spooky colorful socks.  No, my feet weren't cold, but I instantly knew a few girls who might have cold toes. 

 

Without hesitation, I picked up four pairs of Halloween hosiery, as well as a few tubes of sweet treats, and set my crafty brain to work.

  

I wanted to get these into the mail the next day, to keep my daughter's (and her roommates') feet warm while they studied for their mid-terms.  It's cold on the east coast.  It's important to stay nice and cozy when you're staying up late at night, studying for exams.  I needed to package them quickly, but still with panache.

 

To the rescue:  cellophane bags, orange card stock and my printer. 

 

Throw on a personalized tag, attach some treats, and off to the post office I went.

Here's hoping their warm feet and sugar rush will keep the girls' "spirits" up while studying late at night.  It's the least this Mom could do.

Parties attending:
Serenity Now
The Answer is Chocolate BFF Party
Savvy Southern Style

Framed in Chicken Wire & Burlap

While recently stumbling onto a yard sale, I picked up a beat-up, lonely picture frame [sans glass or artwork].  It was in bad shape.  I think it was going to be tossed into the nearby dumpster as it was sitting on the side of the yard and it was already the end of the day.  I offered to trade a crisp one dollar bill for the poor chap.  SOLD! 

I decided to take the frame out of its misery with a coat of the aqua "oops" paint I had previously used on my step stool.   One light coat made the decorative frame look distressed, so I didn't even have to sand it.

I've had an affinity for everything burlap lately, so I incorporated a recently acquired coffee bean burlap sack.  This one has a turquoise stripe down the center of the sack, complementing the frame's new hue.

 

I remembered that I also had some chicken wire hiding in my stash.  So why not use both the chicken wire AND the burlap?  [Double the effort?  Yes, indeed!]

For this project, I took out the "big girl" tools. 

[Usually, my tool kit is a bottle of decoupage and a foam brush.]

After CAREFULLY snipping the wire to fit the frame, I stapled the wire to the back, hammering the staples flat. 

OK, that was easy [just kidding].

After a quick coffee break, I measured and cut the burlap to size, trying my best to position the turquoise stripe to land in the center of the frame.

I folded painter's tape over the burlap edges, making it much easier to staple the burlap to the frame, and avoid frayed edges.

 

Voila!   

I could've stopped right there, but my "altered" state took over. 

From the leftover burlap, I cut five banners, stamped them with large alphabet letters [spelling "notes"], and then stitched them along the edges to minimize fraying.  Then I stitched the banners to a long piece of linen ribbon. Then sewed on a few vintage Parisian buttons (which I actually bought in a Paris flea market!)

 

Then hot glued the rest of my embellishments:

A few handcrafted burlap flowers

Wooden buttons tied onto the chicken wire with twine.

A few vintage [circa 1950's] clothespins

 

And now the frame has a new life combining function and fun.

   Thanks for visiting!

 

Favorite Project of 2012 Challenge at

Partying with the Best: 

Funky Junk Interiors

Funky Junk Interiors

Restoration Redoux Throwback Thursday

The DIY Dreamer

The Cottage Market

Sewing Barefoot

Yesterday on Tuesday Crafty Soiree

French Country Cottage

Sugar Bee Crafts

A Bowl full of Lemons

My 1929 Charmer

Craft Envy

Be Different, Act Normal

Create & Inspire Party

The Gingerbread Blog

tater tots and jello

Doodles & Stitches

From My Porch to Yours

Suzy's Artsy Crafty Sitcom

House of Hepworths

I Gotta Create

Katherine's Corner

Ginger Snap Crafts W-M-W

Romance on a Dime TIOT Blog Hop

 Blackberry Vine

Farmhouse Porch

Positively Splendid

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Mercy Ink Blog

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Mad in Crafts Mad Skills Party

Making the World Cuter Monday

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My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Coastal Charm

Salt Tree Open Call Tuesday

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Metamorphosis Monday

You are Talking Too Much

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It's So Very Cheri

between naps on the porch metamorphosis monday

 Alderberry Hill

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Flamingo Toes

Tatertots & Jello

i should be mopping the floor

i[heart] naptime

Creative Jewish Mom

504 Main Tickled Pink

Share it One More Time

Whipperberry Friday Flair Link Party

 Answer is Chocoloate BFF Party

Serenity Now



Swapping and Biking the Day Away

Sunny, Southern California Sundays -- you gotta love 'em. That is, of course, if you're at the beach. We're still in this crazy heatwave here in Los Angeles, so the best way to stay cool is to escape to the coast. And that is exactly what we did.

We threw our bicycles on the rack, tossed some cold water bottles into the car, and headed north up to Ventura. That area has some great biking paths and beautiful scenery.

"Guess what, honey? The Ventura Swap Meet is today."
"What a coincidence!" he says.
She laughs.
He sighs.
This can only mean one thing.
She will browse the market while he gets in some extra solo biking.
It's a win-win situation!

Here are photos from my two-hour mad dash through the market:

 

A few of the items I liked, but did not purchase:

[I think I found your missing spoon] 

 

These matching side tables made me stop in my tracks!

Growing up, we had these in our living room.

Had I known they would be "vintage" one day,

I would've asked my parents to keep them.

 

These are the items I did walk away with:

a large wood tray with very old, stained fabric under glass.

 

 vintage clothespins


a wooden spice rack

 

 English grammar books published in 1915 (copyrighted in 1881)

 

a little shelf with a clothesline rack that folds out!

How handy is that for the laundry room?

 

 and this wonderful vintage luggage set.

 

My husband didn't understand why I bought this slightly used beat up set of luggage.

I said it was for our daughter.

He said she doesn't have any room in her apartment.

I said it will stay in her room here at home.  

"Didn't we just get rid of donate three boxes of stuff to the thrift store?"

He didn't get it.

I did.

 

And yes, after a quick lunch, I was ready for cycling.

And a nice day was had by all.

 

Sharing Here:

Answer is Chocolate BFF Open House

Serenity Now

One Artsy Mama Shine of Fridays

My Repurposed Life Catch as Catch Can

House of Hepworths

Suzy's Sitcom Commercial Break Thursday

From My Porch To Yours Treasure Hunt Thursday

Someday Crafts Whatever Goes Wednesday

My Girlish Whims Your Whims Wednesday

Wow Us Wednesdays

Lil Luna

my uncommon slice of suburbia tuesdays treasures

Cozy Little House Tweak it Tuesday

Romance on a Dime TIOT

The Blackberry Vine

Vintage Wanna Bee Talent Tuesday

 Knick of TIme Tuesdays

Debbie Doo's

Coastal Charm Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Salt Tree Open Call Tuesday

Skip to my Lou Made by You Monday

Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday

Project Queen

Alderberry Hill Make the Scene Monday

You are Talking Too Much Meet Me Monday

Get Outta My Head Please

My 1929 Charmer Linky Party

Mop It Up Mondays

Nifty Thrifty Sunday

Hopping on the Furniture Before-and-After Bandwagon

I spend a great deal of my online time reading creative blogs.  Blogs that inspire.  Blogs that make me smile.  And blogs with great "before and afters."  These are my favorite!  I've been captivated with furniture transformations, giving cast-offs a new lease on life.

Well, after two years of reading about them, I've finally joined the bandwagon, scouring neighborhood garage sales, swap meets, vintage markets and thrift shops in search of potential victims beauties. 

And here is my very first furniture before-and-after:  the step stool.

 

The Before
(They should've paid me to take it off their hands.)
 

And with sanding, painting and a freezer-transfer, I present

The After
 

              

 

 

 

And I'm just warming up!  I've got a few more fabulous finds waiting patiently for my next makeover.

Thanks to every one of you (and you know who you are) for your inspiration.  And a special thank you to Karen at The Graphics Fairy for some last-minute hand-holding advice.



Partying here: Graphics Fairy, Le Chateau des Fleurs,Mod Vintage Life Mod Mix MondayOne Artsy Mama, Lil Luna, Domestically Speaking, Project Queen, Ginger Snap Crafts, From my Front Porch to Yours THT, French Country Cottage, Suzy's Sitcom, House of Hepworths, Katherine's Corner,My Repurposed Life, Craftionary, Doodles and Stitches, Miss Mustard Seed, Serenity Now, The Answer is Chocolate, Flamingo Toes