Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Birdhouse Collection


My daughter was 6 when she and her dad built this for me!  Her handprint is on the side too!

Our "old" dog
  As I am writing this, something is becoming increasingly evident-I am a compulsive collector -I don't know if that really describes my problem but I started taking pictures and realize that a collection is technically  considered "a collection", when you have 3 or more of a similar item. 
   YIKES-I am a crazy collector!  I was in my garden this summer and every picture I took had some kind of birdhouse in it!.  I like birdhouses but they really need to be different for me to show too much interest in them.  Well......I even have some birdie's renting space in some of them!  These are just some of the birdhouses that live outside in my gardens and in my porch. Maybe next year I'll add a few more but you can be sure the birds will continue to visit these! 
      So take a good look around your home and you may be very surprised at the number of collections you have, even in different rooms.  Three or more = a collection!  You may have the same "problem" I do! 
Take care, Gotta fly! Claire




1st Jim Shore birdhouse
candleholder birdhouse


Cape Cod lighthouses

 


 


Americana Retreat

Birdie Hotel


Butterfly Bungalow



 





 


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Monday, September 27, 2010

The Popular Crowd,oops Color




I don't know if I'm imagining it but have you seen alot more birds in the home decor world?  It seems like birds are "in".  I never seem to like the "popular" decor so I'm a bit shocked.  I always picked color schemes that were impossible to match!  I love the colors that are popular now. The neutrals, creams, golds, rusts and grays are beautifully soothing.  Of course, my living room and dining room are blue and white.(or ivory!)  Blue is easy to find now, that is the pale blues and aqua blues-also very soothing to the eye.  Did I mention the blue in my rooms is more royal blue?    But, no matter what, I walk into those rooms, with the vibrant blue and somehow I am soothed!  So, no matter what colors are most popular, what decor is easy to find and blend into your home, what you like is the most important reason to decorate in a specific color!  Pick things that make you feel good, not what is popular.   Luckily for me, I can continue to add to my bird collection from catalogs, TJ's, Goodwill and even the Dollar Stores- my nest grows with each new tweet!  Well, take care-Gotta fly! Claire
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Two tiered table trouble

 
Inspiration

I was so inspired last week by Beckie from InfarrantlyCreative and her two tiered table.  I had one of those pups in my basement too.  It was a hand me down from a relative and it had its issues.  Water stained, tilted and creaky.  I threw a coat of white paint on it to cover up the ugliness but it wasn't enough.  I didn't know what to do so off to the basement it went. Until this past week when a saw a blog o' vision.  It was actually another two tier that was in similar disrepair.  But, she hadn't given up. A coat of paint and a beautiful Silhouette machine and she created a beauty in black and white.  I loved it.  It was enough to trudge down into the bastions of the basement and run up the stairs, huffing,  and puffing with this ugly little table! ( I did trudge but no running!)  It was still white with some added dust for character.  I was going to modge podge some toile wrapping paper I had that also matched my drapes.  But, alas the jar of white goo had congealed at the bottom.  No time to run out to replace it-this project was now or never. (just being overly dramatic!)
     I wandered aimlessly for about 3 minutes and came upon a plate I happen to love. It's in the shape of a flower and the color in my living room.(kind of!) Funny, because as I looked at the two tiered table, it also appeared to be in the shape of a petaled flower.You know where I'm going now, huh?  I am by no means an artiste, let alone a painter but this flower didn't need a perfectionist or even someone who knew what they were doing!  It just needed me and I love it!  So, thanks for the inspiration.  Take care.  Gotta fly!  Claire

I'm linking to Between Naps On The Porch 
 for
Metamorphasis Monday
Made By You Mondays at Skip To My Lou
 and Get Your Craft On at Todays Creative Blog
and Primitive and Proper
and Show off Your Stuff party at Fireflies and Tatertots
and Transformation Thursday at Shabby Chic Cottage
and

Sunday, September 26, 2010

"Goodwill Hunting!"

Today I was alone on a search.
In other words, "Goodwill hunting", literally!!
Not a huge success, but I managed to score a few things.
Nothing a $5 bill couldn't handle nor a good wash and a quick can of spraypaint couldn't fix! 
 Take care-Gotta Fly! Claire



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Saturday, September 25, 2010

Mosaics


Mosaics are little patterns of materials, placed randomly, in a puzzle pattern.  Mosaics can be created on all different surfaces and the materials can be shaped in irregular patterns.   They can be seen on glass such as vases, candle holders, bowls, and  hurricane lamps.  Mosaics are popular on fireplace surrounds. (See the pic below of my sister's fireplace surround I tiled for her.  Flat sheets of mosaic are quick and easy.  This whole project took less than an hour!  p.s. I did not tile the vase or urn-those were from the love of my life-tj's!)  Mosaic tiles come attached in sheets which makes it much easier to fit into tight corners and they are usually in sheets attached onto webbing.  This keeps the pattern in place and makes it much easier to apply.
I wanted a different look.  Blue and white was the look I was after.  Years ago, I bought an unfinished sofa table through a country style magazine for $29.99.  I painted in white and lived with it for a long time.  Then I wanted a new look. A mosaic type look.  A blue and white mosaic tile look.  That was not easy to find. I have tons of blue and white china pieces.  Pier 1, Christmas Tree Shops, T J Maxx and Marshalls were the main sources of my china collection.  Most of it was cheap.  So I took the pieces that I had duplicates of, placed them in a bag, grabbed a hammer and went to town.  I smashed the living daylights out of all this china!  Then my real work (ie. fun) began- ( I would suggest rubber gloves. Much of the china is in shards, sharp shards.  So if you don't want to be a bloody mess, wear the gloves!) I spread small sections of the table with tile adhesive.  Then put my blue and white puzzle together.  Very slowly, I built a large puzzle -it was the most exhilarating feeling-piece by piece.  Slowly, the table was covered in blue and white pieces of china.  The next step was grouting which was a bit difficult because these weren't smooth sheets of mosaic.  Some were lumpy and bumpy so the spreading of the grout was not the smoothest process.  But, it didn't matter.  This was one of those projects that I attempted on my own.  No pictures, no directions, nothing but what was in my head!  I loved the result!  Hope you do to! Gotta fly! Claire
(ps sorry about the world's longest winded post but I get carried away !LOL! If you double click on the pics you can get up close and personal!)



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Friday, September 24, 2010

Monograms- how do I love thee?

To know me is to love me... some monograms!  I sound like a totally obsessive person but I love my monogram.  Well, not just mine.  Any monogram.  The majority of my tops have my monogram. My pocketbooks are even branded with it!  I am trying to spread the wealth around my house.  R or Rose is starting to pop up-YEA!!  I was dreaming of buying a cricut machine but I'm afraid I might get committed to the funny farm because it would be way too easy to add to the monograms throughout my home. My obsessive behavior would have no end....umm, well never say never-take care-Gotta fly! Claire
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