Hairpin Table with Decoupaged Top

My husband and I went to an auction and picked up this little table and four chairs.  The chairs need reupholstered and the table needs some cleaning up and a little pizzazz!  At first my thought was to decoupage a map on the top surface but the more I thought about it the more I hated the idea.  Instead, I found this adorable paper that totally fits the time period of the table.  Couldn't have worked out better.

The legs need a little bit of cleaning up.  The table top is in pretty good shape but boring as can be.

Here's the great paper I decided to use on top.  It reminds me of the "starburst" countertops so common during the 50's.  Perfect for this table.

I have an awful time with these papers.  At first I thought it was the thickness of the paper, maybe how large of  a piece I'm putting on.  Nope.  No matter what I do the paper gets wet and BAM! it wrinkles up and there's not a lot I can do about it without ruining the paper.  So, I'm learning to deal with it.

Decoupage has some similarities to wallpapering but so NOT the same!  The more you touch the paper, the more you screw it up so I accept the wrinkles and sand them down, adding an interesting aged look to the top.

 Four coats of ModPodge is on.  Its turning out great.

 Here it is, done.  Four coats of ModPodge and three coats of Polycrilic.  I really love it.

 

 

 

Art Challenge 2015- Card 1

If you've missed previous posts, I offered up an Art Challenge for the New Year.  I am making an Art Journal that is a 52 card reflection of the weeks as they pass.  Today is my first installment. 

Keep in mind, I am no artist.  I just love to learn and try new things.  This is play time for me and it's great fun!

I started with a backdrop that I applied last week, very basic, just ink blots (the orange this week).  Now it's time to add some thoughts from the week.  This one was pretty easy.  My son visited this week with his girlfriend, they seem to be a pretty good match.  Not sure where it'll go, but he informed me that he is "stricken".  I had no idea what he was talking about at first but then it hit me, he means "smitten".  How cute is that!

So, I chose a card with orange ink blots to start and began by adding a moon with yellow watercolor pencils.  I then wet the area around the moon and added some black ink to make the night sky.  I blotted the ink with a paper towel to remove some and then wiped it across the page. Here's what I have.  I like the way it seems like you're looking through the trees at the moon.

 I decided to write the word "stricken" repeatedly over the page, that was so funny, then I added some white watercolor to soften up the sky.

 And some amber for a little more dimension.

I added words "over the moon".  My fondest memory of this week is watching my son with his girlfriend, hearing him describe himself as "stricken" and realizing, in a way, I'm losing him for a new life (I know it's not a loss but a gain, all in the perspective, but things are definitely changing).  Another transition is coming, seems like just yesterday he was born.  We spent a lot of time reminiscing this week as well.  Lots of fond memories!

 

 

On the back of my card each week I'd like to focus on a word that best describes the week.  Love happens to be the word this week.  Not only because of Jacob and his visit but also my hubby.  Sometimes the man just knocks my socks off and this week was one of those weeks.  He came home with a tattoo.  Crazy!  We are not tattoo people and he was raised with parents vehemently opposed to tattoos.  Yet, here he comes.  Granted, its not anything major, but wow!

He hates wearing a ring so he had my initial tattooed on his ring finger.  How sweet is that!  Crazy, but sweet none-the-less!

 

That's what I focused on for the back of my card this week.  The orange and black is my original background coloring.  I drew on it with pen and then added some red watercolor to get me started.  

 I outlined my writing with watercolor pencil and brushed the entire page with water to let it blur a little.  I then took a red pen and did some line drawing in the white area only.  I decided to try and tone it down a little by brushing water over it again. 

 Yeah, didn't work like I wanted.  Instead of only slightly toning it down, it bled all together.  Oh well, live and learn.

If you look real close you can see the line drawing, next time I'll just leave it alone.  Maybe I'll go back over it and accentuate it again.

Well, Hello!  That was the answer.  Now I like it a lot better. 

 

Well, that's one week down.  Hopefully each week I can take the time to do a little research and learn some techniques so that by the end of the year I can see some growth.  I have a whole heck of a lot to learn.

 

 Hope you guys are challenging yourselves this year to learn something new!  

 

 

My Favorite Cheesecake Recipe Ever!

Growing up my brother and I always got to pick what cake we wanted for our birthday.  Jon, always chose Chocolate.  Not me, I could live without chocolate but Cheesecake, now that's another story.  I requested this cheesecake, with blueberry topping every year and now my kids do the same.  

 

Love it!

 

Here's the recipe:

 

1 package lemon jello

1 cup boiling water

Mix together and set in fridge long enough to cool and gel enough to whip (don't let it set firm)

 

1/4 lb. melted butter (1 stick)

2 Tbsp. powdered sugar

30 graham crackers, crumbled (or 1 box of crumbs)

Mix crust ingredients together and press into 9x13 pan. 

 

2 8oz. Philadelphia cream cheese

1/2 cup sugar

2 tsp. vanilla

Cream these ingredients together, set aside.

 

1 13oz. can cold Milnot

Whip milnot until stiff in a large bowl (jello and cream cheese mixture will be added next).

It will not be as stiff as meringue, only partially formed peaks. 

 

Next, grab your jello out of the fridge, it should be cool enough now.  Whip it!

 

Add cream cheese mix and whipped jello to whipped Milnot, blend the three.

 

Pour into graham cracker crust and refrigerate overnight (at least 4 hours).  One of my boys won't eat topping, the other likes blueberry and my husband wants cherry.  All are wonderful but blueberry is definitely my favorite!

 

 

 

 

 

Pinkie, My New Space

Wow, am I exhausted.  I spent most of the day Saturday working on cleaning out and rearranging my space at The Pink Elephant Antique Mall where I have a shop.  I more than doubled my space the first of the year, which is wonderful, but man, oh man, I am so tired. 

Here's what my space looked like before:

I made a U-shape out of my original booth (it's a 10x12 space) with this being the only entrance.  The next picture shows the shelving across from the buffet/hutch to the right of the picture and into the neighboring booth, which became mine the first of the year.

 Wow, all the space to the right of the black shelving is now mine, including the locked case.  The black shelving is the very front of my original space with the opening to the left.

 Here is the entrance to my original booth and a look into my new space (I worked Saturday trying to figure out where to put stuff and getting it all set up).  It is a TON of space. 

 Here's another idea of how much space I now have.  The right of this picture is my new space.  You can see a portion of the black bookshelves that are my original space and the opening.  It is really a lot of space.  The next few pictures are the process of getting things changed over and where I left it Saturday.  Lots of work and I still have a LOT to do.

 

Saturday, I opened up the space.  First things first, I cleaned off the T.V wall unit that blocked the new space from my original space and moved it along the back wall.  Next, I started working on those black shelves.  I took everything off, dusted, moved shelves and placed it all again.  I am so sore!

 Here's where the T.V. wall unit sat before, separating the two spaces.  Look at that mess!

 The table I brought home.  It needs work.  I tried to sell it as is, to no avail, now it's my turn.  I have plans, can't wait to get started.

 Alrighty, moved the shelving into the corner and completely opened up the space, leaving the middle free for whatever furniture pieces I have ready at the time.  Right now it is a mess but has come a really long way.  I can't get back in to finish up until Tuesday.  I had to leave it with some things lining the edges, I really hate that but it's the best I could do today, I ran out of time. 

 This entire area, and then some, is the new section.  I will eventually get the case set up for Jewelry display.  I've made a turntable for earrings and am hoping to always have a mirror on hand.  This wall is the easiest to drill (the others are cinder block) so it is going to remain my collage wall.  Anything that hangs is going to find a home here.

The lowboy dresser is my first piece of furniture for the new year.  I am completely infatuated with it.  I have a dresser also done in two-tone that needs a few small fixes, hopefully I can get it done soon.

 I am really excited for my new space.  I've got lots of furniture waiting for me to get to it.  Busy, busy.  Can't wait to share my adventures with you.

 

Bead N Button Show, You going?

It's that time of year again, time to get signed up for classes before they fill up.  Have you checked out the course catalog?  I glanced but haven't taken the time to choose any classes and get myself registered.  Chop, Chop!  Time is running out and classes are filling as we speak.

This year's Bead & Button Show runs from May 27-June 8, 2015.  So much to see and do.  Shopping opens for everyone at the Marketplace on Friday June 5th. 

If you've never been to a bead show and have the opportunity to go it is well worth it.  Amazing selection of beads and great classes.  Not sure what classes I'm taking but my last experience was wonderful and I learned so much. 

Online registration begins January 6, 2015.  Mark your calendar!

Mom and I usually go for the weekend.  I bust my budget at one particular stand that has the most amazing beads ever and then we go back to the Hotel room and bead into the wee hours of the morning.  We have a blast.  Can't wait for this year.  Here's a few of the things I've made from my last Bead Show Shopping Adventure:

Clean Eating Adventures Begin Again.....

If you know my husband, you know that he is a meat and potatoes type of guy.  He has gone so far as to try and ban chicken and pork from the house.  Yep, he actually tried that!

Years ago we went on a no sugar diet to try and help him with migraines.  We both believe food is the culprit but we cannot, for the life of us, figure out what exactly bothers him.  The no sugar sent us both into major withdrawals, amazing how sugar can do that, but after a week (and one day we like to call "hell day") we were amazed at how great we felt.  Loads of energy, no aches and pains, just an overall good feeling. 

Even knowing the difference it makes, the diet is hard to stick to.  It is way too easy to slip back into old habits, which we inevitably do.  Once again, my husband has declared its time to go back and try the diet again.  He told me I can't go overboard (which I tend to do) but that we need to do better. 

Here we go again. 

Here's a great beginner's guide to what we'll be trying to do.  I will be sharing recipes as we go and updating you along the way on how things are going.  If you have any good recipes or are attempting to "clean up" your eating habits as well feel free to share your experiences. 

http://getfitmamas.com/getting-clean/

Featured Artisan- Karen Tarlton of Karen's Fine Art

While browsing Pinterest one morning I came across this beautiful angel painting and immediately fell in love.  I adore paintings done with all that texture more than any other style so I went browsing, trying to get a little more information on the artist and her technique.  Pinterest links back to an Etsy shop called Karen's Fine Art and an array of gorgeous paintings ranging from florals and whimsical animals to beautiful angels and sailboats.  Some really great stuff.

Karen is a prolific painter who busts out a completed painting nearly every single day and sales them on her Etsy site.  As well as doing commissioned work. 

She works with a palette knife, incredible!  I am so infatuated with her technique and use of bold colors with such stunning results.  So talented!





Here is one of my favorites, although picking a favorite is nearly impossible, I love so many of them:

 

To see more about Karen and her work visit her blog where she posts her daily happenings.  Lots of beautiful artwork to look at.  Very inspiring.  She also has a Youtube channel where you can watch as she creates one of her beautiful paintings. 

 

She is so inspiring, I can't wait to share more of her work with you throughout the month of January.  Hope she inspired you as much as me.