propaganda

I am currently putting together a project statement for my Visual Arts class.
I've decided to do an assignment on Propaganda Posters.
I love a good propaganda poster.
I think one of the most recognizable ones is...
Power of a woman!

I am currently loving these modern ones....

Propaganda posters should be thought provoking,
emotional, and eye catching!

I am currently working on one.

Our governor is horrid... he took down an art mural at the labor board.
Story here...
He has basically hidden it somewhere, and will not tell. Really?
Here is my first attempt....

I still think I need to add a bit more text at the bottom...
What do you think????

4:00pm update...

shower curtain drapes

Have you noticed how expensive draperies are?
Have you notice how boring and plain the affordable ones are?
Here is my question....why cant they take the fabulous prints they make shower curtains from,
and make draperies????

I have been searching for some draperies for my living room.
There are many that I like from here.
Yikes, they are so expensive.  I guess I would buy some if I truly love them,
and knew I would 5 years from now.

I spied these at Target on clearance.....

They were regularly $24.99, on sale for $6.49.
They had 3, so I bought them, along with two cafe rods for $3.99 each.
The great thing about the cafe rods is that they are very thin,
and fit through the openings on the curtain.
This eliminates the expense of the clips.

not bad for under $30.00!

a new lavender wall

There is a wall in my living - kitchen that is constantly going through a make over.
I have lived in this house for 6 years, and I think this is the 4th redo.
This is the wall before the redo, it's a happy wall.
I like it, but I was itching for something new!

Here is the new wall. It's a very light blue/lavender.
I have always been drawn to warm tones, but this is changing.
I like the clean crispness on cool colors.

The botanical prints are from a yard sale - $10.00 each.

My husband built a new cover for the radiator - before...

after.... I think I may paint it white.
I surfed the web for radiator covers, all of ours are rusted.
I paint them twice a year, but the rust comes right through.
The covers on the web ran about $46.00 a foot. Yikes.
The one below cost about $25.00.
I have my husband scheduled to make one for every room!

some new decor

Here is my new craft/sewing nook.  
It still needs a little love, but I am definitely loving it so far.

I bought the desk at the mill store for $179.00, which is a lot, but it was a perfect fit!
I added a fabric skirting (curtain panel) to hide plastic storage containers,
which are underneath the desk, and full of crafting supplies.
The trim is a belt that I bought years ago from Old Navy.

I bought this old book shelf at a yard sale for $1.00.
It needed a lot of love, so I started by painting it ivory.

The metal pails are from Target, and were a buck a piece.
Twenty of them fit perfectly.  I bought a stencil,
and numbered them with the same ivory paint... 1-20.
Total cost for storage shelf...approx. $25.00

The cork board is just a basic bulletin board that I purchased from the Goodwill for $3.00.
I covered it with linen ($6.00 with coupon),
and finished it off with black gross-grain ribbon ($2.99).
I used a staple gun to adhere the linen, and a bit of fabric glue for the ribbon.

The dresser was one that I had that I was using  in the bathroom for storage.
I actually found a better storage solution for the bathroom, so it was a good swap.
I painted it ivory, and filled it with treasures!
The jars on top are filled with buttons and ribbons.

Now I just need to find the discipline to sit, and create!

Littleton, New Hampshire

I love this quaint little town.
This is my second trip, and I am constantly amazed by how friendly,
and courteous everyone is.
I have heard it is more about the journey, than than the destination.
The journey to Littleton did not disappoint!

a gaggle of turkeys?  Nope!
Groups of turkeys are referred to as a flock, a brood,
a bale, and a rafter of turkeys. Huh, I did not know that!

This was an amazing sight! (click on photo to enlarge)

a little turkey poo.... burnt sienna.
(don't click on photo to enlarge)

I look at this photo and see amazing textures.

a snow covered group of planted raised trees... a tree farm.....

five horses in a field...a herd. (click on photo to enlarge)

This is where we stayed.  A building full of rooms where
people sleep.... a hotel.
(I know the definitions are getting old...last one I swear!)
The Hampton Inn....is a nice, affordable hotel $139.00 a night.
There is a  pool, which was a bit to pee pee filled for me...
complimentary breakfast, which was edible, but not of high quality so,
(we got some amazing whole grain berry muffins from Miller's bakery!)

There are loads of cute local stores and restaurants downtown....
this one is quite impressive!

Chutters has every candy you can image...

loads of candy from my youth!!!

We had a great lunch here. Yummy fresh quality sandwiches!

A goddess store, with a tattoo parlor and adult toy store downstairs.
(we didn't go downstairs because we had just eaten)

Love these stuffed monsters!!!!!  I think I may make some of these!

There were 3 or 4 consignment and thrift stores...

This book store / toy store / cafe is the heart of the downtown.

A must eat is Miller's everything is so fresh and so yummy!
The guy who owns the place is super friendly.

We also ate at a very yummy Thai place with killer drinks!

There was a great antique place. However, most everything was overpriced-:(
I loved these.... pebble prints!

creepy yet sort of fun clown glasses...

I had these when I was a youngster.

I seriously considered this guy.... vintage owl clock.

I really wanted the rabbit bank...but at $28.00...
it was just sooo overpriced!

loved these wooden tops...

The building was beautiful...it was an old masonic lodge.
The craftsmanship was beyond amazing.

We did do some work......
(the trip was all about helping Shelley with her new Chalet).
bought some furniture (all TJ MAXX), and
some accessories....birds nest came from Shelley's deck.
I'm going to make some felted eggs for it,
and I have a yellow bird figurine that will make this
little toilet scenario super cute!

I will share more of Shelley's Chalet makeover in a few weeks.
Here is the start of the paint palette... (colors are slightly off)

The town has a few department store...TJ Maxx saved us,
along with Home Depot, and um...yup Wal-Mart(shiver)
(generally not an Interior Designers destination),
but we found great stuff that Shelley loved...so Yay for wally world!

 This is the view leaving Walmart. Gasp!

Here are a few more photos of the town....

We (Shelley, Charlotte, and I)  had a great time. The people of Littleton were so friendly.
People spoke to you, and smiled. Cars would stop for you so you could cross the street (every time!).
Old men tipped there hats!!! People were not pretencious.  We made friends with the restaurant owners,  the fabric lady at Wal-Mart, and another fabric lady who specializes in Nascar fabric (who shares a building with a gun shop).  Yes, a bit humorous, and she was a stitch (get it?).
The cashiers at Home Depot engaged in conversation with us....
asking where we were from, and why the heck we were so loud and laughing so much.
It wasn't about what you were wearing, or how much money you had.
It was a NICE town, a kind of town I want to live in one day!