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!

will a flower a day keep the blues away?

I will be having my first give away ever!!!!
see below for details....

I said in my last post that I would have a corner of my house post.
Well, I didn't get the corner finished yet, but here is a sneak peak...

It's a corner in my bedroom that is awkward, and  often is unused.
It has been a bunch of different thing, but none of them ever really successful.
The space is full of doors. There are two sets of closet doors, and a half door that enters into the eaves. It's not the easiest of spaces to design.  I am going to make a sewing/art area. This is all I have for now, I hope to be finished in the next few days.

I have a few more Trader Joe's updates....
I have had this Pad Thai 3 times, and I still love it.

The Taco Dip was good...Bob gave it a C.  (I would not buy again).
I served it with Trader Joe's sour cream which is very creamy.
Trader Joe's Fresh salsa, (I would buy again)
which was good, (not as good as Sister's Salsa from Maine),
but it is around $2.00 cheaper than most fresh salsas.
Trader Joe's Organic Round Corn Chips were very good(I would buy again).

These lava cakes were good. (I probably would not buy them again).
They need fresh cream and berries.
The cake was very chocolaty,  and dense.

The Mac n Cheese was yummy. Bob gave it a B.
(I would buy this again).

And now for my first giveaway!!!! Horray!

The other day I wore one of these flowers in my hair...and I swear it, I do....
that more people smiled at me than on a normal day (and not in a creepy way). 

So, I want to spread flower power to everyone....
well not everyone,
just readers and followers of my blog.
Would you like a free silk flower hair clip?

Would you like (non-creepy) people to smile at you more!!!
Do you need a little flower power?
It's so easy....just leave a comment below!!!!!

I will choose random entries, using a handy dandy number generator.
Go on leave a message...become a follower/reader. I will draw winners on Friday!

I'm looking for something in pink....

My step daughter told me a few months go that "I love pink".
This is what I hear..."must find pink things for Kirsten".
It's a quest. We all need quests!
People who now me, know that I have an innate ability to find things that people need.
Friends come to my house and say things like...."I love vintage potato mashers",
so I go into my magic cupboard and pull out, a few mashers for them to choose from.

I must say, I feel a bit defeated on my quest for pink.
I think Kirsten must have told everyone she knows to like pink as well.
Pink pyrex is almost impossible to find...even though I know I have seen it in the past.
You can get a set on ebay for around $100.00.  I say blek to that. It's not that Kirsten isn't worth a hundred dollar set of bowls....it's just that I know I will find them....I just know I will!
I have found these items so far, along with some lovely vintage linens...

I do have a pink planter, and butter dish that I haven't photographed yet.
Got any pink? let me know! help my quest!

I have been in a nesting mode of sorts.
I have been focusing on my large bathroom....freshening it up, making it pretty.
Storage is always an issue, so here is a solution I thought I would share.
It's just a shoe organizer(home goods $6.99) that I nailed to the wall behind the door.
It holds hand towels, face cloths, q-tips, etc.

new in the shop....water color kits.
All recycled materials (except the paint brush - new)
Cigar boxes, 50 cents each from Daddy's Cigar Shop.
vintage film canister, for carrying water.
water color paper - yard sale - cut to box size.
water colors - yard sales (yard sales are a great place to buy art supplies,
people have high expectations on their artistic abilities,
then are crushed when they realize that it takes work, and practice)

this one is a  wooden box that I decoupaged.

One more thing....a yummy, super easy salad.
I had this in Littleton.  Step one....go to salad bar for raw broccoli,  califlower,  carrots. and red onion.
Most salad bars have craisins, and sunflower seed as well, so get some of those. I had craisins at home, so I didn't buy them at the salad bar.

chop all the veggies...

add seeds and dried cranberries(craisins)

add salt, pepper, mayo, and a little balsamic vinegar.
so easy, so yummy, so good for you!

a little news

here's a bit of what's up.  It's not much,  I am still in New Hampshire mode.

I've seen 2 more of the Oscar films.
Inception was good. The cast was great!
I must admit I was sometimes confused at which dream level was happening when.
I do recommend seeing it!

I loved The kids are all right.  It was an easy, enjoyable film.
A must see.
Mark Ruffalo is yummy!

I want to be here! I want to own this!

I may make one of these birch tables....for a friend.














I love trees...especially birch trees. I LOVE these panels!

love these, from here

this tray is nice!

a little trader Joe's update....this was just ok.
the package said it serves 2, so I gave my husband half,
and then myself half. He ate it, I asked him what he thought...
He said, "it's a nice appetizer",  "What's for dinner?"
It was good comfort food.
Not overly tasty. Just food.

I almost drop kick my sewing machine today.

Sewing machines are sooo damn touchy....bobbin this, tension that!
I am trying to talk my husband in to becoming a sewing machine repair man. hee! hee!
The only downfall to a lucrative career as a repair man
would be the absolute crazy people (like me),
that have been driven over the edge by their frigin' machines.
Nothing else can send me into a crazed tail spin more than a misbehaving sewing machine.
After a lot of deep breathing and meditation, I did manage to make a skirt today.
I love these skirts from Old Navy, they are a major staple in my wardrobe.

The only problem with the skirts is the lack of quality of the fabric.
After a couple of washes....it's a pilled mess.
I guess at $20.00, it should be expected.
I found this skirt on Athleta, but $54.00 is a bit much for a jersey skirt.

I found some jersey knit corduroy;
it was on clearance for $2.50 a yard.
I took apart an old Old Navy skirt, and used it as my pattern.

It was incredibly easy.
The best part was having a skirt that I loved the fit of as a pattern!

You can adjust the length by folding over the top.

You can leave it longer, by not folding it over.

I have plans to make a couple more. The gray fabric on top is a bamboo/modal.
It is quite dreamy! The fuschia is similar to the blue.

My 8 year old took this photo...before I had the chance to iron it. Blek!

a little of this...a little of that!

I made these this week.

along with these...

which were really easy to make (idea from here).
you need a few pom poms,  branches, and old bottles.
I made my pom poms using these....

I tried using a handmade cardboard loom...
but they came out a little to
un-pom pommy(is that a word).
I prefer wool yarn....it's fluffier.
A little hot glue keeps it in place on the branch.

I think I may make a label for the bottle...
u & me
in honor of Valentines Day.

I need to learn to sew really well.
I want to make some clothes...like these...
(the following photos are from Japanese craft and pattern books).

Since it is going to be below zero at the beginning of this week,
I am going to stay in and make these.....

keep warm all my northeast friends!