31 Days With ME: Fall At The Booth

 Thank you for your show of support and love yesterday...I don't know what to say, you guys are the best! Thank you for being here.

I can't believe that it has been over a year that I've had my little 10X10 booth space. I did some foo-fooing recently, let me show you around. It won't take very long.:)

I, of course, try to make it look seasonal, but sometimes it's difficult to do when everything is vintage...it's not easy pulling a look together. I ended up making several things to help. That poor sheet music wreath is never going to sell! I found that killer sunflower embroidered piece recently, it's nice and big. I should have gotten a close up so you could see the detail...

I made some vintage napkin garlands, some flower pomanders (tutorial HERE), and hand painted signs (tutorial HERE)

 Doily garland too.

 I think this would be so cute hanging in a little girls room.

 My sidekick Logan, helping me create chalkboard art...he was in charge of making spider egg sacks and baby spiders, which he thought of himself...which is too cute. Gross, but cute. :) These are bi-fold doors (yard sale) that I painted in chalkboard paint for a back drop...in case you missed that info yesterday.

 A close up of the creepy black widow in chalk.

 I painted a bunch of silver trays with chalk board paint and hung them on the doors, for a nice layering effect. I also draped some of the black Halloween gauzy stuff to soften the straight edges of the doors a little (I don't know if you can see that very well). I made some more pumpkin wands too (tutorial HERE).

 Well, the tour has ended, told you it would take long ;) Talk to you tomorrow.

31 Days with ME: Christmas Wreaths and Chemo Ed

 I think I'm going to stop typing "It's Day....whatever"...I think we can all look at the calender and see it's October 11th, it's the 11th day in my series. :) It just seems a little redundant...But I will still welcome you and thank you for being here...now that is worth typing.

I've been working in my studio a little this week, mainly packing away what little fall I have left and getting Christmas out....and doing a lot cleaning in there, designing can be, no, it is messy work. I completed a few wreaths for Christmas that are now available in my Shop.

 This first wreath is featuring some of the prettiest ribbon I've ever found. Kind of a linen background with velvety red and green stripes, I love it so.

 

 Wreath with Striped Ribbon

 A small one, with plaid.

 Small wreath with Plaid

 This is one of my most favorite I've ever done, Justin tells me I say that nearly every time, but really, I might be making myself one of these. I used burlap ribbon and rusty jingle bells and the special part is the metal ribbon, it really sets it off. This is a big one too at about 30". Au Naturel.

 Pine on Birch with Burlap

Another little baby one. I really like doing Christmas on grapevine wreaths, although I do all pine wreaths too....but the grapevine just looks so natural with pine added. And one word people: burlap. An all-season ribbon if you ask me.

Small Wreath with Burlap 

***

I had my Chemo Ed class yesterday, for the second time. I guess when they change the regimen, you have it again. This new drug has similar side effects as the other drugs from before (fatigue, vomiting, nausea, risk of infection etc.), but in addition, this one is hard on my kidneys and liver...but I will be having labs each week to keep an eye on that. So that's it, another 6 months of this chemo and maybe the tumors will go away this time. They also slipped in a 'sit down' with a social worker on me too, she had a series of questions pertaining to depression and how I'm 'dealing' mentally with my situation...I wasn't prepared for that and ended up balling like a two year old, not an ugly cry, just some tears that I really can't help but shed when asked a direct question, like: "Do you think about death or have thoughts about suicide?". Pass the tissues please. Of course I think about death and that other S word who wouldn't??? But no, I don't lay in bed and thinking about those things, but I'd be lying if I said they didn't cross my mind. Most of the time I don't even know what I'm thinking or what I'm doing...usually why is my big question....not the "Why Me God?" question, why not me? More of the why did I just buy that pair of shoes? I've got cancer. Why do I keep my booth space? I've got cancer. Why did I make those wreaths above? I've got cancer. I've got cancer. I've got cancer. I know! I know! But I've got to do something, anything. I'm not going down without a fight.

via the silver pen 

31 Day With ME: Waterfall Buffet (Before and After)

 You're back! Good! Today is day 10 into my 31 day series. I keep wanting to put the word 'challenge' in there instead of series, really it's just a series for 31 days but it's a personal challenge for me to see if I can do it. Please visit The Nesting Place for a lot of other partisans.

A lot of you know that I have a booth space in Joplin at Rangeline Antique Mall, and I just finished this buffet to put in there. It occurred to me after writing My Secrets To Second-Hand Shopping, that some readers might not know that I shop to fill my space.

Do you remember the vanity? It sold and I had a huge hole, so I was so happy when I found this great piece.

 I haven't tried milk paint, or chalk paint, I haven't even tried the DIY chalk paint but I tried this method for the first time and wanted to show you the end result.

 I found this waterfall buffet this past summer. It may not appear too bad in the photo, but it is in pretty bad condition. The top is horribly scratched with watermarks and some damage on the door. I didn't plan on fixing any of those things, so a distressed finish seemed to be the way to go.

 First things first, I painted it white...well, I removed the hardware first, then I painted.  Regular ole' semi-gloss generic off the shelf white, some stuff I had in the garage, leftover from painting the fireplace. I did not sand. I did not prime.

 It took two coats and I gave it some time to cure.

 Then, I used sandpaper and went over the edges and details. All that stuff I've done before...

 ...but what I've never done is this: I used dark walnut stain over the white paint. I used a brush and did small sections at a time. Brushed it on and quickly wiped it off with a clean towel. This style of furniture is good to try it on, lots of little crannies for the stain to catch in. You have to move pretty quick though, the dark stain does the trick quickly...and you don't want streaks, that happened on a couple of the doors. I just let it dry, repainted and tried it again.

 It took me a little while, but I really like the effect. Of course the technique toned the bright white down significantly. The thing is, had I used cream/off white as the base paint, it would have turned out too yellow. Starting with white eliminated that, unless of course, you like that look. What I like about this finish is that you can't mess this up...I mean, I have never done this before, but I sure will again when I find another piece of furniture.

 Right now, it is acting as my "Halloween Buffet" in my booth space. I think it's a nice size, not too big. Hopefully someone will give it a nice home. Do you like the back drop? I grabbed some bi-fold doors at a yard sale and painted them in chalkboard paint and did a little chalk art. They provide a nice spooky backdrop for Halloween and I like the dimension and height in the booth instead of the plain peg board. I'll show you more of what's going on in the booth a little later...

So, have you tried this technique before? Did you like how it turned out?

31 Days With ME: Halloween Mantle 2012

9 days into the series, thank you for being here everyday. I have to begin by thank each one of you that commented and sent emails yesterday. I did not get a chance to reply to everyone, I spent the day working on wreaths (Christmas, if you can believe it!) and I just couldn't...but I read each one and I so appreciate your prayers, love and support. 

You will probably think I'm crazy, I just finished the mantle for fall and here I am changing it again for Halloween. I completely forgot about the Halloween banner I had made specifically for the mantle...that's what happens when I craft too early (which is why I don't shop for Christmas presents early), I forgot about it! I decided to temporarily move the FALL letters. I put them on top of the bookcase and they look pretty good up there, but I will move them back over once Halloween is over.

I've finally bought some flameless candles, and I gotta say, they're pretty cool, no worries about anything flammable...and on a bonus timer too. This is a shot as the evening approached:

 I didn't remove anything else, just added a layer of halloween spookiness. I hung the banner a little cock-eyed, added cheesecloth as spiderwebs (I don't like using that stringy pull apart web stuff) and black spiders everywhere...Logan loves that part.

 You might remember the book pages from last year, just hung them on the branches of the arrangement again (spooky images from Graphics Fairy). Click HERE to take a look at last years Halloween mantle.

 I have a small collection of Halloween figures...but I haven't seen any this year that I like so my collection might stop at the five. My lamp usually has a bamboo look to it, but put a jack-o-lantern near it, it looks like bones!

 The new curtains are still up, they haven't made my fingernails start itching yet, but I'm still not sure, it's A LOT of pattern, holy ikat!

 I've also looked for more of that white cheesecloth type web, but all I can find this year is the black/gray stuff that's more of a cotton string gauze...which I'm not crazy about.

 I think we are ready for all the trick-or-treaters now.

Hope you are inspired!

31 Days With ME: The Next Step

 

Welcome to day 8 of my 31 days series. I can't believe an entire week has transpired! The week has flown by but I won't pretend, blogging every single day hasn't  been a real workout, it has! I haven't watched one episode of Murder She wrote or pinned one image all week! :) I guess something has to give right? ;) I have orders and shipping to do today, but I did want to share with you what the doctors have told me about the next step in my battle.

Do you like my wig? I don't think I've shown you very many pictures with it on, just when I first picked it out. I have not worn it very much at all this summer, it was so hot, but now that the temps are cooler, I welcome it's warmth. I almost look normal!

Last week, I had my doctor's appointment to talk about what we are going to do next. The current regimen of chemotherapy is not working so it has to change. So I will be starting a different drug to try to kill the cancer. It will still be intravenous, but not four different drugs for a solid week every month like before. 

This is a different route than I thought we would take, we've never even talked about this drug....and of course I can't remember the name right now. On the 10th, I have to go through chemo ed again to talk about the side effects and what will me happening to my body.

I'm trying not to worry too much, once again pushing off into uncharted territory. I just have to keep stepping up, keep going. On the 15th I start the new drug, at first everyday for one week and then one day a month after that. So the week of the 15th I'm a little worried, the doctor did  mention vomiting and nausea as side effects...he told me more, but it started going in one ear and out the other...more vomiting? More nausea? I really don't like those two. 

On the bright side, this new drug will not effect my hair, so it will start growing back...as a matter of fact I do have fuzz. Fuzz people!! I would love to show you a picture of my fuzz, I'm so darn proud of it, that my hair remembers how to grow...but I doubt I've got the nerve, although I seem to be baring the bald over on instagram, what's the difference?

SO, I'm also disappointed at the thought of not completing my challenge here, this series...I know that it is the least of my worries, but I really wanted to do this...this was my 'I can do this even with cancer' challenge.:) We will have to see, maybe I will be alright...maybe the side effects will be easy on me. I know you all won't be mad at me if I miss a week or so. I will, however, talk to you tomorrow...I've got till the 15th!

31 Days With ME: The People That Inspire Me

Wow, was yesterday fun or what? I threw out there 25 things about myself and I asked for one from you and you guys delivered! I absolutely loved reading your responses, your quirks, habits...it is amazing the commonalities and I'm glad I am not alone in my quirkiness (and yeah for Gemini's! :) Thank you for trusting me with your thoughts.

Today is day 7 of my series, and honestly this is about what I do in an entire month so far this year! My average anyway. 24 more days, guys....are you sick of me yet?

 I wanted to title this post: "The People That Inspire Me But I Don't Really Know In Real Life But Wish I Did", but that was just too long. The blog world can offer so, so, so much inspiration and I wanted to share with you some of the women that I really admire. Not only in their design styles, but the way they write as well. 

Jenny, I know everyone loves her, and I do as well. Her style is amazing and she is so open and sharing.

Angela, I love her. Her style and the way she writes, it's a great mix.

Jamie, Jamie, Jamie. How do you do it? Jamie Meares has SUCH a way with mixing patterns, it's unbelievable! I so aspire for that gift. I went to her store Furbish  in Raleigh NC the last time I was home, just as amazing.

Emily, I know she is on TV, but she writes a blog and she's funny in sarcastically ironic way, my favorite, second only to dry humor. She has great style and I would love to go shopping with her for just one day.

These are some amazing women and hope you already know them.

So who offers you the most inspiration in the big, big world of blog? I'd love to know.

1/2/3/4

31 Days With ME: 25 Things you Didn't Know About Me

 6 days into my series can you believe it? I really appreciate you stopping by everyday.

Sometimes, as you probably know, the internet has a way of presenting one's life that is usually far from reality. So when I read blogs, I know that they are just like me. Have down days, soaring high days, good hair days, wild kids, pet peeves, dry skin, arguments, messy living rooms, unmade beds, bad grammar, high expectations or fill in the blank here:_____________. It's just not displayed on the internet and I get that. Honestly, you will rarely (if at all) see pictures of  my "messy living room", every one has one, do I really need to show it? It's there, believe me...I don't need to prove it. For me, it has nothing to do with perfection, it's just logic. We are all human. We are not perfect. It's life and it is messy. It just is. Which brings me to today's topic 25 things that you don't know about me. You  might like me more, or less. I'm not sure here. I'm going way back here people, the way, way back...talking about school, and growing up and throwing in some of my present quirks. I am real. I am here. I narrowed down the list. Big Time.

   This picture was taken this month last year, before the cancer came back. Not that it wasn't there, I just didn't know it yet.

 This is a picture this year, a week ago. The cancer is back...and 6 months of chemo has taken it's tole. But I don't want to talk about cancer, but I am bald under that cute hat, and there is a reason. 

25 things that make me tick. Let's talk about that.

1.) I am a Gemini, so I either love something instantly, or things have to grow on me. It is a nightmare to live with me.

2.) I still remember the teacher that turned my butt around in the 8th grade, Mrs. Corbett.

3.) Both of my parents are gone. Not everyday, but I cry for them either early in the morning when I've just woken up or right before I go to sleep. I guess when I stop and my mind isn't whirling...I think about how much I miss them in my life and the life of my children.

4.) I am constantly trying to figure out what my purpose is.

5.) I don't make friends very easy. I still miss my friends in North Carolina, and have only a handful here in Missouri and it's been over eight years that we've lived here. I've always wanted to be that person that has gaggles of friends.

6.) I like my coffee light and sweet and drink one cup in the morning every day. I drink Folgers and love Dunkin Donuts coffee. Unfortunately,  Missouri does not have Dunkin' Donuts and the stuff at the grocery store is NOT the same.

7.) I think my biggest dream is owning a home decor store. There is an old closed Burger King building in Webb City that I think I could do wonders with.

8.) I like to drive, however, if I'm going somewhere new, I need a navigator. I've been known to get lost in neighborhoods.

9.) It takes a lot to make me angry, but when I am, all hell breaks loose.

10.) I am an Army brat. My family has lived all over the United States and some overseas tours including Italy and Germany.

11.) I had long hair that I could sit on my entire life, my father refused to let me cut it until I was 18. At 17, I whacked it off to my shoulders. He was not happy.

12.) My first vehicle was a Charcoal Grey Ford Ranger. I made the monthly payments on it, a whopping $147.00 a month.

13.) I have made things for as long as I can remember. The first thing that I remember actually crafting with my hands that wasn't out of paper, was a doll made out of my mother's pantyhose. She was not happy.

14.) My Mother wanted to name me Regina Lynn, they went with Michelle Lynn...I never liked my name and always wondered why my parents didn't get more creative when naming me.

15.) Keegan hates his name because I got too creative.

16.) My husband is 6'5 and it's one of the things I love about him. I can wear heels and he's still taller than I am, at 5'9. Like I wear heels anymore.

17.) I have a fear of falling down in public.

18.) After having 1 boy, and 8 years later having another, you would think I would have some clue about raising boys. I do not...they are as different from one another as night and day.

19.) I am a very light sleeper.

20.) I love my sisters children and miss them all the time. I wish we didn't live so far apart.

21.) I love my sister and miss her all the time. I wish we didn't live so far apart.

22.) I love music. I can't sing, but love to and it's not just in the shower either. I listen to all sorts of music, but my favorite decade is the 70's. I like to shake my groove thang.

23.) My grandmother was an amazing women. She owned her own business, was an amazing cook, excellent sewer, and raised 8 children. I wish I was more like her (except the having 8 kids thing).

24.) I do not like grocery shopping, and I wait for the last possible reason to go. "We're out of toilet paper??? Dang it. Alright, I'll go."

25.) I love watching reruns of Murder She Wrote, I am not ashamed.


Tell me one thing about you, I'd love to know. Talk to you tomorrow.