Tapaslicious!

I found a nice cookbook holder at Re-Store the other day. I brought it home and started looking through our multitude of cookbooks for an attractive, colorful one to set out in the new holder. I settled on TAPAS: A Classic Collection of Spanish-Style Recipes. It's one of those had-to-have cookbooks that we've never actually used.

I started flipping through the pages and got REALLY motivated to make some Tapas....right then. So, I picked out three recipes that sounded especially yummy and ran to the store for some ingredients.

The menu consisted of: Mini Spinach, Tomato & Pine Nut Pizzas, Lemon & Garlic Chicken, and Green Beans with Slivered Almonds. These were paired with a lovely Cycles Gladiator Pinot Grigio from my new favorite winery...they have such an AWESOME logo (and the wine is pretty tasty, too ;) 

Here is a photo of the mini pizzas and beans:

Next, I was going to take a photo of the chicken, but some hungry munchkins started digging into the food before I got a chance to set up a nice photo. So, all I got was a quick, sideways snapshot...

Oh well, at least everyone, even the picky kids, liked everything ;) Verdict: make it all again!

New Workspace & Re-ment

When I re-did my office, I needed a place for my sewing machine and serger. I found an awesome vintage kitchen table for next to nothing at Re-Store, took it apart and used half for my machines. I was really pleased with my little half-table set up, but something was not working out....

 

...I haven't felt like sewing. I love to sew, but I haven't felt like sewing much at all for while now. I woke up this morning and knew why I wasn't getting much done. The office re-do made a place for everything...for everything but me! I had no place to work! I do have my computer desk, but only had one tiny little flat surface on top of a file cabinet that I had to stand at to get anything crafty or creative done. It was very cramped and frustrating trying to work there. I didn't even attempt to cut out fabric. I think I must have been dreaming about this last night, because when I woke up I knew what I wanted to do. I was going to have to get rid of the cute vintage half table. So, down to the office I went to pull all the stuff out ~again~. This time, thank goodness, it was only the stuff in the photo above and not EVERYTHING. Next, I talked Mr. NeverBored into a trip to Home Depot. Mistake. I knew exactly what I wanted and I wanted to get it and get of there and get on with this project. He knew what he wanted and then he decided on more stuff he wanted and then he wanted to look at this and that. I somehow managed to keep my cool and not kill him and we eventually returned home to get started.

My idea was to put one long shelf board across that whole wall in the photo above. That would give me room for my stuff AND a bunch more workspace.

This is what was accomplished today...

It's not as pretty as my morning vision, but it will get there. I need to either paint that support board OR, what I would really like to do, is get a couple fancy carved wooden legs. The brackets just aren't enough on their own...those machines are heavy!  I have some other ideas, too, but at least things are moving in the right direction.

 

Today, I also opened and organized my little Re-Ment collection. I adore miniatures, so Re-Ment is right up my alley. I resisted the lure of this awesome little collectible for as long as I could and then broke down and got a few sets. It has been sitting, unopened, for months. Why have it, then? I found an empty divided display frame and put the teensy pieces in....

I'm not sure they'll stay in this display case, but at least they are out where I can see them and enjoy and use them in dolly photos...mostly for my Pipos Baha Kitties, Aengus & Esmeralda, since it's the right scale for them.

Making copies...

Well, not really copies...more like digital prints, but the SNL skit with Rob Schneider, the Copy Guy, popped into my head while I was trying to come up with a clever title for this post.

Click here for The Copy Guy sound byte ;)

A while ago, I got a Kodak 8500 Digital Photo Printer from someone on Freecycle. It's been sitting in my junk closet, for several months now, until I was motivated enough to set it up and see if it works. Today was the day. I needed that space it was taking up in the junk closet (because I really don't want it to be a junk closet anymore - that will be a future project). I searched online and found a manual and then proceeded with the set up. All went smoothly until time to test print. Half the print was awesome and half was just red. I tried several more test prints. Each time, all went fine until it was time for the blue pass and then it would jam. This printer does 4 passes...one for each color ~ yellow, red, blue ~ and then a final clear top coating pass. I did a quick search and discovered this is a known problem with this printer. There were several way involved and time consuming fixes, but I didn't want to invest the time in those. I did a few minor suggested adjustments hoping for good results. Still red. The paper would jam and sit there on the last pass. I decided to take matters into my own hands and get super technical and try to "help" the paper along on that last pass with a little push. What do you know?!? My little push sent the paper merrily on it's way and the print turned out fabulous!

Unfortunately, this printer has been discontinued by Kodak, but, fortunately, it came with lots of supplies...ink rolls and paper, so I'm set for a while and have found that I can still get some supplies on online. Setting up this printer has cleared the way for me to get started on another big project....

 

I got this awesome HUGE (41" x 35") collage frame at Jo-Ann's last year, but just haven't been motivated to get going on it. It was regularly priced at over $100, but was slightly damaged (nothing a little glue won't fix) and in the Clearance isle for only $19.99! It was such a bargain that I couldn't pass it up, but I knew it was probably going to be a while before I got to it. Plus, I thought it might be a pretty big expense getting all the photos printed for it...because I was thinking about doing them either black & white or sepia. So, first to decide on all the photos to use...ugh...I am horrible at making decisions like this...then, next, to scan and uncolor or recolor them all, then print. Projects like this overwhelm me and, so, they tend to sit until someone gets upset with me and demands to know when I'm going to get to it. So, yeah, it's just been sitting downstairs, propped up against the wall, waiting for my motivation to kick in. Now, I have the supplies and the printer to do this all my self for $0!  I think that lit a fire under my motivation ;)

Hopefully, I can share the finished collage soon!

Paint it Black

I have tried to become more colorful. I just can't help it. I like BLACK. I don't wear much color. I just don't think it looks right on me...most days. I will don a pink or a red shirt, occasionally, but, most of the time, I am in black. I've done a little better with decorating around the house and have really tried not to use too much black, but in my office ~my space~ ... black is becoming predominant. I did paint the walls pink and opted to go with a white desk and white Battenberg Lace curtains, but black is slowly making it's way to the top as the accents are put into place.

Here is some stuff I'm painting black today....

Here are some songs about black that I like....

Pearl Jam ~ Black

Johnny Cash ~ Man in Black

And, of course, I must include the Rolling Stones ~ Paint it Black ;)

Miss Lollypop & a Cubby Re-Do

I made a trip to Re-Store (the Habitat for Humanity Thrift Store) yesterday and found this adorable vintage Avon Miss Lollypop Cologne Mist for only $1.00! I had to have her and she is now residing in my office.

 

I did a quick search to see what I could find out about her. I believe she was produced in the late '60s. I found an advertisement from 1967...

I'm pleased with my office redecoration project so far, but there is still lots to do! I decided it was about time to tackle this messy corner...

That cubby is just a big old junk magnet. I keep shoving stuff in there and it really makes the corner look awful. I was inspired to do something with it after seeing photos of Cathe Holden's awesome bins.

I started the project, a few weeks ago, by searching for bins that would fit in the cubby. I didn't have any luck finding bins the right size and I was anxious to get this project started (and finished!), so I decided to try and make my own. I trotted out to the garage and found a bunch of matching cardboard boxes. With a few cuts and folds and some spray paint, I ended up with perfect bins and they only cost me the price of a couple cans of spray paint!

 

After spraying them completely black, I decorated them with scrapbook paper and then went on a hunt for just the right labels for the fronts. I've been searching for just the right labels for a couple days now, but nothing was tickling my fancy. I'm trying to do this project super cheap and use supplies already on hand, but the labels were stumping me. I made a trip to the scrapbook section at Hobby Lobby to see if I could get some inspiration. I did! I found some lovely die cut cardstock labels that were beautiful....BUT....the wrong colors. I went ahead and got them anyway, picked out my favorite and slapped it on the scanner. Next, I converted it to gray scale and then added some pale pink to match my walls. I chose one of my favorite fonts, typed up the descriptions, printed on parchment paper and VIOLA!...I had labels that I was very pleased with :) Next, I cut out each one and glued to the appropriate bins. Something was missing. I decided to add tiny black brads and then I was done. 

Here is the cubby corner now...

I think it still needs some decorating and I might do some more bins for those bigger cubbies in the center, but it really is a whole lot better than it was! It's amazing how much easier it is to stay organized when everything has it's own little home ;)

Grey Gardens

I first became aware of Big Edie and Little Edie Bouvier Beale yesterday after catching some posts by a FaceBook friend. She was posting clips from a documentary made in 1975. These ladies were the aunt and first cousin of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. Their story is absolutely fascinating. I knew I had to see that documentary and went on a mad hunt to find it. Well, NetFlix presented me with a "Very Long Wait". But, then I discovered that HBO made a movie with Jessica Lange (Big Edie) and Drew Barrymore (Little Edie) and it was on last night! Of course, I had to watch. It was fabulous! Even Mr. NeverBored like it ;) I can't compare the performances to the real thing just yet, but I thought the movie was wonderful. I have plans to watch the documentary as soon as I can.

Original Trailer from Grey Gardens, the documentary (1975):

Trailer from Grey Gardens, the HBO movie (2009):

Vanity Bench Re-Do

Trying, desperately, to convince myself that I am not coming down with the sickness Thing 2 had last week, I have been strangely creative and productive today. I have been crossing things off the old To Do List like mad.

Here is another project that has been sitting on the back burner. We needed a small seat for the desk in the bedroom where Mr. NeverBored's computer resides.  I found this cute little vanity bench a few months back at the Habitat for Humanity Thrift Store. A bargain at about $7. I ran right out to Jo-Ann's, with 40% off coupon in hand, and got some upholstery fabric that would match the bedroom. Next, I borrowed the staple gun from our neighbor. I had good intentions to finish this project quickly, but, well, yeah. Last week, the neighbor requested that I return his staple gun because he didn't think I was going to get around to the project any time soon :O So, Mr. NeverBored has been using the bench as is, with upholstery fabric draped over it since it came in the door.

Today, I was rummaging in my closet and came across an old staple gun I forgot about and decided to tackle the bench project. The staple gun didn't work. Not about to be thwarted so easily, I, very nicely in my pitiful sick voice, asked Mr. NeverBored if he would ask the neighbor if he could borrow the staple gun. He, being quite helpful during my sickness (and not wanting to incur the wrath of a crazy sick woman) trotted out the door. Several minutes later, after some much deserved ribbing from the neighbor, he returned with staple gun in hand. Thirty minutes later (and a few months, give or take), we have a "new" seat in the bedroom...

I happen to like the "shabby chic" look, so my plans to refinish the wood handles and paint the metal bits are on hold. I may or may not get around to that.

The Puppy Ate My Slippers...

Well, not completely. He started to eat them and I caught him in the act. He did manage to chew the buttonhole off one strap. I love these snuggly slippers and being the cheapskate that I am these days (plus trying to get better about recycling, reusing, re-whatevering), I decided to try and salvage them instead of tossing and buying a new pair. I am also a big packrat. I have a hard time throwing or giving things away. The  advantage to this is that when I decide to take on a project, I usually have the needed supplies on-hand. Last year, I did a craft supply reorganization and, luckily, most of my supplies are organized in plastic bins with labels so I can quickly find what I need.

Here are the chewed up slippers that need some help:

First, I started looking at my stash of ribbon thinking I would make ends from some ribbon and then sew in a buttonhole. Nothing matched. Probably a good thing, since this would have been more work and equipment than I felt like dealing with today while nursing a cold. Then I noticed the large stack of felt I got from Freecycle a while back. I have big plans for that stack of felt, but a couple little pieces for a slipper fixer upper won't matter.

I decided on the same end pieces and buttonholes that I was going to do with ribbon, but was much happier with this new plan because the felt would be soooo much easier to work with because the edges wouldn't ravel. BUT! I needed to know how to do a nice decorative edge since I haven't done much sewing with felt. A quick search on the Interweb landed me on Futuregirl.com and an AWESOME tutorial about blanket and whip stitching. That, in turn, led me to another most fabulous tutorial on how to tie the perfect knot...something I have struggled with for years. Check out HELLOmynameisHeather and learn to tie perfect little knots!

With the plan in mind and the new skills researched, it was time to get busy. I used the good strap and made a pattern for a little slipcover to go over the ends of both straps.  Each slipcover takes two pieces.

 

I was so excited that I was actually being crafty and creative (AND sick), that I didn't take any more photos until the project was complete. Basically, I just sandwiched the damaged strap ends between two pieces of felt and did a blanket stitch around the edges. Next, I cut a slit for the buttonhole and did a blanket stitch around the edges of that. Done!

Here are my good-as-new slippers!

Close up pic of the new felt ends:

I think I have a couple more chewed up slippers that I couldn't bear to part with, so I might be doing this project again ;) Oh, and another good thing about this project...it was the first chance I've gotten to really try out my new chair! It was a great place to sit and do some hand sewing :)

Spring Storm

The forecasts have been  teasing us with reports of up to two feet of snow. So far, all we've gotten here is a bunch of icky, slushy mush. The girls were hoping for one more big dumping of snow and some good sledding. We still have tomorrow to get through, so who knows. It's Spring in Colorado.

I was watching the slush come down earlier today and noticed a squirrel poking his nose out of one of our birdhouses in the backyard. I ran to get the camera and was lucky enough to catch him still peering out when I returned...

Thrifty Chair Re-do

When I  rearranged my office, I really wanted to make room for a comfy chair. A chair for visitors, a chair for me, a place to sit in my office besides at the desk. As the saying goes...I have champagne taste and a beer purse. Therefore, I've been, ahem, ~sitting~ on this project for a while.

I was at the thrift store the other day and spotted a sad little pink chair for only $6.99. Now, I have lots of these types of projects around here...you know, pick it up cheap, have all kinds of plans, never get around to the plans. I knew if I got the chair, I was going to have to do something with it fast or Mr. NeverBored would give it the old heave ho. So, long story short, I got the chair and within a week the project is complete! I believe this may be a new record for me.

This project consisted of: 1 sad pink velour chair ($6.99 thrift store purchase), 1 black satin sheet set ($6.00 thrift store purchase), 1 roll of pink organza wired ribbon ($4.00 ~ half off! ~ at Hobby Lobby), some safety pins (about $1 at Wal-Mart), old beat up throw pillow ($0), and one pair of old silver cherub earrings ($0) = $17.99

Basically, I just draped first one sheet and then the other and tucked and pinned until the fit was just right. For the pillow, I stuffed the old throw pillow into the satin pillowcase, folded over the top, pinned in place, tied a pink bow around the whole thing and that was it!

Check out my $17.99 Thrift Chair Re-do!

BEFORE...

AFTER!

I do think it looks better in person. It's difficult to photograph black satin in a dark, downstairs OfficeCave. Oh, looking at this photo, I see that one of my next projects needs to be to tackle all that junk on the bookcase behind the chair ;)

Here is a close-up photo of the organza bow with little cherub earring decoration. I really wanted some big, gaudy rhinestone brooches in the bow centers, but didn't have any on hand.

Has my creative funk lifted? I sure hope so...

Sick Kids...Creative Funk...

Not much going on besides sick kids and my creativity being in a funk.  I did manage to ~finally~ get this blog into a 3-column layout. I have hundreds of projects I want to try, a screen printing machine to figure out, dolls to play with, more redecoration projects for the office....but, it seems nothing is getting accomplished. I hope this funk will lift soon...

LISTEN!

Brother JB wants me to blog, so blog, Brother JB, I will ;) I <3 our local radio station...KRFC. I listen quite a bit, but almost always try to make time for Damaged Hearing with Louis Fowler on Tuesdays from 1pm to 3pm MT and The Rock & Roll Clubhouse with Brother JB on Wednesdays from 1pm to 3pm MT. Louis makes me giggle (not to mention, what a hot genius he is ;) and Brother JB brings on the ROCK! Both guys make radio worth listening to! During the shows, we have a little party on FaceBook and that makes listening even more fun.

Check it out!  http://krfcfm.org/listen.php

Number, please?

Someone is ~always~ asking me for a phone number. Someone ~always~ expects me to drop whatever it is I am doing and find the number they want RIGHT NOW. Every time someone does this, I tell myself, "Make that phone list and slap it on the fridge!" Today, I decided to make that phone list. I spent too much time looking for a cute printable phone list on the web and came up with zilch. I decided to make my own. Feel free to print it out and end your someone's demands. I would love a little credit, if you decide to share it ;)

Click the photo above to download the PDF file.

April Fools!

This year, I was prepared to pull some April Fool pranks on the girls ;) I decided to add some fun to their school lunches. I cut an apple in half, cut out a "bite" and made a small hole. I stuck a couple gummy worms in the hole and one near the bite mark...

Next, I removed a granola bar from it's wrapper, put in a carrot and sealed it back with double sided tape.

I had also planned to make Green Eggs and Ham for breakfast, but forgot that Thing 2 had Student Council and had to be at school extra early. Maybe I'll do breakfast for dinner.

Happy April Fool's Day!