What a week. No it was not the Blogger's Honeymoon that caused me to blog so much that first week, it was the fact that I had not started all these projects and a challenge to myself. Also, I made a run to the library and got a stack of books and I also this past week joined the Biggest Loser online club.
I somehow, unbeknownst to me, ended up with a really hardcore group of exercisers that are really into this stuff and sponsoring a challenge that I joined. We even had to publicly post our measurements added up and our weight (ouch!). It is what I need but the day is being devoted to hours of exercise (much like the people on the show). Ugh, I am sore, tired and not getting all the chocolate/cocoa and lattes that I love to have. Horrors,
I almost absent mindedly popped a chocolate clay rose into my mouth as I was putting up my Valentine's display. Caught myself in time though. That would have taken another hour trudging on the treadmill to work off.
Project update:
Today, when the dogs were taking their nap, I primed my plant stand in the back yard. I also, today, spotted a good color candidate on someone's garage door. They had just painted it and what a wonderful green shade it is. I also saw a blue that I found in a Painting Cottage Scenes on Shovels chapter of a decorative art book and what a blue it is - gorgeous. These are some choices but I also keep dallying back to simple shabby chic white.
I will photograph that garage door, surreptiously while no one is watching (I have to get out of my car to do this and this has attracted the attention before of an overzealous security guard on duty) and I will take that photo and have the paint guy/gal at the Depot match it. I will scan the shovel painting and have that matched too. These colors are ones to keep on hand, plus I can decide which one to use.
Well, my project is done and it is time to yet again go exercise.
Friday, February 29
Tuesday, February 26
Project update/Dog emergency
Did not end up even getting to furniture project. Had to rush my doggie to the vet. She is ok now, but am I glad I had all systems on go...
I always have a checklist for what must be done and always in place for a dog emergency. These things must be ready at all times.
1. Always have gas in the car.
2. Always have the ole credit card around.
3. Always have cell phone batteries charged up.
4. Know the emergency procedure, such as calling vet's office to know if I should keep driving or pull over and start dog cpr, and to let them know of what the incoming emergency is.
Whew. My dog still has some test results but it may have just been a nosebleed. She was doing one of those backward sneezes for a long time and as I checked on her I saw blood coming out of (what I thought) was her mouth.
Eeek. Scary situation. And could not reach Hubby or Sis. Finally did as the tech came out and asked me if I used any rat poison. I said no, we do not own rat poison. Yet I was told to check on the other dogs as the symptoms were showing as poisoning. I actually was quite calm as I drove home and ran in to check for more bleeding noses. The littlest dog appeared to have labored breathing and by then Sis and Hubby had come home and we rushed the littlest dog back up to the vet. She was fine and all were ok. Was not rat poisoning after all.
Goodness, what a circus and some totally shot nerves. Whew! am I glad though I have that emergency plan in place. I only need to make sure it includes some dressing options: I, of course, ditched any attempts at makeup, but in the commotion managed to run out of the house without keys, shoes or a bra (grabbed a sweatshirt though).
Anyway, back to furniture project challenge. I am getting the first series of sandings in. On a huge piece of furniture this sounds easier than it is and of not too much accomplishment - but it is. I am a stickler for sanding the underbelly and other hidden areas. No slap, sand and dash for me. I am using medium grade sandpaper and doing this as a start by hand and not the power sander.
And great news: I heard from my Easter Basket Swap buddy! She is from Australia. An awesome Aussie (sorry just could not resist that - love those Aussies). I think she has a blog but am not sure and she loves things from Micheals - yes - a fun basket to produce for her.
An odd footnote: my comments on other blogs keep coming up as 'anonymous'. How sort of creepy is that? Still need to learn some simple computer things such as putting my name on a comment.
I always have a checklist for what must be done and always in place for a dog emergency. These things must be ready at all times.
1. Always have gas in the car.
2. Always have the ole credit card around.
3. Always have cell phone batteries charged up.
4. Know the emergency procedure, such as calling vet's office to know if I should keep driving or pull over and start dog cpr, and to let them know of what the incoming emergency is.
Whew. My dog still has some test results but it may have just been a nosebleed. She was doing one of those backward sneezes for a long time and as I checked on her I saw blood coming out of (what I thought) was her mouth.
Eeek. Scary situation. And could not reach Hubby or Sis. Finally did as the tech came out and asked me if I used any rat poison. I said no, we do not own rat poison. Yet I was told to check on the other dogs as the symptoms were showing as poisoning. I actually was quite calm as I drove home and ran in to check for more bleeding noses. The littlest dog appeared to have labored breathing and by then Sis and Hubby had come home and we rushed the littlest dog back up to the vet. She was fine and all were ok. Was not rat poisoning after all.
Goodness, what a circus and some totally shot nerves. Whew! am I glad though I have that emergency plan in place. I only need to make sure it includes some dressing options: I, of course, ditched any attempts at makeup, but in the commotion managed to run out of the house without keys, shoes or a bra (grabbed a sweatshirt though).
Anyway, back to furniture project challenge. I am getting the first series of sandings in. On a huge piece of furniture this sounds easier than it is and of not too much accomplishment - but it is. I am a stickler for sanding the underbelly and other hidden areas. No slap, sand and dash for me. I am using medium grade sandpaper and doing this as a start by hand and not the power sander.
And great news: I heard from my Easter Basket Swap buddy! She is from Australia. An awesome Aussie (sorry just could not resist that - love those Aussies). I think she has a blog but am not sure and she loves things from Micheals - yes - a fun basket to produce for her.
An odd footnote: my comments on other blogs keep coming up as 'anonymous'. How sort of creepy is that? Still need to learn some simple computer things such as putting my name on a comment.
Monday, February 25
A Furniture Project
I have had a super busy weekend, whew, but it is Monday morning and I need to get to work on my furniture project. I am repainting my huge plant stand. I have washed it and need to go from there but have a case of furniture repainter's/repurposer's block. I just need to decide on a color.
I guess when we are in doubt we do the Shabby Chic color of white. That is so refreshing a dark dingy brown wood to a bright and light white!
I guess when we are in doubt we do the Shabby Chic color of white. That is so refreshing a dark dingy brown wood to a bright and light white!
Friday, February 22
Blogland & Projects
Well, I got one project, The Queen of Hearts done.
These blog swaps are a lot of fun!
I love the way I have done more, learned more in two weeks of having a blog that would have taken months for me to complete in blogless land. I am even learning computer skills, photography, the list goes on. It is amazing.
I woke up today and thought of actually lugging this huge heavy plant stand outside and priming it. I love reading how other ladies are repurposing and redoing old furniture - just makes ya want to get out the paint brush and go to town with any furniture you have.
These blog swaps are a lot of fun!
I love the way I have done more, learned more in two weeks of having a blog that would have taken months for me to complete in blogless land. I am even learning computer skills, photography, the list goes on. It is amazing.
I woke up today and thought of actually lugging this huge heavy plant stand outside and priming it. I love reading how other ladies are repurposing and redoing old furniture - just makes ya want to get out the paint brush and go to town with any furniture you have.
Thursday, February 21
Red
I have been working with red. Deep red, crimson red, Cardinal red, glitter icy red, rose red. I have almost completed the red things I will be using for my Queen of Hearts project.
I am making my own hearts and having to color them (crackerbox cardboard) also I am playing again with the fake crepe paper. I take my coffee filter (cone shaped type) and put some red acrylic paint on it. I want some different reds so I have been mixing different nuances of red...a drop more of blue here, a bit more orange for another color red.
Taking the coffee filter, I layered on several different reds, after a quick water wash as the first layer. I painted more red, different reds then waited for it to dry and topped with unthinned coat of red all over it - so several layers give an intense saturation and depth of color.
This is a very effective way to study color theory. I have always disliked the color theory part in art class or books and would blase over it. This way, mixing color and painting my own red hearts instead of purchasing ready made hearts makes color theory real and usable and definitely memorable.
I am going to be picking up crepe paper (a search for it led me to the local party supply store for the streamers) but it is nice to know I can use coffee filters in a pinch.
I am making my own hearts and having to color them (crackerbox cardboard) also I am playing again with the fake crepe paper. I take my coffee filter (cone shaped type) and put some red acrylic paint on it. I want some different reds so I have been mixing different nuances of red...a drop more of blue here, a bit more orange for another color red.
Taking the coffee filter, I layered on several different reds, after a quick water wash as the first layer. I painted more red, different reds then waited for it to dry and topped with unthinned coat of red all over it - so several layers give an intense saturation and depth of color.
This is a very effective way to study color theory. I have always disliked the color theory part in art class or books and would blase over it. This way, mixing color and painting my own red hearts instead of purchasing ready made hearts makes color theory real and usable and definitely memorable.
I am going to be picking up crepe paper (a search for it led me to the local party supply store for the streamers) but it is nice to know I can use coffee filters in a pinch.
Wednesday, February 20
'Poor Man's Gesso'
As is wont to happen when I do a project I can get sidetracked. As I started on the preliminaries of my Queen of Hearts project, I decided to make my own cardstock (or could be called 'poor woman's cardstock' - which really my motivation is to both repurpose a cracker box and have more coinage for emptying out the gold leaf aisle at Micheals this week).
While using this crackerbox I realized it needed a basecoat and as most artists I instinctively reached for my trusty bottle of gesso. As I did this I remembered during some research of paper mache a book had called (VOC free) White Latex paint 'The Poor Man's Gesso'. This is from an older book hence the somewhat chauvinistic slant to their namesake of this.
I like it! It is great and I am going to take my gesso bottle and refill with a bit of low voc white latex paint that always seems to be lurking in my garage.
While using this crackerbox I realized it needed a basecoat and as most artists I instinctively reached for my trusty bottle of gesso. As I did this I remembered during some research of paper mache a book had called (VOC free) White Latex paint 'The Poor Man's Gesso'. This is from an older book hence the somewhat chauvinistic slant to their namesake of this.
I like it! It is great and I am going to take my gesso bottle and refill with a bit of low voc white latex paint that always seems to be lurking in my garage.
Monday, February 18
A Swap
Getting ready for Easter Basket Swap. This is so exciting as some international bloggers are joining in. Partners are to be assigned this week. Pastels, glitter
and Easter bunnies and chicks. This is also a great chocolate Holiday!
I also want to make a little Queen of Hearts. I have always wanted to interpret this; and I want to use glitter, gold, and chocolate clay hearts.
Lots of chocolate and glitter and fun!
and Easter bunnies and chicks. This is also a great chocolate Holiday!
I also want to make a little Queen of Hearts. I have always wanted to interpret this; and I want to use glitter, gold, and chocolate clay hearts.
Lots of chocolate and glitter and fun!
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