Firewood Box

Here is a super quick, one photo peek at a recent project.  It has been a while since I broke out the big power tools and did a wood working project.  I wanted a box for my firewood by the side of the wood stove in the living room.  Couldn't find a vintage one that was both the right size, sturdy enough and the right price.  So what to do?  I built myself one, that's what!  I had a bunch of old tongue and groove boards from an old carriage house my husband's coworker redid a while back.  I have used them for a bunch of other projects over the years and had enough still on hand for this one.  The best part?  From start to finish it only took two hours and I think it turned out great; just the way I had envisioned.

The wood inside the box at the corners is also from the same barn, but because it sports fresh saw blade cuts, it revealed its unweathered light color.  It will get beat up with a season of firewood passing through it and after leaving it outside next summer when it is not in use, it should all weather to a nice warm color.  I added the number on the side in honor of the old horse stalls in the original carriage house.  Hopefully, I'm not being too boastful, but I am quite pleased with myself.  And it was quite a refreshingly good feeling to make something for myself again without the burden of wondering if other people would like it, what to price it at and if it will sell at my spot.  Simply, a happy and productive afternoon. 

Happy Packaging, Again. A Special Presentation

I have showed you some special touches for wrapping packages in past posts.  Today, have a quick peek at two more.

For my niece's birthday, I wrapped this one by 'sewing' the edges of the package shut with vintage seam binding, as well at at the closure at the top.  I had previously color copied some fun vintage images onto sticker paper to have on hand for quick decorating.  I chose the images I wanted, cut them out with decorative edged scissors and did a quick peel and stick.  I added a vintage anagram letter for her initial and tied on a vintage key.  Lastly, using a vintage postal stamp that says "special delivery" I stamped the wrapping.  Something special for a special girl.

We recently hosted a craft night for some friends from church.  Teens did one project together in the dining room while moms gathered in the studio for something different.  I wanted the guests to feel special, so special invites were in order.  I fashioned the envelopes from vintage sheet music and ephemera with typed names attached.  Inside, a large packing tag tied with seam binding listed the invitation information.  I am planning on using the same format to make gift card holders for holiday gifts.  I'll be sure to show you a few when they are done.  In the meantime, happy crafting to you.

Free Range Chickens

I love living in a small town further out in the country than most city lovers would find comfortable.  I don't mind the smell of cows (and the corresponding cow pies), or the critters that make noise in the night, or the longer drives into the neighboring towns or cities to get what you need from the store.  I love that there are no traffic lights in town, save for three small flashing caution lights.  I love that the store clerks at the grocery store and the librarian know me by name.  I love that I can take the dogs out for an hour long walk on the neighborhood streets and only see a half dozen cars pass by.  I love that when the stars are out, you can really see them, without any distortion of city lights.  I love the quiet that surrounds me when I work out in the garden (provided the neighborhood barking dog is not out).  I love that I wake to birds and fall asleep to night peepers when the season is right and the windows are open.  And I love that I can be driving down the road and have to brake for free ranging chickens trying to get....you guessed it.  To the other side!  Had my camera with me, so I stopped to snap a couple photos.

This strutting rooster was out with his three best gals.

For kicks to see what he would do, I started making very quiet cocka-doodle-doo sounds.  He stopped dead in his tracks, puffed up his chest and let out a big "Halloo" of his own.

Then it was right back to busines of watching his girls and flicking up the dying grass in search of the almighty grub, and just looking handsome.  Thanks for stopping in.

Kitchen Nook

I realized today that I never showed you my new breakfast nook.  Remember when Heidi and I got to redecorating at the end of September?  The big cozy chair moved to where the 'nook' table used to be creating a new and different cozy nook.  That meant that where the chair used to be in the kitchen, we were ready to have a small breakfast nook take it's place.  I've always wanted an eat in kitchen that did not involve bar stools pulled up to the counter, which is what we've always had.  Well, with a little rearranging and a table purchase (old of course) we made it happen. 

Now that Kayleigh works so many nights, it is often just three of us for dinner.  This is a great, intimate space to come together at and share a cozy dinner.

Want to know a secret?  My kitchen is about to change again, but this time involving moving walls and adding a new cabinet and shelf section.  I have wanted to make changes to this room for 15 years to accommodate my love for baking.  Time has ticked by without any changes coming to fruition, but not any more.  By Christmas, I should have a new kitchen!  Yeah!!..I'll keep you posted as we move along.  Wish us success and calm under construction-during-the-holiday season pressure.  Thanks for stopping by.

Happy Thanksgiving

I wanted to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving.  What are you thankful for?  There are so many, many blessings bestowed on us.  What I am most thankful for?  My family.  They are a loving, happy, healthy, faith filled and good natured bunch.  I thank the Lord for them every day!  Enjoy the blessings of your day and those a head.

Home Collections

Well you've seen my collections that decorate the cottage, I thought you might like to see some of the ones at home.  There is something about collecting that just kind of seems to creep up on a person.  You have one item, like it  and one day add another.  A third finds it's way into your life and Voila, a collection is born.  We have had many "births" in our house!  I guess in one way, it's a form of creative therapy.  Amassing a group of items and coming up with a creative or eye catching way to display them, keeps the creative brain cells regenerating.  And with all the things I seem to forget these days (the opening up a cupboard and wondering "why am I here?" syndrome) keeping some brain cells regenerating it a good thing!

More vintage tablecloths and vintage kitchen and pantry items add nostalgia and warmth to my dinning room.  The three tea cups above the linens are the only remaining three from my childhood collection.

As do a few vintage rolling pins displayed on a rack I built for them.

My grandmother collected blue plates for years.  I can remember looking at them and talking about them with her as I grew up.  Dozens graced her kitchen wall.  After she passed away, I was fortunate enough to receive several of the plates.  I display them in my dinning room in a fashion similar to how Grandma did in her kitchen.

I love vintage glassware.  I keep these glasses out on an open shelf in the kitchen so they are quick to grab for a drink.  I store them in these vintage caddies so I can quickly grab and tote a whole bunch of them to the table or counter when we have guests over.  It is fun for everyone to pick their own glass and easy to recall which one is theirs when they put it down and walk away from it.

I LOVE vintage aprons.  I wear one almost every day to clean, cook, garden or just feel good.  They hang in a stairwell leading to the studio.  They are right outside the kitchen for a quick grab to put one on.  And the ones left hanging make great eye candy every time I pass through to the studio.

I have just a couple of these vintage apron patterns and they hang up with the aprons.  A reminder of simpler days, when a house wife would fashion her own aprons according to taste and need.  Maybe one day, I'll make one from one of the old patterns to add a personal, but vintage touch to my collection.

And last, but not least, is my happy vintage clock collection.  My parents gave me the vintage homemade woodworker's display shelf as a birthday gift a couple years back.  I happily gathered all my vintage clocks from around the house and contained them all in a one place display.  I was actually surprised at how many I had amassed till they were all together.  Guess it's a good thing none of them work anymore or the ticking would drive me crazy.

What do you like to collect and why?  I wonder what the next collection may be.  Hmmm....

Off to the Ball

The girls' school holds a Fall Ball every November.  It is a semi-formal dance and dinner for all four grades at the highschool.  It is a great time for the girls.  A chance to dress up and do something grown up.  The school holds the dance at a very nice function facility in an old mill.  They can bring a date if they want or just come to be with friends, or both.  Heidi decided to go this year and invited a nice young man she knows from church and youth group.  They had a lot of fun and look how nice they looked.

Oh to be young again.....