NESTING......................

Recently I participated in a NEST SWAP over at viv on a whim's and my partner was Debby over at Cozy Blanket.

My nest is just so darn sweet I had to show it off.  She took a small wooden box and filled it with excelsior, and a sweet old doily, then made a little paper and yarn bunting for the outside. 

 

She loaded it with goodies like these morning glory seeds that will be planted this weekend.

                                                            very vintage pink pearl buttons

 

 

                                                       This cute postcard that says it best..............

                                                      These adorable tags she made herself................

She also added these birdie scrapbook  goodies that I haven't put on anything yet but will.

 

She sent this very old glass bird that she says is older than her....and these plastic eggs--there were more  but one of our cats Mato---keeps taking them and chewing on them.  The chewed one was in her food dish the same day I put the nest on my work table in my studio.  She loves to lay up there because  it has a glass top on most of it and is either warm when the chandelier light is on or is cool when the light is off.  I don't know why she is so attracted to the plastic eggs but she is a cat and does what she likes. 

 

This adorable little golden book was also in my surprise and I love it. Debby sent it for my grandchildren and they will all be reading this. Thank you so much Debby I love the swap but especially love our new friendship that has grown over the course of the swap.

 

This is the nest I sent Debby.......................

 

 

I repurposed an old wooden bowl and covered it with the edge of an old bedpread and a vintage tea dyed doilie.  I had these letters to add, a vintage glass ornament, a vintage rhinestone earring, a 1920 post card and a LOVE IS...post card.  The dowel is from an old sewing factory.  I also sent a jar of huckleberry honey...huckleberries being wild berries from our neck of the US.

Around The House and How Make Your Own Chalk Paint

I know many of you have lists of 'to do's inside and outside and I sure do.  Recently I decided to start with the cabinets in my studio.  I scored these at a flea market for $45 and thought it was a great find.

They were originally a very mustardy yellow and they just didn't go in my hot pink studio.

 

 So I grabbed a can of "kilz" and covered the yellow with one coat.

 I had some hot pink outdoor paint for our little clubhouse/workshop(depending on who is in there---the   grand 'kidlets'  or myself)  so threw that in a plastic tub.

                        It was a little intense, so I toned it down with some white acrylic paint.

                                     I then pulled some plaster of paris out of the cupboard.

                                                I threw a cupful into the paint mixture.

 Gave it a good whisking to get the lumps out........ and VOILA   my own 'chalk paint'

                             I applied it to the cabinets and this is what it looks like now!!

 

 I had extra paint and also this little  thing I picked up at the Goodwill for $3.  I knew what I wanted to do so painted it a few coats and here it is now..............

 

I loved the little bottles and knew right away I wanted to turn this into a flower holder and put it on our dining room table.  So here it is with tulips from the garden.  I will be able to put other types of flowers in there from now until winter.

What all are you working  on?

 

I LOVE Mail

I was so surprised when I received an unexpected package in the mail last week.  I didn't recognize the return address and had no idea who was sending me anything.

So I opened the package and then this box to reveal a pair of very pretty handmade earrings.

 

 The card inside was from Blue Finch Jewelry  and then I remembered.  A few months ago, I was involved in a "GROW YOUR BLOG HOP"  over at Vicki's site and visited   Rachel's Blog.  She is a jewelry artist and said she would make a pair of earrings for everyone who had stopped by.  I never gave it a second thought.

And now, "VOILA"  I own a very special pair of earrings.  Thank You so much Rachel! It was such a sweet and unexpected gift.  I have been working in the yard and decided to put them on immediately.

I told Rachel it is never inappropriate to look and feel like a Diva, even when you are weeding!

Please go visit Rachel, check out her jewelry and give her a shout out!