Under a blue moon

1.31.12

Just so you can see it's not all kittens and sunshine around here.  I've had two crafty failures in a row.

I find Pinterest a wonderful source of inspiration.  I mean really - have you ever seen so many different craft projects featured in one place before?  See a pretty picture - click on it to see the source.  It's brilliant.  

My goal this year is to try as many of them as I can.  I'll look at a picture and think "Hmmmm.  Wonder if I could do that  - if it would actually turn out."  

Not always is the answer.   And I fault myself - not the original sources.  

The first was to try to paint something to look like zinc.  Like the ever popular Anthropologie letters.  Here is the inspiration: Zinc Inspired Letters 

I took my Ikea Fira chest and decided it might be kind of cool if it looked like it was made out of zinc.  Since I have an original Anthropologie zinc letter I used it for comparison.  I could not get it to look like zinc to save my life.  I painted it black.  Then I applied a coat of the pearl paint in long, uninterrupted strokes.  The black showed through very streaky like.  So I put on another coat of the pearl paint.  Too light now.  I dabbed on some watered down raw umber (my solution to age anything).  Still not right.

I believe the issue is the wood grain.  I think this project would work much better on smooth cardboard like the tutorial depicts.   I finally gave up.  I painted all five drawers and then abandoned ship.  I think I'll try this next: DIY Lacquer Lookalikes  

I think it is safe to say I won't be going into the felt flower business. However I am not completely giving up on this project.  

Here is the inspiration - go ahead click on it and then come back and laugh at my attempt.  I sure did: Mother's Day Corsage 

Okay - I've pinpointed my issues.  First of all I should have just stuck with one color.  However I didn't have enough of one color in my felt stash so I tried (and failed) an ombre effect.  Secondly my gluing skills suck.  I needed to glue my petals closer together and more evenly.  

I'm not giving up on this - I'll try again with new felt. 

You can't alway be perfect right out of the gate.  Sometimes it takes a little practice.

Speaking of practice tomorrow I am starting an online photography class.  It goes along with my picture a day project.  Instead of just random pictures I'll be sticking with a theme for the month of February.  And I'll get some expert critiquing on my photos.  You'll see my work each Sunday.  

 

1.29.12

The week in review:

January 23 - My mantel

January 24 - My breakfast (frozen oatmeal which I still maintain is a brilliant idea)

January 25 - The girls taking advantage of the sunshine

January 26 - The verdigris experiment 

January 27 - I think this is my favorite photo of the week.  Sequins in a vase.

January 28 - Lemon loaf.  Recipe and photo styling inspiration found here.

January 29 - Milk glass collection.  If I could sort out the lighting this might make for a good blog banner.

 

 

Friday's Favorites

Flickr Favorites (please click link to see the source of these beautiful images)

• My friend (and coworker) has the most adorable Etsy shop - Springdream.  She has some nice pieces for Valentine's Day.  Especially love the Sparrow with Love Letters necklace
• DIY Lanterns - these are lovely for a wedding, shower, just because...
• In case you were wondering how to make your own bouquet out of vintage brooches
• Good manners are always appropriate.  And make for a cute sign. 
• I love this story about a French bank forgiving some of it's poorest client's debts. 

It is gloomy and grey here in Northern California.  That's okay though - we need the rain and we'll just appreciate the pretty, sunny days all the more (when they get here).  Not much planned for this weekend except for a friend's birthday celebration on Saturday.  

I still haven't gotten around to putting the binding on the one and only semi-full sized quilt I've ever made (okay it's a lap quilt but at least it isn't a baby quilt or table-topper).  So maybe I'll try to work on that.   

Oh!  One of the chickens finally laid an egg!  I thought they had gone entirely on strike and would never lay again.  But today we had an egg!  The days must be getting longer. 

1.26.12

Last Friday I linked to a project that outlined the steps for speed verdigrising brass objects.  I thought I would give it a try.

I'm always so suspicious of DIY things I see on Pinterest with a cheery caption that it is super easy (I'll tell you about my efforts to give something a zinc like paint job in a couple of days).

This project, however, lived up to the hype.  

All you need is salt (I used Kosher), apple cider vinegar (I would hazard a guess that any vinegar would do) and some brass objects.  I found that once I was in the selection process that I didn't want to offer up too many of them for this project.  

I forgot how pretty some of my pieces are.  I really need to figure out something to do with them.  But I digress.

Evidently the age of your vinegar has no bearing on the project.  Mine expired in 2007, as is evident by all the sediment at the bottom of the bottle.  I really need to clean out my pantry.

I mixed one tablespoon of salt and three tablespoons of vinegar in a small container.  Then I plunked in my brass pieces and let them soak for about 30 minutes.  I was conducting this experiment in the kitchen but the smell of old apple cider vinegar was overwhelming so I moved my operation out to the garage.  

After 30 minutes I removed my pieces from their bath and put them on a paper towel to dry.  An hour or so later I repeated the process. I think I did this about four times total.  Each time I could see them getting a little greener.  This morning, after letting them dry over night they were in the state you see here.  

The original steps, taken from a Sommerset publication and outlined on Good Grief Girdie's blog say to preserve your verdigris by sealing it with a coat of varnish.

Not sure what I am going to do with my little experiment but it was fun to test out.

Note:  The place I purchased my stamped brass pieces is Fancifuls. Fabulous selection. 

1.22.12

Okay - trying something new here.  You know I'm trying to do a picture a day for the entire year.  I was thinking on Sundays I could do the week in review.  We'll see how it goes.

1/16 - Cleaned my garage.  I bought pretty (to me) containers for bird seed and dusted the cobwebs out of my garden clogs and wellies.

1/17 - Took a walk out to the creek to check things out before the rain started.

1/18 - New feeders are up and are successful!  Note:  We do not get colorful birds here in No. California.  These are quite glamorous. 

1/19 - Playing with flash.  

1/20 - Eight years ago my mother passed away.  Not a day goes by that I don't think of her and miss her.  In her honor I bought white flowers and put them in a blue and white vase.

1/21 - Hello - this looks like a repeat.  I was just playing with the light (the 1/19 was taken at night, with a flash).  

1/22 - I am SOOO coming back as a cat in my next life.  

I hope this wasn't too boring.  I'll try not to use my daily pics in blog posts during the week so the images will be fresh and interesting. 

Friday's Favorites

Flickr Favorites (please click link to see the source of these beautiful images)

• Very clever way to repurpose an old dresser and disguise the fact it houses all sorts of electronic gizmos:  Disguised media center
• I love these coasters.  I would paint them white though.  These are pretty cute too.
• Adorable owl necklace (we have an owl we hear at night some time) (seriously - the necklace is so unique and so affordable)
• DIY Patina with vinegar and salt.  I have some brass charms - I'll try it next week and post my results
• Try not to smile while you watch this video.  Go ahead - just try

Happy Friday!!  We are finally getting some much needed rain around these parts.  I plan on staying inside the entire time and just puttering around the house.  I have a quilt binding to do so maybe I'll work on that.  

Hope everyone has a restful weekend planned!

1.18.12

This is what Winter looks like on our property.  

Our property has a creek running across it.  The only way to get to the other side is by crossing these teetery, wobbly suspension bridges (there are two of them).  The other side is left to its own devices - just wild and overgrown.  Two acres of oak trees, berry bushes and the occasional poison oak plant.  I know this because a few years back we were having a bit of a property line dispute with our neighbor (um hello?  That fence is 60 feet over onto our side of the property line....) and I had to run across the bridge and over to the corner of the property to talk to the surveyor and I got poison oak all over my bare ankles.   

I took this picture yesterday for part of my 366 project.  A picture a day for 366 days.  I started to do this last year and petered out by the end of January.  This year I've decided not to get to hung up if I miss a day here and there.  

The idea is to a.) Get used to taking pictures all the time.  And b.) Get better at taking pictures.  I suppose I can throw in c.) Get better at editing pictures.  

If anyone wants to follow along I'll be posting them in a Flickr set.  And occasionally you'll see a date stamped picture here on the blog.

1.16.12

I call this picture "waiting for Spring."  Garden shoes and wellies are by the ready.  

This is taken in my garage, lest you thing I keep my muddy shoes on the counter in my kitchen or something.  It also explains the chippy counter top and the cobwebs.  

I was actually trying to take bird themed photos for a blog post but the light wasn't cooperating with me outside so I can't show you my newly hung bird feeders.  

The two white cans on the workbench hold bird seed.   One holds Nyger Thistle seed and the other regular bird seed.  I bought the cans from Ikea and I love them.  Perfect creamy white.  Even utilitarian things can be lovely.

I did manage to get my garage cleaned this past weekend.  First Spring cleaning project completed.

Of course now I just need to wait for Spring to show up.  And the birds. 

Friday's Favorites

Flickr Favorites (please click link to see the source of these beautiful images)

• Adorable idea for a picnic or bbq (it's not bad enough I'm rushing Spring - now I'm talking Summer activities??)
• Another baking mystery revealed!  Make your own sprinkles!
• Vintagey looking labels via Martha and Staples.  
• Gorgeous earrings in my favorite combination: Gold and the palest turquoisey green or these - a little simpler but just as pretty
• I'm kind of all about lists lately, aren't I?  Well here a good one with solid organizing tips

I'm thinking what this blog needs is a lamb.  Don't you?  Think of the posts and photos it would generate.  I wonder if you can rent one each Spring and then turn it in when it starts chewing on your hydrangeas.  

I have a serious case of Spring Fever - it's the unseasonable weather we have been having.  I'm even thinking of launching into a Spring cleaning project this weekend - the Garage.  Ugh.  We shall see.  I may not be as motivated when I wake up on Saturday morning.

Have a splendid weekend everyone!

1.12.12

Form over function.  Yes I bought toothpaste merely because I liked the tube.  

It does get decent reviews but I have a notion they are from like minded people that want to justify spending $14 for a tube of stinking toothpaste.  

Ignore the date on the photo. I'm trying to do a 366 project (a photo a day for 366 days), similar to last year's.  Last year I made it until the end of January.  Let's see how long I last this time.