Under a blue moon

New shelves

Rick and I went to Ikea on Thursday afternoon and bought the largest size Expedit bookcase they sell.  It is about six feet by six feet and each cubby is about 13 inches square. 

It actually went together pretty quickly.  This is a very heavy, sturdy bookcase.  It comes in a million pieces and includes non-verbal instructions (just a little happy guy or a sad guy depending on how well you follow direction).

I bought the white boxes at Ikea too - only a few years ago.  They still sell them only I think the corners are different now.

The baskets I bought at Cost-Plus World Market.  They are made out some kind of strapping material and are my favorite shade of taupe.  They were only $6.99 a piece and came in a number of other colors.  I found them in the bathroom area, not the basket area. 

I cleared out my craft closet of any art/craft related product and left the sewing stuff in there.  Now I can finally get at all my decorating magazines.  Most are from defunct publications so I can't bring myself to part with them.  The magazines take up four cubbies along the bottom row.  I bought those magazine holders at Ikea a few years ago and lord only knows why I bought black instead of white.  I may have to replace them.  

The next shelf up holds all my decorating and craft books. 

I love how everything is contained, yet easily accessible and identifiable.  The boxes all have labels on them and I'll add tags to the baskets (even though I can see right into them).  

I had to paint all the lids to my jars so they match.  I think I might be getting a tad compulsive about things matching and lining up. 

I have plenty of space in the various boxes and baskets so I have growing room.

 I can't tell you how many times I rearranged the items on the shelves until I could get them as symmetrical as possible. 

Next week I have to tackle the craft closet which will now be solely used as a sewing closet.  It looks like a bomb went off in there.

I couldn't get a picture of the entire thing straight on because the dining room table was in the way. But you get the idea.  I'm very happy with how this turned out.

Belle likes it too.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Friday's Favorites

flickr favorites

 

• I just found the mother lode.  Awesome photography blog with excellent tutorials and TONS of free actions for Photoshop Elements!:  Coffee Shop Photography
• Great rubber stamp resource.  These are my kind of stamps:  Invoke Arts
• I love almostbunnies' Flickr set on her apartment.  She took a teeny space and made it so light and soothing.  And organized!
• Beautiful collection of images on It's Mary Ruffle Tumblr page (via gathering spriggs).
• And it wouldn't be a Friday's Favorite without an Etsy offering.  Love this necklace from Blond Chick Studio.  Can't you see it with a floaty, Summery dress?

Happy Friday Everyone!!

 

I'm here! I'm here!

I didn't mean to wander off like that.  As usual it's not like I had anything interesting going on to occupy or distract me.  

I've been feeling a little bit out of sorts lately.  I have had a headache for going on three weeks now and my annual ocular migraine decided to show up six times in the same time period.  I figured it was time to put aside my aversion to doctors and go see my family practitioner.  

We have ruled out a brain tumor.  I was driving home when my doctor called and cheerfully said "CT scan was negative!  You have absolutely nothing up in that head of yours."  Gee, thanks. 

My blood pressure, on the other hand, has been borderline high for about a year now and since my efforts to lose a few pounds has been resoundingly unsuccessful she said that she would start me on a low dose high blood pressure medicine and if I ever get around to getting in shape she'll take me off of it. 

I can't take the standard issue blood pressure medication because I swell up at the slightest provocation.  So she put me on a water pill which has kind of an old fashion ring to it.

I've always prided myself on not having to take any prescription medicines.  A couple of months ago an allergist put me on a nightly antihistamine (again with the puffing up business) and now the water pill.  I bought one of those little pill minder boxes and now I feel wretchedly old.  Like I have one foot in the grave.  I might as well get a walker and start stuffing my handkerchief in the sleeve of my housecoat.

On to more cheerful topics, shall we?

I finally got my ruffler attachment!  Now I just have to fine tune my ruffling skills.  Who knew there was a learning curve?  I think I have to play around with different weights of fabrics, along with the ruffler settings.  But watch this spot - ruffles coming soon!

And the daffodils are in riotous bloom.  That was the best back-breaking afternoon spent planting a bobillion daffodil bubs about five years ago.  They come back in ever increasing profusion every year.

I am also in the midst of rearranging my dining room/office to make it more craft friendly.  It dawned on me that it was a bit ridiculous to keep the space as a dining room since we entertain in here about once every ten years.  Yes, it looks nice but I am tired of having no room to spread out to work on projects.   Part of the problem is that all my crafting stuff is jammed into a small closet and in order to get to anything I have to remove half the contents.  Then put it all back.

So we rearranged the furniture, freeing up an entire expanse of wall and we are going to put in a large book case so I can have everything out and accessible. 

More on that soon.  I'm hoping we can get started on it this weekend (oops - better go tell Rick that before he reads it here on my blog....) and I'll take pictures of the progress.  I'm expecting that the folks at "Where Women Create" are going to want to talk to me....

 
 

Friday's Favorites

Flickr Favorites

• I realize this etailer is in the UK but they ship internationally (and who knows - maybe I have a UK reader or two out there - this is for you).  And if nothing else there are some great inspriration photos:  Pale & Interesting (via Elements of Style)
• Amazing photography blog:  Piewacket
• Free fonts.  You're welcome.
• I've ordered a number of items from this Etsy seller so I can unequivocally say her stuff is gorgeous.  And I covet this bracelet.
• I do believe I need this bird cage . (I might even get over my hang up of having real live caged birds).

Happy Friday Everyone!! 

 

palais de poulet

Redwood Stone

I've been looking for chicken coop inspiration.  In order to give Rick some guidance when he builds me my chicken palace. 

The Posh Shed

I seem to be drawn to gothic details.  Not sure about the color of this one.  Maybe in a greyed green.

Hooked on Houses

Ooh - this might be my favorite.  Love the detail on the door and the bird house is kind of a cute, if not ironic, detail.

Gardensheds

This one is nice and simple.  Love the detail of the roof.

Okay this last one might be over the top, even for me.  Even though I still maintain that I need a conservatory some where on the property.

Tanglewood Conservatories   

Printemps Fièvre

I've decided to do all my boring blog titles in French (thank you LeslieMichele). 

31 days and counting.  Until Spring.  We had a gorgeous taste of it last weekend but we have rain on the forecast for this weekend.   I have that itchy, need to go play in the dirt feeling.  

I have grand plans to plant a few new rose bushes.  I say grand because my luck with roses has been kind of spotty here in Granite Bay.  We have a big old trellis/over hang thingie off the deck and it would be perfect for Cecile Brunner roses.    I also have to replace a rose bush along the driveway that up and died last year.  It was fine one day and the next, not so much.  Same thing happened to a couple of them along the back side of the deck. 

I suspect voles.  They have an entire underground kingdom in these parts. 

Other than the daffodils that are starting to come up the yard is still a bit gloomy looking.  Indoors though - my African Violets have Spring Fever too.  They are blooming like mad.   It will have to tide me over until the rest of the yard wakes up.

What is on your Spring Gardening to do list? 

 

Under a Blue Moon - Weekend Edition

I love buying used decorating books from Amazon.  Most times they have been looked at once and then resold for the price of a magazine.  I just received White on White by Stephanie Hoppen.  I love an all white decorating scheme.  Seems wildly impractical yet so soothing. 

I decided to just go with it and redo the bedding in the guest room.  I just have to keep her royal majesty out of there.  She likes to nap right in the spot where the sun is starting to hit.  She thinks it is her room. 

I was going through my bedding to see what I could use and I found a matlesse coverlet that I have absolutely no recollection of buying.  I must have been sleep-shopping.

When I got up this morning Rick said "oh!  Are you ready to spend the day doing yard work?"  I called his bluff and said "why yes I am."  It didn't go well after that.  Next thing I know I'm wielding a rake, I'm sprayed down to within an inch of my life with mosquito repellent (the rest of you don't need this.  You just need me in the vicinity.  No mosquito will bother you if I am within 100 yards) and I was using muscles I thought we had evolved away from.

It's lovely living on five, tree covered acres.  Until the Fall when twelve metric tons of leaves fall, get sodden and need dealing with.  Ricks blows them into strategic piles in the Fall and early Spring he loads them up into his trailer and takes them to the dump (this involves three or four trips) - all while I am changing the bedding in the guest room. 

This year I decided to help.  It's raking leaves, how hard can it be?

Next year we are getting field hands, that's all I'm saying.  I've never been so dirty and sore in my entire life.  And the sad thing is we are only halfway done.  And that's not even the worst of it.  The trees are budding!  There are brand new leaves developing as we speak!

Where's that cat?  I need to take a nap with her.

 

 
 

Friday's Favorites

Flickr Favorites

 

• Still on a bird kick - love this cake stand from RSH
• Love this {free!} umbrella image.  I have it as my laptop background
• Another new to me food and photos blog:  Bonbini!
• Might as well keep with the bird theme:  Bird kiss-lock clutch (via Laura DePonte) 
• I found what I want to do when I grow up:  Address envelopes

 Have a Happy Friday Everyone!

Valentine Box

I think the hardest part of blogging is coming up with catchy blog titles.  "Valentine Box" just reels you right in, doesn't it?  (insert rolly eye icon....)

A couple of weeks ago I went to Michael's and just started loading stuff up in my basket.  I bought a couple of different sized heart-shaped cardboard boxes and assorted ribbons and trims. 

The boxes just sat on my dining room table, patiently waiting for inspiration to strike.  Yesterday I decided to decoupage them.  As is wont to happen around here - I slap on a layer.  Think on it a bit.  Slap on another layer and repeat until I feel the object is done.  I rarely have a plan when I get started.

I took an old French ledger sheet and scanned it, then printed it.  Did the same with a couple of French postcards (just the backsides).  I decoupaged the sides of the box with the ledger and the top of the box with the postcards. 

Let it stew for a bit.  Then glued on some ribbon.  Rummaged through my trims and found a vintage gold rickrack and glued that on. 

I had a circle of tulle that I gathered and glued on the lid of the box, then I topped it with some crepe paper that I pleated.  I let it sit over night and this morning decided the finishing touch would be a pressed brass heart and some more pleated crepe paper.

Decoupaging is a funny thing.  First of all I don't think Mod Podge has changed their packaging since the 70's.  Second, there is always that moment when you start glueing on pieces of paper and it all starts to wrinkle and buckle and you are sure you have ruined things.  But when it dries it all looks fine. 

 

Book report

Gosh - I haven't done a proper book report in over a year!  It's not like I haven't been reading or anything.  It's my second favorite past-time.

Here are few notables (good and not so good).

A number of the books I say I 'read' I actually listened to in the car while driving to and fro my father's house.  It's a two and half hour drive and nothing makes the time go by quicker than listening to a good book on tape (or cd or iPod, as the case may be).  

This is one I listened to and I think the narrator's delivery helped enhance the story.  I initially thought that Beth Hoffman's "Saving CeeCee Honeycutt" was a paler version of "Secret Life of Bees" but part of that may have been due to the fact it was narrated by the same person.  

Yes it is a coming of age story of a young girl who loses her mother and has a less than sympathetic father but I think the books stands on its own merit.  All of the characters are immensely likable (or at least understandable) and nicely fleshed out in the story. 

And I love any book that includes house descriptions.  Part (most actually) of the story takes place in CeeCee's great aunt's Savannah mansion and I wanted to move into the sleeping porch with her. 

Oh Anita.  Why do your characters have to be so utterly unlikable? 

Anita Shreve's "A Change in Altitude" is the story of a young couple, living in Africa while the husband, a doctor, is doing research.  A tragedy occurs and by the end of the book you are wishing it had happened to all of the main characters. 

Yet something about Anita Shreve's writing keeps you hanging on until you get to the end and throw the book down with disgust. 

I think the characters are supposed to be understandable or relateable but mostly you just want to slap them. 

I had a big issue with a plot line involving a minor character never being resolved.  It's like the author forgot about him when trying to wrap up the story.  Maybe she was just as anxious to be done with it as I was.

 Amy Stewart's "From the Ground Up" is a little gem of a book.  It is the memoir of the author's first little garden in Santa Cruz, CA.  I picked it up because this time of year I want a little gardening inspiration and because the author was gardening on a small scale in a climate familiar (and in some ways similar) to the one I am in.

The book chronicles her rookie mistakes and her successes in creating a small garden in Northern California.  One of my favorite features of the book is that at the end of each chapter there is a short how-to section, based on her own trial and errors. 

It's a sweet, easy read of one woman's experience getting to know her garden.

This review is more for an entire series, rather than a single title.  I recently discovered M. C. Beaton and her Hamish MacBeth series. The first of which is "Death of a Gossip".

This is a non-treacly mystery series that takes place in the Scottish Highland.  Hamish MacBeth loves his small town of Lochdubh and will do anything, including resisting promotion, in order to stay the town's detective. 

Death of a Gossip is the first in the series but I found that I could skip around the series pretty easily.  M. C. Beaton has charming, reoccuring characters (including MacBeth's cat and dog) in each book. You feel like you are just picking up where you left off no matter which book in the series you are reading.

I would classify this a cozy mystery, yet sophisticated enough to keep you interested. 

One of my favorite things is discovering a prolific author that I haven't heard of before.  When I get through the Hammish MacBeth series I am going to move onto her Agatha Rasin series.