a vase only a mother could love . . .

* Updated . . .

Lol ~ not really but I couldn't resist that title! Yep, I'm a nerd. Anyway, I found a handful of little bud vases packed away in a box today. I think they're pretty cute 'au naturel' but I thought it would be fun to brighten them up a bit!  

 I scrubbed them up with my designated craft toothbrush . . .

and dried them off pretty well. I didn't want to thin the paint with water.

  

I poured some acrylic craft paint into a vase and turned it this way and that until the inside was coated. It didn't take much paint . . . but too little and it took forever for those little drips to travel around the inside of the vase. I poured out the excess and wiped the rim. Then I put them in a warm oven for a few minutes to dry the paint faster ~ very low heat & oven already turned off. I was worried that the paint might scratch off easily but it didn't ~ woo-hoo! 

I didn't have any little flowers to do a glamour shot with but I'm really happy with the way they turned out! If you have a moment, I'd enjoy hearing what you think of my impromptu project and I'd also love to hear what fun projects you've been working on . . . leave a link if you like!

It's so nice of you to stop by :) Thank you!

* A quick update :) As this was an impromptu project . . .  done on a whim and with no planning, I used the paint that I had on hand. These little vases still look just fine as I use them, but now I use enamel paints that are more suited for durability on glass when I do a glass painting project.

Pretty bloomers . . .

My sweetie gave me this beautiful orchid for valentine's day in 2009. I'm happy, and a little surprised, to say that it is doing beautifully in its home by the kitchen window. After she blooms, that blossom stalk shrivels and turns red, I snip it off and voila . . . a new one grows! Easy-peasy! And that's a good thing because, while I love gardening outdoors, I don't really grow houseplants. I love a vase of fresh-cut flowers though! The light today is pretty murky for taking a photo, but I've convinced myself that it adds an artsy look to this just-opened bloom :)

Going through boxes of 'stuff' ~ wheee!

I came across a box of quilt tops and blocks that I've made over the years. I'm not sure if they'll become finished quilts any time soon... it seems that I enjoy choosing the fabric, deciding on the pattern and doing the piecing. Adding the backing and doing the quilting don't really seem like fun in comparison. So I guess I'm sharing my unfinished projects. As you can tell, my life is super-exciting! lol... Well, I guess I'm just having fun going through these boxes and taking a walk down memory lane :) 

I was surprised to see that I'd left notes to myself pinned to this top. I'm so glad (and lucky) the pins didn't rust! I hope I can still decipher those notes.

Cute spool pattern :)

I really like the way black (and dots) make things pop!

I can't remember why I made this top. Aw, I forgot how cute this lamb is :) There's also a dog and a cat but they looked a little amoeba-like so didn't take a photo of them.

I don't like to iron unless it's absolutely necessary so the poor bunny has a wrinkly neck ( happens to the best of us ~ lol )

My photography assistant :)

I also found a box of old stuff like a little Ziggy doll dressed in a graduation gown and some old photos from proms and camp. There's me, probably about 1973-ish, I still can't resist playing in the flowers!

Love these little painted rock shoes. They were always on my dresser in my childhood bedroom. I still like this mix... girly tomboy! That's me :)

Good Morning!

We just finished this can of coffee and I thought my new primroses would look so cute with the great colors and graphics :) I think she's a keeper!

Meet Buddy . . .

Today I went up to my studio/office to sort through some boxes that I brought home from my storage unit and couldn't resist taking some photos of my sweet kitty, Buddy. Isn't he cute? :) He's a rescue who came to live with us in August of 2008. When we brought him home, he hadn't been eating for a while because he had kennel cough which is common in shelter cats because it spreads so easily. As you may know, a cat won't eat if it can't smell its food. The poor little kid had a stuffed up nose and he was so skinny :( He was in such bad shape that they only charged us the required licensing fee but not the adoption fee. I think he was $7.00 out the door ~ lol ~ but we'll never tell him that! He's priceless to us :)

Anyway, we got him fixed up with some good antibiotics and some high octane food. I kept dabbing the food on his nose so he'd lick if off at least ingest a little bit. Eventually he could taste it and, boy, was he excited! So were we :) Since then he's been eating like a champ! Maybe even a little too much but, whatever... he's happy and healthy :)  He loves to wrestle & play with dad and cuddle & just hang out with mom. He's a real joy to have around ♥

He found a sunbeam to nap in today :)

He was very interested in his own tail wagging ~ lol

I love his little pink toes!

It's supposed to be rainy here for the next week or so, so I'll have plenty of time to sort through those boxes. I think Buddy has the right idea... I'm going for a nice walk in the sun!

Hello again! :)

It's hard to know what to post about when it's been such a long time since the last one. Seems like it should be something pretty fantastic, doesn't it? lol Oh well, I guess this'll just have to do! I'm glad to be back :)  I hope you'll say hello if you stop by! 

I had a good weekend. On Friday, I finally decided to tackle a project that I have been putting off for a long time. I've had a storage unit for about 5 years and I decided it was high time that I did something with its contents, whatever they might be! One less bill is always a welcome change too :) I took a few pictures of the bigger pieces that I haven't moved out yet, and some little ones too.

My mom gave me that green table years ago. The long filigree looking things on the floor are from my grandparents home. They were removed from the porch before it was sold and I just had to have them! I love the oak leaf and acorn design. Hmmm . . .  I wonder if that's why I have a 'thing' for that motif :) That dresser on the left has a mirrored section in the middle that flips up. It was still duct taped down from moving so I couldn't peek inside yet.

Isn't this a cute wicker table? It's a thrift store find that I'll probably end up painting. Maybe. I have to stop thinking about it now or I'll never finish this post! Oooh . . .  but it might look really cute in aqua, yeah?  lol

Note the stack of boxes against the back wall ~ I think there about 35 of them. sheesh. That dresser on the left weighs a TON, has metal casters on the feet . . .

and this is the mirror that goes with it. I really love that piece!

A few bits and pieces from my old garden.

My vintage, hooked wool rugs. I bought the bigger one at an antique mall about 5 years ago. The smaller one on top I've had for at least 25 years. Both of them need a little tlc to repair the backing but I think they're really sweet, flaws and all!

I also had a vanload of goodies that I brought home to sort through. I've actually had fun doing this (so far) because I've forgotten so much of what's there . . . it's sort of like getting new old stuff! I hope my enthusiasm will endure ~ lol 

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

The highlight of my weekend? I got to spend some time with my adorable mom :D She was in the area for a quilt show so we got to hang out for awhile and have dinner together. It was a real treat!

Eek! Ok . . . hitting the 'publish post' button now . . . lol . . . hope it looks alright . . . bye!