Under $100 Link Party

Hello, I just returned home from seeing Tim McGraw in concert.  This was my second time seeing him and wow, he was amazing!  So much fun and he puts on a great show.

I told you there were link party changes coming up.  Starting next week ( I think ) I will be joining other bloggers to do a group link party event. This means that your links will be seen my lots more people :).  the party will be changing to going live on Tuesday nights.  I will have more details soon!  

Here are some wonderful links from our party last week:

Namely Original shared a beautiful cabinet redo

Reclaimed Herringbone Art and A Tale of Staging Pictures

I have a secret.  

Okay, I know, it probably really isn't a secret, but did you know bloggers stage photos?  Yep, there it is, the ugly truth, we are photo stagers.  Which means when we show you our lovely mantels, dressed for the latest season with the perfect touches, we may be taking those pictures while standing on a pile of mangled blankets and enough scattered legos to make a firewalk look like a cakewalk.

I love creating projects, home decor.  I love taking photos and editing them.  I do NOT love staging them.  Because I sell most of what I show you, when I show you something hanging on my walls with other fun things all in a grouping, it is most likely not staying there. Let's not even get into a discussion on holes in my walls.  Suffice it to say hubby has given up and just rolls his eyes when he sees me pounding yet another nail in the wall.

So, it was Saturday morning, 6:50 AM.  I had been up for an hour, was showered, was coffeed up, ready to head out the door at 7 for Farmer's Market set-up,

Then, suddenly I remembered I hadn't photographed my latest scrap wood art.  If I create it, I want to photograph it to share with you.  Some blogging days are DRY and I need content--don't want to waste a content opportunity.

I raced to my car in my bare feet, camera in hand--mind you my car is packed tighter than a 40 year old mother of 3 trying to fit in her high school jeans, and yanked that darn art piece out.  I traipsed across the wet yard (it was 46 degrees out), plunked that piece down in my weeds, um, er flowerbed, ignored the young twenty year old guys across the street (just arriving home I believe) who think their neighbor is crazy, and clicked away.

Sunday Verses

How to Create an Authentic, Chippy Paint Finish

Becky, another paint tutorial?  Why another one, haven't you perfected (ha-ha!) your paint technique by now? 

I like to play and paint (and wood) is the medium I most like to play with.  I told you I went shopping the other day for new paint colors, muted, Oregon Coast inspired colors.  I decided to try them out on this bench:

Under $100 Link Party

Oh happy day one and all!  Some big changes will be coming to my weekly linky party.  I will share them NEXT week, but it will be bigger, better, more exposure for you!!  Here are some great links from last week's party:

AMAZING wall art from My Altered State

Lovely Weeds' red wagon table

Picking Paint Colors

Today I get to be a kid in a candy store, aka, I am going to pick new paint colors.  

I love color, love paint, love looking at hundreds (maybe even thousands) of paint chips.

I often get asked, "What color did you use?"  I find that question strange.  To me paint is personal.  Not a secret, but a personal, I took time to think about it and reflect choice.  I will hold,examine and compare two swatches until I "feel" it.

What speaks to me may not speak to you. How I see the color, you may not.  Hubby is very color blind--I know he doesn't see color like I do.

I love bright colors...obviously.  as a kid I had a rainbow room--rainbow painted on the wall, rainbow bedding, bright yellow furniture.

Sunday Verses

Christmas in July

Christmas in July?  Have you heard of it?  

The first time I ever heard that such an event existed was almost 30 years ago wen I was working in Glacier Park.  The employees celebrated with a Christmas tree in the lodge (probably illegally cut down in the Park), gift exchanges, and a party--we pretty much found any reason to get together and celebrate.

This is Lake McDonald Lodge

A little history for you: Christmas in July's beginnings are not clear, but most likely started in Europe as a way to "beat the heat" in the summer.  

Another possibility says it was started by a group of Irish tourists in 1980.  Story is, they were so overjoyed at seeing snow while on vacation that they decided to celebrate by holding a "Yulefest".

At any rate, we picked up on it here and the US and the tradition seems alive and well in blogland.  If you are a planner and love to get ahead, NOW is the time to get a jump start on the holidays.  

Under $100 Link Party

Ah, I just got off the river from a lovely day of floating!  I mean, a perfect, relaxing day.  Ain't summer grand?!  And now, we can enjoy these most wonderful links from last week and share your own!!

The best mud pie station ever from Bliss Ranch!!

Christmas in July with the cutest spring tree from Organized Clutter

How To Letter A Sign WithOUT a "Machine"

What's your sign?  Here's your sign?  Do you know the signs?  Follow the sign.

Signs are definitely (and have been) all the rage in home decor.  With a sign you can express yourself, your values, your humor.  Words inspire us and we love to see those and share them with others.  

Sunday Verses

One of These Things is Not Like the Others

One of these things just doesn't belong...were you a Sesame Street kid?  I sure was, back in the late 60's and early 70's.  

I remember loving a couple things in particular--the baker who fell down the stairs and the song about the one thing that did not belong.  I can still sing it all and was singing it the entire time I made this bench/coffee table.

This is very similar to the one I made last week (TUTORIAL HERE), except I painted the legs 4 different colors.  When attaching them I realized one leg, aka spindle was different.  Can you see which one?  (The legs look a  little crooked, but they are not--it is the grass.)

Under $100 Link Party

Hey all--hope you had a lovely fourth, hope you are enjoying the dog days of summer, hope you have air conditioning, at least if you are experiencing 90 degree weather like we are.  Perfect weather to spend an afternoon inside enjoying the cool air, iced tea, and lovely blogs like these:

Frumpy Bumpkin Designs shared a cheery sign

Summer Centerpiece from Chipping With Charm

Refreshing on a Monday

refresh:  verb \ri-ˈfresh\: to make (someone) have more energy and feel less tired or less hot : to give someone more of (a drink) : to fill (someone's glass, cup, etc.) again 

It is Monday after a long holiday weekend.  Are you feeling the need to refresh, reenergize?  

I sure was.  How do you refresh?  Do you? (You need to!!)

I started the day with a hike.  It always feels so good to that first thing in the morning.  I may whine every now and then on the way up, but on the way down I always say, "Let's go again tomorrow!"  Nothing like a little sweat and amazing views to refresh the senses and clear the brain.

I also love to peruse blogs and sites that are visually delightful.  This refreshment is not about collecting ideas, it is about seeing something that makes you smile, something that makes you sigh and say ahhh, something that gets the creative thoughts flowing.  These are sites that might feature a totally different style than mine, a different product, a different view on life. Places like:

Jeanne Oliver

Sunday Verses

A Little Blue Stool or Table

Happy fourth of July!  Here are some pretty red, white, and blue flowers for you.

And they are sitting on a new, old looking little stool or side table I made.

Under $100 Link Party

Oops, I can tell it is summer.  I had no idea it was already past link party post time, haven't even thought about dinner, not sure if I had lunch yet!  So, here are some great links from last week:

Lovely Weeds shared an awesome license plate tray

Barnwood flag from Organized Clutter

How to Make a Reclaimed Wood Bench/Coffee Table

In the middle of a quiet week around here.  The 12 year old, aka chatterbox, is away at camp for the week.  

She loves camp, was so excited to go, talked about how some of her best memories are from camp so I am always happy that she is able to go.  And she has a way of just about driving me nuts before she goes so that I am ready for a little break (Yes, I am one of THOSE moms who believe a little break from the children every now and then is a healthy thing!).  I will be missing her sunny disposition and go getter attitude by the end of the week, but for now, I am enjoying quieter days and more time to work.