It's All About Me Baby....

Really, it is - this post is all about me thanks to Marni over at Sassy Sites - Hello Friends!  I am excited to be able to more formally introduce myself and as suggested to answer a few easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy questions so here goes:

Why did you decide to start blogging?

I have to have an outlet for all the stuff inside of me that wants to come out (now that did not sound right!)  I love to laugh, love to talk, love to create and love to give.  I always have a ton to say and want everyone to feel the joy that I do in the prospect of simply living day-to-day the best way we can!  I also thought that by blogging I might make my "pressure-prompted" self actually complete the projects I dream about instead of just having lovely fantasies!  And so far it's working!

When you aren't blogging, what are you doing?

I am sleeping, working (I work fulltime as a Manager at a large organization), hanging out with my Mr. Biff  (which stands for Best Intimate Friend Forever or Best Interesting Friend Forever or Best Insightful, well you get the idea)....he's a charmer, he's the love of my life and he's my partner in curbshopping, dumpster-diving crime!  I also have 2 dogs who round out our little family - they never fail to entertain! 

What is your blog about?

My blog is essentially about my life as a wanna-be interior decorator, home stager, craftsperson extraordinairre and comedian all rolled into one.  I hope to demonstrate a few crafty things I've learned and share the joy of creating something all by ones'self!

When do you find the time to blog?

My usual "sit down and blog" time is before bed.  I am often thinking on what I will have to say or what I want to show for the day of and sometimes week ahead.  I want to keep it interesting enough for people to simply feel compelled to check in and see what's happening.   I haven't even begun to tell some of the stories I would like to share about life, love and the pursuit of happiness!

Why do you love blogging?

Blogging provides me with an audience and a support network all rolled into one.  I am so inspired by my "on the ground" friends as well as all of my fellow bloggers - you are an amazing bunch!  I guess it's just like going out to play with a really cool group of creative people - now who wouldn't love that?

What is your favorite post so far that you've written?

I don't know that I have written enough yet to have a favourite.  I like the ones where the words just roll off me and I don't have to think about what I am going to say.  To me they are the best posts because they are, perhaps, the most authentically me! (My best project so far tho is the Sexy 'n Silver lamp I did and blogged about here).

Thank you to Marni for hosting this great little new friends linky party!  I hope that you will come and see me and please check out Sassy Sites here.

Please leave a comment to say "hi" and a link to your blog as I would love to follow you...."Follow me where I go, what I see, who I know....." (John Denver)

Blessings,

Peggy

Holding the Vision

So before my adventure into blogging began I had this vision of what my house could look like.  I started saving pictures from blogs, from real estate flyers, and from magazines.  I knew (and still do) what I wanted.  I was thwarted by the fact that I am living in a rental house that, while it is cute, it's also too small and has absolutely no room for my crafting needs.  I can't show you my real-life office because honestly it would burst even my bubble....it's one thing in my head and another in reality.  So, I am trying to hold a vision of what could be when (not if) we move into a larger home (even if it's another rental for now). 

One of the things I have longed for is a workspace/office/craft room that would not only give me space to work but would inspire me.  I knew exactly the main desk I wanted and while scanning Craigslist one evening a few months back - I saw it.....

It was listed for $40.  I thought it was a thing of beauty and I simply had to have it.  Mr. Biff (who is always the haggling, go-to-get-it-guy, promptly brought it home for me for $30.  My hero!  Since then it has sat under a bevy of boxes in our entry way as we make our way through the combined households that have been in storage for the past 2 years (another post, another time!).  What I am thinking of is painting this desk a creamy white right up to her neck....and then keeping the dark stained (altho I will refresh it) on the top.  The good news is that I have plenty of time to think about it as I don't think I want to paint it before moving it....  Here's a couple of angles of the desk to give you a better idea of it's size.

(that's not my junk in the drawers...yet)

Holding the vision....what will be....soon....

I read this quote the other day and loved it:  "The bad news:  time flies.  The good news:  you are the pilot."
Winging my way to a new place (even if it's in my head)
Good night and God Bless,
Peg

Time for Something Different!

Kind of sounds like a line from Monty Python - no?  And, now for something completely different......

I sometimes wonder (do you?) if there's anything new to make - it always seems like I am a step or 2 behind the blogland sisterhood - but then I suppose it just speaks to the creativity out there in the world doesn't it?  So, I have seen a few examples of clock do-overs and thought I would like to try one myself.  Mr. Biff found this tacky lovely plastic clock at a garage sale for $2 (the vendor was asking $3)....even Mr. Biff thought it was kind of ugly showing potential so we brought it home. 

I did the only sensible thing - I took it apart and spray painted it with Rustoleum Ivory White.....then, guess what?  It looked like a tacky lovely white plastic clock.  Never say "give up" is my motto - so I perservered and brought out the sand paper - perhaps it would suffer look better with a little scouring.......yup, it did a little but more is better so I rubbed it with diluted burnt umber craft paint to highlight the crevices (kind of a poor man's version of glazing).  Next came a new face (I could use a facelift myself!) - I am trying desperately to remember where I got the graphic from - I don't think it was the Graphics Fairy - but I will have to dig some more to find where it came from (if you recognize it  - please let me know).  I printed the face on a laser printer and used spray adhesive to afix it to the front of the clock.  In the photos for some reason it does not look centered - you are going to have to take my word that it is - not sure why it looks off kilter (maybe I am off kilter....?haha).   I topped off the new paper face with a light rub of the burnt umber solution then sealed it with some matt modge podge.  I gave the whole thing a good spray with Krylon clear to seal and protect it.  Here's how it came out:

It's not perfection but I am happy with the result.  I put a dear friend's name on the face as the clock maker.  So that's how I spent my Monday night.....what did you do?

Whatever it was - I hope it was fun!
Peggy

Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head....

But that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turning red....crying's not for me....no (but man oh man would I love to get reacquainted with summer)  I keep thinking any day soon the heat will turn up and we'll all start complaining about how hot and humid it is....bring it on sista!!

In the meantime - I am busy trying to do "inside" things to avoid smelly paint in the back hall.  I have been working on many things (I think I am the ultimate multi-tasker and then I realize I am just a little crazy trying to do too much at once!).  Mr. Biff and I went to our favourite "Skiff City" yesterday and got a great little table - here she is:

The table is definitely "Bee" approved!

The table had wobbly legs and so I took the top off and with a little magic "Gorilla Glue" I fixed the one side that was loose.  It's plenty steady now!  I wanted to use this table to try the french label inspired table that Lorrie at the Red Hen (here) created.  My table would be smaller scale and as it was only $5 I kind of figured it would be ok if all didn't go quite right.  I printed the label (I pulled the graphic from the Graphics Fairy here into Excel) - it was three 8.5x11 pages wide.  Here's how it looked once I had taped it together:

I didn't have any fancy transfer stuff so I used the old-fashioned lead tracing method....covering the whole back of the image with pencil:

I flipped over the paper and then traced it with a pencil:

Sounds good in theory but it was hardly legible....I will try something a little higher tech next time!  It transferred enough for me to attempt to go over it with a fine black Sharpee.  I then went back with a slightly thicker (altho still fine) Sharpee and filled in the remaining lettering.  Once it was done I sanded the surface lightly to take some of the Sharpee shine off.  Here's where I left off:

I plan to stain it with Minwax "American Walnut".  I am going to paint the bottom of the table a delicious creamy white with a little light distressing.  I couldn't finish it today because of the rain!  Stay tuned - I will post the finished product this week.

When I read that Lorrie used a Sharpee - I actually had trouble visualizing how it might come out - but trust me - it comes out quite well and it much easier (for those of us paint-brush challenged) than trying to paint the lettering. 

I hope that it's warm and dry where ever you are and that the sun is shining!
Blessings,
Peg