Hiatus

I know I've been MIA for quite some time now. I started nursing school full time back in January. I have been chipping away at my generals for a couple of years while on the waiting list for the RN program.

But now that I'm a full time student and part time employee and still a Mom and wife, I have NO time for junking or creating it seems. You can see why from the above stack of books.

I'm loving nursing school, but it's a lot of work.

I'm on Spring break this week and intended to study much, but haven't hardly cracked a book!

I look forward to returning to junking a bit once I graduate, which will be in December 2011. For right now I'm only maintaining my family blog www.maamounmadness.blogspot.com, and the updates there are quite pathetic.

I was just reading through some old comments here that I never even saw because I abandoned this blog for now, but I LOVE this blog and miss being creative and finding junk.

Thanks for the nice comments. :)

A quick altered clock tutorial

I gave this clock to Michelle for her Birthday in early August.  It was a fun project and I would definitely make another should the "need" arise.  :)
The hardest part was definitely choosing which papers I was going to use.  
Once I made my decisions, I painted the edges of the clock a soft yellow to compliment the paper.  I only used one sheet of paper for the background.  It was such a busy piece anyway and I was going to have lots of stuff on the clock with the picture, numbers, embellishments and clock parts!  
Paper Adhered to wooden clock board.  Poked a hole in the middle for the clock part opening. 
Here are the unassembled clock parts.  I was a tad bit intimidated at first, but quickly figured it out.  The clock was really appreciated by its recipient.  ;)

Yummy Scrapbooking Papers!

This is where I draw my inspiration from..... Extremely Yummy Scrapbooking Papers!  YummO!
And while working on a project recently, I left my office to refill my coffee cup no doubt, and returned to find this dreamy rainbow.  I seriously thought that someone came into my office and arranged these letters to make an arch like that.  Silly me.  Then I realized I had pushed the glue dots out of the way and those letters were just laying there spelling dream.  No one placed them in an arch.  I got a good laugh out of it though.  Maybe it was all the Mod Podge Glue I was using that afternoon.  :)

Cushions Found and another AWESOME mug!

While out playing on a Saturday in August, I found THESE cushions at Serendipity in Duluth.  Gail's store (Serendipity - sorry, no link - no website) has the BEST presentation.  When I saw these cushions I knew they were exactly what I had been thinking of for my new wicker set.  I couldn't wait to come home and set it all up.  

Pay NO attention to the pile of bricks behind the wicker pieces.  :)  It wasn't worth moving them for the picture.  I have no place for them at the moment.
And my brand new (from Serendipity also) coffee mug.  Mmmmm Hmmmmm.  Love what it says and I LOVE how it feels in my hands!  Like an old diner coffee mug.  The BEST!

I had just sat down on my new loveseat with feet propped up on table, opened a magazine, took a sip of coffee and it started to pour (again).  It's okay though.  I got my basement workspace all cleaned up.  :)

Feathering my nest

Maddy found this sweet little nest in our yard and gave it to me.  It had blown almost to the sidewalk.  It's so whispy and dainty.  We marveled at the little bird that must have called this "home".  So delicate and precious.  

My precious crown!

I was so excited to win the giveaway of a mini crown from Deb at Hummadeedledee

I received the package in July and waited until Maddy was home so she could help me open and enjoy it! 

Here is what it looked like all prettied up when I opened the package. Doesn't Deb just have "the touch"?  She DOES!  With EVERYTHING.  It's always all done up to the TOP.  

Loved the aqua tissue paper, the silky ribbons and the hymnal page rolled into a scroll. Precious and yummy and feminine and delightful!
Here is my TOTALLY AWESOME Junk Queen Crown!  It's absolutely DIVINE!
Here is her sweet note that was enclosed.  It's still sitting on my desk to make me smile.  I tied that blue ribbon around the skeleton key that fits my office lock and it's in the door that way. Adding a punch of color to my dark brown door and matching in here WONDERFULLY!
Here is my crown in all it's glory in its position of prominence on my buffet in my office.  Making me smile every time I see it.  

Deb is considering selling her Junk Crowns through her blog or etsy.  They are FABULOUS!  

Thank you Deb for the giveaway and for choosing my name!  I adore my crown.  :)

What makes the world go 'round

This is what makes the world go 'round to me..... our differences.

We were shopping at Slumberland for a couch/sleeper/recliner (all in one doesn't really exist) for Ahmed's "man space" above the garage.  (no, the space isn't finished off yet)  I was up to my elbows in leather and microsuede.  It was really all the same to me.  Then I spotted this adorable sofa sleeper and said "how about if you take the reclining sofa from our living room into your "man space" and I get this for the living room.  It's ADORABLE!"   His reply was "that is the ONE couch in the store that I cannot stand".  So, I had to snap a picture with my phone because that just made me smile.   Yep.  We're all different.

He just doesn't "get" it

But he tries!  This is what awaited me one day when I came home.   On top of the wicker was a veneer table top and a really nasty little cart.  They were FREE by the side of the road, so he thought I'd like them.  I didn't want to hurt his feelings, but they are awaiting pick up via garbage truck in the alley.  :)  I asked him in the future to take a photo with his phone if he sees a great find - email it to me and I'll decide, but thanks!  :)  It IS the thought that counts.

Score! A wicker set!

I am one LUCKY girl!  My sweet neighbor, Barb called me one morning while I was driving to work.  She had just spotted a wicker set in the alley next to someone's garbage.  She is like me - no shame.  :)  She asked when I'd get done with work as she thought it looked just "like me".  I wasn't going to be done until 4:30 or 5:00 at the earliest and I said if it was gone, that it wasn't meant to be for me.  That is part of the thrill of the chase!

Well, I pulled into my alley after work and remembered the wicker at that moment, so decided I'd drive past our garage and drive to where she said she had seen it. I was hoping it would still be there.  As our garage came into view, this is what I saw - all set up and waiting for me.  

I hope your neighbors are looking out for you like mine are looking out for me.  :)

A new mug

I LOVE this mug!  I found it at Walmart of all places.  Walmart normally isn't a favorite place of mine, but I was there out of necessity.  Found this awesome section featuring this new artist named Sandra Magsamen.  Her stuff is FANTASTIC!  This mug was only $5.  I also bought a sign that says "Imagine" and that's hanging up in my office.  I love what this mug says.  It makes me smile.  Plus, it goes REALLY REALLY well in my new office.  :)

Peony Season is OVER!

Single Petal Peony variety.

I always feel just a touch sad when "Peony Season" is over.  Really.  I get a little down.  I just LOVE love cutting one or two every couple of days to brighten the counter, my desk, or work. Here are a couple of cutie pies. 

This year when the peonies were done, I enjoyed these sweet weeds that were gracing my yard up to my knees!   We were pretty busy, so the lawn didn't get mowed much at that time and I was thankful to have these daisies to cut and bring inside to brighten my desk.    I love how they sit in this squat little vase.  It's perfect for daisies.

Love this sweet little one in this really dainty tea cup.  

Until next "Peony Season".....

I'm BACK - and catching up on posts

How cute are our neighbors with the Bed and Breakfast?  I have always LOVED these vintage shape/style American flags.  I know the picture is fuzzy.  It was getting pretty dark and I just snapped it quick.  Of course this was around the 4th of July and I'm just getting around to posting it.  

Classes are done - get ready for at least weekly blog posts!  ;)

For Now

Until I can find some fabric perhaps for a curtain for the door, AND have the $ to purchase said found fabric, I'm using these pages from a vintage dictionary.  You cannot tell from the photo, but I've circled particular words in red marker.  Words like "Inspire", "Create", "Love", "Queen Bee", etc.  It was a fun project.  It works for now.  
And this sign.... well, it just makes me smile.  It's above the door.  Only I can see it at EVERY moment.  No one else can, so I'm not being too rude with it.  Heidi bought it for me in May from Serendipity.  Love that store!  Love my friend for thinking this was funny and for KNOWING I'd enjoy it.  :)

Paint Decisions

Oh how I agonized over the paint color for my office!  I'm fairly certain my co-workers were thinking "Just pick one already!" as I kept bringing the samples to work, trying them in different light etc.  I had several tucked under the trim so I could see how the color worked with the trim in here.  
I didn't decide until it was my turn at Home Depot.  My turn with the paint expert.  "What can I get for you"?  Moment of truth.  Okay, I'll take one gallon of "Pooh's Favorite Things" in Eggshell please.  :)  Did I do the right thing?  Even after rolling on the first few passes, I wasn't sure.  Once it was all done, I could NOT be happier with the color.  

Office Before and After

I just LOVE Before and After pictures, don't you?  Love seeing the transformation.  

Here is Before Before - messy I know.  I didn't clean it up for the picture.  Was just wanting a picture to upload to the Behr paint website.  
After removing Ahmed's things and installing some of mine.  Before painting.  I know the picture is blurry.  I was probably moving.  :)
Aaaaah, the sweet sight of after.  So happy in here.  Can you tell?

My office - AMAZINGLY peaceful

I'm SO happy with it.  Happy with the way it all turned out.  The way things came together.  All my FAVORITE pieces in ONE spot that's all MINE and no one else needs to like them.  Only I do and I DO!   My precious 6' table from the YWCA in Duluth.  It was in their lobby.  I was volunteering there for a sale.  I was able to purchase this gem for a SONG and it even fit in my Pacifica!  All 6' of it!!!!  Love the rope turned legs and bun feet.  

The buffet was one I found last Fall while on a walk.  It had a FREE sign on it (my favorite four letter word!) and was pretty wobbly.  One of the legs had a "stress fracture" to use my Anatomy term.  I glued and clamped that leg, removed the doors, sanded, painted and distressed it.  Today when I moved it into my office, I cannot tell which leg had the fracture.  It's wonderful and I'm so glad I got to bring it up from it's hiding spot in the basement to the place of HONOR that it deserves.  Poor discarded piece.  We were made for each other.  

The darling chair and ottoman (in pink and green) were upholstered for ME by Heidi.  They are favorites of mine also.  Maddy spends time in the chair across from me a lot already and my feet are normally propped up on the ottoman under my desk.  Very special.  Bun feet on the ottoman also.  So cute!  
This little bench made from a headboard and footboard are working PERFECTLY in here!  It's getting so much more use already in 4 days than it EVER did in the front porch.  Such an inviting spot to sit and visit.  Or read.  I've had 3 guests so far.  Okay, 2 were family members, but still.  Just need to get some throw pillows for it.  Someday perhaps.  

The radiator had to be painted also.  The cream color stuck out like a sore thumb yelling "I'm trying to be an accessory".  With the robin's egg blue color, it looks so vintage now!  
Here's a shot of the built in book case that is behind my desk.  Painting behind it at midnight last night was not my idea of fun.  Was VERY tedious, but SO worth it!  

Can you imagine where I'm spending all of my time these days?  So happy to study in here. Can't wait until August to just be CREATIVE in here!