Junk

This past weekend was a BIG flea market sale at The Barn House Boys.  My girlfriend and I  headed out for some junkin!    You can read my full post on my personal blog.

I thought I would look up some of the vendors and low and behold, they do have blogs!  Yipee! 

Just so you know………I WAS THERE…….RIGHT THERE! I had that burlap pillow in my junk lovin hands……I was going to buy it….I was…….I was so close, then I decided it was too scratchy for the room I wanted to use it in…….Burlap how I love thee, but why so scratchy?Bella was a cute cute vendor!  I loved looking through her things. I really wanted that tool bin drawer looking thing below……And I also had one of these burlap runners in my junk lovin hands………but as cute as it is……the ruffle was too big for me.  I’m now regretting it.  I love it.What I did end up buying was a piece of Ironstone…….my new obsession. I bought one of her larger plates and I almost bought that little one too…..dang it!  More regrets.

In fact when I was waiting to pay, her husband came up behind me and said “I’ll take that”…….since he didn’t have on a cute little dress or apron that is so popular with the vendors, I gave him the stink eye that told him I wasn’t falling for his con job……..until “bella” told me he was with her.  Silly me.

I would have LOVED to have seen this piece below……..oh yumm yumm yum!You can tell she’s a true NW gal……..     We had SO much fun at the sale.  If it weren’t for my friend Debi (our dog’s breeder), I wouldn’t have realized that the gal taking our money to get in was Heather Bullard. Duh!  And then walking through one of the booths, she pointed out that I had featured the vendor as well…….we were walking through Tracy’s booth.  A past feature.  Notes from a Cottage Industry.  So much fun!  She lives in Camas now! That’s where I live!!!  Maybe she’ll come over and help me with my living room?   Had it not been for my friend, I wouldn’t have known what junkin legends I was walking amongst. 

And now Bella……she’s in my neck of the woods too.  Oh the future’s looking bright!

Head on over…..you know the drill………but first let me know you stopped by and I’ll enter you for my monthly Lisa Leonard giveaway.

Farm Sink

  You know I usually feel pretty good about my home……until I see something like this. 

Home and Harmony

I always wonder how people can stay focused on a certain vision.  I love her style.  The house is to die for……..

This is the kitchen before……nice…….but doesn’t quite match the house.  I love the little girl peeking around the corner.

After…….so much better. 

How about a closer look at those cabinets?  Cool huh? But what really makes me green with envy is this sink!  I want a farm sink……when I mention that to my husband, he has no idea what I’m talking about.  Apparently my husband is finally reading my blog……THIS IS A FARM SINK!

   If she hasn’t been in a magazine yet….she will be.  Very soon.  This dining room below is amazing.  Love that settee (bench) in the back.  Just a little view from the kitchen to the family room.  And she has 6 children!  6!  I was wondering how she had time to decorate and manage the house, then I came across her post on chores.Each child receives his clip board with morning and evening chores on it.   Boy do I feel like a loser……my son has very few chores.

And with all those kids, how many bedrooms must they have? 

Well……this solves that problem and it’s cute too.  I love the way many of her ideas are really about simplicity and a vision.

Speaking of vision……would you ever think this buffet could be your kitchen island?  Great vision and now she has an original kitchen island.  Functional too.  Simplicity at it’s best…..throwing together a quick center piece using what you have.  A couple of bowls, some greens, a few votives and a dinner bell.  Perfect.

Her blog is lovely!   It’s worth the trip.  Please surprise her and let her know she’s been featured on TCB.  I don’t tell people ahead of time you know.

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Red Shoes

  It’s Wednesday evening….cuz I usually write the night before ….cuz I’m so organized like that.  :)  I didn’t think it was possible but this Wednesday is crazier than last.  My poor little guy has been home sick all week.  We’ve been back and forth to the docs….chest x-rays…….bla bla bla.  He’s going to be fine.  But since I’m a mom first and a blogger last………no new post for you.

BUT!  I dived into my featured list and dug out Catherine.  I just adore her.  She’s another gal that I’ve kept up on.  Just when I think I could go with all white decor…..I read Catherine’s blog. Red Shoes Blog.  You can see her original feature here. 

She still brings joy to my heart with all her amazing photos and works of art. The girl is talented. She makes the coolest stuff. 

Like this….SHE MADE THAT!

Or these…..  Or all the cool metal work she does.Or the painting….these were little 4x4 inch canvas’And if she didn’t make it, it’s still really cool.  Her shop is full of the most amazing stuff.  If I ever win the lottery, I am flying to Michigan and buying one of each item.Sigh…….just soak it all in.   These numbered items are to die for.  And the polka dots?  She’s killin me.This below isn’t from her shop….this is in her own home.  She is that bold….bold enough to have a lime green chair in her living room. And if that scares you too much….you can settle on this darling bird cup. 

I know you’ll fall in love with Catherine's infectious style, just like I did.  If you can’t make it to Michigan, she does have an online shop.  It’s my daily drool.

Happy Thursday…..oh I hope so.

Gettng Inspired

Oh boy I had a great time at the scrapbooking retreat. I scrapped 27 layouts! I usually only get about 15 done, but I have simplified my style ……or just don’t care as much…….I mean really…,.. as long as I make it somewhat pleasing to the eye, get the journaling down…….isn’t that what really matters?

Well if I was as talented as my featured blogger……..I would feel a little more pressure…….or would I? Because I’m sure it’s NO pressure for her to come up with all this gorgeous stuff. I’m pretty sure it comes second nature to a girl like Rhonna Farrer. Her name should be Rhonna Inspiration boom boom Farrer. She’s cute too.

If you’re a scrapbooker, or a digi scrapbooker……you’d have to be dead if you didn’t know who Rhonna was.

She is one of the most talented designers out there. I first fell in love with her whimsical romantic style a few years ago. Then she really got into the digi scene and that’s when I just sat back and watched. Even though she has some fabulous tutorials on her sites….I was still too mesmerized to follow along. Recently, she joined forces with a couple of other big scrapbook names and started House Of 3. Great stuff. Many directions to keep you inspired and most of all……….learning. She also joined forces with one of my favs……Margie “kiss kiss” Romney for Spark. A small and intimate Inspiration conference.

Rhonna is everywhere……….then when I’m feeling like just another blog out there, SHE posted something on my Get Your Craft On. She even said she LOVES my blog on Twitter. ME! Now I have made it. :)

Because Rhonna is so much more than scrapbooking…….and is really good at the whole digi thing…….she has a few blog designs. I even bought a blog banner digi set from her and used it on my personal blog for awhile. She even shows you what to do. She also shows you how to create and use wonderful elements for digital creations. Still way over my head………but someday.

But one thing I could figure out is this free tutorial and download for address wraps. I could have used something like this for our neighborhood Christmas gifts.

Or how about dressing up your canned goods? I can’t remember, but I think you can download this label too.She’s giving weekly updates on what’s going on at House of 3. It’s truly your destination for inspiration……….well after you stop at my blog of course.I know this is Christmas stuff……..but it’s so cool. So unique. She has a full tutorial on how to make these mason jar snow globes…….but don’t shake them. Speaking of Unique…..she saw a necklace online and decided to make one herself……..she even shared it with us with a full tutorial. This came from her Summer Projects DIY. So fun!She’s a girl after my own heart…….she loves spray paint too.

Head on over and let her know I featured her. Just think how cool I’ll look then. :) I know you’ll fall in love her.

This cool post is brought to you by the coolest camera bag and accessories girl out there. Priddy Creations.

Posie Gets Cozy

Friday Fabulous Giveaway Winner is Pink Peacock Designs  - email me krjdemmon@comcast.net

 

Ok, now for more good stuff…………….

I have read this blog since the beginning of my blog reading days.  I have wanted to feature her ever since I started this blog.  I never thought I could do her justice.  I also thought that everyone already knows her…………it’s kind of like me featuring Martha Stewart.  You would just think “well DUH Kim, give us someone we don’t know about”.

Posie gets Cozy

I’m also a bit speechless when it comes to Alicia’s blog and site.  Me………speechless?  She is the queen of craft.  She’s a published author! And has had lots of press coverage.  Martha really should team up with her.  Very very very talented at all the founding crafts.  She sews, she crochets, she does all kinds of stuff with needles…..she cooks, she bakes……she’s a traditionalist with her creative adventures.  She’s also a great writer.  She’s incredibly candid, humble and interesting to read.  You feel like one of her friends just by reading.  That’s probably why I once had a dream she baked me blueberry muffins and served them to me on the cutest plate.  Mmmm, and they were the best muffins I’d ever had.  And because of her, my love for Corgi’s was born. I wanted a Corgi SO badly. Not that I would trade my girl Mabie for anything…..I’m a true Labradoodle girl now, but I can’t look at a Corgi without thinking of Alicia.

Her studio is to die for!  This is where the magic happens.

In addition to her blog, she has a site where she sells bits of her talents.  Original items, sometimes kits.  

These birds are a popular item.  She even has a few free patterns…….like these dish towels.  Do you really think she’d be without the dishtowels our grandmothers had?  She is all about celebrating the simple pleasures of the past. Her photographs are beautiful.  See?  Simple pleasures.  She’s also got a thing for vintage dishes.She can also make a colander full of Cherries look like art.

More examples of things you can find in her shop….we all love felt flowers! Or her latest project…….she even shows you a tutorial on how to block your crocheted blanket…..She has got the patience of a saint.

Another tutorial on these hexagon flowers…….this is a hexagon right? 

    Alicia lives where I do………and she shares so much with you about our beautiful Pacific NW.  This is the Columbia Gorge.

If you could see to the left of this photo and back a bit, you’d see where I live.  I should be like her and share more……..

If you have NEVER been to her blog or heard of Alicia Paulson……you have a real treat ahead of you by visiting her blog.  But seriously, I really doubt there are many of you that don’t know about Posie gets Cozy. 

OK, TCB readers………this is where you can make me look really really good…..leave her a comment, letting her know how you found her…….even if you’ve been there a 1000 times.  :)  Humor me.

And if you dream about her baking you blueberry muffins…….let me know.