rubbish

New Blog....New Name...

2011-01-30T23:30:00.000-08:00

Please Check out my new blog....

http://www.fransar.blogspot.com/

9 By Design - Videos - Previews - Antiquing in London | Bravo TV Official Site

2010-10-10T10:22:00.000-07:00

9 By Design - Videos - Previews - Antiquing in London Bravo TV Official Site

9 By Design - Videos - Previews - Antiquing in London | Bravo TV Official Site

2010-10-10T10:21:00.000-07:00

9 By Design - Videos - Previews - Antiquing in London Bravo TV Official Site

Man Shops Globe

2009-10-31T08:57:00.000-07:00

This is an amazing little show with Keith Johnson shopping the globe for Anthropologie. (Sundance Channel) What a fantastic job!
http://www.sundancechannel.com/man-shops-globe/

Hall Tree

2009-10-17T09:57:00.000-07:00

I wanted to keep this myself...but no room. I finally got to use some old metal handles I bought a long time ago..saving for the right piece.

"Patience is waiting. Not passively waiting. That is laziness. But to keep going when the going is hard and slow-that is patience."

plastic to plaster

2009-10-17T09:49:00.000-07:00

I had this plastic chandelier that needed a bit of a change. I covered it with plaster...and left it white...I loved how organic it looked bare with no paint.

Art for Adaliz

2009-10-17T09:36:00.000-07:00

My sister Jenny gave birth to a healthy little girl-Adaliz Margarete(Adi). Congratulations Jenny and Ralph!!! I made this piece to go in her room.

a dresser do

2009-08-14T18:32:00.000-07:00

"We are all special cases." Albert Camus

Walking the Plank

2009-08-10T22:34:00.000-07:00

"Many fine things can be done in a day if you don't always make that day tomorrow."

old spoons

2009-08-10T22:13:00.000-07:00

I finally got to tinkering around with the saudering gun/propane torch and some jewelry making. The three necklaces I gave as very late birthday gifts to some special ladies. The first necklace pendant came from the bottom of a spoon...Oscar helped a little with the drill press on this one. Necklace #2's pendant is a baby spoon I cut off. ....and necklace #3 's pendant is a serving spoon...I loved the roughness of it with the pretty beads. I did not make the necklaces just the pendants..I made this ring for myself-its an old brooch...I think it looks great except for underneath-Its a hot mess...I'll make sure no one looks too closely..hee, hee. Thanks to Michelle Beschen's jewerly making videos on DIY network!!!!!

"Don't Wait, The time will never be just right."-Napoleon Hill

Workbench

2009-08-03T23:31:00.000-07:00

I recently took this into Fremont.....Its heavier then heck.

Around the World

2009-08-03T21:50:00.000-07:00

Sculptures from around the world! The students came up with this idea. I asked for some ideas with what we could create for our sculpture segment of art. My fifth graders agreed on around the world sculptures.....So here we have the Golden Gate Bridge, the Space Needle, the Sphinx, the Taj Mahal, the Colosseum and the Eiffel Tower.

Art for art's sake is a philosophy of the well-fed. Frank Lloyd Wright

Auction Mural

2009-08-03T19:01:00.000-07:00

This year the music teacher, tech teacher and myself sold a mural project at our school auction in the spring. First grade studens came in on a Sat. with us teachers and began painting our Keith Haring Mural. I will post the final pic soon(I haven't taken a picture of our final work with the black borders on). This mural is the hallway leading out to recess-we needed some liveliness in this space!

Fourt Grade T-shirt Design

2009-08-03T18:49:00.001-07:00

My fourth grade art students were asked to come up with a t-shirt design for one of our many school fundraisers. To keep the cost low for making t-shirts, we were asked to keep the design simple. So...I hade students make a bike design on black with white pencil and on white with black pencil. One student's work was chosen while the rest of the student's work was displayed on posters throughout the school adverting our fundraiser.

A picture is a poem without words- Horace

A study of Matisse's "Polynesia"

2009-08-03T18:43:00.000-07:00

My after school art workshop kiddos made two of these large scale(4x8) "Polynesia's." It was fun cutting paper with all of the kiddos in a sea of white.

-Matisse makes a drawing, then he makes a copy of it. He recopies it five times, ten times, always clarifying the line. He's convinced that the last, the most stripped down, is the best, the purest, the definitive one; and in fact, most of the time, it was the first. In drawing, nothing is better than the first attempt. -Pablo Picasso

Kandinsky Art Workshop

2009-08-03T18:41:00.000-07:00

A writer should write with his eyes, and a painter paint with his ears. Gertrude Stein

Robot Workshop

2009-08-03T15:54:00.000-07:00

This was a fun afterschool workshop where students created one of a kind robot art. When students were finished I sprayed painted them with an aluminum silver.

A Bright Space

2009-06-12T11:39:00.000-07:00

Our school is creating a "Bright Space" within an already exsisting non-profit organization to sponsor. It's a place where teenage moms can live for awhile while they get help with job/school and childcare. Aubree, a fellow teacher at my school,(above in the pic next to me) was the coordinator of this fabulous project. She and my administrators asked me to come paint a tree mural Mon/Tues of this past week(while my school got a sub for me-whahooo!!!). The circles on the tree will later have families/students names who contribute to the "Bright Space." Thank you to all of the wonderful ladies who helped paint the wooden circles!

“Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires courage.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Chalk Board Video

2009-05-18T18:16:00.000-07:00

I love this video-Thank you Grace at Design Sponge for posting this amazing video!!! I'm going to show it to my fourth graders next week who are finishing up a chalk drawing unit.

“Without art, the crudeness of reality would make the world unbearable.” -George Bernard Shaw

Mother's Day Weekend 09

2009-05-13T20:15:00.000-07:00

Sunshine and family this past weekend. We enjoyed hanging out in West Seattle for some yard sales and a nice picnic on Alki Beach.

Motherhood has a very humanizing effect. Everything gets reduced to essentials. ~Meryl Streep

Some more Lisa Hannigan

2009-04-21T20:42:00.000-07:00

Lisa Hannigan - Lille from ATO Records on Vimeo.

I love Lisa Hannigan's new album! ....and this video reminds me of art 101 with Professor Helmer at Greenville. We spent ages on our pop-up books.
Imagination is more important than knowledge. -Albert Einstein

Bed Slats Turned Art

2009-04-19T15:33:00.000-07:00

I was going to throw out these annoying Ikea bed slats-but then thought they would make a nice art piece.
A joke is a very serious thing. -Winston Churchill

In the art room

2009-04-19T13:06:00.000-07:00

"Louise Nevelson Wood Assemblages." This was a fun after school workshop. I had all my students create an abstract Nevelson piece that we painted red. After they created their Nevelson, they went crazy creating all kinds of other cool wood sculptures.

The ladies in the office asked if I could put something together for the front entrance/office at school. I hung three separate pieces of Plexiglas and painted a chestnut tree onto the glass. It's still not finished. More pics to come of this one....

Third Grade-Oil Pastel flower still life

First Grade-Charcoal drawings of dogs!! Our wonderful Librarian/creative writing teacher had the author of "Rembrandt and boy who drew dogs." come and speak to our students. So I had the younger grades work on these drawings while looking at some of Rembrandt's work.

Fourth Grade-The first set of prints were study prints of Wayne Thiebaud's work. Next, I had the students make prints of something that represents them as a person.

The Sushi print is one of my favorites.

Second Grade- Watercolor boats

Thursday After School Workshop-There were about ten students who created a one of a kind flower garden in our little cubbie whole in the stairwell. These students really brightened up our stairwell!

Fifth/Sixth Grade Ice Cream Cones-2nd Trimester.

Third Grade: Clay Australian Boomerangs

I put a whole bin of extra wood at the art center for students to work with when they are done with their project. The boys took to pulling in chairs to hold up their roadways.

Fifth/Sixth Grade scratch art-Tropical scenes. We spent one period coloring our paper with solid color. I covered each piece with black paint and students began their masterpieces the next art period.

“It gave me great pleasure to think that I could take wood, make it good, and make people like Rockefeller buy it with paper money.”-Louise Nevelson

Lisa Hannigan

2009-04-17T16:04:00.000-07:00

I Don't Know from ATO Records on Vimeo.

I saw this video on design sponge and played it repeatedly while setting up for classes today. An excellent feel good song.
“Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.”-Albert Einstein

Fremont Troll

2009-03-31T18:43:00.000-07:00

The kiddos and I checked out the Fremont troll under the bridge on Sat. The poor troll needs some tlc......and a manicure.
“To love is to risk not being loved in return. To hope is to risk pain. To try is to risk failure, but risk must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.”

Michelle Beschen - Some Fun Home Improvement

2009-03-15T12:50:00.000-07:00

a few art lessons from school

2009-03-01T21:28:00.000-08:00

This is my "Art History Mystery" board. Every month I display an unknown artist's work and ask several questions. When students are finished with their art work they can use the computer or take home the questions I have posted to find out the mystery-"who is this artist?"...and of course whichever little detectives figure out the mystery recieve a little treat at the end of the month.

This is my little piece I created along side my students in an after school workshop. Its the space needle made from "Found Objects." (cd/cone thingee...and the inside parts of an old clock)

2nd grade winter scenes.

Jackson Pollock after school workshop.

5/6th grade "Celtic Alphabet" project for our Festival of Peace and Light.

3rd Grade-Complimentary Colored Numbers! We studied the art of Jasper John's for this project.

2nd Grade-Abstract German Castles. Students created these in December for our festival of peace and light. Students used building blocks to construct a castle onto their paper. This project was one of my favorites-lots of color!!

4th Grade-Stained Glass Art Design on the back of cd's.

5/6th graders made paper mache guitars of their own design. I had several students in this class who play the guitar so I thought it would be fun to study the history of the guitar .(Dangerous Curves-The art of the Guitar from the Museum of Fine Art in Boston).

Hey Franki-I'm finally getting up some pics of some art lessons. I've got some more to post...I'm also going to try and get some of my favorite art teacher links up on "my favorites."

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”

-Dr. Seuss

ATT: Chicago girlies.....midwest tshirt

2009-03-01T20:25:00.001-08:00

Ok Franki, Andi and Jen...I found the tshirt! ...and I found a link with how to transfer an image with freezer paper..so we don't have to slap down twenty five bucke roos!

Freezer paper link: http://www.craftster.org/blog/?p=94 (check out the Madonna transfer)

http://gingerfied.blogspot.com/2006/04/freezer-paper-transferhow-to_16.html

Franki-thanks to you, I'm going a little crazy with freezer paper now....its all over the living room as I'm trying to make shirts for the kiddos birthdays.

I know well that happiness is in the little things. -John Ruskin

some inspiration

2009-02-24T00:40:00.001-08:00

I would love to make a tub sofa....someday....

Ohhh la, la...This grocery cart chair is so sweet.....Now only if I could weld...mmmm.....I saw the tub and grocery chair at http://www.reestore.com/

Its the wee hours of the night-and I am unable to sleep-so...I'm looking through some of my favorite sites for inspiration. I love the milk crates-I may have to do something like this in the future..now to find a butt load of milk crates..... For the milk crate chandelier and crate stools: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/03/come_up_to_my_r.php

Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.-William Shakespeare

A redo on a dresser...and some art

2009-02-21T11:44:00.000-08:00

So Thursday evening the kiddos and I took a dresser over to Fremont. Its always a bit crazy with Oscar and Frannie wanting to play with the breakables at the shop! I also took a picture of a painting (an old Irish saying) I brought in to the Vintage mall awhile ago. ...and on our way out Oscar and Frannie enjoyed playing in their tent(the Fremont Vintage sign).

"Chop your own wood, and it will warm you twice."-Henry Ford

Collective

2009-01-04T23:21:00.000-08:00

So my friend Susie who manages the Fremont Vintage Mall told me that Gail Miller from "Collective," had bought some of my stuff before. On my way home the other day I thought I would pop in to "Collective," and meet Gail. Walking up to the door I see my "Housekeeping" vanity in the front window. I also spotted a lamp and foot stool that I had redone. I talked to Gail a bit and asked her if I could take some pictures. It was so fun to see my stuff in her shop! Thanks Gail!! Visit her oh so cool shop at : http://www.collectiveinballard.com/

“Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends we choose.”-Tennessee Williams. -

Thanks Retta, Lori and Jimmy for really pushing me to do what I love...I thought of you and all of your encouragement when I was in Fremont this weekend!! Love ya,katie

Music Sheet Art

2009-01-04T22:22:00.001-08:00

I found some amazing old music sheets awhile back. I picked out some music titles that resonate with me and decoupaged them with a little bit of wood stain onto these wood boards. The wood boards I found at Creation Station in Lynwood, Wa. ( http://www.creationstationinc.com/ ). I wanted to keep them in my living room but I took them to Fremont to sell. I have another project I'm working on that will take the place of these in my living room.

“Art is never finished, only abandoned.”-Leonardo da Vinci

another chandelier

2009-01-04T22:22:00.000-08:00

I had this eighties light fixture that I added some junky beads/and other odds and ends and some black paint and whaallaa!!! My picture of the final outcome doesn't look to hot- This piece I am consigning at Fremont Vintage Mall.

“Limitations live only in our minds. But if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become limitless.” Jamie Paolinetti

Christmas Break

2008-12-31T10:27:00.000-08:00

So I wanted the kids to pick out a few gifts for Jimmy and Jenny for Christmas. We all know we don't need more crap but I want them to understand giving more-so we went to the Target dollar section and I gave Oscar and Franki a list of people they had to buy for. Oscar picked out santa claus chocolate for Jimmy and clappers for Jenny. He was pretty adiment about Jenny having party clappers. It was funny. And Ms. Frances picked out a yo yo for Jimmy. We can always use yo yo's! Also..wrapping by Oscar and Franki!!

I was looking around the house for something to use for our advant-like countdown till Christmas. Chinese Take out cartons seemed to work. I bought them awhile ago for gift boxes but I think they spiced up our tree!

Snow in Seattle!!! Crazy.

Franki hitting Oscar with a snowball in the back.

Uncle Ralph, Franki , Oscar and Aunt Jenny -ahhh so cute.

Uncle Jimmy helping Oscar put together his Anniken Lego ship

Oscar opening up some spider man pajamas!!!

Oh dear....This barbie is Frannie's favorite gift and is annoying as heck!!! The barbie sings super cheesy songs. One of the songs starts out..."I feel connected...protected..." Jimmy made up some words..."I feel rejected....suspected.." hee, hee.

One of Oscar's favorite gifts..another light sabor. You can never have too many light sabors!

Frannie was serving us coffee with her new barbie tea set and putting barbie stickers all over our faces.

“Happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.” Franklin D. Roosevelt

Merry Christmas 2008 Whahoo!!!!!!!!

2008-12-17T18:26:00.000-08:00

Make a Smilebox greeting

This past year has been a challenging year. A quick move from Madison, Wi to Seattle, Wa. We couldn't have made the move without great friends like Jimmy, Jenny, Retta, Lori and Kevin,Jo and Bob, Rambod and Judy,Kim, Lisa, Kathy(and Dean),Jennie(P.), Amy P., and Eydie and Dave. I can't say thank you enough to especially Jimmy, Jenny,Retta and Lori for encouraging the kids and I and just being there for us.

May you all be blessed with great friends and good cheer!!!

Love,katie, Oscar and Frances

We are what we believe we are. C. S. Lewis

Pumpkin Patch

2008-10-26T21:17:00.000-07:00

“Use the talents you possess - for the woods would be a very silent place if no birds sang except for the best.” -Henry Van Dyke

Bellevue, WA

2008-08-26T21:03:00.000-07:00

One of my last peices to take to Fremont. Thanks Retta-I finally used one of the salt bags!

Ok Jo-Do you lika? This old boat peice came off one of Bob and Jo Kay's boat somewhere-I don't know the whole story but I decided an old map was best suited for this salvage peice.

Just a simple project here-I used the last of one of my favorite crazy fabrics.

Yeah!!!! Lori labeling all of my shop hardware/junk. Thank you. Thank you Lori. I officialy have a shop that is all organized and I know where all of my tools are!!-

Frannie at the beach park in Kirkland last weekend.
She thinks she is a big kid and is not afraid to jump from high places.

Oscar talking to me while I'm snapping some random pictures.

As a lot of you know I have started a new job-teaching art K-8 in Bellevue, WA. I'm sad to leave my "Dilly Dally, rubbish redefined" business, but I hope to get back to it some day. I hope to post an occassional project being that creating is something I must do. ....and I know I will incorporate my reuse/recycle art into my art lessons at school.
So Oscar, Frannie, and Jimmy and I moved here to Bellevue last week. Thanks to Jimmy,Zak(a UW runner), and Kevin and Lori Kay we made a smooth transition from West Seattle to Bellevue. I can't even begin to show my gratitude to Jimmy, Lori and Kevin. Lori spent a few days here organizing my house as I do not even know where to begin when it comes to organizing. I like to stick to the fun decorating part. But as Lori showed me, getting organized makes it so much easier to live and especially with my new busy schedule I need as much organization as possible. Anyway-thanks you guys-I love you.
So this week the kids started their first full week of day care as I begin professional development week. The kids are doing great. Franki(my little fireball) is so excited to go to daycare=she says,"I play mom,""by mom." Oscar is my little homebody. Today I told him when he misses me to close his eyes and picture me giving him a hug-and I asked him,"do you feel my hug?"...He said I will mom. When I picked him up today had been struggling the last hour or two and said, "Mom I felt your hug today at nap time." I couldn't help but cry and squeeze him tight.-Its funny the things our kids remember. I didn't think he would remember me telling him that. Tonight we read, "SkippyJonJones" for the 20th time this week. If any of you get the chance to read this book-you should, its quite entertaining to parents as well!!

“Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.” -John Wayne

Be Happy

2008-07-24T08:50:00.000-07:00

Be Happy - When life's problems seem overwhelming, look around and see what other people are coping with. You may consider yourself fortunate. Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are. God is Love Rev Run

Gooooo get em!!!!- inspiration from Rev Run .....and a Table

2008-07-24T08:06:00.000-07:00

This old rusty table came out of my dear friend Jo's shed. Some primer and a fresh coat of paint and this table is new.

So occasionally when my brother is chilling out and watching the Rev Run show on MTV, I'll watch it with him. I don't remember the name of the show but I love his quotes he sends out to all of his friends:

Good morning Its a new week! A good day! Walk with an extra boost of energy. Ride the crest of the wave that extra mile! Things will play in your style if you smile! Its all about your attitude! Goooooo get em!!!!God is Love Rev Run

Old Map

2008-07-23T15:13:00.001-07:00

I was looking to put this map somewhere until I took it to my booth. I kind of like it here now-maybe I'll keep it. I could have a million zillion maps in my house-Jo-thank you-I might just keep it.

“Creative minds are rarely tidy”-anonymous

Headboard

2008-07-22T11:30:00.000-07:00

This door has been sitting in my dining room area for about two months now-I had been planning on making it into a headboard and finally got to it. I used black pleather that I have had for a long time and some upholstery tacks. My poor pillows-This bed gets jumped on a lot by two little people you have seen in my previous posts. I think I'll hang some art work above it at our next place.

“If everybody is thinking alike, then somebody isn’t thinking.” -George S. Patton Jr.

Thank you RoboLady!

2008-07-20T13:57:00.000-07:00

So I don't always check my blog comments-well because frankly as you can see I don't have too many. Hee, hee. It was such a great surprise to see Robolady's comment that she had given me an award on her blog. Check it out- robolady.blogspot.com

Margo-You are so sweet to give out awards. Its so amazing to share our creativity with one another-All of us bloggers spurr eachother on to do good work. I wish I could hang out with you and your ladies on your blog. Thank you. love,katie

Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine.
Lord ByronEnglish poet & satirist (1788 - 1824)

Frannie's butterflies

2008-07-15T22:37:00.000-07:00

Well I finally finished some art to go above Frannie's bed. Oscar has the rocket and I wanted to continue the metal look over to her side of the room. I cut some bed sideboards/screwed some metal flashing on/painted the squares and then deco. 'd the vintage butterfly pics.

Far away in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see the beauty, believe in them and try to follow where they lead.-- Louisa May Alcott

Art Nook

2008-07-15T22:32:00.001-07:00

I finally got some of the kids art work hung(as we are moving soon). I wanted to show our little art center. I found the ikea cubbie at a yard sale and painted it with chalkboard paint. My favorite kids art is Oscar's spider he drew at 2 and half yrs. old-He drew it after reading the "Little Critter" books.

homemade swing

2008-07-15T22:28:00.000-07:00

I saw a homemade swing in an old potterybarn teen catalogue. So...I had to make one for my little man. The piece of wood we found at the beach.

Growth Chart

2008-07-15T22:21:00.000-07:00

Frannie and Oscar helped paint the sides and back of the growth chart. Frannie spent a little longer just doodling and talking to herself as she painted layers apon layers of paint. I just let her do her thing because I knew she was having fun. I put alum. flashing on top of the piece of wood and then stapled an old tape measure to it.

Rung Ladder Bench

2008-07-01T22:09:00.000-07:00

Dilly Dally

Vintage Radio Cabinet

2008-07-01T22:04:00.000-07:00

Modern Bookshelf

2008-06-14T10:00:00.000-07:00

I sanded and stained the doors/top of shelf and added an extra shelf that was missing on the left. I changed the casters and added them to the very bottom of the piece. I liked how this piece turned out and would keep it if I had more room.

The Ugly LIght made chandelier!!

2008-06-14T09:56:00.000-07:00

Well-Lori and Kevin-Do you see your old light fixture in the chandelier? I have a plan for the glass piece. Maybe a fancy pot for a plant? I don't know. I'm waiting to find the perfect piece of wood to go with it.

Housekeeping!!!

2008-06-14T09:50:00.000-07:00

This was an old housekeeping cart used at a hotel. I transformed it into a urban-like vanity. I used an old mirror and attached some wood to hold it in place. If I only had a loft (hee, hee) this would certainly be in my room.

Birds!!!

2008-06-14T09:46:00.001-07:00

I have a whole file full of bird clippings. I love these old gold frames with the the black and white bird pics.

Silver Vanity

2008-06-08T11:01:00.000-07:00

Thanks Jo for helping me out here! I tried go silver again hoping this piece might go with a previous piece I already have in the booth.

Aluminum Sheeting

2008-06-08T10:36:00.000-07:00

This picture is horrible. I wish I would have taken one at the mall. I asked the lady who bought the piece if she could send me a picture once she gets it in her place. I hope to make some more aluminum sheet pieces. I enjoyed working with the metal and my electric staple gun!!! Thanks Jo for the top piece of metal!!

Wine Bar

2008-06-03T22:33:00.000-07:00

Wine Bar

Grandma's Doily

2008-06-03T21:58:00.000-07:00

Some odds and ends

2008-06-03T21:26:00.000-07:00

Silver Buffett

2008-06-03T21:22:00.001-07:00

Another Sewing Machine Table

2008-05-16T22:07:00.000-07:00

This table was pretty beat up with graffiti all over it and the sewing machine was still hanging out of it. After gutting the sewing machine, a fresh new coat of paint and some new knobs gave it a life again.

Modern Chairs Made New

2008-05-16T21:57:00.000-07:00

Grannie's Rocker

2008-05-16T21:52:00.000-07:00

This rocker was all alone on the side of the road. With some paint, some drift wood and a vintage pillow cover, grannie's rocker is made new.

Today at the Huskies Track and Field Meet

2008-05-10T21:35:00.000-07:00

This afternoon the kids and I went to visit Jimmy at his track meet. Oscar kept thinking he was going to race today. He kept saying, "I'm going to win today mom, I"m gonna win." One of Jimmy's athlete's (Joe) was kind enough to sprint with Oscar. Oscar won and he loved it. Then he and Frances had to race Jimmy of course.

Good times in the Garage

2008-05-10T21:31:00.000-07:00

This is a pretty silly picture of my friend Jo who just gave me a bunch of junk.(Goodies to those of us junkers.) We had such a great time rummaging through some sweet finds she had saved for me in here garage. Thank you Jo!!!!

Modern Driftwood Chairs

2008-05-10T21:20:00.000-07:00

The side table just needed a paint job. The chairs were a little challenging. One of the seat cushions was a pillow and the other cushion had no more life to it. So after much thinking-I thought I would use drift wood as the seats. The frames were recoverd with new fabric. Once I saw the furniture on Bleu Nature I felt ok with this idea. Bleu Nature is way out of my league but I love the concept of using drift wood with modern design.

vintage glass light fixture

2008-05-10T21:16:00.000-07:00

This light I found the other day at the thrift shop. It looked like it needed to be simplified and could be beautiful again.

Vintage clawfoot

2008-05-10T21:12:00.000-07:00

I had to paint this clawfoot and have it be a bookend. Its not displayed that way in the picture-but I"m bringing another bookshelf in that will better display it.

Dilly Dally

Sewing Machine Table

2008-05-10T21:05:00.001-07:00

This was pretty simple-I just had to gut the sewing machine. Which when I look at this table it reminds me of Oscar helping me. He got out his tool belt and said, "I'll help you mom." As he was helping me he said, "You are a hero mom." I was like, what? He said, "Yeah, you are like spiderman." I guess thats the best compliment I could get from my four year old. I'll always remember that one.

Sign for the shop

2008-05-10T20:54:00.000-07:00

I painted "Vintage Clothing" on this sign the vintage mall already had. Oscar wanted to hold the sign here.

Some more chalkboard art

2008-05-10T19:02:00.000-07:00

I found an old frame and used some old plywood for the "Love is patient, Love is kind in french. The other piece is a garden stand of some sort, maybe? I don't know what it was used for but I attatched a painted piece of plywood It says, "He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has."(in french of course)

Hospital Cart is Finished!

2008-04-28T10:32:00.000-07:00

The construction crew down the street was kind enough to let me salvage through their scrap wood the other day. Just enough of the same size to finish off the cart. I stamped "Less is More" on our humble recycling can as well.

Speaker Stands made into stools

2008-04-19T19:40:00.000-07:00

I loved the shape of these speaker stands that came minus the speakers! I painted them cream and added the fabric of one of my favorite vintage purses that had an unrepairable whole at the bottom. I think these stools could work as children's stools or adult side tables.

numbers!!

2008-04-19T19:36:00.000-07:00

I love numbers/letters on home decor(#3 water pitcher and #7 candle container)-I wanted to do something like Three Potatoe Four's new line of milk jugs.

A good pile of junk

2008-04-19T19:28:00.000-07:00

A pile of rusty old tool boxes/oil cans and framed mirror with vintage picture.

This is one of the old tool boxes painted cream. I put a house number on the front.

This was the wood framed mirror/vintage lady picture-now cream with left over fabric replacing the picture.

Some More Bird Art

2008-04-13T16:41:00.000-07:00

These pieces are from scrap wood cut up and stained. I decoupaged the bird pics( from an old book )onto the pieces of wood. I've sold a lot of my bird art-so I've got to keep going with this one. I'm just trying to make new spin on it each time. My pictures don't look so good-I need to focus on taking better pics in the future.

Bird Cage Light

2008-04-13T16:23:00.000-07:00

Snipped a few pieces of the cage and installed a light fixture

Another Less Is More

2008-04-11T20:07:00.000-07:00

I had this door left over from the tool chest I sold awhile ago. So....It looked like it needed some words on it. "Less Is More"

"Love" Seat

2008-04-09T22:03:00.000-07:00

Another head board love seat/bench. This one is my favorite. I'm going to recover a large pillow to go with it.

Salvage yard basket

2008-04-05T17:23:00.000-07:00

I loved this basket-I don't what it was used for????? I cut out a base for it from an old cabinet door. Sanded the base down/added wheels and whalaa!! After my salvage coat stand sold, I thought I would take a chance with this peice. Amy Butler's "midwest modern." has a layout that inspired this piece with the drift wood.

two for one

2008-04-05T17:04:00.000-07:00

I bought this topiery plant thingee inside this stool for four dollars. Oscar helped me take the greenry off the topeiry to make a light. I was trying to mimick one like in the Viva Terra catalogue. The stool portion I painted white and added some faux fur for a little stool.

Green and White Kitchen Cart

2008-04-05T16:57:00.000-07:00

I hit a furniture sale last week-it was late in the day and didn't think there would be anything left. The lady selling was wanting to get rid of everything-so she gave me the cart and two modern chairs for 20. Good deal!

Orange Candelabra

2008-04-05T16:47:00.000-07:00

So Lori and Kevin gave me their old light fixture (which one arm was not working) as they replaced it with a really cool chrome light. I was going to paint it black but I decided on orange. Crazy orange! My sister and I were shopping in Bucktown last winter and I saw this amazing antique chandelier painted bright orange-so I had to copy it in some form. My turquoise chandelier sold so maybe this orange one will too!

luggage racks turned modern chairs

2008-03-29T18:45:00.000-07:00

I couldn't resist purchasing these racks for only two dollars a piece!! I drilled holes through the metal piping and then attached seats I cut and upholstered. I hope I can better display them this week with a side table.

coffe table/lounger

2008-03-29T18:35:00.000-07:00

This piece I found in the alley way. It was missing the glass table top so I upholstered a piece of wood with burlap. Painted the frame with a turquoise color found in the oops section at home depot. The kids enjoyed using it as a spring board to jump to the couch.

Children's art/full booth

2008-03-26T15:52:00.000-07:00

The booth is finally looking a little full. The green desk sold yesterday so I need to find another one to go with the chair. I pulled a late nighter and was able to put up a lot of stuff this morning. The vintage book covers make for some fun children's art. The three pictures are of ballet prints I pulled out of an old book. Retta, Do you remember the "The Long Shadow?"

Bird and Book Art

2008-03-26T15:46:00.000-07:00

The possibities are endless with book covers. I love the back of old books-the colors are rich and I can collect too many?? I cut out some pictures of birds and collaged them with old blank pages.

Broken Seat

2008-03-26T15:41:00.000-07:00

The kids and I were on a walk and I noticed this chair tucked away behind a dumpster-tricky-So after our walk, we immediately got in the truck and picked this chair up. I covered it with some upholstery burlap.

Less Is More

2008-03-26T15:32:00.000-07:00

This beat up canteen was sitting on the ground at the salvage yard next to the scale and Mike(salvage yard guy) threw it in as part of my purchase! I stamped on the saying "Less is More." -There is a graphic artist I saw on the Oh JOy blog making posters with this saying. I loved it.

homely lookin footstool

2008-03-26T15:28:00.000-07:00

Card Table Art

2008-03-25T12:17:00.000-07:00

Dilly Dally

Old Hospital Cart

2008-03-25T11:45:00.000-07:00

This piece I was so excited to find at the salvage yard -my first visit there. I've primed it and painted it silver. I'm looking for the perfect drift wood on the beach to set inside for shelves.

Here it is!!!!

2008-03-25T11:42:00.000-07:00

Retta, Here is the stainless Steel table from the salvage yard. It is all clean now and set up in the living room ,but I don't have it the way I want it yet-I'll post another pic when its finished.

Repaired lamp

2008-03-25T11:35:00.000-07:00

This lamp I purchases at a yard sale a few weeks ago. It was pretty beat up and needed a few more bolts to hold the top peice down. I painted it all gold. The little envelope organizer I found at the salvage yard with some other pieces. I don't know what it orginally was?...But it looked cool.

desk and chair

2008-03-25T11:27:00.000-07:00

OK, we have all seen this 80's chair-I could see it going modern with some new fabric....and the table I painted with a lovely green that was in the oops section at home depot. Love those greens.

plain bookshelf

2008-03-25T11:15:00.000-07:00

My trip to a local thrift shop was great the other day. My Russian friend Siaida(sp?) gave me a good deal-she practically gave me 75 percent off my purchase. She said in her thick russian accent, " I give you good deal, go, go, go now, go.....happy easter!" Happy easter to you too Siaida! The bookshelf was part of the purchase. I painted the shelf grey and distrissed it a bit. I put some legs on it that I had found a long time ago on the curb.

He's got it!

2008-03-25T11:01:00.000-07:00

I bought this hammer for Oscar awhile ago and he's been asking all the time to hammer by himself. ....So I let him go to it and he does so well. He's really steady and careful to not hit his fingers. He wants a little drill for his birthday...we'll see.

Shed new light on Light fixture

2008-03-25T10:56:00.000-07:00

I bought this light at that fantastic yard sale a few weeks ago. I took out the plastic/painted it. I used window screen on the interfacing-And painted the screen as well. I saw a decorator on decorating cents use screen for another project and it inspired me to use screen here.

Some chairs and a light fixture.

2008-03-17T22:44:00.000-07:00

I was so excited today-Susie from the fremont vintage mall called to tell me another piece sold-the silver tool chest-I didn't think anybody would buy that-I thought I would end up taking that home with me. It was so worth it climbing that 12 foot dumbster.Yeah!!...and my grey dresser/bookshelf sold this past weekend. So tomorrow I'm loading up some more pieces. I wanted to show a before pic of the turqouise chandelier(retta)-just a free light fixture and some broken necklaces. The dining chairs I found on the curb and decided to take a risk and go anthropologie on them-mustard and franki's old turquoise quilt for the seats. I hope by placing them with the black table-they will sell as a set. The sixties(I think) light fixture I bought at an amazing garage sale on Fri. morning. This garage sale was so exciting-I bought all kinds of hardware-tools/light fixtures-my heart was racing., hee, hee I have to remember to hit this sale next year.

oscar loves darth nader(darth vader)

2008-03-17T22:40:00.000-07:00

So thank you Amy Prunuske for sending those super pictures. Oscar loves the darth vader picture you sent. He prayed last night, "God thank you for mom, dad, frances, mia , ben and thank you for darth nader." Today he also wanted to send darth nader a package of his lincoln logs-He thought Darth could use some.

Frannie Grace turns 2

2008-03-17T22:17:00.000-07:00

The morning of Franki's bday we got out all of the art supplies and started making some decorations. Oscar and Franki put number 2's all over the house along with some balloons. Oscar kept asking when his birthday was-this has been a challenge trying to explain that his birthday is after Frannie's and he will get his presents soon-It seemed so unfair to him. ...and that Franki got a sooped up Dora The explorer trike. He wanted one-All of a sudden his old dusty four wheeler became great again-he started to ride his. I can't believe Franki is two. She is saying "Two."....and "Farted."...hee, hee. She has so much gas I ask her, "Did you fart or did you poop?" She'll reply, "Farreddd." She is so funny. She loves to be girly but isn't shy about tackling her brother and bringing on a fight. Retta-I also put in a pic of the kids when they recieved your birthday package. You've spoiled them-Oscar keeps asking when he is going to get another package from you.

Ashland, Oregon

2008-03-17T22:08:00.001-07:00

My sweet friend Lori asked me to go to Ashland with her a few weeks ago. It was lovely-Kevin,her wonderful husband provided free airline passes for us to fly to Ashland. Bob, Kevin's dad gave Lori and I two passes to the Alaska boardroom. We laughed so hard on the plane and sat next to some funny ladies who were laughing as well. Oh..and we were served free wine on the plane. It was great. I got to meet Lori's friends from her college/party days in Ashland. Lots of hippy dippies with great stories. Good company is all you need for a good time.