back from the brink

I have had the worst cold for the past 2 weeks!  It definitely put a damper on the holidays!!!
I have NO pictures of Christmas....so my little blog picks up a few days after.

I have been busy (in between my horrible hacking cough) making things for my little shop area.  Now that Christmas has passed, it is time to think spring!  This project is super easy, and very inexpensive.  It is a lavender planting kit.

The chalk board paint was the most expensive part of this whole project.
The quart was $9.00, but I have enough to do 1000 pots (if they are a hit).

I bought a big bag of soil, and portioned off bags for each pot.

The pots were 89 cents. 

the seeds are $1.19 a packet

I added ribbon and some rafia stuff, and presto....lavender planting kits.

Since I have been so sick, Bob has really stepped up to the plate.  He made a fabulous Christmas dinner, and ran around on Christmas eve, doing all of the little extra things that I couldn't get done.
 Ivan helped...he picked out breakfast at the grocery store.

the worlds most perfect foods.

donuts and bacon! woop!

I saw this basket in a little antique shop.  I will definitely be trying to copy this!!!! I love it!

I think they used puffy paint

I am starting to get my studio together...I love stuff! Lots and lots of stuff!

stuff in glass jars.  I need to be able to see my stuff.

I think I may have posted this meal in my other blog some time ago.
It's worth a repost because its so yummy. It's a take on Nicoise (minus the anchovies), which I love.

eggs, tuna, olives, onion, tomatoes, string beens, red potatoes

lettuce and a light balsamic

roast the potatoes, lightly steam the beans, hard boil the eggs.
 arrange all the ingredients in a pleasing arrangement. yum yum!

The above chocolate is gross. That's all I have about that.

Santa brought the game Qwirkle.  It is a great game!!!!!

I had to go out and harvest our oranges, since we are expecting a deep frost here on the island.
It was cold, hard, dirty work, but it had to be done.

 I managed to get them all in before the frost...phew, it was close!

I am hoping for a bumper crop next year...maybe 20-30 oranges!

I have been reading some great books lately..... I highly recommend them all!

I hope to be back on here soon with a new post!!!!

getting ready

Ahh! The holidays are fast approaching.
Some times I have to remind myself that tomorrow,  yes tomorrow will be December 1st.
When there is no snow or super cold weather it's hard to think Christmas.
I plan on making loads of handmade gifts for those who appreciate the goodness of handmade
(believe it or not, some don't).

I saw this on Pinterest and knew that I could make some of these!

crochet wreath

I have made 2 and plan to make some more.  I like to crochet certain things (nothing that has to be straight or square). These are super easy, and fun!

Pretty cute huh!  These are in the shop to see if they will sell. I  priced them at $22.00.  The original inspiration is from Garnet Hill, I can just imagine what they charged!

I also put some of my silk flower hair clips in the shop.

I am trying out a new names for my little business.  I was thinking "Handmade Goodness", or maybe "Goddess Goodness"...what do you all think?

I also am making this into a wall hanging.....the first lyric was my first choice, but I was short two H's.
Bothersome!

 I ended up going with this John Lenon lyric..... I have glued down the tiles, and will mount it on a thin piece of wood, add a hanger, and presto....cool wall art.  I have someone in mind for this.

I bought a simply boring yet very comfy chair for the bedroom....super vanilla!

I love to dress chairs and tables.....layers, and layers.
The seat is a sheep's wool skin, that I have had since Ivan was a baby.
The back is a gorgeous piece of random woven wool that I got at a yard sale, and the top is a sample piece from an Angela Adam rug. Love it!

I am in the process of setting up my office/craft room.
I need table space, but didn't want to commit to anything yet (built-in - vs - wood tables).
I found this white table at  a thrift store for $5.00.
It ain't pretty! Yup, it's plastic!

No worries, it's nothing that a Crate and Barrel table cloth,
 and a vintage Vera table cloth couldn't handle.

Not that it matters to much, this is what the top looks like already!

I love Vera!!!!!! and layering linens! Ya'll give it a try!

around the house

The bathroom is 90% finished.....just the floor remains. I have a couple of throw rugs covering the icky vinyl for now.
I ended up spray painting the "cultured marble" sink(one day it wil be replaced).  I couldn't find any info on-line about painting cultured marble, so I just went for it. I used Krylon spray paint for plastic.
I was thrilled with the outcome.

I spay painted it white, with a high gloss finish. Bob replaced the faucets.
It was a basic redo....paint, new faucets, and shower curtains; cost ran about $120.00.
However, it was worth so much more to have a "newly-clean feeling" bathroom.
BEFORE...

AFTER....

I have always wanted this shower curtain, but never had a place for it. I do now, it's in the hall/Ivan's bathroom. It was very expensive for a shower curtain, but it's the first thing you see at the top of the stairs, and it makes me smile!

 I've been pretty home sick, and kind of blue.  I need to stay busy. I was going to set up my studio space up near the kitchen.  I thought it would be a great place....but not really. It is in between the 1/2 bath, and laundry room.

 We have a 3rd bedroom upstairs, which I wanted to make just a guest room for all our future lovely guests.  I have since decided to take it over (leaving space for a double size bed).  I am so happy! I think it's going to be great. I have loads more to work to do, but I am so excited!!!!

The room has great natural lighting, and wood floors. The walls are pink, but it's a light pink, and it's staying for now. I will just fill the walls with lovely images!