Trees galore.

I have a very special friend who blogs almost daily.  I am amazed at how easily she can produce an interesting "read" with no real effort.  Most of her blogs are from her wonderful memories of her childhood, her parents and the beautiful area where she grew up.  Each and every one is filled with so many interesting tidbits, recipes accompanied by photos, especially if she had just baked using her mother's tried and proved favourite recipes.  Ah, I do envy her ability to bring all this to life on a regular basis.  I wish I had half her talent and could blog as often but that is not the case.

This blog of mine is to show you what I have been up to since the last time we came together and to be honest, there really isn't too much to show you.  I have been commissioned by two separate ladies to create button trees.

The first lady had purchased one of my trees and liked it so much that she wanted me to paint one for her, in red and black, to give to a friend who was coming to Canada for a visit.  So, this beauty will end up in Ireland.  I hope it makes it in one piece.

This one wasn't too difficult to create, afterall, I have made about eight others in different colours, but the next commission was a little more scarey.  I lady I had recently met, who seemed to like a lot of my "creations" and had purchased quite a few in one visit to my Boutique, asked me if I would like to take on a project..... to create two larger canvases with trees and, wait for it, antique buttons.  She had quite a large amount of gorgeous buttons which she had saved over the years and after purchasing two of my smaller button trees, she thought it would be an unique idea if I could put her precious buttons to good use and create two larger button trees.  Afterall, what good was it to have all these beauties if you couldn't see them and admire them.

Well, I sure was honoured that she would make that request of me but also quite nervous because I normally don't take on requests.  Anyway, she brought over her buttons and left it up to me how I would do this.  After some research and trial runs, these are what I ended up with....

Gave the canvases a wash of different colours

in the hope that they would fit on any

wall, no matter what colour.

Sketched in the trees and then sponge painted

the foliage so that some of the green would

show through once the buttons were placed.

Painted the trunks,  trying to give them some texture.

Then placed and glued the buttons on the canvases,

being very careful to balance the colours and styles

of the buttons between the two canvases.

I must say that I was very pleased with the final

outcome.  I just hope she will be too.

I found a cute little telephone table and changed it from this...

To this....

It sold immediately.

How about a little loonie piggy bank?  From this....

To this....

Just one more item, a very simple item really but fun to do.....

A kitchen paper towel holder from this...

To this...

That's about if, apart from recycling old picture frames to give them a new lease on life.

Well, that's it for now.  Please stay healthy and happy and I'll catch up with you again soon.  A couple of photos of my darling grands.

Hugs, 

Having a quiet month!!

The month of March was very quiet as regards "thrifting" and "creating", so this is going to be a very short post.  I need to find a few small wooden items (e.g. tables) to paint and re-purpose.  Donations are always welcome, LOL  It's hard to find items like this as I don't drive.

I found this gorgeous frame and found that it matched a few others I have in my apartment which contain lovely crow pictures painted by my dear friend Laurie, so rather than recycle it, I mentioned to Laurie how great it would look with another of her crows in it.  Of course, she was kind enough to whip one up for me and here they are, one without a painting and the other with.

 Aren't they gorgeous???  Thanks so much Laurie.

This is a piece I did myself of a crow on burlap in a shabby chic frame - it's in my Boutique, for sale.

I picked up this shelf and painted it black, an easy fix....

It's now in my Boutique for sale. 

I decided to turn all my jewelry into grab bags in the hope that I could finally sell it all.  It has been a few years since I did all the craft shows where things like this sold very well, but now not so much.  In each bag I have a minimum of seven items which I am selling for $5 a bag.  They are now in my Boutique for sale and also in my local grocery store, City Meat Market and they have been doing very well there.  They are so good to me.  They also are a great little family grocery store which sells locally grown produce as well as organic meat, etc.

I worked on this delightful mailbox. It needed a new coat of paint, another easy fix.

I bought this old wagon, I think it was one of the original 'Little Red Wagons'.  It certainly has taken a beating over the years but it is still in very good condition and strong....

And that's about it.  At the moment I am working on a little table/plant stand, whatever, it can be used for either and am filling holes in the top and sanding it.  When that is done, I will decide what colour I will paint it and whether I will shabby chic it.....

As usual, I am leaving you with a couple of photos of my darling grandkids whom I hope to go and visit in a few weeks, now that the snow is beginning to go away, although someone told me today that it is supposed to snow again either tomorrow or Saturday, enough already!!!! LOL

Katherine, the birthday girl, just turned two....

 Big brother Rhys, mischievous as usual...

 Birthday girl opening presents from Grandma (me)....

 And, darling Rhys again - can't wait to see these darlings......

Well folks, I hope that wherever you are, you are well and happy.  Until the next time, take care of yourselves.

Hugs, 

Sorry, I misled you!!

I guess I was hoping that the next time I posted the weather would be well on the way to warming up.  I'm waiting for the snow to disappear so that I can hop on the Greyhound bus and go and visit my darling grandchildren, and their parents of course.

I haven't had too many projects on the go since my last visit with you - I actually I can't remember exactly what I have been doing, LOL.  This is the desk and chair that I mentioned that I was going to refinish - I ended up painting it in an off-white.  I'm not sure if I am going to be taking this over to my Boutique or not and for the time being, it is in my apartment with my television sitting on it.  I rather like my tv up higher than it was.

It looks a little messy in that corner at the moment and one of these days I will tidy it up, especially if I decide to keep the desk.  I have to admit that if I could get the desk to my Boutique without any trouble, then it would be there by now, but it really is a little too large for me to carry it on top of my shopping cart, which I usually use to transport the larger items I work on, too much snow on the sidewalks for me to lug it over there!!

Now, the chair is a different matter....

I upholstered the chair with a lovely deep turquoise vinyl, easy to keep clean especially if children are going to be using it.  Since taking these photos, I decided to shabby up the chair but I didn't take a photo of it.

I did another magazine rack, shabby chic of course, LOL

My sweet son Phil did something very special for me, he ordered and had mailed to me a coffee mug with a photo of my sweet grandchildren.  What a delightful surprise that was..

He has a really kind and generous heart.  Thank you so much Phil.  I will treasure it.

I picked up an armful of vintage, musical dolls to put into my 

Boutique for sale.  So far I haven't sold one, just waiting for the right person to come along...

The last thing I did was to make/assemble two pictures using some of the turquoise vinyl and two 3D plastic cutouts which I painted and put in a lovely painted black frame.  I think they are rather cute, but I would, wouldn't I?

Well that's it for my creative ability this time, not too impressive but the pickings have been slim on my thrifting expeditions.  As always, I will end with a couple of photos of my darling grandkids sent to me by the wonderful day care provider they have.  Her name is Anna and she has become my friend and I enjoy visiting with her also when I go to visit the family - thanks Anna....

Sweet little Kat and darling big brother Rhys...

Take good care of yourselves, hope it warms up soon.

Hugs,