Touching Base

Just stopping by today to touch base with all of you.  I had a wonderful vacation with my son, his lovely wife and my two adorable grandchildren.  Ten days went by so quickly and I think that this was one of the best visits to date.  I managed to treat my sons (twins) to a birthday supper whilst I was there and was able to take part in my grandson's fifth birthday.

Unfortunately, when I returned home I indulged myself in a really fine dose of 'flu', or something resembling it..... fever, chest and nasal infection, sore throat, general malaise, no appetite and nausea.  So, for a week or more, I really did nothing and hardly even left my apartment.  I'm pleased to report that I am greatly improved and hoping for more strength every day.

This last month I haven't made anything exciting for my Boutique but I do have a couple of items on the go so I will show them next posting.  So, that's it - pretty uneventful really so I will leave you with a couple of photos of my little darlings.  I can't wait to go and visit them again.  I figure in about another month-six weeks.

So my lovely blogging buddies, sorry for the lack of projects but I make up for it with delightful photos, LOL  I hope you all will be well and happy - until we meet again......

Hugs, 

Greyhound, Grandkids and Gadabout!!!

I'm beginning to get quite excited.  In just a few days I will be embarking on the Greyhound bus on my way to visit my darling grandkids and their parents.  It's about six months since my last Gadabout and can't wait to see the changes in the little darlings.  Of course I have Skyped with them but it's not the same as being in the same room with them, cuddling and kissing them and I aim to get me lots of that kind of loving.

Do you want to see what I have been up to since my last post?  Of course you do, LOL

I wish I had taken a photo of the before for this item - that's one of my weaknesses, I forget to do it and then once I have started to refinish, it's too late.  You will have to imagine how this looked just plain wood coloured.  It's much nicer shabby chic'd.....

A dear friend and neighbour needed to have her patio tables painted so I gave them a few coats of off-white paint and another couple of coats of varnish.  They look so nice now outside her patio doors with her flowers sitting on them....

I found these two chairs at one of the Thrift Stores and they were pretty ugly......

and with some inspiration and lots of hard work, I turned them into something very pretty and they are now in my Boutique waiting for their forever home.

I changed this flower basket from this...

into this.....

My biggest project was working on two end tables.  Actually, they were quite beautiful in their original state but there would be a better chance of them selling if I shabby chic'd them.  Not everyone likes the idea of painting good wooden furniture but it seems to be the trend these days.....

This is what they looked like before I transformed them....

and finally, into this....

I hope you like them.

A little black shelf I did....

and finally, a family sign, measuring just over two feet.

A box which could be used for so many things, shabby chic'd with a French decal...

and a shelf which could go with it...

That's about it for this post.  As usual, I will finish off with a couple of photos of my darling grandkids.  Did I say that I was excited at going to visit them soon?  I will get lots of new photos when I'm there.

Little Katherine (Kat)

and Rhys, who will be turning five when I'm there.

(being silly)

Well my friends, 'til the next time.... be healthy, happy and take good care of each other.

Hugs, 

Warmer weather is coming, honest!!

Still patiently waiting for the weather to warm up.  Yesterday was not bad at all, sunny and bright, but today it went back to being chilly and dreary.  Good job I can keep myself busy at home.

So, what have I been doing?

I found a rather dirty old footstool and dragged it home and when I went to work on it, ripping off the old material, this is what I found underneath.  Can you imagine how excited I was.  It must be pretty old but I am no expert so when I put it in my Boutique I will ask a reasonable price for it but I think it will be a win/win situation for all.  This is what it looked like (with small legs) when I got it....

and this is what I found underneath that mess.....

Lucky the person who buys this - I think it is a treasure!!

Then I worked on an old cabinet - a dear friend of mine had given it to me and it needed quite a bit of TLC but after going out and buying new hinges and searching for a piece of board to fix the back and painting it, but at the same time keeping the original cracked and peeled paint, I ended up with this beauty.....

If I weren't trying to downsize, I would be holding on to this beauty also.  It will be in my Boutique tomorrow also and I'm hoping that someone will snap it up.  The price will be right.

How about this lovely Inspirational piece I just did.  Wouldn't this look lovely above your bed?

Another piece I finally finished.  I had worked on it a couple of years ago and was using it in my living room but then decided to tidy it up and sell it.  It is so cute in its creaminess with a lovely French decal on top.  I might bring this one back home if it doesn't sell...

Oh yes, and another Inspirational piece I did, this one with a real shabby chic look.  I painted and shabbied the frame and then covered inner board with pale green burlap and then painted letters and glued them on....

It's only when I write my blog that I realize just how busy I have been and not to blow my own trumpet, but I am truly amazed at just how much I can accomplish considering how much pain and ill-health I have.  I am in constant pain with my back and symptoms from Lupus and Fibromyalgia and Heart Disease, and COPD, and, Osteoarthritis, shall I go on?  Better not, because I try not to give place to any of this but sometimes it really is too hard to ignore, so I work through the pain and I always come out ahead.  I'm not the type to indulge in a pity party for too long, except the time when my second hubby died and I had to face all the problems that this marriage and his illness had brought me, and I fell flat on my face, but I managed with some great counselling to pick myself up.

What about this lovely shabby chalkboard?  You like?  You can see that I mainly like doing shabby stuff, LOL

Then there is this lovely little shelf unit.  I keep forgetting to take before pictures but just imagine it a basic typical brown - as you can see, another shabby chic item...

My next project is going to be a cute old desk and chair I bought from a neighbour who was moving out of this apartment building into a retirement home.  This sweet lady, who is in her 80's, said her hubby made this for her many years ago.  Notice the delightfully scalloped edges.  I will also put new hardware on the drawers.  It wasn't cheap but then I wasn't out to take advantage of her, so I will probably have it up for sale in my Boutique when I have it finished for about $20 more than I paid for it and as you can see, it's going to take a lot of work upholstering the chair and chalk painting and waxing both pieces....

Well, that's it for now.  Shall finish up with my usual photos of the two little ones who are so very close to my heart, my grandkids...

Katherine is going to be 2 in March, what a sweetie...

Rhys is going to be 5 in June, what a little imp, but so adorable......

Take care my friends - see you in Blogland.

Oh, and not to boast but the Olympic winners of the Male Curling are from my hometown, Sault Ste. Marie, Yea!!!!

Hugs,