Happy Easter

1500 Easter eggs . . .

50 kids . . .

5 minutes . . .

Don't be late or you will miss out!

An Easter tradition on our little beach.

Nine to Five

I started with #9 and went on to #5.

I began my 10 day project with #9 - the easiest to complete.

I couldn't find a screw for the clock knob so I used the OPEN knob instead.

 Free - easy - quick.

I used the dish towel I bought last weekend in Santa Barbara as a table runner.

That done, I move on to # 5 - the black bench.

 I love Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.

One coat of paint, drying while I worked in the garden, sanding to scuff it up and the bench was back in the living room by the end of lunch.

On a roll, I grabbed #10 and some blue paint I found in the garage.

It was not Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and it was not as easy to work with.

I had to do several coats of paint and I don't like the texture.

But, it is just sitting in the garden so it is fine.

Steve was not back from physical therapy so I moved on to #4.

The table cloth proved to be a bit challenging because the fabric is really not wide enough.

But, I was using the "mistake" fabric from my pillow project so I made do.

#4 turned out to be one of those "domino" projects.

I definitely need to make a long white table cloth to go beneath the print and I need to make blue or red pillows for the chairs.

I even did some work in the garden in between paint jobs.

It will be slow going, but I will work every day.

Victor, my neighbor's gardener, has agree to come next Saturday to help me tackle the jungle.

Started at nine - done by five.

At this rate, I might actually complete my list.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

You can find me partying at

Common Ground

My Romantic Home

French Country Cottage

Rooted in Thyme

Cottage Wishes

No Minimalist Here

10 Days . . .

Spring Break!

We ALWAYS go skiing for spring break.

But, not this year.

Steve's shoulder is healing, but definitely no skiing this year.

We went skiing on our honeymoon - Steve was still in college so we set our wedding date during spring break.

But this year we will be spending our time here.

Dorje got into the picture so show how happy she is that there won't be a sitter and she will be at home with the human she loves best (Steve) and me.

So, with 10 days, I have a big project list.

#1 PILLOWS

 I will be making 2 yellow pillows and 3 in the red polka dot fabric the living room sofa and chair.

We are going out to dinner to celebrate a friend's birthday, but I will get started before we leave and the plan is to make at least one tonight.

#2 PAINT THE CABINET

I have never loved how my antique record cabinet turned out when I painted it BB - before blogging.

Had I seen all the inspiring paint jobs on Pinterest and blogs, I would probably never have chosen to go with 3 colors.

Tomorrow will be a drive south to the closest Annie Sloan Chalk Paint dealer.

Annie Sloan Old White is the plan.

Steve won't be able to drive with me so I get to leisurely look through the stores in the little antique mall AND I will be able to visit Home Goods.

#3 TABLE CLOTH

When I found the polka dot fabric, I saw this fabric in the same series.

I like it, but I don't think the size of the print is right for the red polka dot so it will become a table cloth.

#4 PATIO TABLE CLOTH

I bought this fabric before I settled on the red polka dots.

I want a bright tablecloth for spring so I am making use of the "mistake" fabric.

I think I might have to make a long white table cloth to go under it and I am hoping there is enough of the yellow fabric for some chair cushions too.

#5 PAINTED BENCH

Since his surgery, Steve has been bumping into the glass top sewing machine table.

I moved things around the house and put this little black bench next to the chair.

The bench will be Old White also.

A white cabinet, a white bench - oh, I really am going over to the light side!

#6 TACKLING THE JUNGLE

My garden is crying out for help.

I need to work in the garden EVERY day to get it under control.

Rain is forecast for Easter, but the rest of the time should be perfect for gardening.

#7 PAINTED DRESSER

We bought an entire bedroom suite 25 years ago and the only pieces we still have are the mirror and dresser.

I'm thinking blue.

I will see the selection tomorrow at the ASCP dealer and make my decision then.

I don't want to move the dresser out of the room mainly because Steve is not allowed to do any lifting.

So, this might be a drawer by drawer slow process.

#8 WINDOW SEAT CUSHION and PILLOWS

This should be #10 on the list because I probably won't get that far, but I always say "aim high".

If I put it in writing then I am more likely to complete it.

#9 PAINTED BOX

I found the little wooden box in the garage months ago and planned to paint it and add the little clock knob.

I have no excuses.

This is probably one of the easiest projects on the list.

#10 PAINTED BENCH

Don't I already have that on my list?

When I was looking for something to replace the sewing machine table I found this bench also.

I want to paint it for the garden.

10 days . . .

10 projects . . .

Wish me luck!

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I will be partying at

A Delightsome Life

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson

My Romantic Home 

The Pin Junkie

French Country Cottage

The Shabby Nest

It's About Time . . .

I have been looking at Easter and spring decorations on blogs for weeks now.

But, the only "spring" items in my house are flowers -

sweet daffodils and daisies from the market and a few from my garden.

I decided I had better get my act together and show a bit of Easter spirit.

Last night about 11:30, I finally got into the spirit.

I grabbed the little treats I received in a Bunny Swap at Cozy Blanket,

a burlap flowers from Paper Source and

some canvas pennants also from Paper Source.

I used the magnetic letters to trace the letters S P R I N G and colored them in with colored markers.

A little string, some polka dot clothes pins and

VOILA,

I have a spring banner!

Today after volleyball practice, I am heading up to the attic to find a few Easter decorations.

It's about time I got inspired!

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

You can find me partying at

Savvy Southern Style - Wow Us Wednesdays
Creative Cain Cabin - Budget Decorating Party
The Dedicated House - Make It Pretty Monday

Lavender Garden Cottage - Cottage Style Party

Coastal Charm - Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Elizabeth & Co. - Be Inspired

Cozy Little House - Tweak It Tuesday
Fluster Buster - Fluster Muster Party
Les Chateau de Fleurs - Monday Link Party

By jove! I think I've got it . . .

Yesterday we headed Santa Barbara in search of fabric.

I hate to say this with many people around the country still deep in snow, but it was an absolutely perfect day.

Even if I didn't find fabric it was wonderful to be zipping along the coast with the top down and the sun shining upon us.

I decided we should first go to Lewis and Clark to look for a tablecloth.

Steve hates shops like this, but he shows his art in a gallery in the arcade by Lewis and Clark so he had something to do while I shopped.

He snapped some photos of the great sculptures adorning the arcade.

I didn't find a tablecloth that I wanted to use for pillows, but I did pick up some cute things.

I have no idea what I will do with the little fork and spoon clips, but they are so cute.

I have been having fun playing with felt lately so I bought the heart and flower for ideas.

The hand towels just might end up as pillows on my window seat.

I didn't find anything in Santa Barbara, but back in Ventura I went to the fabric store and found some possibilities.

My plan was to use the blue and yellow for pillows and the red polka dot for napkins.

I love the red polka dot, but I thought the background was too beige for the white sofa.

I tucked the blue and yellow over the pillows and wasn't sure about my choice.

Then I tucked the polka dot over a pillow - LOVE it.

I headed back to the fabric store today and bought more fabric.

This week's plan - 2 sofa pillows and 1 chair pillow in red polka dot and 2 sofa pillows in  yellow.

The nice thing about my entire house being the same color palette is that I can switch things from room to room.

The original blue background bought for pillows will become a tablecloth for my patio table.

The blue/cherry fabric - I couldn't pass it up - a new dining room tablecloth.

It is a good thing that spring break starts in 4 days because I am going to be busy.

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

You can find me partying at 

Boogieboard Cottage

Life on Lakeshore Drive

Under the Table and Dreaming

I need your two cents . . .

None of my friends are into decorating.

That isn't quite true - my oldest friend is a professional interior decorator.

But, her style is very formal and not at all "cottagey".

So I am asking for your opinion.

I made slipcovers last summer for my sofa and made the back pillows buffalo check.

What I really did was be lazy and make the blue buffalo check pillows, but use red buffalo check pillows I already had from the old slipcovers.

And those red buffalo check pillows are not going to make it through another washing.

I started looking on-line last night at Cath Kidston, Ralph Lauren and a variety of other sites for fabric in red, yellow, blue and green.

I love ALL of the Pierre Deux fabrics.

They are just what I am looking for.

The fabric in the largest box is EXACTLY what I want, but I can only find it on Etsy and I don't think the seller has enough fabric for 4 large pillows.

I "sort of" like these fabrics, but they are light weight cotton prints and I don't think they are a heavy enough fabric for living room pillows.

I looked at Moda tablecloths, but to have enough fabric for four pillows could get a little expensive.

I even looked at Ikea sheets for ideas.

I love both sets of sheets and I see an Ikea visit in the near future.

But, that doesn't solve my dilemma.

I recently swapped out the bright yellow pillows for a lighter floral.

I have at least 10 yards of white fabric left from the slipcovers so I am thinking of painting the white fabric and then making the pillows.

Maybe I will paint the back pillows with different colored stripes -

one with red stripes,

one with blue stripes,

one with yellow stripes,

and one with green stripes?

I have a couple of considerations.

The bench in front of the sofa was red, is now green, but paint can change that if necessary.

I will be replacing the cushion and pillows on the window seat this summer.

And I know absolutely that I don't want white on the window seat.

Our house is so tiny that I want the fabric in both rooms to be complimentary.

Tomorrow Steve and I are going to take a drive up the coast to Santa Barbara to The Remnant Store.

I don't know what I will find there.

Oh, what should I do?

Mix and matched colorful florals, checks and stripes?

White pillows with hand painted stripes?

I would love to hear your two cents.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

You can find me partying at

Jennifer Rizzo

The Charm of Home

French Country Cottage

Common Ground

My Romantic Home

Redoux

Rooted in Thyme