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Friday, July 29, 2016

At Loose Ends


A morning walk along the beach is part of our daily routine, but the rest of each day is up to me.


This week I have been "at loose ends" and after lots of company earlier in the month, that feels pretty good.


I never have difficulty finding little projects around the house to keep me busy.


I think it goes back to my childhood of always playing with my mother's tchotchkes.


I love this enamel April Cornell bowl that gets used all over the house in vignettes.


When Steve hung this painting in the guest room, it really changed the color scheme.


Red pillows looked out of place so I stenciled a fabric scrap and made a pillow for the bed - I think I have an idea for another pillow to go along with it.


My neighbor's tree has little purple puff balls this time of year so I cut a bunch that were hanging on our side of the fence to create a pretty a lunch time centerpiece.


When I made this sign the other day, I used rub on letters and I neglected to put everything away,


but that turned out to be a good thing because Steve was tossing a clear wine bottle into the recycle bin when he realized I might want it.


I thought it might be fun to add numbers to the bottle.


I was no longer at loose ends because I grabbed various bottles from cupboards and started decorating them - words decorate another tall bottle.


A little bottle that held Lemon Curd last week now has a cute little label defining Home.


A simple grid adorns another bottle and if you look closely, you'll see numbers at the bottom.


I put all the bottles together for a photo and decided I liked them on the shelf, so there they sit for now.


I'm not rushing the holidays, but I had to use up those "scary" letters.


I leave you with a picture that might give you a clue to my next project - I finished it this morning, but I still have to take pics.


All in all, I am pleased with how I used my time when I was "at loose ends".

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Join me at Poofing the Pillows for Thoughts of Home Thursday

46 comments:

  1. You always seem to get so much done! I feel lazy after coming here, but I'm always glad I came, because your photos are so uplifting.
    Brenda

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  2. Hi Carol, thanks for the explanation of the meaning of "At loose ends" very interesting. Love the polka dot bowl and all of your bottle crafts. I have never tried rub-ons, are they difficult to work with?

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  3. You seem to accomplish a lot when you're at loose ends! Me? I tend to get going on four different things and don't finish a single one!

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  4. Carol, We are never too old to learn something. Now I'll be answering that on Jeopardy some time...loose ends. :):) I loved your new bottles. Cute as can be. I love Steve's painting and the new blue scheme. Blessings for a great weekend, xoxo, Susie

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  5. Carol, I love your loose ends kind of day! We always start our day with a walk too, and then take care of loose ends. :)
    I love your home, your pictures - always.
    Rita

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  6. That's a great saying. It sorta sums up my life right now. With my loos ends, I tend to clean and move things in the house around a bit. Since I am so close to the beach, I think I need to begin my days with a morning stroll there.
    Best & Bisous,
    Michelle from Simply Santa Barbara

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  7. I love that you never miss a chance to be creative!

    No loose ends here right now. Sounds good though. )

    Happy Thoughts of Home!

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  8. I can't wait to see what you did with the 'Saltwash' paint, and isn't "Daphne's Diary" the bomb?!?!

    Hugs ~

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  9. I love all your little touches but especially that guest room. It's gorgeous!!!

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  10. Sounds like the perfect week to me! Love those purple flowers you borrowed from the neighbor's tree. :)

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  11. I love how you've arranged the bottles on the shelf.

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  12. What a clever idea for the bottles. I love how they look.

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  13. Your creativity knows no bounds! Love how you decorated the bottles.

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  14. Oh Carol, you are so creative. I used to be that way too, but now I'm not. By the time I get my housework and chores done I'm to pooped to pop. Soooooo I take a nap for about a hour. I guess when you turn 81 it's time to take it easier.

    I really enjoy your wonderful posts about all the beautiful creative things do you and make.

    Enjoy your weekend. I think it's going to be cooler.

    Mary

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  15. Carol, your week looks like you accomplished so much! I always love your snippets of life at the beach! Pam @ Everyday Living

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  16. Love the painting with the new stenciled pillow. Also love all the bottle art. Cute!

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  17. I always love seeing the rooms and vignettes around your home. I like the dance that Steve's paintings and your projects create between the rooms!

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  18. You are so filled with creativity! I adore the results of your "loose ends"!

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  19. What a great idea,decorating the bottles like that! When I'm at loose ends I get nothing done!

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  20. Dear, dear friend,

    EACH photo is a testimony to your energy, imagination, constant drive to create. Each photo is beautiful, but I have to say that my ultimate favorite is.........

    THE BLUE and white vignette of the three paintings and the blue ladder. That is a photo that could be in a magazine. Cool colors in a warm home. That's for me.

    Tie up those loose ends every day. It sure is fun to watch what you come up with!

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  21. You are so creative and I love your little vignettes. Cute ideas with the bottles! Happy day!

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  22. I learn so much on my visits here! The loose ends definition was appreciated. Always fun to learn why we say things.

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  23. I wish my loose ends were as productive as yours! Loved your empty bottle and jar creations!

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  24. Wow! Those plain bottles now look amazing! Great idea! We are still doing our walks as well---but now at sundown and after dark. Its a struggle with the heat but i keep trying. Its 100 and im sure the heat index is awful. Surely looking foward to our good months of fall and winter. Summer goes by quickly thank goodness. Do you always walk the beach or do you walk other places? I love to walk our beaches too but we are usually in town or in parks.

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  25. Hi Carol, I love all of your pretty eye candy. I think that you live in paradise because to me a walk on the beach would be like heaven. Have a wonderful weekend. xx, Jo

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  26. Wow my friend you took recycling glass bottles to a whole new art form, love what you've done! I love how your cottage is always changing.
    xoxo,
    Vera

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  27. I had no idea about the nautical history of that phrase! So neat. L*O*V*E the Boo bottle and all your little projects. Your shelves with the iron on them is pretty. How have I missed them????

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  28. Hi Carol,
    Your stenciled pillow is inspired! So happy I found you. Not only is my name Carol too, but I am also a beach lover! I'd love it if you stopped by my blog.
    http://www.puretsimple.blogspot.com

    Have a lovely weekend.
    Carol

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  29. Hi Carol,
    Loved strolling down your post today and swooning in your pretty pics. Have a great week end.
    Hugs,
    Kris

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  30. I looove that pillow♥ Your photos are so beautiful! Happy Sunday ♥

    summerdaisy.net

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  31. So many yummy pictures, and I really love the bottles idea...you are such an inspiration! It's surprising how many of our expressions have nautical origins isn't it?! Being at a loose end leads to lots of creativity I do believe!
    Helen xox

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  32. How do those rub on letter hold up in the outside elements? You're always so creative and have such intersting vignettes. I could look all day!

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  33. I can't imagine you ever being bored! Or at "loose ends." I love finding out where expressions come from…your explanation for loose ends was interesting!

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  34. I think Steve should start checking with you before he throws anything away. Love your sweet bottles, Carol.

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  35. A satisfying day it sounds like to me! I love a day like that and what a lovely cottage to roam around finding projects in.

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  36. I just love the story behind the "loose ends". I just love your bottles too. I have to find some of those transfers....I have lots of bottles! I'd say you had a very nice day.

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  37. I have read about that Saltwash. It is very cool. If you have a beachy feel that is the way to go for sure. Love your bottles.

    Cindy

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  38. I just love all of your little projects! It's fun to have a little 'loose end' time to play! I have a few jars and bottles I may need to play with this week *wink* Have a great week! Cindy xo

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  39. I love the idea of putting numbers on a bottle. Going to assemble a nice gift this weekend! Appreciate the inspirations!

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  40. Carol,
    Love the enamel bowl!! And all your pretty bottles!! Thanks so much for stopping by!
    Hugs,
    Deb

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  41. Carol,
    What fun at your house when you are at loose ends! I love the bottles and love the numbers. Then I also love the bottle with the grid. Reminds me of graph paper. How I love graph paper. Thanks for taking me along on your loose ends day.

    Judith

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  42. Love your blog! Especially seeing your garden and floral arrangements. Do you know the name of the tree with the purple puff flowers? So unusual.

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  43. Carol you are amazing--when I'm at loose ends I can't get anything done. Your bottles look so cute and useful by adding the rub on letters! That's a fun way to recycle nice looking bottles.
    PS: Love your checkered teapot!

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  44. You certainly accomplished a lot :)
    I really like your bottles, but my favorite is definitely the teapot! I'd call

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  45. You sure keep busy, Carol, and accomplish so much!

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