What Next?

All my wedding creations are complete-

the banner for the rehearsal dinner

and treat bags for each place setting at the rehearsal dinner were finished up last night.

Today we will buy Steve's clothes for the rehearsal dinner (I took care of mine in May)

after we drop off paintings in Carpinteria for an upcoming group show.

Steve asked me what I will do now that I'm done with the wedding - except for the actual event in 12 days.

I began this morning by removing all of the patriotic touches around the house.

And, I am working my way through the house changing vignettes here and there to make the house welcoming for family members who will arrive next week.

Books on my old sewing box in the entry

are held up by some fun little birdcage bookends I found at Michael's the other day.

I went to Michael's for a chalk pen to finish the last chalkboard and ended up spending $85 on "stuff" in the dollar bins - I couldn't pass up the bookends or the cute little striped bags and who doesn't need Scrabble bandaids?

A birdcage that will be used at the wedding left an empty space in the entry so I decided that a basket full of dishes would look cute - it's my house and I can showcase whatever I want - right?

And now it is time to go out to my little garden house to play.

I wasn't going to participate in Where Bloggers Create 

at My Desert Cottage this year because right now I don't have one organized creative space.

But, the link party is always fun and it's a good incentive to get things organized.

Be sure to check out Karen's blog on Friday, July 11 where everyone will be linking up their creative space.

Or better yet, show off your own space.

Finding Time To Create

We have never had a puppy so the learning curve is huge and the time commitment is even bigger.

I had time to look at blogs, but I have had little creative time since Friday.

Yesterday I found a few great ideas on some of my favorite blogs.

Today, in between walking Little Lulu, playing with Little Lulu and having her follow my every step, I fit in a few little projects.

Inspired by the bottles in a birdcage at Chateau Chic, I looked for bottles in cupboards around the house to put in my one little birdcage.

I have more bottles sitting on a shelf in the garage and I see a project in my future with those bottles, wire, metal shapes and jute.

Steve and I find perfect sand dollars on nearly every beach walk.

We have taken to picking up the sand dollars, but passing them on to strangers who are searching without luck.

It is fun to see the reaction of shell seekers when we offer a perfect sand dollar.

If we don't find anyone on the beach, we set them on the wooden bench at the end of our lane for others to enjoy.

I still have plenty of sand dollars for decorating and  I like how Beachcomber put shells into mason jars tied with simple rope.

Mason jars, shells and sand dollars, jute - I have it all on hand so it was a quick and easy change to our summer mantel.

Steve swapped the beach painting I loved for our little red wagon (rusted beyond salvation) because the beautiful beach scene went to a show this morning.

Yesterday I saw a beautiful potting bench on Stone Gable and it made me think about the weathered little cart I had seen earlier in the day at our neighbor's yard sale.

When Lulu was sleeping, I rushed over and the cart was still there - for $3.00.

My idea for the cart also involved the weathered wood I saw on Knick of Time.

This morning, Lulu sat at my feet while I painted an old wooden door with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Emperor's Silk.

The door is one of a set that Steve accidentally knocked off its hinges when he was putting away his car.

I saved the doors knowing one day I would have the perfect project for them.

I replaced a white knob with a yellow polka dot knob, added a canvas banner I made several months ago and filled up the shelf with essentials for my gardening.

The little cart and red door are on the side of our house that is rarely seen -  the spot where we store our kayaks, kayaking supplies, extra patio chairs . . .

Installing the little bench has me in the mood for fixing up this side of the yard.

If Lulu cooperates, it just might be tomorrow's project.

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

I will be at these fun parties

Cedar Hill Ranch - The Scoop

Elizabeth & Co. - Be Inspired

Between Naps on the Porch - Metamorphosis Monday

Boogieboard Cottage - Masterpiece Monday

The Dedicated House - Make It Pretty Monday

Cozy Little House - Tweak It Tuesday