Grow Your Blog Party

Welcome to Art and Sand.

This is my second year joining Vicki' s Grow Your Blog party at 2 Bags Full.

My husband asked me why I needed to grow my blog, and I explained that it is about meeting fun and diverse people to visit.

I am not sure why I began blogging in the first place, but I definitely know why I continue.

Blogging keeps me from being lazy.

In order to have topics for Art and Sand, I need to be "doing" things daily.

Last year, I titled my blog post   A Little of This & A Little of That.

The blog continues to be a mishmash of things that I love:

a little bit of decorating,

a little bit of table setting,

a little bit of furniture painting,

a little bit of crafts,

a little bit of gardening,

a little bit of life in my part of the world,

and, a whole lot of color.

To thank you for visiting, I am doing a Giveaway.

I have a bunch of these little wire baskets and

I've been busy making little quote cards to fill the baskets.

If you are interested in winning the Giveaway,  please leave a comment.

I will draw 2 names and announce the winners on February 15.

I know that not everyone loves color like I do.

 The winners will be able to request the quote cards in their personal color palette.

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Make sure you visit Vicki at Two Bags Full to meet the other participants in the Grow Your Blog Party.

Our Garden Room

After school on Friday I headed to the nursery.

My artistic outlet for Saturday was to create a welcoming space in the garden.

When you live in a little cottage, the garden acts as another room.

I began behind Steve's studio.

This area definitely feels neglected during the school year because it is the least viewed spot of the garden.

The recessed area was a fire pit, but we stopped using it when we added on the studio due to its proximity to the house.

Moving on, I worked on the center of the yard.

Everything will take time to fill in, but it is nice to see color instead of weeds when I look out the window.

A little signage in the garden . . .

The SC in the gate is a replica of Steve's art logo.

One of his vendors in Mexico (from manufacturing days) made the gate.

It was CHEAP to have made, but it was 4 times the cost of the gate to have it hung.

The garden is getting there.

The "room" is ready, it just needs sunshine and time to be in full bloom.

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You can find me partying at

Under the Table and Dreaming - Sunday Showcase Party

Sunny Simple Life - Sunny Simple Sunday Link Party

Boogieboard Cottage - Masterpiece Monday

Life on Lakeshore Drive -  A Bouquet of Talent

I Heart Naptime - Sundae Scoop Link Party

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!

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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 A Jungle Out There

"God almighty first planted a garden. And indeed, it is the purest of human pleasures."
-- Francis Bacon

My back garden is finally happy with me.

With illness, travel, work and weather, I had not spent any time in my garden in over a month.

And, it showed.

I am too ashamed to show any photos of how bad it actually looked.

I spent three days in the jungle and have tamed it somewhat.

Actually, only about one half of the yard is done, but I am happy with what I accomplished.

I planted several shasta daisies, cosmos, pansies and gerbera daisies.

I moved this little wire edging from the side yard to the back.

I bought the cow jumping over the moon last spring in Laguna Beach.

A high school friend was visiting from France so five of us got together for a night of reminiscing.

We shopped the next day and I bought some garden art to make me think of my 
 friends when I garden.

Just before we left for skiing, our neighbor's gardener asked if we wanted him to trim our side of the ivy wall.

It took him minutes to trim the ivy which was touching the roof our our house.

I would still be clipping the ivy by hand.

I created this little bit of garden art with bits and pieces of things that I probably would have tossed a few years ago.

The old school chair is falling apart, but sitting in the garden it looks fine.

I ran out of flowers to plant right at the simplify sign.

Steve bought me the frog on a business trip to Mexico just after we moved in.

The weather is finally nice enough for us to start eating outside again.

In the summer we eat lunch and dinner at this table I bought at American Home & Garden.

The chairs were a gift from a friend who left the beach and moved to the mountains.

And now, it is time to sit in my garden and read while the birds and butterflies do their work.