5 Years!

 In January of 2012, I posted my first blog post with this pic as the header.

I've been looking back at blog posts over the last 5 years - boy have I learned a lot.

The quality of my photos has improved just a bit from the first pic I posted -

lighting is crucial!

The sofa is the same except for new slipcovers,

but gone are the yellow walls.

I do miss the checkerboard floor in the entry although it was difficult to keep clean.

This cupboard with the top and bottom reunited is a much more practical piece for the entry.

This was the top of the cupboard before I fell in love (through blogging) with white.

The bottom portion had been with my daughter, but she returned it and now the cupboard is an important piece for storage.

I do love red, but it can overwhelm a space

so now red is merely an accent color.

The pie safe in the earlier entry pic is still in use - after 3 different paint colors!

The garden has definitely changed over the years

and that is all due to retirement - TIME to play!

My color palette has softened over the years,

but color still abounds.

So what's next for Art and Sand?

There will be changes on this wall in the dining room - the plans are with the handyman!

I will continue to drive Steve nuts with constant changes

both in the house and the garden.

I am doing less and less crafts

although I have a few more stenciling projects lined up.

Lately, my creative energy is used in trying to improve my photography.

And I will continue to learn from all my blogging friends.

And to those of you who have been with me since the beginning, thank you for following on the journey.

Comparing and early mantel pic with a recent winter mantel makes me question why anyone  kept reading!

Thanks for stopping in to see what's happening at our "little cottage by the sea".

Pillows, Paint and a Productive Day

While eating breakfast this morning, I made a list of what I needed to do and laughed when I saw that they all involved the letter P.

I used left over fabric to finally paint some pillows for the sofa.

While I was waiting for the paint to dry ( I love Annie Sloan Chalk Paint because it dries quickly) I checked sweeping the patio off my list.

Several windy days had left piles of sand in the yard and Lulu thinks sweeping is a game for her to catch the broom so this task is not easily accomplished, but I got the patio in shape.

I didn't use welting on the pillows so they were quick to make - less than 2 hours from prepping to placing them on the furniture.

I love the yellow stripes, but the red pillow was a failed experiment.

Fortunately, I have tons of the white fabric from making the sofa and chair slipcovers, so I can make another red pillow in a different design.

I love the yellow stripes, the buffalo checks on freshly washed slipcovers, and the polka dot quilt which is to spread over the sofa to keep it white for a little while because,

as soon as I got the slipcovers back on the sofa, Lulu jumped up and took over - at least I had just given her a bath.

I did not get to the Pierpont to swim, but I counted a run/walk with Lulu after her bath and 30 minutes of sweeping the patio as my exercise for the day.

I did get to the post office to mail off a giveaway prize and a pillow I made for Kris of  Junk Chic Cottage and some pillow cases to Jann of Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson.

Tomorrow's project is painting my antique record cabinet so I can finish off the bedroom - I can't wait to show you the vintage bedspread I found in the attic.

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Join me at 

Cedar Hill Farm - The Scoop

Coastal Charm - Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Mx Moozy's Open House - Tuesdays With a Twist

The Style Sisters - Centerpiece Wednesday

Cozy Little House - Tweak It Tuesday

A Couple of Hours and a Little Paint

I bought a few things at the school's silent auction the other night.

I really didn't want the items, but I bid on them to get the bidding going.

 As it turns out, no one else bid on them so they were mine.

Naturally, I didn't win the things I really wanted.

I knew that with a little paint, I could make them "mine".

As long as the paint was out, I grabbed an old checkerboard from my Americana days and a little pedestal from TJ Maxx.

I bought the pedestal yesterday not realizing it was chipped and hoped a coat of paint might disguise the imperfection.

"Hanalei Bay" is one of Steve's recent pieces 

I went with red on the candlesticks because red fits with most holidays.

When I put the blue and white striped candle on one of the candlesticks Steve asked me what I was doing.

I explained that I wanted to see what it would look like for a 4th of July display.

Now I just have to start searching for more striped candles - maybe green or yellow in addition to blue.

The checkerboard is refreshed from the faded blue.

This photograph doesn't show the nice distressing on the edges.

I know I need to redo the checker board, but this week I have to prepare for our upcoming party.

The pedestal is sitting on my favorite little green table in the dining room.

I can picture the pedestal in a lot of different vignettes so it was worth the money even if it is chipped.

Next up was the little basket.

I removed the decorative stones and thought about putting something else in their place, but I decided to leave it as is and let the basket rust naturally.

 In April, I moved the green bench outside, but never came up with a display that made me happy.

Now, the basket, flowers, and vintage watering look right at home on the bench.

All it took was couple of hours and a little paint to achieve 4 new looks.

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You can find me partying at

Cozy Little House - Tweak It Tuesday

Boogieboard Cottage - Masterpiece Monday

Twigg Studios - Sunday Showcase Party

Little Red House - Mosaic Monday