Using Up The Leftovers

Most people, upon hearing the word - leftovers - would assume this post will be about food.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I do not cook which is why I have time for projects.

In this case, leftovers refers to a bag filled with leftover canvas.

Steve stretches his own canvas and there are always bits and pieces left over.

Earlier in the summer, I used some of his scraps to make a rug for my porch.

I love the textures of the different grades of canvas he uses, so I washed everything and put them into a bag for future projects.

This is my last full week of summer vacation, so yesterday I rose early, with plans to accomplish a few things on my list.

I saw this pillow last Friday in Laguna Beach and knew that I could make something similar.

I dug out some canvas, masked the stripes and then looked for stencils.

I know I have some.

Somewhere.

But, I didn't find them.

Instead, I found these alphabet magnets I purchased for my classroom at the Dollar Store.

I love the font.

I traced around the letters and liked how it was looking 

so I began another pillow at the same time

Left over Annie Sloan Chalk Paint was used for the stripes and words.

The finished products were on my sofa 5 hours after they were started.

I didn't have any zippers so to keep this project "no cost", I finished one pillow off with ties

and the other off with buttons.

The total cost:

canvas - $0

paint - $0

pillow inserts - $0

Definitely affordable!

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I am linked up at

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia - Tuesday's Treasures

Sew Chatty - Made With Love

Coastal Charm - Nifty Thrifty Tuesday 

Boogie Board Cottage - Masterpiece Monday

Day Trippin'

Steve and I rarely take a vacation in the summer.

We live in paradise and with everyone else on vacation in the summer we prefer to take our getaways during my October school break and winter ski trips.

This summer we planned several day trips.

Yesterday, KC flew to Southern California for a girls' weekend in Laguna Beach.

Several weeks ago she mentioned to me that her flight was much earlier than her friends so she would work remotely in the airport while she waited for the others.

Instead, we drove down to Laguna to get some time with her and to explore one of my old favorites.

It was a blessing for KC because the others were to arrive at 11:30 a.m., but their flight did not leave San Francisco until 1:00 p.m.

This little cottage in Laguna Beach is the reason I live in a beach house today.

a screen shot from Google street view

I have always loved the beach, but my parents were not beach people.

The only time we would go to the beach would be for my mom to visit her cousin who lived in Laguna Beach.

I loved visiting Cousin Gladys in this charming little house on Wave Street, just 1 block from the beach.

Gladys had the most exquisite taste in decorating and after beach time, I would just sit and look around her house and soak in all the details.

Some of my favorite memories took place in this little cottage.

As we walked along the boardwalk, I shared Laguna stories with KC and Steve and they kindly indulged me and feigned interest.

The lifeguard tower is cute just like the rest of town.

 We stopped in at Tuvalu just to see what was there and to get some inspiration.

Steve stretches his own canvas so I have a big pile of leftover scraps that I just washed.

I think I will make a few of these pillows.

I love the heart made from bits of driftwood.

There isn't much driftwood on our beach, but if we head up to the estuary we will find a wonderful supply of bits to create this heart.

I have been into clock faces and found some great large pieces, but I really have no wall space since our home is Steve's art gallery.

This wonderful clock was about 3 feet in diameter.

And, I wish I could have gotten a better photo of this table because it was beautiful.

I was good and only bought one of these little clock face plates that came in a variety of designs.

Since the girls had still not landed, we headed up the Laguna Canyon to drop by the studio of Ken Auster.

Steve studied under Ken in Taos at Donner Ranch about 8 years ago and we have always wanted to stop in to see his studio.

Ken showed us around and then generously offered us free passes to The Festival of Art.

We parked and rode the shuttle to the festival.

After viewing some amazing art we headed to Cliff Drive.

Our timing was perfect.

We arrived at the condo overlooking the Pacific to drop KC off just as the taxi arrived filled with her friends.

And then, we had a 3 hour drive to travel the 109 miles back to Ventura.

At home, I looked at my purchases and decided where to place them.

The weight ended up on my "number" mantle.

And the clock face plate ended up in my scale vignette.

 

Day trips are the perfect way to get away without needing to pack or find a sitter for Dorje.

No more day trips for awhile.

This final week of summer vacation is "finish all projects" week.

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I am linked up at

Lavender Garden Cottage  - Cottage Style

Sunny Simple Life for Sunny Simple Sunday

Size Matters

Sometimes you find just what you want, and then you realize it won't work.

I have wanted one of these for a long time.

I see so many homes with these vintage bottle carriers filled with flowers.

I found this one on-line at Vintageweave Interiors, 

but it was definitely not in my price range.

Yesterday we had appointments out of town and we dropped by 

Bungalow Antiques to buy some Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.

Since Steve was with me and we had two other appointments, I was cheated out of a leisurely hunt.

I spotted a wonderful red column, but we were in Steve's sports car and there was no space for it.

I couldn't convince Steve that I really needed an old, chipped red column.

He just doesn't get it!

I also saw a bottle carrier at The Eat and Sleep Boutique.

It was only $28 and I was about to buy it when I stopped and thought about the size.

Our house is little and I need to think about proportion.

As much as I love the metal bottle carriers, they are really too big for my dining room table.

I might have talked myself into buying it, but Steve is NOT a shopper and was getting antsy.

We drove away, but I was still thinking about what I wanted for the table.

Between appointments, we had about 30 minutes so we drove to Barnes and Noble to browse for a bit.

And, right next to B & N was Cost Plus World Market.

I spotted this spice caddy and it was just the right proportion for my table.

I wasn't sure how to get the handle to stand up, but I found an aged metal clip and stuck it to one side of the handle.

Voila!- success.

I wanted to make it look like the clip had a purpose so I hung a key from the hook.

Now, I have a metal bottle carrier on my table.

Filled with flowers.

And, the proportions are just right.

Next up, using the ASCP.

I am down to 11 days of vacation before school starts so I can't delay.
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I am linked up at

2805 - Potpourri Friday

 My Romantic Home - Show and Tell Friday

A Little Love and Affection

One of Steve's passions is music

Music is playing in the background nearly every minute we are in our house - he usually turns it off at bedtime - but not always!

I am nursing a sore back  - 5 straight days of sewing my slipcovers and two 15 mile bike rides have done me in.

Neil Young, 'Falling From Above', just played on the stereo.

One particular verse resonated with me and I asked Steve to find me the lyrics.

"Mamma said, A little love and affection in everything you do
Will make the world a better place
With or without you.
A little love and affection in everything you do
A better place
With or without you."

That one line

"A little love and affection in everything you do"

is what I am seeing as I scroll through all my favorite blogs.

 EVERY post shows homes, gardens, craft and sewing projects where women put

"A little love and affection"

in everything they do.

One of my passions is creating a special place for my family.

I show my 'love and affection" with

fresh flowers

thoughtful table settings

handmade creations

hard work in the garden

and decorating, redecorating, moving and tweaking everything in the house.

It's what we do, daily.

Have fun showing "love and affection" for your families today.

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You might have noticed that there is nothing about cooking in what I do.

I show "love and affection" for my family by not cooking.

When the kids were little, on my nights to cook, the most common question was - "can't we just go out tonight?"

Fortunately, Steve shows his "love and affection" by creating wonderful gourmet meals - and cleaning up afterward!