Out of the Projects

Christmas Angels

2009-11-14T17:38:00.002-07:00

This years tree will be filled with angels thanks to a huge lot of vintage dolls I purchased at the flea market. Only 10 dollars for 13 dolls! All had on lovely gowns but a few will require my making dress that is a bit more angelic. I am adding the feather wings as well as crowns and halos. A bit of glass glitter some pearls and faux gems should add a touch of heavenly beauty to the dolls and make my tree a lovely whimsical and celestial sight.

Guess who?

2009-09-30T23:47:00.003-07:00

I can hardly believe it but I sold my "Queen Mary" today. I've had her for over a year and someone came into the studio and fell in love with her. The festival is this weekend so the attraction to my tiny village will be growing. Yea...more customers !

2009-06-22T20:58:00.001-07:00

Just came across this favorite photo of me and my son at the pool. This was 21 year ago ! Oh well...still working on the yard. Hope your projects are coming right along.

smiles

Darlie

2009-06-16T19:54:00.002-07:00

Right now I'm working on landscaping and trying to makeover this awful space in the yard. It is just to the right of the house and totally detracts from the house. Yuck Big project.

2009-01-22T22:50:00.002-07:00

Busy, not procrastinating. Just finished decorating an English Pub & Restaurant and now have taken on 2 photography assignments. Toss in 9 pets and my "real" job and find me "Not Guilty" of procrastinating on home crafty projects. Smiles

2009-01-06T06:58:00.005-07:00

"Waa..what happened to the 'tricity Wally?" One of my favorite lines from "Leave It to Beaver". So, I know quite a few of my friends are 'a scared of 'tricity but rewiring a single socket lamp is truly simple. All the instructions are on the back of the package and there are only 3 short steps. I purchase the cord (with the plug intact), then purchase the socket separate. I find it's cheaper this way. I first strip out the old wiring then give the lamp a good cleaning and allow it to dry out throughly for a day or two before rewiring. I've had this very old lamp & all the replacement parts for about 2 years with intent to rewire. Not only was the wiring a disgrace , it was filthy and someone had pasted stickers and pictures all over it. What a cleaning job that was. Here it is, finally finished, and it fits perfectly in the spot I had intended it for. Being quite old, I uncovered some asbestos insulating in the old socket so, do be cautious of this and ease any asbestos out slowly and carefully avoiding inhalation of any particles. The detail and color of this old piece are stunning and of course, who doesn't love roses and Lily-of-the-Valley? Don't pass up bargain beautiful old lamps just because of poor wiring. I promise, if I can do it, you can too.

2009-01-04T07:00:00.005-07:00

Another embarrassment, this scarf I completed on Dec. 30th as part of my boss's Christmas gift. Yep. Dec. 30th. I finished it from the backseat of a long drive to an antique mall out of state. Pull over please,I have t throw up. Fortunately , not many folks elect to have surgery over the holidays and our unit was at a low census and I had the week of Christmas off, ( I heart my job!),and spent it wildly clicking needles to complete scarves, hats and mittens. Not a good enough excuse for giving your boss their handmade, tardy gift. She seemed thrilled with it and the gift card that accompanied it. She had recently bought a winter white coat and needed a scarf to go with. I think I was able to pull it off, but definitely not the way to fish for a raise.

2008-12-30T16:54:00.004-07:00

Probably the most appalling of all my procrastinated projects was this big "D" made of paper mache. For craps sake, all it needed was black paint but in true ADD fashion I brought it into the cottage, never to be seen again. I think it looks great hanging on the old jelly cupboard and, it helps me remember my name. Smiles, DarLy*~

2008-12-29T12:12:00.004-07:00

Not a big project but still an accomplishment was getting this old oak farm table skirted. It is in my "studio" which is also where i keep my cats litter boxes. Wanting to keep the boxes out of sight as well as keeping odor at bay, I decided to store the litter boxes under the table and just "skirt" the issue. Some pretty roses upholstery fabric did the trick. I simply hemmed edges and stapled it right on the table. Actually, I should say my friend and neighbor did. I loaned my upholstery gun to my sister so I called my friend up the road to borrow hers. She came down and dove right into the project with me. What a blessing ! Many hands make light work.

2008-12-27T02:48:00.006-07:00

The Return of Crazy. I'M BACK...kinda. Whew! Seems I've got about all the hatches battened down in ye old cottage although at times I feel an airy chill through the downstairs. I thought I had weather sealed all the homes orifices but perhaps I missed a spot. Perhaps it is a ghost. This is an old home. Well, if it is a ghost I hope it's one with nimble fingers. I've got projects to complete and like the Shoemaker with his elves, everything is past it's projected deadline and I could use all the help I can get. See you around.

*************temporarily out of order......

2008-11-14T04:56:00.000-07:00

Taking some time away from blogs (they can really consume allot of time & become an addiction...actually a time waster) to complete home projects that are not interesting enough to post here...(changing out the tub drain....insulating....lawn care etc). Once I get home projects under control I'll be back in the decor craft mode. For now its hammer saw & drill time.

Hope your day is a productive one !

Project 4.7 Vintage tapestry pillow

2008-10-07T11:23:00.000-07:00

This project has been merely a dream for over a year. I have collected several of these vintage velvet tapestries with hope of turning them into pretty pillows.

I decided to start with the kitten themed one so I dug out the tapestry some thick fringe and fabric for the back.

I washed the tapestry on a delicate cycle with plenty of fabric softener soon after purchase and it turned out clean and super soft. Unfortunately I do not own a very good sewing machine and my needle broke as well s my pressure foot before I could complete the task. So far I am thrilled with the results. I love the velvet it's theme and colors and even the backing fabric (although I was forbidden to purchase it by a friend who deemed it ugly....of course this is the same friend who has threatened to burn some of my unfashionable wardrobe and has told me seriously that I am not allowed to marry again until she gives the Ok on the mate. I bought the fabric and I still have my repulsive clothes. I don't think I'm interested in challenging marriage with or without her approval..LoL) The fringe matches perfectly. I thought the large size would make a perfect floor pillow or bolster type pillow for across the bed. The backing fabric just had such a 40's appeal to me with its style and color. Makes me think of Bette Davis 0r Barbara Stanwyck movies. I managed to get all the sides sewn together and the fringe on when the machine broke. Ill stuff it and attempt to hand sew the final edge and trim but may be forced to repair the machine to complete. I will post a photo of the completed project but this is where I stand for now.

2008-10-03T02:07:00.000-07:00

Well It's fall festival weekend once again and Daisy's Little Cottage is literally surrounded on all sides with festival activities. With foods crafts Civil War en actors petting zoo and more taking place around us. I will be juggling festival~ work~ sleep and friends & family in the midst of it. Hopefully I will have time enough to get some sweet pictures of all the fun.

The weather is stated to be outstanding and perfect for ringing out the sound of the muskets. Hopefully I will survive as I will be trying to sleep as the cannons and rifles and buzzing activities are going on around me. I will initially be roping off my porch steps and front yard and posting Beware of the Dogs signs around the fence to hopefully reduce the amount of folks walking thru and setting up chairs in my yard. Not a Scrooge...just a Survivor ! Wish me sweet dreams~ DarLy*~

Day 4~ Project #3~ Covered

2008-10-02T12:57:00.000-07:00

This chair was given to me a couple of years back. I had plans for putting it in my bathroom and I did even though it did not match. My plans were to cover the seat to match the room...now it does. Admittedly not the best photos (Is it just me or do these look like upholstery mug shots?) but then again admittedly no challenging upholstery job. It is no secret that I stink at upholstery and I'll never make a couple grand padding your great grandmothers living room suit ...it's just not something that interest me enough to learn and then who's to say I could? Well I'm proud that I was able to locate my upholstery gun and find the fabric I had wanted amongst my heap of vintage and collected fabrics. Hey...the pattern is straight and not stapled to that small creased area of flesh between my over grown eyebrows and therefore meets my criteria for upholstering well done. I count project successfully completed. Thanks for stalking my progress. Smiles ~ DarLy*~

Post # 2~ Project #2~ Framed

2008-09-30T06:21:00.000-07:00

I picked up an old book years ago that had gorgeous botanical art plates of mushrooms . My intent was to mat and frame them for my home but they were put on the back burner (my back burner has so much on it I should rename it the back bonfire). Matter of fact~ I put them off so long the frames went MIA from my friends vehicle that we drove the day we shopped~ I had to purchase 4 additional frames a year later. My original plan was to Gesso and cream paint the frames but I later went with my gut instinct and left the frames their dark color.

I pulled them out last night and after a 20 min. search for the book I was finally able to get started . I had some uncut matting in a cream color but decided against it after coming across some vintage sage ribbon. Using card stock ~ rippled scissors ~ glue sticks & the sage ribbon it didn't take me long to make my vision a reality. These turned out with a tailored and sophisticated look I really like. Now I need to find space to hang them otherwise these may be up for sale.

Post #1 ~ Project #1 Butterfly Window

2008-09-29T06:30:00.000-07:00

This pretty little project started out as what I refer to as a Blind Monkey Project (BMP). A BMP means I had very little insight as to what I would make ...I just jump in blindly and monkey around until something starts to take shape.

Using papers~ink~stamps~milinery flowers~buttons~ribbon and more it didn't take long to transform this 1960's beveled glass butterfly window into a shabby sweet study in natures beauty.

Even the back is lovely with vintage wallpaper-like image and metal edge beading. I decided not to delve into my crap loads of vintage do-dads and ephemera just yet so I used what was readily available on my cluttered farm table. The butterfly wings are real and I had to be quite careful while working under the glass. I think it turned out nicely with a sophisticated whimsy. This will be for sale in my Lollishop .