Where’s Barbara?
Did you ever read “Where’s Waldo” books with your children? My kids loved them. I sort of feel like I’m living the book right now, as I spread myself very thin, hopping from one project to another! Not that you’re chewing your fingernails down to the quick, wondering where my blog posts are, but in…
Read MoreOne of these days (I’m going to Round Top, Texas!)
I just spoke with the second woman I know, on her way to the Round Top Antique Fair! Go girls! Towing trailer, and all! Talk about the “Ultimate Girl’s Road Trip”! Does it matter that I can’t drive a trailer? Can an old dog still learn new tricks? With over 2000 vendors, showing October 3rd…
Read MoreProgress at the Workshop
I’ve risen up from the blog underworld. That’s the place you go, when you haven’t blogged in a few days. Trust me I have not been sitting idol. One exciting development, is that I completed a drapery (woo-hoo!) panel and love how it turned out! I made this with painters drop cloth and velvet. One…
Read MoreMiss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint Is Here!
Well, the baby has arrived! The “nursery” isn’t quite ready, but that isn’t stopping me from shipping orders out! (you can see my cabinets are not quite finished!) If I’m as excited as I am, I can’t imagine how Marian, (Miss Mustard Seed) must feel! Oh, dang! Isn’t this a pretty sight? I’m checking and…
Read MoreChristmas In September
I’m taking a mini vacation from cabinet painting, sine my son will soon be out at sea, on his Naval frigate, with a few hundred of his best buddies, for six months! So, Mr. Wonderful and I have flown down to San Diego for the weekend to celebrate the “holidays”, before he leaves. His wife,…
Read MoreThe Gift of Empathy
One of the characteristics I most admire today, is that of empathy. Especially since so many in our world are getting by with less. Do you know what I mean? “In your face” conspicuous consumption doesn’t sit real well with me at this time, considering our economic conditions. It’s not as though I feel like…
Read MoreMaking a Lavender Wreath (Plus a Little Family Stuff)
It was time for “Monday Night Football”, last night, so I headed to the craft store. I found these really sweet mini grapevine wreaths for $2.99 each, at Joanne’s. Since I buy lavender in bulk, from a farm here in California, I had plenty of it on hand. For me, lavender is one of the…
Read MoreHomemade Healthy Granola
Have you ever looked at the nutritional information on a bag of Quaker granola cereal? There is just about as much sugar in a bowl of their granola as there is in a chocolate sundae! Yet, I love granola, so I came up with a healthier version. There’s no sugar and no oil. Instead I…
Read MorePainting Shop Cabinets, Day 3
Can you get carpal tunnel syndrome from painting? Or is this simply old age? I’m sticking with carpal tunnel syndrome. Sounds much more exotic! The shop looks more like a chemistry lab than an antique shop. Hopefully this will pass. Over the weekend, I painted the doors and drawers of the cabinets with a new…
Read MorePuppy Love (New Staffordshire Doggies for the Shop)
I’ve been wanting a pair of porcelain Staffordshire terriers for some time. Here’s a little history I’ve found… Starting in the 1700’s, Stafford, England became known for its porcelain. The town was located close to the natural materials needed and by the late 1800’s, had become a world center for pottery. The dogs, made to…
Read MoreWeekend Plans (painting cabinets with chalk paint)
After friends and I converge at the Mes Amis Antique Fair in Old Roseville, Saturday morning, I will get back to painting my very long stretch of cabinets, at the shop. Just the drawers and doors are left to paint and wax (with chalk paint), but there are a lot of them! The wood laminate…
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