Show and Tell Monday

Yep, it's Monday again! Amazing how quickly these Monday's keep rolling around, isn't it?

Today, I am excited to be sending off a special package to Enchanted Makeovers. If you haven't had an opportunity to visit this site, it is a MUST. Terry Grahl, founder of Enchanted Makeovers, is doing some pretty awesome work revamping and prettifying women's shelters in Michigan. I am pleased to say we share the same metro area of southeast Michigan.


Terry has a special cooking class scheduled at her newest shelter for young women. The aprons you see below are a collection of simple, but sweet aprons that I made to donate to this very special day and cause.















Doesn't it just make you feel good?

til next time.......
Carol

Lowboy Update

Well, I'm back already! I finished up that lowboy I was working on and thought I would share. I've decided it's not quite what I started out to do.

I'm thinking about sanding off the drawer fronts and starting over with something hand-painted instead of applied paper.

I've also painted on my favorite saying "Esprit de Joie" on the top drawer - which also, incidentally, happens to be the name of my other web site. I've been so busy here at BITB that I am seriously and sadly behind adding new products to Esprit de Joie. I'd love you to stop on by tho. http://www.espritdejoie.com/

So, tell me what you think. Redo the drawers????? And don't worry, you won't hurt my feelings at all.

...til next time...Carol

Show and Tell Monday

Good Monday Morning, my friends.

I can't wait to share with you a wonderful gift I received yesterday. My Mom and two of my sisters and I got together for a long-overdue lunch yesterday at the home of my youngest sister, Gayle.

Gayle is busy these days with her full-time job (in the numbers field), a young teenage daughter, her DH, and grown children with three little grandchildren. On top of this, she is taking a full load of classes working toward her degree. Whew - I am tired just thinking about all she is doing.

Happily, she has reserved a little space in her life for creativity. She, like my other sisters, Mom, and me...........is a "doer - a maker - a creator" of beauty. Recently she took up scrapping and altered art. I loved seeing all the special touches she has added to their home.

As a special gift, Gayle made us each a very personal altered art photo memory book. Here's a peak at mine.

That's my place card on the left - yes, it's me.

Here's my book. She knows me so well - I LOVE the toile and blue.

Here's the oldest three of us (there were seven!).

These are pics of me as a little tyke.
These are my parents - Dad on their wedding day and Mom as a young teen.

Well, I hope you enjoyed this little journey into my past. There were also pages for each set of my grandparents, and more of Mom and Dad.

Thank you so much, Gayle, for this special gift.

til next time.......Carol

Having Fun!

Oh my am I having some fun today! Can I tell you about it?

I have a two-piece highboy that I purchased approx. 15 years ago when I had my retail store. I ordered it without a finish so that I could apply my own custom finish.

Well..............do I have to even tell you it was still sitting in my studio - without any finish. Yes, seriously! Talk about major procrastination.

I recently moved my office to my lower level near my studio so that I could be more efficient (plus it was hotter than heck in my upstairs office - hormones???). I split the two pieces apart and nestled the top below my work table where it is soooo handy for supplies, tools, etc.

But, what to do with the bottom - which is now a lonely lowboy????

Guess what?! Today, I found some inspiration and started painting it. Yes, I did. I softened my favorite robin's egg blue and added some brown to it to ease the brightness. First I gave it an allover soft blue coating. Then I went back and added a bit of antique gold on the molding edge and in the carved shell motif on the center drawer.

Then I found a wonderful vintage print that I copied onto a couple pieces of onion skin typewriter paper that I have had stashed since the Flintstone days! If you know what this paper is, then you MUST be as old as me. =)

Now I'm letting that cure and I'll go back and do an antiquing process over the entire piece, put back the drawer hardware (changed the finish on that too) and I'll have myself a wonderful new piece for the living room.

Stay tuned and I'll post a few pics when it's finished.

...til next time....

Carol