Something to remember...

My lovely friend Sharon of Shabby Polka Dots posted this on Facebook and it really struck a chord with me so I wanted to share it with you:

A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they'd be asked the "half empty or half full" question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: "How heavy is this glass of water?"

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn't change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes." She continued, "The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything."

It’s important to remember to let go of your stresses. As early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don't carry them through the evening and into the night. Remember to put the glass down!

My favourite phrase of the moment is:

'Change what you can't accept and accept what you can't change'

Something we would all do well to remember....

Have a good day...and night.....

No mess distress makeover...

I picked up this little cabinet ages ago and loved her original bevelled glass and gilded finials - unfortunately I was the only one who loved her so a little re-invention was called for...

one makeover later... and she looks fresh and new... hmmm maybe a little too new (at this point take note of the Costco wet wipes to the right of the photo). I may be new to this particular party so forgive me if you already know this, but: did you know you can 'shabby up' chalk paint without sanding by just rubbing over with a damp rag (or Costco wet wipe)? Just rub the edges to dissolve a little of the paint before waxing!

here she is all finished and ready to make her debut at the next Vintage Fair 2nd/3rd March!

...and here's her inside, lined with some Laura Ashley wallpaper and this time I did sand the finish to get a different look

what do you think - better now?

New and old...

...so, next month I have two large Vintage Fairs to attend and for one of them I need to take my own chair. I was going to take one of my metalwork garden chairs - very shabby and rustic - but the size and weight of it (and the fact that it's still under snow) made me look around Ikea for a cheap and easy answer....so I got a simple white folding chair but wanted to 'French' it up  a bit. I hunted in my stash of paper pieces - more of this later in the post so stick with me -  and Modpodged a pretty French label on it (thanks to Karen at the Graphics Fairy yet again!). Then I remembered a pretty bolster cushion I made ages ago with one of Karen's images and hey presto!

a close up...

this is the 'new'...and now the aforementioned paper stash. This is the 'old' because I never showed you this before and I made it ages ago! I picked up this old deed box a while ago and put all my scraps inside to keep for another day - I can always find something that suits a project in here...

...I painted the inside with metal paint and used another of Karen's images to resemble an old document forgotten inside...

...a closer look at the ragged edges and ageing...

...and inside..lots of lovely images , vintage map of Paris etc all safely stored away - Voila!

...once again - useful and beautiful - and that's what it's all about!

Shabby rustic, before and after...

orange varnish - I hate it!

it's got to be refinished in a shabby rustic style...

loving the tongue and groove backboard...but still thinking maybe I should have painted it a pale duck egg blue to contrast with the rest of the cupboard in white?

details of the finish...

and again...

ready to go to the next Milton Keynes Handmade and Vintage Fair March 2nd and 3rd!

Recycled candles...

now, call me old fashioned...but I get frustrated at anything wasteful. I had loads of old half-used, burnt out candles and empty jars and I was sure they could be recycled...

I chopped them up...melted them over some hot water...

and used the wicks out of other old candles (you could use cheap white dining candles and chop out the wicks or you can buy wicks but that defeats the object of recycling) and added the extra wax to the mix.. I cut the wicks to length and taped them to a pencil to suspend them in the wax until dry. Put the wick in place before you carefully pour in the wax - it won't move about too much...

let them fully harden, overnight is best, and then I added some labels I made from Graphics Fairy images...

(they haven't quite dried in the photo hence the wrinkles - sorry!)

they are 'Cinnamon Orange' and 'Christmas Home'

I used mixes of left over candles I already had, but maybe you could add essential oils to create your own fragrances - I haven't tried that so can't advise!

This was a good project for a very snowy afternoon here and I restocked my scented candle cupboard!

Health and safety: I don't want to insult your intelligence but...remember you're using very hot wax, water etc so watch out for kids, pets, fingers etc.

Printed lavender and hop pillows...

I found an unopened bag of dried hops the other day and another of dried lavender so I decided to make some sleep-inducing  herb-filled pillows, but what fabric to use?

Well, I had some plain calico and decided to print directly onto it by sticking it to an A4 sheet of card with some double sided tape:

I created some designs from images I found on the Graphic Fairy website (thanks as always Karen!), held my breath and put it through the printer...

et voila! I sewed them up and...

filled them with the dried herbs...

and here's the result:

cute little vintagey, Frenchy pillows to help you sleep!

I experimented with larger (A4) sized printouts...

and love the result, but I haven't decided how to use this fabric yet,

they would make lovely panels sewn into  a linen cushion cover but even I have to admit we already have too many cushions!

by the way...I also used Karen's images to make a cute label to put inside the cellophane bags with the lavender and hop pillows!

you like?

Leaving you today with a quote from Victor Hugo:

'Forty is the old age of youth; fifty the youth of old age'

comments anyone?

Kilner jar soap dispenser...

...so I had a beautiful new white ceramic sink fitted last week - is it tragic that I'm excited about that?

Anyway, I decided that a plastic Fairy bottle wasn't going to cut it anymore and made this dish soap dispenser from an old Kilner jar and a recycled pump. I made the image from a pharmacy label from the Graphics Fairy's website - thanks again Karen - you're a lifesaver! I printed it onto Safmat film to stick to the jar

In my travels I also found this oval Kilner jar with foreign (Polish?) writing on. It's really pretty so I'll keep it for something nice!

Don't try to teach a pig to sing...

...it wastes your time and annoys the pig. This is my first attempt at digital art and one of my favourite sayings. 

For all those girls who believe that they can change their men and, by doing so, live happily ever after - it ain't never gonna happen ladies...

Am I right? comments please....

Many thanks to Karen at the Graphics Fairy for the images!

On a lighter note (!) ages ago I gave you a little glimpse of a project I was working on:

now, with the festive season, MLH starting a big new job and down right procrastination, it's taken until now to show you the final article - I'm calling it the Fabulous table:

I think it's gorgeous with its curvy lines and Empire style legs (they even have little oval decorative plaques at the top) so I've finished it French style (of course!) to look like it's been standing in a deserted chateau for a hundred years or so...

this is a detail of the lower shelf showing the crackle finish and below is a close up of the leg detail

Do you love it?

Christmas present...

...stop press!! my lovely friend Linda has just emailed me to say her Siamese cat Florence has had FIVE Christmas kittens this afternoon - now that's what I call a Christmas present!

Wintry poems...

I shared a couple of my favourite poems the other day and I was inspired to add some images to them...

The image below came via Greige interiors website which I follow and love...

hope you enjoy...

Oh Christmas Tree....

...now I have a blog I have a chance to share my Christmas tree with others! I always have a white dove at the top and, although you can never see him, nestled inside the branches is a tiny white cherub which is all I have left of my childhood Christmas ornaments. One of my very few Christmas traditions is to always make sure he is near the top of the tree. The little sign says 'may your Christmas be bright and full of delight' and Father Christmas is at the base of the tree...

...and just because I love vintage, here is a sepia version of the photo....

Merry Christmas one and all!

I love this time of year...

...I know it's easy to get fed up with the cold/rain/wind etc but I love the fact that the world is slowing down and going to sleep ready for next Spring. It reminds me to slow down too and notice what's around me. The other day I drove through the woods and saw herds of beautiful deer cropping the frosty grass and, in the midst of them, a fox trotting along purposefully. I love living in the country and seeing the seasons change - it feeds the soul...

Here are two of my favourite poems which make me think of walking in the woods at this time:

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

BY ROBERT FROST

Whose woods these are I think I know.   

His house is in the village though;   

He will not see me stopping here   

To watch his woods fill up with snow.   

My little horse must think it queer   

To stop without a farmhouse near   

Between the woods and frozen lake   

The darkest evening of the year.   

He gives his harness bells a shake   

To ask if there is some mistake.   

The only other sound’s the sweep   

Of easy wind and downy flake.   

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.   

But I have promises to keep,   

And miles to go before I sleep,   

And miles to go before I sleep.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. 

Robert Frost

keep warm!