Small Ottoman for "Star Fish Cottage"

Here is a small ottoman I refinished for "Star Fish Cottage" - sorry for the fussy picture - I'll make note that I need a new camera. Can't figure out how to do close up shots that well - and this from the girl who was photo editor of the year book two years in a row. As you can see I used the same fabric as the folding chair.


I got the ottoman at the Goodwill Store for $4.95. The top lid hinges back to hide little things. Not very big so it won't hide much. I can't decide if I should add fringe or not.

Well, it has been extremely stressful lately for me at work and somewhat at home. The stress has been causing health issues that I will not go into as I do believe in the law of attraction and I'd rather focus on something positive. I'd love to hear about the things happening in your life. I would also like to think all of my followers and for anyone who stops by.

Until Next Time. . . .
Kathleen

Head Board Make Over for "Star Fish Cottage" Guest Room

This head board was given to me by a friend in Bandon. It was stained dark so of course I had to paint it white. My usual Swiss Mocha ICI paint white that is.

I got the netting at a thrift store about 4 or 5 years ago (for $5.00.) I've been saving it just for this purpose. One of my husband's co-workers stayed out their earlier this week and she said it looked "romantic." Paris (that is her name) stayed at "Star Fish Cottage" when we had a whole in the kitchen ceiling and the bathroom was the old yucky lavender one. You remember the photo. This was her third trip out there since we started. The second time we had changed the outside so much she drove around looking for it until she realized which house it was. She couldn't believe the transformation then. This time she got to see the wood floors installed and well the house is mostly together now. I just need to finish painting the trim inside, put the crown molding in the kitchen and well spiffy it up for guest. With new linens, a few new furnishings and how could I forget get rid of all the tools we are storing inside the house. Doesn't everyone have a table saw just inside their front door?

This is the before photo. It was pretty dark but now with the white paint it looks like it belongs inside the house.

Until Next Time. . . . . . .

Kathleen

Make Over For a Folding Chair

I got this folding chair so long ago I don't remember when it was purchased. I do remember that I purchased it at Costco. I decided to give it a make over for the Bandon house. I spray painted it white and recovered the cushions with this light pink rose fabric. Unfortunately Joann Fabrics did not carry the other floral print I recovered my foot stool and the other chair in out at the coast. I'm really happy with the way it turned out.




This is what the chair looked like before. To me it is a big change. While refinishing the chair I had to do something different. Instead of using a staple gun - I used a hot glue gun. I couldn't get the staples to work and I was desperately trying anything I thought might work. It worked great. Now I think I will pick up a few more chairs for "Star Fish Cottage" and maybe even a few for the Ashland house.

Until Next Time. . . .




Kathleen

Grief and Daily Life

Grief is not an emotion I really like to dwell in for a long period of time. It has been one I have spent a fair amount of time in though. For myself it is a place which brings a lot of reflection of past, present and future. I feel the blue print of big changes unfolding before me these days. The catalyst of change had already begun with the passing of family members within these past several months. Also, my 30th high school reunion is upon me and my 48th birthday is just around the corner. I feel as if there are things about myself I am just discovering and things about myself I'm coming face-to-face with realizing that I don't like so much. It is a time to decide what surroundings, memories, and habits to hold onto and cherish and what ones are no longer serving the best interest of myself and the others around me.



One tool I've used over the years to work through rough patches in my life is the writing of poetry. In fact most of the poems I've written have been for this purpose. Below is one such poem I wrote years ago.







The Visitor Called Loneliness



The visitor called loneliness comes standing at my door
Sometimes he barges in and takes over my house filling every nook and cranny with his clutter of emptiness
He stays long after his welcome

Sometimes he comes disguised as someone
We sit and have tea. We chat about trifle matters
At times jabbing words fall from his mouth
I’m caught off guard and think I must have heard him wrong
After all he still has a smile on his face and is poised so handsomely on the edge of the chair

It is only after he leaves that the scent of his cologne seeps up my nose and fills up my lungs
Then I have a sense of something missing
And no matter how hard I try I can’t get rid of the smell, which lingers in the air









Until Next Time. . . .

Kathleen

It is a bugs life. . . . .

So here is the interesting insect which showed up outside my house after I took a freshly painted end table from the garage. It is a Rosalia Funebris and it turns out it likes fresh paint. I found this article on line while researching the guy (at least I'm calling it a guy) http://www.news.cornell.edu/chronicle/97/6.19.97/beetle.html So check it out.

I've been doing yard work. Laying a few pavers, putting down bark, planting, weeding, and all that good type stuff. I have a ways to go. We have some old redwood yard furniture in need of sprucing up so I'm painting them black - as it seems to be easier to purchase new yard furniture in black.

What about you? What are you up to?

Until Next Time. . . . . .

Kathleen