What have you done Wednesday!

This week has been centered mostly around plants and outdoors but I did start a new project.  I took a vintage dress that had some moth holes in the bodice and am turning it into a skirt.  So far I've separeated the top from the bottom and am in the process of creating a waist band with the extra material from the top, then I will add a new zipper and see if the hem length is where I want it. 

Easy-peasy re-vamp project!

Sunday Funday! What my family does together...

My family and I went to the Leu Garden's Plant Sale on Sunday.  This has become an annual event for us (my son and I have gone the last 3 years, this year we got dad to go with us!)... We bought 4 new plants there for the yard.  One is called a 'donkey' or 'mule' ear...

Another is a Ponytail Palm... 

The succulent is a hens and chicks I'm told and the other I don't know the name but it was good in full sun and bloomed white flowers... 

After that our son went to the movies with a friend while my husband and I continued on to the Central Florida Home and Garden show.  It was at the convention center.  Allot of vendors selling knives and cookware, but we did find a guy that we'll use for a storage unit in the new shed and a local landscaper that was really nice.  All in all it was an awsome day for us and the home improvement plans!

Freaky Friday - SHADOW BOXES

Shadow boxes are such fascinating pieces of art. They are like a little glimpse into someone else's world or even their mind. The mixed media creativity of them are so appealing to me, like a three dimensional collage. Makes me question what I would put in my shadow box, child hood memories? Teenage tragedies? A favorite design style? Pieces of the present or the past? There is such a vast number of possibilities...What would you put into your shadow box?

MadebyAprilAnne on etsy

slvilov on etsy

ChrisCat on Etsy

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WEDNESDAYS - Vintage Easter Part II

After my post yesterday about all the Vintage Easter Images, and in the mind set of crafting with what I already have, I Mod Podged this wooden cross!

I have a number of these crosses laying around, so I primed one, printed and cup out vintage easter images and mod podged (using the Matte Finish) them onto the cross.  Then I took pink satin ribbon and went around the outside of the cross, glueing it with the mod podge (which works great for fabric too) and finally I hot glued the Pebble Braid ontop of the ribbon.  This one is a bunny theme, I think I may make a few more...

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Don't forget the green beer!

Vintage Easter

I'm seeing wonderful vintage Easter images everywhere this week.... many of them could be reproduced in some manner for sure!

Vintage Postcards

Paper Mache Nesting Eggs

Decoupage Easter Eggs

and more....

Spring Tide Studios

Support your local ARTISTS Sunday!

This Sunday we went to the Lake Eola Farmer's Market at my husband bought me a piece for my bathroom (though it's so more then bathroom worthy, that's just where my mermaid theme is) from SPRING TIDE STUDIOS. 

I'm thinking about getting another for an adjacent wall....

Freaky Friday - STEAMPUNK

With the idea of having a weekly topic to get me blogging about things more, though as broad as it may be, I'm going to attempt to create a post every Friday under heading of "FREAKY FRIDAY"!  Today's topic is:

STEAMPUNK

The Steampunk sub-culture has been an fascination of mine from back in my 'industrial days' in the Bay Area of San Francisco (early to mid '90's). I find it to be less harsh and more delicate then it's brother Cyberpunk. The intricate workings of the art that comes from this genre is amazing. There's a feeling of romance and fantasy to it all. Take a look at some of the images...

Steampunk Guitar, found on Word Soup

Image found on blogging balkanistan

If you've read the Morganville Vampire Series by Rachel Caine - the Ada character and her creater's lab largely reminds me of this concept.

There's even an entire magazine devoted to the subject

Steam Punk Magazine

Finally, check out this very interesting and insightful blog called ~ Silver Goggles that uses Steampunk ideals to examine social issues, racial diversities and politics....

...and that's all for the first installment of Freaky Friday!

Home Improvement

Some weeks ago, my husband set off on a wild adventure of fixing up the out side of the house.  He hired a painter who has a rather talented artistic eye at a good price.  I gave him a color theme and he drew up some beautiful ideas for us.  Sadly we could not afford the bahama shutters that were in the original design, not the painters fault, those things are pricey, but we still loved his color palette!  After weeks of rain and freeze the house was finally painted!  Once that was finished my husband had a new shed built! Then we landscaped!  It's still a work in progress but here are some of the photos:

BEFORE

and AFTER!!!!

He even gave us new architectural elements around the door!

Next we're working on more plants in pots for the white rock area and getting the shed painted... Oh did I mention the Bamboo? Yes we have new bamboo down the fence line so we can't see the neighbor's front door anymore from our back, Skinny dipping in the above ground pool anyone? 

Plant Research - The Desert Rose

Adenium obesum

( Desert Rose )

A succulent houseplant with thick stems and leathery leaves. It is related to, and usually grafted onto an oleander plant. Flowers are white with reddish pink rims. Often blooms twice in a year. Feed cactus food every 3 weeks from spring to fall. In nature it often develops very odd shapes with highly swollen lower stems.  - backyardgardener

I have two of these from the Leu Gardens plant sale over the years.  The winter this year really took a toll and I need to research what to do to make them flurish again.

The University of Florida Extention has some great information and I think this weekend I'm going to replant them and see what I can do.

Thurman Skirt

Take a look at the winner of the Alabama Studio Style Inspiration Challenege!


Description:

Inspired by Alabama Chanin. This is a simple A-line skirt, cut on the bias, from two layers of cotton knit: a putty color over black. I freehand painted a favorite quotation on the skirt, then used the techniques in the Alabama Stitch Book for the reverse applique. I love to combine my handlettering with garment design — an experiment in embracing imperfection (especially when I sneezed on the skirt moments before taking the photos. Did you hear me screaming?).

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” Howard Thurman

Now this is something I'd like to try someday! Truely amazing!  Wonderful job lettergirl!

Gentleman Broncos

My husband and I watched the movie Gentleman Broncos (2009) last night and it got me thinking of how truely awesome (though cheesey) the Sci-Fi art for the 70's and 80's was!  Such as....

Frank Frazetta's paintings for Battlestar Galactic

Just about any cover of an H.P. Lovecraft Novel

and don't forget everything and all VIKING!

Patrick McEvoy's "Viking"

and speaking of Viking,

for you True Blood fans - Eric the Viking!

Ok I digress....

Spice it up!

I'm searching for ideas to SPICE up my blog.  Maybe a feature of the week, or month or.... ah hell I don't know but something.  Something to get me talking, blogging, writing, whatever it is about craftering, sewing, life... So give me your thoughts while I sit here drinking my Saturday  morning coffee!