Wednesday, July 31, 2013

I was here last week...Ogunquit , Maine


   "ahh"


Even though it rained one day...the ocean is still beautiful and soothing.


 
Before I left, I was in a beach mood so made this with shells and a frame from the dollar store.
 
First I painted water color paper cut to fit the size of the frame with blues and greens. I started with circles but changed my mind and just painted it all over ...the circles still pop through. Then I arranged the shells how I wanted them and hot glued them to the watercolor paper. I let it dry and put it in the frame without the glass.
 
I put it on my mantle and love the way it looks !
Have a blessed day !
 
Chris

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Black Trimmed Lamp Shades

Okay so maybe I have a problem...

or it's a trend...

I have three lamp shades with black trim. Two are ribbon and one is painted...I think I am done-but you never know.

In my defense the two with the ribbon just needed a little umph...




The green one had a "cat problem" ! That is my cat likes to rub her grimy face up against the rim of the shade...I was going to get a new shade but decided to take the "less expensive" approach and paint the trim using painters tape. The first time I did it the top bled through...so I had to make it a little bigger...I actually like the "custom" look and it will extend the life of the shade.


Hope you are having a great week ! Sorry about the MIA I was up in Burlington painting the final room in my daughter's condo a light grey. We took off the closet doors -that did not open and replaced them with curtains. They need to be ironed...but you get the idea.  These pictures I took with my phone and I had just hung the curtains...




Until next time...

Chris

Monday, July 1, 2013

Sunday Thoughts...on Monday

I did not post a scripture yesterday...so I will do it today.

This is not a scripture
 

....but wonderful all the same

Have a blessed Monday !

Chris

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Closet Makeover

Since I was on a roll painting up at my daughters...I decided to do some in our very neglected master bedroom closet. It has sat the same for the nearly 13 years we have been here...

until this summer.

I have taken tons of things out of there ...between the dump and Goodwill we can now walk into the closet -all the way to the clothes without reaching over anything.

I have been painting this week.

 Every paint I tried was too dark....I had my heart on Silver Mist from Sherwin Williams.....way too dark in the closet (as you can see) but it came out so light on the ottoman !




 

 
 
 
 
Anyway -the closet now has a fully functional wall....and is painted a light grey from Behr called Irish Mist.
 

I say "ahh..." every time I walk in !
 
Now we have to pull out the armoire that is on the other side so I can paint...
 
Chris

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Bathroom makeover

Sorry I have been MIA, I was up at my daughter's condo redoing her 1980's bathroom.

There are no before pictures...of course...

I took out my first toilet and my first medicine cabinet and light fixture combo....I thought I could put in the new light fixture but there was no junction box


sigh...

I called my electrician brother-in-law (who was putting in the new toilet the next day) and he said he would add it to his list of projects !!

Gotta love him !




My daughter and I put in a new floor. We used self stick vinyl tiles. We had some gaps and I filled them with a silicone matching caulk.
All in all it came out great. It has a mirror instead of a medicine cabinet. It turns out if you have a surface medicine cabinet it presents a problem with the light -if they are the same width coming out of the wall ! 
 
Here are a few more pictures

We painted the vanity espresso and but in new brushed nickel knobs. Jackie got some countertop paint and will paint out the burgundy counter top !
Those cute pictures above the toilet are from the Christmas Tree Shops-they are old fashion bathing suits, in shadow boxes, with striped towels. 
The only thing left to do is switch out the lower towel rack for hooks, get some cute striped towels for a pop of color and change the shower curtain.
 
Chris

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Father's Day Scripture

My son, do not hate the Lord's training.
Do not object when He corrects you.
The Lord trains those He loves.
He is like a father
who trains the son he is pleased with." 
  
Proverbs 3:11-12 NIrV

Sometimes I am not so fond of the Lord's training...okay most of the time.

 Like when I am thinking less then nice thoughts about someone and I am reminded of who I am in Christ.

Your Father loves you !


Happy Fathers  Day !

Chris

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Fathers Day Wrapping Paper

Well once again I saw something on a blog...did it and went back to find which blog I got it from...

with no luck !


I have seen using these prints as large graphic pictures (they are engineer prints you can get them done at Staples)...but this time someone wrapped a fathers day gift in it...and so did I .


This picture was taken on the last cruise we went on 12 years ago ! I left it out so Joe could see it...he wants to save the wrapping paper ! Great idea and $1.81...can't beat the price!

Chris

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Sunday Thoughts


You know, before I started with Pinterest I would just save things to my computer as a picture....the trouble is I don't know where any of these wonderful posters came from !


Have a blessed week .

Chris

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

A Cell Phone Case

I have a friend with no cell phone...no really.  For her birthday I got her a cell phone (Tracfone) and it needed something special to be put in.

In found this great tutorial here:

http://www.aprettycoollife.com/2010/03/easy-cameracell-phoneipod-pouch.html


This was a really easy sewing project-

which is good because I'm not much of a seamstress !!




As you can see from that above seam-kinda sad !!

But she'll love it anyway !

Chris

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Sunday Thoughts

Today we were reminded that if God can't trust us with a little...He can't trust us with a lot ! I know I want the abundant life that Jesus died for me to have and I have some plans that I hope God is in agreement with.

  So I want him to trust me now...with a little so He can trust me later...with a lot.


Luke 16:10


If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won't be honest with greater responsibilities.



I hope the same for all of you !
Have a blessed Sunday

Chris

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Easy art using reuseable bags

So you remember I made the little table/stool with the reusable bag from The Christmas Tree Shops

 
 
Of course I had to do something with the other side !
So I covered an ugly painting I had done...you know some art that another blogger did and it came out so cute and yours...well let's just say not so much.

I took my staple gun and after positioning the picture where I wanted it....I stapled !




Just that easy !

Here it is on my mantle...I'm going summer.....I am so ready aren't you ?




Chris

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Words of Faith and Truth

I love the fruit of the spirit...and all that it encourages me to be. This printable it would look great in my kitchen

Here is the website to go and get one of your own.

http://www.laughterandgrace.com/fruit-of-the-spirit-free-printable/


Hope you are having a great Memorial Day Weekend...it is so rainy here it's depressing !

Chris

Friday, May 24, 2013

Target's Blue Mason Jars

So I saw on a blog that blue mason jars were coming...

I don't can...but I love mason jars.

I have gone to pinterest about them...my daughter uses one to drink  iced coffee from using  a conversion top..

any whoo...

I saw them at Target and although I am currently on a very limited budget...since I am not working this summer...

Well,

I got them anyway.  Love them-love them....really one of my last "needless" purchases !!

Chris

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Make a table or seat out of reusable bags

I had a small table that I picked up at a tag sale years ago I made a tile mosaic top for it....

No pictures since my 70 lb puppy knocked it over and all the tiles fell out and broke -well it was around 15 years old !



I recently got a reusable bag from the Christmas Tree shops-so cute and beachy I had to do something with it...ah that table ( and it almost went to the curb) !

So I painted the legs red and before they were dry....

I started on the top.  First I put two pieces of yoga mat on the top and stapled them on the sides to give it some cushioning (I would have used form but did not have any plus I am trying to use up this yoga mat) You could use this as a stool, but because it was intended for a table and I didn't reinforce it you'd have to be a little on the light side.

Then I positioned the material on the top how I wanted it ....
Then stapled. Love how it turned out....the corners were tedious but I wrapped it like a package and made the corners fit tight. 


Chris

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Sunday Scripture

I saved this picture...but I don't know where it came from. I'm pretty sure it was from a blog that maybe sells on ETSY but I looked for it and didn't find who to give credit to.

 If anyone knows please email me so I can give them credit.

 I love the verse...would love to give it to my daughters.   Have a blessed Sunday !

                                                          Chris

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Condo Kitchen Redo

Well as you know I was up at my daughter's condo in Essex VT (up near Burlington) painting the kitchen cabinets...and visiting of course.

We had decided to go grey on the bottom and I got a Benjamin Moore color (I think it was called Nickel).

 It didn't look very blue...until...

we got it on her cabinets.

We went with it anyway and painted the back wall a light pale grey. We actually just mixed the white from the upper cabinets and grey from the lower till we got a color we liked.

I did prime the bottom cabinets and the back wall (which was chocolate brown) with a grey tinted primer.
 

Now about the hardware.... someone glued on two of the pulls and we cannot get them off !! Next time I am up there I will try soaking them in acetone...I read on google that loosen the glue !

They would look more updated with the " Early American" look gone. Well, that will be for another time !

The mauve colored counter (which we thought we would paint) actually goes well with the grey. The floor is blue and grey diamonds ( I think the condo was built in the 80's) That eventually will be changed but we are trying to work on a tight budget.

Her cat loved what we found when we moved the fridge !

Chris

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Towel Rod Baskets

A while back I saw on Pinterest someone had hung baskets from rods in the laundry room...

 I pinned it...so did my daughter in Burlington and told me about it...I said I pinned that too !

Anyway-

Last night we were at Lowes (I am up here painting cabinets at her condo) and we decided to get baskets and hooks for a square towel rod in her bathroom that is too close to the other one to hold anything but washcloths and hand towels...useless for her.

The S hooks were too small for the square rod so we got a bag of shower curtain hooks....I don't know what we will do with the remaining...but they worked great.
 
The picture is terrible,it is from my phone.... I forgot my camera. You get the idea and they will be filled in no time !!
 
Chris

Friday, May 10, 2013

Schools out for summer....

I teach at Head Start and today was our last day. We had a great class of 18 wonderful children....I miss them already.

I am looking forward to more blogging this summer.

First I am headed to Burlington VT to help my daughter with her kitchen cabinets....

they are painted white...

just the top ones....she ran out of steam. I know how that goes-so I am going to help her finish. We are going to do the bottom ones in a grey....

It will look like this (I hope ) when we get through.
This picture is from the Decorologist blog -she always has great information !
 
Chris

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Psalm 121 My Grandmothers Favorite

Today my Pastor read this Psalm.....

1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills,
        
from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the LORD,
        
which made heaven and earth.
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved:
        
he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel
        
shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD is thy keeper:
        
the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite thee by day,
        
nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil:
        
he shall preserve thy soul.
8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in
        
from this time forth, and even for evermore


He did not read the King James version but that was my
Grandmothers favorite....and for this Psalm I love it too !
Have a great Sunday .

Chris

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Summer porch and projects

We are starting to enjoy our screened porch....ah finally winter is gone...it takes a long time...

too long here in the Northeast !!

 
So I am starting to think about those great summer projects and went back to some pins from last summer...you know the ones you are going to get around too...
 
 
So I could start them now
 
Like these...mason jar solar lightsDIY Solar Jars
                         http://www.lovepomegranatehouse.com/diy-solar-jars/

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Sunday Thoughts

Today our minister, Pastor Buddy at Northway Church (thought I would give a shout out), talked about the word "if" it can be your friend or enemy.

 What if you tried and failed...I am going to go for it !

How about you?



Well technically it isn't a scripture....but it is a great way of thinking !
Chris

Thursday, April 25, 2013

The Packaging of EZ comfort wraps has begun

So, as you might know my sister and I are on a new adventure of marketing a new product. It has been interesting and challenging so far and we are just beginning.

Yesterday (after 4 trips there) I picked up the "toppers" from Staples for our packages.

I wanted coral....but they didn't carry that color so I settled on pale yellow....I got bright yellow.

Of course I didn't realize this till I got home-and this poor guy Jim... really had his hands full getting this designed and completed for me....

I didn't have the heart to take them back !


So here they are packaged in a more professional manner then before. They are available at out ETSY shop. What I love is that the buttons can be changed out and I have found some cute ones !
 
Chris and Barb

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Sunday Scripture

 
I don't know where I saved this from...someone did a nice job on the subway art.
 
Chris

Friday, April 19, 2013

Our New Business

As you may or may not know my sister and I are in the beginnings of launching a new business. We are producing a product called EZ comfort wraps and they are used on the arms of metal outdoor furniture in the summer when the arms get uncomfortably hot from the sun.

I personally use them on my porch furniture that is well over 15 years old because the arms look like this...ugh
 
And they look better like this...ahh
 
Don't you agree ? We are selling them over at ETSY.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/lakechamplaindesign
I am investigating other places to sell them. I'll keep you posted !
Chris

Tuesday, April 16, 2013





Can you tell I am on vacation ?? I finished my orb candle holder.  I started with embroidery hoops and stained them brown (with watered down brown paint) then I glued them together.

There it sat for about a month......

But yesterday I decided to finish it up ! I went to Home Depot and got a RustOleum bronze spray paint...it comes out having a hammered finish ( I plan to paint my outdoor lights with it since they are brass "pitted" and ugly- but that's another project).

I sprayed a dill pickle jar's metal lid front, back and sides.

This morning I super glued the lid onto the orb and put the candle in it (flame less)...my husband saw it and said don't burn the house down !

I had a beautiful old bracket that I had gotten at a tag sale and painted it white...I don't love that rusted look. Nailed the bracket up and hung the orb....I love it.

This summer I will put the timer on the candle and enjoy it in the evening as well !




My prayers to all those in Boston that suffered such loss !

Chris