Drying hydrangeas....

Cutting my hydrangeas came early this year.....as most everything in the yard has.  They started looking burned by the hot sun.  The flowers were so gorgeous and so many of the big blue clusters on the bushes but the extreme heat was getting to them.

My gladiolis are beginning to bloom now and are one of the few flowers in my garden.  They seem to appear in new places every year.  Not certain if it's me or the squirrels who move them



We were lucky to get a nice rain last night and the possibility we could have more today.  We'll say a little prayer and keep out fingers and toes crossed.

I'm working this afternoon at Leola's but hoping to start a lampshade before I go.  I finally ordered supplies so lampshade-making is definitely in my future.

Hope everyone has a great week!

A productive week....

Managed to get a lot done this week.....thankfully.  The weather cooled a little so I could work in the garage.  It seems so early to be complaining about the heat but it's been darn hot in southwest Missouri.  Just seems like one week we had the heat on and the next, it was the AC.

My garden looks amazing.  Everything is growing so fast.  My lavender is almost ready to harvest and it's huge.  Maybe I'll have enough to bundle for sale.  The same goes for my sage (not the g'son but the herb).  It is just a huge bush this year.  The herb garden also includes thyme, oregano, chives, basil and mint.  It's just a great year for growing things.

This is one of my projects from this week.  It's a little French table that would be great by a bed.  It has a little blue in the paint and goes with a lamp that I redid with the same blue.  I'm really loving this soft blue.

Don't know why the first picture looks so pink (I'm sure it was nothing I did).  It's definitely not pink. 

This next picture is the lamp I painted.  I also made the shade with one of the frames I brought back from Vermont.  It has been so difficult for me to give up my shades.  Maybe I should quit using fabrics that I love.

The fabric just has a hint of pale blue in it and the white part on the lamp is milkglass.  That's another problem I have.....I love lamps.  I have them in every nook and cranny of my house.

Another love of mine are the battery candles I sell at Leola's.  There are several on my back porch right now in Mason and Ball jars.  They are so peaceful when the sun starts to go down.  I sometimes use a lamp but there are times when I just want mellow lighting.  The g'kids all use one in their bedrooms for nightlights.  When I'm having company, I'll put some on the rock ledges and in the potting shed.  They have a total candle feel but no worry about fire.

My 2 bunny friends that seem to enjoy hangin' in my backyard.  Luckily, there's lots of  clover out there so they've left the lettuce alone.

Well, I'm working tomorrow so guess I'd better get things together......oh, and watch American Idol.  Have a good rest of the week!

Another day in Vermont......

This was the most perfect day in Vermont.  Started out cool but ended being very warm & bright.  It was my last day in lampshade making class with Judy Lake & a group of the most interesting women from Ohio, Maine, Massachusetts, & Connecticut.  I can't begin to tell you how much fun it was and how much I've learned.  Judy is so talented & the best teacher and she was determined that we would all go home able to start a business if we so desired.  It was so worth the money, time & effort in so many ways.  What an adventure!

I'm so glad I took this class.

Judy ran around today and found some more treasures.  We bought 2 suitcases at a resale shop so we can bring things home with us.  We've been trying to stay small but it's hard.  It's an antiquers dream.

The little towns we were in today were packed with leaf-peepers.  It's definitely a yuppie world.  The homes are amazing.  You very rarely see a new one.  They all look like Martha Stewart might live in them.  So many of the houses for sale are listed by Sotheby's -- that tells you a lot.  Check these out!

I'll take lots of house pictures tomorrow.  Supposedly, there are lots of authors, artists & other famous people who live in this area & I can certainly see why.

My lamps.....

Does Labor Day Weekend mean you're suppose to labor all weekend.  I have so many tasks on my agenda including finishing my big cabinet that I've had to put off because of the heat.  It is painted but parts need a second coat & then to the waxing.

The doors have been removed.  Someone had added these & they just didn't look right.  I've painted it with Annie Sloane's chalk paint (old white) & now I'll wax and make it look old.  It's going to be gorgeous (if I do say so myself).

 

These are the pumpkins I've been working on.  I dyed some fabric orange and love the final product.

Along with these, I've finished a bunch of heating pads.  My idea for doing a blog follower's give-away is to put in a heating pad, some of my chai tea, & a couple of my battery candles.  You must be a follower of my blog to win but I always get tons of names but I pick names until I'm certain you're a follower.  If you've never used one of my heating pads, they are the greatest.  Oh, the give-away will be held at Leola's Fall Open House that will be on Sept. 8 (evening), 9, 10 & 11.  I'll post later the exact prize.

These are two of my lamps.  I did the wiring myself and have checked them out and they work perfectly.  Don't know what I'd do without my neighbor who put the hole through them and my True Value Hardware guys who answer any dumb questions I throw at them.  Also, the plaid shade I made (sorry that the seam shows) & I'm thinkin' I might get a larger shade for the stained lamp.  Doesn't it look a little small?

Anyway, back to work for me.  Phoebe is coming to spend the day & night.  Today is to be in the 70's (yea) so I can finish the cabinet.  Hope you all have a wonderful holiday weekend.

Planning a Fall trip.......

I'm so excited!  I signed up to take a lampshade-making class with Judy Lake at her shop in Pawlet, Vermont, in October http://lampshadelady.typepad.com/.  It's 2 days and it's lots of work but you learn everything about making really professional looking lampshades and how to run a business doing it.  I've made a lot of shades but they never quite turn out perfect and there never seems to be the right ready- made shade.  So many have looked at me like I'm a crazy woman for wanting to go to Vermont to learn to make shades but it's just something I've always wanted to do -- make lampshades.

These are Judy's pictures from her blog.  Her shop is in a tiny town in Vermont so we'll be staying somewhere close.  Sister Judy is going with me so we have big plans to see the countryside and do a little antiquing.  It will be the first weekend in October and supposedly, at the height of their fall leaf viewing.  There are several beautiful, old inns in the area and some set on the lakes so that's on the agenda for next week -- making reservations at an inn.

I'm so excited.  Think I'll check L.L. Bean and see if I need some new sweaters.

Have a great weekend.  We're getting a little rain.

Projects, projects, projects.....

Can't stand watching basketball but can't stand to miss it.  Our Mo. State University Bears are playing for the conference title and are losing by just a couple of points.  I had to turn it off or have a nervous breakdown.

Thought I'd show some of my projects I've been working on.  I was bummed because the door on my little chimney cupboard didn't turn out the way I wanted it too .  I've resanded but will have to wait to paint until it warms up a little.  Such a waste of time.

 

Did get Linda's chair done.  The chair ended up being more of a re-upholstery job then a slipcover.  Too many things to go around so just got out the old staple gun & went to town.

These are two of my lampshades.  The first is a chenille and I had several of these little while milkglass lamps.  They're perfect together.  The second is a work-in-progress.  Thought the red ticking would go with lots of things.  I'm thinking I'll make one for myself to go on the backporch.  I love a lamp on the porch.



I purchased this painted canvas with wonderful tags on it.  It's really a work of art with wonderful little treasures attached.

Better get back to work.  Spring Open House is this coming weekend and I still have a million things to do. 

Have a great week!

My giveaway.......almost.....

Can you believe I'm stuck on 99 followers!!!!  When I hit 100 then I'll explain the rules of the giveaway or if I get to 400 posts first, we'll celebrate that.  I've been into making lampshades so decided on this for my prize.

The lamp and shade go together.  

I've been at home for 3 days now and it's been kind of nice.  Today is so cold that I can feel it when I stand at my windows.  Nothing is melting and the ice is staying on the streets.  It's the third day for Leola's to be closed.  Our public schools and colleges are all still closed.  It's supposed to warm a little over the weekend then more snow and frigid temps.  So much for the groundhog seeing it's shadow.  Oh, well, it is what it is and I figure God must have felt like we all needed to slow down and appreciate what we have.  I'm so grateful to have a nice warm house and plenty of food when there are so many suffering & doing without right now.  Also, I think it was so good for the public schools to be closed for a few days and maybe get rid of some of the germs.  Seems like everyone had sick kids at home.

Hope everyone stays warm and pass this on so we can get on with the giveaway.  Thanks!

Outside my window.....

We seem to be part of that large segment of America dealing with a winter storm.  It's snowing like crazy and a very cold wind is blowing.  For the first time I can ever remember, we have a blizzard warning.  Here is what it looks like out my front door:

I'm trying to take advantage of the days spent inside and getting some projects accomplished.  Kelli worked for me yesterday so I decided to work on a lampshade.  The lamp is white & it had a linen-look lampshade.  It was just too blah.  The fabric I used is also linen color but has just a little red viney design in it.  It turned out better then I had expected.  What do you think?

It's had to believe how long I have been blogging but it's been long enough that I have almost 400 posts but I only have 96 followers.  I have a plan.  Whichever comes first -- 400 posts or 100 followers, I will have a giveaway.  The next post I'll show what I'm giving away.  It made me laugh when I saw Miss Mustard Seed trying to get to 4000 followers (& she did).  I'm just wanting 100.  We'll see what happens.

Guess I'd better get to work while the snow flies.  Hope everyone has a safe and warm day.



One lampshade done.....

I swear if I charged by the hour, this lamp shade would be at least $150 but unfortunately, I can't do that. I'm not very good at time management. Anyway, I got it done & think it turned out pretty cute. Today I'm going to work on a little upholstered chair. We'll see if I can keep the cost down on that.