Happy Halloween Banner Tutorial!!

Halloween has never been a really big holiday to me, until about 10 yrs ago when we moved to this neighborhood. Each year, people drag out grills, tables and chairs and turn the street into one big party. It's a great way to get to know neighbors and it has made our street quite popular. One gal a few houses away used to set up a haunted yard with lights, smoke, creepy music and all. A couple of my grandaughters wouldn't even go near the place when they were smaller! Notice I said "used to set up a haunted yard" ? Well, as is not uncommon, poor Mom worked and slaved setting the thing up and then worked and slaved to put it all away with little help from kids or husband. They all wanted it set up but didn't want to do any work. When I asked her about it last year, she said "I've had it. I don't get help and it's too hard on my back." Alert for kids and hubbys out there.....if you want the special holiday stuff....maybe you need to offer some help. Is that a big "YES" I hear from the Moms? 
So, once we moved here I felt compelled to decorate a bit and have a porch party. I made this garland.....now let me preface it by saying it's getting a little worn and I need to spruce it up a bit...

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Covering a Lampshade

I don't know if you have seen the new Somerset Home mag but this issue is really nice! I love their pictures and am always inspired by one of their magazines. I have to keep a paper and pencil next to me while I look because my brain is just a whirlwind of ideas.
 I don't know how you create but my creativity happens all the time and usually when I can let my mind wander. So, when I'm driving (I know, I know...but at least I'm not on my cell phone) , lying in bed NOT SLEEPING, over my daughter's babysitting (like yesterday), sitting in one of the endless appointments for the horde, etc... My inspirations are magazines, television, movies, nature, objects (especially industrial), interesting people and just about anything. In addition to what I show here on the blog, I have also created sculpture from metal scraps    ( that one hangs in my old church), art pieces (like the sunflower I posted on this blog), architectural/furniture designs (I designed much of this house we live in), and other interests. I am always looking at objects in new ways....remember that roll of rusty wire stuff my hubby shook his head at? I've finally figured out the art piece I want to make and I hope to show you that soon. I am so happy I finally have an outlet for my more funky side with the shop Chartreuse, down near the oceanfront here. Otherwise, I would have to do what I've done for years....sketch it and set it aside. Many of my ideas are a little too 'out of the box' for most of the people I know.
But here, I enjoy showing my milder side and the side of me that loves soft colors, classical music, chippy white paint and classic furnishings. I don't know if this makes me weird or just really creative (I like the really creative idea, myself). I know in the blogging world the counsel is to stick to one thing so it can become your 'signature'. I'm in deep trouble if that is the only way this blogging thing will work. I do want to grow and I do want people to follow me ( after all, that's why we're all here isn't it?) but does it mean I shouldn't show you the funky stuff too? I don't know the answer but I'm just going to keep on doing what I've been doing and hopefully other weird, oops, I mean creative people will find me.


Back to the Somerset Home Issue....

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Check Out This Giveaway

One of the most beautiful sites I follow is French Country Cottage....beautiful pictures of what you wish your house looked like....as opposed to mine right now! Courtney is doing a great giveaway with a book from one of the most celebrated designers of our time....Carolyn Rohem. Next to John Saladino, and Mark Hampton.....she is one of my faves. Elegant interiors that are still inviting. So, allez over there and check it out! Here's the link....


http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/2011/10/passion-for-interiors-giveaway.html


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Starting Out Badly...Ending Well

I hate days that start on an off note, don't you? Because my experience has been that they tend to go downhill from there. Well, this one didn't and I am so glad!


Last night, I was very excited to find that I had made my first sales on both of my Etsy sites. I sold some French Script Paper Ribbon.....

And then, I sold a Shabby Bag....

So I went to bed feeling happy that someone liked what I had done.....

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Glittered Christmas Ball Tutorial

I hope you had a nice weekend. I did. My hubby knows we won't go out much unless we have a reason because I always worry about whether the house will still be standing if we leave the Mongolian Horde home alone...so, he bought us season tickets to the symphony! I love the symphony...there is no comparison to hearing gorgeous music played live. Saturday night was our night for that and we had a delicious dinner at Carraba's before we went. For some reason (it's not a holiday or anything) the event was a patriotic concert. It was wonderful and at one time they played one of my favorite pieces (Bach's Air for strings) in honor of fallen servicepeople. it was so beautiful I cried through most of it. That night we had to miss an Oktoberfest party given by our neighbors so on Sunday night, they invited us over for brats and beer! We had a wonderful time both nights, my house was intact when we returned on Saturday and the horde was on good behavior in general over the weekend. All in all.....a good few days......


I wanted to share a pic I took last week when I couldn't sleep and was up for the sunrise. This is looking down the creek behind our house....how beautiful....

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Burlap Table Tutorial

The all time favorite piece from my recent Porch Sale had to be this burlap topped table....

I realize there is a glare but when I took the pic it seemed OK and the table sold a few hours later so I didn't have another chance. 

Sorry! 

But, this was the most popular piece of the day and I wanted to share with you how easy it is to do. 

Let's get started.......

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Whew!

In case you missed what I said....whew!! Boy am I tuckered! The Porch Sale was a huge success...I hope you didn't miss it. Sold off almost all the furniture and people are emailing me about pieces I have left. The good news is NOW I GET TO FIND MORE FURNITURE! Yay! I Love, Love, Love helping people fill their homes with beautiful things. And I especially love taking the things others have discarded and giving them a new purposeful life. It's such an amazing paradox that we are doing the same thing with these children we have been given. {if you don't know the story of this blog....go to the beginning} They were discarded and we are hoping to give them a new and beautiful life. We may or may not be successful in that venture, but we were only called to be faithful and follow God's leading. In that, we are successful. The rest remains to be seen.

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Porch Sale Day One

Je suis tres fatigue mais tres heureux.......( I am very tired but very happy). Happy day one is over! But also so happy with the wonderful support I received. Thanks to everyone who came, even if only to browse. This is only the second Porch Sale of my new adventure and it has been so much fun! I have so enjoyed repurposing old furniture into new and usable pieces. I hate to see a tired old dresser, chair, table, etc sitting lonely because no one can see the beauty there. I do and I always love to see people stroking the finish, opening and closing drawers and tilting mirrors. It is such fun to watch the transformation taking place before my eyes and to feel the appreciation from others for the work and love that has gone into a piece.  I especially enjoy watching someone stand very still before a piece....you can see their minds working....I don't even want to interrupt them! Here are a few pics from today....hope to see you tomorrow!

Shabby dresser with fantastic chippy baluster candlesticks and a bowl of hand glittered glass ornaments .....

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Day 2 Countdown to Fall Porch Sale

Goodness....it's 8:30 pm and I am just posting! I put in a 13 hour day today...painting a china cabinet and a tall five drawer chest, making another paper cone wreath, making 40 paper flowers for a wall hanging, glazing the spool bed and glazing the china cabinet. One run to Home Depot, one child pick-up, one dinner made, one blog post and one FB update. Golly gee whiz!! I'm about done in.....I still have about four things I'd like to do tonight but I think I'll just have to work harder tomorrow!! Here are a couple pics of what I've worked on....be nice, they're not quite finished....

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Day 3 Countdown to Fall Porch Sale: Paper Cone Wreath Tutorial

I promised to finish the paper cone wreath tutorial....and you thought I forgot!

 I have been working all day on the upcoming sale 

but one of the things I needed to make was a paper cone wreath 

so I took pictures along the way for you.

 I did you a disservice yesterday with a raggedy quasi-tutorial so we'll do it right today. 

These wreaths take about 2 hrs (not including getting all the copies made) 

so there are a LOT of pictures. 

So you won't get discouraged we'll do the reveal up front. Here is the wreath hanging in my dining room....

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4 Day Countdown to the Porch Sale....YIKES

The title says it all....I am working hard here finishing furniture and creating other goodies for the Fall Porch Sale. I felt the need for Christmasy things so I am making a few paper cone wreaths with both French Christmas and English Christmas music. They are not hard to do and you should make one (or buy it from me!) By the way, you are free to email and ask about any of the postings I do.....much of what I make is for sale at my Porch Sales. if you are far away and are interested in something you see....just email me at missflibbertigibbet@gmail.com

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15 Minute Fall Decorating

I (used to) love spending hours decorating my house for different seasons. I have a pile of stuff that I have accumulated over the years to draw from. Unfortunately the changes we have had to make here have sent all my stuff out of my nice walk in attic (SO easy to grab a few things quickly) to another attic only accessible by a drop down staircase in my closet. As a result, I am behind ALL the time with seasonal decorating. Consequently, I have developed a rapid decorating method which just scatters a few seasonal things areound and makes me feel better. Who knows, maybe this is God's plan to make me simplify...but I do really miss how pretty my house was before. Anyway...that's what we're up to today. Fifteen minutes of changes......

I have a buffet in my back hallway which is usually a repository for shopping bags and other stuff. But today, with a white metal tray, an ironstone bowl, a plant, some chunky potpourri and fake fruit...we have TAH-DAH:

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Vintage Spool Bed Bench

A recent find at a thrift store was a twin sized, vintage spool headboard and footboard.

Because there were no side rails it was really cheap.

I've had it in the garage for about a month....

(found it the same day as the wonderful dress form)

 but wasn't able to get to it until this weekend.

I have two weeks until the next Porch Sale and it's time to finish up these things!

So, I asked my husband for help in small bits....

you see, he is in the middle of building this gorgeous entertainment hutch for our living room:

Here is a partial view....I'll add some more pics later on so you can see the progress.

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