Grand Opening

GRAND OPENING

of my

New Shop




RAG JUNQUIE






Stop by and take a look. And tell me what you think!!!

Hope everyone is having a great Memorial Day Weekend!

Artful Thursday ~ Week 19

This is the last week of school and things have been quite busy. I'm hoping that after this week, I can dedicate more time to a more detailed project. But for time, Easy Things are the catch-phrase of the day!!!

I don't know about you, but this Pack Rat can always use more storage space!! So with that in mind, I started looking around the house for some items to hold things for my studio. And I came up with these. Wine crates that I got while I was still working at Sam's Club.

Tools: wine crate, paint, sponge brush and bowl of water.
I did a quick wash on these with the blue paint. Just dab the tip of your brush into the water and start spreading the paint. I wanted some of the wood to show through.

So easy, even a 7 year old can do it!!

Attached two hangers to the back

And then I changed my mind about where to hang one of these!!

But I'm very happy with the change in plans. This is our guest bathroom, and there was a big blank wall that I have been wondering what to do with. Now I know :0)

I put the other wine crate into the studio

And added a few of my favorite things. I think I might have to make a few more of these. Unfortunately, they are housing our DVD collection for now. But I want something else to fill that spot, and once I do, then I'll have some more crates!


Happy Artful Thursday
~♥~

The Sunday Café ~ Herb & Cheese Oven Fries

Herb & Cheese Oven Fries

6 medium potatoes, cut into wedges
2-3 tablespoons Olive Oil
Shredded Italian Blend Cheese

• Preheat oven to 500°
• Place wedges on cookie sheet
• Drizzle with enough oil to coat
• Season with Italian seasoning OR Seasoning Blend (for added kick, I sometimes sprinkle a little Cajun seasoning on them)
• Roast potatoes& turn after 15-20 minutes
• Sprinkle cheese on potatoes & roast another 10 minutes
• ENJOY!!
  

Where I'd Like To Be & Thrifting

If I lived in Richmond, CA I would be here today.

And if I lived in Chicago, I would be here.

But unfortunately, I don't live in either one of those places. Just good old Alabama. But I did find some wonderful stuff this past week at the Thrift Store.

Okay, this is going to sound weird, but we don't have a kitchen table. It's a l-o-n-g story, but it has really been bothering me that we sit on the sofa and eat. I always wanted one of those old-fashioned round farmtables. But one has not appeared in my life yet. So, when this little vintage gem showed up, I still snagged it!

A cool 50's era kitchen table. Complete with chrome legs and sides. And extra leaf!!!

And at $20, I just couldn't pass it up. And I almost caused a scene while I was attempting to break in down to fit into the trunk of the Camaro. Seems as if another person was planning on purchasing it and got a little snooty about the fact that I had already paid for it since she had said she wanted it. Believe me, I have been on the other end SO many times, I could only smile, as I hauled it to the car!!

I found a cool vintage Camp blanket...for a buck!!

I recently read about Beacon blankets and think it would be fun to collect them. Not sure how to tell since there is no tag.

This one has a large hole towards the end. I'm thinking about just making a clean cut straight across and hemming the edge.

But after taking these photos, I noticed the hole looked somewhat like a heart ♥

A white vase and tiny saucer.

A finally two vintage folding chairs!!! Just in need of a good scrubbing. And some new fabric. Still pondering about the fabric. There are so many choices.

I love how this one shows where someone lovingly repaired it.

Hope you get to do something fun this weekend!

~♥~

Artful Thursday ~ Week 19

Sorry I'm running a little late :0)

This week's Artful Thursday Project was so much fun! I have found a new hobby to add to my repertoire!

I have cross stitched for most of my life and for some reason, never attempted embroidery. Until now. I have been seeing some beautiful things being made, so I thought I would start as a beginner and see what happens. Well, I now have a new love ♥!

After searching for something simple to start with, a found a wonderful place that offers free embroidery patterns. So, I picked one & printed it out. Then came the fabric part. Since all I have is cross stitch, I found an old white dress shirt from Charlie (see, I told you Hubby's were good for something! JK) and cut out a piece of fabric big enough to cover the design. Now, let me state right here that I never NEVER learned how to cross stitch using a hoop. So, I did this piece without one too. And unless I did something wrong, it worked fine for me. I still might pick some up, as I go along.

I basted the fabric to the paper.

And started stitching. There are lots of different kinds of stitches, and I referred here quite often!

I think there are a total of 6 lessons, so make sure you look at all of them. It's very helpful.

Then came the part I was worried about. Removing the paper pattern from the fabric. I would highly recommend having a good pair of tweezers handy! Overall it came out fine, but I did have a few French Knots pull out. I just waited until I was finished and went back with my thread and reworked them.

I did play around with a few different techniques.

I love the two lovebirds!!

I've hooked now! I will be getting some better fabric to work with and can't wait to get started on my next embroidery piece!!!


~♥~
Kristal

A Day in the Life...

In case you thought I wasn't busy during the day, here is a sample of "A Day in the Life Of.."

What happens when a 2 year old finds a black Sharpie?

She lovingly paints on her brother's face, of course!!!

And the pretty picture frame it was in.

And the stone fireplace :0(

With some rubbing alcohol, q-tips and good old elbow grease...

Gracyn has her Dane back!!!

(Note: I'm still working on the stone fireplace. The majority of it came out, but not all of it. I'm hoping that if I keep scrubbing once a week, I'll make it disappear!)

So, now you know. What goes on. Most of the day. Oh, and did I mention that I am now babysitting ANOTHER 2 year old on Fridays!!!!! Boy, am I going to be ready for a Margarita come Saturday ~ LOL!!

XoXo,
Kristal

Artful Thursday ~ Week 18

Another week here, and I have a small little something to show for this week's Artful Thursday. I never did finish any of the other things I was working on last week, they are still awaiting their finishing touches.

This week, I was bitten by the needlework bug. I just had to sit down and play with my thread and needles. I actually started two projects this week, but only one made it all the way to the end. Hopefully, I will get to the other one soon.

I am still in the yellow and green mood. And I recalled a cross stitch pattern in my stash that was in these colors.

After a bit of thought, I decided to make a "few" changes to the original design...

When I showed Charlie, he laughed and said "Yeah, that sounds like you!"

I chose to add my initials in place of the two birds in the original. And I played around with the colors, using a little of this and a little of that. It is stitched on a piece of hand-dyed Aida cloth.

I have a few fun ideas running through my head of how to frame this. I think that might be a whole other post!! But this was really fun to do and it was nice to have something finished.

XoXo,
Kristal

Artful Thursday ~ Week 17

This has been an...unfinished week. I haven't felt 100%, so I cocooned, starting up the sewing machine and working on projects. And out of 5 (at last count) - only one is completed! And it wasn't even for me.

PROJECT NUMERO UNO
Pettiskirt

A pettiskirt that had brought me to tears today!

NUMERO DOS
Dyed Coffee Filters

This one was fun. I dyed some more coffee filters. So, now that reminds me, I guess you could have I have two projects completed. This week was Teacher Appreciation Week at Dane's school. Tuesday was Flower Day, so I had Dane ask his teacher what her favorite colors were. I was already planning on the yellow and green. Luckily she like pink and green, so that was easy enough. I made her a set of pink and green flowers, found on old olive oil glass, filled with shredded paper and set it to school...without a single picture! But it did turn out cute. But, I used the last three chenille stems, so I have to wait until Mr. Hubby is off, and drag him to the craft store. Which is another reason why project #3 & #4 could not be completed.

PROJECT NUMERO TRES
Patchwork Pillow #1

I really don't want to show too much of these. But they are pillows. And if things go right, I'm hoping they turn out good! My first attempt at making some pillows. Long overdue.

PROJECT NUMERO CUATRO
Patchwork Pillow #2

PROJECT NUMERO CINCO
Pincushions

Finally, a finished project!!

Remember all the fabric I acquired? Well, I finally had an idea for some of the smaller pieces of fabric.
And I made 6 of these boogers!

I embroidered the sides with lazy daisy stitches.
After talking with my friend that owns an Antique Store, she said she would love to have some of these in her shop, so after they were completed, off they went to Florida!

I promise, tomorrow I will edit this post and add in step-by-step instructions for making these. I still need to make one for my Mamma, she likes yellow and green (great minds think alike!). They are fairly simple, but my fingers were killing me from pushing the needle through the fabric so much! I don't have a thimble, so that would come in handy.

Well, I guess this means I will have lots to show you next week! But I have so many other things planned, I'm hoping I can get these polished off this weekend and have something new to show for next Artful Thursday!

XoXo,
Kristal