My creative space

I am linking up to a wonderful party Where Bloggers Create This is hosted by 

My Desert Cottage.  100's of bloggers have linked up to show their creative spaces.  

This is mine!

When I left pharmaceutical Sales a year ago the first thing I did was turn my 10 X 12 guest room into a sewing/craft room.  I was sick of pulling boxes out of every room in the house to do a project.  I now have it all in one place.

Now, if you go to Where Bloggers Create you will see the most magnificent, fluffy, dreamy, rooms, mine is a little more utilitarian.  

This is my sewing table with cabinet's on each side and ton's of storage  junk hidden underneath. 

This is a Slatwall commonly used in retail stores.  Look at those baskets and bins all filled with luscious flowers, laces, paints, and ton's of ribbon's.  The Slatwall is great because this is a small room and the Slatwall uses minimal space.  I painted the Slatwall the same color as the room so it would blend in.

The table tucked under the Slatwall is on wheels and opens up to a generous

 4 X 6 crafting table

This is the desk area, hidden under the table is file cabinets and more junk!

Me and Billie the cat my crafting companion

You should see the room tonight it looks like it got hit by a wind storm!!  This was the one time it was all tidy!

Thanks for stopping by!

Carol

Apron Giveaway

My Dear friend at Sweet Kathleen's is having a give away!  If you love baking you will love Sweet Kathleen's cooking blog,  Every time I read her blog I just want to eat the computer screen!  Kathleen was  featured in the May/June issue of Tea Time Magazine!

Sweet Kathleen's is giving away an Apron made by Annie G Aprons and Bags  Annie is as skilled at sewing as Kathleen is at baking.  Annie has an online store, but most of her business is referral and return customers.  Annie's attention to detail and ability to match colors is something that keeps people from all over the world coming back for more!  Annie doesn't use patterns so, what you buy is truly something unique.

Lookie Here!

The drawing is June 30th

Hurry on over to Sweet Kathleen's and tell her Carol sent you!!

Making a Graffiti Memory Pillow

I just got back back to Orlando after a vacation to see family in Minnesota.  I grew up in Minnesota then moved to Florida 20 years ago.  The whole time I was home it was cloudy, cold (compared to Orlando) and rainy.  Lets just say it is not the Sunshine State, but the people are bright and sunny!

I went to my niece Stephanie's high school graduation party.  Besides the much loved gift of $$$$ I made her a memory pillow.  Now, with teenagers you never know what they will like, but it was a huge hit with my niece and her friends.  Since she lives out of state I had no idea what her favorite things were!  So, I went to Facebook and there it was.....Her favorite show, food, restaurants, movie star, sport, etc.  

Bingo!  Anything we want to know about someone we can find!

I was thinking of other occasions you could give a Graffiti Memory Pillow.  This could be filled with the names of friends, family members, classmates, pets, sports teammates?

Going off to college

Summer Camp

A long hospitalization

Moving away

Kindergarden, grade school, middle school graduation

I embroidered this onto the pillow, but not everyone has an embroidery sewing machine.  You could easily type it all out and copy it onto fabric.

Are you interested in a tutorial on how to copy onto fabric next week?

Painting Tips

I know what your thinking ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ Painting Tips, but hang with me.  I have just 3 tips that may save you time and money!

 Besides my online store I have an antiques booth at 

Orange Tree Antiques in Orlando, Florida.  I have had the booth for 7 years and have done tons of painting in that time as most everything gets a coat of white.

I hate sanding so this is my alternative.   I use Gloss-Off  by Krud Kutter.  I found it at Sherwin Williams and the best part is it smells like soap.  No strong odor, the store said they use it in schools because it has no odor and is so safe.  Not having to sand is especially wonderful when you're painting something with curvy legs or embellishments.

I love the finish and ease of spray paint but, if you're doing multiple projects or one big project it can get costly. This Rust-Oleum Heirloom white is my new love!  I took the cap of the spray paint to the paint counter and had them mix a gallon of paint to match the cap.  Now I base coat with a brush and give it a top coat of spray.  This is also great when you have projects that have curvy legs or a wicker top, you don't have to spray the whole item.  A brush coat of paint gives a good base.

Here is my last little tip.  I never wash a paint brush! I seal them in a Ziplock bag and put it in the crisper drawer of my refrigerator.  I have had brushes last a year.  They stay soft and moist (Sounds like a cooking blog).

So, there ya have it!  I will be on vacation for  10 days, nothing exotic.  I am going home to Minnesota (I hear the snow is finally gone) to visit friends and family. 

Happy Painting!

Carol

Thrift Store Dress Transformation

I am linking up with DebbieDoos Garage Salen Partay


Honesty begins right here, what do you think?

I saw this dress at the thrift store for $4.00 and I thought it had good bones!  

It had a cute back, with a tie at the top, it is a little hard to see.

I didn't want a dress I wanted a shirt and that was super simple to do!

I just cut it short and added a sheer lace Polka Dot Ruffle....There's the polka dots again!

I decided it was a little plain so I went through my bling boxes.  I just love looking through all of these goodies!

I found the perfect vintage black pin

I thought it was so cute and then when my son saw it He said it looked like an old lady shirt!

Well I Am an old lady, but I don't want to look like one! 

 So, what do you think?  Now you have to be honest!  Usually everyone is so sweet on all of their blog comments and they say everything is wonderful and beautiful......We know everything isn't so, lets have honesty start right here!!!  What do you really think?  It was only a $4.00 investment, and I will still visit all of your blogs and leave nice comments and I will still call all of you my friends!  This should be fun!

Carol