A PILLOW AND INSPIRATION

What a perfect day!  

I got a great kid-fix first thing this morning by reading to the 3 and 4 year olds at school.  Such enthusiasm oozes out of those little bodies!  If you ever want to lift your spirits, go volunteer at your local school.  Kids' zeal for life is contagious!  You can also have some very . . . interesting "conversations" with three year olds.   For example, one that transpired during our story about a lost mouse toy (names have been changed to protect the innocent):

Me:  "Where do you think the little mouse is hiding, Scott?"

Scott (3 years old) with hand in the air:  "I think my Grandma Mary is picking me up tonight . . ."

Me:  "Oh, I see.  But, where do you think the mouse might be?"

Scott:  " . . . or maybe it's my Grandma Joan . . . "

Me: "Do you think the mouse is in the barn?"

Scott: "No, it couldn't be Grandma Joan . . ."

etcetera . . . . 

Can't help but love them!

Anyway, then I came home and spent my time with Norma.  Then began to work on a pillow using some of that burlap which has taken over my house.  I used a graphic from the Graphics Fairy again.  This is one I keep going back to and finally figured out how I wanted to use it.  I started with Lesley Riley's Transfer Artist Paper.  You run it right through the printer and then, after cutting close to the edge of the design, just iron it on to your background fabric.  Remember to reverse any words you may be printing so they are readable when you iron them on.  This paper doesn't leave the "plastic-like shine" so many t-shirt transfer papers do.  It's a little more expensive - but worth it!

 Love the nubby-ness of burlap!

Then I rummaged through my Great Aunt Pearl's button box.  I inherited some beautiful, old buttons from her!

 These are the buttons I chose for the back closure of the pillow.  Mother-of-Pearl with a metal loop shank on the back.  They don't make them like this anymore!

 And a little decorative rectangle of fabric sewn under one of the buttons so the back isn't totally boring.

These close-ups show how this transfer paper picks up even small details.  And see, no shine!  If you've ever worked with different transfer papers before, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

 And, after slipping in a store-bought pillow form . . .

 it's finished!

While sewing away, I propped Norma up in the corner (thought she should hear it too) and listened to this for inspiration.  Unless I live to be 100, I  probably don't have enough years left to attain this level - but, a girl can dream . . . and this is Norma's (mine too)!  Imagine that!

This is

MAGNIFICENT!!!

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Today's Creative Blog

REMEMBER

Our family joins with so many others, who are flying the flag of this great country today, and remembering.

Our fathers' God to Thee,
author of Liberty,

to thee we sing.
Long may our land be bright
with Freedom's holy light,
protect us by thy might
great God, our King.

MEET NORMA

(In several previous posts (here, and here) I mentioned that I have four goals in mind upon my retirement from the classroom.  One of those goals started coming to life last Friday afternoon.)

So . . .

Who's Norma, you ask?  Well, let me introduce you to her.  

I was told by a musician I know, that it's only right to name your instrument.  She looked like a Norma to me, so Norma she is!
Isn't she BEAUTIFUL?!?!

 We had our first little "chat" today.  She's a complicated girl and it's going to take a very long time before I know her well.  But, we'll be spending a little time together every day, probably in the mornings.  I've never met anyone like her.  We don't even speak the same language!

We have a lot of work to do.

So, when I need a break from projects, I'll be working on our "relationship"!

PROJECTS AHEAD

Back in November, I had a post on these 

way too expensive beautiful chairs from Horchow.  

Well.  

THEN, I came across this great bergere chair at Goodwill for a mere $9.99!  

Now, the time is right to work on the chair.  

I work best under pressure.  

We're having some friends over for dinner on Wednesday and 

it's my goal to finish these two projects by then.

In my ongoing plan to lighten up everything in the living room, the next few days will be devoted to working on the blue hutch-like piece in the back, and the Goodwill chair.  

  The bergere chair will be painted with Annie Sloan's Old White and then covered with a light colored linen.  My mission today is to find that fabric.  I'd like to use either an off-white or a very, very pale blue.  I'll have to see what I can find.  There probably used to be a back cushion to this chair - it's very deep.  So, I'll need to make one of those also.

The table/shelf/hutch will go from blue to just "Old White".  

I may get distracted with a few other things while working on these, 

but if I don't post for a couple days, you'll know why.  

I'll be working on these fun projects!

IN THE MOOD TO PAINT

After dipping a brush in the paint can for awhile yesterday (while painting my cupboard), I got in the mood to work on a painting for the living room. 

I LOVE GETTING THIS STUFF OUT!!!  

LOVE IT!

I know it's going to be a great day ahead when my paints, brushes, and a fresh canvas are sitting there, waiting.

Anyway.

Once the old cupboard left the room, I rearranged things a bit, and there was the perfect spot for a new painting.   I wanted to do a painting in the style of a French painter I like.   That style is very free-form, flowing, and impressionistic, with just the suggestion of flowers.  Mine is set against a meadowy and blue sky background, with pink and white flowers.  

First some close-ups of different sections of the painting, because you can't see the good stuff unless you get close!

 I used a palette knife for the majority of the painting.  I love the nubby texture here and there, and the faint whisks the palette knife leaves behind when you adjust the pressure.

And here it is, right where it belongs!  

Such a relaxing way to spend these beautiful, autumn afternoons!  A little music, some open windows, cool breezes, and my paints and brushes.  

PURE BLISS!

BEFORE AND AFTER CUPBOARD

Yesterday was a busy day.  I emptied this old cupboard out, scrubbed it down, and put a coat of "Old White" chalk paint on everything but the inset area of the doors.  I used a flat gray in that area.  Then I distressed it and used dark Minwax over the whole piece.

 The old cupboard doesn't fit together quite like she used to - I can relate!  It's a comfortable piece, easy-going, not at all pretentious . . . words that describe my favorite people!  

 I love the curves and the simple finish.  Some things get better with age!  :)

 And, yes, I did paint the inside!  

  

                           Before . . .                             . . . After

On to the next project of the day . . .

TIME FOR A CHANGE

Labor Day Weekend has come and gone.  Fall is in the air.  The temperature this morning is a crisp 48 degrees!  Nothing can make me want to change things around like the breezy and cool days of fall.  

The victim.

This is a cupboard I found in the garage in our first home - 22 years ago.  It was several shades of a unique color:   

Dusty Spider Web.

The shelves were filled with old dried up paint cans, nuts and bolts etc.  I remember shuddering when I put my hands inside to pull out the contents.  It is obviously a homemade piece and looked like something that had possibilities and certainly didn't deserve to be stuck in the corner of the garage.  

I love the curvy little detail on the top.

It had no base - just sat flat on the floor.  So I made this simple little base to give it a lift and look more like a piece of furniture than a cupboard that should be wall mounted.

 Since that day it has been barn red, green, and currently, it is hand painted with flowers that represent each month.  Do you ever have a piece of furniture that you look at every day, but you never really see?  I tried to look at this piece as a visitor might see it - and all that came to mind was furniture of the 80s.

 I used this book to find beautiful little watercolors as inspiration for the monthly flora and fauna.   I love this book.  It's a copy of a hand painted diary of this young wife in England, Edith Holden.  She was born in 1801 and was a British artist and teacher.  It was a gift from my mom, which makes it a real treasure.  (Thanks again, Mom!)

 Each month has about six pages of entries that show watercolors and descriptions of what could be found in nature.  

If she were alive today . . . she would have a blog!

Edith Holden

 I took parts of the book and copied them onto my found cupboard.

This last change for my cupboard was done about 12 years ago.  I'll keep the book forever.  But the paintings on the cupboard.  No.

It's time.  

So, this is my project for the day.  After painting it with Annie Sloan's Old White, it will change places with something in our bedroom.  More on THAT later . . . meanwhile, it's time to get out the drop cloth and paintbrush!  Photos tomorrow!

THE PERFECT FRENCH MACARON

There's been a lot of discussion lately, amongst certain bibliophiles in my life, about the difference between a "macaroon" and a "macaron".  Below, the traditional macaroon.

COCONUT MACAROON

"Macarons", on the other hand, are quite different.  First of all, you need to pronounce it correctly and you can learn that here.  According to the dictionary, macarons are a confectionary, characterized by a smooth, domed top, ruffled circumference (known as the "foot"), and flat base.  It is mildly moist, and easily melts in the mouth.  It is commonly filled with buttercream or ganache filling sandwiched between two of the cookies. 

So, here is a diagram of the perfect Macaron.  This just shows you that people take this little confectionary treat very seriously!  There are diagrams! 

So.

The Perfect Parisian Macaron.  

I'm following a recipe by Martha Stewart found here which calls for whipping the egg whites into stiff peaks.

 My macarons, waiting to get "dull" so they can go in the oven.

They have feet!

So, now for the filling.  I used this recipe for Chocolate Ganache filling.  

Now to complete the Parisian Macarons with their filling.

later . . . my so-so Macaron.