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Thursday, July 30, 2009

A Few Finds, Furniture, and a Face Lift Update.....

"It takes hands to build a house, but only hearts can build a home."
~Author Unknown~
Yesterday I had to run away from home for a little while to keep my sanity from all the sawing, hammering, ripping out, putting back, and mostly from the MESS! I called my friend Sweet P. totally prepared to bribe her with brownies, homemade no less, to let me come over for a while but she didn't answer. I was even ready to throw in vanilla ice cream, fudge sauce, AND nut topping just to escape, not that she needed bribing but a treat is twice as nice when shared with a special friend.I have to say that were she home and had I brought along a savory treat I would not have eaten even one bite, no way, no how. First, because I don't like chocolate and secondly because I had Gorgeous Grandson over the weekend. He kept running up to me and throwing his arms around my hips hugging me, he is only hip high after all, gazing up at me with his big blues eyes, smiling with his crooked grin, and saying, "Hi pumpkin." Now, I wasn't sure if he was just repeating a term of endearment I use with him or if he was referring to my nether regions! In any case I'd best not take any chances, so no sweets will be slipping trough these lips and adding to those hips!Today I am hiding out in the studio. See that lump behind the curtain? That is not Gorgeous Grandson playing peek-a-boo, it is me cowering in the closet trying to block out the screams. Right now there is a big muddy booted man sloshing in and out of my front door. I hear each squishing menacing step as he nears my bedroom door and then the screaming begins as every carpet fiber writhes in agony as mud is ground into it. Oh, wait a minute, I thought that scream was familiar, that wasn't the carpet, that was me.I cover my ears to block out the scratchy sound of wires being pulled through the walls. It sounds like the feet of a million little mice scurrying. The high pitched whine of the table saw and the thumps, bumps, and bangs coming from all directions has me surrounded and mostly I am sitting here thinking of the MESS.
The rhythmic pounding of the front steps being removed sounds like a heart beat. It really is a labor of love as Handy Hubby gives blood (there was a smashed finger!), sweat (the humidity is killer this week!), and tears (we laughed so hard we cried over the wasp incident!) to make our home not only beautiful but easier to maintain. I will cheerfully cook, clean, and be an extra set of helping hands when needed. So, if you wonder how the face lift here at the Quill is going, my house has never looked uglier or been dirtier! For someone who is a bit OCD in the clean and organized department this is making me nuts.As I said at the beginning of the post I did escape for a little while yesterday. I went to pick up an old chest Handy Hubby and I had seen that we thought might actually suit both of us. You might remember when we went to pick out an ottoman together and never came to an agreement. We both agree that this antique cedar chest on casters fits the space perfectly. We both love the rich tones of the wood, the fact that it can easily be moved, has storage, and is sturdy. I also picked up an inexpensive rug to use under the chest so the casters won't scratch the floors. Hmmm., perhaps I should have straightened up those sofa cushions before snapping that photo, too much trouble to retake and up load, what you see is what you get!Best of all I stopped at The Mall! Now don't be mistaken, this is not your typical clothing and shoe store kind of mall. It is a huge antique/flea market that you could spend days browsing in. I have a few occasions coming up in which I need gifts for and I love to find unusual items to present them in.

I found this darling little basket...
An old hat covered in roses with yummy velvet ribbon trim...And an old purse, all of the items were only a couple of dollars each.Then there were three items that I bought for nostalgia. A Big Chief Writing Tablet, I used these in school when I was a little girl. If you had your cigar box full of pencils, scissor, and crayons and your Big Chief writing tablet you were set!Two Christmas Elves,(fifty cents each), who can resist these two cuties? My paternal grandmother had a collection of these and I have such fond memories of decorating and playing with them. The sight of them makes me smell frosted sprinkled sugar cookies which we always baked at Christmas.

I feel an art project coming on with these next items! A couple of Art Deco switch plate covers for a dollar each...
A tarnished fifty cent frame, perfect for a collage...A darling little fifty cent hand painted black lacquer set of drawers that remind me of my mothers jewelry box...A tarnished sugar scoop...I have a couple more of these, I don't think they were in the photos of my studio though. I have ordered some German glass glitter and I want to use the scoops for holding the glitter while I am working. The scoop will make for easy sprinkling and it is just something pretty to use to boot.

Lastly, I found some rolls of old wall paper...
Are they not pretty? Wait, what did that sticker say? FREE, seriously, for free! I admit I was greedy, I snapped them all up. However, I do plan to share, I won't keep it all to myself.

That kind of catches you up on the happenings here at the Quill. I hope you are all having a wonderful week, it is time for me to come out of the closet and return to clean up duty!

Blessings,
Miss Sandy

P.S. If you are wondering about the unrelated photos in this post, well, I just needed a little bit of pretty to soothe my frazzled nerves!

18 comments:

Myrnie said...

You poor thing! I hope the work results in everything you've hoped and that life gets back to normal soon!

Anonymous said...

I've endured similar torture!!! A bit of a neat freak, it looked like an earthquake hit our front porch this time last year. Finally, the debris was hauled off and we can actually enjoy the porch once more! I've learned there's a product made for every kind of dirt there is!!!
I love all your antique finds. The hat is so much like what the ladies used to wear to church and the silver scoop is a brilliant idea. Can't wait to see all the changes!

Barbara H. said...

I can only imagine. My nerves would be frayed, too. But you tell it in such a charming way!

Those are some wonderful finds!

Anonymous said...

Did enjoy the extra pretties. A couple of those flowers pics were amazing. I know its rough, but what fun to sit back and admire when finished. Blessings
QMM

Vee said...

Hang tough! The results will be so worth it. And I hope you'll share. I love the new chest and am glad that you and your beloved agreed on that one. As for little grandson...how cute! I'd love to be called a pumpkin or, in my case, a cumpkin.

David said...

Wonderful flower pics! I especially love the one with the purple center on the solid green background! Awesome!

Susie said...

You don't like chocolate? Oh my goodness, I wish I didn't!

You got some great finds at your flea market. I definitely remember those Big Chief tablets. Remember those fat pencils?

Beth Leintz said...

Wow- the prices at your antique mall are really like going back in time- you got some great stuff- and who can say no to free wallpaper. The Big Chief tablet made me smile- I remember getting a fresh one every Sep to start the new school year.

The Feathered Nest said...

I love all of your goodies sweet friend!!! And you just crack me up talking about the guy grinding the dirt into your carpet...and I'm sure he didn't have a clue he was!! Hopefully all of the chaos will be worth it in the end and you will have something wonderful to enjoy! And that free wallpaper...how amazing is that?! I know you will make something wonderful from it ~ hugs and love, Dawn

Anonymous said...

Sometimes a break does really good things for the soul! Hope you are able to relax a bit these days and find some peace...

Your flower photos were amazing. I would love those growing in my garden! Thanks for sharing your lovely post.

Best,
Debbykay at Rose Cottage Gardens and Farm

Sandy said...

Debbykay,

Thank you for visiting and commenting on the flower photos. Some of those I took and some my daughter took either here or at my grandmothers home.

cindy-stitches-n-stuff.blogspot.com said...

What a lovely blog. You have such a cool husband -- to be able to do that work around the house. It's going to be nice when it's finished. I'm sorry your friend wasn't there when you wanted to excape, but I'm glad that antic mall was. Oh -- I loved how you showed those beautiful, peaceful flowers during your hecktic tale. It sure put caos in perspective.

cindy-stitches-n-stuff.blogspot.com

LiLi M. said...

Hello Miss Sandy,
I do hope your nerves don't get too tattered from reconstructing. As long as you can visit these kind of malls to escape and buy these kind of lovelies, or even get them for free, I don't think you are allowed to complain! Only joking! I know too well that building in the house can easily lead to a nervous brake down. Good that you escaped the place to a far more better. I hope you have a nice weekend!

Decor To Adore said...

Oh we are rowing the same boat! The Fashionista is getting ready to move out and there are boxes everywhere and I am sewing drapes for her and and and BLAH! My OCD is overwhelmed.
Praise Jesus that Sweet Boy begins 2nd grade on Monday. :)

Come by and enter my vintage trim GIVEAWAY.

Jodie (everything vintage) said...

Hi Miss Sandy!
I'm still enjoying your creative space! Little did I know that you posted some MORE about it so I had to scroll down and be nosey and look at all the little details...again! I love how you store your fun stuff and you make it so pretty too!
As for you describing this remodling process, I couldn't help but laugh as you made it so funny. You hiding behind the curtain was hilarious! I don't mean to laugh because I'd be crying if they were walking on my carpet with muddy shoes. Well, actually in all reality, they would be dead if they did that!
You found some wonderful things while you were out shopping! I love the velvet trimmed hat and that sugar shaker is a wonderful idea for your glass glitter. You are so good girl!
Now you have more stuff to play with so get out of the closet, turn your music on loud and create!
oh...ain't it wonderful how pretty flowers can mask ANYTHING???? ;)
everything vintage

Lynnae said...

Love the elves. those bring back memories to me too.

Tamara Jansen said...

Here's hoping your reno is over soon :)

Susan Graham said...

Beautifully done! Thanks for sharing how you did it. So lovely I'm sure your guest will love it. My personal favorite is the addition of the ornaments. Thanks for posting.

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