$2 Clock Made Vintage and New

Here is the newest installment of craftiness for the bedroom.  I had a $2 clock that I intended to do something fabulous with for Lylah's baby nursery.  I had seen a very cute clock by Land of Nod and wanted to try something like it, but then it flopped and I tried something else and I hated that too.  And so it sat in a wasteland of unfinished projects and scrawled on a "to do" list.  Skip ahead nearly 4 years and I have revamped it and LOVE it.

You may or may not recall that I have been asked by several older ladies if I wanted to go through their crafts stash/sewing stuff and take what I wanted because they were cleaning house and choosing not to craft anymore.  I, of course, jumped on the idea and MY craft stash is now crazy awesome with vintage trims, buttons, and general crafty goodness.  My total favorites are the tiny plastic deer from Glen's grandma.

Anywho, from one of my treasure hunts I recovered about 6 or 8 pieced and never finished quilt blocks.  I top stitched one of them and embroidered numbers around the edges.  I then affixed it to the clock face and glued the tips to the outside rim of the clock face.  I put the hands back on, made sure it worked, and popped the cover back on the top (with no small effort-these things are not really made to come apart.)  I love the look.  Sweet and vintage and Grandmother's Kitchen looking.  Perfect!!!

Here are a few shots of the clock.  They are as good as I could get.  I think I REALLY need to fix up a light box to get better shots---or read my camera manual.  The first is the recipient peering at her clock (she had to be in one.)

Oh the fun!!!  I will have more tomorrow or maybe Monday depending on how it all goes.  I am elbows deep in a floor mat play area for the doll house.   Listening to audio books while I work now.  LOVE it!!

Oh Mommy, There's a Graden On My Mirror

I have finished another element of Lylah's room.  I have had a brass mirror in her room, hung at her level, since she was about 12 months old.  I have always wanted to do something else with the frame and had something completely different in mind for the finished product.  But last week I changed my mind and was able to whip out the mirror in a few hours.

Before:  A nice Beveled Mirror ( uh...quite dirty too) with a dated brass frame.  From Grammy Jones' de-stashing efforts a few years back.

Lylah peeking at herself in the Garden Mirror. To the mirror I added a topper made of left over mat board and covered the brass frame and the topper with a velveteen-ish material. I then made two different sized mushrooms out of felt and attached them with a few blades of felt grass.  I then made flowers out of a million buttons in varied sizes and colors backing them with felt (or not) and topping them with sequins (or not).  I attached everything (including many felt leaves) with hot glue.  And Ta Da!

She wanted to make sure I got her new-from-Grammy-Blazer- Strawberry- Shortcake- Purse in the shot.  You can also see the little felt mushrooms at the bottom.

I thought I better add this picture although it does not show much new of the mirror.  It is a typical and silly face I see all the time from Lylah.  Her fake smile.  See our wedding photos for the originator (Daddy) of the fake smile.

Here is a close up of the button flowers.  It was very fun to make and I only burnt myself 300 times.  I listened to Peter Pan on CD read by Jim Dale.  He is outstanding and he does great voices.  I recommend Peter Pan to any reader.  Oh the whimsy and fun and a rollicking good tale to boot!

Well there you have it.  One  forest themed/ garden themed mirror redo.  I have more to show tomorrow too.  I'm on a roll!

The Bunny Hoop

Well it has been a while again and I have a very good reason.  I have been as busy as a bee or a beaver (whichever you prefer).  We have completed a MAJOR renovation in Lylah's room and I have also done several crafty projects related to that.  Oh, yeah, and we have all been sick with colds followed by the flu followed by another cold (followed by an ear infection for Lylah).  So,needless to say, we have been a little out of commission.

But enough of the sob story....I am currently off work for the 3rd day in a row for snow and ice.  A 3 day paid vacation on the heels of a big room redo makes me happy.  We never lost power and we had plenty of groceries and time for art and decorating.  Lylah has been quite the artist.  She has been painting and drawing all day.  Her pictures are getting recognizable and pretty well done (if I do say so myself).  I think she got the artist gene YIPPEE!

I thought I would show you a sneak peek of the bedroom but mostly a little bunny hoop.

Here is the bunny hoop.  The bunny cross stitch has been in the family since the 80's.  I have always Loved it and my mom lovingly gave it to me several months ago.  I intended it to be in Mae's room along with a couple of other things, but I revamped it and made it over for Lylah's room instead.  I adore it even more now.  For me it has so much history.  I bought the buttons I used for the flowers after Anna passed away and have been intending to use them for a remembrance for her.  The bunnies I intended for Mae's room.  So the two of them together seems appropriate.  The cross stitch was in a lovely 80's DUSTY ROSE frame and mat.  So I took it out and put it into the trendy hoop.  I then added the button flowers and I completely adore the whole thing.  I mean I ADORE it.  it might be my favorite thing I have ever revamped/made.  Family history, personal history and a lovely addition to Lylah's new big girl room...love it !!

OK now for the sneak peek...

Lylah in her big girl bed.

Lylah standing by her book rails.   More to come soon.

Coming Soon

I have a list of project to accomplish.  I will give you a few sneak peeks of some befores.  I am even thinking of possibly showing you my pit of a craft room.  Don't hold your breath on that one though.  I am too ashamed of the mess right now.  I know everyone's craft room is a mess at times...but you have NO IDEA.  Maybe if I play it so much as a horror, then you will say it's not so bad IF you see it.  But then again you may say, "Whew!  She wasn't joking about the pit." I'm stil thinking.  But the craft room is a biggie I am working on.  

I will show you one project I am pretty excited about.

 

Here is Lylah's big girl bed.  

 

Here is a close up of the headboard.

I saw it at an antique mall in town and mentioned to Glen's parents that I thought this might just be the bed I was looking for.  They said they would help us out with it, but then Grandpa changed his mind and bought it for us.  You will have to see the previous post about Lylah and the grandparents.  She would have the world if our parents could somehow get it for her.  We are very thankful.  It will be so pretty.  

I could not get a really good picture because it's very late and we have only "mood lighting" around here (and my flash is crazy).  But if I had a better picture to show you, you would see that the finish is not so stellar and is a little streaked and glopy.  But the bed is VERY solid and very sturdy with wooden side rails, high headboard, and low footboard.  I love the carving and I think it will be darling in white..or maybe pink or yellow.  I will say white will win, but you never can tell.

So there you have the before pictures.  The after pictures will include fun sheets, mommy-made bed spread and pillows, and a grown up preschool bedroom with a retro feel.  My goal is to have it done by her birthday.  She is fine in the crib, but by three she should be in a big bed, I guess.  

It will be fun and I am dreaming of her new space every waking moment.  I am obsessed.  Can't help it.

Now I feel like I better make a list and sketch some stuff.  If the mood strikes, I gotta go with it.