One Brave Little Bird

Lilly and I went to the beach for my birthday.  Instead of the usual seashell collecting she decided to share her peanuts with a bird.  He looked like he had sprained his wing as he was tucking it in and higher then the other.  He was a fighter when the others came in and almost ate out of Lilly's hand.  I made her throw it on the ground to be safe.  In the end there must have been fifty birds on the beach in front of us since we were the only ones out there with food.  It felt a little like Alfred Hitchcock's, The Birds.

Quote Wall

Our quote wall was a family project.  Bryan not only picked a few but he made a couple too!  

It was simple, inexpensive and fun.  One style is done by using stickers and painting over then removing the stickers once dry.  The ones that look like water colors are written with Elmer's glue then painted over.  The Elmer's glue softens when you apply the acrylic paint so you have to be careful.  Some these are difficult to read but they look beautiful.

Our quotes ---

"Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken." - Fight Club

"We are all just stories in the end." - pinterest.com

"Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring." - Marilyn Monroe

"Mucho, mucho." - it's a family thing

"Wanderlust... A desire to travel and search for ones own existence.  Relentlessly craving." - pinterest.com

"And she called out a warning, 'Don't ever let life pass you by.'" - Incubus

"Its such a waste to be wasted in the first place." - Red Hot Chili Peppers

"Collect moments not things." - pinterest.com

"If you have a milkshake and I have a milkshake.  And I have a straw... See and my straw reaches across the room and starts to drink your milkshake.  I drink your milkshake!" - There Will be Blood (Bryan's favorite)

Ch ch ch changes!

It's been a while since I've blogged.  I'm sure no one's really missed it.  I'm aware that it's more of a personal tool for me to keep motivated and involved in the creative world.

We've made a lot of changes and we're finally settled in our new apartment.  I'm excited to really get down to business with decorating.  A couple of projects I have to tackle are our master bedroom, recovering our couches instead of replacing them, and our patio.  Yay for plants!  Plus I have a few small projects here and there.  My plan is to have everything the way I want it for when we relocate again.  I like taking away all the guess work and getting settled fast.

I'm also doing some research for a friend of mine for a special project involving Mars.  I'm pretty pumped about the images I've found for prototype spacesuits.  Anyway I have so many ideas and plans that I need to make a list of goals so I can accomplish everything!

Here some images of things I've been up to over the past few months.

Our dining area with the finished chairs and white table.  I think it needs faux chandelier to add some more definition to the space. 

There are some really great designs coming out for Martian exploration.  Because of the dust storms, the best designs are brightly colored so the suit can be spotted.   I love all the black lines on this one.  Although I'm not sure if they'll appear on the exterior in the final product.

/

Even cold days at the beach are better then no days at the beach.

So things haven't been to exciting in our new place but they should pick up here soon.

Thrifty Finds!

I recently went thrifting with my good friend Kali.  We checked out the going of business sale at Gub Gub's Ice Cream and Coffee Shop as well as the Goodwill in Richmond Hill, GA.  Here are a few of the treasures I came home with.

I'm so excited to add this to my accessories for our new apartment.  Whether I'll use it as a candle holder or a place to put our keys I'm not sure but the possibilities are endless.    

I've wanted nude pumps forever.  These were a steal at $5.50!  Great condition too. 

This treasure is vintage beer tray.  I've thought about selling it but for now it will live on my newly painted coffee table because I have fallen in love with it.

This is the one item I purchased from Gub Gub's going of business sale.  I plan on using this display case as a jewelry box.  

The only thing that I purchased that isn't posted is a picture frame.  Its a really good quality frame but I plan on painting it.  I'll try to remember to take before and after pics.  The jewelry box is also getting a makeover!

Happy thrifting!  Reuse and Recycle!

Feeling Inspirational

I have all this inspirational energy lately.  I'm looking up quotes and I have this need to go thrifting.  Of course Lilly is not the easiest person to take thrifting so I need a sitter or a very kind and patient store owner.  Also breakables and valuables need to be out of reach.

The following is a picture I took at Tybee Island the other day of this tiny little crab.  He/She was cute also kinda spider-like.  Does anyone know what kind of crab it is?  Anyway I thought the quote I added to the image was fitting.  I may sell this on my esty page.  :)

Also I can't get enough of Keiko Lynn lately.

http://www.keikolynn.com/

 

Reuse and Restore!

In college my mother gave me an antique table, with a matching set of chairs, that she no longer wanted.  She has always shopped estate sales and auctions to outfit her home.  I love the pieces she's collected over the years.  Her style tends be traditional while I on the other hand swing to the eclectic/funky side.  I love traditional lines as a base because you can always add some fun with color.  I would love to reupholster our couches.  Given how long I've taken to refinish a table and a few chairs, I'll have to convince my husband its a good idea.  Anyway, in college my mother told me I was only borrowing the table so I wouldn't do anything crazy to it.  Now, after about 6 years, its officially mine.  So... I've painted the table white and the following is what I've done with the chairs.

- Before -   

The beautiful handmade cushions were being destroyed by Lilly.

- After -

The color I chose was called Medieval Blue.

I removed the needle point and all the cushioning.  I thought the raw wood in contrast with the blue was striking.  I applied a few coats of polyurethane to protect the raw wood.  Plus its now easier to clean!  I can now buy removable cushions and change up the style whenever I feel like it. 

- As for the handmade vintage needle point cushions -

They clean up nicely.  I plan on framing them because they are a wonderful testament to someone's talent and patience.  Therefore they deserve to be on a wall not somewhere you rest your backside.

Lilly's Photo-shoot Out-takes

Taking pictures of Lilly for my Etsy site wasn't easy.  Here are just a few of her out-takes. 

Pretty picture but wrong side.

At one point she had to drive the car.

Running from mommy.

Running from mommy.

And again running from mommy.

Look she got away.

Oh well.