camp tinker: welcome!

Welcome to my new idea for summertime, Camp Tinker!



As you probably know, I enjoy putting a shabby-style spin on simple craft projects. This summer while between book deadlines, I thought my blog would be the perfect sunny location to try out some ideas.



I love camp art projects. Things made from the simplest of supplies and shortest of instructions! Most of these projects will be things you made yourself in elementary school -- but changed slightly to make them ... say, more palatable for grown-up tastes.



Camp Info
- All projects aim to be easy-peasy so that even those who believe they are not crafty (which I don't believe) will have fun
- All feedback on projects is very appreciated
- Please feel free to share completed projects on the Tinkered Treasures Facebook page
- Camp is in session, rain or shine
- Sunscreen is not needed, unless you are tinkering outdoors
- Be sure to have a snack

Sound fun? Hope so, Campers! Now, let's begin ...



Our first arts and crafts project will be to make a shell covered vessel.



Begin by covering a clean tin can with small shell macaroni. (In the photo I am using a painted can that didn't turn out quite right.) You may either make lines of glue and place shells one at a time or get all first-grade and cover the can with glue in sections, adding bunches of shells at once.



Whichever method you use to cover the can with shells, be sure to gently press the shells to the can occasionally to help them set, and for best results work with the can on its side.



Once the can is covered with shells and the glue has dried well (overnight?), apply a few coats of spray paint. Because I wanted my macaroni to resemble actual shells, I used white spray paint in semi-gloss. Once your vessel is coated as you like, let it dry completely.



Fill and display!
{True story: I have shown this to two people and both thought this was made of real shells}

I hope you enjoyed this first "meeting" of Camp Tinker!

xo
elyse

field trip

Over the weekend my sister Betsy and I met in Westport, CT for a GASPquest/GASPfest at the new location of Terrain, a home and garden extravaganza of a place that is big sister to Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters.



Just how big is this place? Well, for starters it has a cafe and restaurant. We were there for HOURS. Almost laughably, all I bought was a greeting card (true!) but I did bring back loads of inspiration pics as Terrain is blooming with inventive displays and ideas.

Ready, set, go ...



Twine in a can. Simple and clever utilitarian chic! Ah, the tinkering possibilities ...



Plants in pretty glasses



More proof that anything looks great in a jar (even with a dusty lid)



Wished Terrain's branded wood crates were for sale



Painted stripes make colorful picnic table runners



Pitched lattice for portable privacy (say that 3x fast!)



From nearby sibling, Anthropologie: Clever way to display a canvas



Suprise self-portrait!







Chair I talked myself out of buying ...





On my ride home I stopped at Ikea in New Haven ...



No Rory Gilmore sightings (tee hee) as I drove around Yale in search of Ikea but once there, I quickly filled my cart with rosy things from their NEW FLORAL LINES! Note the cute boxes of tissues!


Phew. Okay, now that all of that is out of my system it's back to writing for me for the next deadline!

Thank you for reading about my field trip. Any shopping field trips to share? Just post a link at my Tinkered Treasures page on Facebook!

xo
elyse

immediate inspiration

It happened again. A quiet opportunity presented itself to indulge in a magazine. I poured a cup of coffee, opened the windows, fluffed the couch pillows just-so and relaxed to enjoy my new issue of Country Living, British Edition.



A quick browse at the newsstand had let me know this issue would be fabulous! There I was -- all comfy, in the calm of a weekend morning -- and then SCREECH!



The feature Bring out the bunting! immediately sparked something. Up I sprang from my cozy nest of pillows and paper to get busy!



I gathered scraps of oilcloth and even a pretty market bag from TJ Maxx.


Fashioned a little template (like I did here) and got snippy!



Then brought out the bunting and festooned my beyond-shabby shed



and equally shabby adjacent wheelbarrow hideaway.



Then it was back to the magazine (and very cold coffee).



Or was it? :)



Not quite. It was online to PicMonkey to make a collage.


Currently between deadlines! Off to do some blog visiting! If I have been missing visiting your blog (repeatedly), my sincere apologies. Please leave a comment on my Tinkered Treasures Facebook page with a link to a recent post and I'll be sure to pop on over!

xo
elyse

PS
My little cape cod house is featured at Stacey's blog, A Sort of Fairytale / Blogger Home Tour Series. Click here to visit!

summer treasury

I don't think I've ever gone so long without posting on my blog. Like so many, I've been doing a bit of a juggling act lately -- and it's all good but it's busy. I was about to write an update on the progress of the book (brief details below instead) or how I'm overwhelmed about the school year coming to an end, but then decided to post about some recent "treats" and their accompanying rationales.



This lovely print by Janet Hill. Who can resist an inexpensive post card-sized print on canvas as delectable as this? Not me.



Pretty dress from Garnet Hill. Who can resist something in the color Lilac Dust when a coupon arrives in the mail?


Comfy shoes from Tom's. Who can resist shoes with a built-in rationale: With every pair of shoes purchased, Tom's gives a pair of shoes to a child in need. (And, they were on sale)


Who can resist a simple product that smells so mmmm ... beachy?



Who can resist 2 nested plastic market baskets from Target that make it a cinch to wash and display summer fruit? I LOVE summer fruit! (And of course, my good ol' faux cherry vase fillers from Target for after we've gobbled up all the blueberries and strawberries)



Who can resist anything by the fabulous Fifi? The images in this book are breathtaking. A perfect book for right-now when farmer's markets are bursting with fresh ingredients just waiting to become savory dishes!



My motto (Thank you to Koralee of Bluebird Notes for introducing me to this quote)

BOOK & WRITING UPDATE
Today I sent the final batch of projects to my publisher for styling and photography. Still more writing to do. Also, just wrote articles for Cottages & Bungalows and Romantic Prairie Style to publish in fall!

Okay! Blog post written and now it's time to do some visiting!

xo
elyse

PS
{This post is not a paid endorsement for any products mentioned}

mini milestones

Hello!

I am celebrating a mini milestone of completing the revisions of a second draft of text for the book before reviewing it again (and again?) and sending it off to my publisher (I still love saying that) for the next deadline. Each time I reach one of these mini-goals, I give myself a little break to visit a blog, scroll around Facebook, or grab a glass of fruit-flavored seltzer ... and, maybe a cookie or two ...

Most of the project-making is behind me. There will be 35 projects in all! Some will be familiar and some will be new but all will be very easy and very pretty!

How is it already May 15th?!

Okay ... back to work!

xo
elyse

girl and wallpaper reunite

 













It was back in 2010 that I posted: girl meets wallpaper a tale of GASPing over wallpaper in Romantic Homes, tracking it down, and using it here and there ... on a wall, framed as art and to cover the side of a small cabinet.

 













For a while now, I'd been thinking about using the left over scraps to line the insides of cabinets. The other afternoon while on a writing break, I needed a project to clear my head and out came the last rolled remnant!

 
















Without much planning (er, none) I peeled a first sheet of contact paper from a shelf and used it as my template to cut a piece of wallpaper to fit. Not even taking the time to grab the wallpaper paste from the basement, I zig-zagged a line of school glue, smeared it around with my hand (with a plastic lunch bag as a glove) and "installed" the wallpaper. I added spots of glue where needed and then rubbed the paper smooth with a dry paper towel.


















When I finished the first shelf I thought: Am I crazy? No planning, no measuring, no nothing? But, somehow it worked and so I continued and completed two more shelves until, alas there was not enough paper left. I pulled out some pretty shelf lining I had purchased at The Rose Victorian and used it to trim the top shelves. Again motivated by haste, I secured the lace paper with tape.















Even though I was only able to cover three shelves, it gives the kitchen the little boost I craved and might just make unloading the dishwasher a tiny bit more pleasant.

In book news: My first text deadline is complete! Thanks as always for your much-appreciated well-wishes and cheers!

In blogging news: It looks like Blogger has changed a bit and I have no idea how this post is going to look when published! Why so many constant online changes? LOL

Happy May!

xo
elyse