Shiny New Button

My blog has a button! Warmest thanks to my talented and very treasured husband for "spinning" my wacky assortment of “straw” into a sparkle-y widget. [See it at right & wait a second or three . . . ] But why a troll? Well, when I paint or sand in our dark, cavernous basement I often joke that I feel like a troll—toiling away under ground. Of course when I do these things in the daylight, I feel more like an elf!


BROTHERS GRIMM, Snow-White and Rose-Red
Chicago: Rand McNally, 1967. Color illustrations by Marjorie Cooper. Start-Right Elf Book.

Gifts

When my youngest son began kindergarten this year, I knew that suddenly some snippets of free time would become available to me. Time to myself during daylight hours; time I consider a gift. I carefully avoid using this “gift” to clean my house or run tedious errands. This is time to paint and sand, meet friends for treats, wander around Michaels; to discover the world of blogging! Blogging is new to me. I enjoy searching thoughts for information that is “blog-worthy” to post, taking photos, and clicking link upon link to find new blogs. My experience with fellow bloggers (bloggettes?) has been wonderful. Everyone is so sweet, encouraging, supportive and generous.

This post is to say thank you to anyone who has visited my site or is just finding it for the first time today.

In the midst of a sometimes harried or hectic day, how restorative it can be to find a new comment. I recently won a contest at the Cynthia’s Cottage Design blog. In addition to the lovely things that will arrive any day (pictured above), I am making a new friend. What a gift that is!

Snowflake Bazaar

On December 6, my sons' elementary school will hold its 13th Annual Snowflake Bazaar. The PTO-sponsored event will feature arts and crafts from local artisans. This year I will be one of them! I have been working like an elf on my "tinkering" in the small bits of time I can find (and loving every minute of it). My friend Shellie (by-a-thread) will be joining me with her beautifully sewn items. If you are local, come on by; if you aren't, please wish us luck! For a complete gallery of my items, please see my flickr account. This is a first-ever for me so any advice is welcome!

Easy as Pie

This is the pumpkin pie I recently made for my sons' school Election Day bake sale. I first saw a pie "decorated" like this in last year's Williams-Sonoma catalog and thought -- hey -- I can do this. It's actually very simple and takes no longer than making a pie normally would. While your one-crust pie is baking in the oven, cut shapes from a second crust with cookie cutters. Place your shapes onto a greased baking pan and lightly carve details on them. I like to sprinkle my finished shapes with a little cinnamon sugar.

Here are my tools: cookie cutters for making shapes, a toothpick and small knife for carving details into my cut-outs (veins on leaves, polka-dots on acorn caps). Cutting the shapes and then "drawing" on them is the best part of making this pie for me. I find it fun and relaxing. Once the pie is out of the oven and cooling, bake your cut-outs (keep at the same temp used for the pie) for about 5 minutes.

Let your cut-outs cool and then have fun embellishing your pie. Someday I may attempt the Williams-Sonoma recipe but for now, I like the simplicity of Libby's Famous Pumpkin Pie and a ready-made crust.

Vote 4 Vanity Results: Three-Way Tie

Thank you so much for your votes on my Vote 4 Vanity poll. I asked my fellow bloggers to vote for one of three paint choices (white, pale aqua, or both in stripes) to help me in deciding how to paint a dark wood vanity table (see 10/29: Decision '08). Well, the polls are closed and the final votes were divided equally into the three choices! I guess I'm on my own! (I'll keep you posted.)

Decision '08

This vanity table (thank you, Shellie) is about to get a cottage-style makeover. It is lightweight and has beautiful details.

Front-runner color choices are: white, pale aqua, or both in wide stripes. Please take my latest poll and cast your vote!

Following Up

Here is some follow-up to a couple of my recent posts. First, the three dark blue mirrors (10/20: Mirror, Mirror . . . Mirror) have lightened up a bit. As you can see, two have been painted pink, stenciled and slightly glittered. The other has been painted in layers, distressed, and can be used for notes or photos with the addition of two clothespins.

And what about the sign that I made as a gift and then couldn't part with? (10/16: Trash to Tinkered Treasure) Thank you to everyone who voted for me to keep it for myself. I was going to, too, but have decided that today I will surprise my friend with it. (Hope she likes it!)

Lost "Treasures"

Today I took a little roadtrip to Fairhaven, Massachusetts (about 38 miles from my home) to go to "vintage chic dècor shop" Enchanted Treasures. Turns out today was its Moving Sale and everything was 50% off. (Gasp!) The owner Roberta mentioned that after eight years she will now be selling from her online store only. Pictured are the beautiful pieces I purchased today at amazing prices. Visiting her store was always a treat. I'm sure I will visit her online store even more!