Inspired

So last night I was browsing through mini stuff on ebay and found some really cool Victorian room dividers. You know, the carved bits that go in corners and arches - openings that don't have doors. I bookmarked a couple and then this morning I was inspired. I remembered the wooden fan I bought while on vacation with hubby and figured out how to make my own carved dividers and corners. The Willowcrest with all its arches and open doorways was crying out for a little Victorian bling. Remember this house is a modern fixer upper owned by newlyweds, Bailey and Josh. They are keeping the Victorian flavor and we are assuming all of this fancy trim is original to the house. ;)

 This is the most elaborate one. It divides the foyer and the parlor.

 Just a hint in the corners of the doorway between the kitchen and parlor.

 Corner pieces in the larger archway between the kitchen and foyer.

I wanted trim across the top of the opening, too, but working around the stairs from only the bedroom side made that impossible. I was lucky to get the side pieces in.

So for the cost of a $2 fan I was able to add "bling" to all of the arches and doorways...and I still have a lot of fan pieces left. :)

I really need to finish the stones on Then Again but...

...I keep finding little 5-10 minute projects because that's all I've had time for lately.

 Last night's mini project was adding holly to the window boxes on Santa's Toy Workshop. I bought a roll of holly at Rau's Country Store in Frankenmuth, MI, when hubby and I spent a day there recently. I added three branches to each window box and a few branches to the planter on the step, too. Also new are the welcome sign at the top of the large window and the snowflake at the peak. I'd purchased a set of mini ornaments on clearance, planning to use them in the workshop and then promptly put them somewhere I'd forget about. Just found them on the shelf with my cookbooks. Not sure why I put them there...

If you enlarge the photo you may be able to see the tiny berries I added to the holly branches. I just used tiny dabs of red Gallery Glass paint so they would have dimension.

I still have a lot of the holly left. Next time the Claus's house comes down from the top of the bookshelf I will add some holly accents to that, too.

I guess this is my "Christmas in July" post. Christmas is my favorite holiday but I'm not ready to go there yet! Still enjoying the last days of summer. Have a wonderful day!

Quick time minis

 I haven't had much time to play but last night I did a couple of really quick projects.The back porch landscaping got some new floral bushes - 2 pink and a blue. I found some small floral picks at a garage sale. The clusters of flowers are shaped like mini bushes so I had to use them, right? I trimmed the pink ones so that they would fit in the narrow bed around the porch but I like the extra color they add.

The little girl doll was in the round robin swap box wearing just a pair of panties. I trimmed her hair (although there's a rewigging in her future because that is not a natural hair color, lol.) Then I dressed her in one of the dresses from the dolls I used for the elves in the toy shop. It was just a plain thing that begged to be dressed up. I added bits of paper doily trim and gave her a pair of shoes from the same source.She's carrying a basket of donuts because her mom owns the bakeshop and every morning the surrounding business owners get a free sample. Yum!

Well, I am off to church for worship service practice. Have a great evening/day wherever you are!

And the winner is...

By luck of the draw, Wendy wins the shabby bedroom set. Congratulations, Wendy! I think I still have your snail mail address from the Name the Dog contest. Your prize will be heading your way soon.

Thank you so much to all of you. I wish it was possible for everyone to win a prize. I am so thankful for each one of you. I've learned so much and made some lovely friends.

Wishing you all a blessed week!

Giveaway Drawing is on Sunday

Just a quick reminder that the drawing will be Sunday. Time is running out to enter!

Sorry for the lack of projects this week. The garden has taken precedence. So far, I've canned 51 pints of green beans and 16 pints of beets. And it is just getting started so don't be worried if I don't check in. I'm probably just buried under a pile of veggies in my kitchen. ;-)

Have a great weekend!

Giveaway Reminder

Just a quick note to remind my followers to entry the drawing for 400+ followers. Leave a comment here to enter. Good luck to all!

It's canning season again

Hi all. Sorry I've been away for a few days. The green beans are in season and I've been  picking, snapping, and canning like crazy. I'm hoping to get some time to finish up Then Again. All the exterior needs is the last wall stoned and the roof covered with "tar paper." I am using black sandpaper to resemble an asphalt roof. We all know the interior will never be completely finished but I want to get the building off my work table and move on to a new project. I've only got a month or so left of my summer break so I need to find some mini time soon!

Have a wonderful and blessed week!

400+ Follower Giveaway

 The giveaway prize is this bed and dresser set done in a well-worn, shabby, but feminine, style. Also included is a lamp with a stained glass lamp shade and a few bits of matching fabric and lace to make a simple window treatment to match.

A closer view of the details. The bed and lamp were made completely from scratch. The dresser is a repainted Dollar Tree dresser so the drawers do not open.

The rules are pretty simple.
1. You have to already be a follower. That means anyone past number 402 is ineligible for this one.
2. You have to leave a comment on this post in order to be entered in the drawing.
The winner will be drawn on Sunday, July 21.

Good luck!

Almost!

I've been working on the giveaway prize. Photos coming soon along with the "rules." So excited to have such great followers!

Woo Hoo!

I just checked in and I have 401 followers! I am so excited. It's time, then, for a giveaway to celebrate passing the 400 follower mark. Please check back for what the prize will be. I need to figure that out and then I will post the official giveaway instructions. Thank you so much for following my blog.