Sponsored

Hello darling! How have you been? I am thinking warmer weather and sunshine. I am guessing you are too. The HomeRight Electrolight Fire Starter was given to me to share my thoughts about this wonderful product. Of course my thoughts are my own but you can already see I loved the way the Electrolight Fire Starter  works.

One Room Challenge Week 4 Progress

    Week Four is here with a whirlwind of progress. I am feeling proud of last weekend's work and scared of time to finish in the next few weeks. Living in two places is a wonderful privilege my Prince Charming and I worked hard to make the dream of our lake house come true. Driving back and forth to complete the challenge is tough when we are still settling into our home. Tools are in the opposite house, there is an hour time difference, and we are only working together on the weekends. Whine, Whine, Whine! LOL! I am really enjoying the challenge but, life has obstacles for all of us. 

Vanity Bench Enhanced

 Darlins' this month has been c-r-a-z-y. I am proud to share a sponsored project with The Fab Flippin' Furniture Contest. Pure & Original USA was kind enough to provide the paint for this contest. Thank you to our kind hostesses for this month Carrie from Thirty Eighth Street & Stacy from Anastasia Vintage
 I chose one quart of Classico regular White Island and another of Blue Reef. Pure & Original describes the paint as a matte powdery look made with natural pigments. Just the finish I was looking for on my vanity bench at the Dragonfly Pad.(lake house)

Aren't the colors as just dreamy as the titles. The perfect selection to add this months  theme "Original Elegance" to my vanity bench.

The One Room Challenge Changes Week Three

 Darlins' I could use your help on this challenge. Does anyone have some spare time? Of course, I am just kidding but, they do call this a challenge for a reason.
Since we last talked I have been busy planning, re-thinking, traveling and photographing. Yes, I went there! The reality of why we need to finish the entry and fast.

Nautical Personalized Cooler

   Today I am showing a step by step directions to personalize a cooler.  I am participating in the September Silhouette Challenge which is Outdoors and a bonus of Green. Let's see How I cover those tasks with my project. We have all been to a soccer game with the other parents trying to figure out which pile belongs to our family. This will help keep you more organized on the treat days, sporting events, or even label the bag groceries to bring home your frozen foods. I use the cooler bag for the grocery store and a day on the boat at the lake. 

 I bought this bag last summer on clearance from JoAnn's Crafts Store. I love the color for my lake house. While I was working on this project my oldest son (A) commented on the colors of the cooler. He said teal and green are the themes of the lake house. I said those are the colors because they remind me of the beach. He said he liked it. Which is quite a compliment coming from an Architect and Mechanical Engineer with an eye for design!

Boys Dresser to Nautical Nod

This month the Fab Furniture Flippin Contest is titled the "Icing on the Cake". I choose to add some shine to our boys childhood dresser. The people great people at D.LawLess Hardware sponsored this contest. They graciously provided the hardware for my boys dresser to help this piece of furniture grow up. Now this Nautical Nod is fitting for my sons room at the lake house. 

As you can see here this dresser is tired. We bought this when our first son was born 29 years ago. Did I just say that out loud? Well! I was very Young. 

Thank you to our hosts this month

Michelle from Dandelion Patina is Rockin a Homework Room Cubby 

Evey from Sweet Song Bird Evey's CreationsIcing on the cake": August FFFC- Buffet and Upcycled Hall Tree 

Along with the creative team

Stacy from Anastasia Vintage 

Lynn from Fern Avenue

Charlotte from Ciburbanity

Carrie from Thirty Eighth Street

The Sponsor this month D. Lawless Hardware from Olney, IL

This post is sponsored, but all the opinions are my own.

 Artesia Knob-Sedona Bronze

                            L-P17020C-SBZ-C

Thank you for the lovely knobs chosen my son A. for the dresser from

 D. Lawless Hardware. I am very proud to have a great supportive company with superior products in the same state that I live. Illinois is certainly having a tough go of it right now. I appreciate the company for sticking with us during the hard times. 

Chest of Drawers Fab Furniture Flippin' Contest

     This month I am participating in the Fab Furniture Flippin' Contest. The sponsor is The Old Fashion Milk Paint Company based in Massachusetts making naturally safe historic paint since 1974. Thank you, OFMP for offering a discount to participants in the contest. All of the comments and opinions are my own and not influenced in any way. The Theme is Shabby Chic Storage this month. My eyes lit up with joy as the piece I chose is a chest of drawers that was in my family for years. It was white with pink handles while my sister and I shared a room.

Hosts

Sweet Song Bird Evey's Creations 

  Anastasia Vintage

Co-Hosts

Please click on the title link of our lovely Co-Host posts for this month. 

 Ciburbanity

SHABBY TO CHIC STORAGE WITH OLD FASHIONED MILK PAINT

Thirty Eighth Street

OFMP: The Marissa Dresser

Dandelion Patina 

Fern Avenue

The representative was wonderful explaining to me how to create the effect I wanted and what products to buy to produce the finish I desired. I called The Old Fashion Milk Company to ask two questions. My first question was how much paint do I need to paint the dresser? The answer is 12 oz. of the dry OFMP, and because the piece was already finished a bonding additive is needed for the first coat. When you make the paint you add water according to the included instructions. I found them easy to follow, but I was nervous to mix the paint. 

Pfff ...Easy Peasy!

 My brother painted this wood tone while he was using the chest of drawers. There were several layers of paint revealing the past of this hand me down furniture.

Plain Pots Turned To Pretty Planters

I am working on sprucing up my lake front this year after the dreaded Ash Bore took hold of our two Ash trees and now week have a naked waterfront. Not to embarrass the neighbors I decided to add some color to our seawall. Jeanette from +Snazzy Little Things - Vintage DIY & Decor Blog has been running a 30-day challenge. Terracotta Pots is the challenge for this month. Since the lake weather can be pretty harsh I opted for Terracotta AKA (Plastic Pots). 

Plastic pots do not look as lovely, but the will hold up better in our environment. Drop and Plop flowers from +The Home Depot 

I did purchase one more item or actually two decorative trellises for height from +Lowe's Home Improvement 

I found the rest of my supplies in my stash. 

FolkArt Patio Paint 3 colors

Paint brush 

Paper towel 

Plastic cup for water

Frozen Dinner tray (paint pallet)

Standing in My Shoes

  As I look in the mirror the reflection of a woman full of promise, hope, standing in my own beauty. I am proud, feel a sense of peace, knowing I am a still a work in progress. Today I am standing in my own shoes. Why is it important I am standing in my own shoes?
 After a simple accident at home followed by three surgeries in as many years. I worked with wonderful therapists who helped me retrain my nerve and brain to work after a fall. I am left with questions that have no answers from some of the lasting effects of this accident. Which I find extremely frustrating. In my living room a single high heel black shoe with sequins trim between the seam of heel and the shoe. I found the picture at +Home Goods and Decor on my way home from one of the many occupational and, physical therapy sessions during three years of rehabilitation.The print is out of the ordinary for my decor but it doesn't matter because it is a symbol of my strength, courage and determination it took me to battle back. The words in in the print are all encouraging to rise above and strive for the best.

Summer Patio Deal

    Whether it is in Michigan or Illinois, you bet I will be out looking for Summer patio deals. After all for us this is furniture that is only getting used part of the year. Now having two homes there are plenty of opportunities to add a bit of seating, tables for beverages, and cushions with pretty fabric too.

   Today, I definitely added to the patio pizazz, with a stop at +Pier 1 Imports, while my Prince Charming stopped at +Lowe's Home Improvement. He is doing a cool storage project in the garage. I  will write about his dazzling project when he completes it. I will also have an upcoming post on my +Pier 1 Imports shopping trip soon.

   Today I want to share a quick project with you that required no tools, is a great budget saver, and looks like an expensive piece of furniture.

   I was shopping at +Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores in Countryside, IL. Before the 4th of July during their Summer Clearance. Yes of course a 20% of all my purchase coupon was at the ready in my cellphone. I came across a plastic wicker planter for $19.99 reduce from $69.99. I was fast at grabbing that black brown weave, because a simple idea was brewing. As I walked up and down the aisles, trying to remember my list of "needed" items, I came to a tin serving tray with rope handles for $9.99. The plan was hatched, that tin tray practically leapt into my cart. All it needed was a ride to the lake for completion.  

  When you read my read my post "Favorite" Silhouette Challenge, you already saw the table. If you missed it click on the title to read about the topiary project I made.

   This is what the basket looked like when, 

I bought my steal of a deal

 

4th of July Round-Up

 I am honored to be a part of this 4th of July Round-Up 

with so many other talented artists.

 I designed and crafted my banner to decorate my fireplace on 4th of July.

My father served in the Army, Air Force and National Guard.

  I have family members who have served, or are serving the USA as of right now. Service  is a part of my family heritage. I am a proud American girl, who is grateful to each person and their families that has served our country, for our freedom.

  I dedicate my , "Made in America Banner"  as a tribute

 to all who have stood strong, beside the Good Old USA!

Celebrate the Birth of our Country Proud and Free!

Thank you for inviting me to your 4th of July Round-up.

I'm excited to have joined up, with some wonderful bloggers to present to you the perfect patriotic projects. Get those creative juices flowing just in time to celebrate our day of Independence!

Mod Podge Miracle

     If you have read my blog before you know our lake home is named Dragonfly. If you haven't read the story you might want to read here to catch-up. The first week we spent at the lake house was in middle of  Winter 2012. We had plenty to do with picking out what furniture should go where, selecting how we would use the space in the house and what priorities should be on the top of our list. Well of course, we all know that a girl must put her own touch on her home, with Prince Charming's approval. Tee Hee! Pier 1 Imports had a few items I was looking for, along with a coupon of course. So as any good husband would do, for his lady, off to the store we went, with coupon in hand. I found a beautiful dragonfly vase and bought two right away. One for my girlfriend whose Dad had passed away and one for the lake home. We saw a few other items we were interested in but wanted to be sure we would use them.
 By early Spring I was on a first name bases with the Manager of the store, at that time it was (Steve). We had become Platinum Members of the savings club. Our home was shaping up nicely. I bought another dragonfly vase for my girlfriends sister for a birthday gift. As luck would have it my darling guy had a little accident and broke it while transporting it. Oh well accidents happen so we bought another. Is there anything better then platinum is what your thinking right? Ok, now three girls, who love dragonflies, each have a vase! Success Right? For a while every thing was perfect in dragonfly world, until one fine Spring day I bought myself some flowers, stuck them proudly in the vase, sat back, and took in the view. Brilliant you might say but, when it came time to clean out the vase that yuck line, that you get from the water, would not budge. Since it did not say," Do Not Use Dishwasher", clearly that would work. CLEARLY it did because that is exactly how it came of the dishwasher. Clean and glistening with not a touch of color, or a thought of a dragonfly. I thought I couldn't fix the vase, so I left it sparkle, filled it with fake flowers and called it day. 
  I toyed around with the idea of painting it myself.  As you can see in the picture below my first attempt was not successful. I set the vase aside again, thinking about scraping off the painting I had started.

I found these napkins at Pier 1 Imports, on sale naturally. Bought +Mod Podge at +Joann Fabrics. I never used this product  before but, I figured it can't look any worse then it already turn out. 
 To make the napkins more sheer I took two white layers of paper off the napkin. This made only pattern translucent. I painted on the Mod Podge and then applied the napkin on top. I was surprised it dried faster then the directions explained. After placing the first napkin, I figured I would just place the next one, matching up the patterns similar to sewing. Nope, the patterns did not follow one another, so I had to tear and paste the pieces together matching each one. A few places just did not match so I used my creative license to make the pattern pleasant to your eyes. This is what it look like before I put the final coat of Mod Podge to seal the vase.

 Here is the vase in its current place in our Dragonfly Pad as we call it for blog. I am very pleased with the completed project. It does not look exactly like the original but, now I have a one of a kind vase that, I know Not To Wash It In The Dishwasher. 
 It sits atop an antique back bar from a lake home in Kansas City, MO. 
I love the red flowers, purple dragonflies and soft shades of green. There is also pink, white, lavender, yellow and deeper green flowers in 
the paper napkin pattern. I think it turned out beautiful, which is why I called it a miracle because, I thought I had melted my dragonfly vase. Who knew napkins with Mod Podge & gold paint could save my vase.

Stay warm and toasty while crafting your way through this Polar Vortex!

You have taken your time to view my blog. Please leave a comment so I can thank you personally. I would love to read your cleaning blunders show a girl some blog love.

Dragonfly Pad

Dragonfly Pad

I just started this post with the thought of a year in review to stay on trend. I kept starting it over, deleting,  rewriting, and changing the title, but this was what my heart wanted to share with you today.

 This is the first picture I posted and how my blog became Dragonfly & Lily Pads.

The Dragonfly
Once, in a little pond, in the muddy water under the lily pads,
there lived a little water beetle in a community of water
beetles.  They lived a simple and comfortable life in the pond
with few disturbances and interruptions.

Once in a while, sadness would come to the community when one of
their fellow beetles would climb the stem of a lily pad and
would never be seen again.  They knew when this happened; their
friend was dead, gone forever.

Then, one day, one little water beetle felt an irresistible urge
to climb up that stem.  However, he was determined that he would
not leave forever.  He would come back and tell his friends what
he had found at the top.

When he reached the top and climbed out of the water onto the
surface of the lily pad, he was so tired, and the sun felt so
warm, that he decided he must take a nap.  As he slept, his body
changed and when he woke up, he had turned into a beautiful
blue-tailed dragonfly with broad wings and a slender body
designed for flying.

So, fly he did!  And, as he soared he saw the beauty of a whole
new world and a far superior way of life to what he had never
known existed.

Then he remembered his beetle friends and how they were thinking
by now he was dead.  He wanted to go back to tell them, and
explain to them that he was now more alive than he had ever been
before.  His life had been fulfilled rather than ended.

But, his new body would not go down into the water.  He could
not get back to tell his friends the good news.  Then he
understood that their time would come, when they, too, would
know what he now knew.  So, he raised his wings and flew off
into his joyous new life!


~Author Unknown~

When we found our lake home in 2011. I sat in front of the house on the broken pier and felt at peace. There in front of me, on a warm late spring day danced dragonflies, and next to me, as you can see in the picture above, those lily pads.  
So our lake home, where we go to find peace, sometimes quiet, other times busy loud fun with family, and friends is our place. 

Cricket is Fishing while I work on planting flowers my chair is waiting for me to take a break!

 The house was named Dragonfly simply because, it is a symbol of loved ones who came before us, loved ones who are here with us, and helped us get to this point. Some day I will watch with glee, our loved ones who follow us in this home, of love, peace, joy, happiness, filled with memories made, happening ,and to come. 

Cricket and I taking a moment to enjoy my favorite place on the broken pier.
The pier was removed the next day to be replaced by a new seawall.



Yes you are correct if you are thinking that is part of the pier. The top picture is my son and husband taking apart the part of the pier that was not underwater. The bottom picture is the section of the pier that was below water for years. Did you know that wood underwater is preserved? So of course being the Creative person that I am, we certainly could not dump the good wood.
I have several different ideas of how I want to use the materials. This is going to be a project for the Spring. As of know I am thinking of a Secret Garden behind the house, but for know I am taking suggestions.
Please add your ideas in the comments.
When the project is decided I will let you in on the decision, plus you will be able to follow
along on the progress of the recycled pier project on the blog.

Happy New Year to each one of you who take the time to include me in your day by reading my posts.
Thank you to all the new people I have made connections with during this 2 1/2 Months of this new blog world.
 I plan on building friendships, networks, while continuing to learn, how to share my passion for all things creative with others.
I wish you all a Healthy, Happy, Prosperous 2014!