tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18901880818141014162026-01-23T00:39:33.784-08:00Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1890188081814101416.post-91988534251588895262016-04-07T10:36:00.001-07:002016-04-07T11:07:58.171-07:00

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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1890188081814101416.post-34381577321626676642015-06-26T11:33:00.003-07:002016-04-22T17:23:04.037-07:00

A painting/illustration  I finished of my mother. She's ninety years young now. This was done by Photo Shop from scratch. My mom never had that dress, never posed for this photo.  The second is a photo of a painting of my grandmother, in oils.  I love them both -- prolly cause I love my g'ma and my mom so much. Both are strong likenesses and I can't really say one was "easier"

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1890188081814101416.post-46313181637894860092014-12-03T10:25:00.000-08:002015-06-23T11:36:46.019-07:00

Subscribe in a reader     I've been having great fun with old wooden trays my hubby found. These were originally used for some sort of industrial storage purpose, maybe a product or a tool. He found stacks of them and then didn't have a clue what to do with them.  I cleaned them up, removed all but one divider, hit them lightly with sandpaper and then added color/paint

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1890188081814101416.post-42373870723391961772011-11-30T19:16:00.000-08:002013-07-09T20:28:12.398-07:00

How I ended up a mompreneur before it was cool: In the early seventies, my husband opened a retail floor covering store and stationed me on the front desk. I was miserable. Bored to tears, I started playing with some of the scraps of carpet in my spare time and "The Hooked LOOK" was born. My crafty escapism started off with simple designs as this little cover reveals; and grew to impressive

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1890188081814101416.post-12980391199263706782011-11-24T11:16:00.000-08:002011-12-14T21:01:35.616-08:00

Painting furniture, or something that will serve as furniture is so much fun. Above is one project - from my husband's shed. I'm not sure what to call it - a steamer trunk? a huge suitcase? but I do know it has loads of style. I especially love the four bamboo bands that surround it. (Click to enlarge and you can see those bamboo bands better) I hope you can see that the corners are heavily

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1890188081814101416.post-51140530516011151122011-11-15T09:32:00.000-08:002012-11-18T11:46:59.627-08:00

Dallas is a high crime area. Not only do women take self-defense courses, women try to remain always vigilant, always cautious. So what does it take to make women throw caution to the wind and forget everything they ever learned about personal safety?  Check this story out: I recently heard the very best line ever! It had me dopey for hours - and then I told my husband. Here's what

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1890188081814101416.post-71061443216916749402011-10-20T20:03:00.000-07:002011-12-14T17:26:17.779-08:00

It's a gorgeous weekend here in Dallas. I hope everyone is enjoying this kind of weather. It fills me with energy. My dear husband is off to Canton First Monday. I hope he does really well there. I would ask him to take photos for us all (me too); however, he never has time. And that's a good thing because it means that he is selling. For him, selling means more money to use to hunt and find

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1890188081814101416.post-73294197570154372602009-05-17T13:07:00.000-07:002009-08-08T18:03:27.374-07:00

About nine months ago, I realized our old leather chairwas on the way to the curb unless a major miracle could save it. Isure hated to give that chair up. But like me, it was reallyshowing its age; all those years of kids tumbling over theback and sitting three to the seat reading or watching TV together.With nothing to lose, I borrowed my hubby's sander( I could have used plain fine grit sand

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1890188081814101416.post-10154384334685335022009-05-17T12:19:00.000-07:002009-05-17T12:50:01.779-07:00

by DevoniaCreating the above layout was such fun - like going shopping without spending a dime. Polyvore.com makes it possible to go shopping all over the web, import your own photos or photos you find online by doing a search right there and then , after which you can move it all around until you have something you love. I had painted the portrait of my grandmother and I wanted to see what

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1890188081814101416.post-24241177068853455812009-04-01T08:55:00.000-07:002012-07-29T14:41:02.840-07:00

I've recently completed the painting, above, of my deceased grandmother. It's a gift for my grandmother's daughter, my mother. I hope she will be pleased with it. I'm delivering this large painting, about 29x32, this weekend to hang above the hutch in the dining room of her new apartment. While I was painting, I kept thinking what a remarkable woman my grandmother was. I would guess that

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1890188081814101416.post-69354792897894837132008-11-19T19:43:00.000-08:002008-11-25T06:58:27.761-08:00

Confetti Scissors? I love these! Available at the Container Store (and coming to a Michael's near me, soon, I hope!) Wall Street Journal Market Watch: Princess is the Crowning Style in Japan Fashion ~ Marie Antoinette~ Roses, Frou-frou, Fifi, & More! You gotta see this video~Kale? Twinkling Topiaries Suspended for Christmas I've always loved kale; but I've never thought of hanging it. Makes

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1890188081814101416.post-1092970032270231492008-10-23T10:41:00.000-07:002008-10-23T10:42:28.136-07:00

I designed this card to use for a pre-block party planning get-together. I think it might work for any Halloween get-together. Have fun with it!If you would like to create your own cards from this design:1. Copy and save the two designs, primary and hat.2. Size and print the design on plain typing paper (as I did) or white cardstock.3. Insert a sheet of bright orange paper. 4. Fold and trim

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1890188081814101416.post-85164325454749482302008-10-04T09:36:00.000-07:002008-10-05T07:54:43.545-07:00

I designed patterns for years and years for the arts and crafts industry. I tried hard to create versatile patterns, patterns I loved myself. The best part about creating the patterns was hearing from customers how much they enjoyed them; whether for gifts or for creating things they could sell at craft fairs, or just for their own home and personal use.I've been working on some patterns to

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1890188081814101416.post-48925172209398314382008-09-10T22:57:00.000-07:002016-02-08T13:34:38.379-08:00

This holiday season my wineglasses are going to wear their coasters on their feet - no more nasty tabletop circles for me. These wearable coasters can be made from recycled holiday greeting cards, comic strips, newspapers, old cds, gift wrapping or even plain brown paper. The coasters are a fun, rewarding project - pretty and practical for your holiday entertaining. In fact, relying

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1890188081814101416.post-19409974545874573702008-08-31T11:29:00.000-07:002008-10-03T23:19:33.702-07:00

Do you have a great family photo that you would love to turn into a huge personal painting for your home? Maybe that super shot of your hubby breaking the finish line in first place in the marathon, or granddad hammering together a wood rocking horse, or even a family shot eating hot dogs that you just love? Could be your rec room would be the perfect place for paintings of your

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1890188081814101416.post-36177883993402253002008-07-25T20:26:00.000-07:002008-10-03T23:22:29.458-07:00

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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1890188081814101416.post-6206249186762536662008-07-23T11:11:00.000-07:002008-10-03T23:24:33.257-07:00

Click on Photo to EnlargeFor years, as much as I wanted to open the blinds to my sliding glass door and let the beauty of morning light fill the room, I didn't. And I didn't, primarily, because though the back yard was a wonder in the morning with filtered sunlight through the trees and birds that I wanted to watch - it also offered a straight view, from the alley, right to the table where I was

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1890188081814101416.post-26803466970451847542008-07-23T06:05:00.001-07:002008-10-03T23:23:06.270-07:00

This is another vintage desk I refinished. I stripped, sanded, then painted this in flat black and softly sanded away to accent it. Black makes a statement, doesn't it?It's fun to create displays - the turned wood pen was a Christmas gift from my eldest son. He turned it, my sweet dil did the intricate sanding and I get to use it! I loved using it in this photo. You can click on the photo to

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1890188081814101416.post-15301992035202880452008-07-22T10:02:00.001-07:002008-10-03T23:23:44.678-07:00

Click on Photo To Enlarge:I've been working feverishly trying to nail down a finish that would work for my coffee table and several other pieces; I wanted it to be a finish I could live with for a long time. Unhappy with my results- I started over so often - I was ready to pull my hair out. When I thought I had "hit" it, I did several pieces (that were all in dark stained fruit wood finishes)

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1890188081814101416.post-16545850098160739112008-07-15T18:08:00.000-07:002008-10-03T23:25:22.459-07:00

My beloved, Mr. Many Shades of Shabby, is rabid about finding good stuff at good buys. He hunts out the best estate, garage, church and yard sales and eats, drinks, and sleeps - treasure hunting. He starts early and stays late; he believes fervently in all of those old adages about the early bird and snoozing and losing. Today, he was sound asleep on the sofa in front of the television, when

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1890188081814101416.post-67989983599515242702008-07-13T08:24:00.000-07:002008-10-03T23:26:17.668-07:00

WIth the help of a free online video, I decided in early May, that I could recover my sofa.How it started: After a flurry of spring cleaning, my sofa, with its sad, worn, age soiled upholstery stood out like the elephant in the room. We either needed to replace the ugly-but-comfy sofa or cover it with something, anything! more permanent than layered sheets. About that time I happened upon a

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1890188081814101416.post-85417936498483162132008-07-09T07:12:00.000-07:002008-07-14T21:01:45.388-07:00

Click & Taste PhotoYou're running on empty, your body needs fuel - immediately if not sooner; however, a deadline is pushing you to the limit. A quick sugar-fix is instinctive and you know it will give you the surge you need to keep going. There's the leftover homemade banana pudding in the frig, just a quick bowl, add a shot of caffeine and you're good for another three hours.So, do you

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1890188081814101416.post-32735988895594100312008-05-21T11:29:00.000-07:002008-05-22T17:20:51.013-07:00

(Click on Photos to Enlarge)I thought it might be fun to walk through the steps that turning a found piece into treasure involve for me..I started with a nice, sturdy antique/vintage half-moon table with good lines. I was immediately taken with the details on the legs - and the curvy, feminine shape. Still it wasn't a table that worked everywhere or that lended itself to many uses.After

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1890188081814101416.post-76192094388964870132008-04-25T11:10:00.000-07:002008-10-10T18:18:11.919-07:00

A spring wreath, made of an assortment of loose flowers, is soooo fabulous, so wonderful, soooooo colorful that it takes your breath. After watching this step-by-step video by Mark Ballard, you'll be as convinced as I that you can make it for pennies on the dollars. More than that, you won't be able to wait to try it. Trust me on this, there's none online better.From Mark, (Thanks Mark!) you'll

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1890188081814101416.post-16357283109113226102008-04-18T18:43:00.000-07:002008-10-04T15:55:48.973-07:00

Recently, I used an old crystal doorknob for a stopper for a bottle filled with pink colored water. It worked perfectly and I liked it so much that I started thinking of ways to really use them... and other items as stoppers. I was thinking particularly about the fragrance bottles I have that are missing stoppers; but, a little research and I realized that somebody (and maybe lots of

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10