OneSpringStreet

2015-01-21T13:35:00.000-05:00

Looking for a refillable K-Cup for the new Keurig 2.0 that will actually work with the new machine? Look no further….

So I purchased a new Keurig 2.0 for my dearest for Christmas. Both Sam’s Club and BJ’s had it on sale beating out Walmart’s lowest price by over $20 throughout the holidays. (Take That Black Friday scam sales) On the way out of the store we decided it would be a “household” gift since neither one could wait almost 3 weeks for a decent cup of coffee, so out of the box it came when we got home.

I loved it so much, two days later I purchased one for my mother for Christmas. Excited about this cool gift, I called my sister, who quickly ran a review search online while we talked. Within two seconds, my the happiness bubble burst into oblivion when she casually said “Mommy’s not going to buy those cups, they don’t even have a refillable for this machine.” I told her it wouldn’t be long before they have one but I really didn’t know if this was the truth or just a way to ease my sudden sadness. So with a heavy heart, I vowed to put it under the tree-it was already wrapped anyway and time was running short before Christmas.

Fast forward to a few days after Christmas and my dearest tries to use an older K-Cup with the new machine, immediately a 1-800 number shows up on the screen. When he called, the customer service rep filled him in on why it won’t work. There’s a laser that reads the top of the cup, if it isn’t one of the new K-cups, it won’t work. This was a system they built into this machine as not to lose K-cup sales through their competition. She also stated that it had to do with the coloring of the ring around the top. The new ones have a pale purple ring. Other colors work as well, and some don’t. I don’t remember the list of colors she said would and would not. But not to be outsmarted, my dearest saunters in two days later this beauty.

It’s a purple refillable K-cup from Bed Bath and Beyond and works like a charm! Before the night was through, he ran back to BB&B, picked up one for my mother and dropped it off. (I think he’s running for favorite Son in law this year… Sorry Matt! You’ve got competition!)

Where’d he buy it? Bed Bath and Beyond.

Be sure to use a 20% coupon at Bed Bath and Beyond that comes in the circulars in the mail…. Remember they NEVER expire, no matter what the date on it says!

Enjoy!

Just One Of Those Days....

2014-08-19T21:34:00.000-04:00

Should Have Bought A Squirrel.

How To Clean Blinds Easily. Faux Wood Blinds 2" Blinds Mini Blinds

2014-08-19T21:02:00.000-04:00

You know I can never start a post without a lead in story...It's just who I am. If you want to jump right in and clean your blinds easily without breaking your back, look for my EUREKA MOMENT below with pictures... For all others...

Here it goes...

All my life I watched my mother clean windows and blinds, launder the drapes and iron the curtains before they went back up on the window...Every spring and fall season of every year. My mother was a work horse no doubt. A cleaning genius that never stopped. With 5 kids, as a stay home mom, she worked harder than anyone I knew with a regular 9 to 5. She is the only woman I know who can take apart an Electrolux and put the entire thing back together again and have it working better than when it left the factory. Needless to say I learned a lot from her but I'll never be as good in those departments. However, have something wrong with your vacuum? Send it over! Dust your blinds though... ugh, do I have to? I think I hear my mother calling me! Ok, honestly I'll do it periodically, but I'd rather wash them! Besides those blind cleaning tools don't really get in between the strings and I find they just push the dust around a lot... At least for me. But then again, I can't say I'm using it correctly as I don't want to do it at all! I'm like one of those limpy kids who doesn't want to leave the playground.

ME AND MY BLINDS or ME AND MY BIG MOUTH:
I once did a stint in one of the big box stores, I worked in the wallpaper and blinds department. I could spend hours just looking through the wallpaper books... I wanted nothing to do with the blinds. But I would have to take day trips to the Levelor seminars where they would teach you how to represent their products. They would feed me chocolate...A great incentive for me boost their sales... Yes it worked.

While sitting in one of these seminars, among a lot of other big box store employees from different towns, they asked the question on how to clean their 2" faux wood blinds. Immediately my hand went high in the air because I've been doing this all my life! And when called on, since I was the only one with my hand up, I blurt out, "I just wash them in the tub!" A huge smile ran across my face. I was so proud....So young... Sooooo naïve.

The horror showing up on her face told me different. As her face scrunched up into those little bitty lines, she screamed "No, NEVER do that!" so loud, I swear she made the windows rattle. And I asked "Why? Thats what I was taught, so does my grandmother". She snapped right back saying "because you can rust out the hardware in the headers." Ok, in my mind I'm thinking "maybe if you leave them in the tub like FOREVER". But honestly, I have never had that problem and you have to remember I started out washing blinds when the 2" metal blinds were still being used way back in the 70s, She followed it up with "Tell your customers to HIRE a blind cleaning service" for their products, so I just shut up and never said another word. I felt so embarrassed, thinking she better give me more chocolate, and I'm still going to wash my dang blinds in the tub lady because my grandmother is the smartest woman in the world and she taught my mother who taught me! So there.

See I'm not the only one!
Blinds in the tub care of Katherines Corner

Anyway, I do have a "sort of" history with a blinds manufacturer though. Kirsch, the drapery hardware company started in a town I grew up in. (Newell-Rubbermaid now owns Levelor and Kirsch) Their factory was just down the block from my house and on the weekends, my best friend and I used to ride our bikes in the empty parking lot pretending our bikes were horses... That is, until the fateful day I thought I could jump the make shift ramp like the boys, you know, because I can do anything and my friend Sam did it, so there!. LOL...Want to know what happened? ...I ended up with my face planted firmly in the asphalt! Yes, that's the exact spot it happened. Just ask Sam. Oh, and my "horse" was baby blue with a white banana seat! She was beautiful!

Ok, so back to the blinds. I still wash my blinds in the tub. I pull them up before taking them down, almost all the way up to the header, leaving the last 4 or 5 blinds open. Then I take them down, put about 4 inches of water in the tub and use an old cloth to wipe them clean, front and backs. Then I prop them up on end against the tub with a heavy duty towel under them to catch the run off. When they're done dripping, I hang them back up with a towel on the sill and open them all the way up and turn them to an angle towards me so any drips will come inward instead of towards the window. Wal-la! Done. And quickly too. I leave the towels in place for a bit until I'm sure they're no longer dripping. But pretty much, the faux wood dries much faster than the plastic mini blinds. Mini blinds stick together and just need a little bit more maneuvering to get them separated. But once you drop them down and open them up, it's rather easy.

EUREKA MOMENT!
As I get older. I have found that bending over in the tub irritates my back by the 4th or 5th blind. So when I had to wash them again, I was desperate for another way to do this task. I had been thinking about how Newell-Rubbermaid had acquired Kirsch and Levelor (something that always goes through my mind when I'm cleaning blinds and of course the infamous bike incident, lol) For some reason, I remembered the under the bed storage container I had just cleaned out and was laying empty in the garage. My blinds would fit in it perfectly! That light bulb went off and I've never looked back since!

I put the plastic bin on my countertop, filled it with the sink sprayer and my back never hurts. Ever.

Do I use soap? I could, but I don't. I've just not found a reason too. The water washes away the dust and I'm done. I don't have to rinse the soap water off and I don't have to worry about soap residue that I left by accident. I guess if they were so overly nasty I would. But I do this so often that I just don't feel the need for soap. (Hey Chickie, my blinds have yet to "rust" out.). I have been known to put vinegar into the water at times though. Does that count? lol

I bought one of these fiber gloves from the Dollar Tree you see on my hand in the pictures.
Below is the one with the handle. Also sold at Dollar Tree. I had just bought this one, but I used the one that's a glove for these pictures and it works really well. Micro fiber duster
Either one works amazingly to swipe the blinds back and four on both sides barely ever missing a spot, especially between the strings. Actually makes this job go much faster for me. And I even wash the header and inside it as well.

HOW I WASH THE BLADES:
I start from the top and do two blades at a time, both back and front, flipping them as I do, then move on to the next two blades down until complete. That's it! The blinds do slide back and forth a bit. but if you've got the rhythm, you might as well sing and dance while you're working!

Boy that water gets dirty. But remember that I have all tile floors downstairs and two big dogs that think digging in the yard is a beautiful thing....Then they track that stuff in! Err.

I keep a corner of the bin over the sink. This is important because it helps me as I do have to pour the water out periodically to refill it and having that corner off the edge helps me make sure I don't end up with a nice big spill down my cabinets. At one time I did fill it up too much, you don't need a lot of water maybe just a few inches, but when I did I just used a small bucket to siphon some out before I could lift it on end to drain and refill.

When each blind is finished, I prop it up against the stove with a huge towel under it. When I'm done with the next one in the container, before I take it out, I go and hang the one that was drying. That way it gives the one by the stove enough time to drip dry. I still use old towels on the sills when I hang them though, I just don't want to ruin my wood sills.

I realize that when and if I ever do get an RV, (Yes that pipe dream is still alive), that this would work pretty well outside to clean those blinds instead of having to drag them into the house. Using less water than to do them with the hose. To me that's a win-win! I can store items in the bin when camping and then use it to wash the blinds when needed... Outside by the camp fire, while singing camping songs and roasting marshmallows....Ok maybe not. But when the spring cleaning comes around, this will be what I'm using.

So that's it, story and all! I hope this helps with anyone who wants to wash their blind and spare their backs. It's been a lifesaver for me and I'm able to do this chore much more efficiently as well since I no longer have to drag each blind up to the master bath now. I do however move the bin up to the master bath and do all of the blinds up there the same way.

Now if only I can find an easier way to clean my base boards! When I find it, I'll let you know!

Soon I'll be heading over to my mothers to surprise her with cleaning her blinds so she won't have to. I wonder just how long she'll be able to sit there and watch me before insisting that she has to do it herself. LOL

KIRSCH HISTORY: Charles W. Kirsch founded the Kirsch Company in Sturgis, Michigan in 1907.

The factory building, on one side of the street has been shortened since I was a young child and the elevated walk way that was enclosed with windows, running between the two buildings is now gone.

Now it sits empty and sad. A full testament to the end of the mom and pop small towns of yesteryear.

It did have a future and was going to be revived into the Kirsch Lofts.

But it never happened and sits abandoned to this day.

DID YOU KNOW?

In 1939, Kirsch Drapery Rods were used exclusively in "Gone With The Wind".

Kirsch rods are used to create the magnificent federal window treatments seen in "Gone With the Wind." Kirsch merchandised this fact with special dealer promotion at the time of the movie's first release.

Now this guy's got it going on over at FrenchKnots.blogspot.com
But I don't think my dearest is going to lend me his ladders AND do all the work too. LOL

PS.... I still have the chin scar from that Kirsch parking lot!
And Yes, I still say "warsh" for all those who are reading this that know me well!

James Garner Dies Age 86. Hollywood lost a great today.

2014-07-20T16:11:00.000-04:00

In honor of James Garner...

Most of you know I do not have cable, or dish or direct TV. I'm not ashamed. I save 200 dollars a month! Such as it is, I do have Netflix. The only thing I miss on TV is the weather channel during tornado season, but I'm hearing that's not what it used to be either, judging from their non weather related, click generating posts on Facebook.

However, what I do watch, I watch without all of the invasive TV commercials that I feel are inappropriate for children. With regular TV.. (because I don't live completely under a rock and I do have a pair of rabbit ears that work amazingly well and I receive over 20 channels). But with regular TV, I'm not happy that I have to sit with my fingers on the remote "just in case" I see another ED commercial, or a steamy promo during the day for a TV show I wouldn't dare allow my child to watch, even if she was old enough.

So I watch Netflix, I also watch YouTube. And when needed, I watch the news on the ears. But mostly I watch Netflix. And one of my obsessions lately is The Rockford Files. I can watch it with my family and not have to worry as I truly enjoy James Garner.

If you know anything about James Garner, he has a very simple traditional core value of himself. And I don't believe I have even seen that falter on the screen. I've not seen all of his work, but what I have, I was able to watch it even with my child.

With The Rockford Files, I like to look into the background of every scene. The old cars, the interior furnishings. A lot of it I recognize because, well, lets face it... I was around at that time (during my Shaun Cassidy and BJ and the Bear obsession) or it was still around once I arrived on the scene. Ask me about the colonial side table with the dress shade lamp attached to it that reminded me of a Lazy Susan! "HOLY TRAP BATMAN! NANA HAD THAT SAME LAMP!" I screamed out but my child only screamed at me for scaring her half to death. Needless to say, I've tried for an hour to find another to show you, but still...no. I finally gave up until I can hit my mother up for the old photo albums. (A high commodity in my family that I'm not allowed to lay a finger on! But you know...She does go on vacation...And I have a key! lol )

Back to Rockford.....Once while watching one of his famous car chase scenes, both my child and I screamed out "Taco Bell!". Then there was a frantic fumble for the remote to play it back because neither of us knew Taco Bell even existed way back in the 70's. And can you imagine? Yes, I'm a Taco Bell Fan too. LOL

This is not the scene I saw, but hey! Photo credit to http://therockfordfilestv.blogspot.com

Any who..... Today I signed onto Yahoo and was saddened to see that James Garner has passed away.
Watching The Rockford Files will take on a different impression for me now. My Fellow Americans will continue be a favorite too. Hollywood lost a great today.

Want to see what he played in? http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001258/
Want to read his bio? http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001258/bio
Here's more from the LA Times: http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-james-garner-20140721-story.html

So today in honor of James Garner here's some eye candy for one of the great actors of his time!

PS. I've never seen the Notebook.

Trivia c/o http://www.imdb.com

Had both knees replaced.

Had quintuple heart bypass surgery.

James has English and German ancestry.

James is also said to have Cherokee roots. It is not clear if his Native American ancestry has been verified.

He has two brothers, Jack Garner & Charlie Bumgarner. Jack died in 2011 and Charlie died in 1985.

Inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1990.

Early in his career, he appeared as one of the judges in "The Caine Mutiny Court Martial" on Broadway. He said his part consisted mostly of listening to the other actors, and he said it was a great lesson. He feels listening is just as important as speaking as an actor.

Before he was an actor, he had 75 odd jobs including pumping gas to modeling men's clothing.

Father of Gigi Garner, author of "The Cop Cookbook" and "Girl Talk".

He and his wife Lois Clarke were married at the Beverly Hills Court House just two weeks after they met at a political rally.

Has a stepdaughter, Kimberly, from his wife's first marriage.

Lost his mother when he was 5, and he & his two brothers were split up & sent off to live with relatives.

Learned a lot from the late John Ritter, when watching Three's Company (1977). After Ritter's death, Garner appeared with the cast of 8 Simple Rules (2002) talking about the popular comedian on Larry King Live (1985), on the future of "8 Simple Rules.".

Is involved with many humanitarian causes.

Is a volunteer of Save the Children.

His hobbies include: golfing, spending time with his family, auto racing, politics and watching sports.

Inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1986.

Was hospitalized with a bleeding ulcer in 1979.

He was very disappointed about his show, The Rockford Files (1974), being cancelled due to his illness. He accepted his doctor's advice and learned that season 6 was his last.

Had helped organize Martin Luther King's famous "March on Washington" civil rights demonstration, four years before going to Vietnam. (1963).

Was the first actor to co-star with Julie Andrews in three movies: The Americanization of Emily (1964), Victor Victoria (1982), and One Special Night (1999).

Is a Korean War veteran and began his career as a contract player in 1956 for Warner Bros.

He was attending Hollywood High in Los Angeles when his gym teacher recommended him for a job modeling Jantzen bathing suits. He got the job making $25 an hour.

He starred in 3 popular TV series: Maverick (1957) for 3 seasons, The Rockford Files (1974) for 6 seasons, and 8 Simple Rules (2002), for 2 seasons.

Has played two different characters named Jim who served in the Korean War: Jim Rockford in The Rockford Files (1974) and Jim Egan in 8 Simple Rules (2002).

Of all his films, The Americanization of Emily (1964) is his favorite.

Enjoyed great celebrity with his Polaroid commercial series with Mariette Hartley, which started in 1977. He and Mariette were so convincing as husband and wife that Mariette had a T-shirt made that proclaimed, "I am not James Garner's wife!" More than 300 commercials were produced.

A big Oakland Raiders football fan. Could be seen on sidelines with the team during games.

Quit smoking following his quintuple heart bypass on 22 April 1988.

Inducted into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1978.

Although Garner is a lifelong liberal Democrat, his oldest friend is a conservative Republican.

He was a student of Bruce Lee's in his "jeet kune do" style of martial art, after starring with Lee in the film, Marlowe (1969).

In a 1973 interview, John Wayne named Garner as the best American actor.

Friends with: Henry Fonda,Lauren Bacall, Clint Eastwood, Angela Lansbury, William Windom,Bill Bixby, Mac Davis, James Whitmore, Roy Huggins, Harry Belafonte, Jack Kelly, David McCallum, Marlon Brando, James Coburn, Doris Day, Joanne Woodward, Julie Andrews, and Suzanne Pleshette.

Driver of pace cars at the 59th Indianapolis 500 (May 25, 1975), the 61st Indianapolis 500 (May 29, 1977), and at the 69th Indianapolis 500 (May 26, 1985).

His star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is at 6925 Hollywood Blvd.

He was a good friend of the late Paul Newman. Garner has appeared together with both Newman and his wife Joanne Woodward in several movies.

Was a very good friend of the late Bill Bixby.

Underwent surgery after suffering a severe stroke in May 2008 and is recovering well.

Once owned a four hundred acre vineyard in Santa Ynez California called "White Rhino" vineyard and bottled his own Chardonnay called "Chateau Jimbeaux".

In 1995, he received an honorary doctorate from The University of Oklahoma, in his home town of Norman, OK. This was one month after bombing of the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City. He was quoted as saying during his commencement ceremony speech, "If there's anything positive to come from this event, it is seeing the character, the toughness & the dignity of the Oklahoma people as they suffer the grief and carry on with their lives. It makes every Oklahoman, where ever we are, to be PROUD to be an Oklahoman.".

James Garner adopted his wife's 9 year-old-daughter, Kimberly, after they were married. About a year later, James Garner's only biological daughter, Gigi Garner, was born in Santa Monica, California.

Narrates the intro videos for the University of Oklahoma football team as they enter the stadium.

Has a street named after him in his hometown of Norman. "James Garner Ave".

Best known by the public for his starring role as the title character in The Rockford Files (1974).

On April 21, 2006, a bronze statue of Garner as his character Bret Maverick, standing at 10 feet tall, was unveiled in Garner's hometown of Norman, Oklahoma. He was present for the unveiling ceremony.

He played Wyatt Earp in both Hour of the Gun (1967) and Sunset (1988).

He has played the same character (Bret Maverick) in four different series: Sugarfoot (1957), Maverick (1957), Young Maverick (1979) and Bret Maverick (1981).

When speaking at the Summer Olympics in Norman, OK, he took the opportunity to remind the Oklahoma officials, who invited him to speak, of the circumstances of his original departure. "It's nice to be invited back as a VIP after being run out of town on a rail." This was a reference to him being "asked" to leave for his "extracurricular activities".

Was a private man.

July Sale

2014-07-20T09:43:00.003-04:00

Mid Summer Sales Event!
All OOAK Website Template Designs
On Sale Now!

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2014-06-17T21:49:00.000-04:00

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Divergent Downton Abbey Theo James Four Kemal Pamuk or The dead guy in Lady Mary's Bed

2014-03-22T07:35:00.000-04:00

Last night I took my tween to see Divergent.... If you can believe it, her English class was required to read the book. Now this coming off of the heels of the second Hunger Games - Catching Fire, she soaked up the book like a sponge and is quickly making it to the end of the 2nd book Insurgent. Stating "Mommy, I feel so bad...I think I like this book so much better than the Hunger Games", (the trilogy she has yet to make it through the second book before putting it away and never picking it up again).

So last week I secretly went ahead and purchased tickets. She thought she was going to have her teeth cleaned. Hee Hee. I know I'm a terrible mommy! When she found out where we were going...she told me I was the best mom EVER!" Then she hugged me so tight and wouldn't let go!

Anyway, I had only read through the first couple of chapters of Divergent before seeing the movie. So I knew just a little bit of the concept, but really had no true idea of what the movie was about.

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the movie. Of course my tween did, but I also noticed many other tweens girls in the theater with their parents, just beaming from ear to ear during the credits and on the way out as well. One was clutching her book and a few teen magazines tightly to her chest. Big fluffy hearts radiated from her eyes like cartoon high beams! Ok, it wasn't, but it was like it was! LOL

For my child, who is quite sensitive, it was a roller coaster ride of emotions. Smiling, giggling, crying, beaming, and excitement, not exactly in that order. I don't want to give the movie away but I can tell you my child held her parents hands at certain points with full emotional tears through a couple of scenes in the movie. She relates many things on screen to her own life and found these scenes extremely emotional and sad. At one point, I welled up as well.

I have to say, if she didn't have to read the book in class, traditionally I would have seen the movie first before letting her watch it. And most likely she would have seen it on DVD at home. It does have some scenes in it that parents may wish to review first.

Anyway, I sat there within the first half hour of this movie, rummaging through the storage files in my mind on where I've seen the male lead before. I racked my brain, but just couldn't come up with it. So you know I was turning to Google on the way home, right? I don't even think we were out of the parking garage before I was searching.

Turns out, this guy, Theo James, who plays Four, also played in Downton Abbey! Holy cow, who knew? Well, I guess everyone else but me. I don't get out much, you know.

For those of you who live in my "under the rock community" he played Kemal Pamuk.
You know! The guy who dies in Lady Mary's bed? Lady Mary played by Michelle Dockery?
The one who made his entrance and exit all in one episode, but continued to dominate the story line all the way up through season 4? Yeah! That one. I KNOW, right?

For those of you who have NO idea what I'm talking about, just search Google for
Downton Abbey Season 1 Episode 3.

If you've forgotten even in the least, or just want to peek at him some more, here's some eye candy for you both Downton Abbey and Divergent Fans or just plain Theo James Fans....ENJOY!

How to make a drum shade

2014-03-19T11:09:00.000-04:00

How to make a drum shade with a hula hoop!

What to do with that brass chandelier.

Go from this....

To

To This....

I have never been considered a very modern girl. Vintage yes, Old, at times. Grumpy? ugh... But modern no. I grew up loving the antiques my parents collected, so anything old and chippy, I always find myself cherishing it's beauty. I am certainly a lamp, chandelier, lampshade collector too. I can't deny that about myself. So whenever I'm treasure hunting, there's always something calling my name within this category. If it has great lines, I'm taking it home! "Lady, step away from THAT shade!"

When our home was built, every builder used these cheap looking 5 arm brass chandeliers-even the picture above, which is similar but still not exact, doesn't show how bad mine really looks. It hangs above my head right now and I absolutely ~~hate~~ dislike it. (I dislike the word "hate".) I would love to tear it down from the icky popcorn ceiling and replace it with something else. I do have a replacement in the garage ready for it, but that requires my dearest to do the electrical work since I can't just rig it with a glue gun. Err. Pinning him down to do it though is a whole other story, so here I sit under this tragic early 90's rendition of blah.

Honestly I really shouldn't say this, it's really just my opinion and I didn't mind it way back then, I was so excited to begin our life together that they could have hung a piñata up there and it wouldn't have fazed me one bit. And I often see others still using theirs and in their homes it looks just fine. But my home is not traditional by any means, It's "me". Can't really describe that, I can only tell you that the brass chandelier is not fitting in with my "me" décor. LOL

Over the years I have considered painting it. At one point I even had the hair brain notion to turn off all the power, you know, because safety first, and then swing from it, until it was ripped from the grips of the floor joists above, yelling and screaming with laughter all the way as it would crash to the floor. Yes I truly envisioned the whole thing! But then reality seeped back in when I realized, gee, I could get hurt and not a moment before. When I came to my senses, I realized how much I actually use it all year long to hang the ornaments on that I paint for Christmas while theyre drying. Err. Ok, it's certainly functional and I'm not an electrician, so I've got to come up with a safer idea.

Throughout the years, I'm always contemplating it's dimise, I have tried those little lamp shades. and they worked for a while, but I can still see the shiny fake brass. Again, I was going to paint it, but geesh, what a hassle when you can't take it down, besides I've already done this to my kitchen chandelier and I still have the shirt covered with paint as a reminder not to try THAT again!

After a year of contemplating the doom of this eyesore, finally I decided on a modern drum shade like I had seen in a European Ad a year or two ago, to cover the whole thing. But finding one for the size I needed just became a continuous nightmare, always just a bit too small. Never the right size.

Eventually, I had seen somewhere that you can build a drum shade with just poster board and a couple of hula hoops and a glue gun. Bingo! Now this is right up my alley. I love to be able to DIY myself AND I get to use my trusty glue gun!

So I tried it and wanted to share it with you!

I measured the width of my chandelier first just to make sure I would purchase the right size hoop and off to Wal-Mart I go!

Here's my purchased list:

2 Hula Hoops $3.00 each

3 sheets of poster board $0.33 each

DON'T HAVE A HULA HOOP?

***There is also a tutorial for using just poster board and hot glue towards the end***

Then the rest, I had at home already....

Fabric

Glue for glue gun

Spray adhesive

Sewing machine (you can skip this step if you wish)

Just so you know, there were two different sizes for the hula hoops.

I bought the smaller one and mine was a bright orange plastic neon!

There are two sizes in those thick paper ones, but they were more expensive.
$5.00 for the small one.

I knew my fabric would hide the coloring on the plastic ones and the bonus of these were they have a flat interior surface.

Here's what I did....

MEASURE THE HOOP:

Measure all the way around the hula hoop.

Write it down, Measure twice, cut once they say.

I measured going around the OUTSIDE of the hoop to be safe.
Be sure to add inches on to your measurement so that you can overlap it later.
If you added too much on, you can always cut it off.

Decide what height you'd like your shade.

I did 14" as that was sufficient to cover the brass...WHOOPEE! I'm on my way!

Cut 3 sheets of poster board to the height you wish to have your shade. Again, this is what I cut down to 14" leaving the length of all 3 boards as they were.

GLUE POSTER BOARD TOGETHER TO GET LENGTH:

Lay the poster board down flat and evenly glue those 3 sheets together to create the length of the shade going around, with some left over to overlap.

To be sure I had the correct length, I laid the measuring tape on the floor and then laid the poster board along it's length, this way I was able to eye the overlap for each one evenly.

Stand it up inside your hula hoop to make sure it can go all the way around with some extra. I allowed the overlap to be exactly the same amount of space that I did when I glued them together, for uniformity once the light shows through.

MEASURE AND CUT FABRIC:

Cut your fabric to the height and length of the poster board, adding on a 1/2 inch or 1 inch extra on all sides.

CUT FABRIC FOR HOOPS:

At this time, cut 2 more strips of your fabric at that same length, these will be used to cover the hula hoops. Just measure how wide you wish for them to be so you have enough to cover the hoops. I cut mine to just about 3".

COVERING THE POSTER BOARD WITH FABRIC:

Lay the poster board flat on your table and spray with spray adhesive and attach your fabric. Just remember that spray adhesive is messy and gets on everything, protect your table and use wisely. LOL someone should have told me this FIRST! However, I finally found a good solution for my second shade: I laid my fabric down on top of the poster board to make sure the pattern match all the way down the length of the poster board. then I just lifted the fabric, sprayed a little, smoothed it out, then continued lifting and spraying and smoothing. A little bit at a time work better for me than to spray the entire board first. I'm still scraping it off of my grandmothers table! Err. I don't have a picture for this step out of sheer frustration. And I didn't want to touch my camera now that I was completely covered in spray adhesive!

COVER HOOP IN FABRIC:

I used a glue gun to attached the fabric to the hula hoops putting the raw edges on the inside knowing very well the poster board would cover it. However if you can use the spray adhesive or a fabric glue, you may like the results better as my first shade, the glue looks a bit bumpy under the fabric.

CHOOSE YOUR EDGE:

Here is where you can do one of two things. My first shade I used my rolling cutter to cut the fabric flush with the poster board. It's nice, but I think I would have preferred a nice edge folded over to the inside. So if you wish, you can fold over the fabric and glue it. Or if you would prefer, on my second shade I ironed the fabric over for a nice edge and then after using the spray adhesive on the front, I just sewed it on with my machine. Keep reading on as I have included lots of pictures for this step below.

Now lay a covered hula hoop on the table and stand the fabric covered poster board inside the hoop. The picture below shows right before I covered the hoops, as I was constantly measuring that I didn't flub it up. Or if I did, then I would know in which step I would have to go back to recalculate.

Make sure it will fit again all the way around with a little overlapping so you can glue it together there.

GLUE SHADE TO HOOPS;

Once your sure everything will fit nicely, I just glued the first corner in place and continued to glue a little bit and press the shade to the hoop, continuing all the way around until the overlapping portion. I did not glue the seam just yet, I glued only at the bottom to allow it to move where I needed it when doing the other hoop.

Now lay the other hoop on the table and the hoop you just glued goes on top and fit your poster board into the bottom one.

Continue to glue the same way you did with the top portion.

Finally glue the seam section together.

HANGING YOUR NEW DRUM SHADE.

There are so many ways to hang your shade listed on the internet. However I am impatient so I used four long wires and poked a hole through the poster board in four sections evening around the shade and wrapped it around the hoop. Then I wired the shade into the chain that the chandelier hangs from. This worked for me because my chandelier hangs very high and you can't see it. However if your is hanging lower, you may wish use ribbon to tie it onto the chain. Just make sure your ribbon does not hang directly over the bulbs.

I eventually hung crystals from the arms of my chandelier because I am a crystal kind of girl. So you may see a picture here of that as well.... Oh, there it is. Just for instant satisfaction, I used some generic ornaments hooks to hang my crystals. Although I have since changed those out and used prettier ones.

DON'T HAVE A HULA HOOP?

On another shade all I had was poster board. So I doubled up the poster board to add some stability to it. Used the spray adhesive and then sewed the fabric onto the poster board.

Cut those two extra strips of fabric.

I created an edging with them to help stabilized the edges and make it look more like a real shade.

HOW TO CREATE A BINDING:

Super easy and it's how I also use to make the straps for tote bags.

Fold the strip in half and iron it.

Funny, this is the true color of my fabric, I don't know why my camera keeps picking up a dark gold color. Err.

Now open the strip and fold the outer raw edge in just to the center, using the original fold line as a guide. Iron.

Do both raw edge in this way. Being sure everything has a nice crisp ironed edge.

Now fold the fabric in half....onto the original fold line and iron, with those raw edged now on the inside. I have a crease on mine in the next picture, but it's not supposed to be there. I was just being sloppy at the time.

So I ironed it out.

This creates an edging you can sew onto the poster board, inserting the poster board edge into the fold. If you wish to hot glue it instead, that would work as well.

Below is where I am just making sure both are the same size.

Just open the flap on the binding, insert the poster board up to the crease and then you can begin to sew it on or glue it. This gives you a nice edge on the outside AND the inside.

Below is the 3rd shade that was eventually finished with an embroidery hoop.

Yes you can use those too for normal size lamp shades.

In this picture below I used the extra fabric to create an overlap towards the inside of the shade instead of cutting the fabric flush with the poster board. I like this effect best because it hides the raw edges of the poster board. I sewed it directly onto the poster board. First I attached the fabric with spray adhesive, then I just ironed a double folded crease in the extra fabric instead of cutting it off, and then sewed it on.

Once one side was completely sewn on then repeat the ironing of the crease for the other side and sewed that side.

I did one side at a time only to make sure the fabric didn't slip off the poster board. This way gave me the guide line for ironing the second side and everything fit nice and tightly. Besides my stitch ripper has run off with a few unsavory buttons and I'm not sure if it's planning on returning anytime soon!

I hope I haven't forgotten anything. If I have, please just let me know and I will correct it for others! 2 photos below is the photo of my first drum shade with the hula hoop, Believe me when I say they got better as I worked out the kinks, but I'm happy I no longer need to walk into the room and see that brass....

Oh c'mon, I was just having a bit of fun with that last picture. LOL

I do know this idea will also work if you have a bare bones lamp shade you wish to. That's my next project!

Either way, right now, I am thrilled with my new shades! And the best part is I have so much more fabric to work with that I change them out when ever I please. And that PLEASES me! LOL

Can anyone say HOLIDAYS! (snicker, snicker, evil little laugh, snicker snicker)

And can you imagine the wide variety of fabrics, colors and patterns to choose from! I just get shivers thinking about it!

If you get a chance to try this, I'd love to see a picture!

I myself am on my way to look through my fabric collection!

Beautiful New Printables

2014-03-14T14:39:00.001-04:00

Beautiful New Printables Just in time for spring!

French Vintage Post Card/Angels/Roses tags in lovely pastels!
See them here

Studio Movie Grill SMG, Charlotte, NC Epicenter Review-Dinner and A Movie

2014-03-14T12:12:00.000-04:00

Studio Movie Grill SMG, Charlotte, NC Epicenter Review

Looking for something new to do in Charlotte? Well if you've heard of the Epicenter but never had a chance to visit. I urge you to check out the Studio Movie Grill located inside the Epicenter.

I was first introduced to this theater when my sister gifted my child a viewing of "The Hunger Games, Catching Fire" for her birthday. Both were ecstatic about the experience, so I knew this would be perfect for my mothers birthday outing. I let her pick the movie and honestly, after she reviewed the website and I purchased our tickets, she could barely wait for the day!

The Studio Movie Grill is not just any movie theater. It is a dinner theater. Meaning you can leave your pastrami sandwich at home because this place has a fully stocked bar and a full menu to order from. And what's one of the nicest perks of watching a movie here: Everything on the menu is delivered to your seat! As well as anything made at the bar. So grandma can nurse her high ball, the men can enjoy their beer and the girls night out ladies can have their fancy cocktails if they choose to. Or visa versa.

Food is more on the scale of a sports pub and prices are about the same as if we ate at Chili's. On the menu, I saw pizzas, sandwiches, salads, appetizers and plenty more to choose from. Along with desserts and specialty drinks. But again, you can purchase any adult beverage you would normally get at any bar.

I'll run down a few things here which you may wish to know....

TICKETS:

Order your tickets online and pick your seats ahead of time, If you have printed your tickets out at home, you will need to go to the 2nd floor kiosk - enter your confirmation number or scan the bar code to have your actual tickets printed out. The have a 100% seating guarantee.

Inheriting The Past - Raising My Vintage Kitchen Table

2014-03-14T11:41:00.000-04:00

How I wish I was sitting at my Grandmothers kitchen table this morning. The sun is streaming through the side windows today the same way it filtered through her kitchen windows when I was young. Her kitchen always seemed to be a pivotal point for everything in my life.

It was the very first place I called home while waiting for my parents house to be built. We moved when I was 6 months old, but something always called me back to Grandmas kitchen. Maybe this is why I always felt this was the place I needed to be. The place I always felt loved. The place I wish to be right now.

I am now many, many years away from the last time I saw my grandmother. But my memories of her are set in motion by things in my everyday life. Today it is the sun light. Perfect. Warm. Just the right angle.

On other days it's the way the coffee smells when I enter the kitchen. Sometimes it's burnt toast, which she preferred. The way I hold the broom when sweeping the floor or when the scatter rugs need shaking out. But mostly it's when I'm setting the table for dinner. She is here with me, in my mind. I am cherishing every moment.

It is through this table that I have a special connection with my grandmother. My kitchen table is a source of so many memories. The ones I hold from the past and the ones I continue to make every day. It belonged to my grandmother, it was her dining room table.

She purchased it in the late 50's and in that sleek modern design, blond Formica sits prominently on top In her time, she always kept it covered with lace to protect it. So when I received it, it was in perfect condition. Funny things is, is that I didn't receive this table when my grandmother passed. My younger sister did, along with the side board and the china hutch. She gave it all to me when my child was born and my older sister trucked the entire set over 700 miles to where I live today.

Since then, I can tell you I will never part with this table. It has become the portal in which my grandmother enters my life on a daily basis. This is the table I have raised my child at. The one we congregate around, eat on, prep food on, bake Christmas cookies on. It is also the table I sew on, paint on and craft on. And every time I'm chipping off the extra hot glue or paint splatters, first I thank God it's Formica and then find myself speaking to her out loud. Telling her that I know she must be mad at this mess I've created...Again. Yet the feeling I receive back is that she's happy that we are living around this table, using it to it's fullest, having it continue to be such a huge a part of our lives. With it's everyday use I feel comforted that it is not left alone in another room we never use.

The chairs are now long gone, ruined by the constant sliding on my tile floors and the table has now been updated in height to fit into our life. When our family grew, after much thought, I begged my dearest to increase the height of the table so that we could use it to it's maximum potential. At the time we could barely pass by one another if someone was sitting in a chair. Stools were the only considerable option in my tiny kitchen. Pushed under during the day, the stools help clear a easier path than the chairs ever did.

When my dearest told me it could not be done, his usual statement when I come up with a very unconventional idea, I hemmed and hawed about it for weeks. Finally, I took a good look at the table where the thin short legs were attached. There was an opening that could accommodate even the size of a fence post. So knowing how much this table gets pushed around changing it from it's smallest length to inserting the 2 leaves on a daily basis, I knew we needed something stronger than those you can purchase at Lowes or Home Depot. We ended up using 4x4's, replacing the bolts and it's worked wonders. It has increased the strength of the table considerably and now stands at the approximate height of a normal kitchen island and on occasion it is also used as such with the stools pushed in. The 4x4's we purchased at Lowes were, I believe, 10 feet long at about $12.97 each. Needing only two, for about $26.00 we had all four legs. Compared to just one butcher block leg at 22.98, I think we faired pretty well. The table itself adds another inch or two in height. The tall bar stools we already had, were cut down to 26 inches. I've debated to paint the legs on the table white but the Formica top is blond which I won't consider painting, so I wonder if a darker color would work better. Unfortunately there are not many tables with Formica tops that I have seen on Pintrest being refurbished. So I continue to ponder the thought.

It took some time, but I no longer feel guilty about the messes I make on this table, I just laugh and tell her "I know... I know" as nod my head, cleaning it up or scraping it off. And I no longer worry about that I may have ruined the integrity of the table itself by the alterations I have chosen. I have come to understand that they are working perfectly together to intergrade every moment from yesterday, today and into tomorrow. Seamlessly as a family we continue to make memories in her honor, each day

And here I sit , with the sun shining through the morning windows at just the right angle, here at this table, in my kitchen. As I run my hand over the smooth Formica, in an instant, I know she's here with me.

Downton Abbey Hugh Bonneville

2013-02-25T20:46:00.000-05:00

Downton Abbey 's Hugh Bonneville, Now that I am a huge fan, I was really quite surprised to find that he played in one of my favorite movies....

"Blow Dry" back in 2001 with Alan Rickman and I didn't even know it was him. By the way, this movie is the reason I'm a huge Alan Rickman fan. Gotta love the sexy foot tatoo! Netflix has it on instant right now if you're just a little bit curious. I'm just now trying to find out what other work he's been in that I didn't have a clue. LOL

Enjoy.....

Abandoned Places: Bennett School for Girls / Halcyon Hall/Millbrook, NY

2012-10-17T07:15:00.000-04:00

(Please see below for photo credit)

In honor of Halloween coming up soon, I wanted to share something with you that most people don’t know about me….

While many women enjoy shopping for shoes, makeup and clothes, I enjoy searching abandoned places!

I find beauty within their rich history and chipped paint. Charm among their rusted metal, broken windows and dusty woodwork. Brilliant, untold stories gently floating up their grand staircases. Something that was once teaming with life in the past now has more allure for me than it ever did for me.

Yet I always find I am saddened by their demise but I do realize that if they did not spin on that downward spiral, then I would not be interested at all.

Take Biltmore in Asheville, NC. I love the house, I love the history, it’s beautifully up kept for years upon years, but the closest I can get to that chilly deserted thrill I desire is when I view the now empty indoor pool in the windowless basement. I try to envision the pool in the movie Ghost Ship and its creepy isolation! Beyond that, I’ll just take the wine tasting and be done with it. Sorry Biltmore. You ARE beautiful though.

Anyway, the other day, something brought me to the Bennett School for Girls in Millbrook, NY. Oh, wait, now I remember, someone on Facebook.com posted a really cool picture of an abandoned house via Pinterest.com, it was from there that I began researching and researching, never could I find it, but I did find something just as interesting for me. Luckily there are people out there who do not fear mice and have the guts to enter these places and take some really great pictures! And I have siblings who share this odd preference for abandoned places - but they are much, much braver than I!

So here's my really cool interesting place of the day!
Introducing the Bennett School for Girls / Halcyon Hall / Millbrook, NY

…So many cool haunts are in upstate New York!

It started out as a 5 story posh hotel in 1890, Halcyon Hall. It was the Golden Age and Hotels were popping up all over upstate New York as an escape for the rich of New York City. However it did not receive the guests or popularity it anticipated; lasting only 11 years it closed in 1901. After searching for a buyer, finally, in 1907 it became the Bennett school for girls. This school slash college was going great until 1977 when it filed chapter 11, finally closing for good in 1978. Since then, it has stood still, silent and “utterly alone” since allowing the elements of icy winters and humid summers beat upon it, breaking its spirit down board by board, beam after beam.

Amazingly eerie, I am entranced by its beauty and grandeur as I envision its first guests walking up the stairs in their top hats and long dresses before the turn of the century, onto the stone porch and entering the grand foyer for the very first time. My Lord, what I would have done to be a fly on the wall watching it all unfold on that very first day. Of course, if I was, then I would be dead by now and not able to enjoy this moment! So instead, I’m sharing it with you! Enjoy!

BENNETT SCHOOL FOR GIRLS, MILLBROOK, NY, HALCYON HALL
Thank you to Opacity.us for the great pictures and story- you have always been my urban explorer hero since the Heritage days! Say hello to Ohio for me! Did you ever find that abandoned amusement park I was telling you about near Zanesville?

PS my sister says it's haunted! I don't believe her-she's just trying to scare me and I'm tellin' MOM!

And just to give you a little bit more images from Opacity.us, (you really should visit)...
Also some of these photos are from hrvh.org, I have tried to make sure every image is linked to it's original website. If I have missed something, or have not given the correct credit. Please just let me know in the comments below. I totally respect these adventurous explorers and historical libraries. Please take a moment to visit and tell them I sent you!

c. 1908 Dorm Room for Bennett boarding school for girls.

Judging from the date, it had just been acquired by the school in 1907 (after sitting empty for 6/7 years) I would suspect this was an advertisement for the school... Hence the pennant flag banners, 2 writing desks, fireplace and the piano in the room.

Here is another dorm room.... No piano. Judging from the pillows and the bedspread, I would say this may have been taken from time around the 40's or around about. When I zoomed in, it looks like a gentleman in uniform and hat (possibly WWII) in the frame on the back desk and a suit and tie in the frame between the beds. Check out the alarm clock on the desk, it's a pop up, closes for storage in a hard case and props up for viewing from the bed. We call those travel clocks now a days.

Above: Newspaper clipping about Halcyon Hall (when it was still a hotel) Date: 1893
F. W. Woolworth was a guest. Must have been posh, considering.
If you can not see the picture it says:
Halcyon has been full to overflowing for the past three weeks, and prospects are very good for a late season. Monday a ladies’ golf tournament was held for a silver loving cup, which was won by Mrs. J. C. Taylor, of Brooklyn. Tuesday a gentlemen’s golf tournament, the prizes being a silver cup and a silver flask. First prize was won by Mr. J. C. Taylor, second by Mr. F. W. Woolworth, the crack left hand player. A subscription list is being circulated for the benefit concert for the Halcyon Orchestra, Sept. 15. So far the subscribers have been very liberal. Mr. James T. Powers, the fun maker, is with us again after an absence of three weeks

c. 1908 One of the stairways inside Halcyon Hall. Can you imagine coming to this hotel and using these stairs to go to your room? Can you imagine who you'd be rubbing elbows with!

c. 1908. Woman in the kitchen at Halcyon Hall.

c. 1908 Horse and Carriage arrive at Halcyon Hall/Bennett Boarding School For Girls.

c. 1912 When it had become the Bennett boarding school for girls.

Halcyon Hall from the tennis courts.
Unknown female sitting besides tennis court in the summer. Halcyon Hall in background.

Original thumbnail image credit:
http://www.adventurebibleschool.com and www.juliawertz.com
Julia Wertz has some really cool interior shots as well...Adventurous is an understatement for Julia.

Christmas Craft, Decorations, Ornaments

2012-10-11T09:34:00.001-04:00

Black and White Christmas Ornaments!
DIY craft, Christmas Craft, Christmas gifts, Childrens Craft Idea
Nice variety of 6 different ornaments to a printed page!
View the original here.
Below are pictures of the first set I did.

Halloween Lantern Craft Tutorial

2012-10-03T10:50:00.000-04:00

These are some seriously cute vintage inspired

Halloween lanterns!

I printed six of these; each will hang in groups of 3 from my ceiling on each side of my fireplace using monofilament at varying heights. I love to expand the Halloween decor outward from the mantle, making a larger scale vignette that guests can see the moment they walk in on Halloween night!

I have added tons of images below along with the tutorial to help you along.
Of course you can use these on their own, but if you continue to go one step further like I did, then continue to follow the directions to create the bottom, battery operated lights can go inside for a Halloween Glow! Its way too cool and the kids love it! A gentle breeze, or in my case, a ceiling fan on low offers a slow spinning motion creating just enough movement to draw attention. Next year I think I’ll incorporate them into a centerpiece of pine cones, acorns, dried hydrangeas, apples, wheat, corn husks and fresh autumn leaves! Or maybe even into a Halloween Wreath!

***OneSpringStreets Creative Halloween Trick***

Depending on how thick your card stock is will determine how much light comes through. I wanted mine to show brightly so I completed mine like this…

Print one set on card stock and another on normal printer paper, cut out the vintage window images on each set, leaving a border around the one printed on printer paper for gluing. The one on card stock becomes a sturdy base, the others fill those windows. Just insert the images from the printer paper on the inside of the card stock base with tape or glue. The vintage images cast an eerie glow all evening long! Did I mention the kids just love this! It’s amazing how many little ones love to touch and spin them and because they are card stock, I just let them go for it! At the end of the night, I’ll give them away to their delight and just make more for next year!

Created exclusively by OneSpringStreet.Net.

You can purchase this design here.
Print as many as you wish for your own personal use!
Or create Halloween gifts to give!

Get Creative!

Decorate yours as you wish with glitter, buttons, brads, rhinestones, ribbon, raffia, etc! The possibilities are endless!

All OneSpringStreet Printables are 300 DPI and are formatted to fit on traditional size 8 ½ by 11-inch paper.

*For best results print on crisp white card stock and traditional weight printer paper to “full scale” or “fit to page”*

TUTORIAL....
Here is the final product I created with just the card stock alone,I love the black and white gingham!

I've tried to add an image for each step I took. I've never written a tutorial for something like this usually mine are on HTML coding, so please forgive me in advance and let me know if I've missed something.....

Of course it has four sides, here's a view of the other sides.....

Supplies I used:

Printout of Halloween Lantern Template,

Scissors, Ruler, Scoring tool, tape or glue, hole punch, ribbon, battery operated candle if desired, along with one extra piece of card stock if creating the bottom to hold the candle.

First I scored around every foldable edge on the card stock using a ruler,

and well, I don't own a scoring tool, so what did I use? Please don't

tell my husband, but I used the needle for the turkey injector,

it had the perfect point! C'mon, he never uses it anyway!

Here's the scored page.... See! It was the perfect point!

I'll have to remember to tell him that when I get caught!

Next I started to cut off some of the edged of the border.

I did keep the extra white on the bottom though.

Here's what is left from the final cuts. I am keeping that

border to help support the bottom when I put it in.

This is my "amazing handy dandy tool" that is suppose to be used

for wallpaper, but it's always in my tool bag for creasing purposes!

It works perfectly and cost very little!

I used it to crease every fold on the lantern with ease.

Cut down the center of each section of the lanterns roof only.

Fold everything.

It is at this point that I use a hole punch for ribbon later.

You can see the bottom, this is the extra white border I left on.

This will support the bottom for the candle.

If I was only going to put this on the table,

I would not insert a bottom and just skip those steps.

Tape or glue the bottom folds.

I love this Elmer's Tape Runner.

I purchased mine at Hobby Lobby!

Works like a charm!

Tape or glue the roof together first, then the sides.

You are now done unless you wish to add the bottom in.

To add the bottom in, place the finished lantern

on another piece of card stock.

Draw and score around the base for correct sizing.

Cut approx. 1/4 to 1/2 inch beyond the scoring mark to create a border.

Fold the score marks and cut the corners up to the

score line as show below on an angle.

Test: Insert the bottom to make sure it fits.

If all is well, continue on to the next step.

On a corner of the bottom, measure out the size of your

battery operated candle. You will cut a section out so

that you can insert the candle later,

turn it on and off and for replacing it when needed.

Cut a corner opening, but just score a bend mark as show below.

Fold back the cut on the score line, bending it to create

a small edge and tape or glue into space.

This small edge will stop your candle from falling out of the lantern later.

Cut a length of card stock approx. 6 inches long.

I used the candle to decide the width of the strip of card stock

then multiplied it by two. Score a line down the middle length wise and fold.

Scored card stock.

I then went back to the bottom and in the very center

placed the candle and outlined it.

Back to the strip of card stock.

Roll the card stock around the candle and cut it

to fit approx 1/2 way around the candle or more.

You want to make sure you candle can easily

side into the slot once it's attached.

Glue the outside of one side of the folded strip.

Then cut tabs all along the glue side up to the middle.

Round the paper with the tab side glue facing down.

Place on your outline and secure tabs

This creates the perfect resting place for your candle.

No matter if it spins, the candle will

always be centered.

Now glue the folded tabs of the bottom and

insert on the inside of the lantern.

Mines a little off here because I was rushing.

Insert your ribbon or monofiloment (fishing line).

Place your candle in the bottom and your ready to hang it!

There's that candle in place! It's not going anywhere!

Next year I think I'm going to create a Halloween Display on

my coffee table! I'll put some of these on candle sticks and

cake stands along with a whole bunch of autumn leaves,

pinecones, acorns, apples, red grapes and cinnomon sticks!

September Newsletter Sent!

2012-09-07T14:55:00.003-04:00

Hello Darlings! Hope everyone has had a wonderful summer! I for one am thrilled to have the heat go away (over 14 days of no air conditioning, until it was finally replaced, lock stock and barrel!) So I am certainly now looking forward to a gentle fall breeze to pass through my office window! Can't wait for the smell of the crisp clean air wafting in, carrying the sweet scent of cinnamon apples from the bakeries oven! It just cannot be beat in autumn, as this season brings so many delights!

So much has been happening over here at One Spring Street, so I have tried to add a few in the newsletter. Which will be on it's way within the hour. I have added many new Printable designs on the website as per the many, many requests I have received! I hope you will enjoy them as much as I did creating them! Send me your completed Printable designs and I will post them if you wish, or I will just continue to enjoy them in your emails as I have been. Thank you all for sharing them with me this summer!

If you wish to receive the newsletters, you can sign up HERE to get a copy!

For those of you who have asked, my husband’s health is progressively getting better. He lost lots of weight and is thrilled to be down to his “marrying” size at the same time we celebrated our 13th anniversary! His hair is growing back and he’s had at least one hair cut! Believe it or not, before he lost it, it was salt and pepper in color, now he has regained more of the color and lost much of the gray as it grows back in! He is thrilled that I no longer pester him about coloring the gray out! LOL! His sense of taste, however, is still completely gone because of the radiation on his throat. On Sept 11th, I will be taking a day off as he will have his PET scan to see if we have been able to hold the cancer at bay or hopefully rid him of it all together. I am praying for the latter. I truly appreciate all of the prayers I have received, it’s a blessing to know how many of you care and I could not get through this without your support. It's been a very trying year, I am just praying for better days. For those of you who do not know. My husband’s throat cancer was caused by the HPV virus. A 20 year study showed that men in the 40’s, don’t drink, don’t smoke and have had their tonsils removed when they were younger, are getting throat cancer from this virus. From what the doctors tell me is that we all have the HPV in our bodies, but it is affecting men who fall within this list. It is very hard to catch until it is stage 4 or more. Therefore I beg any man who may have a sore throat or maybe a lump on his neck, thinking maybe he has strep throat or his glands may be swollen, to please just ask the doctor to look for this type of cancer. It is curable if caught in time. And they may not look unless asked.

On another note, I do hope to be able to get back to blogging, after much time off from doing so, it will be a joy to rekindle the love I have for it and reconnecting with all of you!

It is my very best wishes to all of you for many, many happy days ahead! Susan

Newsletter Filled with specials and freebies!

2010-01-19T07:41:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone! I'm getting ready to send out the end of January Newsletter! If you'd like me to send you a copy introducing the new designs and specials to be listed at OneSpringStreet, send me your email address! ***I'll be running specials and freebies! So don't miss out on this next Newsletter!***

Hotmail accounts cannot receive my emails because of the website links in it, so you would need an alternate address.

Have you seen the NEW Somerset LIFE?!

2009-12-17T06:10:00.001-05:00

Have you seen the NEW Somerset LIFE?!

My graphic work is featured on the back cover! OH MY! This is one of my favorite mags and I was jumping for joy when I heard that I was to create the ad for this magazine! I create the Ads for Shabby Cottage Shops featuring it's members but have rarely seen my work once it's submitted-so this was a real treat to see it sitting on my table still wrapped in clear plastic, I didn't know my DH had just picked up the mail! He claims he didn't even look through the mail, but there it was sitting back cover up! What a surprise! If you can understand this-I can't keep all the publishing dates in my head as the deadlines cloud that information on my end-so when my subscription arrived-I nearly dropped my cup of coffee! SCS shops Ads are also in Romantic Homes-one of my other favorite mags and you can see that too in this months issue!

I will put links up just as soon as I can!
Here's the link!

New OOAK Web Designs listed!

2009-11-24T15:01:00.002-05:00

Check out the new OOAK web designs just listed!

Holy Moly!

2009-07-26T09:16:00.002-04:00

Lake Lure made Yahoos 10 ten list for best lake towns to visit this summer! Surprised? Not at all! It's breath taking there! If your anywhere close, it's worth the trip!

Sunday morning

2009-07-05T07:27:00.004-04:00

Just sharing one of my favorite pictures!

Welcome to OneSpringStreet.blogspot.com!

2009-01-18T07:37:00.001-05:00

To see more of my work, please visit
http://www.onespringstreet.net/

Thank you for visiting!