Phillies are rockin tonite! (I hope!)

We are having a cool  rainy evening here in the big city, and how nice it is! I guess about 99.9% of the Philly-ites are patiently waiting for the first game to begin (like in the next hour in NYC, only 107 miles away). Yes, indeed, I think even a sports-dork like me who doesn't really appreciate a golf-ball from a hockey puck has Phillies-fever. Here’s an interesting sign of the times – everyone is worried that ‘if’ we win the series (which of course we will), there will be another crazy parade, and no one knows who will pay for it, cuz the city sure can’t afford it. You go, Phillies!!!

I don’t have too much to share with my blog buds this fine evening. It’s been a very busy few days—another sign of the times –short staffed and more work.  So, I was thinking that this time last year I was immersed in crafting goodies for the holidays, and now I don’t have the time to do any of that.  I am doing second hand crafting by enjoying all the great stuff the rest of you are doing! You guys are something! So talented!

Hope to have some tweaks and some goodies in my next post.  Grabbin some popcorn and off to watch the game!

 

Some redos...and Go Phillies!

 

 Hey Blogbuds!

I’m trying to learn how to use Live Writer (not as easy as I thought, but not too bad) so if this post looks like a mish-mash, forgive me. I had no idea that the Live programs were free downloads!

After a winter weekend, we are back in summer! It’s in the 70’s here (a little tooooo warm for my taste!) but I must admit these are beautiful Fall days. Gives me energy to do stuff in between some long hours at work.

Every October, I look forward to my favorite catalogue from my pals at Circa Home Living, and this year’s catalogue certainly didn’t disappoint! Some really fabulous stuff in here, and I love to just linger over it. I know what my next purchase will be, but I need to wait until I have the money to buy it!!

 

 

All I can say is YUM YUM!

 

We had a little “Night for Nurses’  the other evening that my company sponsored  and there were some fabulous vendors there. I saw this little candle holder pumpkin and I just had to have it, especially because it was 1/2 off the regular price!

 

 Speaking of candles, my order of McCall's tart warmers came in and they smell delicious.

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I had some paint left over from the hutch project, and didn’t have the heart to toss it, so I re-painted the other make-do in my dining room. I really love this color!

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Finally, here in the big city everyone is going wacko because of the Phillies win last night! We’re back in the World Series for the 2nd year in a row!        

Go Phillies!

So, that’s my news---- nothing too exciting! I haven’t had the chance to get to a TS in ages. Maybe one day next week….

Have a great rest of the week, friends!

FALL REDO (pt.1)

Hi Blogbuds~
Before I get to the good stuff, I wanted to let you all know that my biopsies were fine and any and all 'suspicious' cells have been removed! So, I have a new incision to show off (!!) but all is well, Thank God, and I thank you all for your good thoughts and prayers. It was a little scary, and a reminder that we need to always be vigilant.


And then there was....another redo.....

Labor Day, huh? Well, yes indeedy, I certainly 'labored.' In fact, I've been 'off' all week and used the time to declutter-- sure, I would have rather spent the week in the Caribbean or something nice like that, but that will need to wait until I'm back to earning my full salary! Sometimes I need a few days to just do the fall cleaning, declutter all of the junk that accumulates, and get organized. So that's what I did. I repainted my home office (FINALLY!!!) and (I'm embarrassed to say) filled up 2 trash dumpsters with junk, PLUS took 6 boxes to the TS to donate!!! And that doesn't include the furniture and book cartons that I dumped in my mom's garage!!!! So, after, yes, count them...5 days of cleaning, painting, hauling boxes and furniture, redoing and rearranging, I'm done!!! Tomorrow is my trip to see Judy at Cinnamon Stick as well as my long-awaited trip to Aunt Daisy's!!!! So, once I bring home some new goodies, I'll post "part 2" of my rearranged living room as well as my new goodies!!! We are expecting a rainy day here tomorrow, but who cares?? We're off to Hereford!

So, first, after I removed an indescribable amount of junk, I emptied the room and repainted. I used a color this time -- a warm chestnut.

(hmm, need to do something with the electric cords, huh??Not sure what, tho!) Any ideas?

The room is small (as you might remember from past efforts!) -- this is the other side, and under the window. It's FALL!!! I need to get a better pic of this display!!

Here's the dining room display, with the furrball checking it out.

And I did this little pumpkin with some paint and candles. It was an old cutting board that came out of the 'junk' -- except that this had potential!

Isn't it great that Fall has finally arrived (more or less!) and that we can take all of our Fall goodies out of storage? I love this time of year!!!

I'll be back soon with Part 2 (a MUCH roomier living room) and all of my goodies from our trip tomorrow! Like my redo of my bench in front of my sofa!! I like it so much I'm using it as my blog pic!

TS finds and redos of redos

Well, I know you've been waiting with bated breath to hear about my success at the thrifties on Thursday. LOL. On a scale of 1-10, I'd give it a 5...still not great, but some goodies to be had. I picked up this cute vase for 97 cents -- it's a very deep blue, and while I'm not a fan of blue, I know it's making a comeback in a deeper blue, so I'm open to it. Speaking of blues, I know my needlepoint geese keep popping up in my pics of my living room. I worked for months on that (years back) and I love it, so it stays, even tho its geese and SO 1980's!! When blue really comes back, I'll be ready. LOL. Anyway, I think that GW won't be on my treasure hunt list, because in a city this size there are so many of them and it really is more junk than good stuff to redo. So I stopped at some of my other haunts.

At GW, I also got this cute little ceramic thing for the kitchen. It's a little different, so for 97 cents, I can't go wrong.

At the hospital TS, I picked little 2 drawer thingie up and did a little paint job.

Before:

After:

While I was painting, I warmed up some of my mustard items that were too yellow and bright.

Before:

After: Then I had this idea that I just had to share. I call it the cheap woman's fly cover. It just sort if came to me. You take one of these old wire things that you wash fruit in: and you distress it a little with rust colored paint, hot glue a knob on the top, and..

What do you think?? I, for one, can no longer afford to pay the ridiculous amount the real thing goes for these days. So,I just made one that's close! LOL!

I found this adorable sheep at my sweet little country store that I go to when I need a mental boost... (work has been incredibly tense this week, so needed a little escape time) And of course, Mr. Fat Stuff had to examine my purchases.

I think he approved. Did some rearranging...
and that's it for today! On my To Do list is to do another slide show since the old one is getting dated. So, I guess that means I have to finish spring cleaning. Hmm. Well, then, I'm off to do that! Have a great Saturday -- I'm going to see the Fab Faux tonite -- more on that later!

TS Bingo!

Hi PrimBuds!

I wasn't even expecting to hit the TS today, but I was early for my manicure appt, so I had some time to check out if there were any goodies on the shelf in my favorite TS. Lookie at these finds!!

I love this candle holder! I will carefully redo this one -- look at the panels on the back!!

I just love it! I also found an unusual breadboard that has a name carved in the wood. No work needed on this one -- I'll leave it as is and hang it.

And a 2- for-1 wall sconce! Guess what?
There are 2!! (For $1.25!!)

So I will be busy the next few hours!! Tomorrow, I'll post the Bedroom redo and what I did with all of these goodies! Hope you're all having a good weekend! I'm in TS heaven!! Did I hit the jackpot, or what!?!?!? LOL!

Giveaway, redos! Where to start??

I was such a busy bee yesterday. It was another 65-degree day, so out I went. I did find some goodies! (more on that later). I've been reading everyones' blogs and it seems like every TS is a bit bare these days. Now what's that about, do you think? That does not make me a happy girl! But, my concession shop was just chock-full yesterday, (prices higher, tho), so I came home with 'stuff." And -- I finally got the stupid memory thingie for my camera while I was out. Like, so, what a difference! DUHHHHH!

First of all, yes, we are approaching my 50th post very soon, so I am offering a lovely little giveaway to mark the occasion. Now, I tried and tried to make this look very nice, but the lighting in here was weird last night, so let me tell you what is in it: a candle holder redo and grubbed candle, 2 candle tarts, a wonderful SPRING wall hanging for those of you who like Spring stuff, and a little wooden holder covered with homespun. The swan is big and painted on wood. Don't know why it came out looking so small...

I'd like to offer this giveaway to anyone who is a follower of Big City Prims, because you have all been so nice in welcoming me to blog-land. If you're not a follower, you should be!! LOL. All you need to do is sign up to follow the blog, drop me an email and let me know you want to be entered. I will have my GF pick a name next Thursday, Feb 19th after WW meeting. So, sign up! I'll redo the pic to make it look nicer, as you don't have to see all the dust on my black rug! I also finally figured out how to do a slide show -- so if you'd like to see Big City Prim's apt, click the pic to the right!
Now for the redos. Here is the candle holder:

It's "ok" -- not great, but it will do. And the bowl -- I did a black paint on the bowl but left the arm brown. It's another just "ok." I might add this one to the list of things to swap. The best was the salt box, which did come out nice in a blue-black.

Well, that's it for now -- I will show you my new jugs tomorrow! And... don't forget my 5oth post giveaway! Have a great Monday!

A New Furkin!

Hello Prim Buddies!

We are having a spring-like day here in Philly (but not to last from what I hear...) so I would have had to be nutso to stay inside today. So I took a walk down by the river, which felt so good to get some sun and 'warm' breeze. Then had to run errands. Lucky me, I have to pass a cute little collectibles shop in the back of an old church on the way to grocery shopping! Well, I saw it was open and was having a big sale today. I picked up this cute firkin for a very reasonable price.

Also, picked up these wooden spoons for 50 cents. You know I will paint these! Love that scooper thing -- never saw one like that.

I finally finished making some yarn balls for my big wooden bowl. Wouldn't it be great if I knew how to use knitting needles??? LOL.

Speaking of sewing, I must say that I am so impressed with all of the sewing so many of you can do! I used to do tons of needlepoint when it was the 'in' thing -- it was SOO relaxing. Then it got really expensive -- it still is. I was checking out some patterns on the web, and they are still way too expensive. I used to have a great little needlepoint warehouse nearby, but they closed a few years ago. Do any of you still needlepoint?

We are being told that we are about to get a snowstorm Monday nite into Tuesday. 3-6 here in the city, 6-12 up North. Ok, I'm ready. Haven't had any real snow at all this winter. I bet this one blows right by us just like the other ones!

I'm off to a super bowl party (where I can't eat any of the bad stuff. LOL) Enjoy the game and have a great nite!

Grubby candles and tarts

I didn't get to do much good stuff today-- was busy with revisions of the nightmare project.

I did work from home (key word: work) and I was just so tired. These past two weeks of deadline work caught up with me. I had good intentions, but I think I'll have to wait to the w/e and get a trip to the TS into the schedule. I did get to few little things. I grunged up some candles...
VERY easy the Big City way:

• take a plain tea candle and put it in a microwavable cup you don't use for anything but crafting.
• heat it and check on it every 40 seconds or so until it melts.
• when melted, toss in some spice powder and some craft paint (brown, red, black etc) -- just a dab to color the wax.
• take a small paintbrush and heavily swipe it all over the candle. Within 30 minutes for drying, you have an easy grubbed candle!

I have an idea what to do with them, but I'll save it until I'm sure it works! If it does, I'll post the final product.

What else? I put up my new sampler behind my bed. I think it's perfect there. Then, I got a call from a new friend who owns a small prim shop very close to where I live. She is moving the store to a larger location, so she'll be closed for about a month while she and her hubby pack up the store, get it moved, and then set up in the new shop (which she tells me is in a converted big home -- can't wait to see it!!). Her stuff is mostly handmade and so cute. Anyhoo, she knew I was cooing over her candle tarts, so she pulled a pile together for me to hold me over until she re-opens! I took a run over, and came back with these. They smell deee-licious!! Mulled cider and cinnamon. What can smell better on a cold, icy day? I have an electric tart warmer in the BR and the LR so it smells yummy in here.

And while I was there, I picked up a throw blanket that she was almost giving away. Yum. Love the colors. Sort of a maroon and beige. On the bed now. Then I went back to work!

We did have an ice storm here in Philly, and the schools were closed, but I didn't think it was anywhere near as bad as what I've seen on some of your blogs! It's already warming up and melting off. Good thing, since I have to get to WW for a weigh-in tomorrow. I've been trying to be good...but we'll see if I was able to get any of those 2 pounds off!

So, that was my day...hope yours was warm and safe! Everyone got such good stuff done today! Did you see the pics of Gina's cats (and pup??) Could they be any cuter?? I could just gobble them up! What love bugs!!!!