Can you guess what I repurposed to make this pillow??

A Cashmere Sweater!!

I had this favorite cashmere sweater my dear Mother-in-Law gave to me long ago. There were some holes at the very bottom, but I just couldn't part with it.

Inspiration struck after a Nate Berkus appearance on some show giving me this idea.....make it into a pillow!!!

Ok I have a sewing machine which certainly does not qualify me as a seamstress. 

 Let me be VERY clear.... I do NOT know how to sew!

 I long ago I read the directions to thread and do the bobbin and had experimented from time to time, done some simple stuff, that's about it.

 I want to tell you I was VERY intimidated by trying this and as a result procrastinated for several months.  

Wait the supreme motivator was coming.....company!!!!

How many of you have done this??  

We should just entertain when we have home projects to complete, right?

By the way I posted about this chair before. A Kittlinger Chair I bought at an auction for like $25.00. I love the finish and lines. I just found this fabric and am going to have the seat covered with it.  Hey, my can do attitude can only go so far, friends!!! 

Sometimes we must recognize our limitations and pull out the big guns....and I know this project as a limitation!!!

 It may be a bit wonky, but I love that I went for it. 

I tucked turtle neck inside the bottom and seamed across it, then trimmed it off on inside. Those of you who are experienced at this may be shaking your head, shame on you don't laugh!

 But hey, it was my uneducated plan of attack.

Sewed the bottom edge down for the top, added velcro 

so I can open it up.

Tied the sleeves across the middle.

 Finally I took my Grandmothers Beautiful Vintage Pin and placed it on the knot.

Perfect that the color matches the accent colors I am using in my new digs.

I have a half a dozen of these pins I love using in different ways...wait this may just be another post!

It's funny how we just keep on learning things no matter how old we are, or sometimes we are again reminded that sometimes you just have to jump in and do it!!!

Loved Sharing this with you all, hope you enjoyed...

Shari

Created Artwork Leap

Just a quick post because I now seem to have more time for my creating and I just added 2 original art illustrations in multi media and 10 prints all numbered and signed on my Etsy sight:

 https://www.etsy.com/shop/Mytransformations

They are multi-media pen and ink with graphite and a touch of gold for elegance. I can't tell you how much I loved doing these and how they just poured forth. 

This is the first time I am selling a piece of my art work on line. The originals are matted on 6"x6" acid free Bristol with a vellum finish. Both signed.  The prints signed and numbered. There are only 10 of each.

This is an artistic area I don't often share.  My friends Jeanne and Heather have been pressing me to pursue more of this. I am excited and nervous about putting these out there, it is not easy for me.  It is so personal to me. My friend Heather gave me a gift of this wonderful large chalk board in my kitchen. I often put quotes on it. Here is the current one it is pretty dead on:

"Leap...and the net shall appear." A Zen Proverb.

So here goes the first of many "Leaps" I hope to be taking.

Thanks for stopping by, 

Shari
Links:
http://romantichome.blogspot.com/
http://www.iheartnaptime.net/sundae-scoop-link-party-76/
http://www.craft-o-maniac.com/
http://www.keepingitsimplecrafts.com/
http://www.creatingreallyawesomefreethings.com/

http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/

http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2013/04/wow-us-wednesdays-115.html

http://www.primpjunktion.com/
http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/2013/04/transformation-thursday-no-201.html

http://swingingonastarcreations.blogspot.com/2013/04/just-quick-post-because-i-now-seem-to.html

Settled in my New Home

Hello Dear Friends.....After months of preparing my house for sale, selling, packing, buying a new house and moving I am finally settled in my new home. Whew talk about overwhelming stress!!!! It was also so amazing how it all so miraculously fell into place though.

There is still much to do, but actually that is the fun of it. I love arranging and making it my own.

Some of my friends were so helpful in this huge step...packing, unpacking, finding and adding pieces and supporting me, it was amazing. 

 It's funny but I left my home of many memories kind of kicking and screaming, but now I love my new home and am the happiest I have been since my husband died.

I am not going to post as often as I want time to create, work on my home, and of course there is still my job and I really

 just want to relish life a bit.

This is my great room. The ceiling must be 20' high. There is lots of light from the windows and French doors here and in my bedroom to this lovely deck. It is private, at least on one side as I am an end home. The deck overlooks a woods and there is a golf course beyond that.

I have taken my time with hanging pictures. This arrangement of pics took me weeks before I actually hung them. I will show the details in another post. I am planning to paint it.

Great room opens into kitchen something like my other home.  

While I was at the closing Jeanne and Heather placed my armoire in a mirrored nook in my great room. It has become my liquor/storage cabinet. More later....

French doors and windows to deck.....

The great room is smaller, but it is essentially one floor living as my bedroom is just off the Great Room and miracle of miracles my laundry is on the same floor. I no longer lug clothes to be basement to do the wash.  I have a lovely loft that is my studio with tons of light and a guest bedroom and bath also there.  I love to do my yoga and meditation there as there as I feel as if I am sitting in a tree house with all the windows and light. Pictures later.

I'll show more pics soon and we can catch up on what has been going on.

It is great to be back.

Thanks for stopping by, 

Shari

Links:
http://www.iheartnaptime.net/sundae-scoop-link-party-76/

http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2013/04/wow-us-wednesdays-115.html

http://www.primpjunktion.com/

http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/2013/04/transformation-thursday-no-201.html

http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/

Odds 'n Ends: Bunny Gift Card 'n Figs?

I thought I'd experiment with making a gift card.  

I ended up with this little guy and his Morning Glory necklace in Watercolor and a bit of glitter.

How do you like him?

(Glitter never shows up well in my photos.)

These are my 2 favorite subjects, bunnies and flowers.

Adding a bit of glitter is always fun too!

I added the polka dot scrapbook paper to the inside of the envelope.

I may have to put him on my Etsy

  

Little Things to be Grateful for:

What a great day today.....

I was reminding myself that there are lots of little things that happen throughout our day that we can be grateful for...

a man gave me an umbrella to use at the grocery store,

IT WAS POURING DOWN RAIN.....

the couple at the entrance smiled and said hello to me.....

a woman helped me rescue a birthday card I almost lost....
 and the man at our wonderful cheese counter is always interesting to talk to. He let me taste the Manchego cheese he was cutting, some Parma Prosciutto (for my figs) and we traded appetizer recipes for the figs (he saw them in my basket) I was serving on the 4th.  

I love figs...they are so beautiful too......

via

via

Mine:  Cut in 1/4's, but not all the way, stuff with blue cheese, wrap in a good Prosciutto (like Parma) and grill......

ohhhh so decadently delicious! 

Add a nice red and ALL is good with the world!

His: Cut in 1/2, drizzle with Olive Oil, serve with Parmigiano Reggiano and a drizzle of great balsamic. I'm going to try his too only with a glaze or reduction of the balsamic.

I'll let you know how they turned out.

Hope you all have a wonderful and safe Fourth of July!

Thanks for stopping by, 

Shari
Please Enjoy These Links:


Polish The Stars
Craft-O-Maniac
Polly Want A Crafter?
Sumo's Sweet Stuff
{Primp}
The Shabby Creek Cottage
The Brambleberry Cottage
Beyond The Picket Fence
My Romantic Home
Common Ground

Hi Everyone,

I know I have been posting and will not be for several weeks.

 I am getting my house ready to put on the market.  

I dearly love my home with it's high ceilings, great room with hardwood floors and windows all across the back to my deck with views of trees, trees trees. 
It feels like I am living in a tree house. 

But mowing 3/4 of an acre, all the beds, mulching and upkeep is getting to be too much for me. One concession may be more time in my studio, oh yes and no snow shovelling or mowing!!!
There is so much to do to get it ready I am quite overwhelmed. 
So I have taken my blog responsibilities off my to do list temporarily. 

I think it is time for some new beginnings. 

Please don't forget about me.
I'll miss you all

Shari

I will try to post some pics from time to time:

This years peonies in my favorite Haeger Flea Market Vase ($2.00)

Shari

A Little Gratitude Gift

HOW DO YOU CONVEY HOW GRATEFUL you are for a kindness?

It wasn't a huge thing that was done, it was just that it was done by someone I am not close to.

I was so touched by her random act of kindness.

Sometimes you just don't quite know how to thank someone for going out of their way.

I often feel that since I am an artist something that included my artwork would be appreciated.

So I made this journal for her.

Every detail was done with my feelings of gratitude.

I painted the cardinal on canvas paper with acrylics and collaged it on this beautiful scrapbook paper.

Added a few "santa claus"/dandelion seeds and handpainted pinecones edged in glitter, some vintage lace and a few vintage chandelier crystals.

I wrapped it up in lovely gift wrap...sorry forgot to get a pic.

Expressing and Feeling Gratitude actually motivated my own creativity. 

Ok now I suppose I am also grateful to this friend for inspiring creativity in me too so I received several gifts from her act of kindness.....Lucky Me! 

I am grateful that you stopped by too!

Shari
Links you should see...

Polly Want A Crafter?

Craft-O-Maniac

Coastal Charm
C.R.A.F.T.
Sugar Bee Crafts
Not JUST a Housewife
Savvy Southern Style
{Primp}
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Beyond The Picket Fence
The Brambleberry Cottage
My Romantic Home
French Country Cottage
Simply Designing
At The Picket Fence
I Hearat Nap TIme
Flamingo Toes
Common Ground

Thinking Pink!

I haven't posted in a while I know. I haven't for many reasons, mainly because I am busy getting my house ready to sell.....25 years of accumulated things and memories is a lot to go through. The task seems insurmountable at times. So much to do since I let some house repairs slide since my husband passed, so working hard to catch up. Some of my gardens beds have been sadly neglected too. 

Attending to my blog was becoming another anxiety which I think helped create an artist's block if you will. I think I need to find a new direction to take my blog...not sure what it is yet. Have been looking and studying many other blogs. I suppose as I am making big changes in my life, a purging if you will, I feel the need to rethink my blog also. In the mean time I am not adding blog deadlines to my agenda. I am, for now "SURPRISE BLOGGING" I will call it. Don't know when or about what but that's what I am doing....

So be patient with me dear friends while I "find my self" yet again. 

Today I am posting about PINK. Inspired by a blogger: How Sweet The Sound. 
She has a Link Party called, PINK SATURDAY (Pink Saturday Link) Party. 
And it is her 4th Birthday....Happy Birthday!

I found her through one of my favorite blogs:

Splenderosa (Here). 

Marsha was wishing the above blogger Happy Birthday and I thought I would join in the fun!

I love pink...it is such a happy color and 

I have a Pinterest board titled "Think Pink"

(HERE). 

The board title is from a song in the Hepburn/Astaire movie, 

"Funny Face"

You can see it here:

(Here)

I was motivated for the first time in weeks to post. 

This is fun and we all need a little fun in our lives. 

(Besides I had planned to carry all the deck furniture up to the deck today...in 87* weather....this is SO much more fun!)

So just some eye candy, fun and maybe inspirations for you.

 These are the Think Pink's I was drawn to:

 In the home..

Love Louie Chairs:

Love Retro

 

 Fun...

We Could All use a little Ewww La La:

Fun

Magical

These are NOT from MY Garden...

Sweet Dreams,

Sending Lovely Pink Wishes Your way,

Shari

Please Check Out These Links for More Inspirations:

How Sweet The Sound
Splenderosa