Restoring Sunflowers

This time of year I love to decorate around the house with fresh sunflowers.  The only problem is that the yellow petals dry up and fall off way to soon and I am left with just the dried brown centers.

So I had the idea of restoring the yellow petals using yellow crepe paper streamers.

I began by accordion folding the streams a little wider than I wanted my finished petals.

Next I cut out the shape of the petal leaving the top a little wider at the point.

I ended up needing 20 petals for this sunflower.  I twisted the top of each petal into a point.

Then I folded the bottom edge with a pleat in the center.

Using hot glue I glued each petal in place overlapping slightly.

first petal glued in place

Here is the sunflower half finished.

And here it is with all the petals glued in place.  I really looks like a fresh sunflower again.  I have a whole bouquet of these with stems still attached drying.  Once dry I can add new petals and arrange in a vase for Fall.

I placed this one in a Fall birdcage arraignment with a pumpkin and a faux book page feather I made last year.

It is really hard to tell this isn't a fresh sunflower, perfect for Fall decorating.

Here is an entire bouquet with it's new yellow petals.

Happy Crafting!

Angel Wall Hanging

I have been on the lookout for something to hang above our bed.  I wanted it to look like an architectural piece but without the weight of a heavy concrete piece.

I found these paper mache angels for 75 cents. They had a very bad crackle finish that was done over bright gold.

They were chipped and stained.

Using light gray, dark gray and white chalk paint I created the look of aged concrete.

I glued a corded tassel to the back with hot glue to make a hanger.

Next I painted this very lightweight plastic ceiling tile in light gray with white on the raised areas.

Again using hot glue I attached the angels to the ceiling tile.

I really love the way this turned out.  It looks like heavy concrete but really only ways a few ounces.  After all we do live in California land of earthquakes.  Definitely don't want concrete falling on our heads in a big shake.

This piece hangs over the headboard I built a few years ago to resemble a white picket fence along with a couple of straw hats and a swag of lace.

Happy Crafting!

Prayers for Las Vegas

I couldn't believe what I was reading on the internet this morning.  It was a similar reactions to the news of 9/11.  The first thing I said then and today is "is this really real."

It is hard to understand how someone could do such a horrific act.

My prayers are with all those who lost love ones and all that were hurt or witnessed this terrible tragedy that happened last night in Las Vegas.

I prayer America will stand strong together, not just today but in the future and that people will stop dividing themselves and start uniting in love.  Because no matter who we are or where we are from we all deserve respect as human beings. Our country has always stood strong for all people.

Prayers to all!

Vintage Finds in Nevada

While we were in Genoa, NV. I stopped at my favorite antique shop and found a few items I couldn't leave behind.

The first item is a Lefton wall plaque, this is one of a four season set.  But I still think it is pretty on it's own.

These are pink crystal salt and pepper shakers that match my pink depression dishes.  Also this darling crystal toothpick holder.

I have been collecting little glass baskets for awhile to use as place name holders on our dinner table. This one make 4.

And lastly this cute little book holder I plan to refinish and use sitting on a table to hold my sewing and craft books.

While we were in Genoa we stopped at the Pink House for lunch.  Since they specialize in cheese we had their ooh so gooey cheese sandwiches that came with green salad.  Yum.

Love the rockers on the porch.

Lobby

Dining area

ordering area

We watched a couple of years as this building was completely renovated.  They did a beautiful job to make a charming restaurant.

Happy Travels!

Trip to Old Hangtown, CA

I know that is a strange name for a town.  These days the town I grew up in is called Placerville but back in the 1800's it was called Hangtown.

They held swift justice for gold claim jumpers and murderers.  It is said only 3 people where hung from a tree where today stands an ice cream parlor.

The current owners spent many months restoring the beauty to this building.  When I was a kid it was a saloon.  Oh don't you love the wild west.

Here is a little of the wild west the has been saved for future generations.

drawing of Hank Monk famous stage coach driver.

Complete with tin ceilings.

They were able to save a mural that had hung on the wall for many a year of the towns beginnings.

Giant gold pan display

Here it looks like they electrified old railroad lanterns.

And there are tons of old photos and artifacts on the walls.  Everyone from Mark Twain to Horace Greeley and President Grant made their way through here in the early days.  There is even an unmarked grave where Billy the Kid's father was laid to rest.

Here is an early parade.

Mark Twain

Love the shot gun door handles.

You might also recognize some of the houses from town.  Many were used in Thomas Kindade''s paintings.

This one I have hanging in my living room.  I lived in this house in high school. The little diamond shaped window was my bedroom.  

He also did a painting of the bakery I owned downtown.  Nice to have those memories hanging on my walls.

So, there is a little of the history of our little town.

my bakery in the center

Happy Travels!

Little Pink Crown

Here I collected a variety of items to create a shabby chic crown.

A wooden die cut, metal filigree piece, some bling and a piece of metal trim.

I began by forming the metal trim into a circle about 4" in diameter and held it in place with a clip until it dried.

For the little piece of filigree I simply gave it a slight curve to match the bend of the metal.

I know, now of these items match.  But it really doesn't matter because when it is all put together I will paint the pieces to match.

Here I used a piece of wide ribbon to glue to the back of the  die cut and cut holes in the open areas for later bling.

Then it was time to assemble the crown  by gluing all the pieces together.  Once the glue was dry I gave the entire crown a coat of pink chalk paint.

Then I glued a rhinestone into each open area.

Next I sanded the metal to distress it and glued the long piece of bling around the bottom of the metal edge.

Once it was completed all the different elements blended into each other forming the little pink crown.

Here I placed it on a female bust in a small vignette. You can see a silver shaker in the foreground I turned into a picture or memo holder.  I love it when I find a single shaker in the vintage stores.  There are so many things you can make out of them.  Like this holder or a tassel to hang from a knob, for example.

I am sure this little crown will find it's way to other areas around the house as the seasons change.

Happy Crafting!