bodner006

I have a mantra for my kids:  Be Awesome Today.  I mean, I think it says it all.  It's a great reminder, not just for them, but for anyone in the house (that includes the cockapoo).  So I put it into a sign. The idea I had for this sign was inspired by The Handmade Home and their DIY sign.  (NOTE:  their method is different than mine, so check both out to see what works for you).  It's a pretty fabulous blog I follow and I recommend it to you as well.  This sign is made in reverse:  meaning, the background is painted and the words are stained.  And I knew I could make it on the "cheaps". (Sorry for the lack of photos for this tutorial.  I was super-excited to get it done that I forgot the damned camera). Here's how I did it:  First I decided how long and tall I wanted the sign to be. Then I opened a Word document and typed in "Be Awesome Today" and tested many different fonts before settling down with Travel Diary , free from ...

I am so excited to share this little jewel of a find with you.  Away on a girl's weekend (boy, I need more of these), just down the street from our camp on the beautiful Shadow Lake in Glover, Vermont, me and my lady friends come across Red Sky Trading.  The bright welcoming sign should be enough to make anybody stop.   It's actually a small, open barn right next to a brick home, presumably the owners of this magical place.  If it wasn't for the vibrant colors of the Adirondack chairs, I think you could blink and miss it.  And boy, would you be missing a lot.     Scattered across the yard in the front of the barn are these beautiful chairs, welcoming all to rest their weary feet.  Joining them is an eclectic collection of fabulous flea market finds.  I can only imagine the selection changes on a weekly basis. After perusing the furniture, you make your way to the open entrance of the barn to find this sign:    I mean, come on!!!...

My wonderful mother-in-law gave my husband and I a set of fabulous dining room chairs that had been collecting dust in her attic.  To me these are special because A:  they were from my husband's parents, and B:  they are so individually unique. But, alas, they can no longer do the job they were intended to do.  Well, I guess I could have them re-caned, but I decided not to go down that road.  I actually replaced some of the broken seats with wood inserts and used chair pads over them.  But the chairs themselves were started to get a little too wobbly, so they've been taking up space in my garage until I could figure out what to do with them.   Not so good for seating. I had a pretty good helper to take out the caning. And now I have.  One of them has found a new role in welcoming guests to our home.  I took out the seat altogether, painted it with some DIY chalk paint and of course, had to distress her.  Now she sits at our side ent...

This was a Craigslist find and after seeing the knobby legs and wavy-cut panels, I had to have him.  The Before I recently purchased Annie Sloan paint and I was chomping at the bit to use it.  This was the perfect piece; although the construction is wood, the top is laminate.  This paint is supposed to coat virtually any surface and stick.  So here goes it.  I used Annie Sloan Old White on the outside and for the drawer I used Annie Sloan Duck Egg Blue.  I wanted that "peek-a-boo" affect when you opened the drawer.  Franklin is not afraid to show his feminine side that he keeps under drawers, if you know what I mean (**snicker, snicker**).  After painting, I distressed a bit and then added Annie's clear wax.  It's like butta!  (butta = butter;  I am originally from Massachusetts).  With the addition of clear glass knobs, I think he's looking kind of fancy! Hello Duck Egg Blue! He is 21" tall, 21" wide and 28" deep and looking t...

I had planned on just writing about the beautiful trip we took up Mt. Washington in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. But this day trip had more in store for me. We were fortunate enough to spend Memorial Day weekend with a family we are very close with, thanks to both our sons having Down syndrome. It's nice to spend time with people who "get" you. Anyhow, we decided to take our respective minivans up the Mt. Washington Auto Road. What the heck, I'd never been and it seemed like a holiday weekend thing to do. As we pulled up to the start of the road, we were handed this folder. I should have been worried when the envelope talked about cooling your brakes and in bold telling you to drive all the way up and down in lowest gear. I just remember thinking let's get this show on the road! Did I mention that my husband asked me if I wanted him to drive and I said no? We popped in the CD given to us and listened to the history of the road as we slowly made ou...

How many of you actually pull your curtains closed?  Of course, that may have been their original intention way back when windows didn't keep the cold out and shades had not yet been invented, but I'm guessing that most of us use them for decoration and the much needed sound absorption of our screaming 3 year olds. Think Debbie, how can you find a creative way to hang your curtains and not spend a gazillion dollars on an unnecessary, super-long curtain rod?  ***DING*** (That's the sound of the lightbulb going off in my head).  The answer:  a towel holder, or bar, depending on your lingo. For under $5 each, I purchased the wooden honey oak towel holders at Home Depot.  The beauty of this baby is you can cut the dowel to the size you need AND you can paint, distress, and glaze them. And I did just that. After pulling them out of the package, I got out my handy dandy (fancy dancy) can of black spray paint.  I gave them a coat or two, not forgetting the little ...