Today, I write my blog with great sadness. I made this Christmas card a few years ago of me and my brothers. My younger brother isn't doing very well. I will not be blogging for a while. But I may visit from time to time. I am at a loss for words. I just thought you would like to know. I have always appreciated your kind comments. 
I wrote in my last post that I would fill the recipe boxes with some goodies. I finished making everything just about an hour ago. It is a friend's birthday today, so of course I had to make a card. She will also get the box.
A preview of what will I made for her.
Four little birdie note cards.
A sweet little notebook for her purse.
A holder for a gift card. I hope she likes shoes, it is to DSW. What am I thinking, who doesn't like shoes! I hope to make a few more things today. The box still looks a little empty! 
The recipe boxes revisited! It was a nice pre spring day here in Rhode Island. It really motivated me to be crafty! I love spring! I listened to my playlist, had a glass of iced cold Diet Coke and papered away! I was bound and determined to finish the last three boxes. I'll let you in on a secret, when I listen to my playlist I can get lost in the songs. I dance in the kitchen! I sing the songs! I do not take my crafting to serioulsy. My singing and dancing, yes!
I have no intention on putting recipes in these boxes. One is mine, the others will be used for gifts. Stay tuned to see what will go in these little boxes! I have a few ideas. 
Another post and another bird! I went through my favorite "must make this someday pictures" and decided to make the first thing that caught my eye. I have saved quite a few pictures of birds made from fabric, so I took out my sewing machine and picked out some material. Usually, when I am trying something for the first time I use fabric that I would not mind throwing away if the project doesn't turn out quite right. But, today I decided to live dangerously and use this pretty fabric. The bird came out just fine the first time. Nothing had to be tossed!
Once I finished it I didn't know what to do with it! I found a long skewer in the kitchen drawer so I decided to make a bird on a stick. I know that I would like to make a few more birds, they would make great Christmas ornaments. Did I just write that?
I felt like doing a little paper crafting yesterday. I had nothing particular in mind just felt like doing something other than painting! I opened the cabinet to see what jumped out at me. I always feel this way when I open the door, there is so much in there that something is bound to hit me on the head one day. I found a unpainted wooden picture frame and my new favorite book of papers.
Another bird, imagine that? I think they are so whimsical and basically they are easy for me to draw and then cut out. I do what I can with what I have!
I really do think it is great to dream. Dream big! Dream small!
Flowers, I wanted to keep these colors very subtle. This little frame is all about the pretty red bird. I love using buttons for the centers. Someday, I am going to sit in front of the TV and thread all the buttons I own. Again, a little detail that for some reason I just hate to do. But, I like how it looks, so I do it! Sort of like dusting the furniture!
This will be the last picture of this project, I promise! I thought it was complete until I realized that I bought only eight knobs instead of ten! My daughter suggested that I buy glass (these are a hard plastic) knobs for the bureau. I agreed until I saw the price of the glass knobs compared to practical unfinished wooden knobs. As you can see the I bought the "glass" knobs and I am so glad I did. They make this project, again it is all about the details!
I ran around the house this morning pulling this and that from different rooms to make a cute display. Now, that I photograph it I think I am in trouble. I really like the way it looks. I may have to go out and buy a glass candle holder and make another floral arrangement. I am going out anyway to buy 2 more knobs, so I may have to add a few things to my shopping list.
A little bit of springtime for sure.
I am not sure but I think there is a bird of some kind in every room of our house. I bought only four of these birds, but I am sure my father bought a few too. I see a visit to my parents in my future. This room could use more lighting so there will be a lamp on my list too. Someday, I will do a post on all the lamps my father has put together for me.
What would a before and after project be without the before picture? Here it is, not a bad bureau, but I like it so much more now! 
A little sneak peak at the bureau I painted yesterday, I had trouble with one drawer so it is not finished yet. But that did not stop me from seeing what it would look like when I added a few things to the top of it. I have no idea what to call the house/window thing! But I have had it for a few years and never did anything with it.
I made this table runner a few years ago. It was too big for the bureau, so I gathered the ends to make it fit! I said yesterday that my daughter uses this room when she visits so there is no need to go crazy and buy everything new. I like using things that I have around the house. I have to go and paint that last drawer, I am pretty sure she is coming home for the weekend!
I am checking things off my to-do list! The chair has been painted white and the cushions have been made! The fabric is just plain brown. I always seem to gravitate towards prints, but I think solid is the way to go in this bedroom. It is a rather small room so less is more.
Remember the ottoman? All it can hold is a few books or maybe a cup of tea. 
The lamp behind the chair was made by my father. He has so many lamp parts that he could open up his own store. I love the little gold bird. It adds so much to the base of the lamp. The lamp is too pretty to hide behind the chair, I just put it there for the picture. The picture looked a bit boring without it. Is that called staging a room? I know there is a name for it.
I took this picture from my daughter's room earlier today. Look through the lace curtain and you can see the snow covered lawn. Luckily the ground was warm from yesterday's 60 degree weather and the snow melted away rather quickly. I have been trying to get her room finished for a few months now. She does not live at home and only uses it when she visits. I made the curtain last week, the fabric is a beautiful satin fabric. I just finished the cushions for her chair today. Now, all I need to do is paint her bureau and buy a shade for the window. She likes to sleep in and there is a lot of sunlight that comes through that window in the morning. 
Spring is in the air here in Rhode Island. Not for long though, there is snow in the forecast for tomorrow. Really, Mother Nature if you can hear me cut it out with the snow! I love these bright colors. A few years ago my entire downstairs was painted a beautiful yellow. Red and blue decorations, pretty floral curtains. I really miss that yellow! Now, the walls are painted a gold/mustard color, very rustic. It is a great color for fall and winter but when spring comes around, I start to miss that yellow. Ah, regrets. 
There has been more progress with the napkins. One more to go and I will have four pretty napkins, that will never ever be used. Next time, I will do pillowcases, at least they can go on the bed, even if just for show.
My daughter's boyfriend went on a snowboarding trip to Utah and brought me back a set of rooster salt and pepper shakers. Again, maybe to pretty to use.
This box is really pretty as is, but it is just not me. I see another trip to Michael's in my future to buy a few more. Just what I need more things to cover!
Can you imagine being the person who creates all these papers? I would like that job! I always think that I have all the paper I need and then, there it is another book of pretty, pretty, pretty paper. I already saw another book at Michael's that is calling my name. I may have to change my name!
I bought this lamp today to put near my craft table. There is only one window in the room so there is not a lot of natural light. The base of the lamp is black and the shade is brown. Last week I saw a floor lamp at Pier One it cost $175.00. I really liked it, but $175.00 was not what I was planning on spending. 
This is the before mentioned Pier One lamp. I think the one I bought has the same sort of feel to it. I would not of been happy with the white shade. So add another $15.00 to the Pier One lamp and now it would of cost me $190.00. I am happy to say the lamp I bought cost $52.00 and I don't feel like I just settled for it, I really like it.
Now, if I can just find the time to get in there and make something. I may just curl up on the couch have a cup of coffee and read a book. Either one would be fine with me! 
Here is where I intend to do all my paper crafts. It is a small room in the house that gets little use, if any. The table photographed a little small, but it is big enough for me. Remember big table equals big mess! I painted the top a deep chocolate brown and hot glued the fabric to it. Underneath the fabric is a lot of storage space. I am getting very organized!
A few little creations to inspire me. I really needed a space of my own. The kitchen counter has been good to me. But, I needed a space that I could just shut the door and leave the mess on the table. Not that I intend on doing that. 
Like I need a reminder to try and create something everyday. It should read, do the dishes before you start something new! Oh and don't forget to start supper on time!
There is something about distressed paper that I just love. I know it was hard for me to rip that first piece of paper out of the book. I hope the author doesn't mind. I covered this box a few weeks ago. I think I need to make a few more! It is already full of paper crafts.
I made a few of these martini glasses and gave them away for Valentine's Day. This one has Hershey Kisses in it. I hate to admit this but, they are not my favorite candy. Who doesn't like Hershey Kisses? Maybe, that's why they are still in there. I am more of a gum drop fan!
I just finished recovering this small ottoman that is in my daughter's room. It is really quite small 15'' x 11", I am not sure you can even use it, but it has been in her room for a while now. I guess it is just a decorative piece.
There is a before picture below of how it looked before it was recovered and repainted. I love this fabric you will be seeing more of it later this week.
I also love decorative trims. This is a simple burlap ric-rac, but it does add a little something to the ottoman.
Here is the before picture. It was cute, but it does not really match the new look we want for her room. I must admit I bought it for $4.99 a few years back. I guess we could put a few books on it. That's about all I think it will hold!
