I'll show you mine if you show me yours.....

Do you have favorite sayings, verses, mantras that you keep handy for the appropriate times? Words that are jumbled together that just make sense when put together? If you crossed stitched or did typographical wall art, this comes to mind first? Cruise Pinterest scoping out sign sayings that catch your eye, heart or feelings? A saying that hangs at the bottom of your emails, blogs, tweets?

I have a few. I'll show you mine if you show me yours.......

If nothing goes right - go left

Welcome!

If you always do what you've always done,

you'll always get what you've always gotten.

Pinterest Finds.....

You'll often find me grazing through Pinterest looking at DIY, Home and Furnishings, Photography, or on the home page. I haven't pinned anything, myself - but love what other web crawlers are always finding.  Here are a few really neat ideas that I've found and may have to act on.

 

If my craft room studio walls weren't slanted and had just one right angle, 

I'd go for this in a heart beat. Almost looks like an ole telephone niche.

Just too cute - I'm thinking bathroom

After hitting Costco - this would be perfect!

This is a must have -- NOW!

(they will so match my mason jar glasses set)

These are pillow cases sewn together - then add pillows - easy peasy!

I did something like these last Christmas - may have to go it again with a little twist

Thought for the day ......

The Reveal --- before and after Guest Room Remodel

 

Before

After

The original wall color was fine in the guest and the basic furniture didn't need to be replaced - just updated for a softer-comfort room. Since we have red in all the rest of the house rooms, I went out of my way to not have red in the guest room. Soft sage green won the toss for the color spot.

Before

After

After searching all the local stores and then hitting the web, I could not find a comforter and pillow set that I liked. So, I made the new set myself. Fitting the queen size bed, I used 2 king sized sheets and a new down alternative comforter. The Euro pillows and front pillow from green/sea blue/ivory material.

I built a headboard with 4 foot pine boards. It was so simple - measured the wall space, tung oil finish on the boards and screwed to the wall with silver knob head screws.

Before

After

After

I found some treasures at Goodwill - a new lamp that is adjustable for better lighting and an old tray that I painted and mod podged with vintage post card paper then I sanded down some of the edges.

Before

After

New funky willow lamp shades for the side table lamps and added some reading material for our guests.

Before

After

After

New floor lamp and side table/stool with framed photograph (by Scott Mansfield) art in a silver frame.

A spot for the suitcase to sit on the willow basket that is filled with all the room's afghans. I repositioned the room coat hooks and added vintage hotel room numbers that I made with metal sheeting and vinyl numbers.

 

Before

After

On the large, far wall I created a wall of multiple frames that I found at Goodwill and either painted or shabby chic the wood and filled with artwork, posters, photographs. Three of the frames have background maps with our kids photos labeled on top of the frame. Yosemite with Scooter's photo, Olympic N.P. with Bruce's photo and Oregon with Andrea's photo -- turned out cute. 

A finial look at the bed colors

This was a 6 week project (with life taking up some time along the way).  The furniture placement stayed mostly the same with some stored pieces removed adding more space to the room, but everything else was changed. The total cost for the make-over? $300.00 with the most bucks going for the new bedding - comforter, new sheets, blankets and pillows. $50.00 for the headboard wood, $15.00 for the green table/stool, $47.50 spent at Goodwill for the frames, dresser tray and lampshades. Money well spent. We now have a pleasant, comfortable room for our guests and family.

The vacancy sign is out and just waiting for a visit.

Being Published - again......

One of my scrapbook pages is being published in Scrapbook News and Review for their June issue (June 12th release date).  You've all seen the page - it is the Mumford and Sons layout (May 3rd post) I did and posted here a while back. I haven't submitted any of my work in ages and last month I decided I needed an update to my scrapbook resume and went for it. Check it out --- but, remember you saw it first here.......

i found it on Pinterest and had to bring it home.

May's Book Reports

 Cold Truth by Mariah Stewart

Ms.Stewart's series just keep getting better and better. This New Jersey shore hamlet hasn't seen the serial killers kills for 26 years. Is he back - you bet! Police detective, Cass and true crime writer, Regan, are on the hunt to stop the killings (along with a couple FBI agents when things get personal). And it gets personal when Cass is stalked by the killer.  Another series starting point.

Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear

A 1920's series set in England with Maisie starting her private detective agency. This story is a mix of current conflict and flashbacks to give us Maisie's history. An award winning story, slow to progress in the mystery department, but gives us much of Maisie's back story to set the stage for future stories.

Heads You Lose by Lisa Lutz & David Hayward

Alternating chapters with author notes and comments at the end of each chapter, Lisa and David give us banter and humor. That's about all they give us with this book. The mystery (is there really a mystery here?) is all over the place and never settles down to tell a story until the last page. Although I'd read anything Lisa Lutz writes -- this is not one of them.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

with Annie Barrows (editing niece)

I loved this book! A series of letters to Juliet Ashton, London 1946. Letters she's written and written to her.  Juliet successfully wrote a series of articles about London life during WWII and then puts them into a book - that starts a chain of letters to her from a group of people living on the Channel Island of Guernsey. This is about their story during German occupation and Juliet seeing the seed of her next book. This is a wonderful read with humor and intrigue. 

The Fifth Witness by Michael Connelly

Another Lincoln Lawyer novel (timed to come out when the original LL story hits the big screen). Mickey has had to start supplementing his criminal practice to include forecloser clients.  Not really his cup of tea, but it's paying the bills.  Until he ends up defending one of his clients on a murder charge and Mickey goes after the banks - forecloser practices and the in between companies. Good story.

Spider Web by Earlene Fowler

Another Benni Harper mystery. With the Memory Festival coming up, Benni is busy. When a sniper enters the town all hell breaks loose.  An OKay read.

Hard Truth by Mariah Stewart

When Lorna Temple returns to rural PA to sell her family's property after the passing of her parents, the last thing she expected were bodies being discovered in the back 40.  Over 20 years ago, 2 children went missing and one was Lorna's best friend. Are the questions finally getting answers to the disappearances or are more questions about to be asked? Good book....

Dark Truth by Mariah Stewart

FBI agent, Nina Madden's life changed when her professor father was convicted of a series of killings on campus. He died in prison. That was 20 years ago. Nina left town and never looked back. When a series of killing's MO matches the earlier killings, Nina and the detective from her father's case start comparing notes. They come across some new evidence, missed truths and a killer ready to strike again.

Final Truth by Mariah Stewart

Regan Landry is following in her deceased true-crime writer father's footsteps and looking for the next "best seller" to write.  When fraud is discovered at a DNA testing lab and releases a few convicted felons, Regan looks into the story to be her next book. But, she and FBI boyfriend, Mitch are in the thick of things when a series of killings follow them -- all the way home.

What's Behind Door Number 1?

A few weeks ago, I decided that our guest room needed a complete overhaul. It's the room that got all the left-overs.  Furniture that didn't fit anywhere else in the house - blankets and comforters that have been around for eons (and didn't fit anywhere else in the house) - changing art work and wall hangings to make it look pulled together (and never did).  It was time to make it a room of it's own. 

I have been painting - sewing - shopping - sewing - and giving the room a complete new look. It's starting to look the way I imagined it --- but, I've got a lot yet to do. Along with planning a birthday party, being a graphic designer, meeting with exterior house painters (yup, that's going to get done too, this summer), roof cleaners, and then taking a few days to feel under the weather  (where does that phrase come from anyway?). When the room is done -- I'm posting lots of photos. Before and After -- so stayed tuned.

The thought for the day.....

Monday Monday

Another great challenge from Jessica Sprague site - 

pick your favorite day of the week and scrap it.

and I did just that...

(photos from the web and Fairhaven post cards)

Mine were: see made passion

(that's my story and I'm sticking to it)

Leave a comment what the 3 words are that describe you

(the 1st 3 words you see - be quick)

 

90!

Today is my dad's 90th birthday.

He was born May 11, 1921, in Duluth, MN.

Happy Birthday, Dad and Many Many More!

April's Book Reports

 

A Morning For Flamingos by James Lee Burke

Southern Louisiana is the backdrop for Dave's next series installment. Dave goes undercover after a shooting incident leaves him wounded and with a dead partner. This story brings out the best and worse New Orleans has to offer - from voodoo, drug lords to a new love interest surfacing from Dave's past.

Last Look by Mariah Stewart

When a dead prostitute is found, her identity turns out to have been a woman murdered 24 years ago, the FBI get involved. FBI agent, Shannon, remembers the 24 old case, her father got a conviction and execution the first time around -- did he get it wrong? Shannon needs to know and digs up more than she can handle. The first of the Last Series my Ms. Stewart.

Last Words by Mariah Stewart

In the nine years with the FBI, special agent Mia Shields has seen it all -- but nothing prepares her for the serial killer in St. Dennis on Maryland's eastern shore. While living in her cousin Connor's Maryland home, she and chief of police, Beck, are determined to find and stop the gruesome killings. Another good book by Mariah Stewart

Last Breath by Mariah Stewart

Archaeologist Dr. Daria McGowan is offered the job to curate her great grandfather's artifacts at the university museum her family established. When she finds missing artifacts that have been stored for over a hundred years, she calls on FBI agent Connor Shields to help investigate the thievery. Thievery isn't all that comes their way.  One of the best in the "Last" series by Stewart.

Forgotten by Mariah Stewart

(this book is listed as a stand alone - but really is the last of the "Last" series)

FBI agent, Portia Cahill, has just returned to the states and is handed what looks like a simple assignment.  Portia would rather be on the other side of the world fighting undercover -- but this new case just keeps getting stranger and stranger and she's out to get the facts.  Portia must communicate with the incarcerated serial murderer to find one more body.  When a copycat murderer surfaces, Portia and the original murderer's lawyer find themselves in unexpected territory with twists and turns no one expected. Very Good Read!

Who do you Admire?

A recent scrapbook layout challenge on the Jessica Sprague site (one I frequently join for the challenges) was to pick a famous person that you admire or inspires you.  I could have picked a few - but, Teddy came to mind first. Especially, after visiting the Badlands and the Theodore Roosevelt National Park and again spending time on the Washington D.C. island with his memorial. Both fantastic sites! Here's my entry to the challenge using web photos. Bully!