Christmas (don't kill me) crocheted-ribbed-dishcloths for beginners

I am getting ready for Christmas!

Every year I say I will start early, and I don't.

When you want to  make some things for friends,

you have to get

going

early!

so proud of myself

The first three are for me - It took me a minute and a dish cloth or two to figure out what I was doing.  The first one I made was a mess, so it wasn't picture worthy. (still works, just a little crooked!)




The tutorial is found here: Aesthetic Nest!  I am so grateful for those creative crafty people who share their talents.

I made mine a little bigger than this tutorial - I started with 30 stitches - personal preference!

Confession- I received a crocheted dish cloth a few years ago, and I thought - Weird.  Then I tried it and it is my FAVORITE. They wash up so good.

The yarn has to be 100% cotton.  Peaches and Cream brand has some luscious colors and it is at Walmart.  The cost is $1.77 and it will make two dishcloths (small skein of yarn).

 My sister Chris who can crochet anything is going to laugh at me. . .

The latest, greatest frame adventure! An open frame gallery wall!

                   I love Frames, all kinds of frames. . .

Old, new, ornate or plain.  Brass, resin, wood or plastic.

A frame is a frame and all frames are delish!

I have used frames for chalkboards and for chicken wire memo boards.

The latest greatest frame adventure is an open frame gallery wall.

with a couple of mirrors and a few other fun things thrown in!

This project was for my daughter Paige.  So, together we pulled out my frames and got to work.  We lay them out and moved them around and kinda went a little nuts.

Literally nuts! 

There is not right way, or wrong way.

It is just what you like. . .

Too many choices!

So I searched. Oh, I love what we can find out there today!

Picklee

Not only is there 35 different wall gallery's, there is help on how to!


The painting was the easy part, deciding which frames and how to put them together was not!

Here they are, all dressed up and happy as can be!

To get the frames on the wall, the way they should be, we did the paper thing.  We traced and cut and taped.  It was a great way to make sure it was going to work, and where to place them, before we started putting nails in the wall.

Pottery Barn

One last thing - I am loving these frames from Pottery Barn.  I don't love the price $149.00.

My pink frames $3.50 plus spray paint!

Bold Bright Beautiful Bench

Bold Bright Beautiful!

I think

I had a Pier One bench that really needed an update.

before pics in outerspace

I took it apart and spray painted the frame and legs with Valspar glossy white.

The fabric is from Jo-Ann's

An orange pillow added for today anyway.

I wasn't sure I was going to like this bench until I added more DIY projects - subway art,  a chalkboard and a spray painted ampersand.

Upholstering this bench was easy!  It takes A LOT of staples and some muscels.

To finish it off nice, I stapled felt to the bottom. more staples!

This is a quote by Mother Teresa and was always one of my favorites.  So when I saw this tutorial here: I am Momma - Hear me Roar, I knew I had to make it!  So, I did!

Let's party here:
The Dedicated House
Liz Marie
Addicted to Decorating

TIP! How to find a replacement screw for your knobs & pulls!

I don't think I have ever bought a piece of furniture to paint that has all the screws for the knobs.

MIA - one missing!

I know not to stress over a missing screw, because: 

#1:  Most are standard size, 8-32, and if it's not it's O.K., I will show you why in a minute, so keep reading.   The length can be different and no problem there either! 

# 2: Lowe's (and other stores) have this handy little gadget thingamabobber on their wall.  So you can take in a screw,

Find what size it is

This one is a standard size, but what about the length?

They also have a measuring gadget

You measure it.  Then go to the wall right by this great gadget and find what you need! or ask a sales associate to help, I do ALL the time. So Thank you Sales Associates - you rock!

There you go - It cost .97 cents for a pack of 4.  Hopefully the next time I am missing one, this one will fit.  If not, I take another trip to Lowe's! (I shop at Lowe's because it is closest to my house)

I have a shower drain that is missing a screw, so I took the one I had in and Voila - it's fixed!

Just curious - Did you know  about this gadget thingamabobber to help you find the size of screw you needed?

(P.S. As I was taking pictures, I gathered a crowd.  I was nervous taking pictures. Then I started talking about what I was doing and the nerves went out the door.  Also, one the sales associates is my son-in-laws Aunt Jill. And the other one was his baseball coach. I also made some new friends, who wanted to paint furniture and didn't dare.  I gave them the pep talk and they are going to try!  I love this world!!!)

Mirror Mirror on the wall! Vintage Black Mirror

I had a storage Unit full of furniture. I really did.  I had a garage sale and sold everything except what I wanted to keep for me and mine (daughters)

I have mirrors

so many mirrors

My goal is to get them painted and hung.

I will do it!

but I have a crib, some frames, a lamp etc. etc. to get finished too!

#1 mirror done.

and hung!

It is a heavy old thing, and it was ugly.

The glossy black spray paint gives it a rich gorgeous new look!

I love it!

on to mirror #2

Turquoise Hutch

A Hutch

A turquoise hutch that was maroon, then black, now Turquoise.

I wanted something to display all my junk treasures, but was functional as well.

This is the 3rd turquoise Hutch I have painted -  I love the color.
Found Here: Hutch number 1 
You think I wouldn't be shocked by how bright the paint is.  Then I put the glaze on and whew it tones it down, I can take my sunglasses off!

I am never sure I am going to like it and then. . .

I start filling up the shelves with my stuff.

I not only love milk white glass, but vintage pitchers and ice cream/fruit bowls, and I almost forgot cake holders. 

I am wondering if this Hutch will be another color in a couple of years? 

My helper, as much as I love painting, I love these little people more.  He gets all the umbrellas and twirls and then lines them up. adorable!

I swear they don't need toys. even though He just had a birthday, and squealed with joy at the presents.

I am sure I will tweak the arrangement of stuff, and maybe even move it to another wall, but for now I am happy it is done.

Would you dare put this color in your house? The color is brighter than in real life - excuse my photo skills.

Paint color -  Color Place cozumel aqua - 91402 (Walmart)
glaze -Valspar Asphaltum - 98278 (Lowes)

Let's Party Here:
Primitive and Proper
Embracing Change

Beyond The Picket Fence
Elizabeth & Co.
The Dedicated House
At the Picket Fence
Liz Marie
Chic on a Shoestring
My Repurposed Life

Peach Pie

 They are on, and ready to pick. . .

Peaches

Our church has a peach orchard.  We volunteer to prune and to pick.  It is work, hard work, FUN work!  The peaches are then sent to a cannery and more volunteers can them (I have done that too, and we can buy a case when we are done with our shift). The canned peaches are then put in a store house, where people in need can pick them up along with other things to sustain them and their families.

I have learned to appreciate and love peaches after being involved in this effort.  This year the peaches are early.

We drove a 20 minutes to a local fruit stand  Pettingills. I think we are lucky to be able to buy local grown, fresh picked peaches. 

I have a dear friend who shared this peach pie recipe with me, and I have shared it before, and have been asked to share it again.  Rather than email one friend the recipe, I thought I would share it with all my friends!

It is the best easiest recipe.

You have to try it!

Peach Pie

Cookie Crust
Mix the following in the pie dish:
1/2 c. butter softened
1 c. flour
1/4 c. sugar
pinch salt
Mix together and press lightly into pie plate. Bake at 375 for 10 minutes. (If you press it in to hard, it's hard to cut.) Cool.
Glaze
3 T. cornstarch
1 c. juice (whatever kind you like that's orange)
1/2 c. sugar
Bring to a boil and cool a bit.

Spread bottom of shell with 3 oz. or so of cream cheese sweetened with powdered sugar to keep crust from going soggy. Then slice peaches into pie plate. Then pour glaze over and refrigerate to set.

The best recipes are tried and true, just like good friends!

Shared here:
The Dedicated House
Funky Junk Interiors