Dust. Dust. MORE DUST....

Drywall dust.

Wood dust.

Excavation dust.


Gravel dust.

Stone dust.

Concrete dust.

Powdered pigment dust.

Old dust.

New dust.

Man! How much dust can one family endure???

Let's just say, that once the DUST finally settles, things around these parts should look a whole lot different.

Just you wait!!! (I'm waiting too!!!) BUT, I have a good imagination.......

Cheers to progress.....OH, I can't wait to see the......

Toot-a-loo.....

I'll be gone for a little while. Well, until Tuesday of next week.

I'm off on retreat with the scrapping girls. Up to La Pine, Oregon. Near Bend.

Four nights of nothing but crafting. I'll be creating mixed media art stuff. One will be scrapping. One will be quilting. And another will be...I'm not sure what she's bringing to do, but it'll be crafty I'm sure!

Lots of laughs, eats, late nights, stories to share. Whole lotta paper cutting. Fabric sewing. Gluing. Painting. Whole Lotta FUN!!!

I'll leave you with a couple of older links of some of the crafty stuff I've done at previous retreats, times shared with my retreat friends and other stuff pertaining to just being with my buddies...(if you've seen these links already, ooops! If not, enjoy!)

http://patinamarie.blogspot.com/search/label/Crafty%20Stuff

So, now I'm off to pack and get ready.

Have a great weekend! Find lots of treasures in your neck of the woods and be happy!!!

Toot-a-loo... 

Weekend Finds.

So, even though I was invited to go to a local antique fair last weekend, I had a ton to do around the house.You know, the house with the 30-yr mortgage and 30 years of work to do.

Anyway, I continued working on the entry of the house. Filling holes, priming, first coat of Kilz London White Hi-Gloss paint. Painting the ceiling tongue and groove boards (I think the primer is dry enough - considering I primed months ago! - I get sidetracked very easily!!!). I mixed up some of Phillips' home office wall color - Kilz Dipped Chocolate (oh so delicious!) with a bit of cream (same sheen, same formula) and a couple drops of black to come up with the upper wall color. I went to match it at Wally World, and come to find out, it's very, very close to a color called Caraway Seed. So there you have it. Caraway Seed. Kind of a dark taupe.

The walls are smooth drywall instead of textured like the other parts in the house. That way, I could "cheat" the look of the wainscoting with paint. I ran out of paint, but have a fresh new gallon to continue with. I'll be adding lots of coats so there will be a "build-up" like an old house would have. Remember, I'm trying for a 1930's farmhouse/cottage look. I actually LOVE the paintbrush lines. None of that sprayed smooth perfection for me!

I'm not done yet. Still have to cut more trim boards. There will be one more layer of trim running on top of the 3" wide trim board. Trim out the window. Trim out the front door (inside) and the interior passage door. Cut baseboards. Install the flooring. Purchase a light fixture or ceiling fan - haven't decided yet. Install the plugs and light switches (I WON'T be doing that part! Me's afraid of electrical!!! I don't care how many how-to books I own!!!)

After I ran out of London White, I went outside and played around with some of the retaining wall cap stones.

These are just waiting for cutting and installation, but you get the idea. Still need to order the stone veneer for the wall, but I like where it's going. Way better than the booger-pond that was there when we bought the place. I really need to be scrapbooking this transformation, cause, somedays it feels like we aren't doing anything and then when I really look around, WOW! We've done a TON!!!

 

Can't wait to be onto the landscaping next year!!!!

OK. To continue my weekend finds story....

I didn't go to the antique fair, but I did go to a couple of yardsales.

A really cute cream platter and a real metal matchstick holder. I'm torn about the matchstick holder. Should I leave it vintage or repaint it?

Two matching silver stands. Again, repaint black to hold pumpkins? Cream? Or leave the silver patina???

Cool galvanized feeder/waterer??? Not exactly sure. But, the whole bucket-type cylinder comes off and it has a little dish on the inside. Not sure what I'll use it for, but I love me some galvanized.

I got the red cooler this weekend. Love the red color. May make a great porch planter. Got the green one a few months ago for a song! I think together I paid $10!

Ok. So, it's not like I need another lamp, but I can envision this one painted white with a cute little metal number hanging on the shade or something stenciled over it. What'd you do? The paint is gonna cost me more than the lamp!

DUCK!!! Yep. A carved wood duck. Not a duck collector or anything, but he just called quacked out to me. $.50.

Oh, it was a good day of hunting. I got SO much more, but I think you're probably tired of reading today's post already....So, I'll post more tomorrow...

Good day!

Linked today to:

http://www.reinventedkb.com/2009/09/breakin-rules.htmlhttp://diane1876.blogspot.com/2009/09/2nd-time-around-estate-sale-scales.html
http://asoftplacetoland-kimba.blogspot.com/2009/09/diy-day-and-giveaway_28.html?

Last Saturday - Road Trip with Friends.

I can't believe another week just flew by.

Last Saturday, a couple friends and I, went up to Eugene/Springfield. We had a ton of fun!!!

Instead of just driving the two hours straight up the freeway, we went off the beaten path and stopped, stopped, and stopped again. To get snacks, drinks, take potty breaks and to treasure hunt.

Shady Oaks Plants and Produce. It's an old fashioned country store with plants, produce (see the sign) and gifts. These chairs were just made for sitting, sipping lemonade and chatting the day away with friends.

A walk through the store to the backyard, proved to be quite the little surprise garden.

This little house was darling. Can't you just picture yourself hosting a little tea party here.

This other little house was cute too! I guess you can never have too many little houses. Check out the six-room bird house. And I love the little picket fence. I bet this little place is fun at night with the string of lights on. There was also a shoe house. The one like in the Mother Goose Rhyme - The Little Ol' Woman Who Lived In A Shoe. The picture I took turned out too blurry, so you'll have to go visit and see it for yourself!!! LOL

This little flower display is made with a whole load of shutters. How inventive, don'tcha think?

This cheery little chair is fun. I think I might have a spare chair or two around here. How 'bout you?

Hay. Farmhand Feed and Home Co. This store in Cottage Grove had a TON of  Eye Candy! In a feed store. I could've spent hours in here!!! I tried to find a link, but I couldn't find one, so this will have to do:

Location: 106 S. Sixth St, Cottage Grove Oregon 97424 Telephone 541-767-2830

They had a whole Halloween section. Right up my alley!!! Check out these adorable felt stars.

And this feathered owl. Well, I guess, technically, all owls are feathered, huh?

They had the most unique witch hat I've ever seen! It was made of black velvet, sequins and feathers. Feathers so black, they were almost blue. It was huge!!! The clerk, maybe the owner?, said the hats are  made locally by a group of handicapped persons. I wanted it so badly, and even though a purchase would have been a good thing to do, it was out of my price range right now. Over $100!

Ok. So, maybe it looked better on the shelf...It really was HUGE!

I really liked this candlelight chandelier. Now, I'm in search of a big metal ring to hang all my vintage silverware from. Not sure where I'd hang it, but.....it's fun.

This is really blurry, I know. I can't seem to take a clear digital picture...not that I'm shaky or anything, I'm just impatient and move before the camera captures the image. Phillip tells me this every time I complain about my blurry photos. Patience.....! Anywho, this rusty steel carousel is way cool!

Next up, we went to Ruthie B's. Again, no link.

346 Main St

Springfield, OR 97477-5362

 (541) 988-4791

 This was such a treat. Lunch amongst treasure!!! What more could you ask for? They serve lunch at vintage tables in areas cordoned off throughout the store, on mis-matched dishes, with mis-matched silverware. Bread in cast iron pans. Little fruit in glass cups. They even begin your sit-down by blowing bubbles over your party. Too much.Oh, and there is LIVE piano playing. How special is that?

Iced water with lemon - in jelly jars.

 

Here we were. Lunch was delish! Shop without even leaving your seat. Great concept!

 Even the potty was...well, let's just say. Shop while you...???

Colby Cottage. Found them via Notes from a Cottage Industry.

They had their open house on Friday. We missed it, but we visited on Saturday.

Cute vintage house full of fun treasures. I bought a couple things. My fave was, of course, an old #13 wooden handled stamp. Gotta love the #13 for Halloween decor.

 

 

 

 

 

I love this saying. 

So, there you have it. Last Saturday. A Road Trip With Friends.

We also visited almost EVERY Goodwill, Salvation Army, St. Vincent DePaul's and others along the way. A two hour drive in six hours. And that was only Saturday!!! Sunday was a whole other adventure. Antique stores, more 2nd hand shops, TJ Maxx, Trader Joes, Piccadilly Flea Market, PF Changs Happy Hour for lunch. A table for three + left-overs AND dessert for $25. YUM!

Lots of treasure. Lots of food. Lots of chatting. Lots of laughs. Lots of miles. Lots of fun!!!