Southwest style

I have a very old Pendleton wool navajo jacket that I got at a thrift store years ago.  It has plenty of moth damage.

And I had an even older vest - probably had it at least 20 years.  I love Pendleton wool.  Can't get rid of it no matter what condition it's in.

The very last thing Kerry bought me was a Pendleton Wool blanket in Bend, OR.  It had denim hues to it and we both thought it would look great in our denim-themed art pod.  When I sold the r-pod, I had to keep the blanket.  The pattern is called "star watchers".  Kind of appropriate as we would sit outside and watch the stars at night on that last trip.

I started out with the tan jacket at the top.  When I took the lining out, the inside was primarily black.  I had enough to make an entire pillow and an insert to put on a denim pillow sham.  There was absolutely no moth damage on the inside and you cannot tell that it wasn't the outside.  One of the things I love about Pendleton wool.

And I was able to make a pillow insert from the vest.  I think they turned out perfect.  You can see the front side of the original jacket on the left, the inside is the black pillow and the pillow on the right is the vest.  I've had the bear for years.

I'm trying the bed out as a "daybed" in the event I move into a studio apartment

Think I have enough pillows? Those tan "wedges" in the back also allow me to convert the bed into a recliner or lounge.   They each have 4 possible positions.  We had them in the art-pod as well.

The rug is hand woven - we bought it in Hualtuco Mexico on our last trip there in 2009.  That's the year Kerry had his first heart attack.  I am surrounding myself with memories of places we've been and things we've done.  I really like the pendleton pillows.  Never throw anything out!!

Let it Snow!!!

It's been snowing here for a couple of days, but most of it is melting as fast as it comes down.  Roads are dry, so my sis and I went thrift store shopping today.  I was in a snowy mood for sure!  Found this cute photo frame:

and this metal photo frame:

and this metal sleigh:

and this candle ring

came home and started taking the frames and the candle ring apart and reassembling them on the sleigh on top of the snowmen that were there.  You can see the metal showman from the frame on the lower right and the plastic snowmen to the left of him:

the other metal tree to the left.  I painted the entire sleigh with Cool Pool Blue Ranger dabber.  OK, that dabber is 6 years old and the paint inside is still good! I think that's pretty amazing.

I put the greenery around the bottom, added a ribbon, stickled the background, the greenery with crystal stickles.

It's got great depth.  I love all the shadows as well as the detail….

So much better than the original sleigh.  And the colors are updated.  I'm going to let it dry overnight and then hang it outside by my front door in the morning.

Recycled art - something that I love doing.  All 4 items totaled $8.00.  Love the thrift stores around here!!!

What does your eye see?

There was this lamp at Hobby Lobby and it was half off, but I didn't like it.  I didn't like the stark white shade or the silver post.  But I bought it anyway.  You know, it was half off!!!  LOL!!

In my "mind's eye", I could see it completely different!

So, did you know you can spray paint a lamp shade?  It works just perfectly and is a great way to revive an old, dusty, stained lampshade!  But this was brand new and white and I just used a can of spray paint.  Looks a bit like burlap.

For the stem of the lamp, I sprayed it black matte, then I hand painted some acrylic turquoise paint and wiped it off before it dried so the black showed through.  Next I spritzed it with water, then used Krylon's mirror paint to get the silver look.  It is so shimmery and is simply perfect now!!!

The bird below was hot pink!  Seriously - neon hot pink.  Same technique as the lamp and now I just love it!

I made the sign using my cricut as a template.

Wrapped jute and hot glued flowers to old spindles:  (and the mason jar above)

and my little lamp corner is complete!

If you had seen this lamp at Hobby Lobby, would your eye have seen this?  Mine did.....and I have to wonder why!  Seems these days, I never look at things the way they are....but at how they could become!  I simply love living in an artist's world!