Dry Brush Painting

A great way to turn Junk into Jewels is to dry brush them. Dry brushing is a technique where you paint with a brush that has minimal paint in it, so that only the slightest amount of paint is left on your project.  This allows you to highlight raised areas of an ornate object, creating interest and showing off the details of the piece.

Once upon a time, this old frame was one of those ostentatious,  gold-foiled, heavily antiqued things.  It was quite dated, and I was able to purchase it from my friend's garage sale for a song.  I wish I had a before picture, but can't even find something on the web that resembles it.  

I couldn't resist it, though.  The detail on the inset is just gorgeous.  With a little dry brushed paint, I was sure she would look like she'd found the fountain of youth!

Dry brushing allowed the original antiquing  on the inset to still show through.  If I had completely painted the frame and then glazed it, much of this antiquing would have been lost.  I did not like the dry brushing on the rest of the frame, as it gave the appearance of particle board.  So, it was just painted.

For this technique, dip your brush into paint until it is halfway up the brush.  Wipe the excess paint off on the edge of the can, then crisscross your brush back and forth on a piece of heavy paper until the brush is not painting anymore. If you are using small bottles of acrylic paint, just load your brush from paint on a styrofoam plate, then crisscross.

With a light touch, begin brushing the raised areas of your piece with the loaded, but dry, brush.  You can add more pressure, but it is best to start light.  You will want to brush across the direction of the lines of the design instead of with them.

When you're finished dry brushing, clean up any over-highlighting with alcohol on a q-tip, or by lightly sanding.  You may also want to spray a protective sealant on your piece to protect your work, but for pieces that are more decorative than functional, this is not necessary. 

Here is another piece I gave a new look using this technique.

 This is the before

This is a really fun craft with instant gratification and easy clean-up.  Ooooh, the possibilities are endless!  Frames, grapevine wreaths, chairs, baskets, candlesticks, iron pieces, statues, your hair......well, let's leave some things to the professionals, shall we!  

Thanks for stopping by, 

Ellie


Linking to Savvy Southern Style here

Changeable Memo Board

At The Lavender Tub, this is the hallway that joins the front entry area to my kitchen.  It's a fun little space that welcomes people as they come on in.  I like to change it up, keeping it light and fun and not as formal as the entry.

For at least a year, I've had this beautiful frame hanging in there with nothing in it.  (My aunt who lives far away once saw some pictures of my home and asked if all the empty frames hanging around were a new style of decorating!  Uh,......."sure".  I'm so happy it's in vogue now.)  I finally decided that a magnetic memo board covered with fabric would be the perfect thing for this area to hang different little signs and decorations on.

After my Edward cut a piece of 1/8" plywood to fit the frame, I primed it and began painting it with magnetic paint.  I was going to just use a piece of sheet metal in the frame, but decided on the plywood to save costs since we already had a piece.  I reasoned that although the paint was a little pricey, it would be good for several projects.

Five coats and several uses of my asthma inhaler later, my board was ready for the fun part.  Which fabric to choose?

Kind of busy and formal, but pretty

Oooh, very groovy and Dating Game-ish

Burlap is always a nice choice

I opted for leopard, for now.  I like how it goes with the frame and it looks nice with the plate rack and teacups.  I say, "for now", because I know I will change my mind, and fully plan to.  As I've said before, fabric is something I'm really drawn to and this gives me a place to enjoy different fabrics.  The fabric is wrapped on the board and secured by.....

     .......okay, it is just Duck taped right now.  I plan to attach velcro strips on the back of the board and on the fabric, but at the moment it is just Duck taped.  Remember - things are not perfect at The Lavender Tub, and Duck tape isn't just for guys anymore!

I then simply put the board in the frame, and Voila'.  A very stylish memo board to dress up my hall area.

Afterthoughts:  I think I will still look for a piece of sheet metal to fit the frame as I'm not crazy about the magnetic paint.  Even with five coats, I cannot hang anything very heavy on the memo board.  The paint is also quite fumey and messy to clean up.  Lastly, you are supposed to use it as a primer and then paint over it.  As you build up coats it does get kind of a bumpy surface, so keep that in mind.  I think it has its applications, but I was hoping for more magnetic attraction.  (I sometimes have that hope for Edward and I too ;)  )

Have you used this paint?  What are your experiences?  Also, which fabrics do you like in the frame?

Thanks for stopping by,

Ellie 


Linking to Savvy Southern Style here

Bruschetta - More Fast Food

Since it is the season, I thought I'd share another tomato recipe that can easily be turned into a healthy, delicious, fast-food meal.  Think restaurants have the edge on bruschetta?  With homegrown tomatoes, restaurant bruschetta isn't even in the running.  It is simple and soooo delicious. 

Ingredients:

12 Roma Tomatoes 

     (use any type of tomatoes, even cherry, just approximate)

2 Tbs.  finely chopped Fresh Basil (this is a very easy plant 

     to grow and you still having plenty of growing season 

     if you want to have one in a pot)

1 clove Garlic, peeled

Virgin Olive Oil

Salt

Loaf of French Bread

Variation:  add diced cucumbers for a different flavor

Dice the tomatoes, then add 1-2 teaspoons of salt to taste. Put the tomatoes in a strainer over a bowl and allow them to macerate for about about 10 minutes.  Quite a bit of juice will come off of the tomatoes and you may want to pour the juice into another container about halfway through.  I keep the juice and drink it later or use it for salad dressing, etc.  Add the 2 tablespoons of fresh basil and stir.  Taste and add salt if needed.

Meanwhile, cut your french loaf into 3/4" to 1" slices.  Toast on both sides under the oven broiler.  Once the bread is toasted, immediately rub the garlic clove over each slice.  Oh, it smells divine at this point!  Brush the bread with virgin olive oil, top with the tomatoes and basil, and that's it - bruschetta!

My Edward is not much of a veggie eater, and he doesn't like tomatoes at all.  For some reason, though, bruschetta is different.  He really likes it.  Perhaps your picky eaters will too, only never let them catch on it is just salad on a big crouton.  

Serve with grilled chicken breasts and mozzarella slices, and you have a healthy, well-balanced meal with minimal clean-up.  How I love summertime meals.

Thanks for stopping by.......but pleeaase partake in a little bruschetta with us.......lest our garlic breath scare you away!

Ellie

Ceviche!!! From Ecuador

Do you have fresh tomatoes yet?  If so, I have an amazing recipe to share with you.  I sincerely hope you will give it a try, because you have probably never tasted anything like it. Honestly!  It is called ceviche (pronounced sah-veech'-ay with the spanish v sound that is really almost a "b"), and it is super Yum!

If you have heard of ceviche before you are probably thinking of a dish made of raw fresh fish, lots of lime juice, onion, and chilies.  The lime juice actually "cooks" the fish in a way that the texture of the fish becomes firm like cooked fish, but this process does not kill any bacteria that might be in the fish.  I've heard it's good, but I've never tried it.

This recipe, however, is from Ecuador and is made with cooked shrimp, orange and lemon juices, onion, and cilantro.  It's a pretty unusual combination, but one I've come to crave because it is so fresh and tastes so divine.  It's also quick and easy to prepare; I know you're going to love it.

Ingredients:

1 lb. Cooked Shrimp - fresh is best, but bagged is great

1 Medium Red Onion, julienned

3 Medium/Large Tomatoes

3 Cups Fresh Orange Juice without pulp - again, freshly 

     squeezed is best, but fresh in the carton is fine

     - in Ecuador they use blood oranges

1 Cup Lemon Juice (4-5 lemons) - only freshly squeezed

3 Tbs. Ketchup

1 1/2-2 Tbs. Chopped Cilantro

2 tsp. Light Olive Oil

Salt to taste.

Slice the onion into thin julienne strips and place in a bowl of cool water with 2 Tbs. of salt.  Let them rest in the water for 10 minutes, then rinse.  This will give the onions less bite and better flavor.

Dice the tomatoes into small squares.  

In a large bowl mix the onion, tomatoes, orange and lemon juices, ketchup, cilantro, and olive oil.  Taste and season with salt, perhaps about 1 teaspoon.  Add the thawed or cooled shrimp, and stir.  Let rest for 5-10 minutes and serve.  It is beautiful!

This is enough for about 4 people and is usually served with popped corn, tostado (which is like corn nuts) and perhaps some sliced avocado.  A wonderful cool, fresh, light meal for summer.

Here are a couple pictures of my visit to Ecuador:

The beauty of this country surrounds you everywhere (the water really is that blue due to minerals from a volcano)

The people are its greatest treasure

Cotopaxi - one of the highest active volcanoes in the world

Attempting to climb Cotopaxi

Standing on the Equator

So, what are your thoughts on ceviche?  Think you'll try this dish?  Let me know.

Thanks for stopping by,

Ellie

Lovely Shelf Recycle

What happens when you have this.......

A door full of robes and towels that greets you each time you walk into your bedroom

And this.......

A primitive peg rack that you really like.......especially because it was made for you by a family member.......but you can't seem to find a place for it.......because the kids grew up and don't like it in their rooms anymore.......so it’s sitting in the garage.......

And then get inspired by this post at The Virginia House.......

                               

Her version is sooo pretty

Well, you buy a few of these.......

I purchased at Hobby Lobby at 1/2 price, so $1.50 each

.......and spray paint with Krylon's Satin Ivory, followed by light sanding to show some of the detail.  Give the shelf a fresh painting with leftover trim paint from your house (I like that the whites are different),  attach the hooks.......

.......and happily end up with THIS!

  

Aaaahhh.  Much better.

Need to relax and have a nice bath in The Lavender Tub today?  Please, help yourself.  And when you're finished you can just hang your towel on that pretty little shelf right over there!

Thanks for stopping by,

Ellie

Children and Doll Clothes

I have always had a deep fascination and love of fabric.  It just makes me really happy!  I remember as a very young girl looking through my mom's scrap bag savoring each piece of fabric, appreciating its beauty, and imagining what it could be used for.  Years and years later, I still find myself totally captivated by it.  

Being a pastor's wife and mother to four children, my mom was too busy to sit next to me and teach me, step by step, how to sew.  She did, however, recognize my passion for it and gave me lots of material, trims, buttons, old socks, scarves, etc. with which I could create to my heart's content. Although I often left them messy and disorganized, her sewing machine and tools were never off-limits to me.

I suppose like most children, my first sewing desire was to make beautiful things for my babies, Barbies, and stuffed animals.  So, with mom's encouragement and assistance, I began my young career as a seamstress of doll clothes.  Since that time I have moved on to clothing, home dec, curtains, even wedding dresses, but it all began with clothes for my dolls.

How wonderful that the apples do not fall far from the trees.  When my daughter was a little girl, I have a memory of a friend coming over and being shocked at the condition of my house.  As I stopped to notice for myself, I saw ribbons, buttons, silk flowers and stuffed animals strewn everywhere.  We had been so consumed with our creating, I didn't even realize there was a mess.  It's one of my favorite memories of all time.

The doll clothes pictured throughout this post are part of a collection I sewed for my daughter's Christmas 15 years ago.  The last picture is of a doll in a dress I made for my daughter's wedding.  Can it really be that those days are already gone?  As I dressed and undressed the doll for these pictures, my heart went to a time when dressing dolls and Barbies for little ones was the biggest task of my day.

Whatever you love, allow your children to be part of it even if it's messy.  Nurture their interests and don't be tempted to do too much for them.  Above all, never forget; unlike dolls, children do grow up.  Take the untidiness in stride and savor every moment.

Thanks for stopping by.......and please forgive the mess!

Ellie

Nifty to be Trifty

I know most of you reading my type of blog already love to thrift.  You know....... buy second-hand stuff from garage sales, Goodwill, Salvation Army, Craigslist, and other local thrift stores.  If you're not one of "us", let me give you some things to ponder to see if it isn't, in fact, a good idea for you too!

First, thrifting is fun!  Grab a great cup of coffee, load your best girlies in someone's car, and ride around helping each other find treasures.  It's so much fun! 

My friend, Di, and I found this beauty propped up against a neighbor’s fence.  We were kind of afraid we were stealing it, so we left a note in the mailbox, loaded it in the truck, and peeled out.  The neighbor later called and thanked us for taking it.  Whew! 

It's good for our planet.  I really believe almost anything we need can be found second-hand.  Think of all the transportation expense and packaging we're saving by recycling something someone else no longer needs or wants.

I was thrilled when I found this machine.  It is the same model as my mom’s; the machine I grew up sewing on.  It is considered one of the best machines Singer ever made, and I purchased it for $25 in almost unused condition.

It keeps more of our American dollars at home.  Let's face it.  We Americans like lots of stuff, and we like to buy it for cheap prices.  Sadly, this means we are sending lots of our dollars overseas (which translates to less jobs here), creating a huge trade deficit.  Every dollar we keep in our local economy, helps our local economy.

The Salvation Army is hit and miss for me.  I find the clothes to be inexpensive, but the housewares, too pricey.  An exception is pillows.  I always look over the pillows and often find wonderful feather down pillows with ugly covers.  It’s a steal to get these for 99 cents.  I also found this very sturdy chair for $2.50.

It helps us live on less so we can give more.  If you are reading this blog on your own computer, you are considerably wealthier than most people living in the world today.  Poverty, lack of medical care, unsafe drinking water, hunger, and more are a daily reality for so many.  If our needs can be met with something second-hand, why not use the savings to make someone else’s life better?

Thrifting has allowed me to save, so I can team with others from my church to take medicine to some very special friends.

It’s a great teaching tool for kids (and us).  It’s no secret that credit card debt is out of control in the US.  We like to get what we want, when we want it.  Kids are no different.  When we thrift, we often have to wait to find the item we are looking for.  Delayed gratification is a good thing and helps us all understand the value of saving and waiting.  Also, when kids use their own money thrifting, they learn the worth of a dollar much more than if we give them a few dollars to blow everytime.

My kids quickly learned what a great buy legos are at garage sales compared to new sets from the Lego store.  We once purchased an enormous storage tub filled with Legos for $10.  It was easily $1000 retail.

So what are your thoughts?  Is thrifting a good thing, or a way to collect a bunch of junk?  I’d love to hear your thoughts, tips and ideas.

Thanks for stopping by,

Ellie