Magazine Marks for Tassel Tuesday

Bookmarks are lovely because they remind me that I adore books and reading and saving a page to come back to again. 

When I purchased a laminator machine a few years ago I began recycling all the cards we received from friends and family.  Some of the cards are just gorgeous.  And it always seemed like such a waste for me to throw them in the trash.  Thus, began the bookmarks.  I'd cut the card, laminate it, hole punch, add some ribbon.  Voila!  Instant bookmark!  So pretty.  So fun.  Over the years, I've been giving them as gifts inside books!

Well, the other day, I realized that I needed some for the plethora of magazines that I read and treasure.

So I began saving these.

That's right.  Tissue boxes.  Some of them are like works of art.  I cannot throw them out.  Anymore.

With an Exacto knife I sliced off the sides.  With my new paints from Miss Mustard Seed, I rolled paint to match, on the backs of the cardboard.  Let them dry.  Ran them through the laminator.  Punched a hole.  Added some pretty ribbon.  Made it extra long.

Sewed the ribbon onto the cardboard.  Then sewed a swirl clip on the end of the ribbon.

Now as I flip through my favorite decorating magazines, not only can I save the page I was just looking at....but because the ribbon is extra long I can clip another page that I want to go back to...(Momma gets interrupted a lot during tea time break after school is finished in our house.  I never get to savor the entire magazine in one sitting)

as well as save a third inspiring spot with the ribbon!

These magazine marks work wonderfully!

They are large and sit well and sturdy inside the magazine!

And I think they are kinda cheery and happy looking too!

Thanks for stopping by!  Let me know what you think!

I'm doing this tonight - Sat!  Stop by and check it out, if you haven't already.  You will be in for the treat of your "eyes"!

MONDAY MADNESS - *warning* THE SHOWER/TUB

It's a strange little space

five doors

two half bathrooms

with a bathtub in the middle

Did I mention all the doors?

It's a crazy layout.

But.

We all manage to get clean and shiny regardless.

The door into the tub room,

coming from the hallway bathroom

Looking in at the tub from the other half bathroom

that is connected to our bedroom.

We'll get there next week.

If it weren't enough that the space was our nemesis,

the tile that we paid a fortune for bothers us.

Never looks clean.

Grout is dirty looking & falling out.

The decorative border is off center.

Those cover up shower/tubs cost between $2000 - $4000. A bit much.

 

Notice the border vs. the rectangular tiles.  *sigh*

Ahh!  Sorry.  This is clean, ok?  Trust me.  I scrubbed it before I took pics.  The tub is 40 years old.

Please help if you can.  I REALLY need your suggestions here.  Please.  Please!

I'm staying with white in this area.  It's such a tight squeeze for the four of us.  We never take baths.  I have a weak stomach.  Resale would be hard without a tub.  What would you suggest????

Love you.

Vinegar

I just wanted to say,

I

love

Vinegar today.

Pretty gift, Vinegar.

Pretty on the counter, Vinegar.

Shine my windows, glass & mirror, Vinegar.

Make my salads zing,

And my skin and intestines sing.

Vinegar!

Whimsical Wednesday

Theses lovelies came in the mail the other day!

Gravy!

Thank you, Miss Mustard Seed!

I was chosen, along with Ginger at Cottage on Rosewood to receive this Art Deco set of paints.

For this.

I feel special.


We participated in Miss Mustard Seed's Workshop Series. 

If you haven't been there yet, add it to your "to visit" list!  There's all kinds of wonderful workshops with a plethora of information!

So here are some "junkie" items that I've had around for some time decades.

A wooden tray.

A wooden box.

A blank canvas.

Looking forward to seeing what creations are born!

After I give birth, I'll scream and let you all see the "new babes"!

Have a colorful day!

Tassel Tuesday

Tassels can be playful.

Add a whimsical charm to one.

I hung this one in the kitchen.

next to the cupboard

This tassel exhibits a bit more seriousness

Hangs on a key

on our 1876 hand crafted family heirloom

Thanks for taking a peek!

Monday Madness! The bathroom

Last week was the dining room and living room space.  All one area.  Some of you commented on the curved sofa.  The uniqueness of it.  Pam, from Becolorful, thought it was "stylin".  I never thought of myself as that.  That comment made me cock my head a bit different.  Hmmm!  Thanks, Pam!

The suggestion about angling the armoire was great!  My friend, Ginger, is coming over and we are having a "revamping day" in my living space.  I'm hoping it's tomorrow.  I wish it was today!

Since I make slip covers NOW!  (butterflies-in-my-stomach-so-excited about this! Eeek!) I'm going to dive in and TRY to make one for the sofa.  I love the elegance of the sofa.  But it's time for a change.  Speaking of change.....well, I'll leave that for another day!

Once you leave the living room you can either leave the house through our very tight entry way or go down our hallway - bathrooms and beds located there.

The entry way on the right, hallway on the left.

First door on the left, powder room-bathroom-place with a toilet-wash room-crazy four doored room.  The layout of this room has me perplexed.  People come in say, "Oh, I like this layout".  Not if you lived here with four people.  Two of which are close to 6 feet tall and the other two are energetic bouncy kind of boys!

You walk in

Not too bad.  Needs to be updated!  Pat, from Casual-Cottage, has some amazing 70's light fixtures.  I relate.  Well.

Here's the toilet and begins the doors.  Walk through the door on the left, need to take a shower or grab a towel? Walk through the next door, straight ahead, Need to go and see what Mom or Dad are doing? Go through the door on the right into their teeny toilet area.  Need some privacy?  Close the door on the right to this bathroom area.  CRAZY.  The Doors.  I can hear Jim Morrison singing!

We NEED to get new toilets.  Check.  They're from 1970.  Pat!!!!

We need new floors.  Check.  Yep, the 70's.

We need to do something here.  I painted the cabinet 10 years ago. It was this dark brown color.  Btw, it's fake wood.  Plastic composite.   

New light fixtures. New sink, faucet.  Wow.  Lots to do here. We were going to gut this place this spring.  Our contractor won't give us a quote yet.  It's probably like $40,000 or something.

Here's some of what I did 10 years ago - just to get it looking OK.

Painted some shelves, added hooks for towels.  Took down the brass towel bar that was there!  UGH!

Gave it a nautical-water theme.  The boys use this room and our guests.

Covered the medicine cabinet door with denim. Hot glued small wooden paddles in it.  Hung some pics of the boys at the beach and in the tub.

Canoe picture, painted the oval mirror.

Dual colored toilet.  They DON'T MAKE THIS COLOR ANY LONGER IN TOILETS. So we go for the multi color decor here.

Baskets for hand towels.  Box for Q-tips.  Nautical clock. Carved wooden fish, my dad made out of an old barn stall door.  Donna, you may be his daughter!

Shells from Maine hot glued in a shadow box.  For some reason, I remember, this really impressed EC, that I did this!  (we don't get out much!)

This was the best I could do at the time.  I was pregnant and in shock.  Overall it's been ok.  But we NEED to do some updating.  OK, girls, I really appreciate everything you say.  Even if it is only to say HI and that your brain is squish!

And we are not gutting it.  Decision made.

I love blogging!

A little bit o home

School on the floor?  Why not?  My 6 yo wanted to be close to Mommy that day!

Woke up to breakfast made by my 9 yo son.  He is a tender & giving heart.

One of our favorite views.  Out our living room window.

Home.