The Queen of Bowling.

Making new bowling ball friends. This one is special made with the personality of the person it is going to in mind. In the side view you can see the eye lashes are made from hair combs.

 With her little crown she is ready to take on the world. I hope she is loved in her new home.

Fun with little things laying around in the junk drawer. Make and old fashioned key design. Lay you Items out on cardboard and spray paint them so they are all the same color. These are done in black, but if you doing a girls room pink is nice. Then arrange the  pieces on a canvas glue them in place. I love the clear silicone found in any Walmart in the paint/caulking area. Frame it or not? Paint the frame to match for a bed room. Let your mind wonder it is fun. Look closer at the key and you will find that we all have this junk laying around. if you don't ? start picking it up when you walk the dog, in the parking lot on the way to the store. Hardware is everywhere.

drink up

This is fun. You can drink the soda yourself or you can do what I do and collect the caps when I walk the dog. The park is a great place to find bottle caps especially after a holiday.
This is made with
12 red coke caps
8 seven up caps
and fish line (which I also pick up at the park near the sea wall)
Tools:
Ice pick or drill, hammer, pliers.
what you don't see is there is a cap in the center that the line is threaded in to. that is what holds it together.
Don't worry about rusty caps they look cool. Stick these around the flower pots and let them weather, they will look even better.

Fun with the kids

 Oh what fun! you all know I love these flat marbles and having a ton of shade in my yard these look great coming up out of the ferns.

 So easy to make, the mason jars or canning jars can be found in thrift stores, glass pickle or mayonnaise jars work as well. anything with a tight fitting screw on lid. Clear silicon from wal-mart, find it in the paint caulking areal, a tube is under 5 bucks. The glass flat marbles I get at dollar tree, a bag of them cost a buck.

 Screw the lid to the wood stick, use a washer under the screw.

Let the glue dry 24 hours and pop it into place the next day.

Little Wagons

I don't know how anyone could live or own a house without at least one wagon. I have 3 different size wagons. I pick them up anytime I see someone put one on the curb for the trash.

This small wagon belonged to my neighbors son who is now in his late 30's or early 40's. One the back is a little metal tag that says "Thomas Ohio". This little wagon is my tool tote and keeps me from lugging this 50 lb  Tool bag around. 

           

 I sanded it lightly there are a couple of rust holes in the bottom of the bed, but it is still quite solid. I used a can of hammered green spray paint. I love the hammered look. Just for fun I used some silver lettering paint to write the message on the side.
The wagons are narrow and don't take up much room. Thomas stays in the artroom waiting for the next job, a few shots of WD40 and he rolls like a glide ride.

40

What to do when the light goes out.

Light bulbs burn out it is a fact of life they are made that way so we have to replace them.

What can I do with the old burnt out bulbs? Ask friends and family to keep used up bulbs for you. I also went to the habitat for humanity store and found a whole box of bulbs for 5 bucks. they could not guarantee that they worked, LOL they don't know me there yet.

 Most of the bulbs can be sprayed with a primer grey and then paint over them. Dipped in wax or even use a pastry bag with paintable caulking.

 These balloons are done with the newer bulbs that came from the vanity in the bathroom, they have that swirl looking bulb inside.

 Some fun halloween ideas. the pumpkin design face painted on a white bulb looks like a ghost.

 Ahh and here is my favorite I like calling this little green faced gal my self portrait.

 Great turkey, foam works great for feet and hats.

 As the temps drop have some cool fun around the kitchen table with the kids or grand kids and paint some bulbs. Frosty is made from another vanity bulb.

Art room organizer

I have been working on the yard, plants and things have been coming to me from craigslist. I have not taken any pictures of my works. I have many plans and some of them have taken me inside to weed, sort and clean up and out my art room. I have found a wonderful way to keep store and organize my art stuff. Cydne had bought one of those jewelry boxes that looks like a set of dresser drawers, it has been sitting in the hallway with a piece of driftwood on top of it. So I swung it around the corner into my art room and how great it is.

The top opens where I can keep cutting tools safe and secure from small hands and the little drawers hold all sorts of things. the small dividers keep it all in order. "everything has a place and everything in its place" keeps things from getting lost, and for people who don't have and art room it would be very handy and they don't take up much space. Ours came from a garage sale, what a great find.

Bottle Fish

This is a bottle fish and a great way to use leftover  kitchen supplies and other household items. This is not mine, but it is a great idea starter.

List of some of the items used

1. grater
2. bottle 
3. stapler
4. tv cable wire
5. forks
6. candle holder
7. glass bottle bottoms
8. just to mention a few.

 I was given these cement edging they were not in the best of shape, old and worn. This is not an original idea I saw it done online. I made a template out of cardboard and sprayed the feet placement on the stones. Then painted the rest by hand. I didn't want them to all look the same.

 The ones standing up are finished and the others are in different stages of painting.All together I have enough for a 20' walkway in my front yard.

Here are the finished elephants just waiting to hold back the shells in the planters. I will hit them with a spray clearcoat to help preserve them. This was an easy project and loads of fun. My outside workshop is beautiful. under the trees with filtered light and cool breezes a bottle for my stick incents keeps the bugs away and the song birds give my heart a lift. LIFE IS GOOD.

The Building of the Leekin Lena

 It always starts with and Idea. The past two years we have not used the hot tub that sit on the back deck. I want to turn it into a fish pond. I have been looking at stones and all of the normal kind of ponds but juat could not come up with the energy to get out there and work on it. that usually means it is not the RIGHT idea.

 I moved the tub to one area of the yard and then Cydne said she thought it should go next to the arbor. So here she sits. I was walking by and the thought hit me, she looks like a boat. Well that was it I LOVE Tug boats and have been looking at the mini tug sites. I am not in the market for a real one but I can build a mock one.

 Gathering up some of the items to be used. The plastic barrels cut up easy and make a great source of moldable plastic. I use only food grade. these came from a resturant  and hade fruit juice in them.

 Pieces of plywood that were once used to board up the windows for hurricane season, Leftover molding from a chair rail and screen given to me form a friend.

 With the helping hand of Cydne the job moves right along.

 This PVC frame has steel rods in side of it and the 2x6 is notched to fit over the pipe. so the Wheel housc can be lifted off of the hot tub in case of bad storms of cleaning of the pond. Yes I will clean out the dirty water and the bottom of the hot tub as I go.

 Fitting the blue barrel plastic on the front. with some sunny days and the help of a hair dryer I will shape it before it is hooked down. smoke stack ready for placement. 5 gal. bucket lids used for port holes.

With a clear fiberglass roof and pool noodles around the front and back she is starting to take shape.

The finished "Leekin Lena"

 Her she is from a distance, we have added fish and some rocks.

 I just loved this project except for the pond pump she is 100% recycled materials.The waterfall and spillway will support the herb garden planted in the arbor. The boat is done but now we will be adding lights and a Wharf in front of her with a mock pier. anyone know where to find dock post???

List of recycled Items.
Most of them picked up on the side of the road.

1. Hot tub from a friends yard
2. Blue barrel from the rubble that was once the Kingfish restaraunt.
3. Port holes made out of 5 gallon bucket lids
4. Tires from 2 big wheels thrown out after Christmas.
5. Screen from Pat
6. pvc pipes
7. molding scrapes
8. roof is fiberglass
9. Swimming noodles on the front and back of the roof.
10. fishing rod from dumpster.
11. Paint from Cindy's when she was moving.
12. Rubber ducks from a thrift shop.
13. Coffee and Imagination.

Putting myself in the scene this past Christmas.

 With all of the people arriving for the census and tax collection I have decided to set up a small pot selling shed. I rented this small shed. The location is great it is right in between the Inn and the stable.

 I bought some bread from a local woman and her son.

 Everyone is coming into town the shepherds and some of the flocks are also here. There was alot so singing going on. It was so beautiful and the light here is so good that I was able to stay of and paint all night long the music seemed to come right down from the heavens.

Ok so some rich guys are coming into town and they will surely buy some of my pots.

herb gardens

 Coffee and Tea pots are great gifts, Put a few holes in the bottom for drainage. Herbs like mint in the top with some spanish moss to cover the dirt. Or sit them around your porch, out side your front door. When the wind blows the sweet smells on the breeze will remind you of the country.

 Pallets... They are everywhere. Look for the ones that are not pressure treated. Plastic bags between the layers keep the dirt in place. Herbs that like more water go down towards the bottom.

 Now these make Great gifts. Not really practical but very cute. The spoons are flattened out and names are added. Scribbles fabric paint works the best.

 This works with the large plastic bottles but if you have a glass cutter the big belly wine bottles really make a much nicer display.

Now the gloves are strange, I know this is not for everyone. White wire from coat hangers Loop around the glove cuff and then two loops to hold it on the line. A cable is used, not a clothesline.

Worm Farm

You might say Why? Well without the worm there would be no fertile soil. The worms also keep the soil form getting hard packed. To farm your own worm is really fun. 
                            Ten Steps To Worm Farming

1. Get a plastic storage bin with removable lid. (not under 2 gal.)
2. Drill holes in the bottom for drainage.
3. Drill plenty of holes in the top for air.
4. Line the bottom with very fine fiberglass mesh screening (worms are escape artist)
5. Add leaves, shredded news paper and bills, top soil or well composted manure for a bed, fill container half way.
6. Toss in a handful or two of "red wiggly" earth worms.
7. Feed worms at least twice a week by throwing in light kitchen waste. Coffee grounds, egg shells, corn meal. (never add meat or dairy) Bury the food slightly. Replace the lid. Happy well-fed worms look plump
8. Worms like wet beds, Keep the farm moist but not soggy. Store in the shaded, outdoor area. (up off the ground)
9. In about 2 months, Remove half of the mixture and put it in your garden. (worms and all)
10. Add new bedding and repeat the process.

                                                        HAPPY FARMING

Who hates dirt under your nails?

Oh I know I do. I hate the bay the dirt gets under my nails. Well I found a neat little trick. Keep a bar of soap with your gardening tools. Before you start your gardening run your finger nails across the bar of soap. The soap will coat your nails and keep the dirt out. When your wash your hands any dirt that might be under your nails will be slippery and wash right out of there.

Strawberry season is coming

Plant City Fl will be having the annual Strawberry Fest next month and the little green baskets will be everywhere. Take small paper bags coat with cooking oil. put bags in baskets or on there own they are great for starting seeds for plants that don't like to be transplanted. When it comes time to move the plants to the garden plant them bags and all. Here is another case that you can use coffee filters with the little green baskets.

Coffee Filters

Use the coffee filters for the bottom of your pots. They will keep in the dirt and let the water drain out. I save my coffee grounds for my Roses and then put the used filter in the empty flower pots for use later. New ones or used they both work Great.

Christmas Cactus puts on a show.

She really put on a show this year. The rest of the year the pot sits under the cover of some big ferns in the back yard. When the buds start to show some color she is moved to center stage by the front door. People ask what kind of fertilizer  do you use. None. My Grandmother always used tea on hers so that is what I do. Red Rose Tea. after we use the tea bag I cut them open and sprinkle the leaves on the plant. I will be transplanting her to a new pot the one she is in is broken. I like plastic for the Cactus, Grandma had hers in a wash tub That would be fun. Happy New Year Yall.