YAPPING CAT STUDIO

Summer Time, Summer Time Display

 Here in the South, we are for sure in the throes of Summer.  With temps already soaring into the  upper 90's each day, the heat is truly on.  But, with that comes the hope of splashing into a cool pool, or a stolen nap on a hammock in the shade. 

 
Got the chance to meet up with friends, shop and do lunch.  Found this cute little planter box at Lone Star Mall on Wednesday, and thought it would be perfect for some sort of seasonal display.  The cute chalkboard tin and the letter "S" were also from Lone Star.

My take on it came out a little different. 

I don't do a lot of decorating for summer, but I do like to have a small seasonal display of shells and the Stars and Stripes somewhere. 

So glad to have the puter back, after almost a week without.  Did not realize just how much time I was spending on it.  And while the first few days were like detox, it was nice to actually get some craftying done.  I'll show you moare pics later of some things I did accomplish. 

But for now...I'm off to find a glass of cold lemonade!

***edited to add a photo's and link

-c

Cottage.  Sorta.  In my house.

But its more of a "dark cottage", rather than an airy and bright cottage look. 

Not that there is anything wrong with that.  I just tend to gravitate towards the darker colors rather than the lighter.  I love pink.  But it only shows up a wee bit in my decor.

This is my entry way.  I've not really done anything new, except I did buy that really cool nest at Canton.  Then, naturally, we got em in at work.  I need to take the camera to work and take some pics, we've got tons of new stuff.  Really cool stuff.

Gets me in trouble. 

Oh well.  Such is life.

Do you like my bird garland?  I thought it was fun.  'Cept there were "structural" issues.  As in for some reason, some of the birds "won't fly right".  LOL.  Actually, I thought it was kinda funny to have some upside down. 

ha!

-c

ps there is one bird garland in my etsy shop.

If I only had TWO Kitchens

 
Have you ever seen the movie, "Prince of Tides"?  At the end, Nick Nolte ponders why we are each not given two lives.  And while that concept is interesting in and of itself, the one I really want to ponder is, why can't I have two kitchens?

What I have now is a French Country kitchen.  Lots of black, creams, touches of red and gold.  Pretty, but a little dark.   And don't get me wrong, I do like my kitchen.  It compliments my living room nicely. 

But sometimes what I really long for......is white eyelet cotton, pots of geraniums, lots of cheery, cottage cuteness.  Simple and sweet.

I'm sure if I had this kitchen instead, I would whip up pound cakes, home-made bread and always have a pot of fresh beans simmering on the back burner.  The smell of fresh brewed coffee would be positively heady.  With a sweet, clean breeze blowing through the back screen door.

Chickens and a great big garden would sit right outside that back screen door.  Yep...if only I had two ktichens.  :)  Dreaming on a Monday...that's me.  How about you? 

-c

PS...new Etsy stuff in stock!  I'll be loading new stuff all this week.  TONS to put in! 

A New Beginning

***Written last week, to post for the end of the year!  Hoping you all have a great and safe New Year!  Hugs!  -c

Most of us, (myself included), like to think of Spring as a new beginning.  Eggs and nests.  The time where the frozen ground warms up and all things become possible. 

But I also like to think of the first of January as a new beginning.  A fresh slate if you will.  A new egg. A New Beginning.

And today, on a grey, dreary, wet, winter's day, I set off around the house, camera in hand, to take some snaps of some of the little vignettes I had freshened before the holidays. 

I fancy myself a good photographer.  Actually, I think the Shingles Med's were telling me I am a good photographer.  LOL. I think allot more practice is needed, as well as a sunnier day. 

As I snapped away, here and there, I began thinking of New Year's, my goals, my aspirations, yes, even my resolutions. I didn't make any resolutions at the end of 2009 and it felt very "freeing".

And yet, I'm pretty happy with some of the things that I've accomplished this year.  One of them being a significant weight lose.  Another, two successful Paper Cowgirl Retreats.  Another year of wedded bliss with Sweet Hub.  And lest you think that I've succeeded at all I've endeavored, well....no.  I have not.

 

My friend Linda had this message on her FB page this morning, and I thought it was perfect for thoughts of new beginnings,  "Mistakes don't define you.  They don't dictate where you are heading, they only remind you of where you have been". 

I have made my share of mistakes this year.  There were some things I left undone, some things I could not repair, some things I could not accomplish.  But I'm glad that those mistakes don't define me.  I'm glad that they can only remind me of where I've been.  And that they can point me in the right direction for this new year. Hopefully, to new beginnings.

Here's wishing you the Happiest and Safest of New Year's!  And lets toast to New Beginnings in 2011! 

-c

Before and After Rooster Lamp Re-Do

Thank you all so much for your well wishes.  I am on the mend, thanks to medication and massage therapy.  I appreciated all of your kind words, very much.  You all are the best!

This is actually a project I finished just before the Holidays.  I was sprucing up and tweaking here and there. 

I LOVE before and after's.  And they can be of anything.  Home Decor, People, anything.  I always find them inspiring.  They give me the nudge to say, "you could do this".   So I thought you might like to see my Before and After.

So, here is my Rooster Lamp Before and After.

Before:

(Click on pics to make em bigger).  OK.  You get the idea here.  Dated shade, maroon red rooster.  And while I absolutely still love this little lamp, it was just not working for me anymore. 

AFTER:

TA DA!  Paint and a new shade to the rescue!  Paint is like magic to me!  It is the easiest, most inexpensive way to change something.

I stupidly did not take any "along the way" pics of the transformation.  But it is so easy to do.  After removing the shade,  I primered the base with a gray spray (taping off the end of the cord so it would not get paint on it, as well as the area where the bulb is screwed in). 

Then, using an old wash rag, I gently smeared on a cream colored base.  Once that was dry, I softly added some black accents here and there to mimic the look of concrete.  

Once the base was dry, I added a new cream colored shade, and VIOLA!  Now its the look I want. 

Here's to your Before and Afters! 

-c

A Wicked Tea Decor, Part 2

As a kid, the most magical time of the year for me, was not Christmas.  Nooooo.  I adored (and still do) Halloween.  Here in Big T, we really don't get our first snap of cooler weather until mid October or so.  When I was little,  the crunch of leaves underfoot, the coolness in the air, the specialness of the costume and the joy of free candy - it was all a win-win to me. 

Halloween has never stopped being fun, and to me, Ann-Denise pegged all of those feeling exactly, when she decorated the center room of the little pink Cottage. 

It was Trick or Treat, the school carnival and the fair, all rolled into one! 

Zultan shared fortune after fortune, as the fabulous crepe paper goody boxes were waiting to be plucked by eager Cowgirls.

A few simple alterations by the MacGyver of the craft realm (aka Ann-Denise), make a former chandelier, a handy-dandy cupcake stand, just waiting to be filled.

Candy Bar! 

Crepe paper goodness in orange and black overflowed all around the room. 

Giant fuzzy spiders seemed more sweet than scary, as the other rooms received small touches here and there. 

Each place was set with great napkins, small crepe paper witches shoes, a goodie bag that resembled a broom, and fabulous crepe paper hats.  Guests also received goodie bags from Susie at Stolen Moments as well.  Small cups of candy corn added to the festive feel of the table.

And speaking of candy corn, I happen to live in the "love it camp" myself.  And what did I break my four-month diet for?  Yep, one of these babies.  White cupcakes with cream cheese icing with a white chocolate candy corn kiss on top.  Oh yeah.  It was a cake-asm.  I had to have a moment.  Well worth the cheat. 

And the other cheat?  Rosehip infused scones...with edible rose petals no less.   We did the "we are not worthy" bow many times to AD on Saturday.  And she really, really deserved each one. 

-c

Spooky Decor on the Cheap!

Hey Y'all!  Well, A Wicked Tea is a done deal and it was a fun, creative day, filled with great food, laughter and lots of cool art projects.  I thought I would share some of the decor pics, and give you a little insight into Halloween decor on the cheap.  Really cheap. 

How to transform a cute,  pink Cottage into something a little scarier, was going to be a budget challenge for sure.  But thank goodness for Dollar Tree.  My fave go to spot for cheap.  In the front room, my plan was to go  Curious Sofa neutral, with touches of black glitter for fun. 

Seasonal decor is just like everyday decor.  Take one fabulous piece, and here its the glittered candelabra, and build around it.  The ratty black mesh and moss are DT goods, as are the crows and white candles.  I dolled the large candle up with a ruffle made from book pages and glittered letters.  An old photo adds interest and the word "frighten" is for fun.  Both are inexpensive antique mall finds (under $5.00), the white pumpkins are a half off Hob Lobb deal.  They are picks, and I just pulled the stems off. 

I did get lucky on the flash cards though, that is for sure!  (The other reads, "Boo").  As well as on the cage, it was an antique mall find too, for under $5.00.  Bad condition, but workable.

If only my mantle at home were this easy to do.  Here I started with a vintage mirror, a pile of books (covers removed) that came from a thrift shop.  The black glitter spider is a Target Dollar Spot find (LOVE the Dollar Spot). and again, old photos, moss, a decorated dollar candle.  (The FAB banner is AD's handy work!).

Moss makes it creepy.

Loved the owl, may have to really buy him (he came from work).  Again, a flash card, and old photos.  I added the words to The Addams Family Song to each pic (Creepy and Spooky, Mysterious and Ooky, Altogether Kooky), for just a little fun.  

The Hypnotic Control booklet was a great Canton find...a mere quarter!  Easy to decorate the plain white candles and then drop a battery operated light into the top, for a safe, yet creepy glow.

Again, all built around the fabulous glittered candelabra!

All the white pumpkins are Michael's sales.  Here a vintage stool adds some peely texture, as does the moss.  More crows, which I love, and at a dollar each, easy to get several for a great look.

So, there you have it, a peep into my favorite type of Halloween decor.  Since we don't have little ones, but we do have naughty kitties, I really don't decorate for Halloween, so this was a great treat for me to get to play.

Tomorrow, I'll show you this one's world.  Lemme tell ya, its a great one too!  The Halloween decor of my childhood dreams. 

Till then,

-c

 

Pumpkins for Fall Decor

And a treasury!  Lookie, lookie!  hee, hee!

When I was a kid, one of the most degrading things, outside of wearing that gosh-awful, white piece of horridness know as, "gym clothes", was being picked last for Dodge Ball.  Or not just Dodge ball, but any other "team sport".  And I usually was picked last. 

But now, I'm picked, ok,maybe not first, but picked anyway.  Wow.  How fun is that?  It's only happened to me once before (to be on a treasury), so I am quite thrilled and honored.  Thanks to Donni for choosing me.  This is way better than when I used to be picked last for dodge ball.

And speaking of Pumpkins.

Are these not the most gorgeous things you have ever seen?  Velvety wonderfulness.  Surely these were the pumpkins that Cinderella's couch was made from...that's how magical these are. 

When we saw them at Market, I fell in love with them, right then and then.  Along with about fifty other foot stomping women, trying to jam into her booth. 

Find em here.  In fact check out Cindy's blog, to see all the cute new Fall stuff. 

I'm just now pulling out Fall decor.  Hence the pumpkins.  Its just been so blasted hot.  Hard to get in the mood when its still 95 degrees out.

And speaking of Fall decor.  I need opinions please.

OK.  Does this just scream, (in a very high falsetto), "the 80's called and they want their fabric back!".  Or do you like it?  Its very rich and warm looking...but perhaps too floral-ie?  I only have a few yards and was thinking it might cover a foot stool very nicely.  What do you think?  My living room is not that girlie. 

Opinions please?

-c

PS...this is my 501 blog post.  Can you believe?  Who would have thunk since March of 2007 that I would hit, 500 posts.  And you all!  Take a bow.  6,240 comments.  Love you guys!  Thanks!

Looking at things differently

Isn't that what makes us "creatives" just that?  Looking at things differently?  How we see things, does that make the difference between a creative person and a non-creative person?

I was playing around with camera angles today (before the blessed storm hit - thank goodness for rain!) and trying to see which I liked best.

I'm trying to take better (read more interesting) photos for my Etsy.

Hmmmmm...

What do you think? 

How have you looked at things differently today?  : )

-c

Three Cheers!

Another summer day, even though it is not officially Summer yet.  But hey, when it hits 100 degrees, to me, that is Summer baby.  And my thoughts (aside from freaking out about Paper Cowgirl being so close now), are turning to the Fourth!  Yep, three cheers baby!  Grillin, Watermelon and Fireworks.  So I'm on the hunt for ideas for our big 4th bash!

I picked up the July issue of Good Housekeeping, because I spotted this inside.  Is this not the cutest?

I had already thought about these (paper lanterns), as we had some great red, white and blue ones come in at work.  Then I found an assorted sizes package of red ones on clearance at Hobby Lobby, those will mix in nicely too.  And of course flags, we've got to have flags.  And water balloons.  And I'm on the hunt for squirt guns.  And glow bracelets.  Hey, what can I say, I like toys.

Loved all the fun decor here, especially that cute flag wreath.  I may have to attempt that one. 

The pin wheels are cute too. 

Yep, no two ways about it, I'm already drooling over the thought of BBQ Chicken and potato salad, maybe some Strawberries and Ice Cream.  There is just something about a traditional forth, that is so fun to me.  Our small town always has a parade and a fireworks display. Lots of fun.   

Have you seen any cute 4th stuff yet? 

-c