Break out the "Turtle Wax"

You might recall I blogged about this table a few weeks ago and my desire to spray paint it glossy yellow: http://betsymakingpretty.blogspot.com/2010/05/seeking-inspiration.html . I found it at Goodwill for $9.99 and it was pretty beat up. I explored a few options before coming up with the brilliant idea of using automotive paint. One of my neighbors happens to have an auto-body shop in his garage and with very little persuasion agreed to spray it for me with this lovely pale yellow. It is just the look I was going for, so shiny and perfect! I have the nicest neighbors! Thanks Dan!

More Great Words to Live By

I love words and letters... and simple statements of wisdom...and home-made art. This lovely little poster has all three. This one is from letterhappy via ETSY and you can find it here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/50263442/do-what-you-love-what-you-do-8x10-art

My 15 minutes!!

So guess what?!! I submitted my pretty pink chair makeover to one of my favorite design blogs, Design*Sponge, and I got in!! I have been basking in DIY pride ever since it went up last Thursday. You can check it out here: http://www.designspongeonline.com/2010/06/before-after-betsys-chair-carolines-bench.html. Most of the comments have been really positive, a few have been not so nice, but that's OK. It feels great to put something you've created out there and see what the world thinks. A few other blogs have picked it up too! I am so proud!

Pretty Pink Chair

My latest project is a big transformation in one little chair! I found this one at a garage sale for $6.50. Score! I like the simple lines of the back and the slightly fancier scrolled arms and legs. I knew it would look great painted. I resisted the urge to go glossy white and opted instead for this Pepto-Bismol pink I got for $1.00 in the mis-tinted paint section at Lowe's. I am a bit of a frustrated, non-sewer, fabric collector, so I hauled out all my bits and pieces of scrap fabric. Nothing really worked. Then I came across this burlap bag I had been saving from a bag of rice I got at Costco. I loved the contrast with the over-the-top girly pink right away. So I sanded and painted and cut and stretched and stapled this chair into the world...and I love it!!

A Girls Best Friend

The things a girl can do with an electric palm sander, a jigsaw, and one of these babies! I couldn't find staples for my old staple gun, so I had to get a new one!...and it was on sale! Happy day here! Its the simple things in life I guess!

One more reason I love T.J.Maxx

So I think the question should be

"Who doesn't need a Rhino Butter Dish?"

Happy Fathers Day!!

When I look at this picture of me and my Dad I am struck by a few things. First of all look at how handsome and young he is! Secondly, that he had the time and patience with 4 other kids running around, to sit with me alone and build that Tinkertoy super structure! He has always had major MacGyver skills even then. 3. I am mesmerized!..I am loving right where I am, right then.That is the best feeling when your a kid, I had my Dad all to myself! Over the years I have come to realized a few things about my Father. He is so funny and can eat a cookie in 1 bite (a hot dog in 2!!) but is also deeply and quietly spiritual. He is protective but knows when to let you make mistakes for your own good. He can converse on any subject but is especially good at who's hot (or not) on TMZ, and James Bond movies (his favorite being the very under-rated Roger Moore, of course). He is a patient Grandfather who can sit and watch The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and enjoy it (or pretend to), and can figure out the most complicated engineering and building tasks and make it look easy and beautiful. He is frugal when it counts and altruistic when no one is looking. Simply put, I love my Dad, he is the best! Now, fourth and lastly, look at that groovy wallpaper...my Dad gave my Mom freedom to do her thing...always...still does.

Very Special Guest Bloggers

I have some very special guest bloggers today, my 3 wonderful kids, who would like to say a few words about their dear old dad. I love you honey!

Whether you take us to the Pumpkin Patch...

...or teach us how to play catch (ouch!!)...

You make us feel 10 feet tall!!!

"So when we actually grow that tall, we'll always remember you."

" You taught us that nobody has time to be sad especially when we are eating popcorn."

"Any man can be a father; it takes someone special to be a dad." Happy Dad's Day.

Sometimes life is like that.

I was browsing around ETSY ans saw this print by dearcolleen. I had the kind of day today that brings a lot of meaning to this simple saying. I love it when life tells you what you need to hear, when you need to hear it...and in such a lovely way. http://etsy.com/listing/49618046/the-past-is-like-an-ancor-old-school

Portland Represent...sort of!

So our girl from Portland was in the bottom 2 on "Design Star" with her version of a bedroom space inspired by a fellow competitor. I don't think it was all that bad, maybe a bit colorless. They each had $500.00 dollars, and had to shop at an Asian themed import store, ouch! Her room was one of the only ones that didn't look like a samurai and a geisha got together and made sweet love all over it! But it did look a little bit like an Eastern Block prison cell. Double ouch! I still like her very much and will be betting on her to go far! Go Emily!!

Design Star Tonight

The new season of Design Star starts tonight. HGTV 10:00. I'm especially excited because there is a contestant from Portland Oregon in this batch. Her name is Emily Henderson and she looks promising. (For all you "Brady Bunch" fans she is the blonde sharing the "Alice" spot.) She has a blog called The Brass Petal and you can find it here: http://thebrasspetal.blogspot.com/ I really like her style, check it out!

Shaken or Stirred?

I found this little cart on wheels the other day at T.J. Maxx for $15.00! Score! I've seen a lot of rolling bar carts lately on-line, and I love the look of an artfully stocked open bar. This little cart is too small for a big bash but I could deck it out nicely for a (very) small gathering. Martini anyone?

Home!

My oldest son is home from his first year of college! I could not be happier!! He has been writing about Arts and Culture for his college magazine, FLUX. They have asked him to continue blogging over the summer! Check it out!!:http://blog.fluxstories.com/category/arts/

Lonny # 5

The latest edition of Lonny is out. Maybe its just my age showing but I really wish it was an actual magazine on real paper. Its hard to curl up on the couch with an on-line magazine! http://www.lonnymag.com/Home.html

I WANT THESE CHAIRS!!

If anyone happens to see these chairs at the Goodwill, Salvation Army or on Craig's List, buy them immediately and I will reimburse you. Seriously! I love, love, love, these gorgeous chairs!! (And that lovely metal table between them is pretty awesome too!) Keep your eyes peeled folks!

Me or the tote?

I saw these great tote bags on line and had to share. These and alot of other fun products are available at http://www.alphabetbags.com/ I think I'm partial to "Old Bag." Why deny it when you can advertise it so stylishly?!

Pouf Time!

My daughter and I made a trip out to IKEA today to get fabric for our next project: A gum drop pillow, or as I like to call it, a pouf! It looks easy enough, but time will tell. We got the pieces cut out tonight. I'm sure we will be breaking out the "Hello Kitty" before the weeks out!

Another dresser!!

OK, so not only do I have a thing for lamps, I also apparently have a thing for dressers. I scored this one at the Salvation Army Boutique on half price Monday so it was only $20.00. Its actually about the size of a large night stand so that's probably what I will use it for. I had passed it up on previous visits, because it only has one working pull and a few dings and scratches, and I wouldn't want to paint it because what I love about it is the wood (veneer) grain. But it just kept calling to me every time I was there, so I thought maybe I could fix up all those scratches and find some cool new/old pulls. I was able to cover up most of the flaws with the "Guardsman" markers I found at Safeway (great score those "Guardsman"!) Now I just need to get to Hippo Hardware, I'm thinking Lucite but I should be so lucky!

Apocalypse Not Now

So this is weird, I know. It doesn't fit into the decor of either of my homes. But, while once again roaming the aisles of one of my favorite Goodwills, I spied this poster. Right away I loved the Beards style, shiny gold frame. (If you would have told me even a few months ago that I would be drawn to a gold frame I would have scoffed all over the place...but here we are and I love a shiny gold anything. Weird!) Also, I know its not inexpensive to use this sort of frame and when I see one at the Goodwill it means that what's in the frame might be worth a second glance. I must admit my very limited knowledge of classical music or opera so it wasn't the Wagner reference that sold me. It was the bold red, black and gold and the crazy graphics. I Googled "Die Walkure" and found out that if you have ever seen the movie "Apocalypse Now", and got goosebumps when the helicopters came up over the horizon, then, with apologies to Francis Ford Coppola, it was probably due to this awesome piece of music by Richard Wagner from this opera!! Right away I like this poster even more!