Mid-Century Cabin Escape

Howdy!

Last week I went to a river front cabin with three stamping friends. You never know what you're going to get when someone asks you to come up to their cabin for a day of stamping.

Ha! Wow! I was in mid-century heaven! This charming little place was built in 1972 and updates have been done. No updates to the important stuff tho! Check out this fabu kitchen:

This is just one section of the original metal cabinets in the kitchen. LOVE! Ok, I could go without the avocado green, but these cabinets still are square and the drawers slide effortlessly and it has a drainboard sink and and and... Yes. I geeked out. Thankfully Clavell was there to support my MCM geekiness.

But wait! There's more!

This table is divine! Beautiful color, design, good use of space, different... again, I geeked out. Can ya blame me? If I could have distracted my hostess and wandered off with it, I might have. I guess I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for a cool table like this for myself.

The bathroom just made me smile.

I swear those woven turquoise curtains are original. They add such an awesome pop of color to this little quirky room. The sink counter is that fantastic white laminate with gold flecks and streaks in it. I know you remember that stuff! And I love the huge sink with the hudee ring! That's the metal ring around the sink. Did you know they don't make them like this anymore? Tsk. The medicine cabinet is beautiful (no, I didn't open it) and next to it is a Dixie cup dispenser. I couldn't help but smile!

Outside the cabin was a beautiful forested area.

Love this little log bench where you can sit and watch the chipmunks and birds do their thing.

Speaking of chipmunks... 

This was right outside the dining room table where we were crafting and eating. It's not a squirrel but I was thrilled! Chipmunks are right up there in my world.

I did actually get something created. Two finished cards:

These were both made using Hot Off the Press products. The top card is made with the Spun Sugar Artful Card Kit. Love the coordinating papers and die cuts. And the bottom one is ColorMe Ebony Lace Card Toppers colored with Gelatos. Haven't played with those yet? Oh do!

I may not have a storefront anymore, but I can still enable just a bit. I know how frustrating it is to see stuff on blogs and not know just what was used and where to get it. The links in the above text link you to the products from the companies. It's a little way I can give a shout out to the cool companies I worked with and still love.

Until next time, have fun!

The First Day of the Rest of My Life

Howdy!

Today was the first day of no Stampin'Cat Studio, the man wasn't in town and I wasn't sick on the sofa with a head cold. The first day of feeling 100% healthy and yet feeling not quite lost but not quite found.

I had no specific agenda other than a stamp club meeting at 2p at a new location today. I knew I wanted to go to that because I miss those fabulous ladies and it's good to be social. I made some cards for the swap, but that turned out to be an adventure!

As I don't have my studio set up yet, I'm still digging through trying to find things and making stuff up to improvise. The theme this month was to use Washi tape, which of course I have and I knew where it was! Excellent! I have a stash of ATCs left over from the shop, so I decided to attach ATCs to the front of notecards with Washi tape. Now, where's my white card stock? Somewhere in that pile of boxes. Ok. Fine. I'll use a variety of colors because I do know where I have a sample pack! Prepare for bright colors!

These were really fun to create! And all so different! It was really good to get back into creating as I was wondering how long it would take me to get back into it. Deadlines have always been a good motivator for me.

As for the first day of the rest of my life, I am a little thoughtful about it. There are 72 thousand options out there for me. I have been thinking about what I want in my life and so far, so good.

What I know:

• I want to create. I have a wonderful studio upstairs that I want to spend time in, making jewelry and paper crafting. It's just a matter of cleaning out, rearranging and clearing off the horizontal surfaces so I have a work space. Instead of creating on the dining room table like I did today. 

• I want more color in my life. My living room was painted a fabulous aqua color by Christy in early 2011 and I love it! Here it is with a quilt my mom made:

Isn't that yummy? My bathroom needs to be updated and I'd like to give it a neutral update and accent it with great color. I will be renting my condo out and eventually selling it so I want to learn some more DIY skills as I update my home.

• I want to dress more artistically. Ok, that sounds weird, but I have worn jeans and t-shirts every day for ten years. I want more color, more layers, more dressy, more ooh la la in my daily life. I was enabled by Angela V recently with an awesome shopping day that really got me rolling in the right direction. Ya know, a jacket or cardigan can make all the difference! And never forget the accessories!
• I want to work for a company I can believe in. This has been a basic for me for quite a long time but now that I'm back in the job hunting arena, I am reminded how important this is to me. I am optimistic that I will find a job that challenges me and that I can take pride in the company and its products.
• I want to keep working on my relationship with the man, of course. Long distance isn't always easy yet somehow we have found a rhythm of texting during the day and talking in the evening that keeps us in front of each other. It feels good to know he's always right there, even if that is 1,200 miles away.

I'm sure there are more things I know I want in my life. One thing, for example, is a motivating factor for wrapping this blog post up: Christy! I need to get across the bridge so I can hang out with her for a while this evening.

ta!

Field Trip!

Howdy!

Awesome unexpected adventure was had yesterday! My friend Robert and I took my two very old four-drawer filing cabinets to the metal yard to sell for scrap. We went to Cherry City Metals and the whole process is very simple. Your vehicle is weighed on the way in, you dump the stuff where they tell you, get weighed again on the way out then go to the office for your money.
Very easy.

That wasn't the cool part of this though. Oh no. The cool part is the resale yard!!!

This was our view of it on the way to dumping the file cabinets off. Let the drooling begin. Yes, you do see part of an old airplane there.

Old chainsaw and bicycle chains. A barrel full of them!

Wait... horseshoes? Rusty and colors? Ideas are starting!

I need one of those circle swirly things for my walls!

Anyone need an old chrome school bell? With the clapper?!

Brass rings! A whole barrel of them! More ideas percolating!

I have seen some really cool art displayed on and made from rusty bed springs.

Wait a minute. Don't you need a metal art horse in your yard?

Love the texture of all the rakes. And in the background, old bench and shelf supports.
Fantastic architectural accents!

Spring is coming! And so are more cool ideas!

As you can see, Cherry City Metals is a huge playground of rusty cool inspiration. The yard art section is sold by the piece and the other stuff is by the pound. Unfortunately, I didn't ask them the price. Silly girl. Take a shopping box or trailer, depending on what you are digging for. And be prepared to find more than you were looking for. I'm still drooling on some mid-century patio chairs that were hanging out there.

Until the next adventure, enjoy!