Cottage and Broome

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Windowsill Succulents

I like to think of myself as relatively self-sufficent, being in my twenties and having lived on my own and all for years. But there are some things that I just need my Mom for - like help not killing my plants.

My kitchen windowsill had major potential to be really cute and filled with plants, which I attempted to do with some basil, dill and other cook-y type plants. But then I killed them all. Repeatedly. It wasn't intentional, I would just sometimes forget to water them, or overwater them, or leave the window open when it's 30 degrees out.

So when my Mom was in town a few weeks ago, she swooped in to save my windowsill by introducing me to succulents a.k.a the plants you rarely have to water. The results speak for themselves.

Giant succulent plant in a giant pot.

My raccoon candle Ricky, peeking out from behind the plants.

An assortment of fun colored pots helped make the plants pop.

Aerial views.

The final product! Ignore my sink.

Super cute, right? Now I just need to make sure these succulents stay alive. Otherwise, I might be needing my Mom again.

Linking to this week:

Make It Pretty Monday

Metamorphous Monday
Mosaic Monday

Mod Mix Monday

Creative Cain Cabin
The Scoop

Tea Time Tuesday

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Knick of Time Tuesday

Wow-Us-Wednesdays

What's it Wednesday

Centerpiece Wednesday
Home Sweet Home

Treasure Hunt Thursday

Time Travel Thursday

Thursday's Favorite Things

Share Your Cup Thursday

Vintage Inspired Friday

Feathered Nest Friday

Show and Tell Friday

Sweet & Simple Friday

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Craft Cabinet Redo

One of the things I have worked on this winter was organizing my craft work space or studio. I've given myself permission to stock it or stuff it, is more like it, with things I love. I've tried to repurpose items I already have and one of those items was a stamp cabinet that has been in the basement of years. I decided to give it a makeover and move it up to my studio.

This is the cabinet, Before.

I seem to have taken the picture at a weird angle making the top look distorted, humm.

This is the cabinet after two coats of Anne Solan Old White paint and moved up in the my workroom. It was a pain to paint because of the little cubbies for the rubber stamps. I popped the back off which made it easier to paint. I decided not to paint the top inside each of the cubbies because who would see it right? Well, I finished and moved it up to my room, loving it but when I sat down at my desk nearby and looked up, I could see the brown wood inside the cubbies. Crap!!! Did I really want to haul that backdown to the basement to paint those inside tops? No, but would it bug me? A big YES, so back down to the basement it went.

This is the cabinet, After.

I've used rubber stamps on and off over the years but I've found myself using them in projects more frequently, so it is convenient to have them close at hand.

I cleaned out and gave a friend for her granddaughter the "kiddies" stamps and kept the others. Some of the stamps are from the early 80's before stamping was so mainstream.

I crystal bowl holding bobbins of beading thread.

I love the tatted detail on the handkerchief.

Some of my button collections are in old mason jars with crowns on them. The jars are from Canada which is why the crowns are on them, a nod to the Queen from Canada's days linked to the United Kingdom.

The big flower is a paper bowl was purchased at Target a few years back. I just pinned it to the wall.

Everyone needs an angel in their work space.

I like skells too, they remind me that life is precious.

This room is as I said, stuffed! In this small space it has 2 tables, 2 chairs, a bookcase, dresser, rolling cart, trunk, an easel, large baskets and 2 pin boards. A lot of things in a small area but it seems to be working for me. I'll have to take you on a tour one day soon.