Found Treasures from the Abyss and Elsewhere

I found some pretty cool stuff I had completely forgotten in my recent garage-cleaning adventure. I have a pretty good memory most of the time, but I honestly can't remember some of the junk I had stuck out there. I must have liked it, and I still do, which is great!

The piece above is not from MY garage, but Julie's garage sale a while back. It looked like this:



It was destined to get a coat of white faux chalk paint. 

It's solid wood and has great details...I don't have a clue where it will end up yet! For the time being, it's on the table in the front window.

From MY garage, I was excited to find more game pieces to go with my others. In addition to more scrabble tiles, I found the cutest little ivory dominoes! See them next to the tiny bone dice? I love them. 

Then there was this cute little Niloak pitcher - it's about the size of a coffee cup. 

It's probably going to Etsy...

There is another little white pitcher that will probably be listed as well. I found lots of Etsy-bound stuff out there!

I can't wait to get my art room functional, so I can begin to list some of it! I plan to have an Etsy station in there - as well as a photo area. I'll show you when it's a bit more presentable. It's the BIGGEST mess right at this moment.

Word for the Day:
Matthew 13:44-46

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

Possibly Linking With
Sunday
http://www.twiggstudios.com	Sunday Show-off Link Party
http://www.bystephanielynn.com	Sunday Showcase Party
Monday
http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/	Masterpiece Monday
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com	Make it Pretty Monday
http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com	Mod Mix Monday
Tuesday
http://www.knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/	Vintage Inspiration Tuesday
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/	Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
http://cedarhill-ranch.com	The Scoop
http://farmhouseporch.blogspot.com/	The Scoop
http://www.astrollthrulife.net/	Inspire Me Tuesday
http://cityfarmhouse.com/	Inspiration Exchange Linky Party
Wednesday
http://savvysouthernstyle.net/	Wow Us Wednesday
http://www.timewashed.com	Blissfully White Wednesday
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/	What’s it Wednesday
http://lavendergardencottage.blogspot.com	Cottage Style Party
http://www.greenwillowpond.com/	What We Accomplished Wednesday
Thursday
http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/	Thursday Open House Party
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/	Time Travel Thursday
http://frommyfrontporchtoyours.blogspot.com/	Treasure Hunt Thursday
http://www.jannolson.blogspot.com/	Share Your Cup Thursday
Friday
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/	Feathered Nest Friday
http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/	Frugal Friday
http://www.jenniferrizzo.com/	Fabulously Creative Friday
http://homespunhappenings-tammy.blogspot.com	Rustic Restorations Weekend
http://www.shakentogetherlife.com/	What’s Shakin’ Link Party
http://vintageinteriorblogs.blogspot.com/	Weekend
Saturday
http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/	Saturday Nite Special
http://too-much-time.com	Get Schooled Saturday

Two Painting Tips You Probably Won't Find Anywhere Else...

This week, I've spent some time painting a bedroom. I plan to sleep there tonight, though it will not be a finished room. 
There will be furniture to paint, walls to decorate, etc, but my painting will be done. Hooray!

This is the 4th time this room has been painted in ten years. First, it was yellow, for my daughter. Then she wanted it pink. Then, when Mason went to college, she moved into the front bedroom. 

When both Ethan and Mason moved back home for a while later, pink would not work. I painted it this color - somewhere between camel and tobacco green. It went with comforters I found for 2 twin beds. It's been this way for several years. Meanwhile, the boys moved out, and later Mason moved back. 

Mason just moved out again, and I have been making plans to move into this room, so my current larger bedroom could be an art room. First, the dark paint had to go. My tastes have changed with the styles somewhat, and these days, I'm craving light, neutral spaces.

For this bedroom, I've chosen a lighter, beige-greige. I wanted something very neutral, just dark enough to contrast with the white glossy oil-based trim. I mixed this paint myself, using a gallon of Olympic white flat, a gallon of Valspar Antique white (Vanilla) and some mini sample pots of tans and taupes. 

This job required 2 coats plus a third touch up. As I was painting, I figured out a few things this time around...

First - I really hate cutting in around the ceiling. Ladder work has become increasingly difficult the older I get. My knees don't like it at all. I wish I had a tip for making this easier!

Second - I am a lazy painter. I really hate cleaning brushes and rollers. I usually buy cheap ones and throw them away. 

Tip #1:

To keep my brush and roller work-ready. I wrap them in plastic grocery bags - squeezing air out and twisting them closed. 

I tried leaving them in water, and though they don't dry out, you have a MESS when you begin painting, and your paint is watery. Paint-water droplets go everywhere. 

I have tried leaving them in the paint, but paint seeps into places it's not really supposed to be (like inside the roller), and it drips quite a bit. 

The bag method is GREAT. Disposable and virtually mess-free, it works for overnight storage, but not for extended periods.

For oil based paints, wrap them and put them in the freezer! Yes - you're making paint brush-cicles. They'll thaw quickly and are still pliable when you're ready to paint again - even for extended periods.

Tip #2:

Storing touch up paint in water bottles!
This is a new experiment. I thought of it yesterday as I was considering how to store leftover paint for future touch-ups.

I've tried leaving paint in the original cans - and often, it dries out. I've tried storing it in wide-mouth canning jars, but paint gets around the rims, and the lids are hard to get off and it's almost impossible to get a tight seal again. Plus, they're breakable. 

Yesterday, I had a little epiphany while taking a water break. I thought the bottles might work because they are clear so you can see the color, they are non-breakable, the lids can be easily wiped down after pouring out paint into a larger container. They take up less space than the big cans, too. Honestly, I can't see how they won't work well. I wonder why I didn't think of it before?

Now, only two more trips up the ladder today, I think. Yes, I'm counting them...

Word for the Day:
Romans 4:8

blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”

Possibly Linking With
Sunday
http://www.homemakeronadime.com/	Creative Bloggers Party Hop
http://www.twiggstudios.com	Sunday Show-off Link Party
http://www.niftythriftythings.com/	Nifty Thrifty Sunday
Monday
http://betweennapsontheporch.net	Metamorphosis Monday
http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/	Masterpiece Monday
http://diyhshp.blogspot.com/	The More the Merrier Monday
http://www.serendipityandspice.com	Manic Monday
http://howtonestforless.com/	Just a party with my peeps!
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com	Make it Pretty Monday
http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com	Monday Marketplace
Tuesday
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/	Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
http://www.cedarhill-ranch.com/	The Scoop
http://farmhouseporch.blogspot.com/	The Scoop
http://www.astrollthrulife.net/	Inspire Me Tuesday
Wednesday
http://savvysouthernstyle.net/	Wow Us Wednesday
http://www.notjustahousewife.net/	Penny Pinching Party
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/	What’s it Wednesday
http://www.thethriftyhome.com/
Thursday
http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/	Under $100 Link Party
http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/	Transformation Thursday
http://staceyembracingchange.blogspot.com/
http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/	Thursday Open House Party
http://www.the36thavenue.com/	Share Awesomeness Thursday
http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com	Home and Garden Thursday
http://www.jannolson.blogspot.com/	Share Your Cup Thursday
http://katherinescorner.com/	Thursday Favorite Things
http://savedbysuzy.blogspot.com/	Suzy's House Party
Friday
http://redoux.blogspot.com/	Friday Redoux Link Party
http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/	Frugal Friday
http://homespunhappenings-tammy.blogspot.com	Rustic Restorations Weekend
http://www.remodelaholic.com/	Fridays on Remodelaholic
http://www.lovenotesbylauryn.blogspot.com	Spread the Love
http://www.findingfabulousblog.com/	Frugalicious Friday
http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/	Flaunt it Friday
Saturday
http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/	Saturday Nite Special
http://too-much-time.com	Get Schooled Saturday
http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/	Show and Tell Saturday