All my Eggs in One Basket

 I've never been one of those all-your-eggs-in-one-basket kind of girls.  I don't want to narrow my focus to one thing (ie: sewing, crafting, photography, restoring old things, etc).  I love the variety!  One day I want to sew.  The next day I want to refinish a cabinet.  I can't imagine waking up everyday to face the exact same work projects that I had the day before (go ahead and say it, I'm spoiled).
   

   So this week when I jumped from journals to tea-dying a lampshade to "papering" a room divider, I wondered if there's a better job in the world than what I get to do. 

 My daughter played with her American Girl paper dolls on the floor beside me as I cut pages from old reader books for the journals.

 My youngest son and I worked together on the divider and when we were done, we sat in the middle of the mess we made in the living room and ate fudgepops.  

 The details are so much more rewarding than the paycheck!

 It's been a while but I just had to take a minute to count the blessings of working at home.

Homemade Chalk-y Paint

 Did you know that you can make any color paint chalky?  Makes a great chalk paint for furniture or chalkboard paint.  I discovered this some time ago and I use this very unofficial recipe all the time.  It's so much cheaper than buying chalk (or chalkboard) paint. 

This is my junker's recipe...

  Simply mix 3/4 cup of flat latex paint in the color of your choice...

 Two tablespoons of pre-mixed spackle (Martha Stewart's recipe calls for powdered grout but I didn't have any on hand the first time I made it so I tried Mr. Blessing's spackle that was already mixed and it worked so terrifically that I've made it this way ever since).  Note: add more spackle or grout for a thicker chalk type furniture paint until it's something like cake batter...

And one tablespoon of clear glaze (again, I didn't have exactly that so I used a satin finish varnish and it works just fine).  Mix it all up really well.

And you have chalky paint for a fraction of the price!  

I think it is a better quality chalkboard than the store bought chalkboard paint.  I'm new to chalk paint but this gives a similar finish to some of the pricey paints.

Where Bloggers Create

 Welcome to my Sleeping Porch Studio!

Many of you know that during the Winter months, I work in our cozy attic studio.  Our homeschool classroom is up there so it's easier to work upstairs.  But during the warmer months, I work in the downstairs sleeping porch.  My cutting table was the counter at a local shop.  I love the old door on top.  I can't share too much of the studio because this is one of the rooms that was included in Fifi's shoot but here's a little peek...

I have a few vintage dressforms but this one is my favorite.  I love to have lace draped over her.

 My sewing nook is truly just a nook in this large room.  I have to hide the TV behind a curtain above the sewing machine.  Sometimes the kids want to watch a movie in here but I sure don't want to see the big, black, flat screen 24/7.

This is the craft area. The kids tend to work here more than I do but believe me, I can get that table piled up with projects super quick!  Right now it's a nice spot for tagging items for our open-air sales.

 Our petticoat light was not intended as a permanent fixture.  I got the super cool, rusty old frame at Na-Da last Fall and I really like it without anything on it.  But when Fifi called and asked if she could come a week early, this was my quick fix. (Yes, I nearly paniced when I got the call that she was coming "tomorrow" but  there was a scheduling conflict and in the end it all worked out fine).

This room has 11 windows so it has amazing light!  Unfortunately, it also presented a very expensive curtain issue.  Paper garlands dress up the plain muslin!

Thank you for sharing a  peek into our Sleeping Porch Studio. 

I'm delighted to be part of Where Blogger's Create with My Desert Cottage today.  Please be sure to visit some of the other blogger's studios.

Also linked up today with Feathered Nest Friday

Setting up Farmstyle Shop

 As the kids are getting a little more independent and able to spend a day or two with grandma, Mr. Blessing and I are delighted to have the opportunity to set up an open-air, farmstyle shop at some local markets this Summer!  

You can checkout our event schedule HERE.

It's been a number of years since we have been part of regular brick and mortar type selling so I'm a little rusty at the art of display. But I'm excited to throw myself into practicing!  And it's fun working together.

We've been picking up lots of fun pieces, and working on handmade items.  

Love the French market basket!  

It's a lovely but odd business...  Buying old pieces, cleaning them, painting them...

 Adding hardware... 

And then making them look old again!
Yes, I know, it's missing a drawer pull - but I promise, it won't be sporting any naked drawers at the sale.
We're having lots of fun adding a new layer to our business for the Summer!

Linking up today with French Inspiration, White Wednesday, Vintage Inspiration, Chic on Shoestring

Voila!

 Last week I made a burlap banner for a friends French inspired booth.  It was about a billion degrees outside so I decided to paint indoors.  I guess I was having one of "those" days because after an hour or so on the floor stenciling the phrase "Desirable Corner", I was making the final cuts to the burlap when I noticed that there was a bit of paint on the floor under the "D".   When I peeled back the letters...  Guess who had 15 perfectly stenciled letters on her hardwood floor!!!

*sigh*  Yes, I forgot to put the drop cloth under the burlap.

 I hollered for all the kids to grab a wet rag and start scrubbing!

 It took about the same amount of time to get the letters off the floor as it took to put them on the burlap.

After weighing it out, I can now say with confidence that I should've opted for the heat!

Linking up today with French Cupboard's Voila - French Inspiration, Open House, Vintage Inspiration Friday