BACK YARD

                                    This is a section in my back yard.

It needed a face lift.

So.....

I moved the bench, cleared the weeds, 

and repositioned the bench back a little.

Which left me with this....

Got out my old wood ladder that my husband keeps trying to get me to throw away,

and collected the bird houses around the yard,

 and wired them on.

 Added a watering can, and wheelbarrow....

AUCTION....

 The galvanized buckets are also from the auction.

I have a thing for them and the old watering cans.

  Ok... so it's cleaned up,

but I still wasn't satisfied.

Dug out these old rusty chairs, 

and gave them a spray of apple red.

 What a difference!

Hank on guard duty in the background!

Had this little tiki hut 

Took off the side stools, add a few sticks and some paintNow you have this

Our Fairy House

The tall green balls in the back right 

are what's left of my Allium bulbs.  

I always just chopped them down and threw away.  

I can't believe they are still green.  It's been 6 weeks.  

They are our fairy balls. 

My grandbabies and I had a ball placing everything.

I even had Raegan on Pinterest,

With her own account, mind you!

Pinning Fairy Gardens.

She couldn't wait to come and show which ones she found.

After we got everything just right,

I told them, 

"I really hope the fairies like it and come and visit."

Raegan looked and me and said,

"Mimi, you know fairies aren't real, Don't you?"

I can right back and said, 

"Well didn't the tooth fairy come and visit you the other night?"

She dropped dead in her tracks, and looked at me.

I said, "She's real"

Now they run out to see if anything is moved around, 

and asks if I did it.

Sure enough,

 the fairies have taken up residency!

I painted glow in the dark paint on the stick roof.

Can't wait for them to be over some evening to see that.

And chalk board paint on the hanging signs.

Wired some sticks for a ladder.

Got the fence out of the Christmas village we got for free at, where else? 

Auction.

It's hard to see but the vertical stick to the left of the bird bath, has a piece of string hanging on it with one of Hunters hot wheels tires.

Now I'm much happier.

And I was able to use the wash tub that's at the right of the red chair, also an auction find.

SELF PORTRAIT

Hunter was sitting at the kitchen table,

 pen and paper in hand, while I was doing dishes.

All of a sudden he says,

"Look Mimi it's me!"

He had a red nose from his cold.

PRICELESS!

CLUTCH PURSE

My first attempt at a clutch purse.

I used faux suede.

I feel like I can control the universe now that I can do zippers

Not to worry Velcro,

 you are still the next best thing since sliced bread.

And those command strips...

 aren't they something?

Also on my top ten list,

amazing little boogers.

The back.

I was a little tight to the zipper. 

Lesson learned.

The little binding on the zipper needs a little work.

I even used binding on the inside seam.  

Not being familiar with the zipper world,

 I didn't think when I purchased this one,

It was a double sided one.

Since I bound the inside seams that makes it reversible.

Win Win!

As I was sitting admiring my fine job, 

and patting myself on the back.  

I looked over at 

Callie,

(my dress form) 

and noticed this beautiful pin on her.

  AUCTION!

Could it be more perfect?

I was going to go out an get an outfit to go with it, 

but just happen to have the exact mustard colored top hanging in the closet.

The fabric I purchased in Flagstaff AZ.

Been sitting in my stash for about 5 years.

The only cost was the zipper.

SNAG

Raegan had a loose tooth,and

refused to pull it out.

Her brother hit her in the mouth with his cup.

Accident!

Which got it to this point!

Hanging by a thread

So being the good Mimi I am said,

"Come over her little girl."

Yes I yanked it!

She squealed, froze in spot, ran her tongue across it, 

then started to giggle and couldn't stop.

I love toothless grins!

Things seem to be coming in nicely.
Oh, I see a little filling in the back there.
The dentist called that her "SPECIAL"
tooth.

WICKER FURNITURE

We were at an auction in Fremont, Ohio,

these two pieces of wicker came up and no one bid.

The auctioneer said, 

"Will any one give me a dollar?"

Not being able to let a deal go by, 

my friend, Shannon said, 

"I will."

Can you believe it,

 ONE DOLLAR!!!

Called her brother to come and haul them home,

he was not happy.

Doesn't he realize, that's what brothers are for!

We started spraying before we took a picture.

The anticipation was killing us! 

These were constructed to hold a tank.

Metal bars on the bottom underneath the springs.

And every spring was there.

She found some fabric at Goodwill for $2.00. 

Went to Menards to save big money and got the paint.

We couldn't wait to finish spraying, 

we wanted to see what the fabric would look like, 

so we laid it on.

Perfect match! 

She found the cushions along side the road.

We are scavengers!  

The paint was the most expense she had in 

this little make over.

It looks fabulous! 

And extremely comfortable.

Good job my friend!

Give yourself another pat on the back!

COSMETIC BAG

This is the bag I was using as my guide. 

I am a pro at putting in zippers now,

I've done three!

http://www.skiptomylou.org/2010/07/25/the-boxy-cosmetic-bag-tutorial/

This is what I ended up with! 

It's so big it can hold a six pack.

(of pop of course)

I couldn't figure out what I did wrong at first.

Well the vertical seams were suppose to be 5" TOTAL.

I made mine 3.5 from the center,

leaving my bag 7" tall. 

It looks ridiculous!

It is lined with oil cloth to wipe up any spills.

I was so proud of myself until I turned it inside out.

My Sissy said she wanted it. 

I think it was out of pity, 

but she did ask if I could put a strap on it.

Going to give it a try. 

She has little ones, I'm sure she'll find use for it.

  

PADUCAH KY

 Ethel and I went to Paducah Ky last month. 

Largest quilt show in the country.  After being there I think it is the largest in the world!  

Can you believe it, right in our own back yard... 

Besides meeting fellow quilters from all over the US, there was a plane of women that flew in from England. What!!

And a bus from Calgary, Canada. 
Egypt tent makers were there sewing. 
I think there hands went as fast as my machine.

 It was amazing and the quilts were breath taking.  

The talent these women have left my jaw dropping 
at every turn.  
We took a bus with Quilts and Kreations, in South Amherst.  We didn't have a seat on the bus at first, 
we were on the waiting list.  

Thank you Jesus we got on!
We called daily the week before, 
I know they got sick of hearing from us. 
When she called and said we were on, I squealed!  

  The cost was 515.00. I thought that was a lot, until I talked to the lady from Calgary who paid 2000.00, by bus, and that didn't include anything.  We had beautiful rooms at the Harrah Casino in Metropolis, IL. 

Saw Superman! 

Tickets to all the shows two meals a day, and a life time of memories.  

We want to go back next year.

So we are starting our Paducah Fund. 

As of now we have some loose change, 

a paper clip some rubber bands.

We are going to see if we can go for nothing.  

We are going to sell junk we find and see how much we come up with before next year. 

We have something at the auction right now. 

Can't wait to see what that goes for. 

And here are 2 perfectly good sinks.  

Found on the side of the road. 

They will be hitting the auction block soon.

I sent this picture to my daughters to show how packed the show was.  They asked if we were the youngest ones there.

These women were from the

 YOYO CLUB, 

yes there is such a thing.

Here is their professional photo.

They look very proud don't they?

Could this be the future of Ethel and Mabel?

Now for those of you who don't know what YOYO's are                 These hats have several on the brim. 

There were about 4 women all supporting the same lid. 

Very proudly I might add, see her friend in the background smiling, she had one too!

 

This is Quilt Man 
He had all the appropriate super weapons on his waist band, ready for action, measuring tape, rulers, seam ripper, rotary cutter, minus the blade, wouldn't want to cut anything thing off.  He was very entertaining.  Can't wait to go back!!!!