Being creative by using what you have

Good morning Folks ~ Here it is Friday already.  It is hot and humid down here in s.e. FL. I’ve been staying indoors for the most part.  After Monday’s 3 hour work out in my main garden area, I’ve not felt like working outside. Next week we are supposed to have cooler weather. I hope so, because by then the grass will really need mowing.

Inside I’ve been decluttering, sorting, rearranging. It can be hard at times, getting rid of things, but in the end, it can certainly be good for body, mind and soul. Plus rearranging things gives one a new look and perspective.

I’ve rearranged old Oriental rugs in living room and bedroom. I’m not able to empty the bedroom at this time to lay down the rest of laminate flooring that is stacked in the workshop, so I did the next best thing, worked with rugs to cover up old gray linoleum and repair work on the floor itself. It made a big difference and I feel better.  The little wicker rocker I just got for $3 at a yard sale is in there and last night Miss Tork used it as her bed.  Sweet.

There’s work to be done throughout this little cottage, all in due time. I want to get more sheets  of faux bead board paneling for the bedroom. That’s what I’d like to do next, at least one whole wall, which is the west wall and the wall one sees coming into the bedroom.

The cottage is tiny by today’s standards, 665 sq. ft. But, these days, there is a major trend of downsizing to smaller homes for lots of reasons. We moved into this little place in the summer of 1973, after coming home from my husband’s tour of duty for the US Navy, in Rota, Spain where we lived for three years. This little place sat on 1/3 of an acre and is an L- shaped piece of property. It is now 1/4 of an acre as the county came through with imminent domain, and took footage across the front of our property to take the road from two lanes and no sidewalks, making it into 5 lanes and sidewalks. The noise level has increased, and traffic is much closer than it was, but we worked on making this our little haven in this crazy world that we live in. It is our humble home sweet home.

We built a workshop, a dream of DH’s, and a couple of outbuildings, all to code. I have a small shed for storage of bulk items and my washing machine. I ‘solar’ dry the laundry. Gardens have been created through the years, and junk is being cleared from the property, part of DH’s last wishes for me. It is slow going, but it’s only been a little over 18 months, and everything takes time.

I live on a limited income and am thankful for the many blessings in my life. Yesterday I went to Walmart for a few groceries and to see if they had any nice but inexpensive flat full sheets to use as chair covers for a couple of chairs in the living room. (I am looking for a couple of matching chairs, but they have to be a certain size and of course the right price too. These two chairs have seen better days, for now they will keep on working.) Anyway, I stopped at the Salvation Army thrift store first to see what they might have, nothing, on to Walmart, zilcho there too, and then to Target, and nothing their either. Plain and boring and did I really want to spend the money on something I wouldn’t be happy with?

I thought of a bolt of fabric my boss was going to get rid of and I took and thought why not. Let’s see if it will work. The fabric is upholstery and very nice. I cut it to the size of a full sheet, lengthwise, and width was just about right so I didn’t have to cut that. The fabric is just draped, easy on, easy off.

When I put the fabric on the chairs, I couldn’t quit smiling. It is so ‘gypsyish’ and goes with our style, it changes the whole look of the room, adding more richness in color.  I love it. We have always been eclectic, so this is just part of who I am. My husband would have liked this new look.

The living room is a wreck as I’ve got books and magazines stacked that I am going through and other stuff that I’m figuring out what to do with.  (Excuse the hanging wire as it goes to the stained glass shade.)

The fabric colors go great with the old Oriental rug in here and with all of the art and other colorful things too.  We paid $5 for the lamp shade, and my husband took two matching pieces of stained glass in our collection to make the piece that is in the window. The driveway is on that side of house so after he left this planet, I moved this piece from bedroom window to the living room window.  The morning sunlight shines nicely through it and sheds a lovely glow in the living room.

Morning sunlight into messy living room, which I need to prep and paint.  It looks much nicer in here when the little sofa is cleared off.

This is a view from the living room into my space where I blog and also create.

Here is my latest little craft project, the little beaded strawberry.

I just hung it over the American Indian pincushion I have. We found her many, many years ago, probably at the local flea market we were going to at the time.  DH made the fish lucite etching, and I did the beading for the necklace that it is hanging from. I have Indian blood on my father’s side, and I am a Pisces, oh yea and I like strawberries.

The strawberry is made of a nice creamy colored moire fabric from a dear friend, who gifted me with some different materials from her stash.  Thank you Maggie.

I used some sweet seed beads gifted from another friend, Chris, a few years back when I first started using beads. The felt for the top I had, bought at either Walmart or Michael’s.

Etching done on the back side of lucite domed piece. DH also did etchings on polished seashells.  I’ll have to see if I can find one or two of them to share here.

Well, here you’ve had another glimpse into Plum Cottage living. 

Thank you for visiting.

Hope you all have a great weekend ~ FlowerLady

Remember to be thankful and content, and be creative with what you have too. You’ll be surprised and pleased with the happy results. I am.