My new ad(venture)

After following one of the artisans at Lemon Poppy Seed shops for awhile now I decided to submit photos of my baskets in consideration for membership into their artisan community.  I am excited to say that I've been accepted into their family and now have my own Lemon Poppy Seed shop. (If you'd like to check it out, click here.)

 Thought I'd share a new basket that I've only listed on that site,  this is one has never been on my selling blog,  1803 Ohio Farm Baskets.   

After a week of rain and cancelled baseball games, we are going to finally play baseball all weekend!  Both our boys have a minimum of 3 games with their travel teams.  Thank goodness that both teams play in the same tournament (just different age brackets) so we aren't traveling between towns. Have a great weekend.  ~Ann 

Is red the new black?

First, let me wish everyone a Happy Mother's Day.  I hope you all have a relaxing day filled with love and fun.  

On to my post.   The last 7 basket orders that I have had were all for red baskets.  Is there something going on out there that I don't know about?

 

I have NO problem making custom baskets,  I just am surprised that everyone is asking for the same exact color!  The basket above holds your plastic grocery bags.  The bottom is wood and has a hole that you can pull the bags out of to use.  The gal that ordered this one saw the one below and wanted more rows of red.  Like I said earlier NO problem!

This next basket was a repeat order from a gal who is addicted to red.  Her blog, Red Geranium Cottage tells it all.  (Sharon is opening an online quilt shop in case you like fabric!)

Now, the funny thing is,  I haven't published this photo before and it only just arrived at it's destination yesterday, but I had an order for another one last Thursday, guess what color?  You got it red!

  I really like to stay on top of trends for The Basket shop that I manage for Sauder Village.  If red is the new black  I need to make sure that I'm at the head of the curve.  Today is a day for me to work at Sauder Village (I always work Mother's Day, I just can't make anyone else work today!) I think I'll take a poll about red while I'm working. 

Have a great week ~Ann

Please....Say Yes!

Wow, have I been MIA this last month!  I haven't actually been missing any action though!  Our DD is running track, DS#1 is on a town baseball team, a travel baseball team and an AAU travel basketball team AND DS#2 is on a town baseball team and a travel baseball team.  WHEW  I've had plenty of action - now I just need to get a laptop with internet access for baseball fields, track stadiums and basketball gyms. 

I've also had to prepare The Basket Shop at Historic Sauder Village for opening day this past Tuesday.  Managing The Basket Shop is my summer job - I know it's not summer but we've opened for our 35th season already this spring. 

On to my post.  I'm really thinking that I need another collection!  Of course I'm asking all of you to cast your vote if you think I need one too.  Shh...don't tell DH!  I've found these 2 cute little chairs in my travels,  the blue one at a garage sale and the rocking chair at GW.  Since I've spent a whopping $1.50 on them together I'm thinking that they need some "friends"

Our master bedroom has 2 long windows along the west wall.  DH says they are really basement casement windows and really doesn't like them!  He made me a shelf that runs the length of the windows that I've placed baskets on. 

I think the chairs look neat placed inbetween the baskets.  The colors all work well together: the stained baskets and wood rocking chair and the blue baskets and those with blue accents and the blue chair.

You will notice that I need to paint the shelf and make some sort of curtain for these windows!  Maybe a summer project. 

So what do you think, don't these little chairs need those "friends"?

Have a great week.  ~Ann

P.S.  I do want to thank everyone that has ordered baskets from me lately - thank you very much - I'm now caught up on orders. 

I'm Trading Places & A Sneak Peek

First I'll show you the sneak peek of my new bathroom.  These are the lights that will hang above the "new" mirrors.   I thought these lights were prim enough - if I could choose anything I'd pick something expensive, but these are fine and will blend in nicely when all is done. We ended up putting wainscot on the entire wall behind the vanity. I still need to paint and then I'll show you all the reveal.

Our middle child had the flu on Saturday/Sunday (great Easter!) and was kind enough to share with me on Monday/Tuesday.  I've decided since I'm so far behind on laundry and housework from being sick that I'm trading places with Frito.  I think I need a nap on my personal body pillow...  

                                                  

Many times throughout the day someone will walk past and rub my back, feed me a couple little treats, carry me to lie in the sun

keep my food dish full, rinse out my water bowl and give me only bottled water - I can't drink faucet water!

I won't have to lift a finger and everyone will tell me how cute I am.  Then I get to this picture and think maybe a little exercise might be in order! 

Have a great rest of the week.  ~Ann

It Worked!!!

We took the plunge yesterday and cut our large bathroom mirror and IT WORKED!  I now have 2 smaller mirrors that are awaiting frames to be made for them on Wednesday of this week.  YEAH!  I am so glad that we tried this.  Thanks to all of you who left me advice on doing this. 

 I do have the top half of the kids bathroom painted.  We are putting Wainscot on the bottom half and then I will paint that a slightly darker color than the top part of the wall.  Hope to have this all done by Thursday!  Don't want to carry this project any longer and with this week being Spring Break week I have to time to work on it. 

Now I have to show you some TS finds.  I found these Pfaltzgraff bowls at GW on Friday.  I debated about them, they are large for individual bowls, but a little on the small side for serving bowls.  I love the mustard color so decided to buy 2, they were only $1.00 each.  After I left I got thinking, I should have bought all 8 of them.  I went back about an hour later and the rest of the set was gone.  Someone please kick me! 

 

For a mass produced basket, this one is very nice.  It is old and well constructed, so for 75 cents I've added it to my collection.  I am NOT big on mass produced baskets, but I will make an exception once in awhile. 

The two unfinished frames were $1.00 each, I usually pass by the frames at GW unless they are half off that day, but unfinished is a different story!  The small wooden frame was 25cents - that was a good buy - I love little frames.  The blue ball jar and framed cross stitch were each half off for 50 cents. I have a zinc lid for the ball jar and I think it will go in the "new" bathroom with cotton balls in it.  I'm calling the flag a plant pick, not sure what it was used for, but I can see it added to a crock around the house. 

I see sunshine today!  After rain all day yesterday I'm ready for the sunshine.  Have a great day!  ~Ann

Trashy Thursday Tutorial

Several weeks ago, a forum that I belong to was having a "Tin Can" challenge.  The rules were simple, take a recyclable tin can and transform it into something primitive.  After thinking about this for many days, this is what I entered. 

 I have a thing for silicone light bulbs and grubby candles! 

Here's what you need:  

Plaster of Paris

Clean soup can

spices

Modge Podge

Spanish Moss

Cheap window candle(start looking at garage sales - usually you can pick these up for 25 cents)

Briwax or Burnt Umber Oil paint (the kind artists use)

scrap Styrofoam

silicone bulb

Candle ring

1.  Fill the can about 1/3 of the way with Plaster of Paris, let sit until hard

2.  brush the outside of the can with a coat of modge podge and sprinkle with cinnamon spice mixture - whatever you want, repeating at least once more

3.  cut the candle to an appropriate length, being careful not to cut the electrical cord!  I use one of DH's hacksaws to do this. With a paper towel rub on the antiquing medium of your choice

4.  Place the candle into the can and hold in place with pieces of Styrofoam.  I just broke off small pieces and used them to prop up the candle. Run the electrical cord over the back rim of the can.   Cover the Styrofoam with Spanish moss and place your candle ring on top.  You now have a nifty little accent light. 

The candle rings were actually also a trash item.  I had these on my tin chandelier in the dining room, but all the red berries popped!  Don't you hate it when the pip berries do that?  I just cut off all the red ones and decided it would be perfect on this. Hope you enjoyed this,  I was very pleased with how it turned out and it looks good in my half bath!  ~Ann 

Have you Ever....

Cut a large mirror into smaller mirrors?  I'm in the middle of an overhaul of our kids' bathroom and this large mirror screams 1976 (the year this house was built). 

I would like to cut it into 2 smaller rectangular mirrors to hang over each sink.  We've bought the cutter, DH has read up online how to do it, now we are procrastinating!  I can see the "new" mirrors with frames around them painted the color of the trim.  If you have cut a mirror - did it work, did you break the mirror, should I call in a professional, am I crazy?  Any advice is more than welcome!

The bug wallpaper was really cute in here when I redid the bathroom when the kids were 6, 3 and 10 months.  Now it is a little too juvenile for a 15, 12 and 9 year old. (actually it is all gone, I've spent the last couple of weeks removing the paper with any spare moment I've had)

I loved the clean white look when I redid this, the old fixtures were harvest gold amd dark brown wood - one of those great '70's combinations.  We replaced the toilet, countertops, sinks, cabinets and flooring.  I painted the harvest gold tub white - quite the job, but well worth my time investment (much less $$$ than replacing the tub/shower combination).  I have new paint color samples hanging and I'm trying to decide on the color of taupe/cream that I want to paint the walls.  Thanks for any advice you may have on the mirror!  ~Ann