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Sometimes I Just Can’t Help Myself

Sometimes I Just Can’t Help Myself

Sometimes I just can’t help myself.

Like many of you, I find inspiration, an education and at the very least get motivated after reading a post from Thistlewood Farms.

Well, KariAnne has pulled that perfect trifecta again with her post last week titled, ”A Different Kind Of Arrangement.”  She has written a very visual-learner friendly post about how exactly to use this editing tool.

Through a suggestion from KariAnne, I also use PicMonkey to edit my blog photos.

This app has been a lifesaver.

(I do not receive any compensation for chatting about PicMonkey or Thistlewood Farms for that matter, I just like to share things that make me happy.)

Anyway, KariAnne shared a way to edit a picture by selecting the “Curves” box.

Basically, what happens is that it turns a colored photo black and white and then allows you to put color back into the photo.

I went crazy playing with this! It was soooo much fun!

I have put my original photos on the left and then the edited versions on the right.

Don’t you just love this?!! Let me know what you think!

~Wendy

Sidenote Saturday: Raise Your Hand

Sidenote Saturday: Raise Your Hand

Raise your hand if on Black Friday, you set your alarm for some ungodly middle of the night time and went out and fought the crowds for that amazing, can’t miss deal?

Some of you did.

I did not. I shopped from home after a full night’s sleep, in my jammies and had it all shipped to the house.

Now don’t get me wrong I have a good friend, Hi Lizzy, that has a great group of shopping girlfriends and every year they make a game plan and attack all of the deals on Black Friday and then end their adventurous morning with breakfast.

So I get it, but I am not good at shopping, and I am definitely not good at functioning with sleep deprivation.

One of the places I shopped this year was Pottery Barn and *bonus*, they had a free shipping coupon. The thing that caught my eye was these napkins.

They came in a pack of four and are 20×20 square inches.

So what does a girl who knows how to sew and makes her living by selling pillows do? You guessed it. I made pillow covers from these cute napkins.

I added a zipper to the bottom and attached a white cotton twill fabric to the back.

And viola. A super cute, festive gold Falalala pillow!

Another great day of Christmas decorating!

~Wendy

If you love these covers too, I have put them for sale in my Etsy shop for a selling-out-quick price of only $20 each. The cover measures 18×18 square inches and the 20×20 inch duck feather inserts are sold separately for $16.00 each. (I only have 4 inserts left). 🙂

Sidenote Saturday: Part 1 Bringing New Life To An Old Dresser

Sidenote Saturday: Part 1 Bringing New Life To An Old Dresser

I acquired a dresser recently from a family friend. In fact, it was this little family that guided me to the dresser.

You may remember the mom, Alyssa, from the Market on Old Lake George. I wrote about her here. Alyssa’s husband had this dresser when he was little and I’m hoping I can do it justice.

The thing is, this dresser needs a lot of TLC. The top is covered in deep scratches, which will take a lot of sanding, but I know that each and every one of those scratches has a story to tell.

I had some time this past week to start the TLC process, so I took off the bottom apron. To be honest, I don’t really know if that piece of wood is called an apron…sometimes I make up words to sound smart. If you know that actual name, please help me expand my furniture vocabulary 😉

Removing that piece was simply a matter of removing the wood plugs and taking out the screws. I wanted to remove this piece to take away the ornate look.

That’s really all the time I had for the dresser this week. Christmas orders are coming in and we traveled to Chicago for Thanksgiving. Although, I did order new pulls, buy new paint and a wood filler…guess I shouldn’t be so quick to sell myself short!

Can’t wait to get back to work next week.

~Wendy

Sidenote Saturday: The First Snowfall Of The Season Put Me In The Christmas Spirit

Sidenote Saturday: The First Snowfall Of The Season Put Me In The Christmas Spirit

My goal this week was to get the house decorated for Christmas. Wade pulled down all of the Christmas decorations from the rafters in the garage before he left on business for the week and I had the house all to myself. The fall decorations were put away and I had a blank slate to work with.

But, I failed.

I failed because up until today, we had unseasonably warm temperatures. Warm enough that Nikki and I didn’t even wear coats on our daily walks. Warm enough that swans were paddling around enjoying the day on the lake.

Then the skies turned gray, the wind picked up and those swans hunkered down somewhere.

This first snowfall of the season catapulted me into the spirit of Christmas and I started, and finished decorating in one festive Christmas music filled afternoon.

Here’s a sneak peek.

Wade got home right before the heavy stuff started to come down. Tonight will be filled with twinkling lights and hot chocolate. Tomorrow will filled with heavy winter coats and shoveling. 🙂

Have a great weekend.

~Wendy

Sidenote Saturday: Black Friday And A Table For Two

Sidenote Saturday: Black Friday And A Table For Two

Black Friday ads are popping up everywhere on my computer, phone and TV. My initial thought was…wow, they are starting that shopping holiday early this year. But in reality, Black Friday is less than two weeks away.

So if the Black Friday sales are less than two weeks away, that means that Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away.

(Thank you Captain Obvious. 🙂 )

This will be the first year that we will not have both of the kids home for a major holiday. Wade and I have been loving this empty nest thing, but an empty nest on the holidays will be an adjustment.

I am going to take the high road and celebrate it as if 25 family members and guests are coming over, but trim it all down for a table for two.

The other day I created four separate tablescapes that Wade and I will lovingly gaze across into each other’s eyes as we carve our turkey.

We start with a more traditional Fall decor setup.

Next, I decide to throw some height into the mix.

Now maybe a not so traditional color scheme.

And a total glam, shiny, silver, high-end, get-out-your-fancy-clothes set up.

Which one would you pick?

Then again there is always the option of grabbing a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken and some paper plates and calling it good.

~Wendy

Sidenote Saturday: The Painting Is Done!!

Sidenote Saturday: The Painting Is Done!!

The painting is done, the painting is done! Can you tell how excited I am that the painting is done!!! (Three exclamation marks hardly seems like enough enthusiasm.)

Since it’s Saturday, and the weather here in Minnesota is A.M.A.Z.I.N.G…amazing as in 65 degrees and sunny, I am going to get outside and rake some leaves, trim some bushes and put away the patio table and chairs.

However, I do want to show you the difference between the mossy green colored paint and the now silver gray paint and white trimmed guest bedroom.

Grab a cup of coffee and look at these before and afters…and if you have a minute, let me know what you think.

 

Now can you see why I am so excited!  I love this room.

A full reveal is coming next week.

Are you on team Mossy Green or team Silver gray?

Have a great weekend,

~Wendy