Tutorial: Fire Starter

In a desire to save money and do something better for the environment, I researched fire starters for the upcoming winter season. It is getting cold where we live and we're planning to do a lot of fires this winter, but don't want to buy fire starters. So after looking for ideas, here is what I came up with - something that is easy to do using materials you can find in your own home.

Materials:
- cardboard egg cartons
- parrafin wax (canning wax)
- dryer lint
- mulch (saw dust, dry leaves, tiny sticks)
*Optional: coloring and liquid fragrance


Start by laying out all of your materials, then begin melting the wax on the stove using a double boiler method. I used 2 pans that I already had set aside for wax, but you can also melt the wax in a large tin can in order to save your pans and hold the can with plyers. Be careful not to burn yourself. The wax takes a few minutes to melt. *At this point you can add coloring or fragrance to the wax as desired.

While waiting for the wax to melt (it will take a few min.), fill the compartments of the egg carton(s) with the dryer lint and mulch. The dryer lint is great to top the cups off with because it packs the other materials down well. 

All that is left is the pour the wax into each egg compartment filling them as much as you can. All of the materials you put in the egg carton are highly combustible and burn quickly. The wax slows the burn of the fire starter, giving the wood time to catch fire.

Allow the wax to dry and cool. I recommend setting the cartons on a paper towel on a surface that the wax won't damage if it soaks through. Once cool they are ready to use by simply tearing off one or two of the egg cups to put in the fireplace or fire pit and lighting. If you want it to look nicer or to give as a gift, put 1-2 of the cups in a plain paper sack and tie with cotton string. This entire thing can be put in the fire, so the bag does not have to be opened. 

Be warm and safe!

Clothespins Galore!

Clothespins aren't just for laundry anymore! I started selling wooden clothespins in my shop because there are so many things you can do with them. 

www.blogs.babycenter.com

I enjoy covering them with pretty paper or vintage maps and then you can attach magnets to them. You can do the same with fabric by simply pre-cutting to the size of the clothespin. This looks really pretty when the clothespin has been painted first.

www.missparty.net

The creativity of people amazes me. This mirror wreath is perfect for this time of year and could be painted any color or a combination of colors and hung by a ribbon.

www.countryliving.com

Another great idea for the upcoming season is this use in gift-wrapping. I think I may try this one. What's great is that they can be re-used by the recipient.

www.prudentbaby.com

And who knew clothespins could be an architectural feature? I don't think anyone would know those are clothespins.

www.countryliving.com

Any other ideas you have seen or done?

A Trip to Mount St. Helens

I have lived in the beautiful, picturesque Pacific Northwest my entire life and can't imagine living somewhere that doesn't surround me with endless green beauty. The beauty is everywhere so I have yet to experience it all. I recently experienced Mount St. Helens which erupted in 1980 and greatly affected a very large area. 

I had no idea the magnitude of that day on the natural surroundings here in the Northwest nor of the resulting understandings for science. 

We traveled about 3 hours from home to see this amazing site. The elevation is so high we were literally driving through clouds! My kids opened their windows hoping to catch some to take home.

Many trees have been planted to begin to reforest the area destroyed. So much has grown back, yet it still appears almost desolate. One can be fined and prosecuted for walking on the land over 5 miles from the volcano because of the delicate growth.

My children enjoyed the trip and learning about the volcano, my mother loved it, and my husband and I enjoyed it. It is a great experience for any age. I am glad we went and am still surprised by how amazing the nature there was considering what we are surrounded with on a daily basis here. 

We stayed in cute cabins just a 30 min. drive from Mt. St. Helens. Even in the cabin area we saw nature unlike what we see at home. 

Deer walked around like there wasn't a human for miles. This picture is not zoomed in. The deer was eating grass less than 5 feet from the road and we stopped and watched him for several minutes.

It was an experience I wish everyone could experience and highly recommend it for anyone who has the opportunity to go.

Multipurpose Before and After

A Before and After of a project I recently completed. This is one that I added to my Etsy shop and is available for purchase. It is a wooden box I came across - actually I came across two of them, but the other one had a solid wood bottom and the whole thing looked so shabby and cohesive that I left it that way.

The bottom of this one was clearly a different shade and therefore was begging to be painted. So I used a classic white with a distressed, white-washed finish and I love how it turned out.

I love old wooden boxes because they have so many uses:
- holding plants
- planting a succulent garden
- hanging as a shelf or curio
- setting on a large table as a base for a grand centerpiece
- drilling holes in the sides to fill with candles and hang for an indoor/outdoor candelier...

A Trip to the Oregon Garden

Although I live just 30 minutes from the Oregon Garden, I only recently made my first trip there. I am so glad I went. I love gardening, gardens, flowers...and this was a treat!

With over 20 specialty gardens and features there was more than enough to see and enjoy. Upon arriving we immediately took a tram around the park to get a quick tour of the grounds before exploring on foot.

The water garden was one we enjoyed the most because it is very unique. They have a water monster and a rock-climbing fish! We saw large fish which was neat, but one was literally getting about 2/3 of its body out of the water climbing the rock wall surround, probably with a food motivation. We watched that little guy for several minutes - quite entertaining!

Here's the monster that lurks in the water. My kids love the attraction, but don't worry - my 4 year-old swears it's not real.

If you have kids, the Children's Garden is wonderful! It is a bit of a resting spot for adults and there is an excavating sand box area for the kids, a rabbit hole, a ship and so much more.

My kids loved all of it and were especially intrigued by the large train set-up they have. I think they could have stayed there and chased that train for an hour.

I love this flower pot family. I am thinking we need to make a flower pot person for the small children's garden we created this past summer at our house.

One of my favorite finds was the creative use of household items in the garden. They have a complete bathroom...

...and a real flowerbed.

That day we saw trees (including a 400 year-old Signature Oak), flowers, water features, birds, fish, small snakes (my daughter's favorite). It was definitely worth the trip! I can't wait to see it in the Spring.

Vintage Apothecary Jars

I had one old glass apothecary jar that was my grandmother's. I always remember it in the display cabinet above her beautiful wooden secretary and it was always full of sugar-free candies. That was a big deal because Grandma never had candy at her house. 

picture from robomargo.com

I recently started collecting more to go with that one. I especially love the curvy ones and they must have lids! But once you have them, what do you put in them? Right now mine are filled with sea shells, but here are some other great ideas...


Here is another take on beach decor.

picture from decorchick.com

Making a terrarium is the next thing I want to try with mine.

picture from potterybarn.com

Of course candy always looks great in a glass jar.

picture from ehow.com

These jars are beautiful and can be used to display just about anything: rocks, vintage reading glasses, antique watches, marbles, small toys, clothespins, lace or ribbon...

picture from robomango.com

They make great, clean storage in the bathroom and kitchen as well. They take up so little visual space that it won't look cluttered on a counter top. 

ShabbyNChic jar pair

Find a variety of apothecary jars for sale in my shop if you are looking for your own to fill.

ShabbyNChic Tall Jar

Please share any other ideas you have for how to use these glass jars.

Before and After

It's been awhile since I have posted and I thought I would start back with a Before and After project since those are so much fun to see. I found this small shelf and it was dirty and has sealer spilled on it, but it was a cute and sturdy piece of furniture. 

When my 4 year-old saw it she said, "Mommy, this looks icky. You should paint it." And yes, I did!

I chose turquoise because you really can't go wrong with that color, especially recently. 

What do you think? It's now for sale in my new booth at a local antique shop.

I think it would look precious with pink items on it or a collection of white milk glass.

My Recent Vintage Finds

I had a great weekend of treasure-hunting. I spent most of Saturday shopping and searching for vintage treasures with a friend and my daughter. I came home with probably a couple dozen finds, but here are a few of my favorites that I cleaned up and wanted to share.

I found this classic white teacup and saucer made of fine China. I love the extra curvy details of the saucer. Secret: it's not really a matching set... but you wouldn't know from looking at it. I love it and am excited to add it to my collection.

Then I found this great antique wooden bobbins. I have wanted some of these for awhile and was excited to find this pair. I just love the way old wood looks - worn and used with patina that shows its age. I think I am going to  put these in my living room.

Another find I have been on the look-out for is a two-tiered silver serving tray and I found one of those this weekend as well. I have a one-tier tray in my shop and plan to add this one soon.

Finally, I fell in love with this beautiful blue glass snifter. It is my favorite color of blue and I have really been into glass lately, so I had to have this piece. My daughter wants it for a fish bowl, but I was thinking it could possibly work as a terrarium. I haven't yet decided if I'll keep this one or put it in my shop, but for now it's out and I'm admiring it. 


Which one is your favorite?

An Afternoon Tea Party

I have been away from my blog for a bit (just over a month), but the ideas haven't stopped flowing. I attended a Sunday afternoon tea yesterday with a friend and that was it. The cup over-floweth and I couldn't not post! So here it is with pictures and all...

It was held at a former bed and breakfast and it was just beautiful. 

Aside of the great architecture of the old house which is something I always enjoy and admire, the decorations for the tea were so sweet. 

Each table was decorated differently - some elegant, some bright and cheery, others subtle and feminine. I am currently planning a tea party for my daughter's birthday next month (her idea) and I was able to get a lot of ideas for it.

The flowers were cheerful and I am looking forward to putting arrangements together to decorate our tables. I have decided to do a table for the kids and a table for the adults using different schemes and colors. 

We admired the pretty desserts as we enjoyed peppermint, lavender, and rose teas along with scones. Then came dessert which included many options of cookies and candies - a great end to the tea in my opinion (sugar addict). 

We were able to tour the home after the tea party which was an enjoyable end to a very nice afternoon.