DIM Upholstered Headboard

   This DIM (did-it-myself) project took several weeks to complete, not because it was difficult but because of the many and varied preparation procedures.

 #1. The materials were from different sources - hardware store for pegboard and one-by-twos, hobby store for foam, fabric store for faux leather, heavy thread and buttons.

#2. Several steps were necessary for completion - cutting and assembling the hard frame, cutting and gluing the foam, cutting and stapling the flannel. Yes, I know, batting is recommended but I picked up a large piece of baby blue flannel from an estate sale that worked just fine (and cost WAY less!), cutting and stapling the leather, measuring for and tying on the buttons, removing old headboard and fastening the new one.

#3. Because there were only six buttons in the store, the rest had to be special ordered, which took three weeks. Usually self-covered buttons are used for these headboards but when I found a leathery lookalike, I was sold, even if it meant a delay. Hey, I have all the rest of winter for indoor fun!

   I love the new look and we've gained about twelve inches of floor space at the foot of the bed, which may not seem like much, but is a real bonus in a room of this size.  We may miss the shelves behind our pillows for awhile but they were really only dust catchers. Now I have to decide on some wall decor and different bedside lighting - another day.

Old look - blah...

Lab + Border Collie + Zebra mix?

     A sunny Sunday morning in deep winter, Duncan sits on the bed. He is "pouting" because we are getting ready to leave for a luncheon date and he's pretty sure he won't be going with us. While trying to look sad, he spies a squirrel in the backyard and it holds his attention long enough for me to run and grab my camera. The low sunbeams that filter through the window blinds have produced light stripes across Dunc's black fur. Voila - zebra dog!

Apple Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread

     Any recipe calling for apples and cinnamon should be a winner, right? Well this bread sounded good, looked good and tasted okay, but I think I'll not make it again. I am not afraid of labor-intensive recipes and actually welcome a challenge now and then, but this was just not worth the apple peeling and chopping, the dough kneading, rising, rolling, cutting and stacking. Next time we get a hankering for a yeasty bread/apple treat, I will just make apple cinnamon rolls!

Valentine Boxes

     On a visit to a nearby shop that sells spices and a lovely variety of primitive home accessories and gifts, I spied a set of cardboard boxes. It was Valentine season and I needed something small for a hallway shelf display - the three-inch boxes fit the bill but I wanted to create my own, so we stopped at the hobby store on our way home. Similar looking paper mache boxes were very inexpensive and I already  had paint, lace, beads, etc. in my craft supplies at home. The only thing I didn't have was old sheet music which was a cinch to find online and print. It only took an afternoon to paint and assemble my version of the heart boxes, and I <3 them!

Superbowl Tree

     When we took down the Christmas decorations in early January, Pop lamented losing the ambiance of the tree in his "man cave" television room. I suggested perhaps we could maintain the tree for a while longer by replacing the holiday theme with football motifs. Eagerly, he agreed and printed out some NFL helmets and other items. Leaving in place the blue and white lights that match the room's decor, we were both pleased with the result, and guests on Superbowl Sunday enjoyed it as well. (There will not, however, be a Valentine or St. Patrick's Day tree!)

Cheesy Steak & Potato Soup

     A cold day calls for a hot dinner, and a small chuck steak, several potatoes, carrots, celery and an onion could have been another typical ho-hum Sunday dinner. All things considered, the result was a pot of soup to enjoy, and then savor again on Monday night after a long work day. Not your ordinary beef-vegetable variety of soup, or a potato chowder, these bowls hold something a little special - all of the above mentioned items plus a little white wine and some shredded cheese (cheddar and a bit of swiss). I had to persuade Hubby not have thirds so there WOULD be leftovers...

Egg Appeal

     In the office where I spend my seven-to-five workdays, I meet all kinds of people and I firmly believe in this adage: "We love all our patients - some when they walk in the door and some when they walk out!" (One day, I told my employer we should hang a sign with that quote in the reception area; he was emphatic that it would offend people, but I pointed out that perhaps, those who were affronted might rethink their attitudes!) Anyway, I have found the vast majority of folks to be kind and polite, or, if they are not, will respond in time to being treated with kindness and respect. And then there are those who are simply a delight to encounter, like Ellice. One of the loveliest Christmas gifts that I received this year was a complete surprise - a dozen eggs from Ellice's hens! They were such a beautiful combination of colors that I had to photograph them before using them in the kitchen. Thank you, Ellice, for tendering thoughtfulness and natural beauty, at holiday time and always...

Button Tree

     A pretty frame with unusual dimensions inspired this project. The proportion of height and narrow width lent itself to artwork of a type that I'd been wanting to try for some time. My button collection is not extensive, but substantial enough to compose a tree and my original idea included multi-colored foliage,  in shades of either summer green or autumn orange. However those designs appeared to be a flimsy attempt at reality, so instead I tried white, which produced an expressionistic result that was much more pleasing. (It also correlated to the brown and white scheme of the guest bathroom!) After arranging the buttons on an unbleached muslin background, a simple dot of household glue was applied to the back of each. When the glue had dried, the composition was slipped into the frame and I was delighted to find my finished object d'art was striking in its simplicity.