May Note Cards

I can't believe I haven't created one post in a month - bad blogger. I've had several created in my head - guess I need to walk away from Pinterest once in a while.

This month I'm using photos from a post in 2009 - they're all photos of our historic downtown. Because I enjoy playing in Photoshop, I added artistic filters - it's a fun look for note cards.

This adorable small town is Staunton, Virginia.....if you're ever visiting, ask for directions to Frank's Mill and stop in for a visit.

I'm connecting to Vee's for her Note card Party - and heading over to visit all the great posts.

April Notes

Since January I've been participating in a (fabulous) class offered by Kim Klassen called Beyond Layers. A lot of my fellow classmates are artists - it's a wonderful supportive group.

Beyond Layers is "52 weeks of encouragement, motivation and inspiration……. centered around, but so much more than photography & photoshop……"

These are some of the photos I've taken for that class, enhanced with Kim's textures and tutorials. Some have been posted on my Snap-Peas Blog others are on my Old Mill 1798 Blog - they're all mine though.....

I'm participating (all be it a bit tardy) with the Notecard Party at Vee's

Photos

Processed using tutorials from Kim Klassen.....

and finally, me...

I'm getting ready for "Notecards" :-)

Mini Morph

I haven't Morphed in so long, I thought it was time for a mini update in my kitchen. A few months ago Hubby suggested we go appliance shopping, I grabbed my purse and we were out the door before he could change his mind (come to his "tighter than tree bark" senses) - HA! We made the switch from white to stainless - which meant ALL new appliances (darn)...

You can't have new appliances without new curtains.....

the curtains were made with tiny button holes - just big enough to slip shower curtain hooks through. Bronze bee hooks, with drawer pulls to replace the old finials - so cute.....

Then the island chairs needed new pillows...

I turned the breakfast table into my desk last year and replaced it with chairs. They give guests a place to safely stay out of my mess when cooking. During this mini morph, I had the seat cushions recovered with some fun fabric......

My favorite addition to the kitchen are the watercolors that my mother painted for me. They were a Christmas gift meant to hang on the back splash - perfect pop of color....

That's my mini morph, a few new fabrics and the paintings, s little bit of a facelift for the kitchen. I'm joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday.

Thanks for visiting - I hope to be back next week with a mini office morph - I'm on a mini roll.....

Spring Cleaning

Spring Cleaning Challenge

I found this great list, through Pinterest, at Finely Ground  Not only did I think it worth sharing, I knew I wouldn't loose it if I posted it on my blog :-)

1. Dust light fixtures and ceiling fans--microfiber dampened with vinegar is good.
2. Sweep cobwebs in corners and along the ceiling.
3. Dust all horizontal surfaces—tops of doors, picture frames, shelves, baseboards, counters...
4. Magic Eraser or spot-clean the walls.
5. Wipe down circulating fans, wall, and floor vents with a cloth dampened with vinegar.
6. Get a new  vacuum filter (seriously, when's the last time you did it?)
7. Take everything off the bed and launder, including things you might wash less often like comforters or bedskirts.
8. Sprinkle the mattress with baking soda and let sit for at least an hour, then vacuum it all up with the brush attachment. You can do this while your bedclothes are in the wash to save steps!
9. Vacuum all upholstered furniture and vacuum or launder curtains.
10. Take rugs and mats outside and beat with a broom handle.
11. Vacuum the floor REALLY thoroughly before you put the rugs back down.
12. Spot-clean the carpet.
13. Give the kitchen a deep clean, especially the parts you usually skip (drip-pans, anyone?)
14. Check expiration dates in your fridge, pantry, and medicine cabinet, and bring things to the front—or to the garbage!—accordingly.
15. Give the bathroom(s) a deep clean, especially the parts you usually skip. Here's an easy, green method for the shower!
16. Go through your make-up and throw out anything that smells funny or you never use.
17. Wash windows inside and out. A mix of water and vinegar with a microfiber cloth work great!
18. Scrub out all window tracks with soapy water and an old toothbrush.
19. Go through your wardrobe and if there's things you never wear or have worn out either donate them or put them in a rag-bag (for craft projects!)
20. Bring summer clothes to the front and hide winter clothes in the back.
21. If you have a wool coat, bring it to the dry-cleaner's—I know, not cheap, but it's only once a year!
22. Treat any dingy whites to a soak in vinegar or borax. Might be a good time to do the dishcloths, too!
23. Polish and condition wood—anybody know a good green way to do this and nix the orange-glo?

I think the list is great, but hating housework as I do - I may (will) attempt to delegate.