Bicycle Art for the Living Room

We went to Southern California on vacation a couple of weeks ago.  The vacation started with a family reunion on a lake, then to the beach to see friends, then out to the Palm Springs area to spend time with more good friends.  We had a great time!   While in the desert, my good friend and I hit Home Goods.  As soon as I saw this picture, I was smitten!

I love canvas art, love flowers, love the bike, love the colors....  But, I had recently found a piece of typewriter art that I loved too.  I thought about it overnight, then rushed back to Home Goods and luckily it was still there.  I decided that I would change out the art as I change out the pillows with the seasons since I love both pieces.

I found these blue/green ticking pillows at Pottery Barn.  (I made the little pillows years ago)

I made this pillow recently.  You can see how to make one HERE.  I have a neat bicycle graphic that I will use on another pillow.  (The darn job is certainly getting in the way of all of the crafts I want to do!)

I found this birdhouse at Home Goods too.  It was on clearance. I love when that happens!

My sister and her boyfriend sent these beautiful flowers.



Thank you for your visit! 

Pam

There are only a few days left in the Palatin Remodeling, Inc. contest for Most Innovative Blogger.  I'd love it if you'd vote for me HERE.  There's nothing to sign up for, it's just an easy click and you're done.  (My blog is Our Adventures in Home Improvement)

I am linking to the following parties:

Savvy Southern Style's Wow us Wednesdays

Cottage Style Linky Party

Home Electrical Safety Tips You Should Know!

Your home is your castle and keeping it safe also keeps you and your family safe. Many people take electricity for granted and many don't stop to think just how dangerous it can be or how to avoid such dangerous situations in the home. There are some things you can do to help keep your home safe from these dangers. Following a few simple guidelines can greatly reduce your chances of experiencing any such hazards.

• Avoid the use of extension cords

There never seems to be enough power outlets in the home to accommodate all of the appliances and gadgets that needs power to operate. This is where many people grab the extension cords as a solution to this problem. A better way to attack this problem would be to purchase a good plug strip with a 2 to 3 foot cord that you can plug in to the wall outlet and gain several more power openings a little further down the wall. You get what you pay for with these items so please do not buy the cheapest one because that is exactly what you will get. Adding a wall outlet is the best way to approach this problem but that is not always the cheapest or the easiest fix.

• Install the proper wattage bulbs in your light fixtures

Most ceiling mounted light fixtures are rated for no more than 60 watt bulbs due to the heat that they produce. Fixtures that hang down and do not touch the ceiling are usually rated to carry higher wattage bulbs due to the bulbs being away from the ceiling. Many times people will blow a 60 watt bulb and then replace it with a 100 watt bulb. This is not a safe practice because the fixture can not dissipate the extra heat that the higher wattage bulbs produce and it can heat bake the sheetrock above the fixture and the house wires inside the electrical box. There should be a tag on the fixture stating the maximum wattage rating for that fixture.

• GFCI protected outlets

Ground fault circuit interrupters are receptacles that are designed for use around water or outdoors power requirements. Kitchens, bathrooms and any outside outlets should have GFCI protected outlets installed. These receptacles measure the amount of incoming and outgoing current and will trip out if there is a difference in the amount. This amount should be the same on what comes in on the hot side and leaves on the neutral. If not there is a ground fault and the receptacle will trip and shut down the power for safety purposes. If you do not have GFCI protected outlets installed in your home then you really should have this work done for the safety of everyone in the home.

• Proper sized fuses or circuit breakers

Most homes are wired with #12 awg wire that is rated for 20 amps and some have #14 awg wire which is rated for 15 amps on the lighting and branch circuits. Older homes have fuses instead of breakers. Fuses can be easily changed when one blows but many times are not replaced with the proper sized fuse for the size of wire that it feeds. This is a dangerous situation when they blow a 20 amp fuse then replace it with a 30 amp to keep it from blowing again. This puts a strain on the house wiring because the larger fuse allows the wire to carry more amps than it is legally rated to carry. If you have fuses in your home it is a good idea to this checked by a certified electrician to insure that the proper sized fuses or even circuit breakers are installed according to the size of the wire that it feeds.This would also be a good time to have the connections in the electrical panel checked and tightened to avoid any future problems.

• Check those drop cords for safety that you have hanging in the shop

Are your drop cords safe to use? Many times the ground prong on the extension cords will be missing or broken off and this can be an accident that is waiting to happen. That third round prong on your cord is the single most important part of your drop cord to keep you safe while using power tools and any type of equipment or appliances. You can purchase a replacement cord cap for the end of your cords and you really should do this if the ground prong is missing. Without the equipment ground intact the metal casing on a faulty power tool can become energized risking electrocution to the user. Check those cords for any other type of damage and replace them if needed.

• A few bonus tips of the day for you

Be sure and clean the lint screen on your clothes dryer after each use. Lint can build up inside the dryer and cause problems or even a fire if not properly cleaned and maintained.

Do you have fire extinguishers strategically mounted in your home? The kitchen and garage or shop area would be a perfect place to have one or more mounted for quick access.. Just remember that an accidental fire can happen quickly and a readily accessible fire extinguisher can help avoid a disaster.

Electrically powered 120 volt smoke detectors with battery back up are an essential part of a reliable early warning system for the safety of the entire family. If you do not have these installed in your home this is a small price to pay for the added security that they can provide.

Neat Old "Maid of Honor" Sink

I was out doing my normal Saturday garage-saling this morning and not having any luck!  I probably went to six or seven different sales without buying anything.  I then went to the west side of the city where I have had pretty good luck in the past.  Yes, I found stuff immediately.  (hmmm, maybe I should start on the west side from now on!)

I met a lady who was selling beautiful jewelry.  She had some banana boxes and old metal stuff off to the side that really caught my eye.   At first I was interested in the banana boxes, and although they were fabulous, they were pretty big and pretty much over my budget.

I then asked her about this sink. She gave me a price and I told her I'd think about it. As I was driving away, I decided that I had to have it! I quickly ran to an ATM and got more cash and hurried back and bought it.

It wouldn't fit in my car, so we came back later with the truck.  She said that several people had stopped to try to buy it.  I'm so glad I went back immediately when it hit me that I had to have it.  :)

I cleaned it and brought it in the house for now.  I might use it as a party cooler or maybe put it out on the back patio with annuals set in the tubs.  In the meantime it's in the downstairs kitchen.

She asked that I please not paint it.  I promised her I wouldn't!   I love the patina and love the rusty legs and wheels.

She was so sweet that she even gave me this picture as we had discussed our mutual love of gardening earlier. I love garden friends!

What a fun day of shopping!  I love the fact that I'm not looking for anything in particular when I go out, yet I usually come home with something that makes me very happy.

Thank you for your visit.

Pam

I've been nominated by Palatin Remodeling, Inc for Best Innovative Blogger.  The voting ends next week.  I'd love it if you would vote for me HERE!  You don't have to sign up for anything, it's just an easy click!  Thanks!

I am linking to the following parties:

Ivy and Elephants What's It Wednesdays

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

Cute Minty Green Bookcase

Our friends have been searching for a display cabinet for their daughter's dolls for a couple of years. A few weeks ago, my husband offered to make one for them. They got exactly what they wanted.  And, being custom made, the beadboard and feet match the other furniture in her adorable room. 

It took him two weekends to go from boards to the finished product.

I love the mint green color.

He added a couple of pieces of moulding to make a pretty crown.

She now has a place to display all of her favorite things.

It was funny that one of our friends came over right before we delivered it.  She said, "I hope they don't like it, because I will buy it immediately if they don't!"  (They did like it)  :)

Thanks for your visit.  And thank you for all of the heartfelt comments about Max.  I sincerely appreciate the love!

Pam

I've been nominated for Best Innovative Blog at Palatin Remodeling, Inc.

I'd love it if you voted for me HERE.  You don't need to sign up for anything, it's just one easy click.  Thanks!

I am linking to the following parties:

Cottage Style Linky Party
Miss Mustard Seed's Furniture Feature Friday
Thrifty Decor Chick's Before and After Party
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Rest in Peace Sweet Boy

As many of you who read my blog know, Max has been a huge part of our lives for the past 12 years.  We went on vacation last week and while we were gone he took a terrible turn for the worse.  We were so fortunate that the vet who was caring for him was so kind.  She thought he would be better with some medications, but then she found a tumor on his pancreas which was too much for him to recover from.  While she held up the phone and I talked to him one last time, she said he looked up and wagged his tail hearing my voice.  She and I cried and cried as we came to the decision that it was not fair to keep him going while he was in such pain.  Obviously we are heartbroken.  Coming home to an empty house, seeing his stuff everywhere in the house and yard and knowing he's gone is so tremendously hard.  But, we also remember how much we loved him from the minute we brought him home in 2000. 

This is in our old backyard.  He was smart enough to claim that spot in the pond as his.  This picture of him even made it on the HGTV site!  :)

We built this pond for him when we moved in this house.  The part he is laying in will always be known as "Max Beach". 

We are better people for having him in our lives and will never forget him. 

Thank you for your visit.

Pam

Dresser Transformation & Homemade Drawer Pulls

A couple of weeks ago I was out garage saling and came across this dresser for $10.  It was sturdy and was in decent shape.  Sold!

We reinforced the drawer bottoms so they would be strong.

I lightly sanded everything.

I wiped all of the dust off with a microfiber cloth.

 I applied a light coat of primer using a little foam roller.  It was EASY!

I used Minted Lemon paint from Home Depot. 

 

I again used the foam roller and it went on smooth!

It was HOT yesterday, so the paint dried very quickly.  I put two coats on everything.

I bought these stars years ago.  With the hole in the center, I knew they'd be perfect for drawer pulls.

Using a long screw and a 1" metal extender (my husband says it's called a ferrule), I was able to make my own. 

Because I was using a silver bolt and a rusty star, I wanted to make the bolt look like it belonged there.  I dipped the head of the bolt into the Perma Blue and it was dark.  (magic!!)  I could have made the extenders dark too, but since they really aren't seen, I didn't do them.

I thought about stenciling numbers on each drawer, but think the dresser is decorated enough right now with the star pulls. 

I put the decorated Coke crate on it along with a birdhouse.  I will have to move the flag art up a bit, but haven't yet...

 Thanks for your visit and comments!

Pam

I am linking to the following parties:

Jennifer Rizzo's Fabulously Creative Friday

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