Sophie's Bedroom is READY!!

Wow!  This summer has gone by fast!  Tonight, Sophie, our exchange student from Germany, will be arriving in Oklahoma City.  We are so excited!  We have watched her plane travel across the Atlantic on the airline website.


I want to share with you her bedroom.  Remember how it looked liked a grandma's Room.  I think you will find there have been changes a happening at our house.


Here is a reminder of how the room once looked:

and a second look at the old room

Here is Sophie's bedroom, now!

I am leaving the walls undecorated, so Sophie can turn this room into HER room.

The bedding came from TJ Maxx.

I purchased inexpensive lamp shades from Garden Ridge.  They had a camo material on the shades.  I removed the camo material and recovered the shades with painter drop cloth material, and glued brown ribbon at the top and the bottom of the shades.  I spray-painted the gold lamps ORB.

I sewed the round table cover from painter drop cloth material, and used a zig zag stitch to add the trim at the bottom of the table skirt.

The table skirt trim is the very same material used to accent the window curtains.

The window curtains are made, once again, from painter drop cloth fabric with the fun and colorful material to the inside and outside of  each panel.

We purchased a new mirror (on sale 50% off)  from Pier One, a round pendleton paper latern from Target, the guitars and small amp were purchased from a pawn shop. I spray painted the small chair with ORB and recovered with  cream colored fabric remnant from JoAnn Fabrics.  Tom, my oldest son brought over the music stand and checked out the guitars before we purchased them. Also, Tom took the time to tune and restring the guitars.

The Lava Lamp had belong to our second son, Greg, when he was in high school.

Here is a quick look at her bathroom.

I stapled the bedroom curtains material around stretch bars and hung the artwork over each of the hand towel holders.

Here is a look at three of the artwork I made displayed in the shower area.

Hopefully, Sophie will feel welcomed and loved in her American home. We have no doubt she will add joy to our lives.  And, we look forward to having her family with us during the Christmas holidays!

Thanks again for following my adventures.  It should be a busy school year for my family with Sophie.

Wanda

Wanted: Teenage Bedroom not Grandma's Bedroom!!

Last week, We received a letter from Education Foundation (EF) announcing that Sophie, our exchange student, will be here on August 11th.  We had her mother, Jennifer, live with us for a full school year back in 1989-1990.  Now we are blessed to have Sophie come live with us!

Yes, we are very excited!  I need to get busy and get the bedroom ready for Sophie to decorate.

Here are a couple of photos of the room where she will sleep. (please note these photos were taken before I started a blog...nor have I  improved much with my photo taking and photo editing...LOL!)

This room needs HELP!  A ROOM MAKE-OVER is needed so a TEENAGER can live in this room!!! 

I am going to take everything down except the mirror off the wall, so she can decorate.  The red comforter set is going to be donated. I am replacing the red curtains and red table skirt with something to match the bedding.  I am loving lamp drum shades, so I have started my hunt for drum shades to fit the light sconces by the bed. (In fact, I think the light sconces should be painted silver or ORB)  What color do you think I should paint the light sconces?

I have this neat leopard print chair in the corner.  I think it is a keeper, beside all young ladies need a chair to drape their clothes on.

I already have my inspiration bedding selected.  Sophie has already noted she "like it" on face book. So, I am going to share with you a sneak peak.

BIG DIFFERENCE!!  Don't you think?  I like all the colors in this bedding and it goes with the brown ceiling and walls.

I am going to go to "Pinterest" and get started with selecting accessories I like for her room and bathroom.  Watch for my selections on "Pinterest".  

I am on countdown time before Sophie arrives!

Thank you for following my adventures!  I love all your comments!

Wanda

A Sketchbook of Birds by Charles Tunnicliffe

I have been wanting to switch out several prints in my house to frame sketches of birds.  I have noticed the price of several of the framed bird sketches and re-prints.  


Then, I thought maybe an option for me would be to find prints in books and have them matted and framed at Michaels or Hobby Lobby.  At least, I could purchase the mats and frames and complete a DIY project with framed bird sketches.  So, I headed over to the used bookstore, "Archives Books".  


I found the most interesting book.

for a great price of $4.95

I loved the sketches inside this book by Charles Tunnicliffe. The book is "Divided into five sections - Seabirds; Waders; Geese, Ducks, and Swans"; including  Birds of Prey; and Miscellaneous Birds.  The drawings were selected from seventeen of the artist's sketchbooks.  "C. F. Tunnicliffe was born in Cheshire, England in 1901."  Tunnicliffe usually noted on his sketches the location and the date of composition.


Mr. Tunnicliffe died before the publication of this book, "...but he did see color proofs of some of the pictures and took pleasure in discussing and corresponding about publishing details during the planning stages."


I am going to share with you a few of the pages from this book.  (Please note: my photos do not show the real beauty of each page.)

Charles Tunnicliffe had a wonderful talent. 

"In 1944, he was elected to the Royal Academy."

"In August 1974 an exhibition of his bird drawings opened at the Royal Academy."

He was awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Society for the protection of Birds in 1974.

"Charles Tunnicliffe achieved distinction in several fields: as an etcher and engraver, water colorist, and book illustrator specializing in natural history subjects."

He died in 1979.

I am mesmerized by his sketches.  I do not think I can use any of the prints from this book to mat and frame.  I think it will make a beautiful coffee table book in my living room or in my upstairs landing room.  


Have any of you found prints in books and had them matted and framed either by a company or on a DIY project?


Please sign up and follow me in my adventures.  I wish each of you a wonderful week!

Wanda

Seven Piece Place Setting for Twelve

Mr C and I  have been searching for a dinner place setting we both liked. We found Lenox "Opal Innocence" pattern five piece place setting from $87.75 to $130.00.
Here is a quick glimpse at the Lenox  "Opal Innocence" pattern.

This weekend at an estate sale, we came across a seven piece place setting for twelve in great condition for the total price of $75.00.  We bought it and we love it!  It is made in Japan called Crown Victoria Collection "Empress".  The seven piece place setting includes the dinner plate, bread and butter plate, soup bowl, salad bowl, fruit/dessert bowl, cup and saucer. The set price included two vegetable bowls and a gravy bowl with the bottom attached.


Here is a look at the set (without the fruit/dessert bowl):

Here is a closer look at the edge of the plate.

I like the look of the cup.

Here is the marking on the back:

There was one chip on one soup bowl and underneath one of the plates. (I have found a replacement soup bowl on-line at www.replacementsltd.com.) The chip on the plate was underneath and you cannot see it looking at the plate.)

I think this place setting is similar to the Lenox pattern.  It should work just fine for our family, since most of the time when we entertain it is casual with friends and family.

 I love the adventure of a hunt for an item at an estate sale or goodwill, etc.  Sometimes, I like to wait and see if the item I like is still there the next day at half price off. 


Have you purchased place settings at estate sells, craigslist, or other places?  Please share if you have.


Stay out of this heat!  Yesterday, it was 110 degrees in OKC.


I love all your comments!  Please sign up to follow me on my adventures.  Make it a great Week!


Wanda

DIY Project for an Estate Sale Dresser

I told you Mr C and I found several things to go in Tom's House during an estate sale.  Well, we found a perfect dresser with a mirror to use in his house.  It will be used in his entry.

Here is the picture of the dresser being used as a sofa table.

I am going to change out the hardware.  Tom likes the color and the  storage the dresser offers.

Now my pride and joy purchase is the wire basket on top of the dresser.  This baby came from Goodwill at a great price of $3.99.

The moss spheres were made by yours truly.

I had all items needed to make the moss spheres.

and

plus I had the hot glue gun and hot glue gun sticks. 

I know many of you would have used pins to attached the moss, however 

Jack loves to have at least a small taste of everything.  He has devoured a chair seat!

So, I used hot glue instead of pins to attached the moss.

Watch out for the Summer heat!

 I love your comments and would love to have you follow me!

Wanda

Go Boston Bruins!! Stanley Cup Finals! Tonight!!

While I was in Vancouver Canada, the Boston Bruins stayed where I was staying. They were in Vancouver to play the Canucks in game 5 of the Stanley Cup Series.


Several of us on the tour stopped, cheered, and took photos of the team leaving to go play Game 5.
Thought I would share the photos with you.

The Boston Bruins were great about signing autographs for the children in the lobby.  Not many of the players rode the bus to the game; most of them left the hotel in a very discreet manner in different taxis.  The Boston Bruins lost that night.  


Many of the Canucks fans watch the game on several outdoor screens in Vancouver.  Several Vancouver streets were closed as a safety measure for the fans.  Our tour was driving through downtown Vancouver right after the Canucks won. The Canucks' fans were celebrating everywhere with "high-fives", cheers, and car honking!! I wish I had a picture of the sea of people down one of the streets, from where they had watched the game.  It was quite an awesome sight!  Hockey is the National Sport in Canada.


Good Luck Boston Bruins!! Final Game tonight in Vancouver!


Thank you for following my adventures!


Wanda

First Thursday in Portland Oregon

I have been on a wonderful trip from Portland, OR to Vancouver, British Columbia Canada called "A taste of the Pacific Northwest" by Tauck Tours.


On Thursday, June 2, my Aunt Carolyn and I  arrived in Portland.  According to the local weather people, it was the warmest weekend the region had experience since October 2010.


Portland is an easy city to get around in, and the local people are very friendly and helpful.  If we needed directions or asked for any dining suggestions, the people of Portland were quite gracious.


Portland, OR offers a  free time to explore museums and art galleries on the first Thursday of the month. (I understand there is a first Wednesday by invitation only and a first Friday of the month in a different area of the city.)  Lots of people were out to explore and enjoy the evening. 

I would like to share a few items I saw as I explored the art galleries and sipped wine during Portland's First Thursday.  It was a beautiful first night in the lovely City of Portland.

So Scary at first and then so Wide-Eyed!!

So lovely, and could be displayed anytime of the year!

I would like to have Mr Rabbit in my living room.

 Areosol cans sprayed white inside a copper heart.

MY FAVORITE!

I want to say THANK YOU to my Wonderful Neighbor, Allison (Alli), from Refunk My Junk.  On the morning I left town, Alli  gave me a shout out showing the bedside tables I had refurblished on her blog.  Alli  paints furniture, gives painting lessons and she will customize furniture for your space.  Please stop by Refunk My Junk and let her know I sent you, follow her blog and join her on Facebook. Stop the car and visit her booth at Beaucoup Boutiques in Edmond, OK.  She has wonderful "Refunked" Furniture and other eye-catching items.  Thanks Neighbor!


I had a great time on my trip.  I am glad to be home and I will share more soon.


Have a great week!  Please follow me in my adventures!!  I love your comments!

Wanda