Time to play catch up!!!!!

I think it is time that I let you all know what I have been up too. I have been a busy bee these past months doing new projects as well as finishing old projects and looking for full time employment.

This is going to be a long post, so grab some tea and treats and I hope you enjoy my post and photos.

First the new projects:

             These are my new hats that I have been working on. I love top hats and I thought these were the perfect size for some of my bears and a steampunk reborn doll that I will be working on in the future. You can find the wonderful free hat patterns here at fleece funs website at  http://www.fleecefun.com/mini-top-hat.html

Brown and Pink Top Hat

Spring Citrus Top Hat

Steampunk Top Hat

The Top Hat stands were made by my wonderful Wood Crafter "my Dad". I thought my hats needed to rest on top of hat stands and I know that the real ones were way to big so myself and my Dad came up with these, well my Dad did the designs not me LOL. He is sooooooooooo good at woodworking.  I am going to add some padding and fabric to the top part under the hat to give the stands a more finished look.

My other new project was to paint my kitchen. So I got it done finally after 16 years. It was all white, but on my 3/4 part wall was a really ugly brown color. So I had some paint left over from my studio room which is a medium camel color so I thought why not use that to paint the kitchen with. Walls are now the medium camel color and I have white cabinets that I left white. I love the colors together. Added touches of peach and blue items and it is now a updated kitchen without any money!!!!! Just left over paint and a major cleaning.

I did not take any photos, because I mainly forgot too. It is a pretty small kitchen and now it is a mess again. I do not know why it does not take long for things to get messing  after you clean and organize a room. LOL



My unfinished project, My bedroom. Yes after 16 years as well I wanted to paint my bedroom. It was a mauve color theme with white walls and I thought it was time to update it to Blue. Blue is my favorite color. So I bought some white satin paint and off I went. I wanted a shabby chic room so in a few posts back you can see some of the treasures that I got from some estate and garage sales to put in it.
Well I was not happy with just the white paint, I mean it looked good but it needed a bit more of color. So Ace hardware was giving away free quarts of paint and I thought I am not going to pass that up so I got a very pretty very pale blue and thought I would try some stripes. Now I am all for painting different styles on walls, but I have never done the stripes. I knew that it was not an easy thing to do because you have to measure and I am not one that likes to do that I love to eyeball everything. So with help from my Dad again we came up with the stripe width that I needed and off I went. Let me tell you that this stripping is a two man job, but I got her done. I was not impressed with what I had finished with one section of  the wall by my window. Not sure what my problem was, if it was the color I picked or the stripes so I left it for a couple of days and then decided to just go for it, it was only paint after all. I finished the whole room the other day and I must say I like it. I only did the top 3/4 of the walls so the bottom part is still all white. I really was not in the mood to move my bed again and I really did not want the whole wall striped. It is a pain to move furniture and I do not do it very often.

So here are some photos of my bedroom all painted. I still have a few things to add and change out, but those can wait until I decide what I want. I have a few lamps and lights to rewire too as well as the stool to recover.

This is the right corner of the far wall as you stand in the doorway. The curtains on the windows are White shears and a silk like valance. I thought the two different types of fabric in white looked a little victorianish.

This is the corner near my closet and door wall and yes I did not paint this wall because it is all original to the house with wood. I have a very hard time painting wood if it is original. There is glass windows above my curtains that I did strip the paint off years ago so it would let in more light.

 This is facing my bed on the no window wall. I made the bed canopy out of some window shears and a sheet that I just loved the colors in it.

 This is in the door way as you walk into the room. You can see the pale blue strips a bit better. I did not want them to be bright or bold.

This is from the opposite corner it gives you a better look at the strips and the colors of the room. Blue, White and a cream (off white).

It may not be a true Shabby chic room, but it is mine with added touches of old things that I love. Most everything in here was what I had Antiques and Vintage items mixed with some new and old new things from sales or given to me from family and friends. The total cost of the room I would say around $150.00 give or take a few dollars. It will always be a work in progress with the details of items, but I am very happy with the room, it is bright and happy.

Now that all the rooms in my house have been painted I am a happy camper!!!!!!!!!!!
Now time to get rid of some things that I no longer need and get the other bedroom and my studio organized again. Yes all of the things I did not want or moved out of other rooms went into the spare bedroom and my studio so they are both a big mess. A never ending cycle. LOL

More projects to finish:
I have a couple of Pandas that I started that need to get finished as well as a Reborn doll that I wanted to do in Steampunk style. I know I have more things that need to be finished. The list goes on and on and on. Now that it is spring here in Kansas City I have yard work to add to my to do list. Just so much fun here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love it!!!!!


I also wanted to say that Kayla, Shadow and Lucky are doing great. Kayla and Shadow had there yearly vet visits last October and December and all tests were normal. Well normal as in no medical issues, not sure about there mental issues. We all no Kayla and her little antics that she pulls. As for Shadow and Lucky, well they are getting up there in years so they really don't mind about to much of anything anymore. I can not belive that my Kitty, Lucky will be 19 this July and Shadow will be 15 in October. It seems like yesterday they were a little pup and kitten. All three are healthy and happy and that is all that matters to me.

Well I had better get off here and get something done. I mean its not like I don't have anything to do. LOL

Please stop by and visit my website at www.gonetothedogsusa.com and see the new updates. I still have bears and friends for sale in my Etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/Gonetothedogsusa and in my Bearpile shop at www.gonetothedogsusa.bearpile.com as well as on my website.


New Bears and Friends coming soon to Bearpile, so keep checking back often.

Until next update,

Puppy kisses and Bear hugs,

Sheryl

Bingle Bears giveaway ----- I WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please stop by Bingle Bears blog at http://www.binglebears.com/2011/11/my-st-nicholas-giveaway.html#comment-form for her adorable little mouse giveaway.

I am soooooooooooooooooo excited to be the winner of little Benvolio!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you so much Cheryl!!!!!! It is a honor to have one of your little ones!!!!!!!!

Sheryl

A Stuffed Life is having a blog giveaway

Please stop by A Stuffed Life's blog for a chance to win her wonderful little mouse "Caution"

http://blondheart.blogspot.com/2011/10/blog-give-away.html

She will be drawing the winners name on October 25th which just happens to be my birthday!!!

Kayla's 6 years old today!

Happy Birthday Kayla!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love Shadow, Lucky and Mom

This is Kayla..................

And this is a Bug - (A cicada to be exact)

AND THIS IS.............................................

If you are even a bit squeamish do not read this story.

As many of you know I tell stories about Kayla. Well this one is no different, well maybe a little different. As you all know if you have read my post's in the past I call Kayla my special little girl, one of a kind, unique and so on..................I know get to the point.

Every summer here in Missouri there are Cicadas (locusts) that come out from the ground and climb the trees and come out of there shells (we used to put the shells on our shirts as jewelry when we were kids) and then make the most annoying sounds. Well Kayla being a Basset/Beagle mix a Hound dog or scent hound which ever you prefer. Her natural instincts kick in when these start coming out of the ground to make there way up a tree. My great hound dog hunter goes into action. She searches the yard, trees, bushes, flowers, window sills (yes the bottom of window sills) and any other place she thinks they are hiding for these things. OK now I know what you are saying Big deal so she hunts Cicadas, Well she is not only hunting them just for there good looks!!!! (and by the way I think they are UGLY) NO she has made them her prime targets for outdoor snacks. Yes she eats these things like they are candy. I know she could eat worse things, (yes I could tell you what all she eats, but you can use your imagination) Now I know that in some parts of the world they are well lets just say good to some people and I have nothing against that, but sorry I am not in to eating bugs of any kind.

I know that you are asking are they OK for my dog to eat? They can be harmful to dogs if they eat more than a few of these critters, and I advise you to watch on how many your dog eats as it might upset there tummies and the wings of the Cicadas can get caught in your dogs throat. Check with your dogs Vet and you can check online as well if you have them in your area for more information.

I do not want everyone to worry I have checked with her Doctor and he does know that she eats them and has been for years now. I do watch her very closely and make sure she is not going overboard on her outdoor snacks. I do think it is a bit funny watching her hunt these critters down. Her mind is in one mode and that is get that bug!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am not sure why dogs eat them, maybe they taste good or maybe it is the sound they make, or maybe because they fly but she likes them. I know she is happy and healthy so I don't mind if she wants a few. Besides there is no way I can get to her to get it out of her mouth, it is gone in about a second flat. And it's not like I can build a bubble around my house to keep these things out. They are God's creatures and they are out there for a reason. One is not for Kayla to have her fill of them though.

Oh and yes I have had a couple get into the house before. That is not fun at all for me but Kayla oh my! I am not afraid of any type of bug or animal but I can not stand to have Cicadas, June Bugs (Kayla eats these guys too), Water Bugs or Spiders (Shadow is allergic to them) or any bug for that matter in the house.

So the moral of the story is Kayla likes Cicadas and Me her Mom thinks she is one special Hound dog who brings love, joy and laughs into my life every minute of every day!!!!!

Until next time!!!

Puppy Kisses and Bear Hugs to all,

Sheryl

P. S. Love to my Shadow, Kayla and Lucky

June blog give away WINNER IS

And the winner is------------------------Katy Cameron!!!!!!!!

Congratulations Katy and thank you to everyone who has entered.




Hi all and Happy June,

Well I have been a little bit busy the past couple of days and have created some pencil drawings. These guys are prints of the original drawings. I have printed them onto small note cards that I will be giving away for June here on my blog. The set includes all 6 drawings below and there envelopes. I have signed and dated them.

The give away will last until June 8th next Wednesday. I will pick a name out of the hat Thursday the 9th and email the winner. Any one can enter no matter where you live!!!!

All you need to do is post a comment here on my blog and make sure you give me the correct email address so I can notify the winner. If you win I will email you to get your shipping address. Good luck to you all on my June blog give away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you wish to purchase the note cards in a set of six your choice of design or all six designs please email me direct at www.gonetothedogsusa@live.com

Puppy Kisses and Bear Hugs,

Sheryl

Estate Sale Treasures

Well as you all know that I am redoing my Bedroom to Shabby Chic. Well my version of Shabby Chic that is. LOL I have the colors of my room which is Blue with linen white walls.

My mom and I went to a Estate sale last week and found some wonderful treasures for my room that I thought I would share them with you.

Here is what we found! I am so excited. There is some cleaning and re vamping to do but they will be a great addition to the decor.


As you can see from the photo above this is everything we bought and yes I do like old antique vintage things. The older the better and the cheaper the better.

I have had my eyes on a pair of crystal candle holders for quiet sometime now. I lost out on a couple of pairs on ebay, but look what we found and the price you could not beat at a total of $ .50 cents for the pair. We later went to another sale and I found my two blue candles for another $ .50 cents. Total cost for the pair with candles $2.00. A little cleaning to do and this pair will be complete.

This is a wonderful crystal lamp that my Mom had bought first so we just had to go back to this sale which is where the other items came from. I am on a crystal anything binge which in my eyes means old and a little Victorian. With some cleaning and maybe rewiring and a new vintage style lamp shade this lamp will shine in my room. This lamp was only $ .50. I am not sure just how old it is, but it has the look I am going for.

Now I am also on a Fenton Hobnail lamp binge as well. I had one when I was a kid growing up that I broke so I thought I would set out to find one like it. This is not an easy task to do. I did find a single lamp with the base like this one on Ebay for my room. So when we ran across this lamp as well as the lamp in the next photo. I had to have them. I have never seen any hobnail lamps like these. The price well lets just say they were a steal. As far as I know with the research I did they are both original lamps. They need to be cleaned up and maybe new wiring.

I really like the base of this lamp. It is just a bit taller then the other one. Again it is in original condition. Oh and the lights move too. COOL!!!!!!

Now this is my Vanity bench that I also had been looking for. The frame is in great shape and it looks as if the seat had been recovered at one time. I will also clean and recover the seat. A little elbow grease and recovering and this bench will fit right in to my room. Oh and the price was only $2.00.


We did find one more thing and it is a wonderful vintage crystal candy dish, which I have not taken a photo of yet. It also needs to be cleaned up. I am still not sure if I want it in my Bedroom or maybe I will put it in my dinning room.

As you can see I am off to a pretty good start. I had purchased a few other items before these but again I have not taken photos of them yet. You may just have to wait a little longer for the room to be done and all set up with these wonderful treasures.

If anyone knows anything about any of the items above please email me and let me know. If you have any ideas for my new old room let me know that too.

Until next post

Puppy kisses and Bear hugs,

Sheryl