My Grama's Soul

I have posted before about my little fireplace project.  Still fine-tuning the darn thing as I am trying to create something I am happy with. OK....here is the latest fix.  See the colored tiles I have incorporated in the recess.  I love them.  Our wall color in this room is still not a color I love...but must live with it for now. Here is another shot of what I have done.  Are you ready for the "rub" with these photos.  The "tiles" are NOT tiles at all, they are some wonderful colored papers I cut from a book I own.  Affixed them with Elmers glue and water and bingo.....looks just like expensive tiles.  When I have to be inside I always put my thinking cap on and try to figure out how I can be creative in some way...without spending any "cash".  The pillows on the sofa are old ones...and I simply pinned that little decoration on the front of the yellow one. Here is a shot of the room from afar...

Our home is an open room concept with the small entry space, dining space and living space all in one large room.  We have incredibly high ceilings....which I think are too high by the way.  To wallpaper any of these walls would require a major cost of both time and money, so I decided to paint my entryway a fun color pattern to attempt to delienate it from the rest of the open space.   Once again, it is just paint and can be easily painted over at some point in time. I have used colors that occur throughout my home....you can see that I'm not a three color kind of gal.  I have lots and lots of color in both  art and furnishings. In fact, I think this paint sort of looks like a painting all by itself.  Cost so very little to accomplish all you need is painters tape and paint.  You can do this with whatever color palette you love and it will fit right in with your decor. Well, that is my money saving tip...

I have posted before about the realities of living on a budget as one gets older.  When you leave the working force your income will invariably diminish somewhat.   You can do one of two things, you can complain about it or you can embrace the circumstances and get creative about how to deal with the circumstances.  For the most part, I have always been one who tries to make the best of my situation....this especially applies to my immediate surroundings. I have always been pretty good at making something out of nothing and I continue to do so today.  In fact this ability actually has nothing to do with getting older or being younger.  For some reason I am able to realize that IT IS WHAT IT IS and be somewhat content with that realization.  This probably comes from having a fairly complicated childhood and having very little in the way of expectations. Anyway.....enough of my rambling....the above pic is of my fireplace. ...

O.K.....so you might ask.....what is bimbelling?  Came across this word somewhere in my reading.  It is akin to putzing or puttering around one's home or property.  I'm ALWAYS doing that. Thought I would share my  latest adventure into the bimbelling world...covered Brad's dad's old bench in an old scarf I have had for years.  While I was at it I decided to also cover an old cream lampshade with the same fabric.   We also hired a friend to help us hang this gigantic mirror that has been sitting on our floor for the last four years. Little projects being completed with little or no cost to us. Next on the list: This pillow remade with fabric from an old tote that was falling apart.    While I was at it, I used the pom poms on the tote to embellish a favorite jacket.. Also used a strip of the African print on the edge of the pillow above. Added part of an old scarf to a Euro Sham on our bed to fluff...

I'm always looking for ways to make something on a shoestring.  I think it is wise in today's world to shrink one's footprint as well as doing things as inexpensively as possible. To wit.....I am sharing a little stick light I made from a tree limb found in my yard..and a string of LED lights that plug in to the wall. Had the lights left over from some other project and the best part is I can easily unplug them in the evening when I go to bed. Simplicity and frugality.....the perfect combination. xoxo Jo

Goodness....I have not posted in over a month.  This one will have lots of pics so be prepared.  (O: I was not sure if I was ready to celebrate this year as Christmas day was the last day I saw my son alive....but I know Scott would want me to celebrate the day even though he is somewhere else....hopefully....having his own celebration!!! These old clear bulbs turned into the ones in the shots above.   Still loved the bulbs as they are plastic and unbreakable but wanted to make them a color so took paint and made that happen.   I have used the same decorations now for sometime....just remaking them into something new.   We did not put up a big tree this year as I was just not up to the task...but as you can see I spread little things here and there though the house. The leather photo album in this picture is over 100 years old.  It contains pictures of my aunt, my mom and my grandmother and grandfath...

Life keeps moving on at it's normal pace....... with events happening that are totally out of our control, but one thing we can control is how we take care of ourselves..which is needed especially during difficult times. I am a  big fan of organic and natural skin care, and since good cosmetics have become so very expensive I often come across something I can make myself that I believe has a wonderful effect on one's skin. This skincare recipe is from the above publication.  I had not seen it before so I picked up a  copy to see how I could incorporate some of these items in my personal care. It is such a simple concoction and so very easy to make.   3/4 cup chopped cucumber..no need to peel 1/4 cup liquid coconut oil...I personally use organic 1 cup white sugar Basil leaves as much as you like .. mine are from my garden out back I chopped cucumber and basil.   Put them into my blender, added the sugar, then the coconut...

Oh my....it has been forever since I have been here in blogland....... Just sharing an inexpensive little something in decorating today.   My dearest  friend has one of these..... At least I think Robert is a Macaw and not a Parrot....anyway...she has had him for over 15 years.  Did you know these birds can live like 80-90 years or so?  As you can tell, Robert has beautiful multi-colored feathers.  My beautiful friend has been saving all his tail feathers after he molts and she was gracious to share them with me as she knows how much I love ALL COLOR.   I used them in a floral arrangement for the 4th of July....but they were so very pretty I did not want to pack them away.  So.......I figured out how I can enjoy them during this hot AZ summer to add a jolt of color to this colorful house of ours. This is a ZZ Plant  have at my front door....just a little burst  of color to make me smile when I come home. ...

I always love having flowers on a holiday table...as I'm sure a lot of you do.  Came across this idea somewhere and wanted to share it with you. Roses are by far one of my favorite flowers...picked these up at my local market and purchased a package of candy canes for a dollar.....instant holiday.....Threw in a few cranberries just for good measure.....Anyone who knows me....knows I can't leave well enough alone.  (O:(O: Well there you have it.....decorating on the CHEAP for this holiday season. have a wonderful day, Jo