Chesters and Critters

I recently painted a piece of furniture for a couple of ladies starting a new business here in Nashville. They bought a huge farm just outside of town, and are turning it into a beautiful yet rustic venue for outdoor weddings and events. It's called Mint Springs Farm. They are still constructing the huge, fabulous barns, etc., but it should be open by fall. The piece I did for them is going to be used in their display at Bridal Shows.




I showed a piece from this same bedroom suite on my Facebook page.




It's a deep gray with a dark stain on top. This piece was in such good shape, it was a little tough to distress it.




Aaaaw. Look at that cute baby...



My mom thought I was nuts when I chose that pose for my son's one year portrait. It was just so him, I couldn't help it. Hard to believe he's taller than me now.

Here's another chest of drawers that I had at a flea market in the fall.

And just FYI..don't ever say "chester drawers" when discussing furniture with me.

Unless you're under 10 years of age, you should know by now that's not right.

Doesn't the pile of tires add a bit of charm?



And speaking of charming, let's get to the flea critters.





Ha. Gotcha anyway.
And I also got a good shot of someone seemingly stuck in the back window of a van in the background.




"It's a bad hair day, I'll just throw on a hat."





This guy was a vendor across from me several times. He cleans out buildings and businesses in Alabama.
If he ever starts to tell you the story about the time he cleaned out a strip joint...RUN.

He always wears a nice fanny pack. Being a flea market vendor is about the ony time I can think of that I have thought a fanny pack might be useful. Your money is safe and handy.

However, it just doesn't have enough storage for this guy. He also wears a crocheted bag across his chest. (It's under the arm with the cigarette)

And...



He carries a Vera Bradley backpack.
I know it's Vera Bradley because I asked him, and he seemed proud of it.




This guy was another vendor.
He told a very long story about how this hat cost him $3,000.
It involved a woman, and his getting drunk one night during a market, and waking up with all his money missing and wearing this hat.
And, he costs $13.00.


And, finally, the pizza man.

Somehow, this hot sweaty guy in a pizza suit didn't make me crave pizza.

Technologically challenged

I am new to blogging.

I am new to Twitter.

I am actually new to reading my email daily.

When I was in school, email was still new. (guess that shows my age)

I didn't have a cell phone until I was married. (I married really young. )

I have run my business from home for the past 11 years, with very little need for a computer....until now.

This time last year, I couldn't even copy and paste. I've come a long way.

I labored over putting up a website. I had a successful business without it, did I need it? Would it really get out to anyone?

So, I was super excited today when my neighbor called and told me that Kelly from Kelly's Korner had written something on Twitter about my website!!

Some of you may not know who she is, but she writes one of the few blogs I read. She is a cute little mom, and a christian making a difference. She writes often about her faith, her family, and is always spreading the word when prayers are needed. She is the Oprah of Mom blogs.

I tried to tell my mom. When I said she "tweeted" about me, I got a blank stare. She had no idea what I was talking about. I tried to explain. She pretended to understand.

I think I need to convince her how important it is for her to learn her way around her laptop. Especially if she wants to ever communicate with her grandchildren once they hit their teens. If I can do it - so can she.




I mailed out a cute little pillow today. Here is the bedding I needed to match. It's called Sumersault Geo.




I see Lilly playing with balls, her kitchen, crayons and play-doh. But, what is it about seeing her play with dolls that makes my heart flutter?? I just love it.




Here, her dolls were sick. All four of them. It must have been an epidemic. I think she's giving baby #1 a shot.

I always seem to be posting pictures of Lilly and not the boys. But, Jackson has school everyday, and Baker just can't seem to keep his shirt on. I'm not sure where he got the idea that clothes are just for 'going out'. His around the house look is often not blog appropriate.

I don't want to be the Jerry Springer of mom blogs.

Purple Rain

With years of painting under my belt, I have made my share of mistakes. Some of them were funny (like the mural full of horses that really looked like a herd of donkeys), some of them were worth crying over ( the freshly painted curtain pole that I forced into my car, promptly breaking my windshield).
But, today, someone else made a mistake. My big sis.
I am a cheapskate, no doubt, it is a family tradition. My sister has me beat by a mile.
In her ever money saving way, she purchased "mis-tinted" paint to freshen up her basement stairs. The dot on top was a lovely grayish brown. She put her husband to work painting, and left for carpool. When she returned, her stairs were PURPLE. Not a little purple, but so purple Prince would be proud. She laughed, took photos, and chalked it up to a basecoat. But she returned today and bought ANOTHER can of mis-tinted paint.

Some people never learn :)



My project for tonight is to make a few baby gifts, and get started on making a bow tie for my 5 year old. he has been begging for weeks. I will try to post pictures in the morning.

Speaking of my 5 year old and mornings, he made me breakfast in bed.
My menu was as follows:

PB & J sandwich
a clementine
milk topped with marshmallows

Sweet little guy...




www.littlebitsdesigns.com

Triplets and the subject of *arting

Where did this week go? How did I go a week without posting anything? I think all the Sponge Bob in the background has killed too many brain cells. Did I mention how much I hate Sponge Bob?? My friend Michelle says that she just kept telling herself he wasn't totally useless - he has a good work ethic. I guess there is always a silver lining. Even in noisy, irritating, obnoxious cartoons. And, besides, it is Wednesday -- which brings a new episode of Friday Night Lights.

Look at the adorable picture a customer sent me!! Her triplet boys in coordinating onesies. How sweet was she to get them all dressed, posed, get it developed, and actually send it to me. I am impressed. They make my onesies look even cuter.

I wanted to share a favorite book with everyone. It is probably not what you expect.

"Walter, the Farting Dog"

I grew up with only one sister, a military father, and a very well mannered, southern mother. I don't remember ever mentioning or hearing the lesser 'F' word in our house. My mom would have been mortified.

Fast forward to 2010 - my mom has 4 grandsons - she hears it all the time.

You can tell your boys it's not polite.
You can tell them it's not funny, that everyone does it.
You can tell them potty talk is absolutely prohibited.

It doesn't matter. They will laugh about it. They will talk about it. They will try really, really hard to do it in front of each other. Boys and flattulence go hand in hand.

This book handles it in a funny way, that isn't too gross. (even for someone that can barely stand to type the word)

My boys thought I was super cool and funny when this book came into their lives. They laugh every time I read it. Try it sometime.

My 5 year old has a new favorite book, he insists on looking at it every night.
"Zondervan's Guide to the Bible"
And, he wants me to read it. It is political history, etc. of Biblical times. He loves the maps, pictures of old scrolls, and artifacts. I hate to admit it, but I am bored silly when we read it - but he listens very carefully.

I knew he was a little different....




Littlebits Designs

Pink Elephant- Before and After

This is one of those projects that must leave my neighbors scratching their heads. And, possibly whispering about me.

When my mom and I set up our workroom, we decided to have a lot of fun with it. It's full of polka dots, patterns, and bright colors. Lots of pink. A lot like my work. And, the exact opposite of our neutral homes. We designated one area of the space for the ever present children. The television perched on a cabinet we always felt was a bit too wobbly. So, when I saw this piece of furniture at a local thrift store for $45, I knew we had to have it.

I said, "Let's paint it pink." Mom agreed.

We put it in the driveway, and began to paint. It was pretty darn pink. It looked like that one house in a rundown part of town that someone decided to paint pink. It was ghetto pink. My husband nearly died when he pulled up after work. I had to leave it out to dry, giving anyone who passed by a good laugh I'm sure.

After a coat of glaze, and some thoughtful distressing, I loved it! I was so excited to see it in our workroom, I was not even bothered by the grumbles from my husband and brother-in-law as they heaved it up the steep, narrow stairs.

I rarely paint anything this bright, but our "pink elephant" is now our favorite piece in our Littlebits workroom.