Hoffhaus Gardens and 1910 Secret Coffeehouse

We have a wonderful little coffeehouse in Alliance, Nebraska that is a favorite of ours and it has a great eclectic vibe to it and it's nestled inside a greenhouse...so I took some pictures the other day and played with them in one of my drawing programs to create scenes that had more of an illustrated and watercolor feel...here's one of them.

If you're in the area...be sure to stop by...their website is 1910 Secret Coffeehouse.

The greenhouse is celebrating a hundred years in business...
and they look great for their age!

This picture has more of a watercolor feel and is a beautiful, restful vignette in front of the pond.

Jewelry Art

I'm always looking for ways to enjoy jewelry rather than it just sitting tucked away in my jewelry armoire so I'm sharing some ways I'm enjoying necklaces I have.
I bought this vintage piece yesterday and it matched by shirt so closely I didn't want to wear it on the shirt so decided I would wear my chain looped around a belt loop and the other end tucked in the pocket...kinda funky but I'm likin' it!



These necklaces had an obvious theme with the elephants on them and I love having them hanging in the living room to enjoy!

Miniature Chair

I've been in a decoupage mode and feel compelled to alter things and give them a new lease on life...so this chair was one of those projects. It started as a white, ordinarty 11" wooden chair. I used some coffee-themed paper and cut a mosaic tile pattern for the seat and the upper back and then cut strips of the paper to cover long narrow areas. After sealing it with a matte finish I used a turquoise glazing and some brown paint to allow some the copy to show through. I love how it turned out and the dragonflies add a little touch of whimsy.

Make this easy Awning!

Notice the difference with adjusting the angle of the pvc pipe. The awning is lightweight enough not to require any securing of the pipe.







Just sharing an idea I have in my little shop...it's a simple awning design...the material is wrapped around a simple 1" square wood dowel and a rod pocket put in toward the bottom. In the rod pocket I use pvc pipe cut to the width of the material, two pvc elbows and two shorter pieces...the length of those pieces really depend on the look you prefer. If you want more drama a length of 8-10 inches may suit you, if you want less obvious you could try 4-6 inches...the pictures also show that you can change the angle of the pvc on the wall to try different looks...create your own bistro! You can also do this with a curtain valance as well...Give it a go...share pics!

Decoupage Chair Project

Another recycling project...I saved some images from a Mary Englebreit calendar I had a few years ago and used those to give a new personality to this little child's chair...it's sturdy but a little rough and plain...so armed with paper images and Modge Podge, away I went!

Blackboard Paint

I needed to recoat a blackboard I bought recently so while I was at it I decided to sand and coat the top of an old footstool. It's a great way to give a new and different life to something that might be headed to the dumpster...I think it could be fun at a porch entry or a place for kids to be creative.

I painted with a brushed on two coats of Krylon Blackboard Paint (around $10 a quart) on and after 24 hours of drying time you can create to your hearts delight!

Origami Shirt and Tie from a dollar bill

My first attempt...I was delighted to have made the tie but realized it was too long and I was unable to make sleeves but at least I was on the right track!




Some time ago I saw a photo of an origami shirt and tie...I had done several shirts with pants and even a dress but not a shirt with a tie. I looked high and low for directions but could find none. So, I was intrigued and studied the picture so I could try and figure it out. A big help was that it was done with a dollar bill so I could look at the markings for reference. So I will try and show some of the steps. If you're not familiar with origami it may seem difficult but studying the pictures should help. I will try and post the steps at a later time. It is a fun way to leave a tip. I've also made an anniversary card with the suit and a dress also made from a dollar. I was going to post the steps I took to create my shirt and tie but found a great tuturial here!