Happy Halloween

Well here it is another Halloween.... we were to have a Halloween party yesterday but it rained all-day-long... so we are going to have it next weekend.

I'm glad the party is still going to take place as I've done a few improvements since the last time this group of people have been over, I love to see their reactions!

I am always changing things up-- I am always wanting to improve upon something~

I love it when people ask me... "Is this new?"
"Was this like-- this-- last year?"

 My grandson told me he wants to pass out drinks at the bar... (bottles of water with your choice of a flavored drink packet) So I added some small lantern lights to this area and put some things of interest on the bar top.

 I decided to put the boat I had previously had in the swimming pool in the yard...

 When I buy something and really have no idea where to put it, I just toss it in this general area...

 I also bought more commercial outdoor party lights. My husband and I measured the distance I was needing... for some reason I thought the measurement was 100 feet....

 Yep... that was to much.

 So much so that it ended up going down the backside of the house--- which is what we wanted/needed... and then there was enough that it went down the other side of the house too. A perfectly happy accident. Whew.

I also added some lights to the "Boutiki" (play) store. This little wooden filled store was just a black hole at night time, you couldn't see anything inside. I just got finished dusting this store, (squirted everything with water) it looks so much better now. We built three more counters for the game area.

 It is finally looking like it is all coming together nicely. I also have an electrical plug that I can reach now without a ladder. Hooray!

 The painted old wooden door is for an over the door electronic basketball game that the kids LOVE to play...

 After this upcoming party I'll start getting the yard ready for the winter season.

Most everything that can hold water will be turned upside down,

 gazebo covers and umbrellas will be put away...

 Cushions will be put in the garage....

 Everything that can be blown into the pool will be moved a safe distance from the edge of the pool.

The party lights will be able to stay up year round as they are commercial grade and made to stay up for years.

Lastly, a photo of my big dog, Akira. She is a big toy tossing, cat chasing, pretends not to know her name when you call her, pooping machine.

Correction... she thinks her name is, "Do you want some Chicken?"
big hugs,
Cheryl

Angel Wings

I was given a lot of feather wings recently and thought I had better make use of them.... (There was over 50!)

I pulled them out of the packaging and then gathered some other things to assemble the wings into little wall hanging "Angel wings."

I cut the long wire bits off and glued the wings together. To hang the wings I used some chipboard tags covered with vintage sheet music glued to the backside.

Then it was just a matter of gluing some ribbon on the backside for hanging, and a flower to the front side. Very "1980's" in my opinion-- but cute none the less.
I'll take these along with me to the street faire I'm selling at next month. I've got a lot of things to take to sell... it ends up looking a little bit like a "yard sale" at my booth since there is no rhyme or reason to the amount of different things I make!

I think I'll end up selling these for $1 or $2 bucks each. I like to keep things super cheap at my booth--- I don't make things to "sell" I make things to MAKE things and selling them is one way to keep from drowning in the things I make. *wink*
big hugs,
Cheryl

Treasure

My grandaughter has me smitten with the Disney Animator dolls. I see a lot of them at yard sales and the swap meet--  I try my darn-est not to buy them... but every now and then, I get weak and pick one up. This Aurora doll was only $2.00 and will clean up as good as new (when I get around to it!)  The printed painting of the fat cat was .25¢ I couldn't resist it! The silver painted urn, jewelry and book were only $4.00... such bargains~

 The little book was printed in 1923 and has fabulous photos on every page illustrating carpentry and how to construct buildings with "modern construction."...and it smells like an old book... *swoon*

My backyard is getting quite full of pirate treasure, but that doesn't stop me from hauling more home. I imagine pirates had a lot of stuff--- that's my story and I'm sticking with it. The fabulous tin box was only $1.00... how could I pass that up? I am always on the look out for skulls and skeletons all year long. I think it just adds a little bit of spookiness to my backyard, especially at night time. I got all of this for $5.00 for the lot. *score*

I also found five super large lanterns for only $2.50 each. They were originally solar powered lanterns with faux candles inside-- obviously, they no longer work. I'm going to take them apart, give them all a new coat of black paint and put them back together and place either a real candle in each one or a large battery operated candle in each one.

 Small, inexpensive odds and ends...

 Ah, pulleys... I love me some pulleys! The two small pulleys were only $2.50 each! The large pulley was $5.00. Score.

 I got these two heavy plaster planters for $5.00 for the pair. They will look fabulous sporting a new color of either silver or gold.

 I also got another table... what are we at now?....seven? eight... This wooden table and benches was only $30.00. Had. To. Have. It. I think it really finishes off this little area next to the pirate bar. Cute.

 At a church rummage sale I bought two carved wooden birds. How cute are these! Only six bucks for the two.... I also bought two more urns and a pile of pirate treasure. 

A treasure filled weekend for sure!
big hugs,
Cheryl