Monday, September 14, 2015

Home Sweet Home Washboard Graphic 45




When I first saw the new Home Sweet Home line of papers from Graphic 45, I immediately loved them with the wonderful colors and designs that take us back to a sweeter time of homegrown vegetables, canning, baking and love.  Along with their children, I had the honor of helping with going through my Father and Mother-in-law's home getting it ready to sell and these beautiful papers reminded me so much of the two of them.  



Lawrence, Evelyn and my husband, Larry on the Farm 


Lawrence and Evelyn met on her parent's farm in Nebraska and worked together with the family to keep the farm going.  They fell in love and were married in 1941.  Both had grown up during the depression and had to work in the "Dirty Thirties" very hard.  Viewing family photos, one could see how hard the work was.  As their family grew, growing their own vegetables and canning them for winter was a must while living out in the country.  Baking and cooking for the farm hands was too and in later years that tradition continued.  This small glass washboard was found among Lawrence and Evie's items in her storage room.  She told me she acquired the washboard when she was young and used it to play with.  When she grew up, she used it to wash her delicates in the kitchen sink.  I brought it home and went to work covering it in the Home Sweet Home papers.  Home Sweet Home is exactly how one would feel when visiting my in-law's house.  Evie would cook wonderful meals while everyone would chat, tell a joke or two and just have a great time.  Lawrence would bring in the delicious vegetables from the garden with sweet corn being everyone's favorite.  Good times were always had by all. 

  

I just love the Granny's Quilt paper.  Both Evie and my Mom had a quilt very similar to the G45 paper.  







I really like this paper too.  It reminded me so much of the plastic table cloths Evie had covering her dining table in the kitchen where she would always offer fresh made coffee and baked desserts.























This photo shows Evie just how she is!  Fun and always enjoyed hard work.  It was taken in 1936 or 1937.  Here she is dressing chickens on her parents farm. 
  




I found the darling image online of the little girl washing her doll's clothes.  
Evie played with this washboard as a child too and the image reminded me of her story.




Laundry Room Decor! 




Mom Evie dressing chickens in the late nineteen thirties.






My father-in-law had these two camping chairs from the forties in his shed.  I used the Home Sweet Home Garden Fresh Floral paper on the wood slats for the back and seat.  First, I refinished the chairs and then I cut the papers to size,  Mod Podged the paper onto the slats and that was it.  These will go in my brother and sister-in-law's spa house.  Fun!

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Upcycled Toilet Paper Holder

After getting stranded again, I searched my stash of items I couldn't see throwing away and I found one of these empty DVD disc holders.  It worked perfect for my toilet paper holder to go in my bathroom.  

I used one of my very favorite Graphic 45 papers, "Bird Song".  This was quick and fun to make.  You can cover yours any way you like with your favorite papers.  I just cut and Mod Podged the paper onto the plastic holder.  It worked well.  You can add any embellishments you like.  Have fun decorating your new toilet paper holder!

















Wednesday, July 22, 2015

G45 By the Sea Lighthouse Insulator

 Graphic 45 "By the Sea" Lighthouse Insulator











This old telephone pole wire insulator made a cute lighthouse using the Graphic 45 "By the Sea" papers.  A tea light inside finishes it off. 

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Graphic 45 Botanical Tea Wooden Spool Wreath



Graphic 45 Botanical Tea Wooden Spool Wreath

I do love the Graphic 45 papers and the Botanical Tea theme is so lovely.  The papers and tags were perfect for this wooden spool wreath I did in honor of my Mama, Celia and my Aunt Rosemary.  I saw this idea online and loved it!  The older wooden spools came from my Mother-in-law.  Here are my aunt and mama below when they were little girls playing at tea parties and doing all the other things little girls like to do.  They both are beautiful seamstresses and love to do needlework with embroidery and cross stitch.  And they are the best of friends.  A very special thank you to Katie Waltemath for her inspiration of her wooden spools wreath at http://kwaltemathdesigns.blogspot.com/2012/02/graphic-45-design-team-2012-audition.html


Aunt Rosemary and Mama, Celia 

















Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Graphic 45 By the Sea Cottage


Graphic 45 By the Sea Cottage Shadow Box

This Victorian cottage style shadow box was given to me by my mom years ago.  When I saw Graphic 45 had offered the beautiful papers, "By The Sea", I thought it would be fun to decorate the cottage with the papers.  Hope you enjoy viewing these images.  I thoroughly enjoyed painting the shadow box and especially adding the G45 papers.  The tiny treasures inside the cottage are sea shells and coral collected while we were stationed in Okinawa, Japan.  Each piece of furniture and trinket have a special memory attached.