There are so many uncertainties right now I'm feeling a bit unmoored. Our home is for sale, and we have to sell it before we can find a new home. We have no idea how long that will take or where we will go. As a consultant, I'm continuously at the mercy of forces beyond my control--how many clients will be here next month or next year? Will I at some point need to find a "real" job, and could I? My elderly mother will not be around much longer, but I don't know how or when the end will come. Two of my friends have cancer. I can't swing a cat without hitting a reminder about mortality.

As I face my birthday, there haven't been many times in my life that felt as out of my control as this. I'm trying to remember a line from a Whitman poem (I think) about the "mooring of beginnings." Amid all the uncertainty of casting off into uncharted waters--there is a liberty in beginning again that both steadies and excites. If it's true that our beginnings never know our endings, maybe it's also true that our endings never know our beginnings.

Trust.

ReStore Score!

I made my first visit to the Minneapolis Habitat for Humanity's ReStore store today and scored a great pair of wooden shutters for $2.50 each! Once I clean them up, repaint and antique them, I have great plans for these.

 
I also got a few things at a nearby thrift store---yet another anniversary clock (for the dome), a small dome, a great candelabra I'm going to make over, four books with interesting colored plates (one on the history of Paris), and a silver plated cup I love. Not bad for a one-hour jaunt.

In progress--Gustavian mirror

This started out an ugly brown thing that cost $6. I removed the mirror, primed the frame, painted it a french blue-grey, then gessoed it. It almost looks like stone now. I really like it. I'll show you another finished photo when I reinstall the mirror. (It's standing upside down in the top photo!)

Official member of the gilder's guild!

I just finished my first silver leaf projects...but not my last. These three beauties are mismatched thrift store finds that I silver leafed to fit in with the Gustavian style of my next home. (We just put our house on the market and it's very hard to find "making" time with showings every day.)

Really, folks, it's so easy! This is a very forgiving medium--hard to make a mistake. And only three ingredients--brush on or spray on gilt adhesive (let it dry for 30 minutes); silver leaf (cheap if you get it at Michael's with a 40% off coupon); and spray sealer. Oh, and a soft brush (sable or an old, clean cosmetic brush). It takes only a few minutes to master the very thin sheets of silver leaf. I cut them up into smaller squares so they're easier to handle.

If you want to antique the silver leaf after the sealer's on (I didn't do that with these, I just let some of the dark undercoat show through like age imperfections in the silver), just mix a little raw umber and sienna acrylic paint with water and brush it on. Then wipe gently so the paint stays only in the crevices. Seal again.

My next project is a large Gustavian mirror frame. This will be more of a challenge, but I can't wait. I'll also show you some other candlesticks I used an old world finish on and some pieces of mercury glass I created with Krylon's Looking Glass spray if I can remember to get a photo.

Be sure to check out my Gustavian style pinterest board for more inspiration!

Star Crossed

Woohoo--Just made it into an intriguing Etsy Treasury!

We're moving, so I've had to pack up all my jewelry supplies and tuck them away in a storage unit while the house is for sale. I really miss making necklaces--but it's going to have to wait until this upheaval is over.

Right now, I'm getting my creative buzz planning the decor of our next place--thus all the Gustavian thrifting--which continues apace. I've now found four gorgeous crystal lamps, and just scored a couple of fantastic silverplate pieces and tons of silverplated photo frames (.69 each!!). Why does no one want these? They're beautiful.

And another nod to Pinterest...where would I be without you! Unbelievable the things I've learned from all the boards I follow. DIY heaven!!

Gustavian thrifting #3

OK, OK, so I's going to have to stop this madness at some point soon. But it's so much fun!

Gustavian thrifting, #2

Yup, I'm still at it. This time--white ware, silver plate, and glass apothecary jars and candle hurricanes. Also, just about to start down the path of silverleafing candlesticks and frames. Stay tuned! I've also added crafts and ideas/decor boards to pinterest--some very cool inspiration!