From a fish camp kitchen to a margarita bar!

I told you a while back that my friend Lisa and were starting a new blogsite - The Smiling LiMe. Both our families had a few glitches that changed our momentum. That happens, but I'm back at Studio 33, and we are back on track as best as we can be. And yippee yay, The Smiling LiMe is up and running! Mixed in with all the hard work, has been tons of fun and laughter! That's what it's all about folks: having as much fun as we can while we go through this journey of life.

Remember those before pictures of my husband's once "fish camp" style outdoor kitchen that had been neglected by our renters? 

Here are a few reminder 'before' pictures of the neglected and torn apart space.

YUCK!

YUCK!

And, YUCK!

*****

**You can go to The Smiling LiMe  blog and check out the revamped space! **

- May your blessings be many, and your troubles be few!

Don't forget to follow, add us to your circle, or G+ us! Thank you!

Pinecones and Pine Needles

Our family had a little glitch in our... momentum.  I have been at the house on the coast with my Mister and our two youngest sons. All my crafting supplies are at Studio 33 in the forest, but I really needed to stay busy and productive. (Because cleaning up after three grown men just doesn't keep me busy enough. Lol)

I really need to be working on my next book but I have had a serious case of writer's block lately, so I was perusing Pinterest one evening about 4 weeks ago, and came across some beautiful pine needle baskets. After many clicks of my mouse, I inadvertently ended up on a site selling basket supplies. I was overcome with joy when I seen that pine needles are a sellable commodity. I am surrounded by some of the most amazing Longleaf Pines, so long story short, I went to collecting pine needles. I collected, photographed, and listed my pine needles on EBay and voila! The pine needles sold!

It didn't stop with the pine needles: I began to see Mother Nature in a completely new light. Her beauty is simply mesmerizing! My creative juices just went into overdrive! I have been harvesting, cleaning, decorating, and painting: pine needles, pinecones, twigs, sticks, seed pods, vines; the possibilities are limitless!

Some of the raw and natural elements I've rounded up so far. I made the wreaths myself and they are drying nicely. I haven't decided yet if I will paint them or leave them natural, but I like the way they turned out. I washed the vines in hot water with a few drops of Dawn Dish Soap, and I made the wreaths while the vines were still green and wet. 

*****

*****

I painted some of the pinecones metallic gold. I like these and will be trying a mirrored silver next!

*****

*******

*******

*******

These are my bleached pinecones, Mister really loves the way these turned out! So do I! And I love the way the poly-urethane treatment brings out the grains, and the brown places where the bleach didn't yet penetrate. Beautiful!

 *******

I will be bleaching more! I will be trying them with pure bleach for different periods of time, and then with diluted bleach for different periods of time. I can't wait to see the outcome, but if they turn out anything like these - I will be one happy gal!

*****

I also treated some natural colored pinecones with polyurethane. Just when I think I can't love these things any more, voila! Another stunning outcome!

*****
Preserving Pine Needles for Basketry!

Until next time!
May your blessings be many and your troubles be few!

(Don't forget to G+ and follow me!)