Last year, my neighbor cut down a tree that was dying. I was able to grab a few stumps to use as side tables for the front porch, remembering a Martha Stewart Living magazine article on painted furniture. After sitting out in the elements for a few seasons, I decided said stumps needed a little sprucing up. Read below for a very simple DIY.

Be sure wood is completely dry. If the wood isn’t dry, the enamel will bubble. Although very little work, this project takes multiple days due to paint dry time. So don’t expect to complete it in a one day.

Tools required:
Hammer
3-4 metal Furniture glides per stump – 3/4″
1 QT of White high gloss enamel paint
Paint brush
Electric sander
different grains of sand paper

1. Sand stumps tops beginning with a course grade sand paper working to a fine grade until the top is smooth to the touch.
2. Prime the top surface of the stump with a brush. Keep an eye on any drips. Let dry and sand lightly by hand with extra fine sand paper. I let m
3. Apply enamel paint to the top with a brush. Let dry 2 to 3 days.
4. Sand lightly by hand with fine paper. Apply another coat of enamel. Let dry for at least 2 days.
5. Hammer furniture glides into bottom of stump.

Photos: the K.I.D Collective. Green bud vase. Idea from an old Martha Stewart Living mag.

Kinda of a blah morning outside and I’m still getting over this stomach thing that took over most of my weekend. So short and sweet today my friends. I thought I would show you some large scale art by my mom. If I didn’t know, I would think these were paintings. Only these pieces aren’t paintings, they are quilts. Some are smaller blanket sizes, others are large enough to cover a queen size bed. Quite the statement makers. We keep talking about designing a quilt together because our two styles are so very different, it might be a fun mash-up.

Congrats to Ian, comment number 12 for winning the little yellow clutch. I’ll shoot you an email to get your address. Thanks to everyone for all the lovely comments. I appreciate them!

I have this thing for sketchbooks. My thing is, I can’t seem to get rid of ANY of them. I have stacks from high school, college and more recent times too. They are sentimental and I spend years filling them with thoughts, to-do lists, sketches and important notes. I’ve even had moments when my face turns flush because I thought I carelessly left such a private piece of me at a job site or in someone else’s hands. God forbid someone read my deepest, darkest notes alongside my grocery lists.

While my sketches don’t resemble anything like these, they are still, mine and they remind me of years past and all that I’ve learned. Yesterday, I came across Notebook Doodles. What I now love more than hoarding my own is looking at other’s sketchbooks. What fun. It’s such a rarity to see inside a sketchbook. So check out the blog devoted to sketches here and the flickr site here.

You can start your own collection with one of these. Hardback is ideal to withstand the abuse of months worth of notes and travels.

[found on the very inspirational blog, Julia]

Then I suggest you take a look at this baby. It looks vintage but is brand new. A nice feature when it comes to actually trying to sew something. You’ll know what I mean if you have ever used a vintage machine then moved on to a newer model. Nice work Urban Outfitters and Singer.