Well, its about that time when we enjoy the backyard grill and have too many hot dogs for our waist line.  We might drink a little too much beer and forget to wear sunscreen. So we better stock up on that aloe!  The fireworks will scare the crap out of some of us while others will do the scare.  It might be the first time we talk to our neighbor even though we have shared the same fence line for years.  Water will call out to some of us and our bathing suits will make their first appearance.  Of course, we will wish some bathing suits would have stayed on the store rack why we will try to look away.   We will remember the times when we were young and wrote our names in the night air with sparklers and will try to teach our kids to do the same.  The poker chips come out of the box- making their last appearance at Christmas- They have missed you! They haven't missed you loud and obnoxious Uncle who steals your money every year.  Many of us will lay out a family quilt, relax and enjoy and soak up the sun.  Its the Fourth of July!!  Its the time we hang our American flags proud.We celebrate our family, hamburgers, fireworks, life and our country.  So... HAPPY 4th to you all!!!

 

The Green Owl Hosts Etsy Craft Party

The Etsy Craft Party was a hit!!  We had so much fun learning how to make bib necklaces, party banners and painting on glass!!  Well, the cupcakes were yummy too!!  Thanks to the help of our Champagne County Etsy Team for helping us put on a wonderful craft party!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/zemphira

 

Christmas in July

During the mist of backyard bar-b-q's, hamburgers and hotdogs, baseball games, and summer vacations is a month long celebration called Christmas in July.  Its time for early Christmas parties and secret Santa's.  Shop owners open their doors to the public to offer the seasons winter trends. Here are a few fun items I have found to help the early birds get a jump start! 

Fearless Decorating

There are so many times we have all played it safe.  We carefully pick out paint colors and get a little stressed when we test them in certain lights.  We sit back and wait for our boyfriends, husbands, or sons to finish watching the game to get a helping hand in doing something while secretly wanting them to stay busy because it might be a mistake- and they will just have to help change it back.  We look through thousands of magazines and books pointing out things we like and things that would be "nice" to do.  We watch HGTV over and over thinking "I could do that", "I could never do that!" or "Why didn't I think of that!". 

Well girls it's time.  Time for what you might ask??  To be FEARLESS!  It is time to take action.  Time to take that idea and run with it.  It is time to paint that wall without testing the color (I mean really, how are you going to know if you dont like it from that small painted area- really!)  You have to make it, paint it, build it or create it to know if you like it.  If you dont, give it away, redo it, paint over or just let it grow on you.  At least you can say you did something :)

Today I was in my shop and needed to create something.  I had that "lets decorate" mood going on.  Now, a little advise- when you get that :lets decorate" mood you HAVE to use it!  Don't turn on HGTV or grab a magazine to find something that you want to do.  If you wait that long the mood will have passed.  Use it!  Get off your butts and get movin!

So, back to the store- I wanted to change the front of the store.  It needed a warmer feeling when you walked in.  I became FEARLESS!  I did something that I had never seen on TV- I'm sure it has been done before though ( I dont want to take full credit or anything).  ANYWAY...  I have a wooden wall.  I thought I would paint it?  No- I needed more paint- no time- I have to use the mood while it was on.   Stain it? No- I didn't have any.   Im a store...what do I have that I can use??  Tissue paper.  Tissue paper? TISSUE PAPER!!! 

So this is what you do:
Find a wall or furniture piece you want to change. 
Now, look/shop for tissuse paper you like.  I would suggest any kind- just as long as you LOVE it!!

 Supplies you will need:
Tissue Paper
Spray Adhesive
X-Acto Knife

Spray the adhesive to your "canvas". Take your tissue paper and lay it on the wall. Try to rub out any air bubbles and paper folding by taking your hand to the middle of the paper and rubbing out (honestly, I wasnt too worried about all the folding- FEARLESS!) 

When your paper overlaps take your x-acto knife and go accross the over lapping area. Dont worry if it isnt lined up- thats not the look you want.  This isn't wall paper- it's tisue paper.  FEARLESS!  :)

 

The Family Picture

In my antiquing searches, I have always been able to find new family memories out of others old ones. When I see that old rusty box filled with photographs I cant help but stop. If there is a space on the floor and if the shop isn't busy I like to sit and take my time as if looking though my own photo memories. I think of who they might have been and wonder why their family just tossed their photos away. Looking at them in a box at an estate sale, at the auction house or in a small downtown shop makes me want to take them all home and cherish them the way I wish their family would have. What did they do? Did they farm? Did they have children? If so , how many? These are the crazy questions I ask myself while I look at the unsolved mysteries. Then, I always manage to take a few home. This past year I made a Christmas tree filled with antique photographs. I LOVED it!! I also made greeting cards- the possibilities are endless... Heres hopes you find your long lost family in that old dusty box. Happy New Year!