Treasure or Trash?: Youtique's Guidelines for a Pick

When I go picking for items, especially furniture, I usually do my "preliminary test".

• Look the item over. If its feasible, pick up the item and look from the bottom to the top. Look for flaws that cannot be patched or fixed with stain or paint. In my experience wooden chairs with splits in the seats are bad news.
• Check its stability. Just to clarify right off the bat, I do not mean try standing on it. Junk shop or not, the terms "You break it, You buy it." still apply. What I do for furniture is find a level piece of ground and give it a little rock, listen to the piece.. Chances are if it pops and cracks, its not going to be worth it to fix it up.
• Look beyond the cosmetics. When I pick a piece I try not to pay as much attention to its paint job rather than its structure. Just about anything can be painted and if the structure is good then you are more than likely in for a beautiful piece.
• Will this be fun or require extra funds? I am always up for a challenge but know your means and the importance of your project. You may find something you think would look gorgeous fixed up, but you must also take into consideration the money you will have to invest to accomplish the look you are seeing in your mind. I myself have been guilty of lusting over a item that would just turn into a money pit. I think having vision is a wonderful thing, but I like to be able to see my vision come true.
•  Is this project out of my capabilities? Sometimes money isn't the issue when it comes to knowing your means on a project. It is important to take into consideration the hours of work and the difficulty involved in some projects. So before you pay for something that is going to be more than you can chew, estimate how long it will take you to redo the piece. Otherwise you will have a million half done projects, and the name for that is "Hoarder".

I know everyone has their own routine, and I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas on picking!

Country Snap Shots: Deuxième Partie

Just finished some more photos from the shoot on Tuesday, these took awhile to finish up, because I was having trouble accomplishing the effect I wanted for them and I've had trouble finding the time. Better late than never I suppose!!

I only wish I had gotten a picture of the geese that were in the pond a few minutes earlier.

 More photos after the jump!!

Country Snap Shots

I got the opportunity to get out and take some photos in the country today, I am in love with them! The weather has been unpredictable all day and REALLY windy!! However you'll see from my photos that the cloud cover proved to be an amazing back drop, it only took a little contrasting and brightening to get these pictures looking beautiful. The best challenge of the entire shoot was not getting blown over by the wind!

The picture above I took at a train crossing in Laclede, Missouri.

More photos after the jump!!

A Recipe for a Rainy Day

Well today I intended on working on some projects, that was until the rain started... I have no idea what Mother Nature has against me being productive, but nevertheless my early morning picking was a success. I brought home a small bench and a suitcase that I will be making into a entryway table (I'll be posting my progress of both). Before I came home however, I had to stop at this amazing little Amish store outside of town for some ingredients to make cinnamon rolls and a delicious deli sandwich. I absolutely adore fresh ingredients and love to buy as much of my groceries locally as I can (Sounded like a Duggar...). I am one of those people that absolutely love to make a new recipe and force feed the people around me.

 In my opinion there is absolutely nothing I like better to do on a rainy day than bake, I get this from my mother. When I was growing up rainy days meant pie... Not just pie but PIES... Apple, cherry, and peach... I remember vividly getting out of bed, walking into the dining room which by that time my mom had transformed into her own bakery, and she would have flour all over our dining table, the floor, and of course herself. I LOVED THAT... I loved the fact that when she cooked she got into it, it wasn't about making a pretty little pie, it was about making a damn good pie. Sometimes when you are so content on making something good you have to overlook the little spills here and there and focus on the task at had. I credit that memory to so much of what helped me become who I am.

 It may not make sense to other people, especially to people that didn't grow up with a mother like mine or a fresh homemade pie, but life is a lot like baking. I don't like to be preachy but I suppose a little bit of my wacky wisdom cannot hurt....In my mind, baking such is life is messy, and fun, and sometimes stressful. It all depends on how closely you read the recipe and see what roll each item plays into its outcome. Every bodies recipe is going to include happiness, sadness, anger, disappointment, frustration, anxiety, the list goes on, but if you just take a moment and measure each one of them out before just throwing them into the mixing bowl of your life you'll be surprised with how good your result is.

My day started with one objective, and it changed like things often do. The fact is I did not sit on the couch and sulk, I just changed up the recipe and made the outcome of my day something sweet..

What a Hoot!

Had an amazing day of projects lined up, unfortunately due to rain I was only able to complete one. Took myself out on a little treasure finding mission today and found a vintage owl wall decoration for $1. Just recently my friend, Christy, acquired a little obsession with them, and I knew that with a little time and paint that it would be a great piece for her bedroom. She also has the greatest reactions to gifts, usually a little screaming and laughing, which made this little fella well worth the time it took to repaint him. Granted I am not an amazing painter, but I think the owl turned out pretty cute!

Before

After

 

Update: Thought I would take a minute to let everyone know that Mr. Owl found a great place in Christy's bedroom right above her bed and the reaction was dead on to what I had expected. This is why I absolutely love giving my friends gifts, no matter the price or the size, they appreciate the little things that they know without a doubt was a gift intended for them.

Here is her comment on my facebook page:

Christy - Since I cannot comment on your blog (for reasons unknown) I will here...Thanks so much for the YOUnigue gift! OWL treasure it forever and always. :)

Hahaha she is always a jokester and that is why she, like this owl, is one of a kind.