A Haven for Vee

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

A Kitchen Project and More Decorating

Rolling right along here. No, don't look at the Thanksgiving dishes still waiting to be put away or the groceries on the counter or the wrapping paper on the floor. No, I am not even going to show you the last two. There's just something about a stack of dishes that I find appealing. Do you like bubble lights? We love them around here and use them as nightlights year round.





And an audible groan was heard throughout Blogdom...What?! That mitten garland again? You don't want to see the final result? (I just finally made it back to the grocery store this morning and remembered the candy canes this time.)





I am still in love with Gradient 6 (PhotoScape). Doesn't it look as if it's still autumn? Oh, that's right; it is still autumn. Okay, doesn't it look as if it is still November? Those oak leaves hang on forever.



So this is my Kitchen Project Story. You may remember that recently I removed a cabinet door in an experiment to see if we'd miss it. We don't miss it; we like reaching up and grabbing a glass or mug all easy-peasy like. The look, however, was not completely charming.

I went looking for Manuela who does this all the time and learned that she is not blogging just now. Wah! I hate when this happens and hope that she returns one day soon. Manuela, I miss you! So I Googled and found a Farm Chick who actually is already on my blogroll. Anyway, her directions are here. Mine follow.



You can not believe how complicated I can make a thing. First of all, my cabinets are not brand new like Serena's. I have gaps in the corners that needed covering so I opted for covering foam core rather than the method Serena chose. Then I learned right quick that foam core can get royally stuck and you will destroy it trying to get it back out of your cabinet. So I made "rip cords" for all of the panels. This is very good because you can see that I changed my mind about my paper choice. Someday, when I don't have groceries on the counter, I'll show you a better view. We like it. It'll do until I feel like getting out the paint brush again.

Many more pictures to show you, but it dawns on me that I've not visited you so I'll save them for another day.

Oh, have you found the candy cane pudding yet? Hmmm...


Sugar! Doesn't that Gradient 6 just get in the way sometimes!

Have a happy day, my friend.


38 comments:

  1. I do enjoy stacks of dishes and bubble lights! I'm living in sweet denial of what needs to happen when I get home on Saturday night...

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  2. You are SO my kind of gal!!!

    I have 'A' (pumpkin) bubble light. Only ONE! I must get out and find some!

    I cannot see that mitten garland ENOUGH!! It is THE most clever idea! You just keep making it cuter and cuter!

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  3. When I was a kid, we had a string of bubble lights for our tree. I remember how fascinated I was with them. Fast forward to present--I found bubble lights, they are similar but made of plastic, not nearly as pretty, but I'm told much safer.

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  4. I love dishes stacked up too! If it wasn't for not wanting cluttery countertops, I could totally stack all our plates on the counters!

    I like your cabinet what a cute idea to change the background, and I think it is very Manuela like as she often did this in her hutches and cabinets!

    I also love the final look of your mitten garland! Really cute!

    Have a great day, Friend!

    Deanna

    ps - I am off to have a nap!

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  5. Vee, I love your mitten garland, bubble lights and the idea for 'papering' the back wall of your cupboard. I've never had a bubble light, even growing up, but I have a newer style bubble light night light with silver glitter in it. Your kitchen looks so cozy! Hugs, Pam

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  6. To the best of my knowledge, we do not have bubble lights here, but they look great, so we need them, I feel. I should have a look. Maybe we do. I am rambling.

    I love the cabinet and the backing is a stellar idea. My sister has also removed all doors to her cabinets and it looks wonderful, and is SO easy to get things! And she changes her crockery for seasons too, so it looks very festive at the moment, of course. My kitchen looks like a disaster as I speak, so that is why I am here reading......

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  7. I love the stacks of dishes...and is that a gravy boat? And the gradient makes the pictures look so professional and polished...but best of all the mitten garland!!
    hugs
    Sandi

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  8. I love how you lined your cabinet and may just have to steal that idea! Thanks for the tutorial about the rip cords!
    Hugs,
    Cathie

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  9. Your stack of dishes look cozy and homey....

    Love the candy canes in the mittens...so cute!

    I miss Manuela too. It was because of here that I lined the back of my hutch with toile fabric. I just used a piece of flexible cardboard, so I could slight bend it to get it inside the hutch. I used duct tape on the back -lol.

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  10. I'm still smiling...your projects do that for me! Possibly because I'm neither creative enough to think of it nor do I have the patience. I love hearing about your creative endeavours, though, and even more I love seeing them. You give me such great ideas, but I put them off rather than tackle them as you do.

    Bubble lights are great fun and add a wonderful whimsical touch. I love it that you use them year-round!

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  11. The rip cord is a great idea! I love that it would be so easy to change out the look with the seasons.

    Margaret

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  12. You are certainly the project girl! We're at the height of season's festivities and you're still going ten different directions! Slow down Vee, take a breath. Where's the Vee I know who use to enjoy her favorite beverage at her table and reading another good book in her favorite overstuffed chair? One thing at a time, one day at a time. I'm learning this too. Admittedly, I am enjoying your decorating, good job!

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  13. Everything is just shaping up precious-ly (is it a word?), around The Haven!!!

    And to repeat for the *zillion-th" time, you are so clever.

    ♫♡♫ ♫♡♫
    "With visions of sugar plum fairies dancing in our heads, we are perfectly at home in the dreamy world of whirling, twirling Mirlitons and arabesquing Dew drops from the classic Nutcracker story."

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  14. I don't have any bubble lights. :(

    Great way to change the look of the cabinets!

    Nice how you stuck the candy canes in the mittens.

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  15. OK, here goes...let's see if this works. . .

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  16. Woot! Woot!

    Hey! It works! Woot!

    For anyone (other than Vee) looking at this comment and wonderin' what I'm wootin' about, this is the first time I've been able to leave a comment here, due to unknown issues...but it looks like they are fixed now, and I'm pleased about that, because now I can pipe up over here more often.

    Woot! For rip cords too--brilliant!

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  17. OH I love Bubble lights and I must go see if I can find some. I don't know why I don't have any.

    I am smiling at the gradient 6. OH yes. .would love to open up those windows just a bit more.

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  18. You have just solved a problem for me, I too do not want to get out the paint brush, I may give your paper covered foam core with rip cord a try after the holidays. I had some fabric in the back of some book shelves but got tired of it, now that I removed it the back looks bland. I love the idea of easy removal. Thanks!

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  19. Hi Vee - your mitten garland just keeps getting cuter and cute. I still think you should have a matching one on your tree! Love the rip-cord idea, too - ingenious! There have been so many times that I've been making something when a rip-cord would've just made it SO much easier!

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  20. You are on a Christmas decorating roll, Vee! The mittens look perfect filled with candy canes.

    I loved the photo on your sidebar of your grandsons with Santa Claus ..I'm wondering if my grandson will do the same this year? Last year my oldeer grandson wanted no part of him..lol

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  21. You are so clever! Love the paper covered foam core with the rip cord idea. This makes me think I could do that in an old oak cabinet with glass doors that I have. It needs a new look and that is one I think would work since I don't want to paint it or make major changes to it. Thanks for the great ideas!

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  22. Have I told you that I love the mitten garland?

    I love it. Can't get enough. It's especially wonderful that each mitten holds meaning for you. Unfortunately, this is the house of people-who-lose-their-mittens.

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  23. You go, you busy kitteh. The homefront is looking good!

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  24. you've been busy busy! Love the mitten garland..the candy canes add a sweet touch..hahah..get it? sweet touch! Ah, I crack me up sometimes..

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  25. No, no, no. Not tired of the mitten garland...at all. It is perfectly charming. I'll bet those little grandboys of yours will notice the candy canes right away. :-)

    I also love the stack of dishes, which gives me one more chance to see some brown transferware. (Have I mentioned how much I like brown transferware? I think I have.)

    I am visiting especially late tonight as we had no internet for a while today. Kati (my 18-year-old) and I were in a purple panic because we could not discover the cause. We never did, but service returned as mysteriously as it disappeared, and we applauded. (Pitiful, I know.)

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  26. Like everyone else, I LOVE the mitten garland - and I expect it be front and centre through Christmas - after all, some of us extend the whole decorating thing way past the kitchen and living rooms and straight to other people's blogs - so keep up the good decorating!

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  27. Oh how I love the mittens with candy canes.
    I NEED some bubble lights, I love them.. I didn't know they made bubble night lights.
    Great rip cord idea!

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  28. I love dishes stacked neatly on a counter top or displayed on a wall or in a rack or...yep I love dishes.

    Mmm... Candy Cane pudding? Are you eating it as is or using it to make something? Sounds yummy. Christmas breath pudding...

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  29. I spotted the gloves, so cute and an original idea. :)

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  30. Hmmm... I wanted to re-word my comment above. And I will here. But was not allowed to DELETE my first comment. Hmmmm..

    Anyway... Here's what I wanted to comment.
    ........

    7 December 1941

    Thank you for remembering, in my comments, Dear One.

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  31. -chuckle- Then, it was allowed. -chuckle-

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  32. Vee, I LOVE that mitten garland! It is so charming! AND, love stacking dishes, too. LOVELY treat seeing corners of your home!!!

    xxoo
    Becky

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  33. Vee, I love that mitten garland. What a clever idea. It looks perfect in your kitchen.
    Karen

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  34. Sorry to bother you again, but I added my husband's memory of "Pearl Harbor Day", to my earlier post.

    He was 8 years old.

    It is here...
    .
    .
    .

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  35. I Love your mitten garland! Such a great idea!

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  36. I had no idea what a Bubble light was, until now! I love the mittens and the cabinet idea!! Vee, you do know I am taking these ideas to our new home, right? LOL--Blessings dear friend!!

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  37. The mittens are just precious and look really good in the window and against the beautiful wood on your wall! I'm trying to see that cake plate in the last photo...looks nice! Hugs! ♥

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  38. Bubble light night lights. An inspiration!

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