Patina White

a SUNDAY wellSPENT...

greetings! so i shall rewind to this past weekend. late saturdayEVE...i was looking @ some motivational quotes, when a simple proverbs caught my eye. was an "ahHA" moment knowing i would have a sunday morning faceBOOK post since i like to start the day w/ some inspiring words. 

now. just had to combine it w/ an appropriate photo. i recalled a couple winters back that hubby & i caught some SPECTACULAR sights on a sunday drive. so i paired the "verse" w/ an image of this lone silo...long since abandoned. take a 2nd peek. yep. that's a fullGROWN tree that grew within it's walls! AMAZING! {see everything "pulled" together below}

 

 

lately i've been longing for spring. so much so that i jumped @ the opportunity to "force" some paperWHITES. found a box of what seemed like quite "sad" bulbs on clearance. took a chance popping them in pebble water in a vintage glass vessel. well...it seems that the sun...water & a little love agreed with them because they shot off right away. it was just a handful of days and they looked like this {below}.

 

 

back to the idea of my sunday being "wellSPENT"... i decided i might get a jump on springCLEANING if i got my slipcovers washed up. i have been thinking they needed some "attention" for longer than i can recall. TODAY was the day! 

i got these dining chair slips off eBay over 12 years ago {seen below in the bigPICTURE}. to this day they come out of the wash & dryer as fresh as new. personally i like to leave them "rumpled" ... no need to fret about ironing here!

in lieu of the conventional canvas ties that were included... i switched them out long ago for lengths of manillaROPE and STILL love 'em. some rustic w/ the rumple thankYOU very much!

 

 

spent some time workin' on MAKIN some jewels too. the past week i got a jumpstart on the process of pulling some pretties together for an etsyRELEASE. some little hearts {below} got just a dose of LOVE added.

 

 

by the time i was done ... only traces of the color remained. i am still tickled how they came together once i added some final touches. and because LOVE is ALWAYS the KEY... that's just what you'll see {here below}

 

 

these patinaPLUS necklaces {below} got a little "personal" touch. i added some "WHIT" to make them uniquely my own offering. 

 

 

if you'd like to peek...my etsySHOPPE will be open w/ these goodies i've shown plus others on thursday the 13th. starting @ 8pm central time. you can visit etsy by clicking HERE. also remember that you can see more details and pictures on my facebook page (you can view even if you don't have an account) by clicking HERE for facebook.

so there you go. back to timeWELLspent...well into the new week. i look forward to feelin' content come these next days. heck...i already do!

thanksALWAYS for being here. there. everywhere we might bump elbows. i am so happy (2) to share this passion i have to collect...create...inspire & ramble on. and on. AND on. 

make it a GREAT day all! 

*

on a //ROLL// ... tasty baconSPINACH rollUPS!

heyHEY! lately i've been on a bit of a foodieROLL. guess it's part of the "nesting" instinct that comes about this time of the year when the weather has us hunkered in due to frequent subZEROS days.

and i like to fancy myself a bit of an "appi" girl. you have a gathering coming up? yep. i've got an "app" for that. and not the kind you download to your phone. i am talkin' a tasty treat that i prepared and tested on my eager family. 

alrighty. let's get rollin'. (yes...i am going to play out this theme)

 

 

i'm a fan of creating easy rollUPS. have done various versions thru the years. but i wanted to try something different so i combed thru some recipes and decided to tweak 'em to end up w/ what you see {ABOVE}.

baconSPINACH rollUPS that are served *WARM*! 

you will need...

:: 1 teaspoon olive oil
:: 1/2 of a large red onion diced
:: 1 bag of spinach 
:: 2 bricks YOUR choice of cream cheese (roomTEMP is helpful)
:: 1-?? Tablespoons {you decide} minced jalapeno 
:: (1) pack hiddenVALLEY ranch dip...i used FIESTA
:: 8 large flour tortillas 
:: 2 cups shredded Fiesta Monterey cheese
:: 8 slices //yourCHOICE// bacon cooked & crumbled

 

 

 

ok. so you can bring home the bacon and fry it up in a pan. (some of you might be bursting into song here) or crisp in the microwave. OR in my case...i experimented w/ baking in the oven on a cookie cooling rack w/ a cookie tray underneath.

thinking if you are in a pinch...a bag of baconBITS would do just dandy. then i chopped the bacon up. or just crumble which i would have done had mine been a tish more crispy. 

 

 

set the bacon aside. and try to refrain yourself from snacking or swat away the curious hand of those who may want to sample your hardWORK. not saying any names but i know a fella particulary fond of a slice of bacon. but a knife yielding wife will usually keep him away. 

alright. turn your cookTOP to a medium heat. add the olive oil to a large pan...and then toss in your already diced...minced...chop...what have you!...onion and jalapeno sauteing til tender. remove the mix from pan & set aside.

now add your spinach to the same pan...same heat and do so stirring often til wilted. remove from heat...& drain water. i actually "pat" my spinach w/ paper towels to remove any excess moisture. 

 

  

take your two bricks of SOFTENED cream cheese...and add cooked spinach.. + your ranchDIP mix. mix up well. this will blend the spinach in and fool the "i don't LIKE spinach" kinfolk if you don't tell them. believe me. i didn't say anything to our young niece + nephew and they LOVED them!

pretty basic from here on out. spread the cream cheese mixture evenly on your flour tortillas. then i sprinkled each w/ the onion/jalepeno mix, BACON and then finally the shredded cheese across that. roll 'em on up now.

 

 

i recommend putting the UNCUT rolls in the fridge for an hour before you slice them...to let everything "setUP". CHEATER NOTE. i made mine the night before...took the "whole rolls"...wrapped in saranWRAP and did the cutting the next day. they also freeze well for later! anywho...after they have set a bit...then you can slice away. 

put them on a pan...in my case i used a baking stone...and place under broiler. watch for about 3 minutes or until they start to brown + bubble then remove from oven. you may want to start round (2) immediately. cause your gonna need 'em. my first plate was gone in a flash! kinda a good thing when you are holding your breath serving a new recipe to a VAST group of tastebuds. 

 

 

dig in and eatUP...!! i think you will agree these are worth repeating. i shall call them "the happy appi". now...there's bound to be an app for that! 

enjoy!

*

sharin' the //LOVE// ...

helloHELLO! well 1st off...i just learned that today is national HUGGIN' day. who knew? (well now YOU do!).

i think having an "excuse" to run 'round huggin' is great. but i ALSO think the other 364 days can be spent doing the same. because admit it...there is nothing that warms the heart&SOUL MORE than a big 'ol, genuine bearHUG. 

funny how things sometimes just fall into place. case in point. drove into a parkingLOT just the other day...and saw this license plate {below}.

 

 

it was still dark out...and cold. so in the stealth of the early morning hours...i snapped a pic. then got to thinking that maybe the owner of said car i was photographing may be calling our local police. had my speech all planned out. but alas...no sirens...no flashing lights...just me - tickled to have spotted such a fun plate. (remember...takes VERY little to thrill this girl.) 

anywho...didn't do anything with the image til i learned about huggin'DAY...just a wee bit ago. so i then did a little editing w/ a heart icon {to protect the innocent. and myself for that matter.} and HUGGIN' day here we are! 

on the topic of hearts. yep. i LOVE them. sounds cliche...but i do. they turn up in objects i collect... tokens i create... treasures i've been gifted. and this little collage {far below} is a medley of all the above. i will enlighten you on their origins.

-the "tool" you see on the left... it's been determined it's a fishSCALER. is it odd to say that is the cutest darn fishSCALER i have ever seen? oh wait. it's the ONLY fishSCALER i have ever seen. and it's already propped in a gathering of some randomness in our office {squint 2 see it immediately below}

 

 

moving right along... -the heart necklace was a commissioned piece i created a few years back for a valentinesGIFT. it remains one of my FAVS and i have the pictures to remind me JUST how much.

-and lastly...that rusty implement on our mantel. it's a pulley. and more than that... is one special gift from one special friend. talk about lots o' LOVE...told you i pretty well am enamoured w/ hearts! 

 

 

so...i don't actually need much of a reason to give a hug. i really like to give them actually. you may be a customer who has gotten one. maybe a family member or friend. now granted...i am not some crazed huggin' person...running down the street grabbing people randomly & squeezing 'em. but i do like to hug those people that make me happy. or excited. or those that seem like they need a pickMEup. and i sure as heck like to receive them to.  

now... if you are someone who gets a hug from me these days...you might notice a bit of a change. would you believe i just woke up a redHEAD? ok. farREACH there...but i did decide that a change was in order. so worry not if some "ginger" comes at you w/ arms wide open...it's probably just me looking to share some love. and if not me...well...i'll let you call it when that happens.

 

  

also like to share some love w/ my ma. tomorrow happens to be her birthday. so a bigHUG to you my special mama... you are just as adorable today as you were just a "few" years ago in this picture. happyHAPPYbirthday to you ma...loveYA lots! 

 

 

allrighty. have you hugged someone yet? well what are you waiting for? a special national day or something? :) get them arms warmed up! becuase today is THE day. and practice every other day of the year!

w/ LOVE!

*

{b}ringing in the newYEAR.

helloHELLO! well...it's (2) weeks into the newYEAR now... but as my official post for 2014... i'd like to wish you all a...

 

 

let's see. where do i start? been so long since i've sat down to write i feel like i could start a novel. but i will condense. first part of december...i took a little roadTRIP. i feel so fortunate to have (2) places i call home...and i captured some lovely landscape moments in both while on the road....

 

 

i left minnesota when the temp was -22 below. so dashing doesn't begin to describe how quick like i headed "south".

 

 

got to nebraska & spent a great deal of time chatting w/ family + soaking in the sunshine of my dad's & step mom's toasty warm sunroom. caught this pretty image {below} of a simple snowflake ornie while doing just that...

 

 

 

of course it wouldn't be a trip without some treasureHUNTING. it IS what i do, by nature of course. have to "toot my own horn". cause i LOVE the old car horn i happened on. and same is true for the awesome farm implements i came across.

i was so attracted to the book w/ the flower on it's spine {see her below} that though initially i thought i would "pass" due to a bit higher than my "book budget" price point... i ended up putting on extra miles to return & get it. so much for a bargain. but i sure love it and glad i made her (also plus a few of her neighboring friends you see) part of my collection.

 

 

onward back north i trekked. i did happen to see a roadSIGN that made me stop and grab a fast photo. cause i knew that this mile marker would soon be something of a mileSTONE in my life. that's right... i said goodbye to the 30's and ushered into the next decade. i look forward to what awaits on the "road" ahead. 

 

 

alrighty...moving on. usually i would have done blogs about my holiday decorating. well...this year...i kept things pretty simple. so simple infact that i didn't have a tree. yep...that's right. nope...no tree. unless you want to count the branches i harvested while in nebraska. couldn't resist the cedar boughs w/ their blue tone berries. and they were a perfect surrounding for my little "flocked" deerHEAD {below} i discovered on my travels.

 

 

seems i am quite drawn to my deer friends. because just the other day i found another little chalk deer that already is cozy in my "winter" vignette off the back of our couch. nice to have some decorating that we are enjoying well beyond the holiday season.  

here's a peek @ some of our "winter decor". what i like to think of being earthy... natural... neutral. w/ just some kisses of aqua, green + blue...the palette that intrigues me in my "white" world. 

 

 

and here are some additional peeks...

 

 

those little rubber boots were a thriftSTORE score. and the fun part of "finding" them is they were propped amongst the dinnerware section so they really stood out!

 

 

and our window seat got a wreath i constructed from the scrap boxwood from my december studioGATHERING. i don't waste a thing (incase you hadn't already picked up on that).

 

 

you'll see that i opted to hang a star plus my oldLEATHER boxingGLOVES in the wreath...which all dangles from our hansonSCALE. ordinary objects used in EXTRAordinary ways is what i am all about!~

 

 

when the temps dip down...and the weather gets chili. i mean chilly... {just needed a lead in (2) show off the cute set of spice jars i just found seen below}...

 

 

but like i was saying..when the weather gets C*O*L*D...a magical thing happens to our sun up in this territory. the "dogs" come out. and i mean sunDOGS! i have been able to capture a few different views of them. but the morning i spent chasing the "dogs" i actually drove on the lake to get this shot below...

 

  

despite the chill...i did seize the opportunity to head out on the snowSHOES for a little jaunt in the woods. so much beauty in the surroundings that i often take for granted...even the tracks left by a sled in tow behind a snowmobile seemed artFULL. (see 'em below)

 

 

well...it's a random this&THAT today...just more than anything wanted to say HI! in my absence...i'm hoping you haven't wrote me off...just been taking some time to replenish&RENEW.

this little gathering on our kitchen window has a hidden message...look closely @ the bottle next to the old metal letters... LAUGHTER...is the best medicine....

 

 

and a final sighting i wanted to share. the chalkBOARD @ our local communityCENTER always inspires. this message couldn't be more true...

 

 

so...with that...let's {B}RING on the newYEAR! 

merryCHRISTMAS!

hello hello oh where did i go?? yep. been a bit quiet. but still think of hopping to my blog and clicking away. topics come to my head...then something comes up...and then...you know...that time that flies by. but more than anything i wanted to be sure to stop by and wish you all a very MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS~

from my family to yours...

 

 

and remember that the greatest gift of all is just a simple prayer away. 

 

so. well wishes! and i shall return! happyDAY today + each & EVERYday!

we {GATHER} together...

hey there friends & visitors to show&TELL (aka...my BLOG)! so...thanksgiving came...and WENT. oh my. where do the days go?

hubby & i spent the day together w/ family. GATHERING if you will. seems that i've been planning AND doing alot of gathering lately.

since the studioEVENT...i've been collecting & creating a small sampling of some of mine (and hopefully YOURS) patinaFAVS. 

 

 

even had a couple days of quite nice weather...if i recall it was in the 50's which considering our recent bout of winterWEATHER chills (currently subZERO)!...that would be quite tropical this moment.

anywho...seized that rare minnesota winter OPPORTUNITY to wash up some WINDOWS! too bad it wasn't the variety in our house. 

 

 

that "window" of opportunity got me rolling in the woodWORKING direction. a passion of mine that sometimes gets tabled w/ the "littles" that keep me busy MAKIN' jewels. but i tossed on my DICKIES for a few days and did some of my exclusiveDESIGNED signs.

been quite awhile since i've dabbled in the woodSHOPPE. so long i can't even recall and it felt GREAT to be tinkering. even though i think hubby was sorry he agreed to let me do some painting indoors in HIS shoppe.

 

 

believe it or not i did manage to get some paint on something other than my dickies and the area around me. so the construction began!

 

 

of course since i like many creativeOUTLETS...i also did GATHER some COLLECTED jewels (like these below)...

 

 

as well as those pieces i CREATED...like my newSTAR design. actually this came about the eve of thanksGIVING. perhaps i was fueled by pecan pie + turkey. whatever the case may be...i got to dreamin'BIG! or was that eatBIG? a combo of both?!

see her below w/ her sparklin' sideKICK! fits in w/ that theme of SPARKLE MORE...SHINE BRIGHT!

 

 

so...what other favs will be displayed in my homeSTUDIO? well..i will have boxwood bundles....junkWREATHS...and even a little SUNSHINE despite the chilly forcast! here's a little GATHERING to give you a glimpse...

 

 

now i still have a little ADORNment to do...

 

 

so i must be off! just wanted to get this out there for you to see. it's close but better late than never. so bundle up and come on by my homeSTUDIO....it's a HAPPY place to visit and shop!

 

 

we will warm you up w/ some holidayCHEER...and a cup of hotCIDER! oh...did i mention doughnutHOLES. now that's a bethFAV! 

more info can be spied by clicking HERE 

and also click HERE for evenMORE tidbits on my fbEVENTpage!

so we shall gather together...and i look forward to seeing those of you who want to pickUP a few (or MANY) of your favorite things! always a big thanks and wishin' you...

a toasty, cozy, HAPPY holiday season!

 

in everything GIVE THANKS

greetingsFRIENDS! just wanted to stop in & wish you a happyTHANKSGIVING...

now let's take some time to giveTHANKS!

 

  

enjoy moments of simple pleasures...

 

 

so as we spend our days GATHERING together...

 

 

...in the company of those we love...

 

 

...that in everything give THANKS!

 

 

warmest wishes for a wonderFULL thanks*giving plus the start to the holiday season. my heart is GRATEFUL for life's many blessings.

 

 

thankYOU for being a part of that!...thanks for EVERYTHING!

 

studioEVENT ... rewind. replay. {REPEAT}!

heyALL! i think this has been the longest hiatus between my blogPOSTINGS! hmmm. where do i start? where do i stop? ok. REWIND!

well...the last time i checked in...it was nearly time for my studioEVENT! things got a wee bit crazy those next days...but here's my REPLAY!

 

studio before...w/ just lou as my trusty sidekick... 

 

a lineUP of gals... toughin' out the chilly morning on day {1} 

 

and the INSIDE of my studio...prior to opening... 

 

and this is what ensued shortly after opening the door.

 

for which leads me into just sharing a big...

 

thankYOU. {2}...

visitors to my studio. wouldn't even be here clicking away right now without you and the support & kindness you share.

my "girls" who helped me {MAKE} it happen. ma...kami...brandi...couldn't have done it without ya.

my family...w/ a nod to my hubby who ate MANY bowls of "gourmet" cornFLAKES...endured countless hours of me interupting sleepPATTERNS while i was hammering away makin' jewels & just was a great helper when duty called. 

friends near & far who sent me ticklers + shout outs continuously thru the process creating SMILES a plenty.  

thankYOU. and thanksAGAIN. i am SO blessed. patinaWHITE is my {heart-n-soul}. and you ALL are the fuel to keep me pluggin' along. 

 

  

so i gave a fast rewind. a bit of a replay. now's time for the REPEAT part. yep. before the event was even over...i was getting so many folks inquiring if i would open again this year.

well..i am going to be honest. it's quite a task setting up the entire studio for a bigPICTURE filled w/ many "littles". so. in a happyBALANCE of things...i have decided to payHEED to my little reminder i placed under my nose {seen below}. 

 

 

and proceed w/ what i am calling a patinaFAVORITES gathering! dubbed said "gathering" as i don't want to give the impression this is a fullSIZE event. rather my plan is to offer some of mine (and YOURS hopefully!) FAVORITES. you can expect to find the unique wares i love (2) collect & create...in a simplified setUP in my studio.

WHEN? you say? well have a peeksie below. you can also click {HERE} to join my specific "GATHERING" page on faceBOOK to see continuous posts til show time!

 

 

ok. would love to yammer on...but i must run. time to start gathering some FAVORITES and get me another box of cornFLAKES. 

thanks for popping by today...i hope to make the "hiatus" shorter next time so as to not leave you all hanging @ this corner of my world. i think i can i think i can...  

just call me the little engine that COULD! 

an EVENT worth waiting {4}!

hey there friends! it's almost time!

 

 

that would be time for my annual studioEVENT! i've been busy busy collecting & CREATING jauntyJUNK &  livelyJEWELS...

 

 

so be sure to brace{LET} yourself...

 

as there's a truly UNIQUE mix of wares that compliment each other...CROSS my HEART!

 

 

you might find yourSELF lost in the details...

 

 

there are fun things BIG&smal that will surround you....

 

 

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the "girls" and i are right @ HOME!

 

 

the baubles are ready to BURST ...

 

 

and the junk is really going 'round...and ROUND...

 

 

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i am excited for some greatDAYS...and goodNIGHTS ahead!

 

 

so that's a peek @ the inside...and the outside is fluffed and in FESTIVE mode. thanks to my hubby and trusty sideKICK, miss lou.

 

 

just a little tickler on the details one last time...and if you click the chalkART poster below...you will find even MORE details + directions to help guide you!

 

 

see you all soon! it will be a real TREAT! and there also will be those tasty varieties as well! 

 

 

sure looking forward to the fun to begin! i hope to see you soon should you be in my neck of the woods this weekend...

 

 

thanks for your shared excitement & interest! 

happily yours....

 

wasteNOT*wantNOT

hey there everyone! just have to pop in for a fast hello! there's a WHOLE lot going on behind these closed doors. 

 

 

yep. those carriage doors {above} are ready to burst w/ both my excitement about my upcoming studioEVENT + the unique wares within their confines. guess you could say i've been on a roll!

 

 

 

much like the GIANT roll of chicken wire shown above. i have used many lengths from that there roll for projects. seems like i ended up with some scrappy pieces each time. never one who can bear to toss out a scrap - i started bending & twisting the snippets of the wire. at first a trunk was formed...and with each subsequent chickWIRE project...i would create a branch & add it to my gnarled "tree". i say wasteNOT! 

took awhile for her to "grow" but what you see here {below} was the end result! a spooky silhouette of the season upon us!

 

 

and because my event is nearly upon us as well...i must get back to pulling that all together! just a little tickler here {below} w/ the WHO...WHAT...WHEN & WHERE incase you're wondering. you can also click the poster below to pop over to my eventPAGE with even MORE info should you like! 

 

 

i will be back next week...before the fun begins...with a sneakPEEKpost that will give you an idea of what it is that has them hinges on the doors ready to burst! thanks for taggin' along...and 

make it a GREAT day!