Lust For Woad

Have you read your copy of Prairie Style Magazine yet?  
I have read and read and read until it is getting a bit shabby.

The articles are fantastic and the photography is beautiful.

Fifi O'Neill did a fabulous job on the magazine and I hope she is working on one for the winter.








 
But of all the articles, I fell into deep lust for WOAD!

A natural dye of an amazing blue.

You have to see it to believe the depth of the color.










The plant.

The dye.


These two images are from Google images.

The result.

Dying fabric with woad in Lautrec by Midihideaways

A demonstration of dying fabric at the Fete de l'Ail in Lautrect 2013 

Are you in lust with woad now? 

PS I did not receive any compensation for this post.  I just really, really love this magazine!

Need to find a copy?  Go HERE.

Prairie Style preview

PRAIRIE STYLE MAGAZINE PREVIEW 1 by FABULOUSFIFISTYLE

A little preview of the upcoming issue of PRAIRIE STYLE magazine by Fifi O'Neill, published by Country Sampler. On newsstands everywhere MAY 2014. 144 pages of beautifully photographed stories and home features.

See y'all!

Use this discount code to receive 10% off your purchase at the Distressed Donna Etsy store:

DISTRESSEDDONNA14

SHOP HERE! 

Distressed Roses

Some of you have become distressed over my conspicuous absence from Bloglandia.

I really did not think you would notice.

 
I assure you I am well and offer some distressed roses for your enjoyment.

First gather the cheapest fake bunch of white roses you can find.

The idiot bushes are great for this project.

Mix up some walnut crystals in a little water.

It is convenient to mix it in a spray bottle.

Hack them apart using tin snips.

Lay them out on your 50 cents screen from Habitat.

Greenery or no greenery?




I go ahead and squirt the greenery in case I want to use it later.

Make sure to spray all around the flowers.

These were in direct sunlight for about two hours in ninety degree heat.

No trouble drying.

Avoid contact with your hands.

The walnut ink is not really toxic but will turn your hands brown.

I wrapped a lovely paper towel around the bunch of distressed roses.

Beautiful styled in one of the prairie baskets.

Notice the edges take on a burnt look.

I have separated this bunch to use as decorative accents on other projects.

Yes, I have been busy working.

My computer picked up some annoying adware bug and had to be taken to get it exterminated.

I have continued my quest to knit a washcloth.   I will show progress in a later post.

Chucks and I have been doing a major downsizing of our junk.

Truckloads have left to parts both known and unknown.

Then there is just my summer-lazy habit of procrastination.

 See y'all!

Use this discount code to receive 10% off your purchase at the Distressed Donna Etsy store:

DISTRESSEDDONNA14

SHOP HERE! 

The Lazy Girl's Guide To Estate Sales

Attention all hardcore junkaholics:  I have found a new, lazy way to attend estate sales!

Welcome to The Lazy Girl's Guide To Estate Sales.





1.  Stay in your nightgown and pj's.  No need for any clothes at all if that's the way you roll.

2.  Turn on the computer and search for online estate sale auctions within ___ miles of your house.  I selected 125 miles because I don't mind dressing for a road trip.


(Lot of harps and table tops.)

3.  Do not allow good sense to interfere with your bidding choices.  Who knows when you will need vintage German cross-country skis in the middle of South Carolina.

 4.  Allow yourself the chance to revel in the small details like these metal thingies. 















5.  Don't let the smallness of the photos the auction company posts deter you.  You know there is some redemption in finding not one pair, but two pairs of hickory skis.

6.  As you are sitting there in your whatevers, refuse to let something like size get in your way.  

Bid, bid, bid.

7.  Be prepared to buy a lot with some, um, crazy stuff.  (I did like the hats after seeing them in person and maybe the 70's dress, but the suit went straight to trash!)








I bought the crazy to get these gloves!

8.  Be on alert for unexpected treasure.  The tennis ball cans were thrown in with the skis.

Also unexpected - several small packages neatly wrapped who knows when filled with old furniture screws!

9.  While lounging about for fourteen days keeping a close eye on your competitors, examine all photos and descriptions for tell-tale signs of an albatross or two.

You have to take it all with you.  You cannot leave anything on the property.

An old desk in a million pieces.

Yes, I did count.

It did not look this large in the photos - I was after the harps and table tops.

10.  Draw an outline of the dimensions given in the lot description to make sure, double sure, triple sure, each and every piece you win will fit into your truck.

11.  Let women, not men, pack your truck.

12.  As you are truly drooling over the chippy painted cabinet, keep in mind you have to get this thing cleaned before the rain comes.

In typical lazy girl style, I have elected to leave it in the truck and clean it there.

 
Yes, we have been driving around Beverly Hillbilly style with furniture in the back.

13.  Because every lazy girl knows to end on a lucky number, be quick to tag and bag the items before you decide one more wicker chair is perfect for your yard.





So that ends The Lazy Girl's Guide To Estate Sales.

How would I rate my first-time experience?

It was a solid ten for me.

And Chucks did not grumble one time.  Well, maybe once.

Of course I took over the driving and let him snooze.

A round trip of six hours.

Took three different GPS's to find the barn.

Sorta weird - you are not allowed to do anything but check in and get back in your truck.  They load for you.

Will I do it again?

HA!  I already have three bids going right now.  

In my nightgown!

 
See y'all!

Use this discount code to receive 10% off your purchase at the Distressed Donna Etsy store:

DISTRESSEDDONNA14

SHOP HERE! 

Thrifty Things Friday #6 at Melissa's Antiques 
The Cottage Market Presents Junkin Joe Every Friday 

Basic Basin Bathing

It was a hot, sunny day with no chance of storms.

The perfect day to pull out a washtub filled with soapy water.

A fine day to gather all the baskets, pottery, and enamelware to wash and set out on the grass to dry.

I snapped a photo when all had been returned to the house but the red and white enamelware.

When I walked through the breakfast room and saw how much space there was without the basins, I decided then and there to tag them and let them go to the booth.


It is basic really.

Take your basins out to bathe and do not let them back in the house.

Another collection gone.

See y'all!

Use this discount code to receive 10% off your purchase at the Distressed Donna Etsy store:

DISTRESSEDDONNA14

SHOP HERE! 

Thrifty Life Thursday #23 at Revisionary Life
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage 
Thrifty Things Friday #6 at Melissa's Antiques 
The Cottage Market Presents Junkin Joe Every Friday