Chickenpete has a new home :)

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A house made of pallets

I have never jumped on the pallet wagon. I would like to think it was because I avoid the trendy. However, I squealed like a little girl when I noticed an empty pallet laying in the yard. Where, oh where, did this piece of blank canvas come from??
"Can I have this?"
"What in the hell are you going to do with that?", he replies.
"Do you have any idea all of the amazing things that can be done with this piece of crappy wood??"
So much for seeking out the esoteric.

Since many of you may also be pallet virgins, I have rounded up some cute ideas to wow all your friends with. This is just the beginning of pallet madness though. You can literally find thousands of ways to use this utilitarian object.
Home Depot, be warned.

Clockwise: 1) Signs 2) Coffee Table 3) Wall 4) Bookshelf

Clockwise: 1) Christmas Trees 2) Stick Pics 3) Flower Display 4) Wooden Star 

New Beginnings

There is something very attractive about starting anew. Whether that be January 1st, a new school year, a new job, or even Monday morning, the ability to reflect on what you can change, on what you hope for the future, on the possibilities is quite amazing. I start my new job Monday and I am going to take this as an opportunity to revamp my wardrobe. It's not that it needs replaced, it's just that I need to put a bit more effort into my self. Take some time to do my hair and makeup.....step out of my black and grey box......wear more dresses. Here are some inspiration shots:

Quite possibly the most awesome tote ever.

Where could a librarian wear this? To catalog?

This would be my go to cardigan.

Winter Florals - Erin Fetherston Collection 2014

Or maybe this would be my go to cardigan.

Classy and Warm!

Simplicity.

Ready for a Bonfire!

All items available at ModCloth

Orb of hatching spiders

You will need:
White glue
2 bowls
Plastic spoon
Balloon (I used 11 inch size)
Cheesecloth cut into 12 to 16 strips (3 x 18 inch)
Pin
Clear fishing line
Plastic spiders (I used 16 but wish I had bought more)

Empty the glue bottle into a bowl. Fill the bottle halfway with water, shake it to dilute any remaining glue, and add the contents to the bowl. Stir mixture well.

Inflate the balloon and set it aside in the other bowl.



Individually dip the cheesecloth strips into the glue, gently squeezing out the excess fluid.

Spread the strips flat on the balloon. Cover the balloon this way, leaving 3 or 4 small gaps and a 1.5" opening around the knot for tying the spiders on later. 

Let dry. I left mine to dry overnight.

Pop the balloon with a pin and remove it. 

Tie a loop for hanging the egg at one end of a long piece of fishing line. Near the top of the egg, insert the other end of the line through the cheesecloth, then reach inside and pull it out through a nearby gap and tie a spider to it. Gently pull the line back until the spider comes to rest against the egg, thereby securing the line. 

Use more fishing line to create strings f spiders. To tie them to the egg, thread one end of the line through the cheesecloth and out a gap, knot the line, and pull the knot back inside the egg. You can also attach more spiders directly to the egg simply by poking 2 or 3 legs through the cheesecloth.

Here is our finished product!

More Halloween creepiness around the house

Floating Witch hats

Vengeful bride

Little Playmate

Dolores

My rat familia

Little Evie - She may look sweet.....

Even the greenery gets the treatment

Collection of oddities

Snakes on a Wreath

This is a super simple project that has a lot of impact. I love the way it turned out!

You will need rubber snakes (I used four but if you are using a larger wreath, you will want more)
Black spray paint
Grapevine wreath
Floral wire
Wire cutters

Spray paint the snakes black.

Spray paint the wreath black.

Affix snakes to wreath using the floral wire and hang.

You could fancy this up even more by using black ribbon or tulle, spiders, whatever. Looks pretty cool as is though :)