Mosaic Table

This post brings to completion the work on my mosaic table.  For previous mosaic table posts just click here. 

All the tiles were glued in place early this summer but it wasn't until the last couple of weeks that I managed to grout the tiles, seal the grout and put the edging on. I'm currently in the process of painting the legs white.

The edging was a little tricky, I used tin snips to cut it to length but nailing it in place was a two person job.  Thankfully, my husband held the trim securely in place while I nailed it down (he's quite brave to leave his fingers anywhere near where I'm swinging a hammer!)

I'm happy with the results, take a look for yourself.

 

 

 

Mosaic Table grouted and sealed

 



Metal edging nailed in place



In the process of painting the brown legs white

 

 

First coat of paint applied to legs

 

If you would like any information about the process or products just send me an e-mail.

 

Thanks for visiting My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

 

Wishing you a wonderful day,

 

Sandra



How to get more from your living space

This is just a tiny little post to help you see your current living space in a different light.  Perhaps you would love to have a space to permanently set up your sewing machine (or painting easel or exercise equipment) but don't have an area that isn't currently being used or at least occupied.

Make a list of all the activities you want to be able to accommodate (a quiet reading corner, dining both casual and formal, sewing, sleeping, watching television, entertaining, hobbies, etc.)  Beside each item write whether or not you have a suitable space.  Decide whether there are rooms that are not serving you well, such as a guest room that gets used once or twice a year or a cozy corner that would be perfect for a comfy reading chair but it is currently home to a few large house plants or to a piano that never gets played  The key is to create an environment that is functional first and beautiful second. 

When my husband and I bought our home nearly twenty years ago, we loved the location, a quiet street in a nice neighbourhood close to schools and extended family.  The house is 1150 sq. ft. (107 sq. meters) certainly not large.  What I missed most was not having a formal dining room and because we had a very large sectional sofa, which we later replaced with two very bulky loveseats, I never even seriously considered that my living room was plenty large enough to serve as both dining room and living room.  Silly me.

Earlier this summer in order to create a space for a painting workshop that would accommodate several artists during the summer months; we got rid of all the living room furniture and replaced it with work tables, easels, and folding chairs.

Now that the workshop is wrapped up for this year and without furniture to put back into the room, the space became a huge blank canvas.  We began to think about what we wanted to do in the room.  Our list looked something like this: snuggle in front of the wood stove during the winter, a place to read, knit, relax, small scale entertaining and if possible a place to share a meal by the fire.

After much hauling of furniture I am delighted with our new (way more functional) space.

Here are photos of the space past and present.

two bulky loveseats gobble up lots of space

Light and airy perfect for painting and creating

size savvy furniture allows better use of space and the room still feels spacious

With autumn just around the corner, why not create spaces that will allow you and your family to pursue hobbies and activities that enrich your lives?

Thank you for stopping by My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

Wishing you a pleasant day,

Sandra

The ugliness of clutter

Over the past couple of weeks my husband and I have visited several homes for sale. These houses are in rural settings, they range from cottages converted to houses, simple farm houses, Victorian farmhouses, 1950's bungalows.... a wide range of styles, sizes and settings.

The only consistent quality that they all seem to share is clutter. Perhaps I'm more sensitive to clutter than most people, but what we've seen ranges from "They have too much stuff" to "This space feels oppressive, drowning in doo-dads, knick-knacks and junk."

My husband joked (I think he was joking) that we should go into the business of helping people eliminate all the unnecessary from their homes (and lives) and allow them to experience what it is to live in homes that are airy, open, clean and uncluttered. Possessions can enrich our lives but all too often people have packed every closet, nook and cranny with books, clothes, old toys, furniture, old blinds, curtains and tools just in case they need them one day. Just because you have a shelf to keep it on does not mean that you should keep it.

Someone I know recently moved into a new apartment, she was so happy that a relative had an old window blind to offer her that he had hung onto since he sold his house (25 years ago!). She actually said how smart he was to have kept it "just in case someone needed it."

When I visit a cluttered home I often get the urge to declutter my own. Keeping our living spaces clear is an on-going practice and to that end I used my cousin Deb's "fill a garbage bag" exercise and went room by room until it was nearly full of throw-aways and give-aways.

If you need inspiration to begin de-cluttering visit websites that have lovely images of calm, beautiful rooms and be inspired. Close your eyes and imagine yourself living in a space that feels serene, then open your eyes, grab a garbage bag and liberate your home and yourself.

Thank you for visiting My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

Wishing you a serene and beautiful day,

Sandra

Women's Summer Studio benefits Logifem

Last Friday wrapped up the 2012 session of the Women's Summer Studio, (2012 Summer Studio)  With over twenty participants during the past ten weeks the studio was a real success.  Aside from all of the beautiful creative work that was produced, it was a wonderful way for women to connect with other women who share a desire to explore their artistic side.

Over the past few weeks I have been giving serious consideration about how to use a portion of the money that was raised to benefit those who are less fortunate.  When I thought of Logifem, an organization that shelters and assists abused/homeless women, it seemed like the perfect fit; women helping other women.

Thank you to each of the women who participated in the studio this summer, today I was able to send a cheque for $100 to Logifem to help them to continue to reach out to women in need.  May you continue to nurture your creative self and give full expression to your playful inner artist.

Thank you for visiting My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

Wishing you a happy day,

Sandra

The Web

No, this isn't a post about the world wide web,  I just want to share a few photos that I snapped this morning.  While walking Tuesday (yes, that is the name of my daughter's dog) I noticed a shimmering patch of crystals tucked behind a neighbours hedge, upon closer inspection I found that it was a spider's web spun flat over a tiny patch of their lawn and on which water droplets were suspended.

water droplets on spider's web
Sandra King-Allikas

intricate spider web with water droplets
Sandra King-Allikas

Crystal-like water droplets suspended on spider's web
Sandra King-Allikas

How delighted I feel when I discover such nearly hidden treasures.  Beauty is truly all around us, we need only to slow down and discover it.

Thank you for taking a few moments to stop by My Turquoise Kettle Life.

May you find the beauty in today,

Sandra

Sugar.... ending the love affair.

I've hesitated all week about addressing this topic....shhhh... I haven't had any refined sugar or processed carbohydrates for the past 6 days.





raw sugar cubes

Several years ago my dad loaned me a book called "The Sugar Blues" authored by William Dufty. Frankly, I was shocked by the claims of the damage that sugar causes us. After a few weeks however, I comfortably let those nasty concepts slip right off of my radar screen. A few months ago a Youtube video of Dr. Lustig's lecture,  "Sugar, The Bitter Truth" , once more had me riveted by the idea of how much I might be able to improve my health and wellbeing by reducing/eliminating harmful sugars. (This lecture is 90 minutes long but I listened to it twice, the second time asking my husband to listen as well.) These reports are no longer shocking, at least they ought not to be, everyone seems to be aware of the dangers of high fructose corn syrup and other refined sugars on our health.

Why then did I hesitate? What exactly was I waiting for to motivate me to make this change, a health crisis? Hmmm. I'm not always the sharpest knife in the drawer but it finally dawned on me (ok ,by "finally" I mean after sampling way too many cookies and squares baked for the Women's Summer Studio during the past two months and a big dinner at Baton Rouge Restaurant followed by birthday cake last weekend) that I really want to reduce or eliminate harmful sugar from my diet.

No, I mean it! I really want to give up the sugar habit.

I read about other people's experience of eliminating sugar from their diet: the headaches, cravings, crankiness and fatigue. But I also read about how much better people felt after living sugar free.

I dove in without too much of a plan. The first casualty was my love affair with  Mr. Mini-Wheats. I guess you could say that the writing was on the box, once I realized that he wasn't good for me I was able to leave him on the shelf.   I read and re-read labels and allowed myself to fill up on fruit, oatmeal with unsweetened soy milk and lots of veggies, lentils and rice.


I wouldn't have thought myself capable of having lunch without a slice of bread (and I will look for an alternative to the bread I was using) but I haven't had or even craved bread since I began. Weird....that is all I can say... it’s weird. I don't crave the sugars; I haven't had a headache, felt weak, or crabby.

Today I'll visit the health food store and check out some alternative grains and I've made a longer than usual list of fruit and vegetable to stock up on. I really don't know if the cravings will suddenly begin, if my body and brain will read me the riot act and revolt. Who knows?  For now I'll carry on and I will keep you posted.

Thanks for stopping by My Turquoise Kettle Life today,

Wishing you a (naturally) sweet day,

Sandra

Women's Summer Studio Continues to Grow

As the summer chugs along the Women's Summer Studio continues to grow and participants continue to inspire and amaze me with their creativity.  There seems to be an attitude of fearlessness amongst most of the artists which allows them to push, experiment and discover themselves as painters.

There are currently twenty women participating in the Studio.  What I love is how varied the energies are during different studio sessions.  Some groups are hushed, working intently while classical music whispers in the background, while others are infused with an electric energy where the group is singing along to Abba and Blue Rodeo.  What fun! 

Women's Summer Studio 2012

Women's Summer Studio 2012

What remains constant for me is a real sense of connection, respect and love for each of the women I have the honour of meeting with each week.

While I have my morning quiet time I whisper their names and ask that each of them be blessed in their lives and their creativity and that the Studio would be a fun place of nurturing, connection and artistic expression. 

There remains three weeks of Studio time.  I'm excited to see what projects will be realized before the session comes to a close.  Check back in a couple of weeks, with the artists' permission perhaps I can post photos of some of their work.

Thank you for stopping in at My Turquoise Kettle Life.

Wishing you a perfect summer day,

Sandra