♥ SK Sartells World Of Art and Design ♥

Family Trees

2012-02-14T13:06:00.000-08:00

Paint is such a fun way to add personality to a home. This family tree needed to be just a bit different than all the vinyl and painted trees. I didn't want it to conflict with the amazing handrail.

The tree was drawn on a paper template, cut and then taped to the wall. We then sponge painted around the outside edges for a 3-d effect.

Summer Lakey added her two bits up and down the latter for a few hours. Loved having her help me.

The owner plans on adding additional pictures and maybe even a birds nest for texture and definition.

Think Outside The Box...

♥ Handmade Gifts ♥

2012-01-11T14:09:00.000-08:00

Whether it be for that special holiday or birthday a handmade gift is so much more memorable.

These pretty little wool felt booties where a gift to our granddaughter. I wanted to make something very special with bits of mink and a few pearls I had left from other projects.

I used a blanket stitch to sew these fun wool felt booties together. Heart toes and green fuzzies finish these cute elfin booties.

With left-over canvas fabric I sewed pillow covers and painted each side with a different season.

Valentines is just around the corner. Have some fun with your gifts.

Farmhouse Gets A Facelift

2012-01-11T10:45:00.000-08:00

As a designer you have the privilege of perusing many clients homes. I have had a great time doing this with several homes of one family. Each has a different eye for style and color. Each has been a joy to work with and I have had fun iimagining a new space with these sisters and mom.
This 50's farmhouse needed some extensive color and re-use of space.

The aged orange Formica island is removed. (We rebuilt it and used it in another home)

A custom painted island is topped with a beautiful tiger granite. New walnut colored wood floors add an impact. New appliances are an instant upgrade. Courtney is still working on other details. She is talented and needs very little help.

The bare maple stairs were worn and uninviting. There go artist Jesse Cox, a master iron artist was commissioned to build the incredible handrail.

His contact number is: 503-706-0015.

A Country Home Re-Design

2011-12-22T17:53:00.000-08:00

Homes need to be loved. I have had the honor to be a designer for a several sisters, their mother plus several friends. Such fun to work with.

Although they look like sisters their tastes are completely individual.

The latest has been traveling the road of newlywed, first baby and fixing up an older home in her spare time from a full time job.

The extraordinary design of their handrail is a sight worthy of the long wait. I hope you can enjoy our local Rod Iron artist work as much as we do.

Homemade Bath and Laundry Soap For Pennies

2011-12-20T15:44:00.000-08:00

My darling daughter Darcy called yesterday and declared she was in the middle of making homemade laundry soap.

Not to be outdone, I have followed her example and proceeded to make a years worth of liquid laundry soap and bath soap. I love the fragrance and the savings. Just a little thought and preparation will have you saving tons of money of all kinds of soaps.

Liquid laundry Soap

Laundry Soap-I used Phals-Naptha bar soap instead of dove.
http://www.icanteachmychild.com/2011/02/make-it-homemade-liquid-laundry-soap-1/

Pnterest has tons of different recipes. Mine is slightly different than what Darcy used.

Liquid Body and Hand Soap

http://www.icanteachmychild.com/2011/02/make-it-homemade-liquid-laundry-soap-1/

Mercury Glass, Rabbits and Snowflakes

2011-12-14T17:36:00.000-08:00

Old fashioned Mercury glass is fragile hard to find and expensive. This much loved glassware was discontinued as mercury was found to be hazardous. So we have to replicate the look with a safe and less expensive alternative.

This spray paint has opened up all kinds of ideas. Mercury glass being the one I have chosen to use for the holidays.

I purchased some very inexpensive glassware and also used a few collected and saved candle jars. Making sure they are very clean you lightly(and I do mean lightly) spray a first coat. A quick light spray and you wont get runs which you DO NOT WANT. I used a hair dryer in between coats. The more coats the heavier the metal glass will look. If you take a smal fabric and swab a few places bare of the paint it will start to look old. Some people use a very fine mist of water or vinigar water in places so the paint does not stick. I found this made more of a mess. I simple rubbed a few spots here and there to lend the antique look. I then took black and umber paints and dabbed it onto a few of the bare spots and then lightly sprayed the mirror paint over them.

The more spots and odd colors the older the mercury glass will look.

A more all inclusive tutorial can be found on:

http://www.takethesidestreet.com/2010/11/faux-mercury-glass-tutorial.html

SK's Chalkboard Refrigerator

2011-12-09T16:50:00.000-08:00

I have hated my stainless steel fridge since brand new. It looks great when it's clean. But heaven forbid don't ever use it or get fingerprints on it. It is a constant battle to keep clean. So I decided to fix the problem.

PAINT

My solution to near everything. So here goes.

I used a rotary sander with 220 grit sandpaper and sanded the entire surface. I then cleaned it with soap and water.

I taped off the sections I wanted to paint with painters tape. Use an oil based primer and prime the sections taped off. Let dry and cure overnight.

In a mixing bowl sift 2 cups, Non-sanded grout. I had some brown left over from a job. You can use white if you want your chalkboard to be a different color. Mix in your acyclic paint till it is a consistently that can be rolled with a paint roller. I needed to add a small amount of water to make it paint consistently.

Using a paint roller, paint a first coat evenly. Let dry and paint another two or three coats. Keep your grout/paint mixture covered. It will dry and become unusable after a couple of hours, so you need to work quickly.

Remove tape. I wanted my chalkboard to be a bit more decorative so I hand cut a stencil and added a painted stencil around the edges of the chalkboard

I'll let you know how this wears as we erase and under more use. I had fun and I no longer need to fuss about fingerprints. I am going to use the top right as a shopping list and let the grand kids use the lower areas for fun.

Paint Up To My Ears

2011-12-07T00:46:00.000-08:00

I have held on to a "PINK" wing back chair for over twenty years. I just couldn't use it in lieu of it's color, but couldn't part with it because of it's quality.

My dilemma seemed to be endless. Keep-get rid of? Paint???????????Really? I thought I knew a lot about paint, but never thought to fabric paint the chair. I didn't think there would be much to loose if I ruined it, so why not?

I found Kristy's tutorial on Pinterest and after four days of working now have a wonderful "new" chair in my sitting area in the kitchen.

I found her instructions very good. I found that when I kept the chair wet "misted" as I worked the color would blend better. The final fabric feels like canvas.

White Oaks Dresses For Christmas

2011-12-07T00:33:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas

With the Birth of our Savior and the celebrations we hold dear, I try to create a wonderful setting for the picture over our mantle. The picture stays up all year but at this time of year we cherish it a bit more.

We pray that you all may have a wonderful and peaceful Christmas.

The Sartell's

With a Christmas Wish In Our Hearts.

2011-12-03T19:47:00.000-08:00

Newest and Fun Projects

2011-11-03T15:04:00.000-07:00

We have been traveling to our kids homes and having fun with our grandkids and several projects.

Paige' new quilt and bed.

A new 3D will tree for the new baby coming.

Carving and acid staining the old front porch.

Our little Pixie Paige.

Dear Soldiers. Thank You.

2011-10-13T09:08:00.000-07:00

He is a Chief Master Sergeant John Gebhardt in the USAF serving in Afghanistan As high as you can go in enlisted ranks (E-9) John Gebhardt's wife, Mindy, said that this little girl's entire family was executed. The insurgents intended to execute the little girl also, and shot her in the head... But they failed to kill her. She was cared for in John 's hospital and is healing up, but continues to cry and moan.

The nurses said John is the only one who seems to calm her down, so John has spent the last four nights holding her while they both slept in that chair. The girl is coming along with her healing.

He is a real Star of the war, and represents what the members of our services are trying to do. This, my friends, is worth sharing. Go for it!! You'll never see things like this in the news.

Please keep this going. Nothing will happen if you don't, but the public needs to see pictures like this and needs to realize that we're making a difference. Even if it is just one little girl at a time.

Autumn Leaf Rose Bouquet For White Oaks Fall Season

2011-10-06T01:08:00.000-07:00

Fall Beauties

Fall at White Oaks is a world of discovery. These autumn leaf roses are beautiful for all our fall occasions.

You can find the complete tutorial at: http://www.designsponge.com/2011/10/diy-project-autumn-leaf-bouquet.html

We also love the witch shoes. I am actually making mine full size. Here is the complete tutorial: http://youtu.be/fY1LjJJlrNo

Buggy Book

2011-10-04T08:59:00.000-07:00

My children's book and it's illustrations on it's way. But what a mess in the kitchen. I can't believe how long it is taking me to paint each page. Maybe I'm just stalling?
I finally had to put up some kind of story board so I wouldn't keep getting lost.

Sartell Girls*Forces Of Nature

2011-10-02T02:21:00.000-07:00

Interest In Pinterest

2011-09-28T16:12:00.000-07:00

Some say it's just another way to waste time. But I have found a natural place to 'pin' my work and interests. Interior design elements I mean to implement, artwork I envy and want to copy and just "My Style". Crazy I know.

It really truly amazes me at the talent which flourishes out in the world and no one is the wiser. Take a look. And maybe get hooked. I give myself a time limit for perusing the immense buckets of ideas. I hope you can enjoy and get some good ideas for yourself.

Fall decorating is my biggest kick right now...

http://pinterest.com/sksart/

Falling For White Oaks

2011-09-22T15:20:00.000-07:00

With fall here the need to decorate for the season has struck. It may be I just get tired of last season, but nonetheless I feel the need to break out the pumpkins and fally stuff.

With my personal design colors being purple, deep crimson and sage green, it can be very hard to find cool fall decorations. No longer.

I am currently reupholstering two slipper wing back chairs in deep wine red, the fireplace wall is still purple and the new couch is bomber jacket leather. Soooooooo........what now?

How do ya pull this off and put it all back together with these odd color companions. I have no choice. Let it be done. And like it.I am not an orange lover. In fact the only time orange is ever allowed is during fall. And the orange has to be an old burnt orange to boot. I have been able to find sunflowers with my deep red and purple mums.

I don't know about you, but I at times mindlessly meander craft stores. Wishing I could come up with something clever and new. Hmmmm..........Darcy beat me too it this year. Her creation is the one at the top of this post. So cute. But classy too.

I found these old plain wooden pumpkin signs. Very plain and Cheap. I like the cheap part. But can I make something out of them?

You might come up with a brilliant and clever idea and pass it on to me. But what I ended up with was simple and fun and didn't take but about five minutes. Ta Da. Ok, OK don't get snooty. Simple and fun that's my style right now.

I Cricut cut out the fall lettering and then searched outside for a cool oak leaf. I laid them on the pumpkin and quickly sponged around them with a burnt umber paint. With a permenant marker I put in a few details and curlycues. That' it. Oh and added some ribbon I just picked up at Costco. I can find great ribbon, cheap, for every holiday and have a collection of around fifty spools for all occasions. I Love Costco...

Until the chairs are finished and I can rearrange the furniture I'm not to worried.

I copied a design for the painted pillows I saw in a home magazine. I sewed simple old look canvas pillow covers and then painted the roosters and sunflowers for a late summer and into fall look. I love them. The back sides are painted with snowflakes and snowmen for the winter holidays. Just flip them over for the next holiday. Sweeeet.

I'm going to use some very sweet ideas I found on Pinterest to decorate pumpkins for a completely different look this year. I love the fancy nylon covered pumpkin. I have also been collecting black and white old buttons and will be pinning them on a pumpkin for a fun new look. I like the pumpkin spiced up with black ricrack too. Keep the great ideas coming.

Sunday PM: Well...Darcy beat me to it and made the best fall wooden pumpkins.

I do like hers better than mine. Dang.

I added it and other coooool fall things to my Pinterest page: http://pinterest.com/sksart/

I LOVE Fall......

What Is $200.00 Worth

2011-09-22T00:12:00.000-07:00

Re-posted from http://101happypeopleproject.blogspot.com/2010_11_01_archive.html

MY STORY

One day I went for a run. While I was running I found this small piece of paper on the ground.

I almost ran right past it but I decided to pick it up. After I opened it up, I was a bit surprised.

I felt lucky, and decided to take it home. On my way home, my mind was racing trying to think of what I would spend my new-found fortune on. Nice dinner? Rent payment? New running shoes?

The Solution

My final decision was simple. I would use the money to help other people. The next week I took the money to the bank which was offering a special $100 bonus for opening a new account. I turned my $100 into $200 overnight. I decided to help 100 different people at $2 each to help make their day and spread the joy that I originally felt.

This began what I call the 101 Happy People Project

#61
My co-worker kept having her nice pens stolen, so I bought her a few of her favorite pens.

#51-60
I brought Gushers and Squeeze-Its to our intramural softball game- so that my team could have treats after the game, just like little league.

#50
Donated $2 to the tipping bucket

On another cold and rainy day, a cold wet woman was begging for spare change. She got some chicken nuggets and warm cookies from McDonald's.

#48
While at the register, the cashier asked me if I would like to donate $1 to support the troops. I did.

#46,47

I learned a lot about service today. As I was having a very rough day, I asked my friends to go out for ice cream with me. I ended up buying them a root beer float and some Frostys.

The sweet treats didn't cheer me up, but rather the good company and the feeling I get from helping others is what did the trick. It sounds cheesy- but I have found that when we have personal problems, the solution is seldom found by only trying to help ourselves.

#45
My roommate was feeling very sick, so on my way home I stopped by the store and grabbed him a can of chicken noodle soup.

#44

I bought 20 snack packs for a little over $5 and shared them will all my classmates on the last day of school.

#43
I wanted to get a thank you gift for my friend who wrote the original article in the Daily Universe. I found a board game with her name on it at the DI. We played it and learned a surprising amount about geography.

#42
I bought a loaf of french bread and can of soup for a dollar each for a homeless man outside the grocery store.My friend knows Spanish and the only books he will read are Calvin and Hobbes. I found an old Calvin and Hobbes book at the DI in Spanish. Perfect match.

#43
I found an old VHS tape from the DI. The movie's title was the same name as my friend. I bought the movie for fun, we watched it, and it was actually a ridiculously funny movie.

#39-40
I have a pen pal who got engaged, so I sent $5 of McDonald's bucks in the mail along with a letter to the happy couple.

Picked up Bee Money and got him some J Dawgs for lunch.

#37
Got some bran muffins from the bakery for a hungry man on the street.

#36
Donated another $2 to the tipping bucket

#35
I bought a stamp to Argentina to write a letter to an old friend.

#33-34
Brought bakery bagels to the office.

#32

Bought $2 of chocolate cinnamon bears for the next in line at the candy store.

#31

Brought a McGriddle breakfast sandwich and apple pies to my friends in the morning.

.

#27
I brought some Spongebob-shaped graham crackers to my friend at work, just to say hi.

#26 #30
I donated $2 again to the tipping bucket. This time to build wells in Cambodia.http://tippingbucket.org/

#29 I paid for a donut for whoever came next in line at the bakery.

#28
I bought a loaf of french bread and can of soup for a dollar each for a homeless man outside the grocery store.

We asked a nice man to take a picture of my friends and me in the big city. We repaid him with a box of those super-frosted cookies for him and his family.

#25
Helped billions worldwide by donating $2 to Wikipedia.

#24
Purchased a bottle of chocolate milk for the next customer in line.

#23
Paid for $2 of chocolate covered cinnamon bears at the candy store for the next lucky customer.

#20-22 Brought McDonald's apple pies to work for 3 of my co-workers. #19
New argyle socks for my older brother. Everyone loves new socks!

#18
Purchased a single serving of eggnog at the store and asked the clerk to hand it to the next lucky Christmas shopper.

#16-17
We anonymously placed $3 of quarters on top of two different laundry machines in town

#12-15
We dropped off four quarters to each of four different gumball machines across the mall along with a note that said "enjoy a free gumball today!"

#10&11
At the Dollar Theater we secretly bought two movie tickets for whoever came next in line.

#9
After seeing a very cold and homeless man, I bought him 3 cookies and 2 apple pies from McDonald's for just $2.

#8
Donated $2 to the Tipping Bucket again to give bikes to children in Thailand to get to school.http://tippingbucket.org/

#7
I bought some chocolate milk at the store and had the clerk anonymously give it to the next customer who came through.

#6
I got a bar of dark chocolate for a friend for her birthday.
Because all girls love dark chocolate, right?

I secretly paid for a cupcake and told the person at the register to just give it to the next lucky person who would come through the line

#4
I donated $2 again to the tipping bucket. This time to build wells in Uganda.http://tippingbucket.org/

My friend's roommate was having a pretty tough day. My friend and I ran to the thrift store searching for something to cheer her up. We found a funny mug as part of an inside joke that we knew would make her smile. It did.

#1,2
The first two people I decided to help were two homeless men sitting outside WalMart. It was cold, dark, and beginning to rain. I ran to McDonald's and bought them a 6-piece chicken nugget, 3 cookies, and 2 apple pies to warm them up

What's the Point?

So what? I helped a buncha people smile and brightened their day. Is that it? Is that why you scrolled down to the bottom of the page? No. It's because at some point, something sparked your interest.

If you felt an urge to help someone, go do it. Making a difference $2 at a time is completely reasonable. So go dig through your couch cushions, check your dryer, pick up one penny everyday for 6.7 months- I don't care how, just do it.

Helping people is easy and it makes you feel great. Trust me. You will never know just who you may end up helping.

“. . . Never, never underestimate the spiritual value of
doing temporal things well for those whom you serve.”

Wednesday Sarcasm* I Would Rather Be A Fairy

2011-09-21T15:04:00.000-07:00

Summer Lakey
WEDNESDAY ZEN SARCASM

1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me the hell alone.
2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and leaky tire.
3. It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.
4. Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.
5. Always remember that you're unique. Just like everyone else.
6. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.
7. If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.
8. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.
9. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.
10. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.
11. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.
12. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.
13. Some days you're the bug; some days you're the windshield.
14. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.
15. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.
16. A closed mouth gathers no foot.
17. Duct tape is like 'The Force'. It has a light side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together.
18. There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.
19. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.
20. Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
21. Never miss a good chance to shut up.
22. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

Comes A Time In Life

2011-09-19T11:49:00.000-07:00

Someone once said,

"There comes a time in your life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh. Forget the bad, and focus on the good.

Love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones who don't. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living." Being alive is a gift, being happy is by choice...

Chillin' At White Oaks Dead and Breakfast

2011-09-16T15:13:00.000-07:00

Fall is an anazing time of year in Oregon, The pumkins are huge and the colors of the rainbow. We start our fall decorating and toward the end of September I put up our 'White Oaks Dead and Breakfast' sign. We are a bed and breakfast and people get a kick out of all the fall do's we do.

I love fall and all it entails. It's the big last "hurah" before the rains start.


Our Guest are finding some peace and quiet at the White Oaks Dead and Breakfast.

We go all out in decorating White Oaks and I have such great memories of my childhood at fall. Apple juice time. Canning the last of the seasons harvest. Making and freezing dozens of pies.

Just the simple fall smell is a wonderful pick-me-up.

Spring Babies

2011-09-13T23:40:00.000-07:00

Chef Darcy Jackson

Darcy is a talented chef and artist. This little cake was created for her little sisters baby shower. She's out of kilter just enough to make it look easy. It's Not!

She knows people hate fondant and so she creates masterpieces which taste a wonderful and fun as they look. Day and days of work go into one of these tasty treats.

Hmmmm...Wonder why I have never gotten one?

http://myartisticventures.blogspot.com/

Kimberly

2011-09-13T16:49:00.000-07:00

I have found a fun artist and enjoy her work.

Thank you Kimberly for sharing.

The Beginning.

The Finish.

http://twitter.com/#!/KimbersFineArt/status/113309259650969600/photo/1

Thanks Redhead Riter

2011-09-13T16:18:00.000-07:00

Oh My Goodness. I needed this laughter. I hope you can smile over the bumps in your road today.

Geography Of A Woman

Between 18 and 22, a woman is like Africa, half discovered, half wild, fertile and naturally beautiful!

Between 23 and 30, a woman is like Europe, well-developed and open to trade, especially for something of real value.

Between 31 and 35, a woman is like Spain, very hot, relaxed, and convinced of her own beauty.

Between 36 and 40, a woman is like Greece, gently aging, but still a warm and desirable place to visit.

Between 41 and 50, a woman is like Great Britain, with a glorious and all-conquering past..

51 and 60, a woman is like Israel, has been through war, doesn't make the same mistakes twice, and takes care of business.

Between 61 and 70, a woman is like Canada, cool, self-preserving, but open to meeting new people.

After 70, she becomes Tibet, wildly beautiful, with a mysterious past and the wisdom of the ages...an adventurous spirit and a thirst for spiritual knowledge.

Geography Of A Man
Between 1 and 80, a man is like Iran, ruled by nuts.

AP Photo/Mehr News, Sajjad Safari)
I have too many friends that are men, so it is best if I do not comment.

(silently laughing my head off)

Relax! It is just a joke!

How Can We Feel Better

2011-09-13T15:49:00.000-07:00

Mt. Angel and Sartell Girls Face Painting During Octoberfest

2011-09-12T14:37:00.000-07:00

The girls and I have been artists at the Mt. Angel OctoberFest for a few years now.

Face painting. How fun to create something very special, weird or just out of this world on human faces, feet and arms.

If you have never tried face painting before. The artwork is as creative as an imagination can be. Try this fun creative art for Halloween. It' such fun. Just use simple acrylics. Easy to use and easy to remove. We use all sorts of glitter and rhinestones.

Children love to show off their own personal art face. Make sure to take great pictures. Fun...

http://www.oktoberfest.org/

My Gifts To Me

2011-09-10T17:15:00.000-07:00

I have two daughters. They are gifts to me.

Talented, kind, compassionate and spunky. I would like to think it may have had a little bit to do with me.

They give to me daily with calls and touches of " I love you mom." in all they do.

Thank you Father for giving me the privilege of having Your daughters here with me on earth. May they always share Thy path.

Darcy and Summer are extremely talented women. And although I would like to take credit for this artful life I do think they just were given to me this way.

Darcy: http://myartisticventures.blogspot.com/

Summer: http://www.sksartell.com/SummersPhotography.htm

A Buggy Friday

2011-09-09T09:57:00.000-07:00

Lady Bug, Lady Bug

Summer and I illustrating and water coloring a children's book I have written. The problem is reading my own writing...It will be fun to finally put my children's fantasy stories on paper after all these years of making them up on the spur of the moment. And NEVER writing them down.

SK Sartells World Of Art: Measure Up

2011-09-06T21:31:00.000-07:00

SK Sartells World Of Art: Measure Up

Father, Thank You For A Bright Spot

2011-09-06T10:06:00.000-07:00

May I smile as He Smiles on me. This was taken last night from my front porch swing.

Measure Up

2011-09-06T09:54:00.000-07:00

I am roaming blogs this morning for fun fall ideas and found a site. I loved it and then promptly lost it. I'm sure it was, maybe? Iwasgonna. But can't find it again. So I am giving her a bright hello and a thank you for reminding me. (If you find Iwasgonna, Just let me know and I will give proper credit).
9/13/201. I found Her: http://queenofiwasgonna.blogspot.com/

She was telling us of her height measuring stick for her son. Our own measuring "stick" is a column in our main living area. And as I pass it innumerable times a day it never fails to make me smile, remember and wish I were higher on the stick.

This last year has been an eventful twelve months. Most noteworthy is my oldest grandchild, Preston was measured on the column and was gleefully showing he was the same height as his Nana. Me!

How can this possibly be true. He was just born yesterday or so it seems.

At 4'11" it's not that hard to surpass me in height. But Oh My Goodness. How time flies and then it's gone.

Of course it's my duty to remind him that physical height ( I'm jealous)is not most important in life. It's how high or bright and wonderful he is inside. Sounds old fashioned (and it is).

But I know from experience, height is only as how high ya wanna go.

Fall White Oaks Leaves

2011-09-05T18:41:00.000-07:00

These natural floral oak leaf formations drop onto my yard every late summer and early fall. I am struck by their form and how naturally beautiful they are. No one could tell me what they were. So I am using them in floral arrangements on my tables and wreaths and such.

I decided I needed to study what they actually were and how they were formed: I mighta, shoulda done this first before I fell in love with them. So here is the story:

Oak Apple Galls

These are large (1- to 2-inch diameter) rounded growths that are filled with a spongy mass. A single wasp larva is located in a hard seed-like cell in the center. Galls are usually found on the petioles or midribs of leaves. They will dry to a brown, paper thin wall. Removing and destroying galls before they dry and wasps emerge from a hole may help to reduce the infestation. While large and spectacular, they cause no measurable harm.
http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef408.asp

So all this time I have been making arrangements and pretty gifts with WasPs in them. Ugh! But they'er so cooool.

I guess this is a gentle reminder that all that glitters is not gold. Check your gold for wasps before bringing them into the house or giving them as gifts. There has to be a deeper lesson here somewhere...My word, you'd think I'd learn after all these years.

I still see them as natures art. And cool. I just check for any stingy thing which might reside inside before giving it to a friend. A not so good a friend, maybe not...Oh all right. I will AllWays check for resident creatures if I must. Picky, picky, picky you all are. Love ya anyway.

Still think they're cool.

Dan

2011-09-01T22:52:00.000-07:00

Dan is a visitor to White Oaks Bed and Breakfast. Dan has also become a friend. A friend whose wisdom, courage and pain he pretty much keeps to himself.
Dan shared a small amount with me and also gave me permission to share his thoughts with you.

Don’t lose your way
With each passing day
You’ve come so far
Don’t throw it away.

Live believing
Dreams are for weaving
Wander on, waiting to start
And live your story
Faith, hope and glory
Hold to the Truth in your heart.

If we hold on together
I know our dreams will never die
Dreams see us through to forever
Where clouds roll by
For you and I
Souls in the wind
Learn how to bend.

Seek out a star
Hold on till the end
Valleys and mountains
There is a fountain
Washes tears away
Worlds are swaying
Someone is praying
Please let us come home to stay

If we hold on together
I know our dreams will never die
Dreams see us through to forever
Where clouds roll by
For you and I
Souls in the wind
Learn how to bend.

When we are out there in the dark
We’ll dream dreams about the sun
We’ll feel the light to warm our hearts, everyone
If we hold on together
I know our dreams will never die.

Tamales,Tamales, Tamales!

2011-09-01T15:12:00.000-07:00

After a two day period of mini disasters these tasted amazing...You're amazing Darcy. Thanks and thanks to Summer for making me do it....

Tamale Recipe

5 Lb Whole Chicken ( i use skinless, boneless chicken breast)

1/4 Cup Chicken Base (Not cubes or dried chicken flavor)

3 Oz Chino Peppers (California Peppers, Dried)*

1/2 of a 7.9 Oz Jar of Caldo de Tomate*

2 Yellow Onions

2 Heads Garlic

4 Lb Bag Maseca for Tamales*

2 Bags Corn husks *

Water

Reserved Chicken cooking liquad

1-2 Qt Manteca (Lard)*

Instructions for Chicken: In a slow cooker or a large pot place your whole chicken and cover with water about 2-3 cups above the chicken, add Salt, pepper, 2 Chino peppers, 1 head of Garlic and 1 Onion. This all helps give the chicken flavor. Cook all day until the meat falls off the bone. Take chicken out of pot and let cool, then shred and set aside in a bowl.

Instructions for Sauce: In a medium sauce pan add 4-5 Cups Water, Chicken Base, the remaining Chino peppers, Caldo de Tomate, Onion and Garlic. Bring to a boil and cook until peppers are soft. Take out the stems and place the mixture in a blender and blend until smooth. This mixture will have a very strong flavor, so as to give the chicken more flavor . Pour the sauce on top of the chicken, cover and set aside. (PS, don't make the mistake that I did. Keep a tight hold of the lid or you will have a mess. Duh...)

Instructions for Maseca: Pour half of your Maseca into a large bowl, season with salt and pepper, in a pot pour 4 cups of your Chicken cooking liquid and half quart of Manteca and heat until fat is melted. Using a small amount at a time pour your liquid into the Maseca, mixing with your hands. Continue to add liquid until the mixture is like Very Soft Play dough. Then add a little more for absorption.

Assembly: After soaking your Corn Husks, drain them. This makes them pliable. Place a husk in front of you on the counter and take a hand full of Maseca and smooth it out just in the middle of the husk, leave space on the sides for rolling. Add a small amount of filling a burrito and roll one side over then pull back the husk a little and roll the other side up onto the first side then fold in the bottom of the husk and complete the roll. Place flap side down in a cake pan until ready to cook. Repeat this till all the meat or Maseca is gone.

Cooking: Have a large steamer pot or a pot with a strainer that dose not touch the bottom, with water in the bottom on the stove heating to a simmer. Place your tamales in the pot in a single layer. I place mine on end so I can fit more in the pot. Cover and steam for 15- 30 minutes. They will be done when the Maseca looks shinny and wet. It will also be firm. Enjoy!! Oh and by the way this can make up to 60-100 tamales. Takes a bit of time but well worth the effort. In the event your not feeding forty people, you can cook, fix, mix and roll but not steam. I will freeze more than half in Ziplock bags portioned for one meal. It's great to have on hand for the next time your feeding an army...

Variations on a theme: You can also use shredded pork or beef. Instead of a red sauce you make a green sauce using canned Green Enchilada Sauce. Ymmers!

Thanks to Summer and Darcy we actually finished, cleaned up and even got to feast on these puppies

* Tips: To get the Best products you will want to go to a Hispanic or Mexican Market. (Yes you will probably be the only "Greengo" in there) but be brave. They have the freshest and best of the products that are indicated above with a * The Manteca is essentially the drippings from their cooking of Carniasata. It adds flavor to your Maseca that Lard will not do. Go to the butcher counter and ask for it. Bring your own Quart jar and they will gladly fill it. Usually for free, but do not pay any more then $4.

And Add a Bit Of Sauce...

2011-08-31T12:05:00.000-07:00

OK I may have been a little to quick to say I needed to stop whining... Remember the sad whiny tone of yesterday? "Sometimes a day just seems hard. That's it. There are days just harder than others. You start by critiquing yourself in the mirror, then burn the toast, didn't sleep well, someone leaves stinky socks on the chair." Yadda, Yadda, Yadda.

Ya I remember now, because the day didn't stop till five-thirty this morning. Awake from 11:00 PM till 5:30 AM when hubby gets up for work. I have no idea why I am awake, just one of those sleepless nights I guess. Mind quietly spinning.

I slip into a light slumber and awoke screaming at being doused with cold water. I hop outta bed discovering the cute little claw foot tub in my room was exploding, water fountaining to the ceiling, which proceeded to shower back down on me as I am innocently minding my own business.

Well my arms are only Soooo long and the shutoff valve to the tub is back and under the tub just out of my reach. I'm in my skivvies lying in a puddle of water (sound familiar?) trying to reach with my fingertips. So close. Maybe if I try to get more of me under the tub I can reach it? Yep...Ah, Nope. Scrunch further SK. By now the entire half of the bedroom is flooded. Custom rugs, seating and half of the bed and mattress.

I suck it in and scrunch farther under the tub and finally am able to shut off a valve. The water didn't stop. What the heck? I had turned the wrong valve off. So back under the tub I go and finally turn the correct valve off.

Remember the discolored towels of yesterday? Well here we go again. I'm running around every bath gathering up all the guests towels to mop up a swimming bedroom. Pulling carpet back as I stand dripping, covered in goose bumps with the air conditioner now short-circuited.

I'm so beyond done at this point. I get new warm undies on and slip back into bed and as I'm finally falling back asleep, my darling daughter Summer calls all cheerful and chipper...How rude. She just laughs at the thought of me running around dripping wet trying to find enough dry towels to dry a herd of elephants.

So there we are. Broke fridge, washer clunking and my bed floating on its very own island. Happy anniversary dear.

"let's go to Portland mom." Really? Are you serious? "Ah come on mom just let it go for the day. It'll be there when ya get back." So off to Portland for a day of searching for chair fabrics. Which was actually fun. These are the chairs I am going to recover. And the fabrics. NOW I actually have to do the work. What was I thinking. Oh that's right, I wasn't.

Summer continues on with her cheerful "And I have all the stuff to teach you how to make homemade tamales." Ya just gotta love these odd moments. I would have rather just crawled back in my now wet bed.

Onward and upward tamales we come. I'm following directions as given to me by an intelligent human being.(or so I thought) spooning the cooked red hot peppers, garlic and chicken broth into my blender, put the lid on tight and turn it on low.

You all know what happens next. The ceiling, the walls, me are now covered in this wonderful hot saucy sauce. Oh and remember the weird colored towels from yesterday? They now have an added tomato sauce flavoring.

Summer is laughing so hard she has to sit down on the floor. Both dogs come zooming in from the back door, skid to a stop and start licking the sauce off the cabinets, me, the doors and the floor.

But guess what?

I now have the fabric to cover two chairs and have at lest two hundred tamales. They are wonderful. The recipe comes from Darcy with Summer making it actually happen.. So who knows if I actually got it right. Hopefully she will add the recipe for you. I'm simply too exhausted at this point. They really are amazing.

But sure tastes good and after the last couple of days, my moms saying comes back to me in spades. "Stop crying in your soup. It does no good and ruins good soup."

I really, really must remember what is important in life. And keep on laughing to boot! Thanks Summer and Darcy.

Dear Deer

2011-08-30T21:01:00.000-07:00

Sometimes a day just seems hard. That's it. There are days just harder than others. You start by critiquing yourself in the mirror, then burn the toast, didn't sleep well, someone leaves stinky socks on the chair.

You know the day I mean. This is how my week has been. "I'm to fat, my gray hair makes me look older than Methuselah. And I feel like a toad." On an on we go. A slow tortuous dance of self annihilation . No good, no fair, life is rotten...

My mom used to say "Stop moaning in your soup". "It does no good and ruins good soup" So there!

I'm at my desk trying to write a new children's story and "moaning in my soup" The washer has just flooded my pine floors at the exact same moment as the refrigerator defrosts all over the same flooded pine floor. I run and get as many towels as I can, laying them over puddled floors and promptly land on my behind. Now I'm as wet as my guest towels and the floor. And start to cry/laugh. How is that possible?

I limp outside to lay all the white, red and green sopping wet towels over a bench (which happens to be red) to drip.(duh...)they decide to co-mingle and now I have red, white and green splotchy towels....Guests coming and nasty colored towels. I wonder if my guests will understand the weird towels? I think not.

The day has been grand and it's not even noon.

So back to why I'm writing this tale of woe...

I'm sitting at my desk questioning (which you should never do) what will go wrong next? Something told me to buck up, knock off the pity party and say a little prayer. Maybe not for help but for an attitude change.

The minute this thought was thought, I looked up and through my office window faces calmly gazed back at me. I thanked my Father in Heaven for a little smile on a very moldy day.

Again I laugh/cried and felt a hundred times better. Washers break. Refrigerators quit. And yet all is well if I can remember I'm not REALLY that fat, my hair is a Nana's (hard earned) hair color and I got a newly mopped floor all in one fell swoop.

I really must remember what is important in life.

Thank you Dear Deer. (Even though you munched all my roses as if at a colorful Sunday brunch). Thanks for listening.

Painted Toenails

2011-08-29T22:56:00.000-07:00

Painted Toenails

OK, OK I know the title is silly. But upon digging further you'll understand the reasoning. So I have warped sense of laughter. What new?

Starting small (as in eating an elephant) you can be your own designer.

My title is the beginning of sharing my artistic and design knowledge step by step. From very Small beginnings you can have the home you richly deserve.

This PDF instruction book is the culmination of years of art and interior and home design.

The beginning tutorial is called:

Discovering Your Personal Style and will be available as a PDF full color picture tutorial on how to: colors, design, floor plan and furniture layouts.

Each of my design books are a continuing effort to helping people realize their own true potential at designing a well thought out home plan with your new found knowledge,

I believe each and every person has the ability to create a beautiful room or even an entire home from the curbside to the entire interior of your home. But it may be baby steps which need to be done first.

Come learn. Come and have joy in your surroundings. A small $19.99 fee will bring the first of these tutorials to your desktop as full color download.

These a just a sample of what you will receive and learn :

I have discovered a process which has helped me find my personal style and color palette. It’s relatively simple when broken down to basic components:

Ask yourself the following questions: How do you move and work within a space? What is the use of a room? How often do you entertain? When you entertain family and close friends, do you all end up in the kitchen?

Before beginning to think about design style, color or theme, these questions plus many more need to be asked. And answered. Although the test on page eight won’t hurt, It might push you to thinking outside your comfort zone. This is exactly what needs to be done, get outside that old humdrum box. Let’s have some fun!

The following chapters will outline how the design and style of White Oaks came to be.

◊ Discovering Your Personal Style

◊ Magic Colors With A Rainbows Promise

◊ Enter An Exterior and Interiors First Welcome

◊ Furniture and Plywood

◊ See What Texture, Paint, Fabric and Old Junk Can Do

◊ Cookin' In The Kitchen

◊ Bathing In Magic & Fairy Dust

◊ Amazing Concrete Artwork

◊ SK’s Creative Home Projects

These are just a few of SK’s Projects.

Come along invent, and re-invent your surroundings.

SK's Designs & Projects

When you visit my home you either love it or hate it. There is no middle ground. If you love my style I would like to share with you the projects I have completed in White Oaks, our home.

Each tutorial is complete with product descriptions, complete directions and step-by-step color photographs…

Come along. Visit with me and inspire your very own personal dream…

Pixie Paige

2011-08-24T19:52:00.000-07:00

Our little Paige has decided she wants Nana to paint her new room purple...She claims to be a purple princess and needs her room to be as fairy tale as she.

Sooo...here we go. The walls were painted a light mushroom color then at 43" high we taped off a wainscoting. It was painted a light lavender and let dry. We used a 6" roller and a level and painted darker purple stripes. Darcy Jackson did the hardest parts. Thank goodness.

When the stripes were dry I hand painted a vine, leaves and flowers along the top.

Wow Nana!

Nana, Aren't You Done Yet?

Now it's time to start her personal quilt in her colors.

Thank goodness for daughters and friends. It's a beginning.

It will be such fun when I return and finish our precious grandaughters room. I will post the finished room when completed.

Scraps

2011-08-17T10:27:00.000-07:00

I don’t know ’bout you but I have all kinds of scraps lying about. Hate to throw that small bit of something out ’cause I MIGHT need it someday…

Tearing apart, cutting and then piecing each part together. Sometimes it works great, sometimes not so much.

I think our lives are very similar. We’re pulled and pushed, the torn and mended pieces of our lives a little stronger. Each time we stand up, lift our heads, we stitch a little bit of life back together. With love, sometimes without. Self respect usually helps. Get up, Get Over it, Get on with it. WITH a SmIlE. A smile makes it oh so much easier in the end.

Some of us have much larger lifequilts. More colorful and diverse. The best of life’s quilts are jumbled, chaotic or more even, sedate and ordered. Some tough and gravelly and others smooth and unblemished. All in All, pretty darn pretty.

To make a long philosphy short:

I have decided to make a quilt for each of my grandchildren. Now you have to know me to understand this is quite a project to tackle.

My art is not perfectly symmetrical or ordered. I am a fast paced artist and grow bored with projects which might take more than a day or so.

Darcy’s and Summer’s art is more ordered. More patient. For Darcy, I and Summer to get together and do a project could be considered an act of God. Impatience on my part and patience on their end. But we seem to be able to get-er-done eventually.

My very first quilt was learned at the knee of a master quilter. Our newest granddaughter Phoenix’s colorful crib quilt has all the markings of my artist daughter Summer’s personality. Bright, Hot and fun.

This little surprise was born on Friday the 13Th.. Her parents were married on the previous Friday the 13th. This might give you a small clue to our families quirky personalities.

If we can’t do “It” with a smile we generally won’t do it at all.

My next quilt is for Darcy’s son Texas. As we cut the colored squares he grew more and more agitated. We were “cutting” up his blanket. As we started to sew the many blocks together he wanted to sleep with it.

As we completed the piecing together of Texas’ quilt top, his eyes just lit up. Now we can’t get it away from him to finish.

: Then there is our little Lizzie Bean. Cinderella/ballerina. You get the picture. She’s very excited to have her very own Nana quilt.

Something special from Nana. A memory for our children and for our grandchildren. I am glad to create these with my daughters.
I hope these quilts I create for each beloved grandchild will become cherished. That these kids will grow up with them. See them as a treasure as they leave the nest and start making nests of their own.

Just think only five more to go…oh dear.

How Grateful Am I?

2011-08-12T13:23:00.000-07:00

As a creative person, apparently my mind works and sees life differently than others might. I want to surround myself with people whom are creative, but also have a knowing faith of the gift.

I have always had faith to follow this creative vision, and been grateful for the challenge of not becoming too worldly in the process.

How do we be "in the world, but not of the world"? I have often questioned my motives for a creation. Am I doing this for the pure love of creating or am I after a worldlier goal?

Can I create, enjoy the creating and the attention it can bring, yet be eternally grateful from Whom it was given?

I have given some thoughts to my creations.

As A Mother

Wow, how do you create a human being and not realize from where they come? They are the finest and most enduring of all creations. Mothers, who realize this, can and are the foundation of our world.

I truly wish I had internalized how very important my role as mother was. It took a beloved daughters mild chiding for me to realize I might not have been the greatest of moms. How I wish I could go back and rectify all those errors and moments of impatience. The time is gone, never to return.

I think of my children and now grandchildren, and am so grateful for the trust which has been given to me in their life's adventure.

I don't know if I realized how incredibly important a mother’s role was. And I took it for granted. I see more clearly now. Is it age which makes us wiser, or just the experience of life?

My children will know more than I did. More love. More patience and much more attention.

Color*Music*Earth*Creativeness

My creative spirit is still my daily inspiration and I DO know where it comes from. Why I have been granted this special eye on life's colors is still a question. But I do know I can't take it for granted nor let it sit about floundering.

Each moment I see and visualize something interesting and beautiful, is a gift. To me specifically and when I can share an amazing moment it returns to me two-fold.

Writing

I'm not entirely sure why I must write. But it is so. There is no question in my mind I must share. Now how to do this is another query. But into the fray I go. Knowing I must create with what I have been given. Not so much for others, but for my own soul.

I am grateful for what I have been given. I will take this seed and add onto it with the creativeness I see shared by others.

And I must, must always remember to smile, laugh, enjoy.

http://www.eternalencouragement.com/

A Summer Cake

2011-08-08T13:46:00.000-07:00

A Summer Cake

Summer Heather’ cake was a three-month production from start to finish. I actually was trying re-invent the wheel with this eye-popping cake.

Summer had drawn and re-drawn her cake for four years. This is the original drawing. I'm sure glad she was my last child and this was the last wedding to plan and implement.

: Daughters Darcy and Summer have a firm belief I can do ANYTHING…Hmmmm….They have no idea I look to them for inspiration...So I start by making Summer draw her intricate designs to scale.

The sheets of chocolate designs on clear Mylar were sent to us and then the real work began.

We designed a mold which could be adjusted to different lengths. Lay the chocolate transfer sheet chocolate side up of course. Tape it securely. I then taped the metal stainless steel flat rods to the length that I wanted the finished product. Our biggest was 4″x16″ by 1/4″ deep. I double broiler melted pure white chocolate till very smooth. The poured it into the readied mold. I used a stainless steel scraper to pull the melted chocolate over the mold. Not overworking. Then scraped the excess chocolate over the edge to re-use again.

The Cheap Transfer Sheet Company

Each mold configuration was made to match the cakes layers. I made 8 sets for each cake layer. which there were 4 layers soooo…that makes a total, ahhh, 32, 1/4″ deep by 4″ tall and 5″,7″,16″,18″.

When the chocolate has cooled and hardened, I slipped a cake decorator spatula under the mold, wax paper and hardened chocolate. Very gently lifting up. I then used a warm knife to cut around the edges of the mold to loosen the chocolate from the mold.Turning it over you can see the transfer sheet with the dark chocolate drawings. Peel the transfer sheet off very carefully and the design stays on the white chocolate. Some hits and misses can be expected so I made an extra 10 just for that last second emergency. Which I am so glad we had on hand. In transit some of the “sidewalls” came loose from the actual cake and shattered. We were able put up new walls when we got to the venue. ( I learned from the best, Ron, my hubby is a custom general contractor). New walls? No problem. I kept all the finished pieces cool and dry till ready to use.

The chocolate walls were “glued” to the crumb coat frosted cake (which by the way is just a first coat of frosting decorators use to control cake crumbs from getting into the final frosting coat.) We used white royal icing to “glue” the walls to each side of the cake layers. We all know there isn’t a cake out there that is actually square, plumb or level. We had to adjust the walls by filling in behind areas with royal icing. using a metal square to keep an eye on the level, plumb and square issues. What a pain. I actually used ribbon to tie the walls to rhe cake till they were dry and sealed.

When each layer was set, Darcy (http://myartisticventures.blogspot.com/) started her piping which ran around the base, corners and edges of each layer. She used black butter cream icing. When this task was completed I set about the next phase: Flowers.

Oh by the way the bottom layer of cake is a plywood box with holes drilled in the top and dry ice inside to protect the three upper layers of cake from the heat. I just decorated it to look as if it were cake. Try cutting into that layer with a cake knife…

Thanks for joining us on the journey.

The Sartell Girls Had Fun…Forces of Nature is what we are...

Summer Sartell Lakey, Darcy Sartell Jackson, Shirley K Sartell(the mom)

SK's Bull Frog Log (Blog)

2011-08-08T13:24:00.000-07:00

I was thinking about my journaling (blog) in the middle of the night last night and wondered why I hated the term 'blog'.

Everyone uses the word and I bet most don't have a clue where this nonsense, no-meaning, made-up word comes from. Well here ya go:

A blog (a blend of the term web log) is a type of website or part of a website. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. Blog can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.

Most blogs are interactive, allowing visitors to leave comments and even message each other via widgets on the blogs and it is this interactivity that distinguishes them from other static websites.[2]

Many blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject; others function as more personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, Web pages, and other media related to its topic. The ability of readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs. Most blogs are primarily textual, although some focus on art (art blog), photographs (photoblog), videos (video blogging or vlogging), music (MP3 blog), and audio (podcasting). Microblogging is another type of blogging, featuring very short posts.

As of 16 February 2011 there were over 156 million public blogs in existence.

So that's that. a blog is a way for us to write our histories, our thoughts, share a bit, question even more. I think we should come up with a better, classier word to describe what we are doing hour after hour.

What about, let's say 'bogus log', 'begging log', 'blaring log', 'blathering log'', 'but log'. Or even 'barely there log' or maybe 'BS log'? Sorry just had to do it.

Maybe something more positive in nature such as: 'Baron log", 'beautiful log', 'bonefied log'.

Do I have too much time on my hands? Be Specific Log...

Alright maybe I spent to much time thinking and not enough time writing. I'm number 157 million.
I actually like: Bullfrog Log after Barney the Bullfrog in our pond out front.

Bibbit, bibbit.

See You Soon! Bibbit or should I say ribbit

SK Sartell
sartellart@gmail.com
http://www.sksartell.com/

Crafty Flypaper?

2011-08-08T10:17:00.000-07:00

With spring coming quickly and wedding season right behind, I had to get the gate designed, built AND installed. Poor Ron. We hear this comment often "Poor Ron".

A bride has chosen White Oaks for her June wedding. Oh My... The grass looks terrible, the garbage cans show between the empty fence posts... So we have replanted grass and now have a garden fence and new gate.

As you might know, flat anything is liable to catch my interest. So I go looking for cool stuff to attach to my new (new looks old) gate. Friends call it the crafty flypaper syndrome. Hey....I like it. See what you think.

This could be used as my headstone very appropriately.

If you would like to see All my Crafty Flypaper check our web site at http://www.sksartell.com/

See You Soon!

SK Sartell
sartellart@gmail.com
http://www.sksartell.com/

Ancient Old Sofa Fabric

2011-08-08T08:24:00.000-07:00

So, Darcy, my beloved daughter (you've heard me talk about her before) looked at my blog and stated" I hate your colors and background of your blogs mom. It looks like an old sofa... Really? And I took forever building a original in Photoshop. Layers and layers and layers.

For those of you who work with Photoshop, you know how crazy lost you can get in between the layers. Forgetting to name and save.

Thousands of bloggers build their own designs for their pages. A lot don't because you can find instant and very well designed blogger designs for free. Of course I don't use the practical and simplest way to design a blog. I have to try to learn all the ins and outs of designing one. Sigh...

By the time I get a design done, I'm off on a tangent to see If I can make a better one.

So here are some sample and examples of the background and banners I have made.
What do you think?

And on and on I go.
Sigh Again...Why can't I ever be satisfied with something less time consuming and technical.

Learning curve here I come :/

See You Soon!

SK Sartell
sartellart@gmail.com
http://www.sksartell.com/

I Only Iron The Top Third!

2011-08-08T08:07:00.000-07:00

: White Oaks Red Garden Room

I Only Iron The Top Third! My New Motto

My imagination runs on hyper-drive. I exhaust my family with my next project or next “have to do” list or even just the simple task of ironing sheets for our next sets of guests.

“What the heck. You’re ironing sheets”? Yes, I iron sheets. Don’t get too excited. I just iron the top third. I’m not THAT crazy. At least I can admit it.

My problem is the above mentioned drive. When I imagine Ron and I visiting a B&B, I expect and imagine wonderful things. Turned down sheets, Lavender on my pillow, chocolate dipped strawberries to kiss goodnight. Magic.

Yummm…This could be the reason my personal expectations are a little high, as I run my own bed and breakfast.

I need a goal challenging me. I am often told my expectations are a bit unrealistic. Ya think? Maybe. maybe not. I still want my guests experience’ to become a very special memory.

The challenge becomes apparent as I find myself ironing sheets at nine thirty at night in the privacy of my bedroom with hubby trying to sleep. This challenge of balancing reality with expectation. With me, this is my biggest problem. Chasing the end of a very long rainbow. I want the magic. I want the rainbow. Sound ridiculous? I can just bet, most all high achievers find themselves in the same quandary.

Admitting it was my first achievement. The older I get, the (seemingly) less mind I have. The presence of mind and the ability to keep tasks under control and in line. I have to keep my tasks and to do list on an Actual List.

Sound simple? It’s not for me. I tend to run a lot faster than my mind can keep up and thus find I’ve run out of mind before running out of tasks. Whew! What a mouth full. But you know what I mean.

As I told and re-told my daily story to a friend, they began to laugh at the “I only iron the top third” phrase. I hadn’t realized this could, would and must be my very outlook on life. “I only iron the top third.” This leaves two thirds I just don’t have the time or even the need to worry about.

Soooo….I am going to paint my personal motto, place it above my bed. Each morning I will read and internalize. I only have one third of life to worry about today. Ta Da!

P.S. I’m just starting to paint the fall sunflower pillows…I only need four! They are actually done very well by Pottery barn. I wish I could take the credit.

SK Sartell

sartellart@gmail.com

http://www.sksartell.com/

Dumpster Diving?

2011-08-07T12:25:00.000-07:00

Oh come on. You know stuff is thrown away which shouldn't be. Most of the time we're too distracted, too tired or just can't come up with an idea of "what the heck can ya do with this piece of junk"?

A huge amount of my creativity comes from others throw-a-way stuff. I want to re-use, re-furbish and the old green word "recycle" I was doing this before they went and ruined the word...

These solid oak deck chairs had seen better days. Left to rot in the sun and figured for lost. Use some common sense, practicability and fun. What can you do with it? Will it still look like old junk when your finished? Did you waste your time?

Sometimes a little elbow grease, tongue between the teeth work will reward you with a prize. Sometimes all the hard work in the world can't save a piece. This time I won...Yee Haw.

See You Soon!

SK Sartell
sartellart@gmail.com
http://www.sksartell.com/

Through A Mothers Eyes

2011-08-06T16:46:00.000-07:00

As a professional artist and designer I find myself eying other artists work. I have been astounded by my own children's creativity. I want to share them with you. I'm not a bit proud now am I?

Sean (oldest son) has given me such a hard time as he grew up. Never wanting to take part in anything creative. Wow, look what he does now. Don't ever call him an artist though...

Jared (second son) has become an amazing outdoorsman. His love of nature is captured as he fishes (catch and release) the Pacific Northwest fish. His brother, Sean, and he are determined to catch and release every native fish they can find. You can see their adventures on Youtube at:http://www.youtube.com/user/SKsWhiteOaks#p/a/u/1/XUsDU_BXAg8

He uses his bit of spare time teaching himself to play the guitar and creating marvelous wood crafts with his Shopsmith. Don't call him an artist either. Hmmmm. This is getting old.

Darcy Kay Sartell Jackson (third child, oldest daughter) OK, OK. So I just want to talk about my kids. I guess I have artists in the family whether they want to be or not.

Darcy is a Chef, a creative paper crafts artist , designer, artist, and who knows what else is yet in store.

She has a blast designing and creating cakes. She can design that amazingly specific cake for just about any occasion. Her home is fun with creative and inexpensive touches everywhere.

Texas and Lizzie (her little ones) benefit from her creativity as well. When do you find the time? Breathe, just breathe.

You can visit her latest creations at: http://myartisticventures.blogspot.com/

As my children get older I have to catch my breath at what they accomplish. Self-taught or maybe a little inherited talent?

Summer Heather lakey (Second daughter and youngest) Of course being the youngest gets Summer the privilege of being called "spoiled" by her older siblings. I disagree. She is just different. And How!

A sociology major, painter, photographer and all around artist, Summer leaves the cake decorating up to her big sister Darcy. She took four years to design her very own wedding cake, which then all three Sartell girls put their hand too.

Summer designed the cake, we had her hand drawings silk screened in chocolate onto Mylar. I then transferred the designs onto white chocolate and applied the solid white chocolate to the walls of her cake. I added the fresh flowers and put the cake together. Darcy then topped it off with her fancy frosting bead-work.

I have posted a complete "How in world we did it" at the following address. Feel free to take my ideas and run with them. I hope you have three months to spare.

http://sksartellart.wordpress.com/2011/03/28/a-willamette-valley-summer-cake/

Take a look at some of her photography at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2fcSgDyBLY&feature=player_embedded

and

http://www.sksartell.com/SummerFrontPage.htm

I can honestly say " where in world do they get it?" Lemme' guess... I simply love creative people, whether they admit to being an artist or not! Poor Ron...

See You Soon!

SK Sartell
sartellart@gmail.com
http://www.sksartell.com/

SKs Tree Of Life

2011-08-06T15:14:00.000-07:00

Blank spaces whisper to me...Why? I have no clue. I just can't seem to leave things well enough alone. I want everything around me to make me smile. To interest me and keep me guessing.

This little shower held such promise. What could I do to create a sweet space? Some fun. Sooo...I went through buckets of broken tile, granite and marble and found an idea.

Can we create something new and wonderful from leftovers and scrap? Broken junk others would just throw away? I have found this throughout my life. Creating from leftovers or scrap. Make something beautiful, workable and worthy of a smile.

A small rounded corner shower would be fine with simple tile and grout. But what If??? What if I could make it have a life of it's own? A tree built into the corner of this little shower. How do you do that? Hmmm...

Just do it. Make a simple plan and begin. I started drawing a tree on the blank sub-surface of the tile. A brown trunk emerged. A trunk with dark brown marble and granites. Cut them into different shapes and linear forms. Glueing these tiles to form trunk as tree trunk would grow. I then started to add different greens. My plan started to come together as I glued the lighted greens on the left side and added the darker greens going to the right side. I hoped this would add light as if from the sun going from the left to the shadow to the right.

I hand crafted clear round glass tiles with leaves, bugs and textures attached to the back of each clear tile. I then sealed these tiles to be waterproof. I added sparkly jewels and mother of pearl adornments for interest.

I can get over zealous and must remind myself of correct composition and areas which the eye may rest.

I had fun with this and worked many hours so my creation would make me smile for many years.

Have some fun. Create from nothing. Enjoy the scraps of life.

See You Soon!

SK Sartell
sartellart@gmail.com
http://www.sksartell.com/

This Old House Deserves A New Life

2011-08-06T11:23:00.000-07:00

Tiling has become a new treat for me. I have no idea how it is supposed to be done properly, so I just go ahead and try lots of different ideas and styles.

This little house was in very poor condition. It had been foreclosed on four times over the last three years. How sad for a home not to have a wonderful, loving, caring family.

The kitchen was ill-designed and cramped. We pulled out the upper peninsula cabinets and moved the peninsula base cabinets out four feet. We then built an island from the scraps of an old island. The new granite tile counters were then laid with a slate backsplash and decorative insert.

I was given free rein designing the floors and showers.(so long as the tile was free)

The original floors were composed of four layers of moldy press board and vinyl. Yuck...Nasty removal job.

The shower walls became a pallet for some creative tile cutting. Can you tell it's a mountain?

The tile was scrap and given free of charge. The problem became, what can you do with just so many amounts of such little amounts of each style and color of tile? Whew. Did you get that ? I'm not sure I even understood it...

Before After

A long thought-out process began to emerge. If I only have so many of each style and color, you would think that would determine what could be created. Or so everyone thought. A little practice, a whole lot of thought and these are the results.

My inspiration are owners whom have a deep love and hunger for the outdoors. They hike, bike, snowboard and camp at every opportunity. So the outdoors became our indoor theme.

As the house became livable, my time there ended. I will be going back to put a few finishing touches on a newly discovered jewel. I will post additional pictures as we finish.

See You Soon!

SK Sartell
sartellart@gmail.com
http://www.sksartell.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=SK_Sartell
http://ezinearticles.com/?Eliminate-Interior-Home-Disasters&id=2261078

Courtney Jones

2011-08-06T10:48:00.000-07:00

We have a wonderful guest who keeps us company often. She sings as she makes cookies for White Oaks Bed and Breakfast.

Not just anyone can do both at the same time. But Courtney can dance as she does it. And makes me laugh at the same time. Dizzying.

Courtney Jones New Living Room

We had the opportunity to give her a hand on one of her many latest projects.

As her husband is gone, this remarkable woman buys and closes a house. We had such fun picking out her colors from her mothers hand-crafted quilt and arranging this cute little bungalow for her husbands return and birthday.

New granite and green glass tile for the hearth and fireplace. Paint colors picked, master bedroom made beautiful and comfy. All for a specially talented girl.

Courtney's Living Room After Being SK'd. She is currently working on her third CD. Check out her last two CDs at http://www.courtneyjonesmusic.com/

See You Soon!

sartellart@gmail.com
http://www.sksartell.com/

Check out SK’s interior design http://www.sksartell.com

You can follow SK on her Ehow posts and Twitter

SK’s Home Sweet Home

2011-08-06T10:35:00.000-07:00

Most of you know how I think. I would like to believe I have a right to choose what and who, surround me on a daily basis.

I like my clients and MOST like me in return. Hmmm… I’ll have to check on the validity of that statement. Maybe some of you will respond?

Anyway, I love gathering stuff which makes me smile. Laughing cheers the saddest of hearts.

If I’m having hot chocolate, I serve myself from an old and beautiful china cup. The chip on the edge is a nostalgic memory or question as to what the past held for this sweet china cup.

As I enter a room or our home, I want to smell something wonderful. See something wonderful.

I make a date with myself. A time to pamper myself. You have to make, and take time for yourself.

Make it a point today to do something special. Even if it’s only to stand in front of a mirror and smile at yourself. The little things we choose to surround ourselves with make a difference in the joy of life. It keeps us young.

Make a choice with little things which make you smile. It lightens your world for a moment. We need these moments in times of stress and concern. Think of it as filling your cup for the times when things are a bit parched.

See You Soon!

sartellart@gmail.com
http://www.sksartell.com/

Check out SK’s interior design http://www.sksartell.com

You can follow SK on her Ehow posts and Twitter

SK's Orange Chicken

2011-08-04T15:56:00.000-07:00

Good Morning!I have been asked to post my Orange Chicken recipe. Yum. We use this recipe constantly because it's easy and fast and served it comes off as being a fancy dinner.

I buy my chicken breast without skins or bones. You can buy it by the bag at Costco, as if you didn't know. These breasts are considered half a breast. One is plenty per person.

Thaw the chicken overnight in the refrigerator. Don't try to "fast" thaw chicken. In my opinion it changes texture when it has been thawed to quickly, by water or microwave. The meat seems to be drier.

I place plastic wrap on my counter top. Place a half chicken breast with the sinew down. In other words place the smooth side up. Place another piece of plastic wrap over the chicken and using a meat tenderizer, use the smooth side to pound the chicken into a thin layer. I use Ziplock bags as an easy and less messy alternative. Continue to the next piece. I place my pounded pieces of chicken in the refrigerator until I'm done pounding all the pieces.

With a piece of plastic wrap on the counter, I begin to make the chicken rolls. With the sinew side up, I place a thin piece of ham on the chicken,(sandwich ham works great) then add a slice of Swiss cheese. Sprinkle in a few bits of freshly chopped parsley for color. Fold the ends of the chicken in and then roll the sides over one another. Pin together with a toothpick or skewer. Your trying to seal the rolled chicken. Sometimes it works for me, sometimes it doesn't. It makes a nice roll.

For six breasts, I use a square glass baking dish. 350 Degree Oven

SAUCE FOR SIX BREASTS:
1 large can of frozen concentrated orange juice,
1 Stick non-salted butter
½ C Cream (Optional)
A small pinch of red pepper flakes (Optional)

In a small sauce pan melt the frozen orange juice and butter together. Stir in the cream and pepper flakes. heat through, do not boil.

Using ½ of the sauce, pour over your stuffed and rolled chicken breasts. Save the remainder ½ of your sauce for later. Place a small piece of Swiss cheese on each individual rolled breast. Cover with tin foil for first 40 minutes. Uncover for the remainder of time till done. Bake for just under 1 hour.

Presentation: The tops of the chicken rolls should be golden brown and bubbly. I use a pretty platter to place all my rolled chicken breasts on. Drizzle on a portion of your saved orange sauce. Then serve the remainder of the sauce in a gravy boat. Small new red potatoes, cooked in salted water with parsley and lemon make a great side dish. Put fresh parsley and your little red potatoes around the chicken and serve hot.

Smile, take care and invent something new today!

See You Soon!

SK Sartell
sartellart@gmail.com
http://www.sksartell.com/

Once Upon A Time

2011-08-04T15:45:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time there was a do-it-yourself home built. This fairy tale home is unlike any other. A practical very un-witch-like artist/designer named SK built this solid concrete home from the ground up. Using self-taught design and building skills, this practical magic home came to be.

Gazing at the home from the street you feel as if stepping back in time and place to a country farm in 19th century France. Fantasy begins at the curb and continues as you walk across the bridge to the front door, the gentle sound of waterfalls lull senses as you pull the chain attached to a bell. The unique doorbell is another indication imagination, fantasy and fun have had full reign as this home was built.

SK’s diminutive stature makes you think she’d be more comfortable sitting in a turret serving tea or curds and whey. As you survey this innovative, charming and fanciful home you’ll be surveying the talents of an artist whose energy is boundless.

For instance, the front door is absolutely charming with its curved top and antique finish. When SK couldn’t find the perfect front door for her home, she built the door herself.

As we enter the whimsical home in this magical, Victorian town we wonder if we have left the land of "ordinary" and entered the land of make-believe where all the charming ideas you ever dreamed of in a home were made possible. Architectural pieces were purchased and stored for years before finding their perfect place in the home. Antique Doric wood columns define living and dining space. Copper that was hand-pounded into an embossed design came from France. The kitchen boasts French country cabinetry, hand-built by the owners. The varying heights of the cabinets, antique glass fronts and antique finish give you the impression of being shipped from a farmhouse in Provence. Counter tops are made of concrete and acid stained to give an older appearance. Copper was chosen for the many qualities for chefs. The antibacterial properties of copper contributed to their choice in this custom chef’s kitchen. These copper counter tops were handed pounded by SK.

The French glass pantry doors are sand blasted and feature bouquets of massive sunflowers through which you can peek into the interior of the pantry. Again, designed and done by SK. As a practical interior designer SK has designed age into her home, making it look well loved and well used.

In her guest bath, SK’s imagination worked overtime. While walls are painted in deep and misty forest murals, fairies peek impishly from behind painted ferns. Warm mist rises as the large soaking tub is filled by a rock waterfall. From this woodsy bath you relax looking out upon a roof garden overflowing with wild strawberries...

SK’s talents are innumerable and she isn’t afraid to tackle a new media. With her forty years of design and remodel experience SK is tackling the newest of many projects. Her personal fairy tale home projects are the topics for Do-It-Yourself e-books.

You can visit SK and her home at http://www.sksartell.com/

See You Soon!

SK Sartell
sartellart@gmail.com
http://www.sksartell.com/

Eliminate Interior Design Disasters

2011-08-04T15:43:00.000-07:00

With thousands of websites, articles, newsletters and blogs on interior design, is it any wonder home design is confusing? As an artist and designer, it never ceases to amaze me the amount of fabulous information available for the curious and motivated homeowner. And Free to boot!

Keeping it simple is a little more difficult. I have visited many "designers" client homes, just to see the designers particular brand or style stamped all over the place. How do we keep our homes in the realm of our own personalities?

When you are searching for a design and or designer, first look at their product. Talk to past clients. Visualize the designers work in your private space. Does it work? Or could you have done a better job on your own and a whole lot less expensive?

I have designed many different styles. Each as individual as the client themselves. How is this done? First, you have to do the homework. A client whom states : Do whatever you like, I trust you and I will be back from Bermuda in six weeks" might be a client I may choose to steer clear of.

I will not brand my personal style on a clients home. Your home should and must reflect your personality and uniqueness. With excitement and motivation, create something totally yours, you can learn how to build a truly stunning environment all your own.

Magazines, websites other design information can be your very best friend. You have done it before, I just can see both of us searching magazines, ripping out the cool stuff and making piles...This is your start to discovering your personal style.

Build a book on these pictures. Study each picture. Circle the idea or picture which caught your eye. Put you piles of pictures in categories. i.e. living, bath, family, kitchen. Then go back and cull out the pictures which may not be as appealing. Only keep the very best. You will eventually discover what you love, whether in color, shape, size or style name. My personal style is called European Recycled...No joke. Or French Farm.

Keep your first trial and run, simple. Paint is the least expensive re-do and has an amazing impact. A fresh coat of paint is magic. Interior design can be a simple act of re-arranging or de-cluttering.

Find your magic. Love where you live. make it a peaceful and creative environment all your own.

See You Soon!

SK Sartell
sartellart@gmail.com
http://www.sksartell.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=SK_Sartell
http://ezinearticles.com/?Eliminate-Interior-Home-Disasters&id=2261078

Web Design By A Complete Novice. Goofy I Tell You. Goofy

2011-08-04T14:09:00.000-07:00

I am NOT a web designer. I am an artist and interior designer. I learned by slugging through basic web design specifically to add content to my personal pages. It would be interesting to me as an artist, how many newbie, web designers web sites are being rated on first pages of major search engines. I cannot possibly be the only one out there who is discovering the passion it takes to keep a business web presence on the first page of Google.

I had the impression to be a web designer or alternately have a great web presence; you needed to be a major brain or have schooling in the specific technology. Wrong… In my search for useful web design information, which by the way, most is free, you can teach yourself the art of web design and search engine placement.

Of course I will never be able to complete with the big boys. So I have been told or led to believe. Maybe, maybe not. I have successfully been on Google’s first page for my key phrases for weeks. Does this mean I have cracked the code? No. But I am persistent. I have had REAL web designers shrug, figuratively pat me on the head and wish me luck. All the while knowing I would never be able to keep up. But also, never give up.

PERSISTENT

My persistent nature keeps me searching for answers to the same questions as most other internet explorers. I also believe these answers change daily. If I don’t keep up on today’s ideas and discoveries I will fall behind.

Being a visual artist/designer, initially the look of my web site was most important. Then I discovered a beautiful web site meant nothing unless people actually saw, read, and internalized its content. So I have made a point of reading as much GOOD SEO, Web 2.0 and basic design articles I can get my hands, (eyes) on.

WEB DESIGNERS VERSUS ARTISTS/GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

There is no competition. The expert web code designer will win hands-down in the goal of reaching first page rankings. But, and that’s a big but, I will always believe an artist and graphic designer can make a web site attractive with their instinctual knowledge of space and white space, color and what color can do. I also know a cross-over is happening. By cross-over, I mean web designers are either using proven templates or have begun to be artists themselves. There are amazingly beautiful sites which are instructional and easy to roam.

Web art isn’t as simple as putting a cool looking page together with all the bells and whistles. It has become a fast driven art. Some of the most beautiful sites are very hard to digest. Alternatively, some of the simplest web sites are the easiest sites to internalize. Why can’t we have both?

As an artist and designer, I am bound and determined to have pleasing and easy sites for people to explore. Just maybe I can become both, an artist and web presence. Well, maybe not. But I will endeavor to keep a moments pace with the amazing works on the web. They awe and inspire all those having the privilege of visiting.

See You Soon!

SK Sartell
sartellart@gmail.com
http://www.sksartell.com/

Twiggy Furniture

2011-08-04T00:43:00.001-07:00

This headboard is made of green alder branches. They were cut green and no more than 1-2″ around. Strip them of their leaves. These small branches need to be up to 12′ in length. Depending on your location, you can usually find branches or small trees near streams. Get the landowners permission. I have never had any person say no. Cut your 2×12 the width you want the headboard. Mine is 6’6″ wide.

Start with your largest in diameter and longest twig. Nail it to the outside of the 2×12″ width wise. Keep adding you twigs toward the center of the 2×12″. Cover your twig ends and the nails with the metal mesh (small diameter chicken wire).

With someone standing on the 2×12, bend your outside twig toward the opposite side of the 2×12 base and nail securely in place. Continue with all your twigs toward the center.

With all your branches nailed securely in place cover the nails with your metal mesh. This just help to keep the branches in place as they dry. Don’t get to finicky. However it turns out it will be unique and fun to decorate.

Have fun with this. It’s pretty for a child’s twin size too. Twine silk greens into the branches. You can also mix in netting and little fairies for your little fairy princess.

I try to cut more branches than I will actually need because you have some branches break as your bending them. The greener the wood the better they will bend.

You can visit my website and see the other stuff I do…http://www.sksartell.com/

See You Soon!

SK Sartell
sartellart@gmail.com
http://www.sksartell.com/

♥ SK Sartells World Of Art and Design ♥

Family Trees

♥ Handmade Gifts ♥

Farmhouse Gets A Facelift

A Country Home Re-Design

Homemade Bath and Laundry Soap For Pennies

Mercury Glass, Rabbits and Snowflakes

SK's Chalkboard Refrigerator

Paint Up To My Ears

White Oaks Dresses For Christmas

With a Christmas Wish In Our Hearts.

Newest and Fun Projects

Dear Soldiers. Thank You.

Autumn Leaf Rose Bouquet For White Oaks Fall Season

Buggy Book

Sartell Girls*Forces Of Nature

Interest In Pinterest

Falling For White Oaks

What Is $200.00 Worth

101 Happy People Project

#51-60 I brought Gushers and Squeeze-Its to our intramural softball game- so that my team could have treats after the game, just like little league.

#50 Donated $2 to the tipping bucket

#48 While at the register, the cashier asked me if I would like to donate $1 to support the troops. I did.

#45 My roommate was feeling very sick, so on my way home I stopped by the store and grabbed him a can of chicken noodle soup.

#43 I wanted to get a thank you gift for my friend who wrote the original article in the Daily Universe. I found a board game with her name on it at the DI. We played it and learned a surprising amount about geography.

#42 I bought a loaf of french bread and can of soup for a dollar each for a homeless man outside the grocery store.My friend knows Spanish and the only books he will read are Calvin and Hobbes. I found an old Calvin and Hobbes book at the DI in Spanish. Perfect match.

#39-40 I have a pen pal who got engaged, so I sent $5 of McDonald's bucks in the mail along with a letter to the happy couple.

#36 Donated another $2 to the tipping bucket

#35 I bought a stamp to Argentina to write a letter to an old friend.

#33-34 Brought bakery bagels to the office.

.

#29 I paid for a donut for whoever came next in line at the bakery.

#28I bought a loaf of french bread and can of soup for a dollar each for a homeless man outside the grocery store.

#24 Purchased a bottle of chocolate milk for the next customer in line.

#23 Paid for $2 of chocolate covered cinnamon bears at the candy store for the next lucky customer.

#20-22 Brought McDonald's apple pies to work for 3 of my co-workers. #19 New argyle socks for my older brother. Everyone loves new socks!

#18 Purchased a single serving of eggnog at the store and asked the clerk to hand it to the next lucky Christmas shopper.

#16-17 We anonymously placed $3 of quarters on top of two different laundry machines in town

#12-15 We dropped off four quarters to each of four different gumball machines across the mall along with a note that said "enjoy a free gumball today!"

#10&11 At the Dollar Theater we secretly bought two movie tickets for whoever came next in line.

#9 After seeing a very cold and homeless man, I bought him 3 cookies and 2 apple pies from McDonald's for just $2.#8 Donated $2 to the Tipping Bucket again to give bikes to children in Thailand to get to school.http://tippingbucket.org/

#7 I bought some chocolate milk at the store and had the clerk anonymously give it to the next customer who came through.

#6 I got a bar of dark chocolate for a friend for her birthday.Because all girls love dark chocolate, right?

#4 I donated $2 again to the tipping bucket. This time to build wells in Uganda.http://tippingbucket.org/

#1,2 The first two people I decided to help were two homeless men sitting outside WalMart. It was cold, dark, and beginning to rain. I ran to McDonald's and bought them a 6-piece chicken nugget, 3 cookies, and 2 apple pies to warm them up

Wednesday Sarcasm* I Would Rather Be A Fairy

Comes A Time In Life

Chillin' At White Oaks Dead and Breakfast

Spring Babies

Kimberly

Thanks Redhead Riter

How Can We Feel Better

Mt. Angel and Sartell Girls Face Painting During Octoberfest

My Gifts To Me

A Buggy Friday

SK Sartells World Of Art: Measure Up

Father, Thank You For A Bright Spot

Measure Up

Fall White Oaks Leaves

Dan

Tamales,Tamales, Tamales!

And Add a Bit Of Sauce...

Dear Deer

Painted Toenails

Pixie Paige

Scraps

How Grateful Am I?

A Summer Cake

SK's Bull Frog Log (Blog)

Crafty Flypaper?

Ancient Old Sofa Fabric

I Only Iron The Top Third!

I Only Iron The Top Third! My New Motto

Dumpster Diving?

Through A Mothers Eyes

SKs Tree Of Life

This Old House Deserves A New Life

Courtney Jones

SK’s Home Sweet Home

SK's Orange Chicken

#51-60
I brought Gushers and Squeeze-Its to our intramural softball game- so that my team could have treats after the game, just like little league.

#50
Donated $2 to the tipping bucket

#48
While at the register, the cashier asked me if I would like to donate $1 to support the troops. I did.

#45
My roommate was feeling very sick, so on my way home I stopped by the store and grabbed him a can of chicken noodle soup.

#43
I wanted to get a thank you gift for my friend who wrote the original article in the Daily Universe. I found a board game with her name on it at the DI. We played it and learned a surprising amount about geography.

#42
I bought a loaf of french bread and can of soup for a dollar each for a homeless man outside the grocery store.My friend knows Spanish and the only books he will read are Calvin and Hobbes. I found an old Calvin and Hobbes book at the DI in Spanish. Perfect match.

#39-40
I have a pen pal who got engaged, so I sent $5 of McDonald's bucks in the mail along with a letter to the happy couple.

#36
Donated another $2 to the tipping bucket

#35
I bought a stamp to Argentina to write a letter to an old friend.

#33-34
Brought bakery bagels to the office.

#28
I bought a loaf of french bread and can of soup for a dollar each for a homeless man outside the grocery store.

#24
Purchased a bottle of chocolate milk for the next customer in line.

#23
Paid for $2 of chocolate covered cinnamon bears at the candy store for the next lucky customer.

#20-22 Brought McDonald's apple pies to work for 3 of my co-workers. #19
New argyle socks for my older brother. Everyone loves new socks!

#18
Purchased a single serving of eggnog at the store and asked the clerk to hand it to the next lucky Christmas shopper.

#16-17
We anonymously placed $3 of quarters on top of two different laundry machines in town

#12-15
We dropped off four quarters to each of four different gumball machines across the mall along with a note that said "enjoy a free gumball today!"

#10&11
At the Dollar Theater we secretly bought two movie tickets for whoever came next in line.

#9
After seeing a very cold and homeless man, I bought him 3 cookies and 2 apple pies from McDonald's for just $2.

#8
Donated $2 to the Tipping Bucket again to give bikes to children in Thailand to get to school.http://tippingbucket.org/

#7
I bought some chocolate milk at the store and had the clerk anonymously give it to the next customer who came through.

#6
I got a bar of dark chocolate for a friend for her birthday.
Because all girls love dark chocolate, right?

#4
I donated $2 again to the tipping bucket. This time to build wells in Uganda.http://tippingbucket.org/

#1,2
The first two people I decided to help were two homeless men sitting outside WalMart. It was cold, dark, and beginning to rain. I ran to McDonald's and bought them a 6-piece chicken nugget, 3 cookies, and 2 apple pies to warm them up