SK's New Cottage

From Old Leaning Structure To Fun New Cottage
by SK Sartell

This poor old building will  have a new life to live.  Built in the early 1910's and added on and on. Owners whom really didn't have a builders knowledge or skills.

Family Trees

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 ♥

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

These pretty little wool felt booties were 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.

Farmhouse Gets A Facelift

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 imagining  new spaces with these sisters and mom.

A Country Home Re-Design

Homemade Bath and Laundry Soap For Pennies

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

Mercury Glass, Rabbits and Snowflakes

SK's Chalkboard Refrigerator

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 Up To My Ears

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

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.

Newest and Fun Projects

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.

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

Fall Beauties

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

Buggy Book

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?

Interest In Pinterest

Falling For White Oaks

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.

What Is $200.00 Worth

101 Happy People Project

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

Wednesday Sarcasm* I Would Rather Be A Fairy

Summer Lakey WEDNESDAY ZEN SARCASM

Comes A Time In Life

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

Fall is an amazing time of year in Oregon, The pumpkins 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.

Guests 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

Chef Darcy Jackson