it's only just begun...

 The painting has only just begun!  But, I can't believe how much better it looks already and I've just primed one small section.  

 Goodbye brown and hello to the new color!  Do these pictures give you any hints as to what the new color will be?

Blurry sea finds

zooming into Portsmouth, New Hampshire

hugging the cliff on Mt. Washington

The weather in this picture captures the new color name the best! Holy Sea Mist Batman!

picking out new wares for the kitchen

So, I'm on the search for new wares and some matching items to go into my kitchen when the cabinets are all done.  I love these wares pictured above and  below by mudpie.  They are so shabby, beachy, cottageeee and just plain tasteful!  My friend has these actual dishes and they look awesome in person!  She got hers in Chatham, MA as a wedding gift.  If only I could get married again, to the same man, of course ;) and put these on my gift registry.  Well, I guess all of us married folk missed the boat on that one, so I'll have to dig deep and wish on some starfish.   

Sea Life Mugs

The Plate

The Bowl

Have you seen these dishes?  What do you think?  What have you had your eye on lately to purchase for your home?

roll on roller derby queen cake

 My niece's birthday cake...roll on!  She is turning 8, and is quite the spit fire.  I offered to make her a cake, but she has no idea what style.  I decided to make a roller derby queen cake with homemade buttercream frosting.  
I used two 13"x9" pans and 2 marble Duncan Hines (the best in my opinion) cake mixes.

I let the cakes cool *uncovered* overnight.  In the a.m., I popped them into the freezer for about 15 minutes, so I could cut them easier.

I placed one cake on top of the other, using a very thin layer of homemade buttercream frosting.
Following a pattern on tissue paper,  I made the skate boot and cut the pattern into the cake. 

Next, I frosted the cake top to the edges and smoothed all of the frosting out with a paper towel.  

 I added life saver lace holes, and frosting laces all the way up.  I added DOTS candies and PEZ for some fun!

Then, on the bottom, the roller skate was completed with 4 Oreo strawberry milkshake cookies, glued with buttercream frosting.  
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  This one's for you kid! ;)Auntie

happy halloween decorating

What a bountiful crop!   submitted into Yankee Magazine by a New Englander-

Yankee Magazine

Yankee Magazine

Yankee Magazine

                                                 

Yankee Magazine

Yankee Magazine

Create some jacks and display them on a wall.  The orange really glows!

what a fun summer full of creating

Thank you to all that follow!  You are all great and a VERY talented bunch! Also, "hi" to all my new followers ;)  Hope you enjoy!
                                        BOSTON BEE-SUMMER OF 2010
What a wonderful summer...hot, but full of some fun decorating for me.  Here is a recap of some decorating that I did this summer. If you like it, take it!  That's why I'm here to share my ideas.  Here's to the next season of decor!  Can't wait to share!  ;)Alyssa

 

Starry Nights To You ;)  Artwork by Me, done in pastels, of Van Gogh's Starry Night