Blog Archives

RETURNING TO NORMAL

1/30/2014

Well, actually “looking for normal” would probably be more accurate. When I began this blog last fall I had no clue where it would lead or how many changes would happen in just a few short months.

In the past two weeks alone I’ve acquired shop space at Seneca Cannery Antiques and, most importantly, my Hero and I were married this past Saturday! Such bliss. Life is crazy busy and I have so many things I want to share with you. In addition to unpacking and sorting out all the wedding things (we hosted the wedding ourselves – three hours from home!)

I will have more on the wedding and how we pulled it all together later. (And that is my beautiful daughter-in-law, Sara, who performed the ceremony.)

We are very busy looking for stock for the shop (and cleaning/painting said stock, developing inventory logs, sales tags, …) Love the hunting and gathering. It is such fun to find things that I hope others will love as much as I do.

And we (and I am using the Royal “we” here) are in process of transitioning this blog from its current host site to a site that will provide much better functionality and support. The thing that has worried me the most, and ultimately forced this transition, was how the comments were not posting live and I had no way to respond to them, and there does not seem to be a way to resolve the problem - very frustrating. Obviously, my Hero is the one doing all the blog IT support and he is doing a great job of it considering the blog world is a fairly new field for him, technical guru that he is in many other areas. He is working on transferring everything over so nothing will be lost, but it is a time consuming process and moving the photos takes the most time of all. So until we get everything moved and the new site up and running, I’m going to use a few less photos and a few more words just to speed up the process.

Today I found several great items for the shop and tomorrow will begin work to ready them for sale.

This weekend we are hoping to find some display units at Second Chance in Baltimore and actually begin setting up our little shop. So very exciting!

It’s a bit like our own “White Box Challenge” and I do have a vision in my head of what to do with these 7x17 square feet of possibilities.

Now, where do I begin…

HUGS!

Cindy

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CATCHING MY BREATH

1/20/2014

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I've been working on an upcoming event for a while now. Lots of gathering and DIY-ing, lots of list making, lots of phone calls, texts and emails flying back and forth between a bunch of us. Lots of building excitement, nerves, what-iffing, and some very exuberant butterflies dancing around my insides.

And it's getting close, this coming weekend to be exact.

There is a little chapel, on a hill, tucked under a canopy of beautiful old trees, and that is where my Hero and I will marry on Saturday. At long last.

We met on a summer morning when my Hero and his brother knocked on the door of my family's cabin wanting to know if my brother and I could come out and play. I think we were around ten years old. It's a long story, and we will share it at a not too distant time. For now, we are pretty focused on the moment.

So, please forgive me if I don't post again for a few days. When we've had a chance to catch our breath, and things get back to normal, or as close as we get to normal around here, I will have a number of ideas and fun things that I can't wait to share with you about our DIY wedding.

For now, I'd better get back to the baking and packing, and if I can just find that butterfly net....

HUGS!

Cindy

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CINNAMON VANILLA GRANOLA YUMMINESS

1/15/2014

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I don’t remember where I found the recipe that was the jumping off point for this granola mix. Suffice it to say that it was one of those very basic one-is-just-like-the-next kind of recipes - oats, honey, nuts.....the perfect kind of recipe to make your own.

It took a little trial and error, and a bit of munching, to figure out our favorite version. So have fun experimenting to develop your own signature recipe.

Cast of Characters:

3 cups Old Fashioned Oats (not the quick kind)
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon coarse Sea / Kosher salt
1/3 cup canola oil
1/2 cup honey
1 tablespoon (yes, Tablespoon) vanilla extract
1 cup each chopped walnuts and sliced almonds
1 cup dried cranberries

Preheat Oven to 300 degrees

I found it works well to layer the oats topped with the brown sugar then sprinkled with the cinnamon and salt. That way the brown sugar helps to hold the cinnamon and salt in place so they don’t sift down to the bottom of the bowl. Do not stir - yet.

Note: You can adjust the amount of sweetness and how dry the baked mix is with the brown sugar; level spoonfuls for drier, less sweet and mounded for moist with more sweetness.

Next, whisk together the oil, honey and vanilla.

My mom gave me this cute little whisk years ago. He usually doesn't look this angry though, it must be because I tipped him over on his side.

Pour the liquids over the dry and stir just until combined.

Spread the mix out in a thin layer on a large ungreased rimmed cookie sheet pan. Do not pat it down; you want the mixture to be sort of loose so that it toasts nice and evenly.

Bake for 8 minutes

Remove from the oven and stir the granola well, then gently spread it out again. Sprinkle nuts evenly over the top and return to the oven.

Bake for 4 minutes

Repeat the process stirring in the nuts, then layer with the cranberries.

Bake for 4 minutes

As soon as you take the granola out of the oven, press it down if you want it to stick together a bit. Then let set for about 10 minutes, but not too long; it’s much easier to remove if you don’t let it cool completely. And, if you don’t have one of these dough scoops they are great, I use mine for all kinds of things.

It makes a great little gift.

And it makes a bunch, about 6-8 cups worth depending on what you add in. Speaking of add-ins, it is so easy to change this up however you want. Holidays? Add some clove and ginger with the cinnamon. Chocolate lover? Toss in a handful of your favorite chips with the cranberries. Don’t like nuts, don’t add them. Or change out the walnut and almonds for pecan and pistachios. Ditto for the cranberries and whatever dried fruit you crave. The possibilities are almost endless.

Enjoy!

Cindy

Oh, P.S.: It seems weird because obviously this stuff isn’t low cal, but I’ve actually lost weight using this as my go-to snack. Plus it keeps my energy level up. What’s not to love?

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My First Attempt with MMSMP

1/6/2014

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MMSMP = Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint ààà Love It!

Over the years I've painted, stripped and refinished my share of furniture, so I am not new to the process. But until a few months ago I honestly thought milk paint was an old fashioned finish you might sometimes find on old wood and antiques. Then I arrived at THAT moment a few months ago when a simple search for paint became a seriously major Ah-Ha! moment. I found Miss Mustard Seed's Blog http://missmustardseed.com/, and her milk paint, and I was hooked on both.

I have a real problem when starting something new - fear of failing. So for the past several weeks I've done a magnificent job of procrastination; just watch one more tutorial, look for one more post on color … on waxes … on brushes … on you name it I needed to research it, until yesterday.

I purchased this old blanket chest at a junk shop years ago for my son, Nick, for his first apartment. We both loved it, so made a pack that whenever one of us didn’t have a use for it the other had first dibs and, for now, it is happily living with my Hero and me.

I thought it would make a good test project, and I thought our dark little blanket chest just might look beautiful in Tricycle red.

Think I was right? Nick?
The color in person is actually a bit darker, a little more bright cranberry. Or maybe closer to the color of an old fashioned tricycle....

The paint didn't chip or flake as much as I anticipated because I didn't do anything to prepare the surface except dust. Maybe if I'd left the dust....

The whole surface of the chest is completely flat, so sanding with 220 grit sandpaper did bring out the wood grain, and I liked the timeworn character that the sanding gave it.

When the chest was dark brown the corner joints didn't show up. Now they are a beautiful detail.

I tried to make it look as though the finish had worn naturally, but obviously need more practice. In hindsight, when sanding I think it would be good to step back more often, or even walk away for a few minutes, to get a fresh perspective. At least until I develop a better eye for it.

Which brings me to another of my known problems - once I finally build up the courage to start a project I tend to get wrapped up in it and just steamroll right on through. Not always a good thing.

Courage and patience, courage and patience, courage an......

Working with Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint was great. All that prepping procrastination did pay off in that I had a better sense of what to expect, and it was interesting to see and work with the process first hand.

Having no idea how much paint it would take I mixed 1 tablespoon each, water and milk paint powder to get a gauge, and it was enough to cover almost half of the back panel. All together I think it only took 5 or 6 tablespoons of powder to cover the entire 46x23x23 chest with one coat. That really surprised me; I thought it would take much more. Dry time was less than a half hour – amazing. A light sanding smoothed the finish down beautifully. Keep in mind that the finish at this point is still rather dull and chalky looking in an old worn but pretty way.

I decided to use the furniture wax for a hand rubbed finish; 2 coats on the sides and 3 on the top to give it a little more protection, plus it gives the piece a lovely soft sheen. The wax has the texture of soft butter and goes on just that smoothly. On this day I found it took about 10 minutes to dry enough to buff between each application and each coat made the color deeper and richer. I am glad that I used a dark paint color for my first attempt because it made it very easy to see the differences each step made along the way.

P.S. Did you notice the red thumbprint on the front of the container? Well, I completely forgot about reading that when milk paint is sanded it makes a very fine almost invisible power – THAT GETS INTO EVERYTHING. Just so you know (winking!).

So that was my first attempt at working with Miss Mustard Seed Milk paint, and I do really love it. The paint is simple and quick to use and I can't wait to develop some skills with different finishes.

For now, Jasper is glad to be back his favorite spot, and we think he looks even more dashing set atop a Tricycle red chest.

Now, what else can I paint........

HUGS!

Cindy

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Winter Wonderland

1/4/2014

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The snow started falling around 4 PM, not the rain they were calling for that was supposed to turn to snow later in the evening. And it began sticking immediately - not one flake that I watched melted away. By the time the sun rose into a clear blue sky our yard and neighborhood were transformed into a winter wonderland.

The air was so cold that what little snow melted in the direct sunlight froze again mid-drip forming long chains of ice sickles that fringed the eaves.

Transforming a neighbor’s home into a gingerbread cottage.

My Hero got his exercise clearing paths and walkways….

While Willow impatiently reminded him that she would much rather be playing ball.

Bird House Party!!!!

Fun and funky in summer, I really love the way our “flower bed” looks with its blankets of white.

Time to go….

Willow is waiting….

Stay snuggly warm and safe.

HUGS!

Cindy

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PROJECTS, PLANS & SHOP PREP for 2014

1/1/2014

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Yesterday I mentioned that sometime in the coming year we plan to open a shop in Seneca Cannery Antiques, Harve de Grace, Maryland. It’s both scary and exhilarating and probably a very good thing that I have no idea exactly what I am getting into. Now, I have to fill it – that is where the scary exhilaration comes in.

I’m certain that it comes as no surprise that our home is filled with things that have shop potential (I can almost see you looking around your home thinking the exact same thing ;). Some of it has sentimental value and will not be budging, but we have been gathering for a while now just picking up things we like and to be honest our little nest is getting a bit stuffed. So, here are some photos of things I’m thinking about fitting the shop out with. Oh, one of establishments no-no’s is that we cannot publicize a listing/photo of what is for sale (there are dozens and dozens of vendors spread out over two floors, so when someone walks up to the desk saying, “I want that …in the online photo”…well, you can just imagine) so this is only a potential shop related pre-view, okay? Though if you see something that interests you, please contact me directly.

This is a beautiful old piece, but really dark and brooding. I thought at first that the drawer fronts had burled wood inlays, but some scrapped areas showed that it is actually some truly beautiful painting done to resemble wood. I want to paint the piece a lighter color to bring out its details, but need to figure out how to handle the drawers. Any ideas?

This is a truly old (and very heavy) metal table and chair. One chair is long gone, so if they sell as a set that's fine, but I'm also willing to sell them separately.

I've had these cranberry dishes for eons, and really like them, but they don't work with our new colors and it's a really nice excuse to sell these and start something new. Plus I need to build up more inventory in ironstone and other goodies that I know a lot of people are looking for.

A big part of what I hope to bring to the shop is painted furniture using primarily Miss Mustard Seed milk paint. Which brings me to what my Hero surprised me with a couple of weeks ago…

I kept going back and forth trying to decide which color to order, so he got samples of ALL of them. Wonderful, isn’t he?

We live about an hour from the closest MMS milk paint supplier, Vintage Bliss Boutique in Ellicott City, Maryland, and we popped down there just before Christmas to pick up a few things to get me started.

Problem was, it was “just before Christmas” and now I had everything I needed except TIME! Needless to say, Christmas got put away a bit early this year and tomorrow I hope to take on my first project.

First, this is not for the shop, at least not for now. I love this blanket chest and it provides a huge amount of desperately needed storage so it’s a great piece for practicing on. Besides, my son, Nick, and I have an agreement that if either one of us does not have a place for it the other one wants it. So far it’s changed hands three times.

So, I’m probably going to be posting a lot about the shop prep, and learning how to work with milk paint and all the craziness the New Year is probably going to bring. It is all very exciting.

And before I forget, Happy New Year to you all!!!

I hope 2014 brings health and joy to you and your family.

HUGS!

Cindy

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Welcome!

I’m Cindy, thank you so much for visiting The Quirky Nest.

The Quirky Nest derives its name from our Realtor's query, "What are you looking for in a home?" to which my Hero responded, "Something quirky, no cookie cutter houses." And so this little house became ours. The fact that it came with no less than five birdhouses plus one vine-wrapped bird condo kinda underscores the whole nest thing

We share our home with one large Chesapeake Bay Retriever named Willow, and two kitty boys named Finneus and Barley. AKA, the kids.

I'm a recently transplanted Southerner. We're not really all that far north of the Mason Dixon Line, but there are moments when I feel a strong kindred spirit with Dorothy.

I'm the mom of three grown sons and the grand-momma of two beautiful granddaughters. Two fabulous daughters-in-law are an added bonus.

I qualify for most, but not quite all, senior discounts. It’s sort of a blessing with a curse.

I'm a hunter-gatherer. Antique shops, flea markets, dusty old junk shops and architectural salvage yards are my perfect playgrounds. Finding that unexpected something that I didn't know I was looking for makes me absolutely giddy.

But mostly, I find my greatest joy in helping others, nurturing my family, creating a warm inviting home, and adding a little of my history to the things I touch.

My Hero and I have a very long list of projects that we are undertaking around our home. Old houses, with their lath and plaster walls and less than level or straight anything, bring a whole different set of issues to the table and I can’t wait to share our challenges and solutions with you.

In 2020 our little house will be a century old. We, my Hero and I, are working hard to make sure she is ready for the next 100 years and would love for you to join us on the adventure.

Joy to all!

Cindy

RETURNING TO NORMAL

CATCHING MY BREATH

CINNAMON VANILLA GRANOLA YUMMINESS

My First Attempt with MMSMP

Winter Wonderland

PROJECTS, PLANS & SHOP PREP for 2014

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