In a World of Glass

Due to the weather as of late, where I live has been transformed into an icy dream~ While it can be a bit treacherous to travel in and can cause some damage, it's beautiful if you look at it the right way. Everything is encased in class, sparkles in the sunlight, and shines no matter which way you look at it.

The birds are all floating around the feeders. They're skating, actually. It's pretty adorable.

Admittedly, it's a wee bit chilly. Luna wouldn't have any of it. We're going to stay inside and drink homemade lavender tea instead, and watch out the window of our ice palace. She, of course, likes birds too. More so than I, really. I wonder why! :)

Revamping Some Garden Decor!

I'm so happy it feels like Spring! I'm so excited for flowers, rich green grass, and all the wonderful and unique plants that come along with it. While I can't force any pretty colours to pop out of the ground (especially this early on), I can still prepare for when I meet them, by making my own! So today, I've chosen to revamp an old garden piece that's looking a little weary.

So, here is the subject, fresh out of the garden where it slept all winter (oops).
As you can see, it's pretty faded and need a little scrub. However, it does have a couple cute turtles on it. I've had this garden decor/flower pot holder for a couple years now, but I can't remember exactly where I got it. There are two possibilities that stick out in my mind: 1.) I grabbed it off the side of the road in a nearby subdivision whilst on a Summer walk (if you ever need flower pots/boxes, I advise taking a look during gardening season), or 2.) I got it at the second-hand store! Either way, garbage dump averted! It's had a home in my yard ever since, however I want to make it a little more personal. I already have a couple pink/purple glittery mushroom stakes in my wee flower bed (of which I added my own touch to also), so I think it's time for a makeover on this baby, too.

So, after a wash in the laundry tub, we're already looking a little shinier. No surprise there I suppose!

One thing I found sort've interesting, here. This piece is from 1997! Almost twenty years old! 

Now, down to business.. Supplies!

I'm using acrylic paints (just the general selection from my stash), and a few cheap brushes, as there's no sense in damaging nice brushes on an outdoor piece. I especially favour a small size of sponge brush as it covers a fair amount of surface matter quickly, and still has the ability to get into the nooks & crannies. Naturally, I also have water to rinse things, an old wash cloth to dab on, and newspapers to protect the area... oh, and some awesome space drum music to inspire me!

So I spend a couple hours just working on this, made some peppermint tea, and just enjoyed the process... Miss Luna wanted to help, too.

Without further ado, here is the finished product!

Yay! There's nothing like customizing something with your personal style. I think all I have left to do is apply some lacquer on it to make it water/outdoor-proof. I worry about all the chemicals and stuff, but it's worth remembering that making an entirely new product from unused resources is worse. Through refinishing, upcycling, and diy, we conserve those resources! Reuse, reinvent! Use your fairy-wonderful imagination! xo

Come hither, Spring

After yesterday's rain, the snow has nearly disappeared. As much as I love snow, I'm ready to get out of the Winter funk and move onto the freshness of Spring~ Today is definitely that: fresh. That's inspiring for me.

My cat, Luna, was even feeling mildly photogenic, which is a rarity. That goes for me, too. It's definitely been awhile since I've had gotten nice pictures of myself. Here's hoping that changes, 'cause overall, it's an enjoyable experience.

As you can see, I'm donning a faded floral print dress, knit top (it has wee bell sleeves -- very cute), some knee high socks 'cause it's still a bit chilly, and my motorcycle boots. I like those boots, I've had them a couple years, but I really dislike that they've got leather. These will be the last pair of real leather boots I own, since I pursue a vegan diet, and would like to further my efforts to get away from animal products, especially fur and leather. I don't own any fur (unless you consider my wool scarf to be fur??), but I've got a couple leather products. My Rudsak winter coat (not pictured here) has some leather trimmings and such. I adore that coat and I'm not ready to part with it, but when the time comes, I'll be looking into some alternative options for quality Winter gear. As a Canadian, it's a must to have a good coat and pair of boots.

Further, I've got a pretty bare face (apart from some mascara and lip balm). I need to work on being comfortable in my own skin, so here we are.

This afternoon I'm going to be hitting the thrift store, on a bit of a treasure hunt. What a charming way to spend the rest of the day~ Who knows what trouble I'll get into this evening, though.

Until later,
xo