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Saturday, September 18, 2010

i collect vol. 5: small clocks

***
 This is a stale post.  Don't you smell the stank?
For fresh ideas and the newest new new stuff 
why don't you head on over to the blog we actually update.

Love to see you there.
Carry on as you were.

***  

One of my favorite,
fastest growing
collections
is small clocks
and vintage alarm clocks

none of them are set
(because, that would be too practical)
but they all work

functional dysfunction
gotta love it.





As always
all photos (c) b3 home designs

Friday, September 17, 2010

Fall House Prep | Him

***
 This is a stale post.  Don't you smell the stank?
For fresh ideas and the newest new new stuff 
why don't you head on over to the blog we actually update.

Love to see you there.
Carry on as you were.

***  

I am a fairly independent woman.

Okay.

Who am I kidding.
I have a garage full of power tools
that I say thanks and no thanks to.

but this dude
he loves him some power

especially when it comes to fall house prep.
Scrubbing down the outters
and taming up the lawn

if it has a motor,
he'll get it done.

Happy seasonal shift to you all!

power washing the deck
photo (c) b3 home designs


mowing/mulching down the lawn for reseeding
photo (c) b3 home designs

What "around the house" chores
do you enjoy delegating out to others?


Thursday, September 16, 2010

Two Summers, One Fall: Growing Pains

***
 This is a stale post.  Don't you smell the stank?
For fresh ideas and the newest new new stuff 
why don't you head on over to the blog we actually update.

Love to see you there.
Carry on as you were.

***  

When we first moved in here
a year ago
we moved into a place with
lush views
so long as you didn't
gaze into our immediate back yard


and so long as you didn't gaze
upon our side yard


and definitely, you should not look over
to the 8th hole
from our yard


But I actually have a pretty sizeable
green thumb
I stick it in the ground
and it usually grows
no matter how hard
I try to kill it


I'll need to post another photo
of what that side garden
looks like in the fall
after the deer have nibbled on it some

live and learn
What I did learn is that most of my yard/garden
is a fall garden
as evidenced by the gorgeousness
in my yard right now
the above photo, is one of the rare species in my yard
that DID flower this summer
I love basil like no other
and was super happy to learn that
basil loves my kitchen window sill

Those peppers. 
they were bought about 19 bazillion years ago
on clearance
in the orgo section
I've cared for them lovingly
and that is probably why they have said
thanks, but no thanks.
That, or, a little bit of research
to understand that peppers
are long season plants
and this impatient gardener
needs to simmer down already
(FYI, i FINALLY saw baby peppers on the vines)


Here's to fall harvest time
and planting and plotting for spring
which will be here just as quickly
as fall snuck up on us

Happy harvest season!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Instant Art Collection: Free use photos

***
 This is a stale post.  Don't you smell the stank?
For fresh ideas and the newest new new stuff 
why don't you head on over to the blog we actually update.

Love to see you there.
Carry on as you were.

***  

I LOVE taking pictures
of everyday stuff

Feel free to download/copy + save
any of the photos in this post
Frame them up
(yes, I'm that full of myself)
and call it art.

Show me how you use it and I'll do a follow up feature
Enjoy the seasons change!

Campus side Fall
Seattle University
photo by b.merikle

Two craggly guards
Palm Springs, CA
Photo by b. merikle

Stuck between a rock and a soft place
Mt. Rainier Wonderland Trail
photo by b. merikle

Desert Camouflage
New Mexico i10 Rest Stop
photo by b. merikle

In Rainier's Shadow
Flight photo of Mt. Rainier w/Mt. St. Helen's in background
photo by b. merikle

Tulips Awash
La Conner, WA Tulip Festival
photo by b. merikle

Sunshine Market Day
Pike Place Market, Seattle
photo by b.merikle

Lonely Sunset
Cannon Beach, OR
Photo by b.merikle

Going Down
Cannon Beach, OR
photo by b.merikle

Enjoy!

If you need larger resolution, and are patient
send me an email
(via the contact page - in the upper left menu of the blog)

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Best estate sale ever

***
 This is a stale post.  Don't you smell the stank?
For fresh ideas and the newest new new stuff 
why don't you head on over to the blog we actually update.

Love to see you there.
Carry on as you were.

***  

Usually, when I think of estate sales
I think sadness
Some one passing
who has collected their whole lives
and there is no one left
who would love on what they have
for free

Enter estate sales
and the vultures
(like me)
who will pay no where near
what the person valued their treasures at
just so that it can be taken away
hopefully
to another loving home
to start a collection anew

When I came across a Craigslist ad
that was a tiny bit false advertising
because they said everything was 90% off
and the title was like "Free Stuff, come get it"
I got over the tiny bit of dissapointment
as I took some time to scan through
the stuff

Inside the house, only a couple of gets.
But outside in the yard...
THAT was where the action was at.
Check out my great gets
from the great
"Moving to Florida, Young Folks Estate Sale"
in Issaquah this past July.

African Ceremonies Cloth Bound dual set
great estate sale 2010
$15 for the set

This was the best find of my life. 
And I almost left it behind
Thank goodness for that false advertising ad
on Craigslist
so that I could email them and beg them to hold them for me.

That dual set is awesome. 
Beyond awesome
Best bookset I ever bought
They are a coffee table set
of VIVID photographs
of African Ceremonies.
Just GORGEOUS photography.

We haggled for a good hour on those.
She wanted $30.
I wanted to give her $30
(aka, my lunch money for the week)
for EVERYTHING
on my pile

Which was a lot.
She finally agreed to do it all
for $35

I left her $7 and went to get my cash
Came back
loaded up the car
and took everything
EXCEPT for the books.

Got all the way home that night
Unpacked everything
(thank GOODNESS since I usually
leave it all in the car
for weeks on end)

Truly broke into tears
when I didn't see the books

Went online, searched for the sale
sent them a message
Loved the fact that in the PNW
everyone is friendly enough
to tell you their name
especially if you spend 2 hours
in their front yard
and put out a personal plea for the books

Thought she had a change of heart and pulled them back
Come to find out I was just forgetful
(what else is new)
and left them by the door

AND they got back to me super quick.
I can only hope to be that organized
(and still connected to the internet)
day before the next time I make a move.

Just a mere peek at the rest of the awesome
I picked up at that sale

Wood ladder | great estate 2010 sale
free (!)

Sears Vintage Orange Ten Key
great estate 2010 sale
free (!)
Hacks Lemon Drops and Barnum's Animal Crackers
Vintage tins
great estate 2010 sale | $3.00 for set

As always, all photos (c) b3 home designs.


Nothing but awesome vintageness.
Lots more that I got from this sale
that isn't pictured here
including fantastic shutters
the BEST little yellow waste bin
for my scrap room redo
some glass goods
some linen goods
and various other odds and ends

It was a two loader
(well, three if you count having to go back for the books)

Awesomeness and I wish my mom was here
in Seattle
so that she could go thrifting with me
She has a GREAT eye for this stuff

Now that we're all gainfully employed again
maybe we can get that world domination plan
back on track.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Freecycle Get of the Week

***
 This is a stale post.  Don't you smell the stank?
For fresh ideas and the newest new new stuff 
why don't you head on over to the blog we actually update.

Love to see you there.
Carry on as you were.

***  

Don't think I should be running out of paint
gloss, or finishes this year.

I love Freecycle. 
Free stuff
And lots of it.

My latest fave find
(aside from the table in the background)
was all this painterly goodness

All photos (c) b3 home designs




What have you found on someone's porch or in their driveway
for free lately?

Sunday, September 12, 2010

i collect vol. 4: Vintage Board Games | Pieces

***
 This is a stale post.  Don't you smell the stank?
For fresh ideas and the newest new new stuff 
why don't you head on over to the blog we actually update.

Love to see you there.
Carry on as you were.

***  
 
i collect vintage board games
but primarily just so that I can have their pieces
and score keeping pads
and colorful cards

I love vintage paper goods.

All photos (c) b3 home designs.







What is it that you collect?