Gizmo Tech Support

  • Subscribe to our RSS feed.
  • Twitter
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Facebook
  • Digg

Thursday, 13 June 2013

Antiques for Kitchen Storage

Posted on 13:04 by Unknown
I have the answer to my mystery that I'll share at the end of this post!!!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
But right now.....
I want to continue with showing off Connie's Vermont kitchen.
To refresh your memory.....
this is her kitchen.....
Traditional Home Magazine 2004
I don't like to line all the walls in a kitchen with cabinets.
If the room is large enough I like to use antiques as well.
It makes the room look more interesting than wall to wall built-ins.
Connie and I found an absolutely stunning sideboard that we just had to have.
I designed the kitchen around it, making sure there was room for it.
Les Brown, the architect I work with, wanted to do something different, but Connie and I took over.
A man that doesn't cook, has no right designing kitchens, so there..... 
The sideboard sits on the other side of the island from the main cabinets in the room.
You can just see it in this picture to the right.....
It's a Sheraton style piece from the middle of the 19th century.

We collected stuff to put on the top.....
Some Rosewood pottery as well as some yellow vases from the 1940's.

According to ebay's info page on Roseville.....

The American Art Pottery movement began in the late 1800s and produced some of the finest examples of ceramics. Roseville Pottery is American Art Pottery, representing the most widely known and most collectible art pottery ever produced till date. Founded by George F. Young in 1892, at Zanesville, Ohio, the company's first products were marketed under the names 'Rozane' or 'Rozane Ware'. Roseville started off with the production of flower pots, stoneware, cuspidors, and limited painted ware. They mostly produced highly glossed browns and blues, with hand painted animals, Red Indians, nature scenes, and portraits. 'Rosecraft', launched by Rozane Ware in the early 1920s, is termed the forerunner of the unique style of the Roseville line. Some of the all-time popular Roseville Pottery pieces were Dahlrose, Rosecraft, Ferella, Sunflower, Blackberry, Cherry Blossom, and Wisteria. Most of the best articles produced by Roseville Pottery were during 1920-1930. Some of the most popular lines produced by Roseville Pottery include Ixia, Thorn Apple, Luffa, Moss, Magnolia, Peony, Cosmos, White Rose, and Gardenia. Futura was one of Roseville's most sought after lines. Produced in 1928, it had an asymmetrical and stark look. Roseville produced a line of modernistic dinnerware called 'Raymor' in 1952. This was the company's last effort to compete with the age of plastic, foreign import, and changing selling techniques. Plant facilities were upgraded with high speed automatic equipment to produce the modernistic line, which, unfortunately, was not accepted by buyers. Roseville eventually closed down in 1954. In present times, Roseville Imitation pottery has become very highly collectible pottery. It is often used by many decorators to enhance modern decor.

Who knew that ebay had info pages?????
I found it when I did a google search.
WHAT A GREAT IDEA!!!!!
Now, when you buy #$% online in an auction.....
you knows whats you doin'!!!!!

I found some majolica plates for the walls in colors that worked with the paper.
Once again I have a blurry image from blowing something up.
Well....
better to blow up a picture than a building.
That's Betsy's philosophy #521.
I really like the way all the pottery works together, even though it's all different types.
That's it for today for Connie's kitchen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now back to the mystery!!!!!
Wednesday evening I got a phone call from my parent's next door neighbor, informing me that the recycling bins had magically reappeared in the garages!!!!!
She thought that Tyler, the property manager, had found them and placed them back where they belonged.
Sooooo.....
The next morning, first thing, I called him to ask where he had found them!!!!
Whereupon....he replied.....
That he had no idea what I was talkin' about!
He hadn't found them!
He hadn't returned them!
He hadn't touched them!
THE MYSTERY CONTINUED!!!!!
Well.....
I have a faithful following.
I knew you guys would need to know where they had been
 and how the @#$ had they come back????!!!!
Sooooo
I started sleuthing.
I thought.
I ruminated.
I puzzled.
I gazed into the distance.
AND THEN I SPRANG INTO ACTION!!!!!
I wondered if my neighbor Bud had somehow been involved.......
He is the most proactive when it comes to returning the bins.
He's also a man.
Men can be forgetful.
Absent minded.
Distracted.
Sooooo.....
I walked all the way across the driveway and rang their doorbell.
His lovely wife Shirley sweetly answered the door.
I gave her my best piercing detective glare and asked in my best 
just the facts ma'am voice.....
"Do you have any knowledge of the alleged lost bins and their return???"
Now,
 I'm sad to say, 
the women didn't exactly tremble at my authoritative query.
She actually had to nerve to chuckle.

Bud had driven down the driveway on his way out,
 put all the bins in the back of his car (to later put away), 
and then left for the day.
Now, 
(Since I know he's going to read this.....)
I would just like to point out, that he's very thoughtful for doing this in the first place.
I would also like to note that he had a lot on his mind that day.
But I had to share with the class that the mystery was solved!!!!!
I would like to thank Bud for all he does for us.
I would also like to thank him for giving me fodder for my blog.
On that note.....
Latah, Gatah
Photobucket
Read More
Posted in | No comments

Tuesday, 11 June 2013

A Mystery at Betsy's House!!!!!!!

Posted on 11:56 by Unknown
Something strange happened at my home today!!!!!
Now, most stories that have mysteries, have a conclusion with the answer in it.
NOT THIS ONE!!!!!
I live in a little cul-de-sac. There are 5 units on the cul-de-sac.
We all recycle.
We are good folks.
We have blue bins and yellow bins.
We usually just put out our blue bins because that's just what we do.
(Actually, my parents don't have a yellow bin.)
(They only have a blue one.)
(They are just squeaking by.)
(They like to live simply.)
We tend to watch out for each other,
 and the first one down the driveway after the garbage guys pick up the stuff.
 generally puts the bins back in our garages.
Sooooooo.......
Today, when I didn't see the blue bins at the bottom of the driveway, 
I didn't think any thing about it.....
I figured one of my wonderful neighbors had already put them away.
Sooooooo.......
When I went to dump some new paper and plastic in my parents bin.....
and I didn't see their blue bin.....
I was very confused!!!!!
I started scurrying around, looking in all the garages for my folks blue bin!!!!
THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED.....
ALL THE BLUE BINS WERE MISSING!!!!!!!!
No one knows where they went.
They have disappeared.
Gone.
Vanished.
I looked on thesaurus.com and this is what it had:
Missing, off-track
absent, adrift, astray, disappeared, down the drain, fallen between the cracks, gone, hidden, invisible, irretrievable, kiss goodbye, minus, mislaid, misplaced, nowhere to be found, out the window, vanished, wayward, without.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sooooooo.......
I don't have an ending to this story.
I called the property manager, and he doesn't have a clue.
Who the hell would take our bins?????

AND NOW.....
This computer is acting up.....
The words won't stay centered on the page.
(See how they're slightly to the left, this is driving me nuts.)
OY VEY.
I was going to write more about Connie's kitchen, but I just had to share about our recycling bins.

Now tell me the truth.
Are you jealous that my life is so exciting?????
Admit it,
you are,
you know you are.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On another note.....
Yesterday,
 my newest niece 
(she just married my nephew Dan)
 came to my house for the first time.
Now this was slightly unnerving because she is also Martha Stewart's niece.
Can you imagine the comparison?????
When I am in the middle of one of my creative spurts, 
there tends to be #$% all over my house.
By my front door, just what you see when you enter my home,
is a whole pile of stuff for my niece Miriam.
I have her drapery rods and a lamp and lampshade and a box of toss pillow forms.
All crammed in by the front door, waiting to go to Miriam's house.
I'm sure my new niece Sophie's other aunt is much neater.
However.....
she won my heart, when she looked at my bedroom, and commented on how.....
(wait for it......)
NEAT MY ROOM WAS!!!!!

So, 
I now have a new member of my family who appears to be really nice.
She even tried to laugh at my jokes.
She's also not bad to look at!!!!!

Not to play favorites, but my other niece, Julia, just got married too.
TO A NICE DOCTOR!!!!!
OY!
He's also very handsome.
And I'm not just saying that 'cuz he's now related to me.

On my next blog post, I promise to go back to decorating, but sometimes life just gets in the way of toss pillows, ya know?????

On that note,
Latah, Gatah
Photobucket
Read More
Posted in | No comments

Sunday, 9 June 2013

More of The Most Popular Kitchen in the World*

Posted on 17:04 by Unknown
*according to Betsy

Ho Kay Kampers.....
I'm back from my family reunion celebrating my parents 70th anniversary.
I am the youngest of 5 children, 
so with my inlaws and my nieces and nephews,
 there was a @#$ load of people at my brothers.
but.....
I'm not going to bore you with the details, 'cuz I am nice like that!!!!!

Let's continue with Connie's Vermont kitchen.
To refresh your failing memory.....
this is where we left off.....
Traditional Home Magazine 2004
I designed the cabinetry and the island.
Most stock cabinets have a wider board between the drawers and doors.
I like just a narrow piece of wood, 1 or 1.5" inches.
This way, I can stuff in more drawers in a stack.
Most stock cabinets will only do a couple of small drawers, and then a deeper one.
In the picture above, you can see that I was able to install cabinets with two silverware deep drawers, and then two more in varying depths, that hold pots and plates.
The plate drawers have vertical dowels to keep the stacks from falling over.
I didn't take a picture of it, so here's one I stole off the internet.....
Home Workshop.com
Remember.....
I did this over 10 years ago.....
I am very cool!!!!!
At least I think I did this in the plate drawers in Vermont.....
I know it was done for Connie's Florida home.....
(I can't remember.....)
OY!!!!!
Anyway, it's a good idea.

We chose beadboard for the backsplash, so had to come up with something flame proof for behind the stove.
I decided to keep it simple, and use stainless steel. I don't like having a million different materials in a kitchen.
There's so much other stuff going on, that I need to show some restraint 
somewhere!!!!!
I designed the island to look like the ends were shelving units.
Traditional Home Magazine 2004
Then I had it painted with the yellow detailing that picked up the color of the cabinets.
I like it when the island is a different color than the main cabinets in a kitchen.

There is a small prep sink in the island next to the dishwasher.
This way, Chris can be cleaning up while Connie is working her culinary magic.
It allows him to be somewhat out of the way.....
At least.....
that's the way it was supposed to work.
Who knows if it does.....
I'm afraid to ask.....
Over the island I had  two pendant lights hung with custom paper basket weave lamp shades that were made at Blanche P. Field in the Boston Design Center.
They have diffusers on the bottom for a softer, less glaring light.
Ain't they pretty?????

For the window valance, I designed a simple shape that has little pinch pleats tied to rings screwed into the ceiling.
Actually.....
the rings are drop pulls for furniture drawers that I found, 
and I had the installer use a double headed screw to stick them into the ceiling.
I am very, very, very clever!!!!! 
Like the blurry picture?????
This is what happens when you don't go back up to reshoot a job,
 so you have to blow up pictures you already have, 
and they get really really really blurry.
I am a professional blogger!!!!!
I make money at this!!!!!
At least 100 smackers a month!!!!!

Well now I have gotten you all over excited and hepped up.
Soooooo I better end here, soooooo you can calm down.....


On that note....
Latah, Gatah
Photobucket
Read More
Posted in | No comments

Friday, 7 June 2013

The Most Popular Yellow Kitchen in the World*

Posted on 11:11 by Unknown
*According to Betsy

As promised....
Here's Connie and Chris's Vermont Kitchen
Traditional Home Magazine 2004
When Chris and Connie bought their home in Vermont,
the kitchen was just a small room in the back.
There were lots of small rooms in the back.
And....lots of hallways.
Sooooo.....
Les Brown (the architect with whom I collaborated) reworked the whole back into the kitchen, a den and a back entry.
I wish I had before shots, because it is an amazing transformation.
But I didn't have my digital camera back then.
I don't even know if they had been invented yet.
 
Traditional Home Magazine 2004
Connie didn't want wall cabinets, so the storage for all her plates and pots was in the drawers.
Then I drew the shelving unit for next to the stove and had it built.
I found a wonderful yellow and white damask pattern wallpaper
 (don't ask me the manufacturer, I can't remember.....)
and I matched the yellow of the  pattern to the paint for the cabinets.
We were able to fit in a wine fridge, a trash compacter, a dishwasher and a regular fridge, along with the range, so Connie got all the modern conveniences in her country kitchen.
I continued the use of wide plank pine floors into the space, loving the way the golden tone worked with the yellow.
We hunted for the whitest granite we could find, and paired it with a cherry countertop for the island.
The amazing thing about Connie, is that she is one of the few clients I worked for
 that wanted a big kitchen, and actually uses it.
The woman loves to cook.
And she ain't bad at it.
Over the next few posts, I will delve into greater detail and show more of what I did.
Today I am in the middle of a family reunion.
We are celebrating my parents (wait for it.....) 70th anniversary!!!!!
They've been married longer than I've been alive!!!!!
I pointed that out to my big brother, and he laughed at me.
So, I hope everyone has a great weekend.
It's going to rain.
Sheesh.

On that note....
Latah, Gatah
Photobucket
Read More
Posted in | No comments

Wednesday, 5 June 2013

Betsy's Rant Number 768

Posted on 07:04 by Unknown
Soooooooo.....
This morning I woke up in a really good mood.
The weather was spectacular.
A little cool.
Dry.
Sunny.
Perfect for a walk before breakfast!!!!
Sooooooo.....
I start out feeling good about myself.
Getting a jump on my exercise.
Loving the world, I tell ya.

First up, I pass the landscapers having their morning snack.
I live on a large piece of land, more like an estate.
I convince myself I am Lady of the Manor.
Pay no attention to the other 99 condo owners who live here too.
They are only here by my sufferance.
I am SHE WHO RULES IT ALL!!!!!
Soooooo.....
I continue around the pond.
(Our My condos are situated around several ponds, one of them is the main one we all walk around.)
As I am walking, I am enjoying all the wild life.
There are tons of carp in the pond.
They are ginormous and love to congregate around the fountains in the center.
Sooooo....
they look like dappled gold frolicking in the water.
Very Zen.
I am in the zone.
Next I see a Baltimore Oriole.
Wonderful.
You don't see many in Massachusetts.
It was forcing the Blue Heron away from its tree.
Yes! We even have a Blue Heron that hangs out here during the day.
And then I came upon our Geese Family.
I pass these guys every day with my parents.
They see me every day.
Every day.
 EVERY DAY.
EVERY DAY.
They have 3 goslings.
We've been watching them get bigger and bigger.
EVERY DAY.
Soooooo.....
today as I am walking by, they were very close to the road, eating the grass I pay to have mowed and fertilized for their pleasure.
I figured, 
Hey,
they are used to people.
They won't mind me being this close.
And the Mom Dad Mom who can tell, anyway?
How can they even tell???????
WELL!!!!
ONE OF THEM....
stuck out it's (her's? his?) tongue and hissed at me!!!!!
So I replied in my best 14 year old voice...
"Oh, get over it."
and kept walking,
where upon it honked at me!!!!
So I responded in my grown up 17 year old attitude....
"Just cut it out!!!!!"

Screw Kum Ba Yah!!!!
So much for communing with the animals.
I want all my money back that I've sent to shelters and wildlife centers.

Now I regret helping that baby turtle across the road so it wouldn't get squished.
Now I regret putting all those worms I find on the driveway back on the grass.
Next time I see that @#$ baby rabbit in my back yard eyeing my hosta, I won't be so nice about it.
So.....
turkeys, watch out at Thanksgiving time, I may have a different agenda for you this year than just taking pictures.

So these are the pithy blog posts I think up as I go on my walk.
When I was younger, I exercised to keep my weight down.
I would run, and then get sore from my exertion.
Now I exercise so I don't get sore from my inertia!!!!
It used to be, if I ran too much my knees would hurt.
NOW....
If I sit too much my hips hurt.
Aging is such a blast!!!!!

On that note,
Latah, Gatah 
Photobucket
Read More
Posted in | No comments

Sunday, 2 June 2013

Faux Stone Painted Table

Posted on 14:25 by Unknown
I know, I know.....
I keep saying I'm going to reveal Connie's kitchen.
But I really want to show off one of my new furniture paint jobs.
Not a paint job of new furniture.....
but...
a new paint job of an old piece of furniture.....
I found a coffee table on Craig's List.
I love me some Craig's List!!!!!
Here's the finished product.
This is how it looked when I bought it.....


Tres Chic, N'est Pas???????
(I took 9 years of French, starting in third grade.....)
(That's the extent of my prowess......)
(Tres triste, n'est pas?????)
I had to look up what the French word for sad was, I couldn't remember.....
Just think of how much my parents spent on my education!!!!
Money obviously well spent.
Wait....
where was I?????
Oh, yeah, painting a table, Jeesh.....

Soooooo.....
First I painted it in French Linen Chalk Paint.
I painted the body, and the top.....
The first coat always goes on streaky.
That's OK, 'cuz the dry brushing will just go over it like a charm.

Next I painted the top in Graphite Chalk Paint.
And I thought to myself.....
"Self!!!!! That there top looks kinda like stone, sorta, ya know?????"
Whereupon, I answered.....
"No @#$!!!!! It really could look like stone with a little tweaking!!!!!"
Sooooo....
Then I drybrushed some French Linen Chalk Paint over the top.
And I thought ......
Wowza!!!!!
I be gettin' some where.
Let's do some more dry brushing!!!!!
At this point I forgotted to take any more pictures.
(My dad still corrects my pronunciation,
 and claims my sister and I pronounce it: pitcher. 
He be wrong. So there.)
So, I added some Old White....
I mean.....
I was loving this!!!!!
I didn't know if I was delusional, or if it really looked like stone.
So, I had a friend come look at it, and she thought it was heavy stone, so I had her lift the table!!!!!
She couldn't believe it was painted!
I am a rock star, I tell ya!!!!!!

During all this frenzy of creativity, I dry brushed the body with Old White, also.
It creates a really nice Gustavian finish.

Then I waxed it in light wax and added some dark, which I didn't like and removed as much as I could.
I thought the dark wax would add to the stone look, 
but it removed the chalky look of old slate, so I removed IT!!!!!

Then, I distressed it, just a little.
Sometimes I do the distressing after I wax it for a more realistic look.
 Sooooo.....
Here she is in all her glory!!!!!

Here's a close up of the finished stone look of the top, once it was waxed.
I'm really starting to get the hang of an old painted finish.
(In my opinion.....)


Sooooo.....
I am now selling this at Maison Decor for just a little bit of moolah.
Check with Amy if you want it.
Thank goodness for Amy's shop, because I can't have this stuff hanging around my house, I have no room.
This way, when my family has no more projects for me.....
I still get to do stuff!!!!!
I am working on my niece and nephew's house.
I will be sharing our travails soon.
I know I was going to show Connie's kitchen, but there is so much going on, and I want to show it all!!!!!
On that note,
Latah, Gatah
Betsy 
Partying with:
125x125









Read More
Posted in | No comments
Newer Posts Older Posts Home
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Popular Posts

  • OY VEY!! Q&A!! Tuesday's ANSWERS!!!!!
    Before I get to the answer part of today's post..... Let me follow up on my conflict with Target. For those of you just tuning in..... c...
  • The Last Post from Flerida
    Before I get to today's post..... I just want to let you know that I'm cooking dinner for my family tonight..... So if you guys nev...
  • Lake Sunapee Cabin-Cottage-Cabin-Cottage
    Before I continue reminiscing about my old log cabin..... Let me first point out a SENIOR MOMENT!!!!! I host a Q&A on the FIRST  TUESDAY...
  • Cottage Study Details
    So, I've shown you how I worked my study into a colorful bower of flowers. Now, lets see some more STUFF.... I found this wonderful Edwa...
  • Stripping for a cause
    Amy from Maison Decor asked what was going on with the walls in Miriam's dining room. Well, now I understand the true heartache of OCD. ...
  • OY VEY!! Q&A!! TUESDAY #4, design questions answered!!
         Welcome to the 4 TH  OY VEY, Q&A!!!!! But before I get started I want to share something with you guys.  One of the great perks of...
  • Annie Sloane and Me, all alone in my basement.....
    I'M NOT TRYING TO BE  DIFFICULT ..... But, rather than show more of my cabin today,  I want to reveal the table I just painted. I WILL C...
  • More of The Most Popular Kitchen in the World*
    *according to Betsy Ho Kay Kampers..... I'm back from my family reunion celebrating my parents 70th anniversary. I am the youngest of 5 ...
  • Betsy! The Bravest Warrior in the Land!!!!!
    Or.... who you lookin' at???? Sooooo..... We have a whole lotta turkeys in these here parts!!!!! I counted up to 21 in front of my house...
  • OY VEY!!! Q&A!!! Tuesday
    Help me, I'm blogging and I can't get up!!! There should be one of those alarm buttons you can wear around your neck for newly addic...

Categories

  • Aerosmith
  • bamboo magazine rack
  • bathroom decorating
  • bathroom renovation
  • bedroom
  • bird prints
  • blue and yellow kitchen
  • Book give-a-way
  • budget make over
  • cabana curtains
  • cabbage rose fabric
  • casual silk flowers
  • chandelier
  • chinoiserie desk
  • Christmas decorating
  • cottage decorating
  • cottage dining room
  • cottage kitchen
  • cow paintings
  • custom lampshade
  • Decorating questions answered
  • Decorating questions asked
  • Decoupage
  • den
  • dining room
  • dog collections
  • Dogs eye view
  • dressing table
  • flower arrangement
  • frog
  • gallery wall
  • green
  • guest bath
  • guest room
  • humor
  • kitchen
  • kitchen accessories
  • kitchen make over
  • kitchen renovation
  • laying out a gallery wall
  • lemonade set
  • living room
  • majolica
  • majolica pottery
  • master bath
  • master bedroom
  • old fashioned bathroom
  • outdoor room
  • OY VEY Q and A
  • paint by numbers
  • parrot collection
  • parrot pottery
  • pendant light
  • plaid
  • plantation shutters
  • plate rack
  • pool
  • pool renovation
  • pottery birds
  • pottery collection
  • powder room
  • sardine boxes
  • Seaside cottage
  • table setting
  • tropical art
  • tropical cottage
  • Upholstered walls
  • vanity table
  • venitian mirror
  • vessel sink
  • vintage bar
  • vintage furniture
  • vintage pottery
  • Westie
  • wood countertop
  • yellow kitchen

Blog Archive

  • ▼  2013 (118)
    • ▼  October (9)
      • Betsy! The Bravest Warrior in the Land!!!!!
      • My Hall Stairs
      • More Stuff for a Cottage Bedroom
      • A Cottage Style Makeover
      • How To Sew a Chair Slipcover...sort of....
      • Changing a Room With Slipcovers
      • A Rug for Miriam's Cottage
      • Draperies For Miriam's Cottage
      • Figuring Out the Furniture for a Cottage Living Room
    • ►  September (11)
    • ►  August (12)
    • ►  July (12)
    • ►  June (13)
    • ►  May (14)
    • ►  April (11)
    • ►  March (10)
    • ►  February (11)
    • ►  January (15)
  • ►  2012 (174)
    • ►  December (13)
    • ►  November (13)
    • ►  October (13)
    • ►  September (14)
    • ►  August (14)
    • ►  July (13)
    • ►  June (15)
    • ►  May (16)
    • ►  April (14)
    • ►  March (18)
    • ►  February (15)
    • ►  January (16)
  • ►  2011 (56)
    • ►  December (16)
    • ►  November (14)
    • ►  October (9)
    • ►  September (8)
    • ►  August (9)
Powered by Blogger.

About Me

Unknown
View my complete profile