I Wish I Could Be A Chameleon...

cha·me·le·on

   [kuh-mee-lee-uhn, -meel-yuhn] Show IPA

noun

1.

any of numerous Old World lizards of the familyChamaeleontidae, characterized by the ability to change thecolor of their skin, very slow locomotion, and a projectiletongue.

2.

any of several American lizards capable of changing the colorof the skin, especially Anolis carolinensis (Americanchameleon),  of the southeastern U.S.

3.

a changeable, fickle, or inconstant person.

Listening to conference this weekend gave me so much desire to make some serious changes in my life.  As I listened to each talk I thought to myself "I want to do that", and "I want those blessings", and "I know that it is possible for me to reach that exalted state". The Prophets and apostles even told us how...and then I found myself wishing it could be as easy as being a Chameleon...just change my skin color. Just change my color according to each different situation and challenge, just do it by nature.  But unfortunately our natures are fallen, and I noticed that it's only the Chameleons' skin that changes...And we all know that change can't just be skin deep. So for me right now I'm going to seek the changes that the Lord promises that will come to our minds and our bodies...and our hearts.  I know where to go...now God bless me and anyone else that wants to...to go and do and receive the promises and blessing and knowledge and witness and power and peace and love...by going and doing.

"Here's my heart...oh take and seal it...seal it for Thy courts above."

Sincerely Vicki

song; Come Thou Fount

"Road Kill"

Ok! I'm about to share, no... let me say... GIVE AWAY!, one of my biggest $$$$$$$$ making ideas EVER!
 When we lived in Louisiana road kill was very different than here in New Jersey.  It was weird, dead  armadillos all over.

I'll never forget coming home from a vacation one day and finding a similar sight in the center of my front yard...I wondered... "how the heck did that get there"?  It's funny how armadillos decompose...everything goes but that hard shell.  So... I was left with this kind of bowl in my front yard.  That's right, no one got it...we just watched it day after day slowly disappear.  I remember the kids used to mow around it.



Oh please don't go!  The best is yet to come...!

Here in New Jersey it's "BANK"!
 
deer fox

  

raccoon rabbit

 

opossum beaver

 squirrel
 
snake Ssssss

birds & fowl fowl

Unfortunately skunk, cats and dogs.  Sorry if I hit a sensitive cord with the last two.

Now if you commute to work you will probably notice new road kill each day or so.
So what if  "WE" (any takers, investors) set up a company that dealt directly with this lucrative business of dealing in furs and skins...we could start something very different and profitable.

The nice part about this is that you have all the animal protection agencies off your back.

And all of a sudden your a "HERO" because you picked up a huge deer in some one's front yard. 
Now deer skin is very valuable...the Indians used it for shoes, clothes, blankets, tents, etc... because it was so durable, soft, and waterproof. Here you can see this Indian used very "little" deer skin.


Strangely enough I have a couple of guys that will do the pick up... What's worse is your probably thinking how strange I am...but the truth is I've worked for some very high end fur and leather companies and was involved in custom work.  In fact I sized Sammy Davis Jr up for a pair of leather pants.  Also, I had years of experience selling "Gucci" handbags, luggage and ready to wear. It's amazing what a snake, leather bag can go for...

STRANGE

The way I see it working is we build a team of who wants to pick up, who wants to skin, dispose, truck, dispatch, design, market, build social networking and who wants to INVEST?

Then we tell our customers how they can earn a few extra buck just by driving to work.  Having the newest iphone 4S would be the best because the commuter dictates into the phone the animal and location. Then sends the message to us and we send a message back stating the pricing of the animal based on its condition and freshness.  Winter by the way is going to be better. We send out a pick up team, which will be divided by the area geographically day by day and they will pick up.  We then take it to our taxidermy's and begin collecting pelts.

Now... if we want to expand the business the further north we go the better fur we get.  Coyote, bear, moose, fox... Its such a nice way to clean up the environment and make "Bank"!


Here are a few interiors and apparel lines using fur, which by the way is so opulent....

fur



feathers





interior

fur used in interiors

I know some might think "ewe gross"!  But remember necessity it the mother of invention and why let a great opportunity "pass" you by!



Music while posting "Fire On The Mountain" The Greatful Dead

Keep on loving me...Vicki ;)

Pallets on Stecher's

Why hello! It has been awhile... we're over on Stecher's Country Store's blog today posting about one of our new favorite construction materials... pallets and some of the super amazing things we've been doing with them!! Come over and check us out!

Texture Balls...

When I was in school one of my favorite projects was called the Texture Ball. The assignment consisted of using a Styrofoam ball as a base, and finding some wonderful material to put on the outside to create both visual and physical texture. They are quite fun to make and are a great addition to your home decor. You actually often see them for sale in many home decor stores!

A few friends from my interior design school days have joined together to create a new texture ball. You should check them out!

 Mine was made out of old license plates and rubber from an old tire. I think if I were to do it again, which I'm going to, I might make the hexagons a little more even and try my hand at sodering... what do you think?

Andrea @ Strawberry Chic

 Amber @ Numbered Street Designs

Caley @ Design by Caley

"Under 30"

We have been making these partitions (aka stage flats) for years. I learned how to do this in high school when I was in theater. It's so simple. Supplies you will need...3-1x3x8's, 4-triangle wood pieces ( we used some particle board we had laying around), fabric ( I got this piece at ikea) a drill, some screws, and a staple gun.

 Cut one of your long boards in half and then secure corners by drilling screws through the triangle corner pieces.

Lay your fabric face down and center your frame on the fabric. 

You can size your fabric up if your flat is going to be narrow or if you have alot of excess on the sides. 

 

Now it time to stretch the fabric onto your frame.  Start by putting 3 staples in the middle of one side, cross over to the other side and put three staples in, then pull the fabric and work out from the middle down to the bottom of your flat then do the same on the other side. 

 Now that you have 2 sides done do the same on the top and the bottom starting again with 3 staples on top and 3 staples on the bottom. By doing this you are able to keep the fabric from shifting and centered. This project takes about 30 minutes to make (thats if you have a good staple gun, if not... double, triple or quadruple your time) and is less than $30 to make.

We created a partition in our basement that sectioned off a storage area using inexpensive walmart shelves, that serves as storage on the one side. Then installed the flats on the back side of the shelves facing the living area.

We actually made 7 flats to divide the space with an opening for access. I am happy we were able to create a wall using the shelves we already had without the big mess and expense of constructing and framing and drywalling and finishing. Plus I have all the storage on the other side. Its been a fast, easy, dramatic effect.  I like it!

Vicki

Small and Simple Things

Sandhi Schimmel won me with her mastery in mosaics. Then warmed the cockles of my heart when I discovered her medium is junk mail!

I am so inspired by people who make beautiful things from that which is ordinary, or cast off.

It brings to mind the scripture that says..."by small and simple things are great things brought to pass".     Alma 37:6

Vicki

Christmas Ornament Chandelier

There  are so many gorgeous ornaments out there! They come in all different shapes and sizes we knew there had to be something more you can do with them other than put them on a Christmas tree. So we made a chandelier!!

We mixed the feminine, delicate, hand blown Egyptian glass ornaments with a rusty geometric piece of wire we found out in the yard. The result was quite stunning!

We thought it would be pretty cool to hang them in the shape of a tree and use them as an alternative to a Christmas tree or even hang them from a wreath hung horizontal. What do you think?

To see it in real life... stop by Stecher's Country Store!! Let us know you're going and we'll meet you up there!