21 March 2023

SAY HELLO TO MY LITTLE MESS

Hellloooooo Boogerbutts! 

What's it been a month or so? Happy to be back and celebrating SPRING this week. Happy Autumn to all ya' fall folks out there, too! 

New season means a new goal, more on that in a minute up first, it's new banner day! Freshly drawn from the new kitchen table that I built. 

OMG...

Game changer.

Some recall the battles I've had with the kitchen like, the fridge that's been in four different places (in three days), tripping over camera gear (constantly), and the revolving kitchen table/work bench fiasco. 

Ugh and goodbye to all of that!

Say hello to my little mess. This is where I drew today and where I'm writing to you now. See the top of the table? Glued, sanded and stained with a homemade mixture of chocolate powder and coffee, then top-coated with a clear coat. The legs are black, and I'll show you those another day.

Now back to seasonal goals. It's something I've done forever, each season one new goal. Only this time, instead of picking our own goals, hubby and I did the picking for each other. For him, I picked finish his KickStarter by end of Spring. For me, he selected open some kind of store front to sell my cartoons. 

Two big fat goals. 

Bring IT!

I'm up for the challenge. I love the draw and want to see my art on shirts, mugs, hats and walls. 

It's time.

Long overdue, actually. 

And that my Boogerbutts is the updated news on my end. This is Ivy, reporting live from the best new kitchen table in the history of EVHAR!

Chat again soon.

Huggs & Bugs, Me. 








74 comments:

  1. You are going to ROCK this challenge.

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    1. Much thanks! How did Batty's visit go today? Been thinking of you. Loved the phrase, new normal. I get that. Huggs & Bugs, Me.

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  2. Happy Spring Ivy! I went for a great walk.

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    1. Hey Christine! Love the great walk. Was just talking to a friend about how I miss walks and other kinds of exercise. Also, loved that you used nut butter in your bakes. That's what I do here as well as adding sweet potatoes. Just works so well. Happy Spring and Happy Walking!

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  3. Love the bew banner & good luck to you both on your new goals!

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    1. Thanks, Ray! Congrats on what you got done on your challenge. I was just writing on your page that I love a good challenge. They are fun to reach for. Cheers and boogie boogie.

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  4. I agree with EC, you will do this! Happy Spring and happy new job, too.

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    1. Thank you! Thanks. You got me thinking with your kitchen explosion. I forgot ... Yes, I've had a few. With the little Instant Pot and then a few times with the Vitamix Blender when I didn't have the lid one well. What a mess. Food was good though.

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  5. Happy spring. Nice to see you again! Love the table! Hugs, Valerie

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    1. HiYa! Valerie! I've missed you guys too. Gonna shoot for once a week. Loved the gold you added to your most recent share. Love, love, love how free your creativity is. That's the good stuff. Huggs Minus the Bugs, Me.

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  6. Happy Spring Wishes, I do enjoy this season.
    Your table looks good and the challenges/goals you have both suggested sound excellent.

    Have fun and take care.
    My good wishes.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Hey Jan! Me too. I like Spring because of many reasons and one of them is that I see Spring as the real New Year! So fun. Just saw the ginger bake on your page. Yes please! I love, love, love adding ginger to bakes. Also I like to add it to hot water with other spices. Delightful.

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  7. I think you are up to the goal! The table, WOW!

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    1. Hey Sandra! Loved all the veggies in your last post. I have a fridge to clean and I tell you what ... I love, love, love a nice clean fridge. Though last year downsized to a smaller taller fridge. Some challenges in that for me and then also some very cool parts about that. Either way, LOVED seeing inside your fridge. Happy Eating!

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  8. Wishing you all the best on your goals. I love your drawings and they definitely need to be sold! I wish I could draw like that.

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    1. Sorry - that Anonymous comment above was from me, Kathy :-)

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    2. Hey Kathy! Thanks for letting me know it was you. Have you played more with the coconut milk? Really fun ingredient.

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  9. I love the gorgeous colour you got on your table, Ivy -- coffee and chocolate powder? You wizard you! And good luck to both of you with your Spring goals. You know, I'm always in the market to buy new t-shirts. Jus' sayin'.

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    1. Hey Debra! Thank you for your continued encouragement and support. Much appreciated. Huggs & Bugs, Me.

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  10. Happy spring!!!! The table is gorgeous!!!

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    1. Hey Billie Jo! Much, much thanks. I'm sitting here again now, sipping a hot drink, nibbling on dark chocolate and reading blogs. Happy Reading to you and here's to Flynn getting 100% better.

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  11. You are such a good and original artist. I have never heard of finishing a table this way, but it turned out beautifully!

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    1. Thank you bunches, Ginny! OMG on the table. This is my second go at fully doing them this way and I don't ever see the need for store-bought stain. Though, I say that and there's one company that does a non-toxic stain. I might try that some day. I did get their sealer. Haven't tried that yet. Always looking for better, safer products.

      Loved the little bug houses for the garden you posted. Happy little homes in the garden. So cute!

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  12. The table top looks very lovely, who knew "spilled drinks" could look so good! ha ha. Hubby set an excellent goal for you, I think you will manage it very well.

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    1. Hahahaaha! You're right, River. Spilled drinks. I love that! One day after sealing the table I did actually spill coffee and Hubby was like, hey, that's what you stained it with too!

      Just got back from reading your recent writing post. I loved all the kindness, sweetness and heart. Really enjoyed it, River. Happy Writing to YOU!

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  13. That is terrific that you and your hubs can accept challenges from the other - and what a great idea to do so. Best to you both as you each work toward your personal goals. And the finish on that table top is gorgeous, Ivy!

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    1. Hi Becki! It's great fun. We know each other best and that includes weaknesses and where we can get stronger. Having both our Spring Goals met will be a HUGE win for us. Thanks about the table. Crazy fun!

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  14. The table looks fab Ivy!
    Happy Spring, and good luck with those goals.
    Alison x

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    1. Hey Alison! Thank you. Happy Spring to you. Just read that you're feeling better today. Woohoo! Here's to more of that goodness. Huggs & Bugs, Me.

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  15. that color is fantastic as is the table you built, can't wait to see the whole thing with black legs. you are so talented in so many ways. great idea to do a website, have fun and I wish you many sales

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    1. Thank you. I need to give them another coat and then topcoat that. Hubby had the idea to go with black chalk paint and we love it!

      I also love that you got your trees trimmed. Wonderful. Very fun photo too. I also loved Ann's Birthday photo. Great, great fun.

      Thank you, yes, Gonna set some kind of shoppe up. Not quite sure yet how to put it all together. Excited though. Long overdue. Thanks for the support and good wishes.

      Huggs & Bugs, Me.

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  16. Sell you cartoons - good idea! Ivy, you are so creative, you have a ton of things you could sell.

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    1. Thank you Alex! Writing, photographs and cartoons are on the menu for sale! Thank you for the continued support - You Rock!

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  17. Looks like a great table and sound like a lot going on at your house. Thanks for dropping by my blog and I am super glad I dropped by your fun blog!

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    1. Hi Nancy! Thank you for saying this blog is fun. Just saw the bunny butt on the other site you have listed under your name. OMG. So stinkin' cute!!! I love it.

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  18. You are always so organized! Happy Spring :-)

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    1. Thank you, Angie! Happy Cooking to you and Happy Eating!

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  19. Good job using non-toxic materials to stain your table!

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    1. Hey Kathy! Thanks. This is my second go at finishing a table like this and I just love it. I never know for sure how dark or light I'll go, it's all in the playing. I recently bought a non-toxic top coat -- or at least I think it is --- Will post about it when I use it.

      Just got back from your blog and you TOTALLY got me with that story. lolololol.

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  20. Woah, you draw on a pad?! I could never do that, I think... Good luck with the shop - exciting!

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    1. Hello Iris!!! Yes, I currently draw on an old Samsung tablet with the neatest EMR pencil with eraser, ever. It's wildly fun. I fell into it by accident when Hubby bought me the tablet years ago and now I love it. Have you tried? Might not work for you and I get that. For me, LOVE it. So easy to create and share art this way. Cheers and boogie boogie!

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  21. So perfect for your work and you did an amazing job with the color! You should definitely sell your stuff! It's so fun!!

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    1. Thank you Judee! I used to make and sell blankets at fairs (for five/six), years. Never tried to sell my art though. Excited to give it a go along with photos and writing. What do you sell online? Have you ever made your recipes into a book? That'd be so cool.

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  22. Very nice! I've never been good with diy stuff but love seeing what others do.

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    1. Hey Mary! The cost of a kitchen table this big (four foot by six food), is more than my brain can wrap around. Had to make it myself. How goes the reading? I have a book I'm fixin' to finish by Sunday and then start another one the following week. I love reading too!

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  23. The table looks great. You are so handy…capable!

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    1. Hey Marie!!!!! I LOOOOOOOOOOOOVED those winter photos from the other day. LOOOOOOOVED them. I would 100% buy them if they were in a calendar. So so well done!

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  24. Good for you making your own table, it looks great too, means even more when you do it yourself!

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    1. Helloooo Connie! I love all your cards. This is something I'd like to get into as well. The bird is welcoming and made me smile. Here's to the fun of making stuff at home!

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  25. Cute new banner. Sounds like a fun goal your husband set for y ou.

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    1. Hey Ann! Happy Happy Happy Birthday - loved your Birthday photo. That was so stinkin' fun. Thanks on the banner. Yes, we both set one for each other that we'd thus far not completed. Gonna be a good spring - good to aim high.

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  26. The first day of spring was cold here.

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    1. SAME! We had snow. Though, winter here been mild, mild, mild. Happy Spring, William!

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  27. Wonderful table! Awesome job. . . . And I recognize the mug in the background. :)

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    1. Ugh, that was me. I dunno why it made me Anon. :(

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    2. Hey Holly! Thanks for letting me know it was you! Tim and I both LOVE the mug you made. Cracks us up that saying, What what? Brilliant stuff you did.

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  28. Camilla (Cooking With Camilla)Thursday, 23 March, 2023

    Oh Ivy you are so clever! On the table front (genius!) and the drawings (so amazing!). I think that's a fantastic goal that your husband set. Go for it and I wish you so much success!! Camilla (from the course!)

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    1. Hey Camilla! Thanks. The art, photos and writing are all up for sale however the cartoons to come first. So fun. Loved your dip and will give that a go. I love when I see a recipe and have almost everything already. Win, win. Thanks for stopping by and I'll catch you again soon. PS: How great are classes? OMG. Love them. Cheers and boogie boogie!

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  29. I love your spring banner, it made me smile, smiiling is good. You will rock those goals :-)

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    1. Much, much thanks, Polly. Happy Belated Mother's Day!

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  30. Your table top if amazing. I love the way you stained it; the colors are great. And I love your goals. Having a new goal every season is a great idea. You have a set amount of time to try them, and you know a new goal is coming in a few month. I hope all you have a great rest of your week. hugs-Erika

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    1. Hey Erika! It is nice. It's a nice chunk of time though not so long as a 12-month goal. Yeah, really love it. Thank you for dropping by today. Huggs & Bugs, Me.

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  31. Goals? Everyday is a new one for me...usually to finish one that was started the day before. Great on picking goals for each other. It is always nice to have one finished. Best of luck. Table looks great.

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    1. Hey Pam! We do daily things and get into that too. Very fun. A seasonal goal (for us), is a BIGGER goal. Something that we're struggling to get done and we want to finally hit or ... even a smaller thing that we've had a struggle with and want to make it part of our life so that it's no longer a goal.

      Loved your bee garden. Very, very fun!!!!!

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  32. That table looks great! The color is amazing. I would never think to use chocolate and coffee to stain, but it really worked!

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    1. Thanks Mari! I did two tables like this and I just love it. Loved the Chocolate Scotcheroos! What a fun name!

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    1. Hey Cathy! Thanks for dropping by. Happy Weekend.

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  34. 😊👍❤️ from Cheerful Monk

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  35. Nice to see you back - and with a new banner - love it!
    I began to wonder if I was going to see a cake made like a table as I was reading - cannot believe that gorgeous coloured real table was stained as it was - fabulous!
    Hugs, Neet xx

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    1. Thanks, Neet! Really is fun to make a table. Thank you for the kind words.

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  36. Your banner is so fun and colorful! I love it!
    Those are some big goals, but you can do it! Have you looked into Etsy or Shopify? Or even selling on Designbundles? So many options, but I'm sure you'll find the right home or homes for your artwork. I can't wait to see how it goes for you.
    Have a great weekend, my friend!

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    1. Hey Theresa! Happy Spring! How goes you? Looking into options. Designbundles is a new one to me. Thank you for mentioning it. I'll add it to the list!!!!!! Am I recalling correct... were you guys moving? I also remember painting kitchen cupboards. How goes the adventuring?

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