FLASH OF GENIUS SAVES GLOBAL NEWS

This will be all over the Main Stream Media later today, but I wanted to weigh in early because -- well, because I’ve been harshly critical of Leonard Asper and the CanWest Global Television Network in the past for their lack of commitment to Canadian drama and local news. Indeed, for a while there, it looked like Asper’s management style might bankrupt the company and take a healthy chunk of Canada’s television industry down with it. But the programming shift CanWest will be officially announcing today has to be recognized as sheer broadcast genius.

Over the weekend, Asper and his closest executive advisers hammered out a deal to purchase Naked Broadcasting Network Inc. owner/operator of the online presence “The Naked News”. But instead of simply adding NBN to his vast stable of media companies, Asper intends to bring the Naked News format into the mainstream, integrating the concept of nude reporters and anchors into all of CanWest's national and local newscasts.  

                                                                               

“While other networks may keep their viewers abreast of the news,” Asper states in a press release leaked to this site, “we will be offering them several breasts while revealing yet another impressive dimension of our Executive Editor and National News anchor, Kevin Newman.”

Indeed, I’m informed that Newman, a recognized fitness fanatic and serial hydrator seldom photographed without a water bottle in hand, is also a long-time practising Naturist and eagerly embraced the new format.

                                                                     

Shown here flanked by Foreign Editor Stuart Greer and Washington Bureau Chief Eric Sorensen, Newman was already well known for showing up for work wearing only a Bluetooth earpiece and flip flops. Global News crews claim he did most newscasts dressed only from the waist up and they were forced to keep a sharp eye on the lower frame whenever he chose to move around the, ostentatious for a money losing operation, Global National studio.

Apparently, a year end one-on-one interview between Newman and Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty was the catalyst for McGuinty’s staff imposing its notorious “five foot rule” to keep journalists a safe distance from the Premier.

While there is no doubt Global will see a huge ratings spike with this initiative, one which will clearly set them apart from the clothed-person-behind-a-desk offerings of CTV, Rogers and CBC, there are on-camera anchors and correspondents uncomfortable with the new format. One Weatherman has already resigned after being informed that he no longer needed “a pointer” and several CanWest sportscasters have chosen early retirement rather than revealing they’re not quite the Man’s men they’d led their fans to believe they were.

                                                                                                                                                       

But this was all expected and many “faces” familiar to the online subscribers of the Naked News will be moving in to take their place and Global will also be conducting a cross-Canada talent search for open minded journalists (until now a rarity in the CanWest empire) that will be showcased across all of CanWest's media platforms simultaneously increasing the broadcaster’s level of Canadian content and its access to public funding.

In one fell swoop, Asper appears to have solved both his ratings and financial issues. And it has apparently inspired him to immediately expand the concept.

                                                                                            

This photo was taken this morning as Global News Videographers departed CanWest's Don Mills studios, fanning out across the city to cover the news, spreading the new “CanWest has no clothes” motto while also becoming the country’s most environmentally conscious network.

Whether the other Canadian networks copy-cat the innovation is anybody’s guess. Although I’m reliably informed that CBC Radio 2 tested the idea a few months ago but abandoned it when they saw no substantive increase in listeners.

                                                                                 

I’m under a crushing deadline at the moment, but you can get updates through the morning here and here. And don’t touch that dial if it’s set to Global TV. Their next News flash will have a whole new meaning.

UPDATE:

APRIL FOOL!

Thanks for playin’.

Grandkids~

Here are some photos of my two grandkids. Over the weekend I bought my grandaughter two wigs....yes, you read it correctly, wigs. She turned one month on March the 13th...and I was wanting to see her with long hair....so here she is in all her glory~ She didn't care to much for the dark hair........ I think she is in a "milk-coma" in this photo~Here she is working the reddish hair...... work it girl! Look down your nose at the world... you go girl~Here she is falling over-- she is only a month old lol~Lastly, my grandson shows his sister how to model... attitude, its all in the attitude~
he is such a HAM!! Here he is with a toy ladder stuck on his nose!Alright, alright... I'll stop :-P

SOMEBODY YOU SHOULD READ

Every now and then, I'll rail on Canadian journalists for their lack of Woodward and Bernstein instincts or their unfathomable desire to cozy up to the very people they're supposed to be keeping an eye on for the public. To my mind those crushes of reporters Canadian politicos describe as a "scrum" are just a giant group hug and what passes for a hard-hitting interview here would be called 'tossing around a softball' anywhere else.

And although I've played a journalist on television and written many into my scripts, my understanding of the trade is far from educated.

But if you're like me and wonder how and why some stories get covered the way they get covered, you need to read a great piece posted by Rick McGinnis, better known by his online moniker "Life With Father".

I don't know Rick, but I'm becoming a big fan of his perspective on the craft and associated industries by which he's plied his trade.

Take some time today to read a better quality of writing than you'll ever find around here. Just click the link above or the listing down the right side of this page.

And Rick -- thanks for the kind words in a couple of your posts and equal props in return.

Trash to Treasure~

This trash to treasure is being hosted by Kari & Kijsa.

Here is a chicken wire wreath that I picked up for .70cents from a thrift store. It was already painted pink...so I just added some copies of old photographs that I had. I glued the photos to old yellowed book pages, punched a whole at the top of each photo and tied it to the wreath with some lace. I then cut out some leaves....but seeing it completed, they look like butterflys. Better yet! This wreath is going out onto my front yard patio. You can see that transformation here. It is an ever-evolving work in progress~ This photo of the mother holding her baby is my favorite...so sweet~

2nd Time Around Tuesday

I bought these two plastic cherubs awhile back for $2 bucks each. They were gold with no embellishments. *gasp* Life is to short not to go around wearing a party hat 24/7....I'm sorry, life is to be celebrated!!Whenever I see these gold cherubs I pick them up and make them "happier" and pass them along to other people.Here are the two with a fresh coat of white paint and some brown paint to distress the harsh white... I covered the plastic draping with real fabric and added a party hat to both of them. The "boy" wearing the blue hat has been shipped to Karen in MN and the "girl" wearing the pink party hat is for my grandaughter Chloe. I had to add more to Chloe's cherub as she would expect that from her Nana~ Sooooooo I added a bit of a vintage pearl necklace, added some feathers to the cherubs wings... painted the toe nails-- pink of course. Topped it all off with a rose colored tutu with a rose belt~ (it shows up darker in the photo than it really is)

Here is a close up of the little cherub~

I would suggest if you ever see these gold cherubs to buy them and release their inner happiness with a coat of paint and a party hat~
You can find more 2nd hand treasures over at "A Picture is Worth a $1,000 Words"

Mmm Mmm Monday~

I can't believe I haven't shared this recipe yet...its one of my all time favorites.... if you love banana bread you'll love these banana crumb muffins :-) Banana Crumb Muffins
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 bananas, mashed
3/4 cup white sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/3 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon butter
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 2. In a large bowl, mix together 1 1/2 cups flour, baking soda and baking powder. In another bowl, beat together bananas, sugar, egg and melted butter. Stir the banana mixture into the flour mixture just until moistened. Spoon batter into muffin cups. 3. In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour and cinnamon. Cut in 1 tablespoon butter until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Sprinkle topping over muffins. 4. Bake in preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean.

LAZY SUNDAY #64: COURAGE

There's this hymn...

I lost my brother a year ago and it was played at his funeral. It was played last Friday at the funerals for four fallen police officers in Oakland, California. It's played at every police funeral, every military funeral and the funerals of many in the Christian faith.

But it's not a funeral hymn.

"Amazing Grace" was written by John Newton, the Captain of a slave transport vessel who underwent a profound conversion and wanted to communicate his revelation to others. The song's power is in its ability to inspire those who have lost hope or feel overwhelmed by life's tragedies to have the courage to move on.

The last year has bordered on tragic for virtually everyone I know. They've lost close friends and family, jobs, homes, secure futures and their careers. A darkness seems to have descended on many that saps their energy and love of life.

A couple of nights ago, I reconnected with an old friend, someone who came up through the business with me but whom I hadn't seen in almost 20 years. We got talking about the current economic Armageddon and the trials and tribulations it and other issues wracking the film and television industries have forced us all to face.

Both he and I have been through tough times, struggled against apparently insurmountable odds and endured long nights without hope. We didn't always win the battles we fought, but in his opinion we hung on to one thing that got us through those losses, a thing that seems in short supply these days -- Courage.

Courage isn't the gallantry normally depicted in its name. It's both much bigger and much smaller than that. Courage is simply the willingness to confront fear, uncertainty and intimidation. It's not something you're born with. It's a skill you learn -- or maybe -- just begin to apply.

Courage is nothing more than "Doing the Right Thing" whatever that right thing is that needs to be done. It's confronting whatever you are facing and doing what will allow you to look at your face in the mirror when you shave the next morning, or what you want other people to say when they're describing you to your grandchildren.

Shit happens. Most often to people who don't deserve it, didn't go looking for it and had no hand in its creation. And when it happens to you, you need a reminder that life goes on and you weren't put on this planet to be defeated by this moment.

Be Inspired.

Find Courage.

And Enjoy your Sunday.


Il Divo - Amazing Grace / RUS from ILDIVORUS on Vimeo.

Robins egg~

Here is another little somethin'-somethin' I made for my swapping buddy. I really like how it turned out.... Here is the outside...and the inside...and a close up of the little soldered egg inside of the larger egg :-)

Stuff~

I haven't had much time to be artsy fartsy lately, but I have finished up two things that are going to my Easter swapping partner. I altered this tin egg into a nice container that is going to hold that little egg cup with the little fairy sitting atop the grass. (the fairy is two sided) The paper covering the egg is from a book from the 1800's. I am also sending along one of these cherubs...(the one with the blue party hat) I love making these-- they make me chuckle. The one with the pinkish party hat is for my grandaughter Chloe~ The plastic "drape" on these statues I cover with real fabric, it takes some time, but I think it looks better when its all finished. It is barely noticeable in these photos because I used a sheer fabric...but its there~
I am also working on a soldered piece and an robins egg container for that. I am hoping to have that completed tomorrow :-)

GARTH

Theatre impresario Garth Drabinsky and his partner, Myron Gottlieb, were both found guilty this morning of two counts of fraud and one of forgery for activities which occurred during their ownership of Livent Inc.

According to prosecutors, Drabinsky and Gottlieb had used the theatrical production entity to bilk half a Billion dollars from investors, hiding their illegal actions through a complex series of accounting irregularities. Sentencing will take place next month which could see the men receive ten years or more in prison on each charge.

                                                                                            

Although this whole sad saga has taken almost a decade to wend its way through the notoriously lax on white collar crime Canadian courts, it’s far from over.

There are still charges pending from the Ontario Securities and Exchange Commission as well as fraud and conspiracy charges in New York. And then there are all the civil suits, investors big and small (“Angels” as they’re known in stage parlance) who believed the Livent financial reports and gave Garth and Myron money to mount more shows.

At a time when public anger at corporate criminals like Bernie Madoff and others who’ve cratered our economy and evaporated the life savings and financial futures of thousands is at an all time high, you’d think the Main Stream Media would be quick to cheer one of these predators finally being put out of business.

But not in Canada.

This morning’s Toronto Star posted a video by its theatre critic Richard Ouzounian asking us not to be so consumed by what verdict Garth was going to ‘get’ but to think about all the wonderful things he ‘gave us’. I was stunned when I saw it. Even more stunned that it’s still up there hours after the verdict.

Ouzounian has always been very upfront in disclosing that he used to work for Garth and Livent during some of the company’s headier days. But in this case he’s wearing blinkers that would give any wild-eyed filly tunnel vision.

In case the link above disappears, in his video Ouzounian asks us to remember that “Garth gave us excitement. He gave us professionalism.  He gave us show business.”

Dude – he also gave a lot of people the shaft!

He caused them to lose their homes (as happened to personal friends of mine). He cost them the enjoyment of the fruits of their labors in their retirement years and he made the almost impossible job of convincing people to invest in Canadian theatre, film and television even harder than it already was.

Garth Drabinsky was an exciting, professional, show business -- crook!

Who cares if he wore better suits than John Gotti, threw better parties than Al Capone or had more starlets on his arm than ‘Legs’ Diamond. He was the same kind of criminal.

But like Canadian white collar criminals who have gone before and only been brought to justice heretofore by American courts (Alan Eagleson, Bernie Ebbers, Conrad Black) these people get a pass because they’ve been accepted in polite society. You need look no further than the shared board members, investment bankers and political connections of all these guys to see the protective web that operates for them here. A web few of our so-called journalists seem willing to pull apart.

Ouzounian goes on -- “We were action central. I miss that period, y’know. I miss all the excitement. I miss the fun. I miss the glamor.”

I’m sure Richard would have enjoyed the Roaring 20’s in Chicago too or New York in the 90’s. Back then, he could have written about what a swell guy Ole Scarface was setting up those soup kitchens for the bums down in The Loop. He could have gotten all dewy eyed at the fireworks the Dapper Don was shooting off the roof of the Bergin Hunt and Fish Club to celebrate Columbus Day, while New York cops were scraping Paul Castellano off the sidewalk in front of Sparks Steakhouse or fishing some other rival mobster’s corpse out of the East River.

A criminal is a criminal is a criminal, Mr. Ouzounian.

A lot of people could have been putting on great shows in Toronto if they’d been willing to commit fraud or steal. I’m sure they could have created stars and attracted busloads of tourists too. Somehow that pesky “Honesty” thing just got in the way.

Mr. Drabinsky and his white collar is no different from the thugs popping caps in kids in Malvern or selling eight balls at Jane & Finch. That’s “Action Central” in Toronto these days. Exciting and glamorous for the gangsters. Not so much fun for their victims or the impoverished community they leave behind.

I’m certain Mr. Ouzounian wouldn’t want to perk up our economy by busing in audiences from Cleveland to see that. But when the victims aren’t visible and the parties are stylish, I guess it’s okay.

I’ve met a lot of theatrical ‘Angels’ during countless backers auditions, workshops and open readings where folks with a love of theatre and some extra cash have been asked to drop by, in the hope they’ll want to bankroll a production. They come from all walks of life but they have one thing in common, a gentleness and gentility, a refinement that comes from spending time in the shadow of the footlights.

They know they’re investing in one of the riskiest enterprises there is and yet they do it gladly. They’re happy to simply share in the excitement of opening night, to get to rub shoulders with ‘stars’ or show good reviews to friends over coffee while pointing out the intellectual failings of the critics who wrote bad ones.

Most of these people don’t make a lot of money from their theatrical flights of fancy. And when they do, they often put it right back into another production. Because they love the theatre and art and culture and understand how important they are to making the world a better place.

These are the kind of people that Garth Drabinsky and Myron Gottlieb mugged so Richard Ouzounian could uncork another magnum of champagne.

At today’s reading of the verdict, Judge Mary Lou Benotto described the two men on trial before her as follows, “They were deceitful, they perpetrated a falsehood and reasonable people would consider them dishonest.”

Now that Richard Ouzounian knows that the money he was paid during his time at Livent was stolen, I wonder if he’s going to give it back.

I wonder if he’s going to use his position at the Star to try and repair the damage done to Toronto’s theatre community so people don’t think we’re all as dishonest or calculating as his former employers.

I wonder if he’s going to cease being an apologist for criminals.

Given the way the Toronto Star manages what it feeds the public these days, I won’t hold my breath until any of those things happens.

Y’see, there’s another story the Toronto Star hasn’t told you – mostly, I assume, because they’re a part of it.

Over the last weeks, all of Canada’s mainstream media outlets have declaimed on the perilous state of Canadian broadcasting. “The business model is broken.”  “The Ad markets have dried up.” “They’re bleeding money.” etc. etc.

But a journalist who’s actually a journalist named Kelly Toughill has turned up evidence that CTVglobemedia, while laying off hundreds and lobbying the CRTC for breaks on their requirements of license and “carriage fees” , actually had an operating profit for 2008 of $214 Million or 9.7%. You can read her report here, which also includes the source of those numbers – figures buried in the financial reports of the parent company of the Toronto Star.

It looks like some things are beginning to get through that protective web. Maybe today’s verdict is a sign that life here might start favoring the honest among us for a change.

UPDATE:

Further proof of how the Canadian system works courtesy of the New York Times --

“A spokesman for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation said that the conviction would not change its plans to air a second season of “Triple Sensation,” a reality series in which Mr. Drabinsky and four other panelists look for young stars who can sing, act and dance.”

Maybe some of the 800 people the CBC laid off today or those lobbying the government to find more money for the Corp should start asking some hard questions about why honest, hard-working people are on the street while money is still available to pay a convicted criminal.

Two'fer One~

Its a two'fer one post....and.....

I am making over my front patio area for the upcoming summer months. Most everything on my patio is from thrift stores or yard sales! Here is the messy/unkept before photo~ Here is the after photo..... It doesn't show up well, but there is a huge flower ball hanging from the center of the gazebo :-) Alright, it is not a HUGE difference... but I did do a lot. I added stuff, pulled the weeds out of the brick, built an arch/planted some climbing roses.... and added some fabric to the table! Scroll down to see the photos :-)I don't do anything to the porch area during the winter months as it is toooooooooo cold for me to work out in the yard! I purchased the round gazebo a few years ago from Big Lots for only $200 buckeroos~ The white chairs are from a thrift store.... (I once had them inside my house) The metal table was another thrifted find ($40 bucks) All the "extra" odds and ends and doo-dads are things that I don't really want anymore-- and wouldn't be to terribly upset if they were stolen misplaced. I used a duvet cover from the Pottery Barn to make a table cloth and I also covered some pillows and covered a small bench and used some of the fabric as ribbons on some of the statues.... I think its cute. Again, my thoughts are "more is better" The little metal fence pieces I picked up for $1 buck each. I got a total of 5!I used wire to attach them to the gazebo and then I covered the wire with a torn fabric ribbon-- caute! This little angel I wired directly to the small rose bush as our paper boy man is probably a retired pitcher from some baseball team because he seems to hit everything I put outside. The bird bath was $15, the bird house was $2, the 2 miniature rose bushes with the pottery pots were $3 each.This cement urn was a dollar at a yard sale.... I added the nest, moss and the dried flowers & eggs...Here is a bunny wearing a matching ribbon made with the same fabric as the table & bench~ (I bought 5 bunnies for a dollar each) the white wire bird cage was $10 bucks (still working on straighting that sucker out) The "welcome" sign was $2 bucks...Here is a little rusty tricycle given to me by a friend that I spruced up... I don't really have a place for it just yet...but it will work its self into some little spot. The basket was $1 buck lolThis wooden "object de'art" for lack of a better word is just filled with more odds & ends. All of this "stuff" was free or nearly free. The broken shovel head says it all "Garden of Weedin" A rusty wagon also given to me by a friend..... filled with stuff sits in a planter near the gazebo... all the pots also were given to me~Here is a little half table that has no place inside anymore...so out it went onto the patio. (yes, thats dirt on the top of it, it just recently rained!) The rose in the pot was $1, the metal candle stick with the glass top was .50cents, the bunnies with the pots were $2 bucks (I have two) The heart wire bird cage was $3 bucks, the table itself was $3 bucks... the metal bird feeder on the ground was $7, the blue flower pot was $3~This two balled wire topiary form is one of 3 that I picked up for $1 dollar each. I just used some silk ivy greenery I had stashed away to make it come alive~ see my two wooden cats in my window.... I love cats.This wrought iron bakers rack my dad made.... now it holds a lot of my overflow from my house. The white truck behind it is a 1964 (year I was born) Falcon truck it was a gift for one of my birthdays from my hubs.This white basket was a freebie at a yard sale. It is perfect for holding long stemmed roses and cuttings from plants that I can easily transport to my gardening bench. (which is the table lol) this summer I will cut a piece of wood for that big whole in the middle. I think I'll drill around the wood circle and lace it to the metal basket with wire~This white metal stand was $5, the bird house $1, the vintage wooden 7-up crate on the bottom shelf was $1. The large blue pot was $5-- which holds another one of those 2 tiered topairy forms ($1)

I picked up the wire tray for $1, the wire teapot was .50cents, the wire cups & saucers .25cents and the metal plant stand $2 .....and just attached everything together with wire for this little vinette. The black garden thingy was $1.If you would like to see more make-overs stop over at Jens blog "Sanctuary Arts at Home" she is hosting a monthly Mr. Linky for make-overs! *woot-woot*

If your wanting to see other peoples Thrift store finds check out the Mr. Linky over at Dianes blog "A Picture is Worth a $1,000 Words" If you have linked here and wish to view more of my blog you can click here!

FOX NEWS - FAIRLY IMBALANCED

There's something in the 24 hour news cycle that breeds a need to fill the dead space with something, maybe anything. And after a while, there just aren't enough videos of puppies on skateboards or starlets going commando to fill up the time. So the next move is to be outrageous in the hope of stirring up controversy.

Anything to attract attention and keep those numbers up.

Even the most partisan viewer, however, has a rage threshold, especially once it gets late and the eyelids droop. So you try outrageous comedy.

I first became aware of Fox News "Red Eye" somewhere over Omaha on a flight with the same moniker and a satellite TV system with most of the channels on the fritz. Maybe it was the altitude or the pre-flight cocktails, but I thought it was a harmless and sometimes humorous way to pass an hour.

I don't think that anymore.

With Canada preparing to repatriate four more fallen soldiers who lost their lives in Afghanistan, Fox news, in its ongoing quest for ratings, ran this...



Since there's really no place to start in measuring the ignorance, the insensitivity, the tastelessness or the total lack of comedy acumen here, I'm not even going to bother. Let's just say it's clear that a network that has been utterly shameless in banging the war drum has finally managed to cover itself in what it continually flings at others.

Today, while American war casualties are spirited back into the country under the cover of a media blackout that almost denies they ever existed, Canadians by the thousands will line our Highway of Heroes as Tpr. Jack Bouthillier, Cpl. Tyler Crooks, Tpr. Corey Joseph Hayes and Master-Cpl. Scott Vernelli are carried home with all the respect and honor their sacrifice deserves.

Meanwhile, our government asks for an apology for what was said.



Well, I'm sorry. But an apology (which will no doubt have arrived by the time you read this) isn't good enough.

How about we do something that will hit these ratings whores where it hurts, Mr. McKay -- how about we let those private broadcasters asking you for money and breaks know that there will be none as long as they're rebroadcasting Fox programming.

Nobody's being censored here. Nobody's being denied the ability to watch whatever they want. Fox still has access to the Canadian market. But Canadian money isn't going to purchase their shows anymore.

That might hit these fucktards in the only place where they seem capable of feeling pain -- and hopefully cause somebody at Fox to give their heads a shake and maybe get them on straight for a change.

EDIT: Fox News has now issued one of those classic "non-apology" apologies for the comments and one of the "Red Eye" panel, Doug Benson, had his April 2-5 appearance at the Comic Strip in Edmonton canceled after club ownership concluded they couldn't guarantee his safety. Edmonton, as it happens, is the home turf of Afghan vets the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry.

Mmm mmm Monday~

I am trying out a new quiche recipe for Easter Sunday.... this one was pretty good-- although it had to much meat for me! I think I would cut the meat/sausage by half next time~ Here is the recipe:

Sausage Mushroom Quiche

1 pound small fresh button mushrooms
1 pound ground pork breakfast sausage
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley (I know, thats a lot!)
3 eggs
1 cup half-and-half cream
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (I used the cheese you sprinkle on pizza) 1 (9 inch) unbaked 9 inch pie crust

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare the mushrooms by snipping off the stems. Cut in half if large. Crumble the sausage in a large skillet, add the mushrooms, cook on medium-high heat until the meat and mushrooms are lightly browned and all the liquid from the mushrooms has evaporated. Drain off the grease. I even took some paper towels to the meat, this will help your quiche cook better if it is not so greasy. After all that, add the parsley. (I wouldn't add as much as what the recipe calls for, thats a lot of "green" lol)
In a large bowl, beat the eggs, adding the cream and cheese. (again, I just used the parmesan cheese you sprinkle on top of pizza!) Pour into the mushroom/sausage mixture; blending well. Pour mixture into the pie shell. Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, until crust is browned and the filling is set. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Spray paint party!

I really love to paint things, especially white! I've got 3 bins in my garage full of spray paint in different colors :-) All organized by color of course~ I've used spray paint for stenciling onto wood/cars/cement etc., painting on things directly to give them new life...highlighting details on things... and adding "age" to other things. I love me a good can'o paint!

This Easter tree got a complete make-over, it used to be one of those skinny white trees, now its a fuller tree with a brown trunk & limbs.. you can see the tutorial here. Here is a $3 dollar find that was hand cut by someone years ago. It is really intricate when you look at it up close. When I bought it it was in its natural wood state.... I think it really pops now that it is spray painted white...A vintage style basket that got the pink treatment...(soon to be an Easter basket for my swapping buddy)one of my "block sale" shopping carts got some white paint to freshen it up a bit.Here is a 3 piece set that I picked up for $5 bucks that with the white paint really is adorable now :-)Here is a small oak dresser that I grabbed off of a trash pile..... I put a base coat of latex paint over the wood to seal it then I spray painted over that to give it a nice smooth finish. Of course I had to grubby it up a bit, I like a nice shabby look to things. (yes, I keep the plastic on my lampshades, it gets very dusty where I live!)I made this "map" tablecloth for the yearly pirate party I have for my grandson's birthday. I simply spray painted right onto the fabric to give it an old dirty look~Speaking of pirate party...here is the pirate ship! I spray painted parts of it brown and used some black spray paint to give it an aged/dirty look. Those pirates are a dirty lot!!Okokok....now I'm just showing off in this photo...didn't it turn out soooooooooo caute? The green plastic cabin of the boat was the bottom section of a two tiered play house that I got for free. I got the base at my house, and my daughter has the house/cabin part at her house :-)

Here is a $4 dollar chandelier that I spray painted white that sits over my kitchen table. I wasn't sure if I wanted one, so I picked up one of those "brass" yucky ones and painted it. NOW.... I am in the market for one of those blingy over the top dripping with crystals chandeliers :-)You can see more spray paint party goers by visiting Sara at her blog "Thrifty Chick Decor" If you want to check out more of my blog you can click here :-)