Measuring Success When Things Flop

It's hard to believe that it was already one month ago when I started the May Creativity Challenge started by Una of Good and Perfect.  Time certainly flies when you are having fun.

It's Day 31.  The challenge is SUCCESS.

At the beginning of the month, I knew this would be today's challenge.  I anticipated that I would have some awesome project finished and I would post it as my success story.

You see, I bought this chair at an auction.  I've never reupholstered anything, but this one, I thought, would be an easy starter project.

So I purchased some upholstery fabric at our local Salvation Army Fabric Fair and got to work on the chair. 

 After removing two layers of fabric and lots and lots of nails, I got to this.  It's apparently the original cushion.   

A very smelly cushion made of horsehair.  

Ohhhhhhhh . . . yuck.  

I really like the way the back looks, but it has to go.  It smells.  And there are some black areas.  I read about that.  Ick.  (Spell check says that isn't a word.  We all know it's a word.)

I pulled more nails and staples.  This cushion is tight.  It's wrapped in burlap.  I got the utility knife out and cut away at the burlap and strapping.  

It's been a couple of weeks.

It still looks like this.  I'm stuck.  No success.

It is now standing on it's feet and under the porch roof for protection from the rain we've been getting lately.  It's hard to work on it with rain showers . . . or cold and windy . . . or 90 degree heat.  I'm thinking that any of those weather conditions and horsehair flying around could get ugly.  

Add to that the fact that school is ALMOST out and there are a few things my cyber schooler and I are trying to finish up (ok -we are cramming).

So the topic today is SUCCESS and I failed to SUCCEED in reaching my goal for this chair.  

How do I talk about SUCCESS when I, myself, seemed to have failed?  Good question.  

I spent some time today looking up quotes about SUCCESS.  This one seemed fitting for my situation:

"Success is falling nine times and getting up ten" Jon Bon Jovi

I missed my goal.  It's true.  I can, however, set a new goal and try again.

A few years ago, we had the chance to tour Thomas Edison's summer home in Florida.  We toured his workshop where he worked on his inventions.  We learned about one thing he said that has stuck with us and our older son ever since.  At one point, he had been asked about the inventions that never worked.  He said:

"I didn't fail, I just found 1,000 ways that don't work."

I LOVE that.

Our society likes to measure success by social status . . . job title . . . net worth . . .  grades in school . . . even the type of car we drive.  While all of these things can be signs being successful by hard work, we can sometimes get discouraged if we don't feel as if we measure up.

I believe that we are successful simply by not giving up.  Things don't always work out the way we anticipate.  Life gives us a lot of detours that can sometimes slow our pace or even, at times, have us going in circles.  It's life.  I believe that we are successful when we learn from our mistakes, find our starting point, refocus on the goal, and try again.

So  - after I get through this next week that we call "The Last Week of School", I will take another look at that chair and try again to tear off that cushion.  I'll also set other goals for the summer months.  Some will work out fine.  Some might not.  It's okay.  I can always try again, and next time I might be successful, because I can cross out the way that it doesn't work.

Before I close, I just want to say:

THANK YOU to Una from Good and Perfect for such a fun challenge this month 

and 

THANK YOU to my readers for following my attempts at these challenges from day to day.  

Remember - You ARE successful simply because you got back up again!

Creative Thinking for Free Items

The challenge today is to be creative with something free.  Free, to me, is something that I would otherwise throw away.  Some examples of items would be tubes from empty toilet paper or paper towel rolls, soup cans or spaghetti sauce jars.

I've been saving my spaghetti sauce and pickle jars lately.  I've had several plastic food storage container ruined because my family doesn't understand that some things are not microwavable.  Sometimes you learn that it is easier to adjust to their habits than it is to change them.  So - I'm selling my plastic food storage and replacing them with glass jars that can be put in the freezer, refrigerator and microwave without an issue.  I have a small kitchen and storage has always been an issue.  I'm hoping the glass jars will be easier to store as well.  Only time will tell, but that is my FREE solution to leftover food storage.

You can also find wooden pallets for free.  I've seen the neatest things build from wooden pallets.  you'll see ideas all over my Pinterest account.

I like this for my cabin: 

Source: sherylsalisburyphotography.com via Scrambled Tea on Pinterest

And this could be neat for my house:

Source: mysimplehomelife.com via Scrambled Tea on Pinterest

It's a sofa table made from a pallet.  

How about the blown light bulb you were ready to pitch?  Have you seen the cool things you can do with them?

What about things that are in your yard?  Twigs from a tree.  Flowers.  Even fruits and vegetables can make a pretty display on the table and brighten up a room.  If they are from your garden . . . they are practically free and having healthy food out on display will help you remember to eat it before it spoils. At least . . . in my case . . .  that works better.

Last year, I got some great finds during a post yard sale drive.  Many people put their unsold, unwanted things out for free.  Here are a few items I snatched up.  A baby crib and a metal headboard/footboard.  They are still waiting for me to get them out and get to work.  I'm thinking about a bench from the metal headboard.

I also got these chairs for free when some friends were cleaning out a rental property.  

There are four of them.  I think they have potential.  The question always is . . . paint or stain?

So what can you make with all of these free items?  A while ago I created a Pinterest Board called "Repurposed:  Trash to Practical".  It has some interesting ideas for things you would normally just toss.  My "Craft Ideas" Board has a few ideas as well.

I hope the boards give you a little inspiration.

Remember -- you are only limited by your own imagination.  The more you use that imagination . . . the stronger it will become.

Where has your imagination taken you with free objects?  Share by commenting below.

Stars and Stripes: A Pinterest Roundup

That is the challenge for today.  Stars & Stripes.  Since Memorial Day is almost here, it seems like a good time to be thinking about a wreath for the front door.  I've always loved the ones that look like an aged flag draped around it.

Like this one:

Source: etsy.com via Scrambled Tea on Pinterest

I just haven't purchased the material.  I keep waiting for a sale or a thrift store find.  I've not found either.

There are lots of fun ideas for wreaths.

Here are a few more:

Source: charitree.blogspot.com via Scrambled Tea on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Scrambled Tea on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Scrambled Tea on Pinterest

It's amazing to me what people come up with for materials.

This one seems to be filled with colorful leaves of some kind. I like the fullness of it.

Source: images.bizrate.com via Scrambled Tea on Pinterest

This one appears to be simply lengths of jute string wrapped around the wreath with just a touch of stars & stripes accessories. The beauty of this one is that you could interchange the accessories as the seasons/holidays change. Wouldn't that be fun?

Source: etsy.com via Scrambled Tea on Pinterest

I really like this one made with old wooden spools. I have a collection of them from my Great Grandmother's sewing stash.

Source: Uploaded by user via Scrambled Tea on Pinterest

How about this fun way to recycle soda cans?  Just be careful that you don't cut yourself.  And be sure to wash the cans.  Otherwise, you could have a few unwelcome visitors at your front door. :)

Source: strictly-homemade.blogspot.com via Scrambled Tea on Pinterest

I could go on and on with fun wreaths. I found some made with clothespins, felt, fabric scraps, burlap, and more. You are only limited by your own imagination. Of course, with the whole world of internet at your disposal . . . you are really only limited by someone else's imagination as well. Right?


Since Memorial Day is coming, and today's challenge is Stars & Stripes, it seems only fitting to show you a few other fun things. These are more party ideas but with one of them, you'll need to plan ahead and prepare (at least I would need to). So here are a few other fun ideas for you:


Party Drink!!

Source: google.com via Scrambled Tea on Pinterest

Party Cake!!

Source: blog.exclusivelyweddings.com via Scrambled Tea on Pinterest

Party Ice Cubes!!

Source: theberry.com via Scrambled Tea on Pinterest

Patriotic Accessory - or, if you feel up to it -- Party Favors or Craft Activity:

Source: aglimpseinsideblog.com via Scrambled Tea on Pinterest

I have more ideas on my Summertime Pinterest board. Feel free to take a look. Follow the board for more ideas in the near future as well.

If you have a great Patriotic Craft to share, I would love to see it.  You can post it to my Facebook Page.  You can also leave a comment for me here.

I always look forward to your posts and comments. :)