Hey y’all! Hope everyone is enjoying this time with family and friends!
I’m reposting this to test my facebook feed. Sorry if you’ve already seen it!
I’ve had my head in the clouds enjoying the decorating, time off and wonderful sounds of Christmas. If you have some last minute gifts to take care of, like I do, you’ll adore these printable tags and wrapping papers I’ve found for you! Click on each image to be taken to the downloads :)
I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!
Hey everyone! Took a little blogging hiatus there didn’t I? Well I’m back!
I didn’t take as many photos as I should have while I wasn’t blogging so bear with me. These aren’t “how to” more like “how they came out” *wink*
In no particular order :)
Grey and Black Desk
Turquoise Rocking Chair
Ikat Vanity Bench
These are just a few of the projects I’ve done this year. I feel like I’m just playing not working!
It’s a wonderful blessing.
Have a great rest of the day and I promise I’ll be back soon! My mind has been whirling with ideas to share with you and I’m looking forward to getting started!
Love & Hugs,
Hi everyone! It’s been a scorcher here in Arkansas this week (and the last month!) so I’ve been hiding out in the shop painting my heart out. I hope you’re enjoying this summer weather (that was sarcastic, fyi :P) where ever you are and having a blast!
A few days ago I gave you a peek at what I’ve been working on:
Let me show you how it started out. Nothing wrong with it really, just a little dated:
That’s the craigslist photo from the previous owner. I got all excited when I saw it! I’d never done a chest on chest before and had been wanting to give it a whirl. It has all the original hardware on it too! HELLO you are mine! lol
I painted it with one coat of Martha Stewart oops paint in a light grey flat finish. I was surprised at how well this paint covered! It was my first time using Martha’s paint and I will definitely be using it again!
I wanted this piece to really have some style so I mixed up a little bit of metallic silver and black craft paint to go over the details. I hit the bead molding down the sides, the band around the top and the trim that sits on top of the little shelf separating the two “chests”.
After that the only thing I did was glaze it. I wanted the glaze to be dark so I used 1 cup of glaze and 1/3 cup brown paint, Expresso Bean by Behr. I mixed it up well and poured it into a rectangular container. I like to use half a t-shirt to wipe it on, just wad it up and go for it! Flat paint absorbs quickly so keep moving. I just rubbed it on, being sure to get in all the crevices and wiped it right back off lightly with a clean, slightly damp cloth.
Here’s a pic of the chest with glaze and a drawer without.
Huge difference a little glaze makes!
The original hardware was spray painted with Krylon Oil Rubbed Bronze. This gives an amazing finish to any hardware. I love it!
I was in love with how it looked and didn’t do one more thing! Well, my Mom put on a protective layer of polycrylic but that’s it. :) Here’s how it all turned out.
Here you can really see the metallic paint on the bead molding. *swoon*
Quality control inspector, caught in action!
I hated to part with this baby! Oh, did you notice there’s no distressing? I thought it had plenty going on already without it and I was right. *wink*
If you have any questions let’s hear them! I’d love to know if you’re working on something and would be more than happy to answer if I can!
Linking up to these great parties!
Frugal Friday at the Shabby Nest
Saturday Night Special at Funky Junk Interiors
Weekend Wrap Up Party at Tatertots and Jello
Share Your Creations at Kristin’s Creations
July Before & After Party at Thrifty Decor Chick
Sister Sunday Link Party at Sisters of the Wild West
My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy!
Thomas Jefferson
Those who won our independence believed liberty to be the secret of happiness and courage to be the secret of liberty. ~Louis D. Brandeis
Source: nestegg.typepad.com via Peggy on Pinterest
Hey y’all! Thought I’d play a quick game of catch up here. I wanted to show you what I’ve been up to the last week!
I started out with this lovely dresser… ehem..
after a BIG sanding fest ..
and 2 coats of Valspar Gypsy Teal
VOILA!
Pardon the inside the shop photos, it’s 112 in the shade today! good grief!
Then I redid 2 chairs that were a reddish brown color to begin with. They each have a brand new lease on life!
The outdoor pics are soooo much better! darn heat! lol
and last but not least this swanky little side table that got a good dose of my favorite coral color and a wild distressing!
Phew! It was a busy week and I loved every second of it! Ok maybe not EVERY second but you know what I mean *wink*
Here’s a little peek at what I’m working on right now..
See, now I feel all better! I can’t have all the fun over here by myself, I have to share it with you guys too!
Have a wonderful rest of the week my friends!
Hey y’all! I have a really fun make over to share with you today! Are you ready? Sit down now … here we go …
BOOM.
Yeah baby, she’s the queen! This piece has my name written all over it. It’s the most “me” piece I’ve finished to date and I am in love :) I took her to the store today and she sold in TWO hours! omg I was giddy as a school girl over that!
Here is how her poor self started out:
She was brown and grimy and had duct tape holding her drawers together! Oh my, what a sad state of affairs that was! After she was scrubbed clean, she got a coat of primer, 2 coats of Sherwin Williams Nifty Turquoise and then the distressing began. I was hard on her but she took it like a champ! After a dark brown glaze all over and a good coat of wipe on poly she was ready to roll. I painted her original hardware with Rustoleum Oil Rubbed Bronze (my fav) and it looked smashing!
I am thrilled at how this came out and I hope you like it too!
Here are a few shots of her luscious details:
and one more time… the boom shot!
Don’t be afraid to try a bold color in your home! Isn’t there a space that could use a bit of pizzazz?
Linking up to these fun project parties!
Saturday Night Special at Funky Junk Interiors
I had a nice little break from the blog world and I’d like to jump back in with some wonderfully inspiring things I’ve found on pinterest lately!
Source: imgfave.com via Beth on Pinterest
Source: zsazsabellagio.blogspot.com via Erin on Pinterest
Source: meggielynne.tumblr.com via Joy on Pinterest
Source: museofagypsysoul.tumblr.com via Abby on Pinterest
Hey hey hey! Happy Saturday my friends! Hope you’re all enjoying the day and getting some much needed recharge time!
In my last post, I told you how I realized how much more color I needed in my home. I’ve been redefining my style this week, putting a lot of thought and effort into how I want my home to feel. As fate would have it, Mandi at Vintage Revivals is helping me out! She started a great club called Fearlessly Finding Awesome! Our first assignment was to list words that define our personality. These will help get more of US into our homes!
Her second challenge is to take this super fun Style Quiz from HomeGoods. I took mine and here are the results!
I’ve been nosing around Pinterest and have found some fantastic images to inspire me!
Source: tinywhitedaisies.tumblr.com via Lisa on Pinterest
Source: anthropologie.com via Lisa on Pinterest
Source: designspongeonline.com via Lisa on Pinterest
I’m so excited just thinking about surrounding myself with color and my collections from over the years! I know from experience that the more creative our environment is the more our ideas flow. Who couldn’t use a good happy kick in the mojo!
I hope you’ll join us a bring a little more YOU into your life!
Have you ever had an epiphany? A real life explosion in your head?! I have!
Source: united-academics.org via Adrianna on Pinterest
Yep! That’s exactly what it looked like inside my brain. Don’t be jealous, I’m just special like that. *wink*
I have always liked serene, neutral spaces with lots of texture.
Source: housetohome.co.uk via Lisa on Pinterest
They are soothing and calming, the exact feel I wanted in my home. Or so I thought.
While I’ve been working through my 2012 Home Goals and my rooms for the Picture Perfect Room Challenge at Funky Junk Interiors, I’ve come upon a roadblock. I started with my bedroom in January and I liked how it came out. Now it’s sort of “meh”. Wonder what happened there? Why am I not loving it now?
The room I’m working on now is my dining room. It’s coming along but I knew something was missing. I started searching for inspiration and it smacked me in the face on one of my Pinterest boards! HOW did I not see this before?! The epiphany was that I need about 200% more color in my life than I have!
Source: neofundi.com via Lisa on Pinterest
Yeah, that would do it!
I’ve always loved color, used it everywhere and enjoyed how it made me feel. Something has changed. It’s just not enough anymore, it seems drab to me.
Hmmm is this a metaphor for my life as well?! Have I been living a “meh” life? I have a lot to think about there! I am truly shocked at this realization, I mean, come on. LOL Y’all know me, my style, my taste, my favorite things. Where did the drama go? The wow factor?! I have no idea but I’m on a mission now!
I’ve reworked the plan for my dining room and it involves WAY more bright colors than the original idea. I hope you’ll stick around and see just how crazy I get in there!
Do you have a “meh” room, or area of your life you want to kick up a notch? I’d love to hear from you!
Is it true? yes. Is it shocking?! yes. Is it really about my dining room?!?! YES!!
What is it?!?!
It’s almost DONE! Can I get a party horn or something up in here? Puleeeeze?!
Seriously, this has been the longest “simple update” in blog history! Geeze. But now, I can assure you (’cause I know you’ve been fretting about it while you try to go to sleep) it WILL come to an end. Phew. So happy I got that out there!
If you remember, here is where we started, waaaaay back in umm last month *wink*
and here (hangs head in utter shame)
now let me show you where we stand today *big cheesy grin*
I’m so happy with it so far! Mom and I were able to cover up that lovely hole where the air conditioner was. FINALLY! I hung up a collection of vintage plates I’ve had squirreled away in the cabinet. I know!! I couldn’t enjoy them in there, darnit! Now I smile when I see them!
I also changed out the light fixture and added the drum shade I covered in vintage quilt squares. You can see that tutorial here.
The table has also been swapped out for this round one that fits the space much better. It was unfinished wood and you can see how I made it over here.
Now here is what is left to do:
The molding and flooring won’t take long at all. I’ve just got to drag the small air compressor up the hill and into my house. That baby is NOT light! I am still waffling on what to do with that counter top. I think I want it dark so I may either paint it or do a little decoupage. I’m almost finished with the chair that is going in here, replacing the one in the photo.
Here’s a little sneak peek of the chair! I didn’t remove the fabric yet because I want to make sure I like the paint job before I mess with all those staples! Here’s what I started with.
and here’s a peek at what she looks like right now:
I’m not sure if this is the final look or not. You’ll have to stay tuned to find out!
If you’ve made it this far, THANK YOU! I hope some of you are inspired to take a little leap of faith with some color in one of your rooms!