Vintage Vavoom

Big Announcement!!

2008-11-24T15:21:00.000-08:00

Do you remember my sister that I visited this summer? Here a couple of pics of her beautiful home.

Well she and I are going to start an ezine called Romantic Living! We're both so excited about this venture. The first issue is going to be in March and will be sent via email. However we will be starting a blog with lots of great things for you to enjoy until the first issue is ready. So visit us at the new blog Romantic Living and sign up to receive the first issue.

I will be closing this blog down so I can concentrate on the magazine. We're going to kick things off with a really big contest, so watch for that in the next few days.

Thank you so much to all who have visited me here and left comments. I sure hope to see you at the new blog.

Last Teaser!

2008-11-22T09:53:00.000-08:00

Monday will be the big announcement! Here's the last teaser....

Teaser #3

2008-11-20T19:23:00.000-08:00

Ok...this one doesn't have pictures....but I will tell you that soon this blog will be closed. Normally that would be a bad thing...but it's going to be fantastic cuz soon you will have something so much more to read!

PS- That was a BIG hint!

Teaser #2

2008-11-19T19:19:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures for the second teaser!

Aren't they romantic??

Cool Project and Big Tease!!

2008-11-18T11:10:00.000-08:00

This truly is a junk project. I cannot remember what site I found it on, but it was created by Penny Carlson from Hendersonville, NC

Here is what it looked like before....hard to tell huh?

Now here is the after! What a gorgeous chandelier...so unique!

Now, I've got a major announcement to make...but I can't do it today. It's going to be amazing and I can't wait to share since I know you will love it too. The big announcement will be on Monday, but I will be posting teasers every day until then.

Giveaways!

2008-11-14T09:28:00.001-08:00

I've stumbled across some amazing giveaways in the last couple of days...so be sure to check them out.

This one is from The Old Red Barn Co! How gorgeous are these?

Plus Kerryanne at Shabby Art Boutique is giving away some of her beautiful artwork!

Tips!

2008-11-13T06:41:00.001-08:00

It has been a while since I've posted tips. So here are some good ones I've found!

1. Here's a great way to make a room smell great. Rub a little bit of your favorite perfume on to a (cold) light bulb. The next time you turn it on the scent will fill the room.

2. Need and easy way to clean your shower walls? Just use a sponge mop...cheap and easy!

3. Speaking of showers....here's a great way to make your shower curtain slide on the rod. Just spray furniture polish and it will glide smoothly.

4. Do you love shiny leaves on your plants?

Just apply mayonaise to the leaves and they will be so shiny and repel dust!

Head on over to Shabby Art Boutique! Kerryanne is having a giveaway of her beautiful artwork.

Mmm Mmm.....Good!

2008-11-10T06:32:00.000-08:00

So this weekend was very cold and what is good on a cold day?? Ok, yes the real answer is Brad Pitt....but I was thinking along another line. Soup!!! Hmm...after the Brad Pitt thing....soup doesn't sound quite as good...

Anyways, I wanted to go to Olive Garden this weekend for their soup, salad and breadsticks lunch. Well wouldn't you know it we all got colds. There was no way we were going anywhere. I remember that I had saved a copycat recipe of the Zuppa Toscana soup that Olive Garden makes...my favorite. I'm always a little hesitant about copycat recipes when I know what the original tastes like. I never think they taste quite as good.

Thankfully, I was wrong this time. (did I just say that??) The soup was fantastic! Now this is not my picture of the soup. My camera battery was dead and the soup was gone before it finished charging. I also left out the kale cuz...well, we pick it out at the restaurant anyways. I got the recipe here. Enjoy!

A Good Idea

2008-11-07T15:07:00.000-08:00

I found a glass fish bowl (at least that's what it looked like to me) at a garage sale and bought it for 25 cents.

Later I got the idea to fill it with my bath salts and add an old sugar scoop I had from a flea market. I love how it looks in the corner of the tub!

Comfort Drawer!

2008-10-24T06:46:00.000-07:00

If you are familiar with Sarah Ban Breathnach's book Simple Abundance, you will know all about the comfort drawer. It is a drawer (or a box) to put special things that will give you a pick me up when you need it.

I'm actually using a box since I don't have a drawer and I have a 2 year old curious little girl. This way I can put the box up high and out of her reach.

First of all, you'll want to decorate your box with pretty paper. It must be pleasing to the eye.

Then add things that will put a little smile on your face or make you feel good for those stressful days. I have things like raspberry candy, taffy, a beautiful velvet rose, and silk ribbon. I still have some things to add to complete it. I mean what would comfort be without chocolate??

I also want to add a sweet book, some pictures of hubby and my dolly, a lace doily, bloomin tea, and special bath salts.

So tell me, what would you put in your comfort drawer??

A Fabulous Online Shop

2008-10-22T10:15:00.000-07:00

I recently found the most amazing online shop. I found it through a blog of a blog of a blog...you know how that goes. Anyways, the shop is called One Hundred Wishes! When I saw her gorgeous goodies, I knew they would be perfect for my comfort drawer so I put an order in right away. Here is what it looked like when it arrived. Click on any picture to make it bigger and see more detail.

Andrea packages everything so beautifully. It's like opening a trove of presents!

The picture just doesn't do this glitter justice. It is gorgeous!

Here's a picture of what is in the boxes wrapped with a ribbon.

Everything was so perfect. Please visit her site if you can (I have no affiliation), you won't be sorry!

eta- I see her site is closed for a little while....but you can look at her amazing blog too!

Next post will be about my comfort drawer!

Button Swap

2008-10-21T11:55:00.000-07:00

I received my package from my swap partner and it was just so cute I wanted to share it. It was wrapped up so pretty!

Here's a close up of the button wreath.

She put the pretty buttons in this cute little jar and tied fabric around the top.

She also included this little goodie...that just smells heavenly!

I hung the button wreath on my china hutch.

Entertaining Simple!

2008-10-08T14:18:00.000-07:00

Do I need to say more? This book looks just fantastic and I can't wait to get my hands on one. Here is the man himself, Matthew Mead. Get a sneak peek of this book at his website Entertaining Simple.

Here are some eye candy pictures in the book!

If you are in Canada or the US....RUN, RUN, RUN to your nearest bookstore and pick it up. You can also try and win a copy on the fabulous blog Restyled Home!

Button Flowers

2008-10-06T16:03:00.000-07:00

I hosted a button swap on the Juntique message board. This is what I came up with...a button bouquet! I'm really happy with the way it turned out.

Footstool and Goodies!

2008-09-29T18:13:00.001-07:00

I found this footstool at a garage sale recently and I thought I could make it over.

Here's what it looks like after I was done. I was pretty happy with the way it turned out. Of course, I know where the mistakes are, but at least I know what to do differently next time. Not too bad for my first recover job. I covered it with a part of a sheet I also bought at a garage sale.

I also bought this creamer set at Marshall's this weekend. Aren't they just adorable? I just love the roses popping off.

I also bought other goodies, but I will share those later. I'm trying to redo my mantle right now and it's a work in progress.

What happened to the Outdoor Room??

2008-09-22T06:07:00.001-07:00

You might be wondering where is this room she kept talking about doing?? Wel......ummm...let's see....first of all it rained and rained and rained and......oh yeah, rained!!!! Then it was hot, hot, hot!!! So needless to say, it just didn't happen the way I wanted it to. I have every piece for it, just was not able to put it all together.

I put the main parts together just to get an idea of what it will look like. I did get the patio painted...although it's very dirty and rusty in the pics below. Try to imagine this with things on the walls and white curtains draping along the edges.

Here's hoping for next year!

See what I mean about a dirty floor? Try not to concentrate too hard on it...it will burn your retinas.

Now I will add...as disappointed as I was in this year's project. Last night we turned the icicle lights on and laid on the daybed...all three of us....Ok, well little dolly kept jumping on us, but that's another story. Anyways, it was so nice...the weather was cool and the light was so soft and perfect. Hey, I may get some use out of this room this year yet!

On to other things....Last weekend I could not believe how many garage sales were around...man it must have been the big fall clean out for people in my little area. Anyways, I packed up Dolly and away we went. I got a few things (not a whole lot) which I'll show ya later since they are in transformation mode right now.

I also bought a fern for $6 from a lady selling all the plants she had outside this summer. Great idea huh? Well, for some strange reason I decided to pick the biggest one...hey, I gotta get the most value from my $6 right? Hmmmm.

I got the behemoth home and realized it is BIG! I put it in front of my window, but it blocked all the light. So for now it's beside the window and I just hope it will do alright. I named him Sideshow Bob! I'll just have to keep turning him to make sure all of him gets light.

Project of the Week!

2008-09-15T06:08:00.001-07:00

I wanted to show this project because, first of all it's fantastic and secondly the before is actually a new lamp, but just not the designers style.

This redesign was done by Kimba from A Soft Place to Land. She started with this lamp she got on clearance from Target.

First comes the primer. Kimba uses painters tape and a plastic bag to protect the areas she doesn't want painted.

Next, a couple of coats of Kilz Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint. This stuff looks amazing, I am definitely going to get some and try it.

Add a new shade from Big Lots and you've got a custom lamp!

Pretty ingenious Kimba...thanks for letting me share. I probably would have looked at the original lamp and walked on by because it wasn't my style. I need to remember that treasure doesn't always need to come from trash.

A Found Poem!

2008-09-09T10:40:00.000-07:00

So I was cleaning out some papers and came across a poem that I wrote out. As I was reading it, I thought it was kind of sweet. When I got to the bottom I realized I had written this poem!!

I had no recollection of doing it, so I am sharing it with you now, please be kind as I am not a poet :)

The Rose of Life

It starts as a seed in the womb of the earth
Relying on another in order to grow
To come in to the world bringing joy to all around
To sprout forth as a seedling from the cool soil below

It grows to become a bud, ready to bloom
To spread its petals and show its personality
Each one so different and so unique
But all filled with the same pureness and quality

It looks so innocent and smells so pure
Attracts all the bees and butterflies too
Its color is vibrant, energetic and kind
And sparkles in the sun with a sprinkle of dew

As it grows and matures each and every day
It gets prettier and prettier to all that care
For with age comes wisdom and the ability to know
How to handle problems even though life is not fair

A rose is never perfect and neither are we
For life has its thorns we all must face
They're prickly and at times make us wilt
But friends are like water, it only takes a trace

As the cycle completes and the flower dies
All the loved ones cry and mourn
The beauty is etched in everyone's heart
Have no fear, for who remembers the thorn

Project of the Week

2008-08-29T14:55:00.000-07:00

Here is a beautiful buffet created by Mara Oatman of Mara Oatman Designs.

Mara's instructions - I got this buffet at the Goodwill for $40.00. It was in pretty rough shape- lots of marks/blemishes and paint splatters on the finish. I sanded it and painted it with black spray paint. Then I sanded the edges to get a distressed look. I then finished it off with a coat of poly. And now its finished!

Here is the before

And here is the beautifully finished project

A close up of the finish

Tips and a New Mirror!

2008-08-26T17:50:00.000-07:00

1. My first tip today is a cleaning one. Every once in a while take your knobs off of your oven, dishwasher, anything that comes off and run it through the dishwasher. These things get just as dirty and gunky, but we don't always think about cleaning them.

2. I have not tried this one yet, but I'm going to. If you are plagued by mosquitos, try using mouthwash...apparently it works better than repellent.

3. If you buy icing....beat it with your beater before spreading. It will spread easier and you'll use less...saving you calories. Plus I always like my icing fluffy!

I bought this mirror for $5 at a flea market a couple of weeks ago. I knew right away it would look fabulous once painted.

Here is the before. If you are wondering about the image in the mirror...it was laying on back cement pad under our deck when I took the picture.

Here is the after! Don't look at the little fingerprints on the mirror (miss dolly!!!) or the pencil mark on the wall...lol.

Project of the Week and Flea Market Finds!

2008-08-20T07:14:00.000-07:00

Wow, these weeks seem to be going by fast!

This week's project is garden related. Now I don't really have a before picture, but this was made from 2 old windows, old barn wood and spindles.

Window Garden Box

This is how it looks once construction is completed.

Here is what it looks like in the White Garden!

This project was created for a friend by Jeanne S. You can find her hanging out at the Garden Junk forum at GardenWeb. Here are her how to's:

Put 2 screws toward the middle top of the 2 windows to hold them together in a upside down "V" shape... then put "L" brackets on each end of the top.

Stand upside "V" on floor so you can measure the length & width to make the box. Then make box and add floor to the bottom of the box. Then we used 2 hinges (on each side) to attach the windows to the box (to hold the window in place).

The we laid it on it's side and attached the legs to the outside of the box ...but we put the screws on ...from the inside-out of the box. Ta-dah!

Thank you for your inspiration Jeanne!

I also had the chance to go to the flea market this last weekend. I got a few fun things to share with you.

Here are a couple of telephone insulators that I will be using as outdoor candle holders. They were 50 cents each.

I also found these heavy metal brackets. I want to paint them white and create a really pretty shelf!

I think this was my favorite find. It's a metal umbrella (without the handle). My first idea is to attach it to some copper tubing and put it in the garden with some pretty flowers around it. If you've got another idea, please share with me.

Here are a few more things. This pretty bowl was just $2.

Lastly, I got these small beveled mirrors. The frames are going to be painted white and I already have the perfect spot for them to hang.

A Winner and a New Project of the Week!

2008-08-13T17:47:00.000-07:00

Wow, this week went by fast. I hope I can keep up with a new project every week. If you know of any that you think are fabulous, please let me know!

First of a big congratulations to Joanne Kennedy from My Little Cottage in the Making! She is the winner of my blog giveaway. I hope you enjoy your goodies Joanne!

Now for our next project of the week. Here is how you can take a simple, but beautiful table...that at first glance does not seem to fit the cottage decor....

and turn it into something spectacularly cottagey!!

This piece was done by Mandi at Shabby Vintage Dreams! She did such a great job of painting this table.

Ok, I contacted Mandi on her method of painting and here is what she said...

First I wipe down with mineral turpentine and give a sand with my electric sander. In between each coat of paint (Dulux Antique White USA Oil Based Semi Gloss) I lightly sand with very fine grade sandpaper. I coat all my furniture in 3 coats of paint. If adding floral appliqués I normally attach before the last coat of paint, that way they are painted at the same time since these only need one coat of paint. I also do all my painting the old fashioned way with a brush!

Watch for more of her projects in upcoming weeks!

More Tips!

2008-08-11T18:10:00.000-07:00

I found a great list to create a cleaning caddy. What a great gift that would be for someone who just moved!! You can even make it pretty by using this pink caddy!

Personally, I like to have one of these in each of the bathrooms. Saves a lot of time running back and forth.

Anyways, here is the list...

COTTON SWABS: Great for cleaning corners and crevices. Makes the job of cleaning keyboards, cameras, window tracks and shoes a breeze.

CLOTH DIAPERS: Reusable, absorbent, lint-free and perfect for polishing. Use for wiping up spills, washing your car, cleaning windows and polishing furniture.

MICRO-FIBER CLOTHS: While they’re made from nylon and polyester, they’re still a good eco-frugal choice because you’ll use less water, chemical products and paper towels.

RUBBER OR NEOPRENE GLOVES: Protect your hands from bacteria, chemicals and extended time in water with gloves. They work well to grip jars for easy opening, too.

TOOTHBRUSH: Perfect scrubbing tool for hard-to-reach places. Clean around faucets, in sliding tracks, flatware, scrubbing stains, used as a nailbrush, for toilet hinges, jewelry, shoes and combs.

DISINFECTANT WIPES: Great for quick cleanups such as counters and doorknobs. You can make your own. Use thick paper towels cut in half with the cardboard tube removed, washcloths or cotton cloths. Place them in a container with a lid, such as a plastic ice-cream tub, plastic coffee container or baby-wipes box. For the cleaner, use a two-to-one mixture of vinegar and water or your favorite antibacterial cleaner. Dilute according to your cleaner’s label instructions. You can add your favorite essential oils, such as lemon or tea tree.

BAKING SODA: It deodorizes, scours and works well to clean proteins and grease. Often used on faucets to remove spots. Add it to laundry as a booster, or make it into a paste with water and use it as a stain remover. Use it combined with water for dishes that have baked-on food or coffee/tea stains.

LOOFAH: If you frequently use scrub sponges or scouring pads, try replacing them with loofahs. Loofahs can be grown by seed in your own backyard, so are versatile, natural and biodegradable. They’re natural scrubbers for the kitchen and bath.

RUBBER BRUSH AND BROOM: Readers with pets and children mentioned they liked using the brushes and brooms to get fur off furniture and carpet. The brooms are multipurpose and can be used as a squeegee, broom, mop and scrubber. They can be used indoors and outdoors.

MELAMINE FOAM: Readers love these products for their ability to remove crayon marks, stains, adhesive residue, spots and spills from various surfaces. To get the most use, they often cut the foam into quarters and rinse to revive.

FURNITURE POLISH: Combine 1 cup olive oil and 1/2 cup lemon juice. Place in a glass jar, and you have a simple, homemade polish.

*Now I have to add in Magic Erasers!!! These things are miracles and take off so much stuff!

Here is also another tip about Baking Soda!

If you have pets that live in the house, you know how hard it is to get pet hair out of blankets. They just seem to grab a hold and won't let go. Just throw some baking soda in your wash and somehow it tells the little hairs that it's okay to let go!!

Lastly, I saw this on a tv show this weekend. If you have a small bathroom and don't have a lot of space to hold toiletries, get one of these shower curtains and instead of putting in pictures, put in makeup, shampoo, toothpaste, whatever you need to hide. Plus if you don't want it exposed, just hang your regular curtain over top of it and no one will even know your shower curtain is packing like a mule!

Don't forget to enter my giveaway! Drawing is on Wednesday!! http://vintagevavoom.blogspot.com/2008/08/my-50th-post.html

My 50th Post!!

2008-08-06T06:25:00.000-07:00

Ok, here it is. I hope it was worth the wait. I have enjoyed this blog so much so I want to start this post with a giveaway.

All you need to do is leave a comment on this post. The giveaway will be open for one week and I'll draw a name on Aug 13th.

First of all we have a beautiful faux pink diamond. So sparkly and pretty!

Next we have a set of bud vases. These are brand new, I just took them out of the box for the picture.

Lastly, a jar of pink sugar! Not only does this pretty up any cupcake or baking, they taste great.

Now for the big surprise!!

I love projects and I love seeing before and afters of what people have done. There are so many amazing and talented people in blogland. So I am going to be featuring a PROJECT OF THE WEEK. Each week I will showcase a project showing before and after pictures along with the instructions when possible.

So let's kick it off, shall we?

The first project comes from an extremely talented lady named Joy at Cupid's Charm. Joy is a jewelry designer who specializes in broken china jewelry. Her designs are simply stunning! Please visit her website and check them out. One day I am going to own one of her pieces.

Joy took these vintage wooden canisters...

and turned them into these beautiful pieces!

For her instructions and more pictures, please visit her blog, Notes from a Charmed Life!
Thank you Joy for sharing this with us.

Check back next week for another Project of the Week!

My Hutch

2008-08-03T13:25:00.000-07:00

Where has the week gone?? All I know that it is hot, hot, hot in Missouri right now. I have been busy and will soon have quite a bit to share.

Do you remember this mirror I bought at Marshalls?

Well, I wanted to show you the finished product. I think it turned out quite well. Now to find the perfect spot for it.

I wanted to show a picture of my hutch since I reworked it. I found this at a flea market for $65 and my wonderful sister bought it for our anniversary. It is such a unique color I would not dream of repainting it, plus it really gives a punch to the room.

Here are some close-ups.

I've got a great giveaway lined up for my 50th post and a big surprise!! Keep checking back.

My Favorite Things

2008-07-25T12:30:00.000-07:00

Cindy, at my romantic home, is hosting a "My Favorite Things" weekend, so I thought I'd join in. It's hard to pick one favorite thing, but this item is definitely at the top of my list.

I found this pink milk glass compote on ebay and just fell in love with it. I have one matching piece, but this one is still my favorite. I'm not big on collections, I just like a special piece of this and a special piece of that. :)

I needed to get out and about so I decided to try and find some garage sales today. I didn't find much...you'd think people would create signs that actually made getting to their place easier...sheesh. Anyways, I did find these beautiful pink candlestick holders for $5. They are glass and they are heavy. Now I don't know anything about them, but they seem like they might be depression or sandwhich glass. In any event, I love them!!

I am approaching my 50th post. Stay tuned for a special blog giveaway!!

Fireplace Fancy

2008-07-24T07:27:00.000-07:00

Well, I am back from my trip to Canada. The trip was way too short as usual. I will be adding more pictures of my sister's cottage style in the next couple of weeks.

When I got home, there was a package waiting for me from ebay. I have really wanted something to put in front of the fireplace for the summer so you don't concentrate on the black hole. Well I found the perfect screen. It was a very dark cream color and looked quite ridiculous around all the white, but I sprayed it with Dover White and tada!

I will be posting more regularly now. Also...watch for a project of the week....coming soon!

Cottage Living Room

2008-07-14T14:26:00.000-07:00

Look what arrived today! I found these beautiful tole candelabras on ebay a few weeks ago. We decided to split them between us since even one makes such a statement. Course that's also the problem when you and your sister have the same taste. I can't wait to get one of these home.

The same seller also had these seashell pictures that are just adorable. We decided to split these up too.

Ok, here is my sister's living room. It's just beautiful and cottagey!

Here are a few close ups of the details.

Cottage Style in Alberta!

2008-07-12T14:23:00.001-07:00

I can't believe it's been almost 2 weeks since I posted. It's been a very hectic time, but I finally have a couple of days to relax. I wanted to show pictures of my sister's home in Alberta, Canada. This is her cottage style bedroom. I will continue to share more of her home over the next few days. Please click on each picture to enlarge and look at the beautiful details.

Tea Cart and other Goodies!

2008-06-30T06:40:00.000-07:00

I finally got the tea cart painted. It still needs some touching up in a few areas, but I wanted to get a picture up. Here is what it looked like before.

And here is how it looks with white paint. I started with kilz primer and then used an exterior white paint. It took a few coats because the exterior paint seemed a little thinner. I've been painting for years, but I haven't used exterior that much.

You may remember that fabulous garage sale that I went to a couple of weeks ago. Well my inlaws were kind enough to bring down the items I left in their garage. So here are a few more finds.....and yes, there is still more that I will share another time.

I love this ice cream chair. I plan to put it outside with a plant on it.

I am so in love with this table and can't wait to paint it white! I have been looking for a side table like this for a long time.

This vanity chair was only $1. I plan to paint it and recover the seat.

We only have 4 dining chairs and so when we have company, we have to sit on stools. I bought 2 of these chairs so that we don't have to use the stools again. I'm going to paint them white and recover the seat in something fabulous.

This iron chandelier was only $1 as well. It is going to look so cool with a paint job. I'm still debating whether to keep it or sell it on craigslist. I guess we'll just have to see.

So I've really added to my already very long project list. At this rate, it's going to be a couple of years before I get stuff finished. I love doing it though and doubt I'll ever change...lol.

On wed I am leaving for Canada to visit my sister. So for the next 2 weeks, I will be blogging from her house and will share pictures of her fabulous cottage!

Roses & Hydrangeas

2008-06-26T14:43:00.000-07:00

My teacart is almost finished and I should have before and after pictures soon. I hope I'm not boring you with all my rose pictures. I'm just so thrilled with how they are doing, can you tell I'm new at growing roses??

My plan was to dry the hydrangea blooms on the bush, but the japanese beetles showed up and started munching on them. So, I decided to bring them in and dry them that way.

Parasol and Paper Swap!

2008-06-20T15:59:00.000-07:00

I received my swap package from Kerryanne English today. Make sure and check out her blog! The swap hostess is Shannon at Paint Mine Pink!

What a treat!! She sent me a copy of her book Shabby Doodles, music paper that she painted roses on, and beautiful tag with a parasol painted on it, purple blank notecards, chocolate, A gorgeous hand painted hanging of a girl holding a parasol, and some gorgeous faux cupcakes.

Here's a closeup of one of the cupcakes....yummy! Kerryanne is definitely talented!

Thank you so much Kerryanne!! I hope you get my package soon and I hope you love it as much as I love yours!!

I am trying to pick a fabric to recover the stool I got at the garage sale. Please help me! Which option do you like best??

Option 1 - This fabric is quite stiff, so I don't know how easy it would be to work with.

Option 2 - This fabric has a light green background. I hope you can see it in the pic.

Option 3 - This fabric is gorgeous...but I was just wondering if it was "too white" when you compare the color of the legs.

Since I don't know how to do a poll, please leave a comment and tell me which one you like best. Remember you can click on the pictures to make them bigger.

Thanks!!

Thursday Tips!

2008-06-19T15:58:00.001-07:00

The first tip for day is an easy way to clean your glass or hard to clean bottles. Just fill with water and drop a denture cleaning tablet down. Let it sit for awhile and then rinse out. Your glass will sparkle. You can also use this to clean your coffee pot, it gets rid of those hard to clean coffee stains.

The next tip has to do with these...

A tip that I heard years ago and my sister recently reminded me of is when planting your roses (or tomatoes), plant a whole ripe banana right in the soil with them. You can also just use the peels if you want to. This will provide the rose with potassium and I also heard it helps keep the bugs and disease away. Here's how my roses are doing with the bananas. Keep in mind, these have just been planted a few weeks ago.

This is the picture I showed you from Monday....when I came back from our weekend trip.

Here is how they looked on Tuesday...

This is Wednesday...

And today!

I have not used any fertilizer, rose food, or insect repellent since I planted them. They are doing just great and I couldn't be happier!

Score!

2008-06-16T08:06:00.001-07:00

It's been another rough week with my back, but I finally feel like I'm on the mend. I just need to make sure I don't get over confident and do more damage.

Anyways, this weekend we went to Warsaw where my inlaws live and they had a village wide garage sale that they do every year. Well this year it was fantastic!! It's becoming a tradition to do this with my sister in law Karri and I hope we keep doing it every year. Plus there are a ton of flea markets in this area along with my favorite one because their prices are wonderful.

So here are some goodies that I picked up this weekend!

This is a grouping of the pillows and lace runners and doilies that I bought.

I just fell in love with this vintage apron. Aren't the colors beautiful??

This step stool is going to be just perfect in my outdoor room or garden with some potted plants on it. I don't even have to paint it!

I just love the patina on this small cart. Another great addition to the outdoors.

This stool is just gorgeous. I can't wait to recover the seat!

I have always wanted one of these magazine racks...but they go for quite a bit of money on ebay. I was so happy to find this at the flea market.

I've been saying that I need more clocks and even though it's plastic, I just love the green color!

This is just a fraction of what I got this weekend. I will post more a little later. However, I had to leave quite a few items at my inlaws. Yes, I endured quite a bit of mocking for all my purchases, but ya know what?? It was worth it!!! I got such great deals! The downside is that I really added to my already long list of projects. I am going to be Sherwin William's best friend!

When I got home, I looked at my roses and couldn't believe what happened over the weekend. Take a look!

Look at all the buds! I counted 30 and over 25 on my other rose bush. I am soooo excited!!

I was also tagged last week by Tales from an OC Cottage. So here we go...

Here are the rules:
1. link back to the person who tagged you. `
2. post these rules on your blog.
3. share six unimportant things about yourself.
4. tag people at the end of your entry.

Here are 6 unimportant things about me...

1. I don't like my food to touch
2. I can't move my pinky toe
3. I actually can believe it's not butter
4. I can now actually hear the Canadian accent
5. I love game shows
6. I've never seen It's a Wonderful Life

I'm not going to tag anyone, but if anyone wants to share 6 unimportant things about themselves, I'd love to hear it!

Patio Room - Phase 1

2008-06-10T19:47:00.000-07:00

I can't even put into words how exciting it was to finally get the bed put together and get the furniture outside. I sewed the mattress cover and all the pillow covers except the solid pink one. I haven't sewn in 10 years and this was the first time I've never used a pattern. All in all, it went quite well. So this is just a pic of the corner. I still have more decorating and tweaking to do, but that will be in phase 2....which will be in the next couple of days.

Getting Closer!

2008-06-08T18:00:00.001-07:00

I'm sorry I've been so quiet....I put my back out last Sunday and was on restriction all week. Man, did that hurt. It's still sore, but at least I can walk on my own now. Ok, on to better stuff.

A big thank you to Carolyn at Mountain Meadows. I won her Cottage Charm Giveaway and received the package on friday. In it was a beautiful pillow, some yummy chocolate covered toffee, a gorgeous mug with notepads, and some beachy wallpaper border.

Here's a close up of the pillow.

After all the rain and storms we have had, plus the factor of my back and not being able to move, we finally were able to paint the patio floor of the outdoor room. I just love the color! Now I can start putting things together.....wahoo. Of course we are expecting all kinds of rain and storms tomorrow...sigh.

Here is what the metal daybed looks like after I painted it. Don't ya just love our field of clover??

My newest acquisition...a wood teacart. I found this at a flea market a few weeks ago and while it was marked at a good price, I still couldn't afford it. Well, it was one of those items that I kept thinking about and called to see if it was still there. Not only was it there, but they had marked down the price by quite a bit....what a steal! Oh boy...more painting to do!

Cottage Charm Giveaway Winner!

2008-06-01T13:03:00.000-07:00

I used a random number generator and out of 147 entries, it picked #2....which means the winner is Cindy from My Romantic Home! Congratulations Cindy!

If you haven't had a chance to check out Cindy's blog, you must visit it soon. It's full of decorating ideas and refurbishing techniques.

Thank you to all who entered the giveaway. This was my first and I had so much fun. I will definitely be having another one soon.

Also, a big thanks to Kim at Twice Remembered Cottage for hosting this Giveaway. It was such an opportunity to find other blogs and meet other women who love the cottage lifestyle.

My New Mantle!

2008-05-29T14:28:00.000-07:00

I have been dying to get this done, but I needed the right mirror. Since I could not find one in my price range, I asked my husband to make me one. I must give him a huge shout out. It was painstaking at times, but in the end it turned out great! I really wanted to do a seashell theme and I actually plan to add and tweak. After all, decorating is a process right? It hardly ever is perfect the first time.

I also think I'm going to distress the beadboard frame a little...that way you'll actually be able to see the beadboard a little more.

Spoiled!

2008-05-27T11:57:00.001-07:00

By my sister that is. I have been waiting for a package from her for....well, it felt like forever. Today was the day. I practically ran over my mail lady when I saw she had it. Oops!

Anyways, here is a picture of the wonderful goodies she sent me. The only thing I didn't include was the panties from La Senza and some clothes for my dolly. Honestly, I just didn't want to show how big my butt is...lol.

There are cookies, chocolates, Romantic Homes, candles, potpourri, tulle, glass slipper, tealight lantern, peony and green apple soap, rose fabric, and a Christie Repasy print. Oh My! Who has the best sister???

I've also added a few things to my etsy shop (link is on the right top of my blog). Here are some shabby pillows wrapped in ribbon.

I love this pink tin. I use it to hold all my bigger tools and rulers, etc.

A pretty pink bench, perfect for a vignette.

Lastly a wonderful chippy wicker shelf!

Inspiration Monday

2008-05-26T18:29:00.000-07:00

I've been working on many projects this weekend, but I still need to take pictures. So today I thought I would share some beautiful decorating inspiration.

For more inspiration, visit House to Home.

Something New!

2008-05-22T08:20:00.000-07:00

It's been far too long since I've added anything to my etsy shop. I found this sconce at a local flea market. It was a lovely gold color, but I changed that and added a pink wash to it. I think it will look so pretty with some trailing flowers.

Tips & Blooms!

2008-05-21T14:04:00.000-07:00

First of all, a couple of tips!

As you probably know, I am working on creating a patio room these days. Well the chandelier that I spray painted holds candles. Now of course I want to use dripless candles, but as I was searching, I discovered they are quite a bit pricier. However, I stumbled across this wonderful tip that showed me how to make dripless candles.

All you need is your candles, some salt, water and a pan. Pour several inches of water in the pan and add 2 TBSP of salt. Soak the candles for a couple of hours and you are done. Now you have dripless candles!!

Now the next tip was one that I knew, but was reminded again in the new Country Home magazine. If you have an old dresser around that really isn't good for much anymore, keep the drawers. You can paint them, put casters on the bottom and then use them for storage for under a bed. You can also take it one step further by using velcro to fasten fabric over the top, that way whatever is inside will not get dusty. The picture below shows how this is used under a daybed on a porch, but it would be fabulous in any room!

Next I must give a shout out to my dh! He lovingly (ok, I had to coax him a little) put up this chandelier that my sister gave me and I've had for probably 2 years, over the sink. I just love the light that it gives off in the evening. It's so romantic!

How fabulous are these?? Of course the sparkle doesn't show up well on camera, but trust me they are amazing. I'm planning on redoing my mantle with a beachy seashell theme, so these will go perfectly.

Yesterday I went to the local farmer's market. Since this spring has been so cold, there was not much produce available, but I did pick up this beautiful bunch of peonies. They look so pretty on my table.

Lastly, I have added a couple more things to my Cottage Charm Giveaway. Be sure to check it out!

Flower Beds!

2008-05-18T16:58:00.001-07:00

The day has finally arrived! We worked really hard all weekend and we got this front flower bed put together. It took a lot of work and dirt, but we are very proud of what we built!

Here are the rose bushes. They look a little pathetic, but they are actually quite healthy. However they did lose quite a few petals with the transfer. I had a good talk with them though and told them to be healthy and happy and grow strong and I would take very good care of them. Let's hope they listen!

And finally the hydrangeas. I've wanted hydrangeas for so many years, but where I lived in Canada, it was not possible. These are just about to bloom too!

Do you remember the bird cage I sprayed with primer a few posts ago? Well, I wanted to paint it a color to showcase in my patio room. This is a new color by krylon and I think it is fantastic. I still have to spray the inside, but you get the idea!

Don't forget to enter my Cottage Charm Give Away!

Cottage Charm Give Away!

2008-05-16T20:05:00.000-07:00

I will be participating in the 2nd annual Cottage Charm GiveAway hosted by One Woman's Cottage Life. Thanks Kim for putting this together!

Here is the prize that I am offering. All you have to do is leave a comment on my blog. The more comments you leave the more times you are entered. If you don't have a blog, please send me your email address so I can contact you if you win. The drawing will be held on May 31st. Thank you all for stopping by!

Here's a breakdown. We start with a very cute pink oval basket.

Then we add some products to pamper, bath salts, soap, and foot soak.

Next is some cookies and a sweet tin of lemon candies.

Then we add some sparkle with 2 colors of glitter.

This is some charming trim and ribbon, 6 different pieces all ranging in size.

Lastly, we have a little photo album small enough to through in a purse.

Newly added...Glassine Envelopes and Mini Paper Flowers!

Thank you for visiting and I hope you enjoy this giveaway!

Tuesday's Tips!

2008-05-13T15:29:00.000-07:00

I thought I would try and submit a couple of tips every Tuesday. So here's what I got for today.

Do you have stainless steel appliances?? You can buy stainless steel cleaner, but I bet you already have something in the house that will work just as well. That's right WD-40.

Here is an example. This is what my coffee maker looked like before, and believe me no windex or counter cleaner made it look any better.

Tada! Just a few moments later after using WD-40 and it looks pristine!

Now for the second tip! What do you think these 2 things have in common??

Well, if you want to attract Orioles, just put out a plate of grape jelly. A lady recently did this and had 9 Orioles all at once inhaling the jelly. I don't know what it is, but they love it!!

Devastation!

2008-05-12T14:25:00.000-07:00

This last Saturday some tornadoes ripped through the area killing at least 15. Our area was spared as the storms split right before they got here. My heart goes out to all those who are dealing with this tragedy in Missouri and other states.

There was a little break in the weather on Sunday and I managed to get a couple of things primed. I got this birdcage off craigslist for $15...it is so big...what a deal! I plan on painting it some type of a blue for my outdoor room. I don't want to paint it white, because I don't think it will stand out as well if I do. Normally I think everything looks good white or cream, but there are the odd exceptions.

I also found this mirror that was a really ugly (to me) gold color. This piece will be white, probably with a pink wash on it.

I was in the mood for cupcakes this weekend. What is better than chocolate cupcakes with pink buttercream frosting??? Absolutely nothing!!

Flowers & Presents!

2008-05-08T13:44:00.000-07:00

I took a better picture of the pink tub...along with some other flowers I haven't planted yet.

We had some wicked rain last night so the rose blooms got hammered a bit. I decided to just cut them and enjoy them inside. Oh how I love roses!

I also received this beautiful package today from Katie's Rose Cottage! Everything is just so beautiful. Those pink diamonds are amazing. I thought they would be acrylic, but they are not. I'm also very excited to hang this tin sign in my outdoor room!

Chandelier

2008-05-06T07:22:00.000-07:00

I finished repainting my chandelier that is going to hang in my outside patio room. I'm really happy with how it turned out, I think it's going to look really good. It's a candle chandelier...so I'm going to have to find some "safe" candles to put in it for outside. However, it will be in a protected area so the wind shouldn't have too much of an impact. Thank you to Leann at Pink Icing On The Cake for telling me about the pink valspar spray paint. It made this project so much easier.

Here are some before and after pictures!

This is before I primed it, but after I removed all the crystals.

After it got a coat of pink paint.

And the finished product! It's hanging there just for the picture, that is not where it will stay.

I realize we are well into May, but I wanted to share my calendar picture for May because it is just so beautiful. I just love pretty calendars. Each month is met with great anticipation!

Beautiful Weekend!

2008-05-04T13:00:00.001-07:00

It was a great weekend to get projects done. First off is flowers of course. I finished planting some more pots. Here is a pink enamel tub that I had. I thought it would make a nice centerpiece on a patio table. This isn't the best picture, I'll have to try and take another one.

Here are some azaleas that were on clearance and also my Hobby Lobby find that I planted pansies in. I love pansies!!!

I don't have this rose planted in the ground yet, but it's doing very well and I thought I'd capture one of the blooms on it.

This was today's project and I am so stoked with how it turned out. These are my tipsy pots.

Now, you may remember my before and after of our house. It was yellow with red/orange brick and dark green trim.

Well, here is what it looks like after I applied the painting treatment to the brick. Before it was a solid dark grey and now it looks a lot more like brick. I am so happy with the way it turned out.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend as well!

Fresh Flowers

2008-05-01T08:18:00.000-07:00

Finally!! I have lived here for 2.5 years and have not been able to do any landscaping or flower planting. Ok...I take that back, I did manage to get some peonies in the ground last year, but I haven't gotten a bloom from them yet.

Since this neighborhood was new construction, it's pretty barren, so I am starting from scratch. Of course, I have grand plans, but for some reason Mr T seems to think it's more important to make the mortgage payments than buying plants.....men! LOL

So, we will be doing this slowly and in stages. I did manage to fill a couple of containers. Here's a picture of one by my front door. I'll have pics of the others soon.

I also managed to buy some hydrangeas and a rose bush to plant. So that will be this weekend's project.

Here are a couple of things I found at Marshall's. This pitcher is so pretty, I can't wait to put some flowers in it.

This hanging planter was an amazing find! It was only $15 and it's going to hang outside for the summer.

A Makeover

2008-04-28T13:35:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's been over a week since I posted. Dolly and myself have been sick this last week. Plus my dad and my brother were visiting. They are from Canada, but go down to Mexico every year. They were on their way back up and stopped by for almost a week. My mom is flying home a little later. Here is the view they have in Mexico.

Our view is a little different these days too, except it is the view of the house. This is what it looked like when we moved in 2.5 years ago. I absolutely hate the red (actually more like orange) brick!

Well, my dad and brother are painters, so they went to work and painted the brick and the shutters and door. I love the way it turned out. I am going to do a painting treatment on the brick to make it look more like brick and give it some dimension.

I also managed to hit a neighbors garage sale on Sat. I got these tables and this plant stand for $2 each. I thought they would look good in my patio room.

Saturday Project

2008-04-19T15:04:00.001-07:00

More progress on the outside patio room today. I got this room divider screen from freecycle. I always forget to take my before picture, so here it is laying down with some primer already on it. The print was kind of an old world map style...but I wanted something different.

Here it is completely primed. I had to use 2 more top coats of white semigloss paint.

Here is what it looks like now. I'm so happy with how it turned out. I used wallpaper for the middle. I do have to fiddle a little bit with the wallpaper to make sure it's going to stick. I'll figure that out tomorrow. I am tuckered!!!

Beautiful Artistry and a Makeover!

2008-04-16T14:20:00.001-07:00

If you've never heard of an artist named Gail McCormack, you must check her out here. Her paintings are just amazing!! I decided to buy a print for my sister as an anniversary present. Here is a picture of it hanging in her bedroom. It was so pretty she wanted to look at it every morning and every night.

As soon as I can afford it, buying a print for myself is high on my wish list. Gail and her husband are both extremely talented.

You may remember this wicker set I bought off craigslist for $20.

It's amazing what a little spray paint can do to transform a piece. I plan on sewing some cushions for the seat in a nice shabby chic material.

Shabby Chic & Coffee Filter Roses

2008-04-15T12:01:00.001-07:00

Well, today is the big day!!! You know what I'm talking about...The day we all have circled on our calendar!

Taxes??? Not a chance!!! I'm talking about the day that Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic series comes out on dvd!!

There are actually 3 different dvds and I think 3 episodes on each. I can't wait till mine come. I used to watch her show on Style, and was so sad when it was gone.

I also had another custom order for some roses. This is a picture of the first coat of paint. I had to mix it myself to get the right color.

Here they are with a deeper color added for dimension. I hope she loves them!!

My Kitchen

2008-04-14T17:27:00.000-07:00

Well, since it actually snowed this weekend (where is this global warming I keep hearing about??) and there's no way I can work on my outdoor room, I thought I'd concentrate on another room.

My kitchen is very small. It's a galley kitchen, which would not be my first choice. What can ya do right? You work with what you have! Here is a picture of my little nook with the chalkboard and the pictures I added.

I plan to paint the cabinets, but that's going to have to wait. I have a huge list of projects I want to get done before that. I've been working on a recipe box with all my favorite recipes, so I decided to use that project for last month's article on SSR (see my sidebar for a link). Here is just the start of it....I have many more to add.

And speaking of my kitchen....I had the fabulous opportunity to visit Trader Joe's for the first time ever. It was in St. Louis, about 3.5 hours away. It was so worth it though. I was able to stock my cupboard and freezer with goodliness!!! Here is some lemonade I bought. How delightful that will be in a wine glass.

Here is some chocolate covered edamame. I have been wanting to try edamame for a very long time, but could not find it at my Walmart. These are so good!!! They remind me of chocolate covered espresso beans...but without the jittery buzz.

Tagged!

2008-04-10T19:28:00.000-07:00

My first tag...how exciting!! I have been tagged by Ronda at Art by Ronda Juniper Ray. Check out her blog....it is so cool!

1. Name your two favorite Scrapbook Topics: My Dolly & Friends

2. What are the two best places you've been to: Quito, Ecuador & Las Vegas

3. Name two things you do every day: Internet & create new projects for myself

4. Name two things that pretty much everyone knows about you: I'm very crafty & I love to make people laugh

5. Name two places that you wish to visit: Hawaii & Australia

6. Two things that you may not know about me: I can't move my pinky toe & I don't like my food to touch

7. Name two nicknames that you had at some point in your life: Tyke & Queen of Lip

8. Name two interesting jobs that you've had (good or bad): Worked on a Dairy Farm & Mail Carrier

9. What are two fun things that you do after work: After work?? is there such a thing when you're a mom??

10. Name two things that you would like to learn: to play the piano & how to paint (artistically)

11. What were the last two things that you downloaded or CDs that you bought: Hinder CD & Nickelback's Rock Star

12. What were the last two books that you read: French Inspired Home & The pillow book

13. What two TV shows or movies from your childhood do you still enjoy watching after all these years? The Little Mermaid & The Wizard of Oz.

I will have to think about who I want to tag. I will post again tomorrow!

Inspiration

2008-04-08T17:13:00.000-07:00

Since it was raining here today (and is supposed to continue through most of the week), I could not work on my outdoor room. So, I decided to look for some inspiration. Here are some outdoor rooms that inspire me! I found these on the Coastal Living website.

How glorious it would be to sit under a canopy or roses! I have got to learn how to grow them.

What an ingenius idea to create a room from fabric. I love the simplicity of this! I bet it's beautiful at night too.

I love the country feel of this...so charming! What a great idea to use arbors to create a "room".

Love the flowers here. I wonder how long it took to grow?? The pop of color with the blue containers is fabulous!!

Can you imagine having this view?? Especially with the flowers overhead. Oh how I miss the ocean!!

I just love the colors here. The cream is just so......well, creamy!!!

Ok, this isn't exactly an outdoor room, but it just takes my breath away!!

I love the colors used in this room. I plan to paint my cement pad with a patina color...but, now I'd really like to paint the ceiling (which would be the underside of the deck above).

Pink and blue!! Need I say more??

I hope some of these outdoor rooms have inspired you too!

Bargains & Projects

2008-04-07T14:40:00.001-07:00

Well Mr. T and I actually had a child free weekend. His parents came and got our dolly friday morning. Oh what to do with this new found freedom??? Why shop, of course!! It was so nice to be able to browse at leisure in the stores. I found some fabulous bargains at Marshall's, Michaels, and Big Lots!

Now my sister and I have an understanding that when we are out and about and see something really cool that is shippable....we must get it for each other. Marshall's had some beautiful tea cups!

This is the set I bought for myself.

And this is the set that I know my sister will love!!

I also found this pretty teapot. I am so drawn to robin's egg blue these days!

Michael's had this beautiful iron urn (and I had a 50% off coupon). I filled it with pink and blue balls and I really like the way it turned out.

This was also 50% off at Hobby Lobby. I thought it would look so pretty with some plants in each pot in my outdoor living area.

Speaking of my outdoor living area....I got this wicker set off Craigslist and I'm painting it white. This was my other goal this childless weekend. I did manage to get it painted, I just haven't taken a picture of it yet.

This is the before picture of my outdoor living area. I plan on painting the cement floor. I found an old iron bed frame on Craigslist (set up against the house), that I will also be painting white. I need to figure out the outdoor cushions though. I also have a candle chandelier to hang. I'm so excited about this project, I can hardly stand it.

I did manage to sprain my ankle this weekend, so I didn't get all the projects done that I wanted to....but I did have fun anyways.

Roses, Roses Everywhere

2008-04-01T09:10:00.000-07:00

I had an order for a white set of roses. I had not done white before and was a little nervous to get the color just right. I am just thrilled with the way they came out! Can you believe these are made from coffee filters?? Watch for more bouquets being added to my etsy site.

Finally Done!

2008-03-30T11:36:00.000-07:00

I always seem to have projects in process. However, I have been wanting to get this chalkboard done for my kitchen for awhile now. I got the idea because I had an old shutter with all the louvers missing

Then I had Mr T. cut me some masonite to fit inside.

I then painted the frame and added the appliques. I mixed my own chalkboard paint since I wanted a specific color. Now I need to find some chalk. You'd think that would be easy, but I'm having some trouble. I'll have to try the the teacher store.

You might remember this candle holder I bought the other day. I bought it with the intention of painting it.

And here is the final result. I'm quite happy with how it turned out!

Display

2008-03-28T07:46:00.000-07:00

The other day I posted about the beautiful tea set my sister bought for me. Well, I couldn't leave it in it's box (even though it looked pretty). It must be displayed properly. I rearranged my hutch so as to give the set it's due. I still have some tweaking to do, as I'm not completely satisfied with the top shelf. I find when I rearrange things, it's a process. I do it one way and then let it sit while I look at it to feel if it's right or if something feels out of place. Eventually it evolves into the perfect display to please my eyes. Mr T. doesn't really care, so I leave him out of the process :)

I think it's spring!

2008-03-27T13:01:00.000-07:00

Ok...the weather is 72 degrees here today...but tomorrow it's supposed to dip and they are advising not to plant anything yet. One of these days it will be spring and stay spring. However, I have one little tree in my front yard that is in full bloom right now. Our neighborhood is only a few years old so there is no landscaping or flower beds....I am starting from scratch. I do hope to plant at least a few things this year. I have a grand scheme, but it's going to have to be done in stages. So here are a few pics of my lonely tree!

I cut a couple of sprigs to bring into the house. I think they look divine!

A Little Shopping

2008-03-25T11:42:00.000-07:00

I have to say that I've only been to the Marshall's in town a few times and have never really found anything great there. Well, I've been reading on many different blogs about how everyone seems to score at Marshall's, so I thought I would give them another shot. They did have some really cool stuff this time and this is what I came home with.

I really like this magazine holder...it's got such a cottagey look to it. It looks like it was pickled white, but I think I'm going to paint it a solid white.

I thought this candle holder was so cool. I love the mirrors on it and I'm definitely painting this one white. I'll make sure and post pics after I'm done too.

This shadow box was on clearance because it needs a little tlc. Its the realy nice kind with the fabric backing...it even came with some pins, and a glass front. I'm happy to nurture this piece a little...especially when I get a great deal!

So my faith in Marshall's has been renewed. Actually, I'd like to go back this weekend, since I saw some other stuff I'd love as well. I used to live close to a HomeGoods and I miss that sooo much!!!

Thoughtful Sister

2008-03-23T17:09:00.000-07:00

My sister is my best friend, even though we live in different countries (I'm in the US, she's in Canada). Thank goodness for unlimited long distance!

I was having a very bad day and my sister put a couple of orders in for me. Guess what showed up at my door??

Everything is so beautiful. The packaging on the tea cup set was so cool. You almost don't want to take it out of the box. Now I need to rearrange my hutch so I can show them off. Oh, and I've already tried the citron green tea and it is luscious!! How am I ever going to go back to Lipton after this???

I think sprinkles in a jar is just divine. I really need to get making some cupcakes!

Love ya sis!!

Trash 2 Treasure!

2008-03-22T07:06:00.001-07:00

I have recently discovered the message boards at HGTV and let me tell you they are a fountain of great information. I have to tell you a little bit about the wonderfully talented ladies on the Trash2Treasure section. These are people dedicated to reusing materials and items that would have gone into the landfill.

Below is an item a lady called bjanddee found and wasn't sure what to do with. Honestly, I did not even know what it was. My best thought for it was to make it into a planter.

Well here is what she came up with. I was completely blown away!!!! The seat opens up for storage as well.

So if you are anywhere near Florence, MS...look her up and maybe you can buy this from her shop.

Organizing Tips!

2008-03-18T18:44:00.000-07:00

I thought I would share some tips that might come in handy!

Do you have any of those wire cd holders?? They make a great rack for plastic lids in your cupboards...then I can stack all the gladware and tupperware.

Do you keep those zippered plastic pouches that come with blankets and sheets? Pack one up with a blanket, candles, matches, protein bar and anything else you might need to keep in your vehicle in case of emergency. They also work great for packing on a trip to make sure wet stuff (toiletries, or bathing suits) don't ruin your clothes.
Over the door shoe racks (the kind with the pouches) are great in every room to organize small toys, those stray socks from the dryer until you find the mate, jewelry, even cleaning products.
My new favorite tool is microfiber sponges (I even have them in pink). They are so great for cleaning counters and spill and they wash up beautifully. Just throw them in the washer with your dish towels.
I have very small cupboards (and not many), so my spice cupboard was a mess. That was, until I found these.....

My spices are so organized now and my cupboard looks so neat!

Redesigned

2008-03-16T17:19:00.000-07:00

I just love to redesign items with a paint job or new fabric. Here is my latest project that will be going into my etsy shop tonight.

This is the before, I only took a picture of the one and not the other. I got too excited and just started painting. Anyways, both boxes looked similar in style with the shiny brass and ugly gold fabric inside.

And here's what they look like now!

It was a fun project to do....almost makes me want to keep them :)

Going Green!

2008-03-13T08:15:00.000-07:00

Tea, that is. A friend of mine has had so much energy lately, and while she usually gets sick every single winter, this winter she did not. She said the only thing she was doing differently was having a cup of green tea in the morning. I was so impressed with her success, that I decided I'm going to try it. So this is what I'm drinking these days. I'm on day 4 and I have noticed that I just feel better and I'm not draggin.

Don't you think everything just tastes better when it's in something pretty??

Isn't this set gorgeous??? I want it so badly!! I may just have to treat myself....hmmm, would that be the responsible thing to do??

I found this set at a wonderful online tea store called Harney and Son Fine Teas. They have some fabulous teas and gifts. I may have to put an order in and check out their green tea.

Functional but Pretty!

2008-03-11T15:25:00.000-07:00

Nothing excites me more than when you can take something useful and make it so pretty. I recently acquired a small crystal decanter thanks to craigslist. I decided what a great way to display my dish soap. In the lot of crystal was also a large decanter that I will be putting my pink bubble bath in as well. Here's a picture of the dish soap.

I also recently bought a little bag at Fireflyhilldesigns.com. The bag is so pretty and she enclosed a matching heart with it. I love it when packages have something extra in it. In fact, I think I will always send something extra special when I ship out a package from my Etsy shop.

Speaking of Etsy, Martha Stewart had a guest on today who is the number 1 seller on Etsy. She makes rag dolls and has been selling for about 3 years...I think they said she's sold over 12000 dolls. WOW!!!

I love calendars! I love finding the perfect calendar that makes my heart flipflop each time I turn to the next month. This is the March picture on my calendar...isn't it pretty??

Inspiration

2008-03-10T13:16:00.000-07:00

So today I decided that I must have some Apothecary jars. I've seen some of the fabulous things you can put in them and decided it's a must. Now, I love vintage items, but I believe in some cases new serves just as well. So I finally found some reasonably priced ones here, but they wanted more than the price of the jar for shipping. I had $41 in my shopping cart and the cost to ship the midwest was $45....yikes!!!

I finally found a couple at BB&B that are pretty good and their shipping is more than reasonable. I will probably empty the jar out and replace the items. Here are some of the pictures that inspired me.

I want to make sure and give credit where credit is due. These pictures of inspiration were found on HGTV's message boards in the Trash2Treasure section. Check them out, there are some amazingly talented women on there.

Time & Changes

2008-03-09T19:19:00.000-07:00

Ok, I really hate losing an hour of sleep...but I have to say that it is nice for the sun not to be blaring into my bedroom at 6am....and that it will be a little lighter in the evenings. Makes me feel like spring is right around the corner.

Well, I got a few things done today. Namely, adding some items to my etsy shop. Here are a couple of pictures that went up. I'm working on my picture taking so items will look attractive and people will look.

Projects Galore!

2008-03-08T19:09:00.000-08:00

Ok, I am a project girl. I always have projects going and don't seem to finish too many of them. Here's a quick run down of what just comes to mind.

redesign flea market finds for etsy shop
sew slipcover for couch
paint dry sink
paint dresser in master bedroom
redesign mantle in seashell decor
create outdoor living area
make chalkboard out of shutter
build raised flower beds
make large chalkboard for dolly

All this with my year and a half dolly to chase after. Whew!!

I will be posting some before and after pictures of some items that I am refinishing. For now, here are some more spring pictures I took a few years ago.

Is it Spring yet?

2008-03-06T15:01:00.000-08:00

I have been inspired to start this blog after seeing the wonderful decorating blogs out there. My intention for this place is to inspire someone else in the same manner. I love to redesign flea market finds and add sparkle to my home anywhere I can.

This blog will be dedicated to home decorating, flowers, food and all things comforting. I will need to get much better at taking photos. However, here are a couple of pictures of my mantle last summer. This summer I plan on going with a beachy theme.