Instant Gratification Project

This is a Pedistal Tray I made from a wooden bowl and a plaster vase. I glue the two together and painted it in Annie Sloan Graphite. So fun to put in bathroom with all your essentials. This project costs under $10

My Office...aka...The Coffee Shop and a love story.

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words and while this can be true, sometimes you just need to hear the story. This room is my baby boy's room, my baby boy who just happens to be almost 24 years old, who is married and also who is a daddy to my beautiful granddaughter Emilia. Go back farther in time and this room was my first born son's room who will be 26 yrs old tomorrow. This room is special to me, it has been through every design change that you could possibly imagine. I can remember the crib and the changing table and rocking chair and I see it in my mind so clearly, the dancing bears on clouds wallpaper, the time it was a playroom for the boys and so full of every toy and how they dumped them in a pile for me to put away every night. When my youngest son decided he wanted puppy wallpaper because he loved doggies so much, he loved his room! As he grew of course the puppies had to go and so the hard work of scraping off wallpaper ensued. New wallpaper emerged with new interest and so on. Change..change..change..Sometimes it's hard to keep up. And so they grow up and they go away but the memories are always here, the bedtime stories, the tickling and giggling, the up all night sick times, the good times and hard times all here in this small room. My oldest son's room is right next to this one and of course the story is the same for that one. I wanted and needed to redo these rooms so I would not feel so sad that my boys are all grown up so again time to change and move forward, create new memories,do new things! Everything I did in here was upcycled. The office chair is from Goodwill and painted in a chalkpaint called Sheepskin. I got the open shelving unit when my husband bought a snowblower on Craigslist and the guy had this in his storage unit..Score for me. It is from Pottery Barn and we only paid $20 for it. I used a greywash technique on it to get the look I wanted. The chalkboard was made from a very ugly old picture from GW. I used black chalkboard paint and also painted the frame in same color of office chair. What I love about it is that it was a canvas so I can use it as a pinboard for ideas from magazines. Sorry Pinterest.. this is how we old timers used to do this. The shelf above it was my son Jonathan's and because as you can tell from my story that I am very sentimental I kept his name on it. I just greywashed it like the shelving unit and now it matches perfectly. The Darling I love you sign was made from another canvas from GW painted in black and I used a white marker to write the words over and over again. I sit in here everyday on my computer drinking my coffee and I don't feel sad, only happy memories to think of and the darling boys that used to live here.      

Cocktail Hour..the cutest Mini Bar

I can't get enough of the many exciting ways to display your glasses and drinks for entertaining. I just love Bar Carts but if you don't happen to have one this is a great option. This is a small console painted in a pretty navy blue with white accents. Gold frame courtesy of GW,  chalkboard was purchased at Home Depot. Give them the dimensions and they will cut it down to size for you. All you have to do is glue it to the frame. Accessories are also from GW aka Good Will. If you don't know me by now..haha! They always have Silver trays and pretty bowls and glasses. I also got the cookbook there. Dinner with friends, Love it! If your not into the mini bar you could use it as a Coffee Bar. There are so many ways you could set this up. The main idea is to have fun and make it your own. Happy Decorating!

Emilia..The Furniture Model

My Beautiful Granddaughter Emilia is posing on a piece of furniture that I painted. She is having so much fun and is the perfect  decoration for everything! I think I will have her pose on all my pieces. Little precious one!

May all your days be Jolly & Bright!

Be my Guest

When company comes it makes me happy to make my family and friends happy and comfy. I want to make my guest rooms a place of sanctuary and comfort. I mix in many elements of old from many of my thrift store sprees. I never like to scrimp on sheets and linens. I am a big believer in high thread counts for my sheets. I never used to give it any thought but when I discovered the difference it made to have higher thead counts I never looked back. Take the time to make your guest bedroom a place where guest can't wait to go to bed:) Spray your sheets with fresh lavender, the men will like this too although they may never admit it. Enjoy your family and friends this Christmas Season. Merry Christmas everyone:)

Two Birds with one Stone..My Entryway Tables

To accomplish two tasks with only one effort.
To use only one action to complete two tasks.
Unfortunately the picture I took showing both my tables on each side of my Dining room entrance is blurry:( I will take another and post it soon so you can see the whole amazing effect! I have a good size foyer and have been wanting to put a table of some sort on each side for quite awhile now. I have been very patient as I am not willing to spend a ridiculous amount of money to get the look I want. A few months ago while perusing through my favorite local Antique store I found a table in the old Railroad cart outside. Hmmm I thought, this has good bones, it's the right height, almost the right width but alas there is only one of them. What to do? Maybe I will cut the table in half horizontally? So I bought the table, told the store owner what I planned to do, he probably thinks I am a crazy lady haha! My friends husband cut it in half for me and also cut a little off the width of the table as it was a bit to wide for the space. He did an awesome job and it fit perfectly! My husband mounted it on the wall for me and I am a happy girl! I had plans to paint it but decide to go with the natural wood. I used clear wax on top and tung oil on the legs. It looks so great against the stenciled wall and gives me the balanced symmetry that I have been wanting for so long. Mission accomplished! Oh, I almost forgot to mention the old suitcases I have under each table, I stenciled them with an Italian stencil I had. Not sure what it says but I love the vintage style it adds.