Friday, February 18, 2011

Life Got in the Way of Valentines Day!

I had good intentions...but not enough time! This year's Valentines Day wasn't the best day of my life. ISSUES...we all have them, but it's too bad when they mess up such a sweet little holiday.

Anyway, I wanted to wish you belated greetings, and hope that your observance of the day was beautiful and wonderful!


Cheers,




Monday, February 7, 2011

Rusty Rave Monday - Settled Sitting Room and A "Something Special" Birthday!

I'm EXCITED!!! Michele, (from Something Special), my fabulously creative sister, is coming to visit! I feel so honored and privileged that it's her birthday and she wants to spend some of it with me! We plan on going thrifting, lunching and celebrating for a whole day!

I am looking so forward to her being here, and perhaps giving me some decorating tips, lending a fresh perspective with some areas in my home that I'm stuck on, and/or just validating what I have already done, as well. So in preparation for her arrival, I finally settled on some changes in the front sitting room.


After. It's a little less cluttered and simple.

The before pic...lots of stuff, but I loved it at Christmastime.

Moved one of the two tables that I had here and added some varying levels to the one with my cute photo box.

Got the idea to stack some quilts on the new white suitcase and vintage silverware chest. It's kinda fun (for now)!

I love decorating with them.

The quilts that were covering these chairs got rotated, so now there is less "going on" and it's not in competition with every thing else in the room.


Now, go have a great day with your sister!






Friday, February 4, 2011

Plum Perfect Friday - Chasing Away the Blues!

The votes are in...the blue cube goes white!

The before shot...

...but, now it's too pristine and perfect so I gotta rough it up a bit!

Better, but I still need to find the right color of glaze...

If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know, the one I bought just isn't right, so I will be waiting with "baited breath" for your comments. Thank you for your support!


..."you chase my blues away everyday"




Cheers,







Your turn...how do you chase away your blues?


Friday, January 28, 2011

Plum Perfect Friday - The Year of the Rabbit

I discovered this little tidbit of information at the beginning of the week. (This is so cool! I love bunny's!)

But wait...I'm getting a little ahead of myself!

It has been somewhat of an eventful week. My husband and I went to Las Vegas on Monday to visit a client of his. So needless to say, I did not get to my blog again on Rusty Rave Monday, and I am quite late getting this in for Plum Perfect Friday, (and I'm doing "on the go", via my iPhone too!)

We went to see a show at the Palazzo, and ran into this "giant version" while walking around and exploring the joint afterward. That's when I became enlightened regarding the year...

We returned home on Wednesday and things remained busy because of a "red letter" day in our family...my triplets turned 16, so we, of course, celebrated that event. (Hey, I just had a thought...maybe my fondness for rabbits stems from an ability to relate to them because of the multiple birth thing...ha! But, no, that's not it...I have always loved the little critters.)

Anyway, in honor of the year, I thought it would be fun to pay tribute to those cute, soft and furry creatures that I adore. They hold a prominent place in my home and I think they are just whimsical and sweet.








Hope you had a wonderful week and enjoy the year of the rabbit in your own way!











- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone


It's your turn...post some of your best-loved bunnies, if you have any!


Friday, January 21, 2011

Plum Perfect Friday - Sitting Room Switch Up!

A new year has begun and I am itchin' to revise the living room now! I began my morning by re-arranging some of the furniture and got some painting projects underway.

I have had this old blue suitcase for several years and somewhere, saw the idea to paint it white. I love the look of stacking things and it will be so versatile for other uses in the future, but this is what I came up with today.

I think I will need to collect some more!

In December I found this little side table at a garage sale for $5, and think it will be a nice addition to the room, after I give it a new finish.

So, I got busy sanding, then grabbed the Kilz and went to work painting.

I am going to let it cure over night, put the top coat on, do some more sanding, then use some antiquing glaze. I'll let you know how it turns out, so ya gotta check back!

I need another perspective though...the blue cube on the right is what was there before...what's your vote? Paint that one white and keep that one in it's place, or use the new table?



I appreciate all of your comments and opinions! Have a fabulous weekend!





Friday, January 14, 2011

Plum Perfect Friday - Further Bathroom & Bedroom Beauties!



My decorative inspiration for my bathroom/bedroom has been "stuck" since Christmas, but the creativity is beginning to flow in these spaces, once more.

I have always been attracted to Bird-houses, birds nests, and well, just bird stuff in general! I received this bird for Christmas from my daughter...she knew that I would paint it, so she was not insulted.

Before.

I'm satisfied with this little vinette (for now...that is). In the background are vintage wedding photo's of my mother.

Speaking of that, I finally got around to painting an inexpensive frame from Goodwill to embellish another beautiful photograph of my mother that used to hang with several other vintage family photographs on my heritage wall. During the holidays, when my oldest daughter was visiting, she came up with the idea to put it in a larger frame so that it would become more of a focal point, then, to place it in a more prominent location, as well as, totally complimenting the frenchy bathroom theme.

The other photograph is a wedding picture of my son and his new bride, that I 'antiqued'. I am now thoroughly satisfied with that area.

More nesting in the bedroom...then, I saved one of the best things for (almost) last...

I found this idea over at the Frosted Gardner, a book wreath that I worked on all day so that I could blog about it! Fun, huh?

Last, by definitely not least...I covered the chair and ottomon in the bedroom with old sheets. I don't have a before picture, but trust me, it's certainly an improvement. Yay!


I am lovin' this cute chair now!




Cheers!


Monday, January 10, 2011

Rusty Rave Monday - Further, Frugal "French" Fancies!

I admit that's a mouthful...but, I am so fond of using , alliteration! Humor me...

In any event, today I wanted to exhibit an idea that I came up with for my "Frenchy" bathroom makeover, in order to fill another need that I had.

You know all those cute Christmas tins that we all collect from year to year...

...the thought occurred to me to revamp them with a little paint and, the ever charming, "Graphics Fairy" vintage "frenchy" images (once again), in order to use them as containers for make-up and accessories. This way I can keep the countertop un-cluttered, have easy access to these items, and at the same time achieve an attractive look.

I'm lovin' it!
I whipped up the larger one today and plan on distressing it a bit, but have to wait for the paint to cure for a couple of days...


I like to live by the motto: "Fix it up, Wear it out, Make it do, or Do without!" I totally get a thrill from being thrifty AND creative! As Cecil B. DeMille so aptly stated, “Creativity is a drug I cannot live without” and that is exactly how I feel!










Your turn...post your creative "drug" and show off the cure for what ails you!