Rusty Rave Monday: A Great Giveaway and a Swap

In honor of my sister's 200th post at Something Special, and her brand new blog look, by Valentine Design, she is having a giveaway! Check it out and spread the word!

Have a lovely day!

Plum Perfect Friday - Pretty Publications, "Novel" Novels, OR Bodacious Books!

Here's a little project that I have had in mind for a while now...I saw these fabric covered, and coverless books at Restoration Hardware, and thought they were very cool!

Obviously the coverless paperbacks are easy to recreate, but here's my take on making the fabric covered ones, (I got a little help from the DIY Maven, if you want to check her tutorial out...)

I found 5 of the same book for a $1 at The Habitat for Humanity ReStore! First ya gotta cut the spine from the cover with an Exacto Knife. It was necessary to paint my books white because my fabric was fairly see-through, so I did the edges first.

(Sorry, Nathan...)

After they all dried, I painted on the Modge Podge,

centered it on the fabric,

turned it over, smoothed it out, then pushed in the creases on the spine.

Cut the corners.

More Modge Podge...

Glue the spine back in place,

More creasing and, then viola, your done!

It took me about an hour from start to finish, and I did 5 books. Pretty quick and easy...I WILL be making more of these, they are such good decorative embellishments for vinettes!

Here's to discounted design!

Rusty Rave Monday - Stepping Up the Stools!

I found both bar stools at Goodwill for under $25 about two years ago, and hadn't figured out a use for them until it donned on me, recently, that they would be perfect in my current home office makeover! With my oldest daughter moving back in, we had to make some rearrangements in accommodations, which opened up a "can of worms" (as, I found, this kind of thing usually does...) thus, the need for the overhaul!

They were in perfect condition, but I really just needed them to be white!

I gave in, and masked them, (I hate to mask!) and did my "thang"...

...and they are perfect for my new craft/sewing table!

I'll be really glad when this room is done! I am tired of not being able to completely function in there. More to come...

Plum Perfect Friday - Winsome White...

...it's the best! White just makes everything feel fresh and new and clean, it's bright and happy, and goes with everything! I have always been into white. I dreamed of an all-white decor even before it became "chic".

Now this is definitely "better after". I obtained it when a friend moved and wanted to throw out this adorable wicker desk...so, I mercifully took it off her hands. Of course, I was thrilled to obtain it and had the vision to spiff it up!

At the present, it has been put to good use as a fabulous laptop computer desk for my oldest daughter's bedroom! How great is that? I get a rush when re-use, recycle, re-purpose or re-do!

Now I've got some painting to do...hope you have some "winsome white" in your day, I plan to!

Plum Perfect Friday - Going Glaze Happy!

I have been wanting to try the glazing thing for a long time so finally got started one day a couple of weeks ago and just could not stop! Check out the projects my daughter, Kaitlin and I did all in one day.

The first project to practice and learn on was frame with cute detail that I had painted white.

I love the way it turned out, so-ooo I had to do more...

Remember this cool old silverware chest that I painted white,

it really enhances the nice details.

This is a before picture of the mirror and hearth at Christmastime.

After seeing me in action, my daughter wanted to get in on the action and try it too,

so she began helping me glaze.

After doing the mirror and putting it with the hearth we just had to make them match! We added the scrollie detail and

she started in on the biggest project!

Turned out great and looks so much better.

Then, Kaitlin wanted to do a shelf for her room...

And finally a cute sconce!

I think I have a new found passion...there's bound to be more projects on the way. Happy Glazing!

Rusty Rave Monday - 13th Annual Mother's Day Tea Party!

Every year, since my triplets were very small, "mom" and all the girls have had a Mother's Day Tea Party! We dress up in "tea party" attire, wear hats, and use our best manners and "tea party" conversation. It has been a fun tradition that actually got started by accident but we have continued to perpetuate it!

Over a decade ago, we had an interior designer friend who became a surrogate grandmother to our family. She had the children over to her house several times for various activities such as, decorating cookies at Halloween, Easter egg coloring and hunting, and then of course the May tea party. Each time she had one of these "affairs", we got to use all of her lovely things and everything was lavishly prepared and very elaborate.

Over the years, I have gradually purchased tea party dishes and items which the girls will be able to take with them when they leave home. During the time when I was employed by Mikasa, I was in the position to take advantage of a nice discount to obtain a lot of these things at a great price!

Now that Kaitlin is a college student who is almost 21, and soon to be married...I will be handing her the "baton" and she can take over the planning and preparation, she did much of it this year!

Some years there has been a schedule conflict and a few of my girls have been MIA, but this year I had ALL of my daughters in attendance, as well as, my good friend, Glenna and her daughter. That was the best Mother's Day gift of all, and we had a splendid time!

Hope your day was wonderful!