Sunday, January 30, 2011

the "AFTER" of the table

So you saw the 'before' pics in my last post of the great table -lots of possibilities with this table now that it is {Painted Fresh}
Stash a few throws, some games, remotes in the drawer, hide a few toys when unexpected (but warmly welcomed) guests arrive, magazines, you name it! 
And it is chameleonic (is that a word?) meaning it could go with lots of styles.  Right?  Love me some paint by Ralph in black!
the BEFORE, and go HERE to see more
 AFTER




What do you think?  How would you use it, where?

Friday, January 28, 2011

nothing a little 'fresh love' can't fix

Great table - just had a bad leg, needed a little drawer repair and had a few bad spots here and there.  Nothing that a little hard work, and "fresh love" couldn't fix!


and those plastic tools work great!
I will soon be posting the AFTER pics ...

Thursday, January 27, 2011

I HAVE THIS!!!

I wish I knew where I got this pic!!  (I'll give you photo credit it's yours)  Anyhoo, back in October, I met up with some dealers who 'pick' and allow me to then 'pick' from their goods.  Well, I fell in love with a bunch of industrial whisks, of all things!  (I did fall in love with carved wooden wings, and a copper shade on a lovely lamp - so give me a little credit.)
But these whisks! My wheels were turning - get two small ones and make into lamps? or hanging pendants? or wall mounted lamps?  Get a big one and make it a ceiling light? Gather a few different sizes and just GO CRAZY?!
OK, OK, I settled on a big one and slowed the wheels in my brain - I will use this in my kitchen - over my table. Yes this is what I will do. Oh my goodness! look at those columns! and those turtle shells!  CaLm dOwN I will say the pickers got a kick out of my enthusiasm and loved all the cash I plopped down on many many great items!
I still do not have the light in place over my table - I want to re-do in my kitchen, but I misplaced that pocket change of about $120 thousand that it would cost me to do it exactly the way I need, dream, would like to.

Here is my whisk




And here is a sample of what it looks like in this kitchen...keep in mind, my kitchen doesn't resemble this pic, but I think one day I can pull off  'my' look and use the whisk...and maybe it will only cost $1,200 dollars. Right! the fridge alone (that I dream of) is way more than that! then there is the - ok, I'll stop dreaming in public...
whisk light



thanks for stopping by! and did I mention I love some comment love?!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Woody, Buzz, Jesse - my Toy Story Art

My little guy is obsessed loves all things Toy Story; and I'll admit all three are great movies and the toys are cute.  Just sometimes I am over it with the jumble of every toy (Toy Story, Diego, Batman, Backyardigans, Super Why) & color & size and no real scheme to making all of these fit into something, well, uhhh, pleasing to the adult eye??
Don't get me wrong I love an eclectic look.  Not a "wow, that looks flea market" or a "does she ever organize the child's play area" look. I am always looking for things to grow with him in his bedroom and currently temporary playroom.  And I have a space that needs another piece of art in his bedroom.
We don't have a 'theme' in my little guys bedroom - he has a sleigh bed, a dresser, nightstand and lovely art.  It is not an adult looking room, but it doesn't scream toddler either.  One of the most expensive pieces of art in his room (in our home) is an original, hand-stitched, painting by Valgardur Gunnarrson; a remarkable artist in Iceland.  (I was lucky to have purchased this many years ago when he had a show at a gallery in Nashville, TN.) 



 And in his 'play' area, practically anything goes for now.  Oh no, we have designated the once formal (personally I have never liked a formal living room, must I wear Dior or Valentino just to sit in there? not my style) living room as his 'Play Room'!
Yessssireee, right when you walk in our door BAM! Playroom!
My child and his ability to play, grow, learn wins out over my vanity to have a lovely, tiny bit glamorous, magazine worthy house, much less a room.  (I haven't the courage to post pics of the BAM! Playroom! -- yet...)
SOO! what I will do is post this little piece of that I did to go in his bedroom.  Thanks Stephanie!
It all started with these
to get to this!
spray the little fellas with this
so they look like this


I used equal parts of the staining antiquing and dark burnt umber and a few drops of the metallic champagne

using an artists paintbrush, heavily coat with the mixture, getting in all the groves, crevices

then with a sponge brush, wipe away excess, leaving enough dark for details to pop

I painted an old frame and used a mat from another old pic



the depth of the frame

left over candy - who wants it?


What do you think?  Are you going to do one for your kiddo, a friend?  Or do you want me to do it for ya? :)


(Maybe soon, I'll post the 'playroom' - it needs a makeover - maybe you can help by making suggestions!)

I love comments!  Leave me some comment love!  Thanks for stopping by!

And do stop by Stephanie's blog!!! She is awesome, sweet and soo very talented!

Sunday, January 23, 2011

she candidly speaks of wine... ummmm, & things related...

a wine retailer and friend just started a much needed blog - check it out!

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CQdddM_9pfM/TTxDwpq6qUI/AAAAAAAAAA0/8xEIX8Nmw04/s1600/wine+tops.JPG
vino

fun project -- admiration

pic from House of Ficek
thought this was fun and turned out GREAT!  Thanks, Kendra for allowing me to share!

Saturday, January 22, 2011

ART


a few pieces of my art...






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Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Jewelry Armoire make-over

Picked up this oak jewelry armoire at a yard sale for basically nothing
shabby'd in a beautiful white

eight drawers, all lined; 2 swing doors, and a top that opens with a mirror

great overall condition! just dated...
LOTS, of taping and sanding
rather yuck...


before...
ahhh, oh so lovely!

AFTER!!


and it found a home just days after I placed it for sale!!

Monday, January 10, 2011

just some snow & ice today...

So, no furniture or home decor posting today - just family & fun!
Snow and ice in Bama means no school, no work, lots of movies, lots of wii, hot chocolate, too much food, some great wine...oh, and some outside time.
Did I mention too much food and good wine?!
I won this 3L bottle as a door prize! YAY!  and ummm, the cork was a bit 'tuff' to remove!!!



a little skiing on wii mountain

we can't build a snowman, but you can eat a bit of ice...

an throw some ice,
frozen Camilla, hope it can bounce back
    more throwing of ice


the hubby & me
garden art - frozen
my little man being silly!











I feel blessed to have had a long weekend with my family and I loved spending all my time with them!  Wherever you are I hope you had a great day too!
Love & Peace,
  ~Donna