A little light crafting.....

We are down to our last few days of school and all the craziness that comes with it well as High School graduation. Let me tell you, it has been a wild ride the last few months. To say I am looking forward to the long holiday weekend, would be an understatement. But even with everything going on, and with all my "de crapping" and redecorating, I have taken some time to do some simple crafting.

 

I picked up several beautiful frames from Creative Village as we were cleaning out, and really wanted to find a use for them.

 

As I was sorting through some of my vintage bits and pieces, I found a pretty doily that was damaged beyond repair. Hummmmmm, what to do?

 

Cut it up and use it.

 

Part of it made a perfect background for one of my tiny vintage spoons. This darling spoon had a tiny horse on it.

 

 

And the center piece tucked perfectly into this tiny shadow box frame.

 

 

They look great hanging together next to my antique high boy dresser.

 

 

And I decided to get creative and frame a couple of my favorite vintage glassware photos.

I will have to tweak this one a bit more, but I like the look.

 

 

 

But I really like how my black cherry tomato picture looks next to this freshly spray painted antique white frame.

 

 

Not exactly difficult crafting, but it was fun to flex my creative muscles a bit.

 

Looking forward making it through this week and then enjoying an extra long Holiday weekend filled with flea marketing, cookouts, swimming and relaxing!

 

Hope you have a great week!

 

 

Love at first sight....

Some months ago, I stopped into Creative Village to drop off some stock. As we were visiting and I set out stock, I noticed that they had a new display piece. This gorgeous old Highboy Dresser,  I immediately fell in love with it, the beautiful wood, the elegant shape, and was tickled that my stock was displayed on top of it.

 

 

So when I found out they were closing, I asked if I could buy it, we ended up bartering, and we both ended up happy!

 

But it needed a little work. Someone had started to paint it, only one side was painted, that had to come off. So, home it came with me and I started to work on it right away, pulling it apart and prepping it. I was that excited!

 

Up first thing Sunday Morning (Not Easter Sunday...I think it was the weekend after, I a losing track of my weekends) slapped a nice thick layer of orange gel stripper down, man, that stuff works miracles, and smells just lovely!

 

After 5 minutes the paint (thankfully just one layer) began wiping off very easily, hardly any scraping required.

 

 

This is after less than a half hour work.

The top was pretty gloopy, so I did a quick strip of that as well.

 

Good scrub to get all the residue off and it looked this clean!

 

 

Structurally it is solid, one drawer has some issues, but other than that, it is in great shape.

So, after the paint was stripped off and it got a good bath in murphy oil soap and a heavy rub of good furniture wax, I switched out the glass knobs with what I think is more like original brass knobs and put the mirror back onto it to bring it inside.

 

And I swoon every time I walk by it. I may also have to run my hand along the top every time I walk by, ya, I am in love.

 

 

That fabulous old mirror, beautiful worn wood, loaded up with my vintage Pyrex and glass ware, it is a perfect and gorgeous storage solution in my kitchen. And it fits in just perfectly.

 

Can you tell that I just love it?

 

And, it forced me to do a big "de crap" and re arrange in my kitchen. Win/win!

 

I love bringing a vintage piece back to life and making it useful again!

 

 

Hope you are having a wonderful week!

30 for 13

Well, life continues to be on the busy side, This last month before school ends always is, but throw in kids Birthday celebrations, two proms, two graduations, end of year honors awards and school concerts on top of the usual day to day busy and trying to tackle Spring yard work, house projects and "decrapping" it has me feeling like we have been running a non stop marathon! But it will be, for the most part, over with in a couple weeks, and we should be able to enjoy some lazy summer days....well, before it all starts over again!

 

 A couple weekends ago, I stopped out to the shop to pick up what was left of my stock, but left with much more than just that..yes..that project reveal is still to come, but, before I ran into the shop I of course stopped into my favorite indoor flea market. Pickings were pretty slim, but I did decide to grab a pile of Melmac that has been sitting there for months. Really I only wanted the Normandy Rose plates, but it was a package deal, 30 pieces total, and with the booth running a sale, Only 13.00, 30 for 13? I figured it was time they came home with me.

 

 

I now have enough for a setting of 12. Perfect for larger outside dinner parties!

 

But what to do with the rest?

 

 

Well, It is pretty, and as often as we eat outside. I suppose it will all be put to good use!

 

I found one more treasure when I was in there, a lone piece of Jadite restaurant ware.

 

 

We spent today working in the backyard and getting my "she shack" put together, I am excited to use this new cup tomorrow morning sipping coffee in the new and improved shack!

 

So I keep talking about the big project I finished Easter weekend, I promise to show you that next, just have to get some good pictures taken first!

 

Hope you are getting to slow down and enjoy some of this beautiful Spring weather!

 

 

Strawberries and Roses.....

It is peak Strawberry season here in Tennessee, and I was afraid that because of our busy weekend schedules this month along with the unpredictable wet weather we have been having, that I was going to have to miss out on picking again this year.

 

Because of this panic, I again asked my husband to hit the Farmers Market in downtown Nashville on his way home from work and pick up a big flat of Strawberries for jam. Mission accomplished, that was completed last Friday night. But I still really wanted to pick my own. So, even though we had a busy day planned for today, I decided I would jump up early if the weather permitted and go pick.

 

And the weather cooperated...so we went. And we LOVED it!

 

We went to one of our local farms. Circle S is a beautiful Century Farm a gorgeous 10 minute drive from my house. Found out that they sell veggies in the summer as well...we will be back, often!

 

 

They had a beautiful crop this year.

 

We went as soon as they opened this morning, A perfect cool sun shine morning and a very successful pick!

 

Of course as soon as we got home I had to get some pictures of these beautiful gems and the flowers I picked up. My Peonies are not very plentiful this year, but that is ok, I filled out the bouquet with roses and hydrangeas. I think roses and Strawberries were meant to hang out together.

 

 

Don't you agree?

 

 

Oh, and I have to say, the Strawberry freezer jam that I made with the strawberries from the Nashville Farmers Market?

Yum!

 

 

Its the start of the season! Support your local Farms!  Get out there hit those Farmers Markets and take advantage of those farms that allow you to get out there and pick your own!

 

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

Busy weekend? That is an understatement.....

Well, I missed my usual blog post on Saturday night. But I do have a good excuse. Prom #2, Flower making, Strawberry Jam making, the usual house clean and grocery shop, a stop into Creative Village to help clean and take a load out, a quick indoor flea market run AND a big refurb project on a gorgeous dresser...I was one busy lady, to the point where I was happy to go to work Monday morning, just so I could sit for awhile!

 

More on the Jam and refurbed dresser this weekend. Tonight is all about Prom #2..this time we remembered the flowers!

 

Different dress for this prom, a very romantic look so I wanted to do something slightly different with the flowers. But, come Friday night, I was in a total Mom panic when I could not find the roses I planned to use anywhere. After 5 different grocery stores I accepted the fact that I would either have to run across town first thing in the morning to Trader Joes and hope they had the right roses, or change my plan.

 

I was tired...I changed my plan.

 

Plan two was inspired by one of my favorite Georgia O'Keefe paintings. Pretty white/pink roses, Baby's breath and tiny pink carnations.

 

I think it worked out pretty well!

 

His: Standard lapel flower. This time I wrapped the stem. I liked the finished look the ribbon gave it.

 

 

And hers: My Georgia O'Keefe Inspiration! Again, I wrapped the stem since the flowers were more "bouquet" like. Have I mentioned how much I loved doing this? I really did!

 

 

And they ended up matching perfectly!

 

They looked so wonderful! Pictures at Opry Land Hotel this time. I had to laugh at how many total strangers were asking to take their picture! we had at least four different ladies stop us and ask if they could take a picture of them as we walked through the hotel gardens. So funny!

 

They are awfully pretty together!

 

 

Sweetest kids ever!

 

I was one very proud (although exhausted) Mom.

 

Busy weekend led to an equally busy week so far, I have much more to show you next time, why next time? Cause right now, I am tired!

 

Hope you are having a wonderful week!