In His Grip

Three Word Thursday

Creativity takes courage

Simple Spring Mantel

Simple Spring mantel, seriously, I am going simple?  Normally, when it comes to decorating “simple” is not in my vocabulary.  My mantel has looked like this.

And this . . .

And this . . .

And many more looks.  My mantel decorations change often during the year according to the season.  The mantel is one place when you decorate it for a season and the whole room seems to carry the festive feel.  Going simple is a change for me, but I like it.

Now that I spend one day a week at Picture Perfect Interiors, I find myself loving the pretty things that surround me when I am there.

Shirley, the floral designer at Picture Perfect Interiors, helped me put together this arrangement.  I told her I wanted it to look like I just grabbed sticks from the bushes outside and stuck them in the vase, you know, simple.  I remembered a little nest that I had purchased earlier at the store and just stuck it in.  I love how fresh and Springy this looks.

Once I had the arrangement by the fireplace, I knew that I need something on top of the mantel, still simple.  I picked out this weathered finial and moss ball from Picture Perfect Interiors knowing I had a couple of items to add to it making it just right, yet simple.

On the other side of the mantel, I added this green urn I purchased at a garage sale for .25 cents years ago and added a boxwood ball on top and greens around the bottom.  Still simple, I think?

So you have it a very simple Spring mantel.

Next, I will show you my “simple” Spring dinning room table and buffet arrangement.  Check back soon.

I am participating in the following link ups:  Somewhat Simple, Fireflies and Jellybeans,Gluesticks, Beyond the Pikcet Fence, Momnivore's Dilemma, The Shabby Chic Cottage,Blooming Designs, Bubble Nature Creations, Liz Marie, Addicted 2 Decorating, Hof ouse of Hepworths, Stuff and Nonsense, Finding Fabulous, The Shabby Nest, Truly Lovely,Simply Sweet Home, Bubbly Nature Creations, The Answer is Chocolate, Sassy Sites, I Gotta Create, The CSI Project, Sisters of the Wild West, Boogieboard Cottage, It So Very Cheri, DIY Showoff, Natasha In Oz, I Should Be Mopping the Floor, Between Naps on the Porch, Skip to My Lou, Todays Creative Blog, Coastal Charm, Ladybug Blessings,Domestically Speaking, The Thrifty Home, Blue Cricket Design, Fabric Bows and More,My Girlish Whimms, Seven Thirty Three, Sew Much Ado, Someday Crafts, Lil Luna,Mama Hens Coop, {Primp}, Vintage Gwen, Frugally Sustainable, Tidy Mom,Pinkapotmus, Between Naps on the Porch, Etcetorize, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Sew Can Do,My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Mod Vintage Life, My Romatic Home, Making The World Cuter, Knick of Time, Slice of Suburbia, At the Picket Fence, French Countrty Cottage, Shabby Art Boutique, Rooted in Thyme, The Charm of Home, 504 Main, A Little Knick Knack, Five Days...Five Ways, Faith, Trust, and a Little Pixie dust, Freckled Laundry, Answer is Chocolate, Chic on a Shoestring, Knick of Time,The Ivy Cottage, Elizabeth & Co., The Winthrop Chronicles, The Dedicated House, The Lettered Cottage, Live Laugh Rowe, Seven Alive, 52 Mantels, Bloom, Adorned From Above, Hi Sugarplum, Savvy Southern Style, Yesterday on Tuesday, Clean and Sensible, Mom, On Timeout

Three Word Thursday

Slavery never ended

New Window Treatments–What a Commitment

Because I make window treatments daily at Stitches By Sturman, my windows in my home often get over looked or go for far too long without an update.  I recently made new draperies for my dinning room, but am not really sure that I “love” them.  When you work with fabric and design everyday, it is hard to decide on just that right fabric/design.  I tend to change my mind a lot and see a new, better fabric regularly.  When I commit and purchase the fabric, by the time I get the draperies finished, I may have come upon something that I like better.  It is a dilemma that happens to me each time I make a change in my home.  However, that being said and because I do not have an unlimited budget or time on my hands to recreate something different, these have to do.  It’s not that don’t like them, I just want to “love” them and I just not there.  The room is not totally complete yet, so maybe once I have the room just like I want it, I will grow to “love” the draperies.

Here is the finished look.  The embroidered fabric was given to me by one of my designers.  There was less than 1 1/2 yards, so I needed to use it wisely and bring it into the design.   So if you fall in love a fabric that just is not in the budget you are able to use it as an accent and bring more attention to it. 

The rod was one that I already had and I painted with Anne Slone’s Chalk Paint, Pure White.  The wood rings were some that were extra from old jobs and just painted them too as they were all different finishes.

Once I have the furniture and and wall décor complete I will do a repost and maybe by then I will “love” these draperies.  Until then, I some more work to do to make my dining room one that I will enjoy having family and friends share a meal.

I am participating in the following link ups:  Somewhat Simple, Fireflies and Jellybeans,Gluesticks, Beyond the Pikcet Fence, Momnivore's Dilemma, The Shabby Chic Cottage,Blooming Designs, Bubble Nature Creations, Liz Marie, Addicted 2 Decorating, Hof ouse of Hepworths, Stuff and Nonsense, Finding Fabulous, The Shabby Nest, Truly Lovely,Simply Sweet Home, Bubbly Nature Creations, The Answer is Chocolate, Sassy Sites, I Gotta Create, The CSI Project, Sisters of the Wild West, Boogieboard Cottage, It So Very Cheri, DIY Showoff, Natasha In Oz, I Should Be Mopping the Floor, Between Naps on the Porch, Skip to My Lou, Todays Creative Blog, Coastal Charm, Ladybug Blessings,Domestically Speaking, The Thrifty Home, Blue Cricket Design, Fabric Bows and More,My Girlish Whimms, Seven Thirty Three, Sew Much Ado, Someday Crafts, Lil Luna,Mama Hens Coop, {Primp}, Vintage Gwen, Frugally Sustainable, Tidy Mom,Pinkapotmus, Between Naps on the Porch, Etcetorize, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Sew Can Do,My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Mod Vintage Life, My Romatic Home, Making The World Cuter, Knick of Time, Slice of Suburbia, At the Picket Fence, French Countrty Cottage, Shabby Art Boutique, Rooted in Thyme, The Charm of Home, 504 Main, A Little Knick Knack, Five Days...Five Ways, Faith, Trust, and a Little Pixie dust, Freckled Laundry, Answer is Chocolate, Chic on a Shoestring, Knick of Time,The Ivy Cottage, Elizabeth & Co., The Winthrop Chronicles, The Dedicated House, The Lettered Cottage, Live Laugh Rowe, Seven Alive, 52 Mantels, Bloom, Adorned From Above, Hi Sugarplum, Savvy Southern Style, Yesterday on Tuesday, Clean and Sensible, Mom, On Timeout

Three Word Thursday

Spring will come . . .

Happy Easter Morning

Happy Easter!  Our family has been celebrating Easter morning for generations.  I have been blessed to be raised in a Christian family, so Easter morning was always a big deal in our home.  This picture I am guessing was taken around 1972 when our family lived Tulare, California.  Yes, our dresses, shoes, and accessories were new for this special Sunday.  My memories of Easter morning are full of baskets full of trinkets and candy, going to church, coming home to Easter Sunday dinner and the knowledge that Jesus not only died for my sins, but rose again on Easter morning.  I am thankful for my heritage and the parents that brought our family up with a faith that each of us live out today. 

2013 Spring Break Recap

I know that I said I was back to blogging, and I have been thinking about it.  During that thinking time here are some things that I have been doing.  My girls are both teachers so for the last five years we have gone out to the desert near Palm Springs for Spring Break.  My Mom has a snowbird place there.  She calls it “the spa”.  When she and my Dad first went there the park was called Imperial Spa because of the natural hot springs that make up the pools and hot tubs.  So each year we travel to “the spa” to drive back to Kansas City with my Mom.  These two beautiful gals were my travel companions and they are a hoot.  We have the best time together. 

We spent the entire day on Saturday traveling from Kansas City to Palm Springs. I have to say for an airport, Palm Springs airport is the pretties one I have ever seen. 

We spent all of Sunday shopping around Palm Spring.  In the middle of down town we came across this giant statue of Marilyn Monroe and the girls had to have a picture taken with her.  Yes, she is wearing panties.

We left Palm Springs and headed to the middle of the desert.  And when I say middle of the desert, that is exactly what I mean.  Once inside the park, we are perfectly happy sitting by the pool.

Although we are in the middle of the desert, there are hot springs everywhere.  This lake is just across the road and over a little hot spring stream from my Mom’s, it is full of tropical fish that live in the hot spring fed lake.  The water coming out of the ground is 160 degrees.

Out in the desert you come across all kinds of things that have just been left behind.  We have seen this truck off in the distance for years and decided to check it out.

Like I said, there all kinds of things that you find abandon in the desert.

Friday was Anna’s birthday so we wanted to do something fun and adventurous.  We rented this little vehicle and headed out off road into the desert.

One of the places we went on our off road adventure was the “bat caves”.  This is a large pile of rocks in the middle of no where. 

From the “bat caves” you can see for miles.  The large body of water in the distance is the Salton Sea.

Another place in the desert is your typical oasis.  Water is literally bubbling from the ground in several pools with all these palm trees.

After a week of fun in the sun, we began our 22 hour trek back to reality, Kansas, and about 6 inches of snow.  Seriously?

Three Word Thursday

Pink is happiness . . .

I lost My Purpose?

If you have followed this blog for any time at all you recognize that I have not been around much this year.  I am still here doing my creative thing. I just have not been posting much.  There is no excuse or reason other than I have lost sight of my purpose for this place where I share my thoughts, creative ideas, and just a bit of my life.  However, I feel  I am back on track, my purpose has been renewed and I am ready to reenter the land of my blog-o.  So let the blogging begin once again and thank you for your patience.

Shine A Light on Modern Day Slavery

We all need to be aware of just how many slaves there really are in our world today. End It

My Exposure to the Fight Against Modern Slavery

My 2013 started out at a conference called Abolition 2013.  Wow, what was I thinking?  This was a faith based equipping conference for folks they are calling “abolitionists”. It was three days of training to understand and effectively combat human trafficking and the sex trade industry in our modern society.  Why, you ask would I attend such a training?  Well, to start with, for the last year and half I have been involved in a ministry through our church that ministers to the dancers at the two “gentlemen's” clubs south of our city. Over the last several years I have found myself researching the fight against modern day slavery and the rescue of women and children caught in the sex trade industry. Research on this subject can be a bit tricking.  So a good portion of my fact finding has been through books I have found within our library system. Exodus Cry came up on one of my few internet searches and was thrilled that such an organization was right in my own backyard as well as a conference bringing others with the same burden together.  At the conference, I was able to accumulate a number of safe websites to find what kind of work is being done here in the states and around the world. This subject matter is very difficult for me but then again, I cannot seem to get away from the need to end such practices not only within my own community but across the globe.  My heart has grown beyond my own ability to love the women that I have met in the clubs.  I am not sure what the future holds in regards to my involvement in this fight against something that has been ignored for far too long.

 . . . to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes . . . Isaiah 61:3

My First Christmas In Heaven - Repost

*This is a repost from Decdmber 17, 2010, my Dad's 1st Christmas in heaven.  In light of the recent tragedy in Connecticut, as well as the passing of a few friends and family, I wanted to repost it.

 

My First Christmas in Heaven 

By Wanda Bencke

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below

With tiny lights, like Heaven's stars reflecting on the snow.

The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away the tear

For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

 

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear

But the sounds of music can't compare with the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring,

For it is beyond description, to hear the angels sing.

 

I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart,

But I am not so far away, We really aren't apart.

So be happy for me dear ones, You know I hold you dear.

And be glad I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

 

I sent you each a special gift, from my heavenly home above.

I sent you each a memory of my undying love.

After all, love is a gift more precious than pure gold.

It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.

 

Please love and keep each other, as my Father said to do,

For I can't count the blessing or love He has for each of you.

So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear,

Remember, I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year!

 

This poem was sent to me from my friend, Donna.  Our family talks about what holidays must be like in heaven for Dad.  Seriously, Christmas with Jesus, angles, and streets of gold, how can our mere attempt at holiday decorations compare?

Homemade Christmas

There is just something about a homemade Christmas gift that I just love.  Not only does it have that one-of-a-kind, special quality to it, you know that it was made especially for you.  Every year I am on the lookout for that special homemade gift idea that I can make for the special folks in my life.  My goal is for the gift to mean just a bit more than a gesture given at Christmas time.  This year I found these great ornaments at Homegrown Hospitality.  Stephanie is a fabulous artist and offers online classes several times a year and these ornaments were part of her “Welcome Home for the Holidays” class. Once I decided that these "JOY" ornaments were what I was going to make it seemed everywhere I turned, JOY was there.  Panera, one of my favorite meeting spots, had "brimming with JOY" as their holiday cup designs.

In this season of life I will choose JOY.  When I have had a tough day and things do not go my way, “I will choose JOY.”  When circumstances are disappointing, “I will choose JOY.”  When life is fantastic and I find great surprises along the way, it is easy to, “choose JOY.” 

In this Christmas season “I will choose JOY,” and am reminded of one of my favorite Bible passages.

Psalms 100

Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!

Worship the Lord with gladness.

Come before him, singing with joy.

Acknowledge that the Lord is God!

He made us, and we are his.

We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving;

go into his courts with praise.

Give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good.

His unfailing love continues forever,

and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

Join me and "choose JOY" this Christmas.

I am participating in the following link ups:  Somewhat Simple, Fireflies and Jellybeans,Gluesticks, Beyond the Pikcet Fence, Momnivore's Dilemma, The Shabby Chic Cottage,Blooming Designs, Bubble Nature Creations, Liz Marie, Addicted 2 Decorating, Hof ouse of Hepworths, Stuff and Nonsense, Finding Fabulous, The Shabby Nest, Truly Lovely,Simply Sweet Home, Bubbly Nature Creations, The Answer is Chocolate, Sassy Sites, I Gotta Create, The CSI Project, Sisters of the Wild West, Boogieboard Cottage, It So Very Cheri, DIY Showoff, Natasha In Oz, I Should Be Mopping the Floor, Between Naps on the Porch, Skip to My Lou, Todays Creative Blog, Coastal Charm, Ladybug Blessings,Domestically Speaking, The Thrifty Home, Blue Cricket Design, Fabric Bows and More,My Girlish Whimms, Seven Thirty Three, Sew Much Ado, Someday Crafts, Lil Luna,Mama Hens Coop, {Primp}, Vintage Gwen, Frugally Sustainable, Tidy Mom,Pinkapotmus, Between Naps on the Porch, Etcetorize, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Sew Can Do,My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Mod Vintage Life, My Romatic Home, Making The World Cuter, Knick of Time, Slice of Suburbia, At the Picket Fence, French Countrty Cottage, Shabby Art Boutique, Rooted in Thyme, The Charm of Home, 504 Main, A Little Knick Knack, Five Days...Five Ways, Faith, Trust, and a Little Pixie dust, Freckled Laundry, Answer is Chocolate, Chic on a Shoestring, Knick of Time,The Ivy Cottage, Elizabeth & Co., The Winthrop Chronicles, The Dedicated House, The Lettered Cottage, Live Laugh Rowe, Seven Alive, 52 Mantels, Bloom, Adorned From Above, Hi Sugarplum, Savvy Southern Style, Yesterday on Tuesday, Clean and Sensible, Mom, On Timeout

Three Word Thursday

Let It Snow!!!!!!

Three Word Thursday

You are invited

Fancy Jar Candles

There’s something about candles that seem to promise a good time.  Candles just might be the cheapest, easiest, and most impressive accessories out there.  The flicker from a taper turns a simple meal in to a special occasion and the glow of votives bring a soft warmth to your space.  This is why I love burning candles and always have.  I especially like to burn candles this time of year, the flame of a candle just seems to make me warm.  I don’t know why, its not like the fire is enough to create heat, but seeing that little flame helps me have the impression of warmth.  There have been many a candle mishap in my past with wax running all over, red wax dripping onto the carpet, wax on a vintage tablecloth, and sadly enough the list goes on.  I am here to tell you the trouble with candles has never included a fire up to this point.  Because of these past mishaps and a friend who is a fire chief, I tend to go towards the safer jar candles these days.  Like I have said before, I am teachable.  Jar candles don’t seem to cause the wax running all over and dripping onto things that are non replaceable problem.  But who likes just a plain jar candle?  Certainly not this over the top creative/decorating kind of gal. 

I purchased these jar candles 3 for $10 last week at Michaels but knew that I had to fancy them up just a bit.

I took some burlap ribbon that I had purchased at Picture Perfect Interiors  as well as a complimentary snowflake ribbon I found and wrapped the jar, gathering it in the middle with wire.

 

I then hot glued a couple of springs of greenery and berries that I had wired together covering the wire with an old button.  And ta da, I have a fancy jar candle. 

Placing all three candles in a wooden tray that I had and sprinkling in some glittery white and silver balls created a nice little display on my coffee table.  I can light these candle each evening and not worry about the wax flowing where it is not supposed to go and still enjoy the warmth that candles bring. 

I am participating in the following link ups:  Somewhat Simple, Fireflies and Jellybeans,Gluesticks, Beyond the Pikcet Fence, Momnivore's Dilemma, The Shabby Chic Cottage,Blooming Designs, Bubble Nature Creations, Liz Marie, Addicted 2 Decorating, Hof ouse of Hepworths, Stuff and Nonsense, Finding Fabulous, The Shabby Nest, Truly Lovely,Simply Sweet Home, Bubbly Nature Creations, The Answer is Chocolate, Sassy Sites, I Gotta Create, The CSI Project, Sisters of the Wild West, Boogieboard Cottage, It So Very Cheri, DIY Showoff, Natasha In Oz, I Should Be Mopping the Floor, Between Naps on the Porch, Skip to My Lou, Todays Creative Blog, Coastal Charm, Ladybug Blessings,Domestically Speaking, The Thrifty Home, Blue Cricket Design, Fabric Bows and More,My Girlish Whimms, Seven Thirty Three, Sew Much Ado, Someday Crafts, Lil Luna,Mama Hens Coop, {Primp}, Vintage Gwen, Frugally Sustainable, Tidy Mom,Pinkapotmus, Between Naps on the Porch, Etcetorize, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Sew Can Do,My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Mod Vintage Life, My Romatic Home, Making The World Cuter, Knick of Time, Slice of Suburbia, At the Picket Fence, French Countrty Cottage, Shabby Art Boutique, Rooted in Thyme, The Charm of Home, 504 Main, A Little Knick Knack, Five Days...Five Ways, Faith, Trust, and a Little Pixie dust, Freckled Laundry, Answer is Chocolate, Chic on a Shoestring, Knick of Time,The Ivy Cottage, Elizabeth & Co., The Winthrop Chronicles, The Dedicated House, The Lettered Cottage, Live Laugh Rowe, Seven Alive, 52 Mantels, Bloom, Adorned From Above, Hi Sugarplum, Savvy Southern Style, Yesterday on Tuesday, Clean and Sensible, Mom, On Timeout

 

 

Three Word Thursday

‘Tis sparkly Christmas

Upcycled Sweater Pillows

Yay, I know I have not been around my blog lately.  Life has just been happening and my blog has taken a backseat.  But that does not mean I have not been creating.  The holiday season always seems to inspire me more than any other time of year.  I just don’t seem to have enough hours in the day to do all that I would like. So, I have learned to prioritize (okay, so it has taken me over 40 years to learn, but I am teachable) those things that I most want done.  These upcycled sweater pillows were on the of top the list.  I have made pillows from upcycled sweaters before.  You can see them here.  The cool thing about using sweaters that have been worn is that they have all of those little slubby balls and imperfections about them, making them perfect for a more vintage look.

I began my search for the deer pattern on Pinterest of course.  I searched deer pillows and found this pattern at Sew Homegrown in Japan. 

I downloaded and cut out her pattern in paper.  Before cutting out the pattern on the sweater, I applied a fusible web to the back side of the sweater to help with stability as well as adhering it to the main pillow piece making it easier to top stitch around the design. 

Here is one more tip I will give you free of charge.  When I am doing an applique, especially when working with a knit fabric, I place a piece of tissue paper under the fabric and stitch right through it.  This helps the feed dogs move more smoothly across the fabric and gives additional stability keeping the fabric from stretching out of proportion. Once you are finished stitching, you can pull the tissue paper off. 

Once I completed the deer pillow I knew that I needed a complementary pillow to accompany my new deer pillow.  Yes, of course a snowflake would be perfect.  I found the snowflake design here.

The white sweater for the deer was a much looser knit so it is a bit fuzzy, but I kind of like the look.

The sweater used for the snowflake was a tight cotton knit and ended up with a much cleaner cut.

The puff ball trim I found at Michaels.  It was a chain of the balls with edge, so I had to hand sew the trim.  I am not one to do a lot of hand sewing but the pillow really did call for this ball trim and I super happy to have taken the extra time.

I am participating in the following link ups:  Somewhat Simple, Fireflies and Jellybeans,Gluesticks, Beyond the Pikcet Fence, Momnivore's Dilemma, The Shabby Chic Cottage,Blooming Designs, Bubble Nature Creations, Liz Marie, Addicted 2 Decorating, Hof ouse of Hepworths, Stuff and Nonsense, Finding Fabulous, The Shabby Nest, Truly Lovely,Simply Sweet Home, Bubbly Nature Creations, The Answer is Chocolate, Sassy Sites, I Gotta Create, The CSI Project, Sisters of the Wild West, Boogieboard Cottage, It So Very Cheri, DIY Showoff, Natasha In Oz, I Should Be Mopping the Floor, Between Naps on the Porch, Skip to My Lou, Todays Creative Blog, Coastal Charm, Ladybug Blessings,Domestically Speaking, The Thrifty Home, Blue Cricket Design, Fabric Bows and More,My Girlish Whimms, Seven Thirty Three, Sew Much Ado, Someday Crafts, Lil Luna,Mama Hens Coop, {Primp}, Vintage Gwen, Frugally Sustainable, Tidy Mom,Pinkapotmus, Between Naps on the Porch, Etcetorize, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Sew Can Do,My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Mod Vintage Life, My Romatic Home, Making The World Cuter, Knick of Time, Slice of Suburbia, At the Picket Fence, French Countrty Cottage, Shabby Art Boutique, Rooted in Thyme, The Charm of Home, 504 Main, A Little Knick Knack, Five Days...Five Ways, Faith, Trust, and a Little Pixie dust, Freckled Laundry, Answer is Chocolate, Chic on a Shoestring, Knick of Time,The Ivy Cottage, Elizabeth & Co., The Winthrop Chronicles, The Dedicated House, The Lettered Cottage, Live Laugh Rowe, Seven Alive, 52 Mantels, Bloom, Adorned From Above, Hi Sugarplum, Savvy Southern Style, Yesterday on Tuesday, Clean and Sensible, Mom, On Timeout, One Project Closer's The Better Half

 

Three Word Thursday

To Do List

Holiday Boutique Fun

This past week I have spent my hours working for Picture Perfect Interiors  in their booth at the Holiday Boutique.  And when I say hours, I literally mean every waking hour.I have not put in this many hours of non stop work since I had an infant in the house.  The excitement of setting up the booth and actually unpacking what had been purchased for the show back in March, was a little like Christmas morning. 

I have been doing drapery fabrication for Picture Perfect Interiors over 20 years but in the last year I have done all of their internet marketing, print ads and social media, you can read more about that change here. This event fell into the marketing part of my job as we are continuing to get the word out that Picture Perfect Interiors has moved to a new location. The store is now located at 11922 College Boulevard, Overland Park, KS 66210, or better know as “College and Quivira next to the Hen House”.  We are giving out a coupon to each of the folks shopping in our booth which have already been used in the store.  Yeah, my marketing ideas is working.

 

 

I have never done anything like this, and I am not going to lie, I was a nervous wreck.  Brenda, the owner Picture Perfect Interiors kept telling me it would all work out.  Now that we are in our last day of the show, she was right. We have done a good amount of sells at the show, but with the increased traffic into our new location we had just about sold out of all of our Christmas merchandise.  Beings we are still two weeks from Thanksgiving this is not good.  But, thank goodness we will be able to restock with the merchandise from the show.  Although, I am glad this week is over, I had a great time doing this special event for Picture Perfect Interiors.

Caramel Apple Skillet Cake

Recently a Pampered Chef consultant, friend of mine gave me a catalog when I told her there were some things that I needed.  Really, the need started when Jeff made chili for a work luncheon and had a bit of trouble using the worn out can opener.  He was very frustrated because he could not get the cans open.  Being the great wife that I am, I decided to update a couple of worn out kitchen gadgets, one being the can opener.  This is the one that I ordered.  Anyway, on the front of the catalog there was a picture of this Caramel Apple Skillet Cake.  Again, being the great wife that I am (Jeff loves apple desserts) I decided to try this one out.  Boy doggies, this was a great surprise.  Not only was it easy to make, but it is so much better than I expected.  I particularly like it when a recipe tastes good, but also looks good as well.  This cake does not disappoint.  It turned out so pretty with no extra effort involved.

This will definitely be on our table this Thanksgiving.  This cake truly gives you the pleasure of a caramel apple without the sticky hands and face.  You have got to try this one.  Caramel Apple Skillet Cake

I am participating in the following link ups:  Somewhat Simple, Fireflies and Jellybeans,Gluesticks, Beyond the Pikcet Fence, Momnivore's Dilemma, The Shabby Chic Cottage,Blooming Designs, Bubble Nature Creations, Liz Marie, Addicted 2 Decorating, Hof ouse of Hepworths, Stuff and Nonsense, Finding Fabulous, The Shabby Nest, Truly Lovely,Simply Sweet Home, Bubbly Nature Creations, The Answer is Chocolate, Sassy Sites, I Gotta Create, The CSI Project, Sisters of the Wild West, Boogieboard Cottage, It So Very Cheri, DIY Showoff, Natasha In Oz, I Should Be Mopping the Floor, Between Naps on the Porch, Skip to My Lou, Todays Creative Blog, Coastal Charm, Ladybug Blessings,Domestically Speaking, The Thrifty Home, Blue Cricket Design, Fabric Bows and More,My Girlish Whimms, Seven Thirty Three, Sew Much Ado, Someday Crafts, Lil Luna,Mama Hens Coop, {Primp}, Vintage Gwen, Frugally Sustainable, Tidy Mom,Pinkapotmus, Between Naps on the Porch, Etcetorize, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Sew Can Do,My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Mod Vintage Life, My Romatic Home, Making The World Cuter, Knick of Time, Slice of Suburbia, At the Picket Fence, French Countrty Cottage, Shabby Art Boutique, Rooted in Thyme, The Charm of Home, 504 Main, A Little Knick Knack, Five Days...Five Ways, Faith, Trust, and a Little Pixie dust, Freckled Laundry, Answer is Chocolate, Chic on a Shoestring, Knick of Time,The Ivy Cottage, Elizabeth & Co., The Winthrop Chronicles, The Dedicated House

Three Word Thursday

Love my job!

LL Design

 LL Design

I am participating in the following link ups: Somewhat Simple, Fireflies and Jellybeans,Gluesticks, Beyond the Pikcet Fence, Momnivore's Dilemma, The Shabby Chic Cottage,Blooming Designs, Bubble Nature Creations, Liz Marie, Addicted 2 Decorating, Hof ouse of Hepworths, Stuff and Nonsense, Finding Fabulous, The Shabby Nest, Truly Lovely,Simply Sweet Home, Bubbly Nature Creations, The Answer is Chocolate, Sassy Sites, I Gotta Create, The CSI Project, Sisters of the Wild West, Boogieboard Cottage, It So Very Cheri, DIY Showoff, Natasha In Oz, I Should Be Mopping the Floor, Between Naps on the Porch, Skip to My Lou, Todays Creative Blog, Coastal Charm, Ladybug Blessings,Domestically Speaking, The Thrifty Home, Blue Cricket Design, Fabric Bows and More,My Girlish Whimms, Seven Thirty Three, Sew Much Ado, Someday Crafts, Lil Luna,Mama Hens Coop, {Primp}, Vintage Gwen, Frugally Sustainable, Tidy Mom,Pinkapotmus, Between Naps on the Porch, Etcetorize, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Sew Can Do,My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Mod Vintage Life, My Romatic Home, Making The World Cuter, Knick of Time, Slice of Suburbia, At the Picket Fence, French Countrty Cottage, Shabby Art Boutique, Rooted in Thyme, The Charm of Home, 504 Main, A Little Knick Knack, Five Days...Five Ways, Faith, Trust, and a Little Pixie dust, Freckled Laundry, Answer is Chocolate, Chic on a Shoestring, Knick of Time,The Ivy Cottage, Elizabeth & Co., The Winthrop Chronicles, The Dedicated House

The Bay Opening and Skate For Change

We attended the grand opening of The Bay this past weekend in Lincoln, Nebraska.  The Bay is a not for profit indoor skate park whose desire is to mentor and empower the skate culture through a positive environment.  They are creating a space where skaters of all ages can creatively develop individual skills while cultivating an atmosphere of growth, love, and community.  Our son, Ryan, has been involved with The Bay since he moved to Lincoln three years ago and met the founder, Mike Smith.  They, along with a group of folks who care about the skater youth in their community have put a huge amount of time and effort in moving The Bay to its new location.  This new location will allow them to expand their organization and influence among the youth of Lincoln.  The passion of these folks is inspiring and makes my heart full.  We were able to get a real live look into exactly what it is that Ryan is so excited about.

The weekend was busy but I would not have missed it for the world.  Not only did we get to have our whole family together to celebrate what Ryan is a part of here in the mid west but my niece and her boyfriend from Seattle were able to join us.  The Bay has also started an outreach ministry called Skate for Change.  I have talked about it before here and then again here.  Skate for Change is a local group of skateboarders who skate around the inner-city and metro areas with backpacks handing out food, water, socks, toothpaste, etc. to the homeless and less fortunate in the area.  Jo Ellen and Jeremy are the founders of the Skate for Change in Seattle.  

Red Bull is a sponsor of The Bay and Skate for Change and they were out in full force with camera crews and one of their skater athletes, Ryan Sheckler.  Ryan Sheckler is a big name in the skating world and he definitely brought in the crowd and helped make The Bay opening a huge success.

Here is a video of Mike Smith telling about how and why The Bay and Skate for Change got started.  It really is worth the look.

Three Word Thursday

*I took this quote from Just Paint it Pink

DIY Ruffled Scarf

As the weather begins to cool down, I always get the urge to knit.  I like to start out with a project where I can see the results quickly and this ruffled scarf was just the answer.  My friend, Jennifer, posted a picture a couple of weeks ago on FaceBook of a scarf that she had made. With the ruffledy, colorful, goodness I knew that I was going to have to make one for myself.  I sent her a message asking for the details of her lovely project and was surprised to find out just how easy this little scarf really was.  This scarf is made using Boutique Sashay yarn by Red Heart.  Sashay is a unique kind of yarn with a touch of metallic that creates beautiful ruffle scarves and accessories with just one ball.  The yarn is more like a ribbon, about 4 inches wide.  There are great videos to teach you how to knit with the ribbon type yearn.  A scarf like mine will take only one skein and can be completed in about three hours.

The ruffles are made with only 6 stitches knitting back and fourth until the skein is used up.  I made my scraf a big loop and then just wrap it around my neck twice.  Pink being my favorite color, I chose to make it first but I have another skein of a beige and grey varigated. I found several other brands of this kind of yarn here and here.  These yarns are slightly different but knit up in the same manner.  I can't wait to wear my new scraf.

I am participating in the following link ups:  Somewhat Simple, Fireflies and Jellybeans,Gluesticks, Beyond the Pikcet Fence, Momnivore's Dilemma, The Shabby Chic Cottage,Blooming Designs, Bubble Nature Creations, Liz Marie, Addicted 2 Decorating, Hof ouse of Hepworths, Stuff and Nonsense, Finding Fabulous, The Shabby Nest, Truly Lovely,Simply Sweet Home, Bubbly Nature Creations, The Answer is Chocolate, Sassy Sites, I Gotta Create, The CSI Project, Sisters of the Wild West, Boogieboard Cottage, It So Very Cheri, DIY Showoff, Natasha In Oz, I Should Be Mopping the Floor, Between Naps on the Porch, Skip to My Lou, Todays Creative Blog, Coastal Charm, Ladybug Blessings,Domestically Speaking, The Thrifty Home, Blue Cricket Design, Fabric Bows and More,My Girlish Whimms, Seven Thirty Three, Sew Much Ado, Someday Crafts, Lil Luna,Mama Hens Coop, {Primp}, Vintage Gwen, Frugally Sustainable, Tidy Mom,Pinkapotmus, Between Naps on the Porch, Etcetorize, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Sew Can Do,My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Mod Vintage Life, My Romatic Home, Making The World Cuter, Knick of Time, Slice of Suburbia, At the Picket Fence, French Countrty Cottage, Shabby Art Boutique, Rooted in Thyme, The Charm of Home, 504 Main, A Little Knick Knack, Five Days...Five Ways, Faith, Trust, and a Little Pixie dust, Freckled Laundry, Answer is Chocolate, Chic on a Shoestring, Knick of Time,The Ivy Cottage, Elizabeth & Co., The Winthrop Chronicles, The Dedicated House

Three Word Thursday

Working on this . . .

Three Word Thursday

Sunrise up north . . .

Fall in the Dinning Room

The change in season always makes me want to make changes in my home.  Sometimes I want to make BIG changes and other times just small changes that include seasonal decorations.  I have become partial to “the rustic with some shinny thrown in” look.  Burlap has become a favorite of mine.  Now don’t worry, I have not thrown out my glittery ways, I have combined the two.  If you look around mercury glass is everywhere.  You can now find very reasonably priced mercury glass replicas in just about any shape and size.  If you know me at all, I am happy with a good fake any day. I have been collecting this silvery goodness here and there over the years and now have my share of mercury glass.  I really wanted some large silvery/mercury glass acorns, but all I could find were way out of what I consider a “reasonable” price.  So why not make my own?

I purchased this assortment of acorns from Picture Perfect Interiors and then took a can of silver metallic spray paint and went to town.  Although, they look great just silver I was not satisfied.  I decided to add a bit more sparkle.

The best glitter out there is Martha Stewart brand.  It comes in a large color selection and is very fine.  My favorite color is white gold and I used it here on the tops of my acorns.  These fake mercury glass acorns will do just fine.

There is just something about the shinny silver and neutral colors that I just love.  I stayed away for the traditional oranges and golds that I normally use in my dining room in the Fall and chose to go with a very subtle color scheme (shocker for me, I know).

The grass bushes I purchased at Michael's some time ago on a whim not really sure how I would use them.  I wasn’t sure if this neutral Fall display was going to look as good in real life as it did in my mind.  But this has to be one of my favorite buffet displays ever.

My Burch bark pumpkins that I made a couples of years ago, go great with the silvery fake mercury glass acorns along with my fall harvest table runner as well.

Burlap, mercury glass, silvery acorns and no color have turn out to be just what I had in my mind for Fall in my dining room.

I am participating in the following link ups:  Somewhat Simple, Fireflies and Jellybeans,Gluesticks, Beyond the Pikcet Fence, Momnivore's Dilemma, The Shabby Chic Cottage,Blooming Designs, Bubble Nature Creations, Liz Marie, Addicted 2 Decorating, Hof ouse of Hepworths, Stuff and Nonsense, Finding Fabulous, The Shabby Nest, Truly Lovely,Simply Sweet Home, Bubbly Nature Creations, The Answer is Chocolate, Sassy Sites, I Gotta Create, The CSI Project, Sisters of the Wild West, Boogieboard Cottage, It So Very Cheri, DIY Showoff, Natasha In Oz, I Should Be Mopping the Floor, Between Naps on the Porch, Skip to My Lou, Todays Creative Blog, Coastal Charm, Ladybug Blessings,Domestically Speaking, The Thrifty Home, Blue Cricket Design, Fabric Bows and More,My Girlish Whimms, Seven Thirty Three, Sew Much Ado, Someday Crafts, Lil Luna,Mama Hens Coop, {Primp}, Vintage Gwen, Frugally Sustainable, Tidy Mom,Pinkapotmus, Between Naps on the Porch, Etcetorize, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Sew Can Do,My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Mod Vintage Life, My Romatic Home, Making The World Cuter, Knick of Time, Slice of Suburbia, At the Picket Fence, French Countrty Cottage, Shabby Art Boutique, Rooted in Thyme, The Charm of Home, 504 Main, A Little Knick Knack, Five Days...Five Ways, Faith, Trust, and a Little Pixie dust, Freckled Laundry, Answer is Chocolate, Chic on a Shoestring, Knick of Time, The Ivy Cottage, Elizabeth & Co., The Winthrop Chronicles, The Dedicated House

Three Word Thursday

She reads truth

Bible Study-Solitary Style

It might be news to some of you that I have not done a Bible study in the Fall all alone, in my guess, over 10 years.  Yep, that is me always doing a study with girlfriends.  This is by far my favorite way to study the Bible.  I love doing a study with friends where there is accountability, discussion about how things are connecting with your life situation, and a history that you journeyed a particular path together.  So as Fall approached and I realized that doing my girlfriend study just was not going to work into my schedule, I knew that I had to figure out how I would find something that I would connect with as well as stick to without my girlfriends along side me. 

I have been following along with the blog She Reads Truth since early last Summer.  I haven’t really been doing the study, just seeing what was there and how it might pertain to me.  This is a Bible study blog with a daily devotional and reading plan. Then on Saturdays there is a She Shares link up where you can go and read how others are doing with same reading plan.  Okay, so it is not really with girlfriends or totally solitary either. I have to be disciplined on my own to do my daily study, but then get the added benefit of seeing others’ perspective on the same scripture that I have studied the previous week.  So this has become my meeting place with God each morning.  I read the assigned scripture and devotional praying that my heart will be changed in ways that will WOW me.  Here’s to my way of Bible study, solitary style.

Three Word Thursday

His love forever . . .

Autumn is Here

Autumn is finally here in the Midwest.  After our record breaking heat this Summer, the cool crisp mornings are a nice break.  I was looking forward to decorating for Autumn and decided to go with a natural look for my Fall porch.  I have used burlap and natural colors for my pumpkins with the only really pop of color in the Amber Mums.  I made the burlap pillows last year and wanted to add a table cloth this year.   

 

 

 

 

 

Using a 30” square of burlap, I frayed the edges and then stitched along the fray to keep it from fraying any more.  I then used my Cricut machine and cut a swirl and taped it onto the corner of my square of burlap.  Using a paint brush, I dabbed the opening with off white acrylic paint. 

This simple design turned out so good and took no time at all. 

Although, I have not completed my Fall porch this is a great start. 

I am participating in the following link ups: 

 Somewhat Simple, Fireflies and Jellybeans,Gluesticks, Beyond the Pikcet Fence, Momnivore's Dilemma, The Shabby Chic Cottage,Blooming Designs, Bubble Nature Creations, Liz Marie, Addicted 2 Decorating, Hof ouse of Hepworths, Stuff and Nonsense, Finding Fabulous, The Shabby Nest, Truly Lovely,Simply Sweet Home, Bubbly Nature Creations, The Answer is Chocolate, Sassy Sites, I Gotta Create, The CSI Project, Sisters of the Wild West, Boogieboard Cottage, It So Very Cheri, DIY Showoff, Natasha In Oz, I Should Be Mopping the Floor, Between Naps on the Porch, Skip to My Lou, Todays Creative Blog, Coastal Charm, Ladybug Blessings,Domestically Speaking, The Thrifty Home, Blue Cricket Design, Fabric Bows and More,My Girlish Whimms, Seven Thirty Three, Sew Much Ado, Someday Crafts, Lil Luna,Mama Hens Coop, {Primp}, Vintage Gwen, Frugally Sustainable, Tidy Mom,Pinkapotmus, Between Naps on the Porch, Etcetorize, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Sew Can Do,My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Mod Vintage Life, My Romatic Home, Making The World Cuter, Knick of Time, Slice of Suburbia, At the Picket Fence, French Countrty Cottage, Shabby Art Boutique, Rooted in Thyme, The Charm of Home, 504 Main, A Little Knick Knack, Five Days...Five Ways, Faith, Trust, and a Little Pixie dust, Freckled Laundry, Answer is Chocolate, Chic on a Shoestring

 

Three Word Thursday

Counting on you . . .

*Source unknown

Walking My Tight Rope

It seems like lately I have been walking a tight rope.  There is always a balancing act between my personal desire of achievement and the plans that God has for me.  On one side of the tight rope is my desire to succeed and on the other is my desire to follow God’s plan.  I do believe that these can be the same at times, but right now I am in a struggle feeling like these two things are opposing each other. 

Part of my problem is that I know there is a path that I have been called to and the fact that I know I have to work very hard to achieve any kind of success (my perception, of course) in my marriage, business, even roles in ministry and life in general.  I want to work hard at these things but also know that God’s idea of success and the worldly (my) idea of success are often quite different.   I know in my head that the worldly idea of success matters very little in the end and my “well run, idea of success” is what may keep me from experiencing the true blessings that God has waiting for me.  What if I come to the end and God, says “Well done good, clean, well managed servant.” But fails to find me faithful in Him?  What good is that? 

What if I choose to jump off the side of the tight rope that is God’s plan and all will be to His glory?  What if I follow closely after Him and the world begins to think I “missed out” and even perhaps failed?  I realize that my fear is what “looks” like failure not necessarily failure itself.  Although, I am not fond of real failure either.  I have to jump off the tight rope into whatever it is that He has for me.  Achieving has always been a high priority for me.  I want to achieve in the right things, the worthy things, the things that matter in the end.  I will stop walking the tight rope and make that leap into the uncertainty that faith requires.  I will let go of my fears in lieu of my greatest fear of all – a life that made no difference.

I am participating in the following link ups:  Somewhat Simple, Fireflies and Jellybeans,Gluesticks, Beyond the Pikcet Fence, Momnivore's Dilemma, The Shabby Chic Cottage,Blooming Designs, Bubble Nature Creations, Liz Marie, Addicted 2 Decorating, Hof ouse of Hepworths, Stuff and Nonsense, Finding Fabulous, The Shabby Nest, Truly Lovely,Simply Sweet Home, Bubbly Nature Creations, The Answer is Chocolate, Sassy Sites, I Gotta Create, The CSI Project, Sisters of the Wild West, Boogieboard Cottage, It So Very Cheri, DIY Showoff, Natasha In Oz, I Should Be Mopping the Floor, Between Naps on the Porch, Skip to My Lou, Todays Creative Blog, Coastal Charm, Ladybug Blessings,Domestically Speaking, The Thrifty Home, Blue Cricket Design, Fabric Bows and More,My Girlish Whimms, Seven Thirty Three, Sew Much Ado, Someday Crafts, Lil Luna,Mama Hens Coop, {Primp}, Vintage Gwen, Frugally Sustainable, Tidy Mom,Pinkapotmus, Between Naps on the Porch, Etcetorize, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Sew Can Do,My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Mod Vintage Life, My Romatic Home, Making The World Cuter, Knick of Time, Slice of Suburbia, At the Picket Fence, French Countrty Cottage, Shabby Art Boutique, Rooted in Thyme, The Charm of Home, 504 Main, A Little Knick Knack, Five Days...Five Ways, Faith, Trust, and a Little Pixie dust, Freckled Laundry, Answer is Chocolate

 

Three Word Thursday

Fairy Tale Song

*My 12 year old neice's first original song.

Pink Patio, Oh Yay!

There is something so peaceful about a beautiful outdoor living space.  This summer I have done my darnedest to make my little postage stamp size back patio a place where I could go and drink my morning cup of coffee, read a book in the evening or eat dinner.  With the record high temperatures and drought here in the Midwest my dreams of spending a lot time on my little patio this summer have been just that, a dream.  However, this past week the weather has been beautiful and my dreams are now reality.  I took some old furniture that we had around and gave it a quick coat of paint and some fancy cushions, and changed my postage stamp patio into a pink party kind of place.

My sister used this little bistro table set in their booth at a conference several years ago.  It was originally all black.  As it has been sitting out in the weather for years, it has become very shabby.  My husband had threatened to put it out for the garbage truck several times, forgetting I take treasures like this off of the curb that others have put out for the garbage.  I figured I had better do something quick with it so that he would realize all of the pink potential that this little set still had it.

Using some pink acrylic paint I already had, I watered it down a bit and gave the slates a quick coat.  This allowed the weathered, beautiful, shabby goodness to show through.

This table is very small so it fits perfect on my postage stamp patio.  Because of the petit size, it makes this pink bandana an ideal choice for a table cloth.

The kids gave me this metal chaise lounge for mother’s day over 10 years.  It has never had a cushion, but I have enjoyed it as it is as a perfect place to read a book in the evening always thinking a cushion would make it better.  Then it came to me that if it were pink that would make it perfect.  So, yes, out came my pink spray paint.

Shopping on Wal-Mart.com one day I found this cushion that was lime green and white and would go nicely with the other fabric that I had found for the bistro chair cushions.  Using the ship to store option (free shipping, you just have to pick your item up in the store of your choice) I placed my order. 

Here is the fabric that I found for the cushions I made for the bistro chairs as well as the Adirondack chairs that are on my patio.

This is the other side of my postage stamp.  I have literally turned around and taken the picture so you can get the feel for just how small our patio really is.  But now that I have a bit of color on my sweet little patio I have grown to love it.  I am thinking about painting my Adirondack chairs next summer and adding a couple of fun pillows as well.  Maybe a very pale shabby pink  for these chairs would do nicely in keeping with the pink patio party porch feel.

I am participating in the following link ups: Somewhat Simple, Fireflies and Jellybeans,Gluesticks, Beyond the Pikcet Fence, Momnivore's Dilemma, The Shabby Chic Cottage,Blooming Designs, Bubble Nature Creations, Liz Marie, Addicted 2 Decorating, Hof ouse of Hepworths, Stuff and Nonsense, Finding Fabulous, The Shabby Nest, Truly Lovely,Simply Sweet Home, Bubbly Nature Creations, The Answer is Chocolate, Sassy Sites, I Gotta Create, The CSI Project, Sisters of the Wild West, Boogieboard Cottage, It So Very Cheri, DIY Showoff, Natasha In Oz, I Should Be Mopping the Floor, Between Naps on the Porch, Skip to My Lou, Todays Creative Blog, Coastal Charm, Ladybug Blessings,Domestically Speaking, The Thrifty Home, Blue Cricket Design, Fabric Bows and More,My Girlish Whimms, Seven Thirty Three, Sew Much Ado, Someday Crafts, Lil Luna,Mama Hens Coop, {Primp}, Vintage Gwen, Frugally Sustainable, Tidy Mom,Pinkapotmus, Between Naps on the Porch, Etcetorize, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Sew Can Do,My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Mod Vintage Life, My Romatic Home, Making The World Cuter, Knick of Time, Slice of Suburbia, At the Picket Fence, French Countrty Cottage, Shabby Art Boutique, Rooted in Thyme, The Charm of Home, 504 Main, A Little Knick Knack, Five Days...Five Ways, Faith, Trust, and a Little Pixie dust, Freckled Laundry, Answer is Chocolate

Three Word Thursday

Back to school 

 

Plastic Spoons, Seriously?

Lately I have seen several crafts that at first I am not sure what they are made of.  And with closer inspection I realize they are out of plastic spoons.  These mirrors have got to be the best thing I have seen using plastic spoons.  Over at Little Things Bring Smiles, Katie gives you a step by step instructions on how to do this craft.  I am getting ready to redo my girls’ empty bedrooms and you can bet one of them will have a plastic spoon mirror hanging it in.  You can also count on the fact that I will post the results here so that you can see my finished project.  I love how three dimensional they are and a bit art deco.  I love, love, love them. 

Here is another craft with plastic spoons that took me a minute to figure out.  Seriously, I have got to try this one, you never know when you will need a plastic flower.  It just looks so fun, I cannot tell you how many times I have been sitting around a wedding reception or other party were there are plastic cutlery and candles when someone does not start to melt the “silverware”.  Now I can actually create something cute.  You can get a full tutorial over at Krafty Kat. 

Here is one more that I think looks great and also took a second to figure out what it was made of.  It looks like a Laurel wreath, pretty cool, huh.  The Nesting Place also has great instructions so that you can make one too.  So here's to plastic spoons and all of the creative things you can use them for other than eating. 

Roll Top Desk Makeover

Last week Anna, our daughter who just graduated from college, and I did a desk makeover.  She just moved in with Lindsey our other daughter and realized that she had no furniture and if Lindsey were to move out all Anna would have left in the house would be her bed and her dresser.  So she decided there was some furniture accumulation needed on her part.  Last winter she was given a roll top desk and figured this would be a good piece to start with on her quest for enough cute furniture to fill her part of their home. 

 

This is what the desk started out looking like.   I know there are some of you out there that would not ever paint over oak.  If this desk was all solid oak I may have agreed with you, but there are parts of this desk that are paper veneer, so painting it really is no big deal. So relax, you know who you are.

We used our homemade chalk paint again on this project.  Anna started out with light aqua for the first coat.

Once the light aqua coat was dry, she proceeded to the darker aqua.  When you are painting with this kind of homemade chalk paint, it dries very quickly so there is not a long wait between coats.  And if you are going to distress the piece in the end, you really do not need to be super careful either.  Once the last coat was dry, we started distressing with an electric sander and sanding blocks.  When you distress you need to keep in mind natural wear places on the furniture, i.e. around the knobs, edges, corners, etc.

The inside even turned out great.  Knowing how home offices can be, this will probably be the position of the roll top most of the time, so good thing it looks good too. 

We were a bit worried about painting over the roll top, but we did not put a thick coat on it and did some extra sanding in the groves and it works perfect.  Once you have wiped all of the surfaces down after sanding is complete, we used a Minwax furniture wax as the finish.  This takes a bit of elbow grease but is worth it in the end. 

So goes the first piece of Anna’s furniture collection other than bedroom stuff.  You can count on the fact that we are always on the look out for a good garage sale buy to redo.  I will post future projects here. 

I am participating in the following link ups:  Somewhat Simple, Fireflies and Jellybeans, Gluesticks, Beyond the Pikcet Fence, Momnivore's Dilemma, The Shabby Chic Cottage, Blooming Designs, Bubble Nature Creations, Liz Marie, Addicted 2 Decorating, Hof ouse of Hepworths, Stuff and Nonsense, Finding Fabulous, The Shabby Nest, Truly Lovely, Simply Sweet Home, Bubbly Nature Creations, The Answer is Chocolate, Sassy Sites, I Gotta Create, The CSI Project, Sisters of the Wild West, Boogieboard Cottage, It So Very Cheri, DIY Showoff, Natasha In Oz, I Should Be Mopping the Floor, Between Naps on the Porch, Skip to My Lou, Todays Creative Blog, Coastal Charm, Ladybug Blessings, Domestically Speaking, The Thrifty Home, Blue Cricket Design, Fabric Bows and More, My Girlish Whimms, Seven Thirty Three, Sew Much Ado, Someday Crafts, Lil Luna, Mama Hens Coop, {Primp}, Vintage Gwen, Frugally Sustainable, Tidy Mom, Pinkapotmus, Between Naps on the Porch, Etcetorize, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Sew Can Do, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Mod Vintage Life, My Romatic Home, Making The World Cuter, Knick of Time, Slice of Suburbia, At the Picket Fence, French Countrty Cottage, Shabby Art Boutique, Rooted in Thyme, The Charm of Home, 504 Main, A Little Knick Knack, Five Days...Five Ways, Faith, Trust, and a Little Pixie dust, Freckled Laundry, Answer is Chocolate

 

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