chandelier makeover

I decided I wanted to modernize a few chandeliers.
I took some of my old chandeliers that were the old brass and I painted them some different colors and added some glaze to them.  I used some of my crystals that I purchased recently.  Hubby rewired them. This one went from  an ugly duckling to a beautiful swan!

Here is a before and after picture for you.  I like their new look.  What do you think?
I just noticed this one is missing a bulb in the front!  lol!  its still pretty!

treasures of the sea

 There are such beautiful things all around us...  We were able to take a quick walk on the beach last evening and look at all the wonderful , interesting things we found in just a few minutes...

pretty spring table

Here is the table we painted to go with the hutch.  6 chairs will be ready soon!

little french dresser

.

Here is another before and after.  this one was a boring wood french dresser.  

 I gave her several coats of a beautiful french aqua color. 

 And now she is all dressed up ready to go into your home!

spring nesting!

Here is  a pretty project to make that is really quick way to bring Spring into your home!


Take a shadow box frame.  These I bought from Hobby Lobby when they are half price.

Take a nest, either one from your yard or a store bought one, add a few eggs.

I covered the back board of the frame with some of my french paper, or any other pretty paper.


Hot glue the nest right on to the backboard.

Put the frame together and instant nesting! 

painting fool...

So I have been painting every day.  And every night.
I have completed about a dozen pieces.  I am loving painting. 
I even get up before I leave for work every day and put a coat of poly on something, somewhere!
My house and barn are a wreck.  Newspaper, cans of paint, poly, brushes everywhere....

These are a few of my latest before and after pictures. 
Here is  what the piece looked like before - an ugly pine hutch that we found on craigslist. 

I painted it a pretty taupey grey color, distressed it, glazed it and gave it a couple coats of poly. I changed a couple of the knobs (yes, hobby lobby), but actually thought the old ones looked better on it after, than they did before.

I think she is beautiful now.  
I like her so much, I am not sure I can sell her.  
But our house has no wall space.  Too many windows. I have no where to put her :(

Here are a couple others I just finished !
This new adventure is a lot of work.
Degloss,  paint,  paint again,  sand,  glaze,  poly,  sand,  poly...
It takes about a week to complete a piece. But I love the results! 

moo cow!

I love cows!  
Here are a few of my favorites... a couple of cute creamers...

Bernadette, who hangs in my workshop...

part of my toy cow collection looks out the window...

a cow weather vane....

and an old cow photo worthy of framing, that I used in my artwork...

pretty paper ribbon

Here is some pretty french script paper ribbon that I just got.  
I think it is so pretty and feminine.  
I also got some beautiful paper roses too.
I will be selling both at the sale. So pretty!

carnival tickets

Last week while my hubby and I were out picking, we came across this box of wonderful old carnival tickets.  Does anyone remember when it only cost a dime to ride the rides?!

blossom branches

Cant wait for spring?
If you want the look of real budding branches but cant wait, this is a little bit of work , but is really pretty.
Take a branch from outside.
Buy some fake flowering branches - the more real looking the better.  Pull the blossoms off the fake branches.  Hot glue them onto the real branches.

It is a much better look than the original fake branches.
Really pretty!

she's finally here!

Many have asked if my little sister had her baby yet.  Yes they did!
Here is her dear sweet little one.
The picture is from photographer Kristen Caldwell.
www.kristencaldwellphotography.com
I got to meet my new niece last weekend.  She is beautiful!  
Mommy, daddy and baby are all doing well! 

pretty handmade cards

I never seem to have the right cards on hand for the right occasion.  I have a drawer full of cards, just none of them seem to be "right". 
So, I decided to make my own cards.  I bought blank cards at Michaels.  
I copied some of my pretty french paper onto a parchment paper.  
Used some of those scissors that cut different pretty edges.  
I adhered the french paper onto the cards and used a pretty stamp with sepia tone ink.
Now I always have the right card on hand...one that is hand made!
They are great to give as gifts too!

before and after!

So, as I was plotting out my color stories for the upcoming Spring Sale.  
I decided that I want to paint furniture!  
Anything that hasn't sold in the last sale is getting a fresh coat, distressed, glazed chipped off, "new" finish!
So, when I decide to do something , I don't start small.  I dive in head first and do it big.  
Here is one of TWO carts of paint and glaze we purchased last weekend!

I sure do hope that I like this adventure.  
I think this could be a whole new thing for my hubby and I!  
If not, I will be selling a lot of paint on Craigslist!

Here is a before and after of a dutch chair that was very sad and forlorn looking. 
Now with a spring green finish!

Here is a before picture of a cute buffet. 
It had mirrors and was a boring wood.
We painted it black, distressed it, changed the knobs and here is the finished buffet...

I get my knobs at hobby lobby.  They have the BEST selection.  If you wait and watch the sunday ads, they have a 50% off sale every few weeks.  These knobs have script writing on them.  They really make a piece special!

cherub fountain

Look at this cute little cherub fountain that i found at a recent auction.
She is in such good shape.  She has all her fingers and toes!
My hubby and I are going picking this morning.  Hope to find more treasures like her!

Save the Date! Spring Barn Sale

I've had a lot of questions about when the Spring Sale is.....
It is Mothers Day weekend!  May 6th and 7th!  Friday and Saturday!!
Save the date!
Cant wait to see you all!
We will have antiques, vintage treasures, great spring decor, Mothers Day gifts, flowers, herbs, hanging baskets, cool jewelry and more!
Spring is almost here!!!!
Have a great weekend!!

love these red roses!

I am always looking for the best looking faux flowers.  

I think that I found them with these beautiful red roses.  

They are so real looking!!  I'm in love!

tin roof ....Rusty!

This past year we had to replace the roof on our 161 year old farmhouse. 
The house had a tin roof, which I love.  I love hearing the rain on the roof when I sleep.  
But too many bad storms had blown through recently and we had snow literally coming in our attic!
So when we replaced it, we replaced it with tin ( or I guess its steel).  
My husband was going to throw the old roof away, but I told him not to, as I would surely come up with some idea on how to use it in the future.  
He took it to the back of our property along the tree line and stacked it, where it has nicely rusted.
So as I started setting up for the Spring sale I asked him to please retrieve me some of that tin roof.  
I am loving it so much!  It is such a cool look for walls.  
We will be selling some of it at the spring sale.

Isn't it lovely?!