Welcome to my blog!

Thanks so much for stopping by! I believe that everyone can have a beautiful home without spending a fortune! One of my favorite things to do is find creative ways to re-purpose things I already have on hand, or have picked up at yard sales and thrift stores. Join me as I share with you some of my favorite ideas for crafting and decorating, as well as travel adventures, and fun things that I pick up on my treasure hunts! Much of my work is influenced by my love all things French, nature, and of course shabby chic! I have gotten so many creative ideas from you very talented bloggers out there, and I hope that I can be an inspiration to you as well!

Friday, June 10, 2011

Paint, Glitter and Mod Podge!

On a typical day, you will find me covered in paint splatters, Mod Podge stuck to my finger nails, and glitter dusting my cheeks!  Sounds like quite a sight, huh?!I have been a busy bee getting ready for the Retreat Vintage Market, that's in two short weeks.  Yikes!  Did I say two weeks?!! So, I apologize for being missing in action this past week, and not getting around to visit you as much as I'd like!  I promise that once the show is over, I'll be around alot more often!  At any rate, I thought you'd like to see a few of the things that I've been working on for the show.
 I am super excited about this first piece!  I found it at the antique mall not far from us this week.  While it is not an antique, I think it has the look and feel of a piece that you would find in a vintage French country kitchen!  Of course I had to give it a makeover with my favorite shade of cream, and some generous distressing.  I just love the cute little drawers, their fronts are wire mesh.  The cabinet appears smaller in these photos than it actually is, for some strange reason!
 I love the cute little ball feet!  It is going to be hard parting with this baby, but I vowed to myself that when we move back to Michigan (whenever that may be!), to go with less than we came!  No easy fete considering that I love "stuff"!
 I've also been busy creating these pretty altered vintage apothecary bottles.  I just love them!!
 Some of the images came from The Graphics Fairy, and I have also added crinkly seam binding, neat keys, glitter (of course!), and glittered silk hydrangea blossoms.
 I really love this pretty French bird graphic!
 I filled them with shredded vintage sheet music. And notice that adorable little vintage key?!
 "Song birds", get it?! :) (ok, I think all of these paint fumes and glitter must be getting to me!)



 This is also one of those things that I will have a hard time parting with!  A cute little chippy/rusty wire caddy, with metal pots that I painted and decorated.  I love birds and nests, and added a different design to each pot, along with one of my French bird tags.  Oooh, la, la!
 Full of shabby, chippy goodness!

 Ok, I wish that I'd taken a before shot of these wooden platters.  They were plain, boring wood platters when I discovered them the other day.  I transformed them with some Heirloom White on the back, and decoupaged pages from a vintage French text book on the front.  I found the crown and fleur de lis over at The Graphics Fairy (thank you, Karen!).   I am calling them my "French lesson plates"!

 Ok, I am seriously going to have a hard time parting with all of these treasures, including this gorgeous wire basket!  It was black when I discovered it the other day.  Well, you know how I love cream, white, and all shades in between, so I just had to give it a makeover!  Don't you love the wooden handle? 
 I can just imagine myself collecting eggs in this cute basket on my farm in the South of France (ok, a girl can always dream, can't she?!).

Well, I'd better get back to the painting, decoupaging, and glittering of everything in site!  If you are in the area on June 25th, I would love for you to stop and see me at the Retreat Vintage Market on Camano Island, Washington!  You can find me at The Shabby Chateau!!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

I'm linking up with the following great parties:
Funky Junk Interiors SNS

15 comments:

Musings from Kim K. said...

You've certainly been busy and your work is fabulous. You should do fantastic at your show. Everything is just romantically lovely, Donna.

Have a glitter-filled weekend!

The Vintage Farmhouse said...

All incredibly prefect projects! ♥

Leo said...

Love love love. You are so talented. Can't wait to see what else you create for the Market.

Kathy said...

Everything is beautiful, just the right touch of sparkle. Much luck to you, sounds like a fun place to be...

Ann@A Sentimental Life said...

I'd say you been busy! the cabinet is great! Love the planters with the birds and nests!

LuLu Kellogg said...

Look at all this eye candy Donna! People will buy these in a flash!

LuLu~*xoxo

Pretty Ragged Threads said...

WOW,you have been busy. Love all your creations. Should be a fabulous show for you. Wish I could be there.

Hugs, Jackie

Cindy Adkins said...

Oh gosh, everything is GORGEOUS!!! And totally French farmhouse--WOW!! I am speechless!!
XO
Cindy

mizdarlin said...

Wish I could come and visit - and drool!
Let's see if the lottery this weekend brings me any closer to that possibility.. ;)

Cindy Adkins said...

Hi Donna,
I have not been able to leave messages on blogs for some reason, so I wanted to see if I can leave one here...I hope it works!!!
XO
Cindy

NanaDiana said...

I was going to email you this weekend if you didn't pop up! I know you are busy though getting ready for the show. Your stuff is amazing and I'm betting you will sell everything you take! I sooo wish I could come and help you work your booth. I am great at giving people "nicknames" as I see them coming...like..The Inspector...or Crazy Bird Blouse Lady....now watch...you will see some woman walking up wth a bird printed blouse on and start laughing to yourself!;>)

Have a good weekend..and we will play "catch up" when the show is over...lots to share! xo Diana

Unknown said...

Looking good, Donna!! Everything is absolutely gorgeous. Wishing I could come to the sale. I know you will do great!
xo
lynn

Sherry@Back2Vintage said...

Wow! You HAVE been busy! Your show is going to be great! Wish I lived closer so I could shop your booth! Good Luck!!!

Ido said...

I love all the goodies you'll be selling, wishing you the best of luck at the show!!!
XXX Ido

Pamela said...

Those bottles are gorgeous Donna!!!
You seem to have settled right in to your new life! Wonderful!!