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!

Thursday, September 29, 2011

A Few Fun Halloween Projects, and a Giveaway Reminder!

Hellos Ladies!
It sure is hard to believe that September is nearly over, and Halloween is just around the corner!  I thought I would share a few Halloween projects that I made for my booth.  Of course you already probably know that they involve glitter and Mod Podge, my two favorite crafting supplies!
 I really love this owl from Karen at the Graphics Fairy.  Doesn't he look spooky?  I had an unfinished wood plaque in a neat shape that I loved, and I thought it would be perfect to create this glittery wall hanging with.  I also found the orange and black patterned paper over at the Background Fairy (Karen's other site).  I began by painting the edges of the plaque black, then decoupaged on the papers, followed by a dusting of glitter.  I really like how it turned out!
 A scrap piece of masonite that just happened to be the right size became a cute little hanging.  I just decoupaged this adorable little girl popping out of a pumpkin, which I found over at Moonlight Magic.  A wire hanger, and some crinkly orange seam binding and black raffia (oh, and I can't forget the giltter!), made for an easy, peasy project!!
 I really love making glittered jar candles, and I used the same images as I did on the hangings.  Orange, black, and gold crinkly seam binding add a fun touch!  Since I am new at having a booth, and not sure what to expect sale wise, I didn't want to get too carried away making tons of Halloween stuff all at once. If these sell out, I'll get busy and make some more!
 They were so much fun to make!  And they look even prettier when lit!
 Just as a reminder, my friend Miranda over at Blooming in Alaska is having a giveaway to celebrate her 100 followers!  She is giving away a brand new copy of Flea Market Style, as well as a $25 gift certificate to anything in my Etsy shop.  I know she would be thrilled for you to pop by and say hi (and become one of her followers, hint, hint!).  But hurry, tomorrow is the last day you can enter!  Good luck!!

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

All Set for Soggy Seattle Days, and a Giveaway!

Hello ladies!
It's a bit of a cool and dreary day here in the Pacific Northwest, so it looks like I'll be spending the day indoors working on projects.
 Meanwhile, Emily thought she would model her new raincoat for you! Isn't it the cutest?
 It comes complete with a hood, and reflective stripes!  She's not too fond of wearing it (or any coat, for that matter!).  As a matter of fact, whenever she sees me coming towards her with a coat, she does her best to run and hide!
I think she's feeling a bit camera shy in this shot:)
Now I just need to get a pair of new rain boots, and we both will be all set!

My friend Miranda, over at Blooming in Alaska, is having a giveaway to celebrate 100 followers!  She is giving away a new copy of the fall/winter "Flea Market Style" magazine (love, love, love that magazine!!), as well as a $25 to anything in my Etsy shop!  Be sure to visit Miranda, to see how you can enter.  Oh, and she would love it if you became a new follower of hers (wink, wink!!).
Have a great day!

Monday, September 26, 2011

Fresh Fleurs

Hello Ladies!
Hope you had a wonderful weekend!  We had such a nice time with our friends who visited from back home!  It was great seeing them, and showing them some of our favorite places out here in Washington State.  On Friday, we went to downtown Seattle, first to Pike Place Market (always lots of fun!), then to our favorite waterfront restaurant for dinner.  Thought you might like to see a few shots I snapped of the glorious blooms at the market!
 Aren't these sunflowers and glads amazing?  What a gorgeous fall arrangement, I think.
 I am especially in love with stargazer lilies.  Wish you could have smelled them!
 The dahlias were just stunning!  I didn't realize that they came in so many different colors.

 The pink ones were my absolute favorite!
 This is only a small sampling of the many flower vendors at the market.  You can purchase huge, stunning bouquets for just $10!
After a busy week last week last week cleaning, cooking, and entertaining, and site seeing, I hope to get caught up on all of my visits with you!  Have a great week!

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

French Farmhouse Inspired Tiered Wire Basket

Bonjour Ladies!
As most of you know, I adore all things French, so when I spotted this gorgeous two tired wire basket recently while out thrifting, it just knew that I had to bring it home!
 The basket immediately said to me "French Farmhouse"!  Ok, the basket itself didn't actually say that, but that is what came to mind when I laid eyes on this beauty!  It may be hard to tell in the photos, but she was a sort of weathered gray color when I spotted her.  I actually liked the color, but I had something just a bit different in mind.
 So, I ended up painting her this soft "French Bleu" color, which is my own custom blended shade.
 A bit of distressing, and oooh, la, la!  Now all I need is the French farmhouse to put her in:)
Ok, a girl can dream, can't she?????  ***sigh***
 Anyway, it would have been easier, much easier, if I had just spray painted her.  But no, I like doing things the hard way, haha!  While it was quite tedious painting her by hand, making sure I got into all of the nooks and crannies, there really wasn't a spray paint out there that came close enough to this look.  Guess that's what I get for wanting something so specific!  But, I am super happy with the way she turned out!  While I would love, love, love to keep her, I have put her in my Etsy shop, if you care to take a peek!
I won't be on here much for the next few days, as friends of ours from back home are flying in tomorrow to visit us for a long weekend.  We are super excited, and can't wait to show them the sights!
 So, I'll be catching up with all of you wonderfully talented women next week!  Hope you all have a terrific weekend!  Au revoir!

Sunday, September 18, 2011

A Fun Book Project!

Hello ladies!  Hope you all have had a wonderful weekend!
One of my dear friends is going to be a grandma for the first time, so as a surprise for her, I thought I'd make her a special book.  (she's not into blogging, so no worries that she will see this post!)  Her little granddaughter will be arriving shortly, so it was super fun making such a pink and, well, girly book!
 Isn't this little fairy just darling?  I found her, as well as many of the other images that I used in this project, over at the Graphics Fairy(thank you, Karen!) and loved her so much, I decided to place her on the cover!  I began the project with a blank heart shaped chipboard book.  When I do projects such as this, I never really start with an exact plan, I just gather materials that I already have, go to Michaels if need be, and of course head on over to the Graphics Fairy!
 To me, it's so much more fun to let the creation evolve as I go along, than to have a specific plan; it almost takes on a life of its own!  I just wait for inspiration, add a snippet of this, a sprinkling of glitter, and have fun!  The book is held together with 2 metal rings, and I've gussied them up by tying generous bows, made with my favorite peachy pink crinkly seam binding, and some pretty vintage lace.
I picked up some pretty pink papers at Michaels, as well as some wonderful stickers from K & Company.  I used my favorite glue stick "Uhu" brand, to adhere the papers to the chipboard pages.
I found some baby poems on line, and printed out a few of my favorites to add to the book.
I also raided my stash of stickers and rubber stamps, pretty paper flowers, and of course, glitter!
I adore this sweet Mother and daughter image, found over at The Graphics Fairy.

Buttons (some vintage), a few tiny rhinestones, pretty borders, and fun cord complete the look!
 I am in love with the "clothesline" full of baby clothes stickers!  Aren't they just darling?
 While the book was very time consuming, it was so much fun to create!
 I also really like this cute sepia toned photo from The Graphics Fairy.  Oh, and I added a few snippets of vintage sheet music from my collection thru out the book.
 This adorable little smiling baby being "carried away" by a birdie just makes me laugh!  Again, compliments of The Graphics Fairy.

More fun graphics, stickers, and embellishments!
Love this little silver ducky charm, that I just happened to have!
 And I fell in love with this cute little girl, also from Karen.
 And of course I just had to add a couple of fun things to the back of the book!
I ended up making a couple of extra pages, as it only came with 3 or 4 pages.  Luckily, I saved  a piece of chipboard (cardboard, actually) that came along with a large wall calender.  Because you never know when you might need that sort of thing!!!
Have a great week, now go out and create something fun!
I'm linking up with the Graphics Fairy for Brag Monday

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Think Pink!

Hello ladies!
I know that for many of you, painting with pink is nothing new. But, can you believe that I myself have never painted anything that color (other than my nails!)?  So, I took a brief departure from my usual creams, blues, turquoises and aquas, and went to town!
 Remember the "gaudy gold" syroco wall pockets that I showed you last week?  Well, they have since been transformed with the prettiest shade of pink, and I must say they look oh so lovely!
 A bit of distressing, and now I think they have gone from gaudy to glamorous!!
 I found this adorable wood shelf last week while out thrifting. While I loved its original white color, I thought it would be charming painted pale pink!  Don't you just love the scalloped detail at the bottom?
 I think it would be so sweet in a little girls bedroom, don't you?
 I also gave this pair of vintage Homco candle sconces a facelift!  I think they would be so cute hung along with the shelf!
 I love metal and wire anything.  Tthis cut little shelf originally was black, and while it was ok, it was looking just a bit boring and tired.  Boring no more!
 It's amazing what a little paint and distressing can do!
I've added the wall pockets to my Etsy shop, and everything else is going in my booth.  Now I'd better find something else I can paint!
Have you transformed anything lately with paint? 
I'm linking up with Beverly of How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

A Peek at My New Booth!

Hello ladies!
Hope you all are having a great week!
I'm so excited that I finally got my very own space at Sasafrass and Company antique mall!
Saturday I set up my area, then went yesterday and added even more treasures!  So, here is a peek at my goodies.
 Shabbylicious vintage Queen Anne dresser.  Love!
 Lots of framed rose prints.  And of course my signature colors of cream, white, aqua, and turquoise!
 Parisian and beachy chic!
 I'm having so much fun already!  This is my first time having a booth, so I guess I will learn as I go!  I still have some nooks and crannies that need filling.  So, I've been busy at work (play, really!) creating more treasures to take in, as well as pack up orders for my Etsy shop, which has really been on a roll lately!  Needless to say, I am thrilled!  Tired, but thrilled!  For those of you who have been visiting me for awhile, you know that this has been a rocky and rough year for me, with our stressful cross country move.  So, it is so nice to be excited and happy again!  And getting to create to my little hearts content is just divine!
 Ok, the following photos are of one of my very favorite booths in the shop!
 I love, love, love all of the beachy and shabby chic treasures that it is brimming with!
 And I really love that wicker wrapped big bottle!
 Her displays are amazing!  Drool worthy, indeed!

 Ok, I really need to get one of these Paris signs, that she made herself!  So me!!!

 Oooh, la,la!  And I am loving all of these wonderful cloches.  I want it all!  I think I need to get that adorable little plaster bust beneath the cloche.  It would go perfectly with one that I already have!
 Check out this gorgeous chandelier!  I could always find a place for that in our home:)
Ok, ladies, that concludes our little tour for today!  If you are ever in the Lakewood/Smokey Point area of Washington State, be sure to visit Sasafrass and Company!  I would love to meet you!
Enjoy the rest of your week!