Blue & Aqua

As you may have already noticed, I spend alot of my time painting and transforming found treasures.  Alot of time!  So today I thought I'd share with you a few of my latest creations, painted my favorite baby blue, and bright aqua!

 For me, half the fun of creating is the searching!  There is hardly a week that goes by without me hunting for goodies that I can makeover.  My latest obsession passion is picture frames!  I've been putting together quite a few sets for my Etsy shop, and think it's so much fun to unite them all with the same color.

 This is one of my current favorite sets.  I added vintage sheet music to one of the frames.  Love the sepia tone against the baby blue.  I was thrilled to find these vintage metal frames.  Once a "gaudy gold", I think they are so much prettier now!

 Ok, one of these days I really do need to remember to take a before shot of these vintage desk organizers!  I've been lucky enough to find 5 or 6 of them, that I have given an entirely different look to.  Once a dark brown, I think it easily would've been passed up.

 But no more!

 I've added all of these lovelies to my Etsy shop, if you'd like to check them out!

For those of you in states hit by the recent tornadoes, my thoughts and prayers go out to you.  Stay safe!
I'm linking up with Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday

Fun French Themed Projects

 Hello ladies, hope that you are all having a great weekend!

Today I  thought I'd share with you a set of pretty French themed note cards that I made the other day.

 I love making cards, not only for my own use, but to give as gifts.  I've made many cards like this in the past, that you may have seen if you've been with me for awhile.  This particular set is my very favorite, as I started with copies from a print that I purchased in Paris a few years ago.

 Anyway, I covered premade blank cards with vintage sheet music, some of which was actually in French!  Then I added the sweet images, which are advertisements for French soap.  Aren't they just the cutest?

 It's hard to tell in these photos, but I've also added a generous dusting of glitter to the cards (of course!), then finished them off with pretty crinkly taupe seam binding.

 I always include a small gift with my Etsy orders.  For larger orders, I like to give a little something more as a thank you, so I gave these cards to one of my customers this week as a special surprise.  I think she will like them!

 This is the original print that I began with.

 While I was working on this project, I thought of another one that a made about 1 1/2 years ago using this same print.  I did a post about it way back then, but thought I would share it with you again!

 I think this has got to be one of my all time favorite projects.  But, instead of keeping it myself like I wish that I had, I ended up selling it in my Etsy shop.  What was I thinking?

 Anyway, this is what it looked like when I bought it from a friend's garage sale.  I knew that it had lots of shabby potential!  you can read about the transformation here if you'd like.

 The cabinet held a surprise, too!  Open the door, and viola!  I lined her with vintage French book pages!

 Oh how I wish that I had kept her!  Do you ever do that?  Get rid of something that you really, really love, then regret it???  Well, that just means that I need to find another cabinet similar to this, so that I can create one all for myself!!

That's it for today!  Hope you have a great one!

Mirror Chalkboard Combo Project

Hello ladies!

Hope you all are having a great week!  It's a soggy day here in the Pacific Northwest, a perfect day for playing in my workroom, and sipping a cup of hot cocoa!
Since I've been on a chalkboard kick lately, I thought I would share my latest transformation with you.

I found this vintage piece and an estate sale recently.  Of course, it didn't look anything like this when I discovered it in a dark and dusty corner!

But, I'll wait til the end to show you what she began life as!!  First off, I added this pretty wooden fleur de lis to give it a Frenchy feel.  I then painted it my favorite cream, and distressed it to give it that time worn appeal.

As this is a vintage frame, it features lots of nicks and little dents, which I think makes it even more shabbyliscious!

And guess what???! This chalkboard is hiding a secret!

It is also a mirror!  That was hubby's idea (I was impressed that he came up with it himself!).  To the back side of the mirror, I added chalkboard vinyl.  So, just remove the wooden backing, flip the chalkboard over, and viola!!  Two looks in one!

Ok, are you ready to see the "before"????  This photo nowhere near captures just how "icky" it was when I discovered it.  Covered in dust and dirt, it looked as if it had never, ever been cleaned!  I told hubby that I bet no one else at that sale would've been willing to buy it!!

Now that she's been given a new lease on life, she is residing in my Etsy shop, if you care to take a peek!

I think she is much happier now, don't you think??

Linking up with Faded Charm for White Wednesday 
Boogieboard Cottage Masterpiece Monday

Dream Kitchens

Do you already have yours?

If so, lucky you!  While my kitchen is less than, well, dreamy, I did come up with some wonderful inspirations here.

Photos courtesy of bhg.com & Pinterest

 Blue is my absolute favorite color, and I could totally see myself working happily away in this gorgeous kitchen!

 Wouldn't this pink and white kitchen be a cheery way to start the day?

 An eat in kitchen would be tops on my list!  I just love this window seat banquet, don't you?

 I also really love the look of wood counter tops. Real wood, not the laminate stuff we used to have in ours!!

 Our kitchen is no where near large enough to accommodate an island. But if it were, I would have one exactly like this one!!

Don't you think this cute little blue & white eating area is just adorable?

I'm in love with real hardwood floors in the kitchen.

Not sure if this countertop is soapstone or zinc, but I really love it!  Oh, and I love the look of open shelving too!

Can you see a pattern here?  Lovin' all of the dreamy whites!

So, it would be a toss up, an all white, or a blue kitchen!

See any favorites here?

And lastly, wouldn't a butler's pantry be just awesome!  What a great place to create floral arrangements, wrap gifts, and more!

What does your dream kitchen look like?

Gorgeous Chalkboard Makeover

Hello, hope you all are having a great week!
I've been on another chalkboard kick, and have been busy creating a bunch of them for my Etsy shop.  I could hardly wait to share with you this beauty!  Of course, she didn't start out life looking so pretty!  Oh, no!  I'll show you in a bit what she began life as.

I began by painting her my favorite cream color, followed by just the right amount of distressing.  And Oooh, la, la!  A shabbyliscious new chalkboard is born!

The frame is a vintage syroco type material, and is very heavy and ornate.  It really has the look of hand carved wood!  Just look at all of her gorgeous details!  While I would dearly love to keep her, I placed her in my Etsy shop.  Now, I just need to find another frame like this (I wish!), and I'll keep that one for myself for sure!!

Like all of my chalkboards, I use chalkboard vinyl.  The great thing about that is you can use both regular chalk, and chalk pens, too, for a dust free finish.

Ok, ladies!  Are you ready to see the "before"?  I sure hope it's not sacrilegious to replace the Last Supper with a chalkboard!  (sorry Jesus!)

But, I think He would approve of the new look:)

Here is another vintage beauty that I just completed.  The pictures just don't do it justice!

I forgot to take a before shot of this one, but it had an ugly old print in it, and the frame was a gaudy gold.

This one is solid wood, and the details are just so pretty!

And here is yet another one that I just created!  This one is a lightweight plastic frame, though looking at it, you would swear that it's carved wood!

It's got lots of pretty and oh so shabby details!

You can find all of these (and more chalkboards, too!) in my Etsy shop, if you care to take a peek!
Enjoy the rest of your week!  I think I'll be dreaming of chalkboards tonight..............!!!!

I'm linking up with the following awesome parties:

Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday 
French Country Cottage Feathered Nest Friday 
My Romantic Homes Show & Tell Friday 
Funky Junk Interiors SNS 
Boogieboard Cottage Masterpiece Monday
Faded Charm White Wednesday 
It's Overflowing Overflowing with Creativity