A Favorite Project From the Past

Ok, I am cheating a bit here by posting a project of mine from nearly two years ago!  It's hard to believe that I began my blog about this time back in 2010.  Wow, so many changes in the past two years. Some good, some, well, lets just say "challenging"!  I'm sure that many of you can relate!  

Hubby and I are going to be moving back to our home state of Michigan in a month, so I've been busy sorting, purging, and stressing! At any rate, I wanted to share with you one of my all time favorite redos, that I'm sure most of you haven't seen.  Here is a little glimpse of the "after"!  You'll never guess how unattractive this poor thing started out life as!

 See! I found this puppy at an estate sale, and knew right away that she was just begging for a makeover!  Thankfully the clock was in perfect running order, but that hideous lovely faux plastic stained glass at the bottom just had to go!

 I love keeping an assortment of wooden appliques on hand.  You just never know when they'll come in handy for a future project!  I added three of these cute little floral appliques below the clock face, and some pretty corner appliques as well.

 I then painted her a cheery and vibrant aqua color. To replace the tacky "stained glass", I had hubby cut me a small piece of masonite to fit inside the opening, which I then covered with chalkboard paint. She was feeling happier already, I think!  Some distressing and glazing, which really helped to highlight all of the wonderful details of the appliques, and viola!

 I must say that this is one of my very favorite drab to fab projects!  I ended up selling it in my Etsy shop, but wish now that I'd have kept it myself!  Oh well, guess that means that I just need to find another clock to rescue and transform!

Hope you all gave a great weekend!  Now go out and find something to makeover!
I'm joining Debra over at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday.

Spring Decorating and Crafting Inspirations

Hello everyone!  While many of you have already been experiencing an unusually warm and early spring, here in the Pacific Northwest, it's been a bit cooler than normal.  Until today, that is!  The sun is shining, temps are in the low 60's, birds are singing, and the cherry trees are blooming and just gorgeous!

all photos courtesy of bhg.com

 So now that spring has finally sprung, I'm in the mood for some spring time decorating ideas!  I love checking out  Better Homes and Gardens for not only fun and unique projects, but also low cost ideas as well.  I am totally in love with this cute rusty watering can, hung from the door and filled with a cheery spring time bouquet.  Look closely, and you will see some Easter eggs added as a fun and unexpected surprise!

 Since we are on the subject of Easter eggs, I really love this next idea.  Fill a clear glass compote with water, colored eggs, and snippets of fresh flowers.  How fun is that?

 Or, take an old umbrella and repurpose it as a "vase" for holding pretty tulips and more eggs and a cute little nest!  I guess you could either use those water vials you get at the florist for keeping the flowers fresh, or maybe even use some oasis floral foam, soaked in water, to keep everything from drying out and wilting.

 I think this next idea is such a fun way to reuse interesting bottles.  They don't have to be vintage or fancy.  Just look in your recycling bin and see what you've got!  Wrap some wire around their necks, fill with water, and tuck in whatever you have blooming around your yard!  I love they way these have been artfully hung from the picket fence!

 Don't you just love this spring themed mantel?  The window and shutters are perfect for adding architectural interest, and I love the cute little bird cage and birdies, too!

 What a clever idea this is!  Fill a straw hat with colored Easter eggs and fresh (or silk) blooms, for a fun centerpiece for your table.

 Lily of the Valley is one of my all time favorite spring flowers.  I just love their intoxicating scent!  I also love tea cups, and think they make the perfect little vessels for these sweet smelling bouquets!  Imagine having friends over for lunch, and giving each person their own tea cup and flowers to take home as a little gift!

 You know how much I love aqua, and I'm crazy about bird cages, too.  So I totally am drawn to this pretty vignette!  I think little vase filled with flowers in the turquoise wooden box, is such a creative idea!

And last of all, how about creating a shadow box filled with a special photo and mementos.  It looks as if everyone was dressed in their spring time finest for this photo!  Love the color that the shadow box was painted, too!

That's it for today, enjoy the rest of your week!

Beach Cottage Mirror Makeover

Hello, hope you are having a great day!

If you visit here on a regular basis, you know how much I love mirrors! And painting just about anything in sight!  So today I thought I'd share with you one of my latest creations, what I'm calling

"beach cottage" mirrors!

I found these new mirrors over the weekend, and quickly scooped them up, as I knew that they were begging for a color transformation!  Of course they didn't start out looking like this!  Oh, no!

 This is how they began life.  Not bad, but not the look I was going for, either!  While I was tempted to buy all that the store had, I forced myself to stop at just two!

 I could hardly wait to begin painting these puppies!  I knew right away that I wanted to use several "beachy" shades, ranging from turquoise, to aqua, to light blue, to aquamarine.

 What do you think of their makeover?

 I really love how the textured wood is reminiscent of weathered wood that you might find at the beach.  I can just picture a cute little beach cottage painted one of these pretty colors, can't you?

 Here's one last look.  I've placed them in my Etsy shop if you want to take a peak!

 Ok, I sure hope that you aren't tired of seeing the view from here!  While these next photos have nothing to do with my mirrors, it's such a gorgeous day here today on the Puget Sound, I had to get out and snap a few shots from our back yard.  The snow covered Olympic Mountains are in their full, snowy covered glory!

 Well, I guess you could say that these views do have a bit in common with my mirrors!  The Sound is so calm today, I wish that you could see the reflection of the clouds in the water.  A mirror image reflection!!

 I'm really gonna miss this view when we move back to Michigan!!

I'm linking up today's post with Debra over at Common Ground, for Vintage Inspiration Friday.  Be sure to visit!

More Dream Bath Ideas

Hello!  Hope you all are having a great week! The other day, I shared with you some wonderful and dreamy bathroom ideas.  Today I'd like to pick up where I left off, and share some more wonderful baths.  If you already have your dream bath, then lucky you!  But, if you are like me and your dream bath currently resides in your, well, dreams, then check out the following inspirations!

all photos courtesy of bhg.com

 Isn't this pink bathroom just adorable?  I think it's so cheery and fun, but I doubt that most men would feel the same!  So, maybe it would be ideal for a little girl's bath, or maybe a lucky guest could call it their own while visiting!  Gotta love the claw foot tub and sweet vanity!

 I mentioned the other day that I would dearly love a spa type steam shower.  I think this one would fit the bill quite nicely!

 I love this cute little bath under the eaves!  Isn't that mirror just gorgeous?

 My dream bath would also include a cushy window seat, perfect for curling up with a cup of hot cocoa after a nice bubble bath in that amazing tub!

 I really love the ceiling in this bath, and how the tub was faced with beadboard.  Gotta love white beadboard!

 Another wonderful shower.

 This bath is pretty amazing, don't you think?  I love all of the natural light coming in from the sky light, and the built in storage would be the perfect spot for displaying pretty bottles of fancy lotions and creams.  And there is that bead board again that I am so fond of!  (hubby take note!!)

 Aaaaahhhhh!  I love everything about this pretty bath, from the toile valance, to the tub, to the hardwood floors.  I would be very happy with a bath like this!

 I really love the simplicity here, from the interesting hooks on the wall, to the vintage looking shelf, to the rustic mirror.  Not to mention the soothing color pallate!

 The combination of pink and green is so cheery and spring like, don't you think?  I love the use of that cute vintage chair as a handy towel holder.

The tub tucked under the eaves, the beadboard, and the antique dresser, all give this bathroom tons of vintage inspired charm.  Which bath is your favorite?



Shabby Chic Picture Frames

Hello ladies, I can hardly believe that it's time already for another White Wednesday!

One of my favorite things to do is hunt for interesting picture frames, that I can transform with paint and some tlc.

So today I thought I'd share with you some of my recent creations, all of which I've painted my favorite shade of cream!

 I think this has got to be one of my favorite frame collections so far!  I was thrilled to discover not one, but two of the frames that you see on the left (in the above photo), on two separate thrifting trips.  They are made of a very heavy resin like material, similar to Syroco, and really have the look of hand carved wood!

 I don't know which I enjoy more, painting and distressing the frames, or hunting for them!!  For this set, I added pages of vintage sheet music.  Love!

 I've also mixed in some vintage and newer metal frames. What a difference paint makes!

 Love the details!

 The collection below is also a mix of vintage and newer frames, minus the glass.  I really love the look of hanging empty frames, or displaying them on a mantel or shelf.

 I found this matching pair at an estate sale. They are really solid, chunky frames, that have an interesting fabric insert that reminds me of linen.  Lots of distressing gives them vintage appeal!

 Just look at all of the pretty details!  While I would dearly love to keep all of these frames, I've put them in my Etsy shop, if you want to take a peek!

Thanks for stopping by!

Be sure to visit Kathleen over at Faded Charm for White Wednesday, for tons of inspiring ideas!

Dream Baths

Hello, hope you all had a great weekend!

I've been dreaming. Dreaming of what my ideal bathroom would look like!  Tops on my list would be a clawfoot tub.

all photos courtesy of bhg.com

***sigh***

I can totally see myself in one just like this!

I also would love to have white bead board on the walls like these beautiful vintage inspired baths!

 Ok, what do you think of the wall in this bath (below)?  Be honest now!  If this were my bath, I think I'd have an instant headache each time I set foot inside of the door!  Sorry, that wall paper has just got to go!  I do love the tub, though!

 I really love the idea of converting an old dresser, or in this case, a buffet, into a sink. How gorgeous, and I love the mirror and wall paper, too.

While I don't think I'd ever paint walls this dark of a brown, I really do love this bathroom!  By adding the hutch, as well as that gorgeous mirror and chandelier above the tub, I think the room now becomes more of a sanctuary!  I could see myself spending alot of time in here!

 Another thing on my wish list is a steam shower.  I'm trying to talk hubby into making me one when we move back to our home in Michigan this spring.  I tell him that's the least he can do, since I relocated clear across the country for him and his job!!  Get a load of this shower, it's huge! 

I also am drooling over this beautiful shower, too.  Love the rain shower head.  I'll be sharing more of my dream bath ideas with you later this week.
What is your idea of a dream bath?