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!

Monday, May 13, 2013

A Drab to Fab Makeover & a Fun Win

Hope you all had a great Mother's Day weekend!
It's hard to believe that the middle of May is already upon us, isn't it?
Today I wanted to share with you one of my favorite recent "drab to fab" makeovers.
Of course I have to show you a little "teaser" photo first!  I love finding unique frames that I can transform into chalkboards. 
 Sometimes of course you have to look past what is, to what could be.
Are you ready to see what it used to look like?
I immediately was drawn to this large hand carved wood frame, with a linen looking inner fabric border.  I just knew it would make a gorgeous chalkboard, with a little tlc!
Wow!  Does this photo scream 1970's, or what?  I did feel a bit sad thinking that someone (a family member?) didn't value the photo of the little girl enough to keep it.
It actually hailed all the way from Prince Edward Island, Canada. What it was doing in a thrift store in Ann Arbor, Michigan, will remain a mystery!
Ok, I am totally dating myself here, but I remember when this young girl's look was in style!
As a matter of fact, I wore a dress very similar to this, when I was a junior bridesmaid in my older sisters wedding!  My mom made all of the bridesmaid's dresses, in baby blue polyester!  They had long sleeves, and plenty of lace like in this photo.  And can you believe that my sister's wedding dress was polyester as well?  Yep!  That was the 70's for you!
 Ok, I'm getting a bit off track here!
Are you ready to see the "after"?
 Wow, what a difference paint makes, don't you think?
I knew right away that I wanted to paint it my favorite shade of creamy white.  Hubby cut a masonite board for me, which I then painted with many layers of chalkboard paint.
A bit of distressing, and I think the frame is so much happier, don't you?
I've placed it in my Etsy shop, if you care to take a peek!

 Awhile back, I was thrilled to win a giveaway of a Ramsign enamel sign, over at Trisha's, of 
(thank you again, Trisha!)
 Well, I was super excited when the package arrived in my mailbox the other day, all the way from Denmark!
Rather than choosing our house number (since I didn't want to leave it behind when we move, whenever that may be!), I decided to go with our wedding anniversary date (an idea I got from Trisha!).
The sign is even nicer in person than I thought it would be!  It is made from a heavy, high quality enamel, in my very favorite blue and white!
Here I created a little vignette, along with our wedding picture.  Hard to believe that this August we will be celebrating 13 years!  We were married on the beach in Kauai, at sunset!
(whoops!  I just noticed that you can see a reflection of my pjs in our wedding photo!  I snapped the shot while I had my pink puppy pjs on!)
Time sure flies!
Hope you all have a wonderful week!

10 comments:

Susan EvelynAndRose said...

Oh that poor girl from the 70's. Maybe someone will recognize her from your blog and want the photo back. Hee hee...
Gosh, Donna, you've done it again - an amazing transformation with paint! Such a far cry from the 'before'.
Love your romantic wedding photo, too! :)

Celestina Marie said...

Hi Donna,
Oh I love this carved frame and the creamy white you gave it with the addition of the chalkboard. Oh I remember too well this little girls style. Been there done that too. LOL She is so pretty, and it is sad to think no one wanted to keep her picture. I am seeing more of this recently while thrifting. People are just getting rid of memories.
Love your giveaway win with your anniversary date. Love it. I was married in August too but the 11th.
Congrats to you for your upcoming 13th anniversary. How romantic is must have been to marry on the beach. The pic is gorgeous.

Have a wonderful Monday.
Hugs, Celestina Marie

Rosemary@villabarnes said...

Nice makeover, Donna. I can't tell you how many family memories I've seen tossed. Curbside, auction, garage sales. Just amazing. Congrats on your win, btw.

Bente said...

Hi Donna. What a change on that frame. Love it.

Have a great new week.

Hugs

Connie said...

Great job . . . sooooooooo pretty :)

Trisha said...

Well now of course we want to see pictures of you in your junior bridesmaid dress! That frame turned out fantastic! So glad your sign made it to you...it is perfect! Have a great week!

~Trisha

Musings from Kim K. said...

I'm totally loving the visual of you in your bridesmaid dress as well as your pink puppy pjs!!!

Okio B Designs said...

Ah yes, got to love the 70s. HA! I was a little kid but boy do I cringe looking at photos from that time. Love your makeover!

Jeanine

Sherry@Back2Vintage said...

Great drab to fab! Oh, yes. I remember the 70s....most of the decor should be forgotten or maybe repainted...like your great frame!

Debbie said...

You always do such good work, Donna.
Nice job on the chalk board transformation.
I won one of those house number signs last year, and I love it!!
I like the idea of using your wedding date.
Have a nice weekend.
xo