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, January 26, 2015

Wintery Whites

Cold and wintery outside means it's a good excuse to stay indoors and have fun creating!
With all of the white stuff on the ground here in the Midwest, I thought I would bring some more white indoors! With paint, that is!
So today I thought I'd share with you some of my latest creations that I've made for my Etsy shop, all done in my favorite shades of white to cream.
This large basket was a lucky find!  It's brand new, and came with the canvas liner.  I couldn't scoop it up fast enough!
Of course it didn't start out life this color. It was a natural wicker tone, but I immediately thought it would be so much prettier with a white wash finish.  So I painted it my favorite creamy white, allowing a bit of the natural tones to show thru.

 
And since the basket had a French feel to it, I just had to make a French graphic tag to go along with it.
 Oooh, la, la!
Shelves are always big sellers in my shop, so I am always on the hunt for nice ones that I can transform with a little paint and tlc.  I was super excited to find this ornate vintage Homco shelf, below.
Originally gaudy gold when I spotted it, I could hardly wait to take it home and give it some creamy love!
 The shelf has some beautiful detailing, and would also make a pretty bed crown!

 It can sometimes be challenging to photograph my shelves.  The one below is even cuter in person than I was able to capture in my pics, I think.
It is vintage and has great curves!
 It was an awful dark reddish-brown finish when I found it on one of my weekly treasure hunts.  Many coats of creamy white paint, and it's looking so much happier, I think!

 Also popular in my shop are picture frames.
Actually hubby found the next pieces that I'm about to show you.  I get so excited when he comes home with treasures for me to transform!  I guess I've trained him well, as he knows just what to look for now:)
I really love this sweet oval frame.  It is vintage and has the prettiest floral and ribbon motif at the top, as well as pretty raised details around the border.
 I took it from gaudy gold to glam with my signature antique white!
 It came with this sweetest little bird print, but that could be replaced with a photo or other artwork.
 Oval frames are especially popular in my shop.  This pretty matching pair below are also vintage.
From boring brown to shabby and chic cream, I am really loving them!
 They have a pretty raised floral and leaf design on both sides of the frame.
I like including either vintage sheet music or pretty scrapbooking paper in my frames.  I think they look pretty in the photos, but sometimes I also like to show what the frames look like empty, so the buyer could better visualize them with their own photos or whatever added.
 I was excited when hubby came home with not one, but two of these cute curvy shelves, below.  And I could hardly believe my luck when I found another identical shelf when I was out thrifting last week!
I painted this one pure white, so much better than the awful dark reddish brown finish.
 Love the curvy brackets and the scalloped edge top.
 That's it for now, so glad you stopped by for a visit!
Have a great day, and stay warm and cozy!

17 comments:

The Bear's Blog said...

Stay warm. Do you really need an excuse to stay in and craft? Me thinks not.

Hugs to The Katie Bug

Susie said...

Donna, I love all your make overs. The first shelf can be flipped over to hold books, if it is closed at the ends. I like it. Hope you are not totally snowed in. We lucked out with just one and one half inches of snow....not the predicted 3 to 5 . Hooray. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

Okio B Designs said...

Lovely pieces! I have so many baskets I need to paint. With the blizzard coming, I think I might do some indoor painting myself today. =)

Jeanine

Trisha said...

Every piece is so pretty! I really love that Homco shelf and the oval frames. Paint is amazing stuff when put in the hands of someone who knows exactly what to do with it!

~Trisha

Butterfly 8)(8 Bungalow said...

I didn't realize you had a shop. Everything is gorgeous! Have a wonderful week.

Tania Pelletier said...

All of those things look so beautiful now! You can't go wrong with white!

Tania

Felecia Cofield said...

Hi Donna! The transformations are beautiful! I love them all! Keep crafting and sharing! And stay warm! Blessings from Bama!

Tete said...

This is one of my plans for this year. To grab up as many as I can find and make them pretty. I need a few here, for sure, but then pass the rest on to someone else. Love all the fun you have been having!

Debby said...

I love all those pretty white shelves. It's amazing what you can do with some paint.
everything is sure white outside here.

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Such pretty make overs. I do love how everything looks better painted!
hugs,
Linda

Musings from Kim K. said...

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!!!

Mary@mydogsmygardenandmary said...

Oh Donna, what beautiful make overs. They all look so good. Great find on your basket - looks good painted white.
We are actually getting rain as I answer your post. I am excited - after 80 degree's this weekend.
Stay warm and cozy.
Mary

Rose L said...

Looks like you already sold the shelf you said would be a good bed crown! It is so pretty!

Celestina Marie said...

Hi Donna, I love your pretty whites and that basket just steals my heart. Love it. I have that little birdie print in the oval frame and I also painted it white a few years ago and love it in our powder room.
Your shelves are all treasures. They won't last long.
Lovely makeovers in whites.

Happy Creating!!
XO

Little Miss Maggie said...

Your husband has a good eye. Yes, you have trained him will. That little French tag is the perfect addition to that basket. Have fun creating.

The Polka Dot Closet said...

Love the basket and I used to sell a lot of shelves and I love, love oval frames!!!

Carol

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

Donna, you are wonderful at transforming pieces! I always love seeing what you do!