A Little Bit of This and That

Hi everyone!

Hope you are having a good fall so far.

Today I thought I'd share a few more photos from our trip to Austria, as well as show you some of my latest creations.

Before I go any further, I would like to mention those who have been hit by such terrible hurricanes as of late.  Keeping them in our thoughts and prayers, and remembering that they will need help for the long hail.   I just feel sad for those who have lost so much.

Ok, back to my little photo tour..........

One of the highlights of our trip was taking a tram ride to the top of the Untersberg alps.

Below is hubby about to board.

The view going up.........

 And up!

Now, I am not crazy about heights, but as long as I'm in an enclosed space, I am ok!

 The views were just amazing!  And my pictures just don't do it justice!

Notice me, below, not too close to the edge!

 At the very top was a charming little cafe.  I felt like Shirley Temple, playing Heidi should be popping out any minute!

We stopped for a glass of wine and beer, and just soaked up the incredible views.

 Wow, this is my idea of heaven on earth!!

 This huge iron cross was at the top of one of the peaks. Thought is was so neat.

 Notice all of the pretty alpine flowers? I was amazed how they could not only thrive at such a high elevation, but grow out of the rocks as well!

 Here's me, hanging on for dear life!  hahaha!

It truly was a day that I'll never forget!

I'll share more trip photos in a future post.

Now on to a peek at what I've been up to!

I've been busy working on creations to add to my Etsy shop, and am currently having a 20% off everything 

(with purchases of $25 or more) sale.  The discount will be automatically deducted, there is no need for coupon codes.

I fell in love with these neat galvanized metal canisters when I found them, and quickly snatched them up!

I gave them a French twist by adding these neat French labels to them. Love the graphics!

 Love this fun stenciled wood tote!

 This vintage Syroco mirror was transformed with a little paint and tlc.

It is even more gorgeous in person!

I love finding trays to make over, and had so much fun with this one.  I just love the bon appetit graphic that I hand stenciled on it!

You can find these, and many more treasures in my shop if you care to take a look!

That's it for today.

Thanks so much for stopping by, your visits and comments mean alot to me!

Have a great rest of the week!

Mirror Makeover

Bonjour Mes Amis!

Last week I shared with you my lucky find, a very large, very ornate mirror.

I could hardly wait to get busy transforming her with some paint and just a bit of distressing.

Now, she has a whole new look!

Are you ready for her big reveal..................?

 Voila!  I know, a huge surprise that I've painted her my favorite creamy white!

And if you forgot what the "before" was like, here she is sans paint:

 While still very pretty and elegant, it just wasn't the look I was going for.

I knew I would love her even more once transformed, but even I am amazed at what a difference

paint makes!

 Aren't the ornate details amazing?  My camera just doesn't do her justice!

And while I would dearly love to keep this beauty, we really don't have the perfect spot to hang it.

So, I will be putting her in my Etsy shop later today.

In the mean time, though, we can still enjoy her for awhile!

 Looks like she came straight out of Versailles, I think!!

Au revoir!

Creamy, Dreamy Lace and Ribbon Garland

I had so much fun making the pink fabric garland that I shared with you earlier this week, I just couldn't wait to create another one!

For this garland, I wanted something that was all about the lace and ribbons. Something that was totally dreamy and romantic!

 Made from gorgeous cream lacy fabric, ribbons, and pretty lace ribbon, I am thrilled with the way it turned out!  I just finished my little "photo shoot" out in the yard, and was so thankful for some much needed sunshine!

This is one big garland, which I've hand tied "streamers" that I cut by hand from beautiful lace fabric.  I also added in some pretty wide lacy ruffles, and am loving the contrast they give.

 The piece de la resistance is this pretty fabric and lace flower, also made by moi.

I tied the flower on the garland, so it can be removed and enjoyed separately, or re positioned on the garland.

 The sun streaming thru the lace and sheer ribbon was just magical!

 I made this for my Etsy shop (I'll be putting it in there tonight), but you can be sure that I'm going to create one of these beauties just for myself!

 I think it would add a fun and oh so feminine and romantic touch to my craft room.

 I can imagine this lacy confection as a beautiful backdrop for wedding photos, for a pretty and one of a kind accent in a little girls room, or hung outside as a festive touch at garden parties.

 I think I'll also be creating more of these flowers, maybe to use as pretty lapel pins.

 It is even prettier in person, if I do say so myself!

 I had so much fun creating it!

Joining Feathered Nest Friday

Antique Mirror Reveal

It's a cold and snowy day here at the Chateau!  While I must admit that it is pretty, I am not ready for the white stuff yet!  Not to mention the fact that we usually don't get much in the way of snow this early in the season. So it's a perfect excuse to snuggle up inside by the fire, cup of hot cocoa in hand.

The other day I showed you the vintage mirror that I found at my favorite consignment store.  I could hardly wait to paint it my favorite creamy, dreamy white!

 It turned out prettier than I had imagined that it would!  I can't believe what a difference the paint makes, and how it brings out all of the wonderful details of the solid wood frame!

 In case you missed it, here is what she used to look like.

 While pretty as is, I just knew that she could look much, much better with a few coats of paint and a bit of distressing!

Hubby hung it above our mantle, and I am thrilled with the way it looks. Like many of you, I adore mercury glass, and have placed some of my favorite votives on the mantle.  I should have taken a shot of it at night, as the reflection of the flickering candlelight in the mirror is just magical!

 One of the big reasons that I wanted a mirror for above our mantle was that I thought it would help detract a bit from all of that ugly red brick, which I really detest  am not terribly fond of!

But, someone (who's name will go unmentioned!) is in love with that ugly lovely red brick, and didn't like my idea of white washing it!

 Just look at all of that amazing detail!

 And check out the long, long red chimney!  I had to lay on the floor to get this shot!

(what we bloggers don't do for a photo, huh?!)

 I can't wait to decorate it for Christmas, the ideas are whirling in my head!

Hope you all have a great day, thanks for visiting!

Sharing over at Be Inspired Friday

Spray Painted Wreath

Bonjour Mes Amis!

Yep, you read the title correctly!  I said "spray painted wreath"!

I like to joke that if something isn't moving, out comes my can of spray paint:)

I wanted to make a wreath to hang over our bed, but wanted to utilize materials that I had on hand, rather than go out and buy all new supplies.  I remembered a large bunch of silk flowers that I purchased on clearance last fall at Hobby Lobby, but they were in autumnal shades, which definitely wasn't the look I was going for.  Lucky for me, I already had a grapevine wreath base on hand.  And of course I always have a large supply of spray paint in my arsenal!

 So, after spraying the flowers with primer, and then my favorite Heirloom White, I cut off the individual flowers and leaves, and hot glued them to my base.

 I then sprayed the heck out of it with another coat of Heirloom White.  It took a ton of paint!  It was pretty much impossible to totally cover all of flowers, as some of the color showed thru.  But, I really am in love the look of faded, frosty blooms!

 After the paint had dried, I brought the wreath back inside and added the piece de la resistance, a bunch of my glittered vintage sheet music roses, which I had made awhile back.

 I'm so happy with the end result!

 I really love how the colors that once were bright gold, dark burgundy, and orange (and so not me!!)

now have the look of being gently faded over time.

 Right now I'm enjoying it in my craft room, on my brick wall. But soon it will go in our bedroom and add just the touch I was looking for.

So don't be afraid to look beyond what is, to what could be.  Get out those cans of spray paint and create something fun!
Sharing with Becky for Blissful Whites Wednesday