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, February 4, 2013

Greetings From Savannah, Georgia!

Bonjour, Ya'll!
Hubby and I are taking a much needed break from the cold and snowy Midwest, and are hanging out in Savannah, Georgia!
We visited here several years ago, and couldn't wait to return!  The huge moss draped oak trees are amazing!

Here is our home away from home.  We stayed at this same campground last time, it's so peacefull, and the sites are just huge! We towed hubby's car, so it will be easy for us to get out and explore.
This is the view out our window!  As you can see, Emily loves to camp just as much as we do!

I thought the setting sun looked just magical, and a bit spooky as well thru the moss covered trees!

We just arrived here yesterday, so today we went downtown for awhile.  If you've never been to Savannah, you are in for a real treat!  The city is full of amazing architecture, numerous squares with fountains and statues, cobblestone streets, and is full of history, and very friendly people!
I'll be sharing lots more photos in the coming weeks with you!  It is such a treat to get out of the cold and snow, and actually see flowers and trees starting to bloom, like these magnolias!
I fell in love with this amazing building!  Just look at that old stonework, and the pretty shutters!
Love that shade of blue!
 
I also could hardly wait to go in my very favorite store in town the "Paris Market", below!

You would love it!  It contains all things French, and so many unique things that are hard to find elsewhere.  Not sure if this Metro sign was for sale or not, but it was direct from Paris!
I was ooohing and ahhhing over these beautiful little glass cloches, as well as all of the other amazing treasures!
Just look at this gorgeous table setting!  Those dining chairs looked so elegant, yet comfy!
 
They had this Valentine's Day display at the entrance to the store.  And just look at those gorgeous chandeliers!
I was in love with this gorgeous mercury glass lamp!
And look at these sweet little bunnys!  Aren't they darling?  Notice the tiny ironing board, and iron?
How cute is that?!
 
That's it for today.  Now that we are settled in, I'll be able to catch up with ya'll and see what you have been up to!  Have a great day!

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Sweet Blogging Gifts

Bonjour Mes Amis,
Hope you are enjoying your day so far!
I was so excited to receive the most wonderful package in the mail yesterday!  My sweet blogging friend Susan over at Evelyn & Rose sent me these gorgeous gifts!
 Susan shares my love of blue and white, and all things French!  If you've not visited her blog before, be sure to head on over, as you are in for a treat!  Her home is as lovely as her sweet and thoughtful spirit is!
Just look at this gorgeous crown fabric that she sent me!  Love! Glittery light blue crowns on a white background!  I will think of something exta special to create with it!  And this equally beautiful light blue lace trim.  Light blue has been my very favorite color since I was a young girl (many moons ago!).  Also some tres chic tea died Eiffel Tower tags, oh so pretty shabby chic floral tags and pencils..........
 And this gorgeous red & white damask ribbon, perfect for Valentine crafting!
And, these beautiful floral magnets that I adore!
I was so touched by Susan and her thoughtfulness!
I am continually amazed at all of the wonderful kindred spirits here in blogland.  You all have truly enriched my life, and I feel blessed to have gotten to know so many of you!
Thank you again, Susan! You know my taste well:) You are the best!

Monday, January 28, 2013

French Valentine Peat Pot

Bonjour Mes Amis!
I've been having so much fun creating little peat pots for Valentine's Day!  Last week I shared with you a bunch that I made in more traditional colors of pink and red.  Well, you know how much I love all things French, and that blue and white is my favorite color combo.  So I could hardly wait to make a little Valentine peat pot with a French twist!

After painting the pot white and lightly dusting it with glitter, the fun part of embellishing began!  I stitched up a cute little ruffle out of blue crepe paper.  This time I wizened up, and sewed the ruffle from a double layer of the crepe paper. This worked so much better than the single layer ruffle, as that was  fragile and tended to rip too easily as I was stitching it up.  I still had some of my tiny light aqua blue pom pom trim left
 (isn't is just darling?), so that was added to the top edge.  Oh, before all of that, I fashioned a little handle by twisting two iridescent pipe cleaners together.
 The cute little heart was made by gluing a snippet from a vintage French book page to a heart which I cut from chipboard.  And of course I just had to add a generous dusting of glitter!  A decorative brad with an aqua center made the perfect embellishment for the center, I think!
 Then began the fun part of filling the little pot with glittery goodness!  I printed out my very favorite vintage Valentine image from the Graphics Fairy (love those sweet little birds!), and mounted it onto chipboard, that I first covered with a vintage French book page.  More glitter, a cute little silver fleur de lis charm, blue and white baker's twine, and a teeny tiny clothes pin were all added.
 A sweet little German glass glitter birdie decided to perch in the basket, too! He's nestled in amongst shredded vintage French book pages.
I also added a few tiny white silk flowers, that I dusted in glitter.  'Cause you know my old saying: 
 "You can never have too much glitter!"

 I had so much fun creating this little pot!  I guess you could say that peat pots are my latest addiction!
 Oh, I almost forgot to mention that I also added a white glittered sprig, as well as a puffy white glittered heart.
 The puffy heart was actually left over from my red and pink basket projects, and started out life all red and glittery!  Of course that wouldn't work for my Frenchy pot, so I painted it!  Yep, I painted over the red heart with a thick coat of white, then sprinkled on a generous dusting of clear Martha Stewart coarse glitter, my favorite "go to" glitter!  So remember that if a craft supply isn't fitting in with your project, you don't necessarily need to make a mad dash back to the craft store!  Don't be afraid to change it up in some way, with paint or whatever else strikes your fancy!
 Ok, this last shot has absolutely nothing to do with my peat pot, but I just couldn't resist sharing!
We have a heated bird bath just off our back deck.  Hubby and I really enjoy sitting in our sun room watching all of the birds that stop by for a visit to our many feeders, and to get a drink at the birdbath.  Well, yesterday we were treated to a flock of bluebirds in our back yard!  I quickly grabbed the camera, trying not to startle them (they are so shy!), and was able to get this shot before they all flew off!
How cool is that?!
Hope you all have a great week, thanks for visiting!
Linking up with Timewashed for Blissful Whites Wednesday. Be sure to visit for tons of inspiring ideas!

Friday, January 25, 2013

A French Themed Vignette


Bonjour Mes Amis,
Hope you have been enjoying your week!
I first posted this vintage pedestal bowl makeover last summer.  So if you saw it then, I apologize for the repeat!
I am always hunting for pedestal bowls to transform, and I must say this was one of my favorites.


I've just submitted the above photo to Jeanne d'Arc Living facebook page. They are having a photo contest, and the winner will receive a copy of their new Easter book!  So if you haven't yet voted, and you feel so inclined, maybe you could vote for me?  You can vote here.here
Thank you!!!
Anyway, back to my pedestal bowl!  I added this gorgeous label from The Graphics Fairy to the front (love!).
Oh, in my excitement I neglected to mention that I first painted the pedestal bowl my favorite creamy white, then gave it a generous dose of distressing.
I guess you could say one of my "signature looks" is using vintage sheet music in many of my projects.  So I just had to line the inside with some from my collection!
She ended up being bought by a customer in Australia!
So funny to think of my little decoupaged bowl finding a new home clear around the world!
Hope you have a great weekend!


Thursday, January 24, 2013

Sentimental Gifts

Hello everyone, hope you all are having a great day!
Are you the sentimental type?  Do you have treasures or mementos that remind you of special times in your life, or of special people?
I know that I am sentimental, and I have a feeling you all are, too!
So today I'm sharing with you some special gifts that I just received in the mail, that belonged to one of my favorite aunts. She was my mom's sister, and had such a sweet and gentle spirit. Sadly, she passed away two years ago. I'm so happy that my uncle wanted me to have these beautiful fans, which I will always treasure.
 My aunt was quite the adventurous woman. She and my uncle traveled the world.  She even climbed the Great Wall of China!  She brought the first two fans back from China.
 This beautiful pink one, above, is my favorite!  I love the floral motif, and the colors are amazing!
 This one is so pretty, too!  It features beautiful pink and red flowers on a branch, and a butterfly.
 This last one, below, came from Japan.
 I just love the gorgeous aqua and blue shades!  The colors are so me!  And the graphics are amazing!
 I plan on displaying them in shadow boxes.  I know that Hobby Lobby carries a nice assortment of them, so I'll be hunting for the perfect ones to showcase the fans in.
 I think they will look so pretty hung on the wall, and will be such a sweet reminder of such a sweet aunt!
What sentimental treasures do you love?

Monday, January 21, 2013

Valentine's Day Peat Pots


Bonjour Mes Amis!
It's a cold and snow dusted day here at the chateau, the perfect excuse to cozy up and work on some fun projects!
I had so much fun creating Christmas peat pot baskets, that I could hardly wait to put together some for Valentine's Day.
Have you caught the peat pot addiction??!


I began by painting the pots a creamy white, with a bit of glitter mixed in for some added sparkle.
I then had fun filling them with various bits and pieces that I had on hand.  I picked up these puffy red glittered hearts at Michael's.  Love!
For the graphics, I printed out these sweet cherub images that I found at Magic Moonlight.   .
Aren't they darling?  I mounted them on chipboard, and glittered them with Stickles glitter glue.  Adorable tiny clothepins were clipped to the corners, to hold various charms such as little keys and a heart. All tied on with baker's twine from Target.
Oh, I first filled the pots with crinkly shredded brown craft paper, and some shredded vintage sheet music.
I left a bit of room inside to tuck chocolates or other yummy surprises.
The hardest part of the project was making the crepe paper ruffles.  Basically you sew a running stitch, being oh so careful not to tear the crepe paper.  Easier said than done!  Then very gently draw it up to create a ruffle, and hot glue to the inside edges.
Isn't the pink felt heart trim the cutest?  Thanks to my blogging friend Kim who gave the heads up when she first discovered it, I picked up a few rolls of it at Target (or "Tar-jay", as I like to call it!).
More chipboard and vintage sheet music were used to create hearts for the front of the pots (glittered, of course!), and were embellished with pretty rhinestone and pearl brads.
I also tucked a few tiny cream silk flowers inside, which I covered in a dusting of glitter.
'Cause you all know my saying:
 "You can never have too much glitter!"

I had so much fun creating these!  
Now the wheels are turning and I'm looking ahead to making some for Easter!

Hope you all have a fun and creative day!
Linking up with Timewashed for Blissful Whites Wednesday
Common Ground for Be Inspired Friday
French Country Cottage Feathered Nest Friday

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Shelf Obsession

Bonjour Mes Amis!
So I've already admitted to having a mirror obsession.  Now I am confessing that I officially have a shelf addiction  as well!
Since shelves have always been a popular item in my Etsy shop, I'm always hunting for interesting ones that I can transform with a little paint and tlc.  I've even gotten hubby into the act, and have commissioned him to build me some for my shop!  So today I'd like to share with you some of the latest ones that I've been working on.
 Isn't this picket fence style shelf just adorable?  It was dark green when I found it, and I thought the color really didn't do it justice!  I immediately thought "pink"!
 Wouldn't it be darling in a little girls room or nursery?
 It has that shabby cottage style that I love so well!
 And I was super excited when I discovered this pair of vintage Syroco shelves recently.  Originally a "gaudy gold", I could hardly wait to paint them creamy ivory!
 Just look at their amazing details.  They even have the original "Syroco Wood" labels on the back!
Like many of the early Syroco pieces, this pair is made of wood and other materials.
 They truly have the look of finely hand carved wood, I think!
 I found these sweet little shelves on separate thrifting trips. While they are not identical, I thought they would make a cute pair, after I painted them my favorite shade of light blue.  Much better than their former dark brown color!
 One of the shelves features a neat curvy top and bracket, the other has a handy plate groove.
Ok, here is one of the shelves my handy hubby made, and I just love it!
 Love the brackets he added to the sides. And the oil rubbed bronze coat hooks, too!
I painted it a creamy white, and am so happy with the way it turned out!
I just finished painting several more shelves that he built for my shop, in blue and aquamarine tones (love!).
I'll be sure to share them with you soon!.
You can take a peek at these shelves and more in my Etsy shop, if you care to take a look!
Joining the following parties:
Be Inspired Friday