Productive and Relaxing...Can That Happen?

Well, I had a most productive and relaxing weekend. I hope you did, too!  I finished some projects that I have been meaning to get to while my youngest had his friend over. First, I finished this frame. I found this antique frame with this beautiful picture in it under a bunch of stuff in the back of an antique shop. I asked the owner what she wanted and she said, "Oh, it's in bad shape, how about $10?" SOLD! It did look bad, but it was just dusty and I knew with a good cleaning and a coat of white paint, it would look gorgeous over my piano. After I painted it white, the detail didn't quite show up so, I added an umber glaze, carefully painting and wiping. I wish I took a before picture...sorry. I love it in it's new home, mixed with the old and the new.

I also finished this little vintage bowl by painting it aqua and then adding an umber glaze (hey, I had leftovers!) to bring out the carvings.

Then, of course, I still had some leftover glaze, so I painted this tin that was given to me by Shirley over at Back 2 Vintage. She sent me a whole box of Brighton tins, which by the way, are very pretty on their own. Here's a before pic on the right...


However, I wanted experiment with a couple so I spray painted this one Heirloom white, added a touch of aqua and then wiped it with the umber glaze. I found this broken silk flower in my stash (I save a lot of things) and added a Swarovski crystal and I think it looks quite pretty (if I say so myself). 

Spent the rest of the weekend visiting my sister, taking long walks (early morning), bike riding and playing whiffle ball with my son. 


Happy Memorial day! Please take the time to remember our brave women and men who gave their lives for our freedom. Linking to...

Summertime, Sea Glass, and Soft Whites

It's very warm in Annapolis. It seems like we've jumped into summer full force with temperatures reaching the mid 80's and the humidity...I don't even want to talk about it! So, with that said, I decided to surrender to the heat and make my home summer ready (decor wise).
My front porch starts the summer greeting (above).

My mantle was a quick fix from spring into summer... added a lighthouse that I picked up in Hilton Head a couple summers ago and some seashells that I've collected over the years.









My tabletop was fun because it shows off my sea glass collection...one of my favorite pastimes is collecting it when I head up to the North shore of Boston and rest of New England.

The lilacs are from a fragrant lilac tree right outside my front door.

I love using sea glass in my vases...the color really shines through.

Linking to 

A Remote Possibility

So, a few months ago, I bought three of these boxes at an estate sale. I paid more than I usually do because I thought they were different and cool. Then, I got mad at myself because they just sat and sat in my rather large “to do” pile. I brought one out a couple weeks ago and set it on my table, the remote control was sitting next to it and it donned on me! These would be awesome boxes to hide the remotes (we have about a gazillion just scattered about), so that’s what they are going to be ... “remote control hider” boxes! Now, I don’t need more than one (actually, maybe I do), so I thought that I’d paint them and sell them in my shop.

           

I took one that was primed to Cassie’s house for our monthly wine and design. I painted it a pretty pale blue (because as I was running out the door that’s the only paint I could find). Anyway, I repainted it again…slate gray. Still wasn’t happy, so I antiqued it with a black glazing medium and added this pretty fleur de lis. Now, I love it!

I’m going to paint one for myself, too…possibly an off white to go with my imaginary off-white and soft blue family room. Hey, a girl can dream, right?

Honestly, I Have to Stop Doing This...

I've been bad. I promised myself that I would NOT buy anything else until I cleaned my garage and got rid of all the stuff that's spilling over onto the driveway. So, on my way back from dropping off my son at a friend's house, what did I do? I went to not one, but two community yard sales...and I bought things! I mean, I couldn't pass these things up for the price...what's wrong with me? OKay. I spent a total of 30 minutes and only $7...can you blame me? Just look what I got!! 

*This gorgeous little end table...an antique in perfect condition (never mind the color and knobs...I will change that).

*This cool bowl that I've already started to paint.
* Fun wooden candlesticks...oh the possibilities! 
*Lots of buttons (including vintage mother of pearl)
*A fun little box that I will make even funner (I know it's not a word, but it will be fun...er). 

So, tell, me how can I pass these things up? Is it MY fault that my car  is attracted to yard sales?


Don't forget to enter my giveaway at The DIY Club this June! Linking to:

Front Porch- Fitting a Square Peg into a Round Hole Works!

Well, I finally solved a design dilemma ...every year, I love to put a large basket of flowers on my front porch using an old rocking chair from my hubby's family. It's beyond repair, so using it outside was the only option. Every year, I buy a huge round planter and it usually falls through the round hole, and I have to prop it up. This year Sam's was selling flowers in square containers ...dilemma solved!! Now my front porch is ready to welcome guests.


Also, I thought I'd share some pics from last night. My middle son went to the prom last night. So, no sleep for me until he rolled in after prom breakfast.

He went this year as a junior (usually only seniors are allowed) with his girlfriend, a foreign exchange student from Paris (adorable with her sweet accent). Truly, they grow up oh so fast.

Transformations and Tabletops

I've been quite busy cleaning, laundry, meetings, volunteering and not to forget my etsy business, creating. These are some of my latest transformations. Above, is one of my many cigar boxes turned keepsake boxes. I was in a pale pink mood so that's what went on the box...surprisingly, it took one coat of primer and about three of pale pink (no more pale pink for me!)


Sorry, no before pics, but for this next one, imagine a dark wood vintage souvenir box that said "Greetings from Texas" (well worn), and now it's a lovely sea green.

Last, is my all button up box that I showed you in an earlier post...I decided that it needed something else and promptly went to Joann Fabrics (with coupon in hand) to find a fun trim...and this is what I came up with.

Last, but certainly not least, I want to extend a big THANKS to Beverly of GreenGracieHome for sending me this pretty little burlap table runner! I won it via the DIY Club's month of giveaways. It really adds a little something extra to my table top.

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It was a dark and stormy night..

Just a little post...caught this on my camera and thought I'd share. I didn't alter this photo...the sky was that cool!
Just finishing up the 100 some loads of laundry my son brought home and I will be finishing up some projects as well. Show you soon...

He's Baaaack!

My oldest is back from college! It's awesome because the whole dynamics of our home changes...everyone is happier. Both younger brothers are happy. Middle bro is so happy he has another teenager to get in trouble with to hang out with. Youngest brother is excited that middle bro won't have as much time to pick on him and that he gets oldest bro's attention. We are happy because there's harmony in our household again. It's a win-win and I'm sure we are in for a great summer and more laundry. Speaking of ... this is what he brought home from college with him:

Yes, that's a giant hockey bag AND a huge plastic bag filled with laundry. Funny, it doesn't look as huge in this picture. The laundry on the bed was laundry I already did. He did offer to help, though, and I'm taking him up on that offer. BTW, the first picture is my front hallway... lovely, don't you think?

Spring Into Summer Mantel

I've always enjoyed changing my mantle for the seasons. It's relatively easy and takes little time, yet it makes such an impact. Every year I tweak it a bit. This year, I've added the tulips. When summer comes around, I'll take the tulips away and add a lighthouse that I bought in Hilton Head and my collection of seashells; the rest will remain the same.

I love how the starfish picks up the blue in the photos.

Linking up today to:

Ahhh, Sunsets...

It's perfect weather in Annapolis. Sunny and in the 70s. Love it. I took my camera out for a walk with me and tried my hardest to photograph "sunflare" for Tracy's Trinkets and Treasure's "Sunrise, Sunset or Sun Flare party." Not super great results on the sun flare; here's the only one that turned out decent (on right):

But, I do have some awesome East coast sunsets to share. I think these next two look like paintings:

 Here are some more from different angles (Cape Cod):

 That's all, but inspiring, don't you think?