A little bit of Shabby Chic

Yesterday, I finished my latest keepsake box. I was tempted to stamp it with French script as I do most of my other boxes, but I controlled myself. This one, I painted a creamy off white and then antiqued it with an umber glaze. I then added a wood embellishment (also painted and antiqued). 

Inside, I used Mod Podge to decoupage ripped mulberry paper. And, 
just to appease myself I stamped it randomly with French script! 

Getting ready for an extremely busy weekend of lacrosse, soccer and graduation parties! Don't forget to enter my giveaway at The DIY Club this month!

Giveaways and Discounts – How About That?

Starting this Friday at the DIY Club, I will be part of a month-long etsy giveaway! I am offering all my followers (and new followers, too) a chance to win one of three original works of art. Hop on over to the DIY Club this Friday for details. The collage above is one of your choices!

Also, for the entire month of June, I am offering a 15% discount on ALL items in both of my shops, Country Tag Sale and Where The Grass is Greener. Just type in the coupon code, COUNTRYTAG15  for the Country Tag Sale shop or WTGIG15 for the Where The Grass is Greener shop at checkout!

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.