Brooch Bouquet - Handmade for this Beautiful Bride

In January, my daughter was engaged. She showed me a photo of a brooch bouquet and asked me to make her one to carry on her wedding day. Her sisters and I collected brooches for a few months, and realizing that we needed many more, we tucked a note into the Bridal Shower invite asking friends and family to help.

 

 

These brooches were lovingly and generously given to Liana for her special bouquet.

 

 

 

After weeks of wiring, twisting, glueing, forming and arranging, all the individual pins became one beautiful bouquet.

 

 

For this beautiful bride to carry down the aisle.

 



 

 

And to celebrate with her sisters. 

 

 

 

Color of the Year 2012

Tangerine Tango!!

I have embraced this color! I love orange! My husband is Argentine! It couldn't be more perfect.

Take a look at this post from last year, yes I still have an oraange kitchen that we painted 9 years ago, but I think I want to freshen the paint now. Originally I painted it California Poppy by Ralph Lauren, I still love it, but maybe something brighter would be nicer--



The Golden Gate is Orange

These bridge bookends were given to my by Katrina for my birthday. She knows how much I love visiting San Francisco. The bookends were almost perfect, but they were not very noticed in white. Considering the real Golden Gate Bridge is painted International Orange, I thought a little spray paint would do the trick. I love them even better now!

It's curtains

This photo from Sutton Grace makes me want some printed drapes,

 they add so much life to this dining room, and I love the use of orange on the table.

Orange is such a happy color. Is that a vintage buffet on the back wall?

Flag Art

This beautiful flag wall hanging was made by the artist      Ann Carrington,

who was featured on the Bravo TV series 9byDesign.

It was made from used blue jeans you can see in the detail pics below.

Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.

             - Adlai E. Stevenson

Italian Made

My husband has an obsession with brands. It is something he thinks about a lot. He is very picky specific about what brands he will buy and wear, and very hard to shop for. Over the 30+ years we have been together I have learned some "rules" that will make for more successful birthday and holiday gift shopping. Made in Italy - to him that means quality. Clothing, sunglasses, shoes, pretty much anything 'Made In Italy' is a winner. German made = precision craftsmanship, take a guess at what car he drives. Made In China - personal conviction will not allow him to knowingly purchase anything Made In China.

So last week I picked up these Bistro Chairs to put on our patio. Made In Italy. Can you believe it? Retail $100/chair, Home Goods Price 40% off. It gets better... on clearance for 78% off retail! Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner!

What?!! No before pics?

I rarely go into an antique/vintage/thrift store looking for something to make over. I stop in these little stores to look for a treasure - something different and unique. I am also a little bit of a collector. I  love maps, colored glass vases, oval platters and serving dishes, and vintage pyrex. Useful, practical things. Many times I bring something home and think, I would like this so much better if it was yellow (or orange, or pink, or...).  My husband, always quick with the spray paint, gets it done for me. I don't always remember to take a before picture, so here is a few photos of the afters!

Ta Daaa!

My master bedroom is coming together.

My husband loves it.

It is fulfilling the purpose of a quiet, cozy getaway where we can sit, relax, read, watch a TV show all by ourselves. 

 Oh yeah, and get a good nights sleep.

Ahhhhhh..........

Yellow print bedding, pillows, lamps, chairs, and art above bed and on left wall - Home Goods.

 White comforter Macys, the chest at the foot of the bed was an antique store find.  And the headboard my husband painted, was thrifted

A Few Finds

A new antique shop opened in my hometown, so I had to pop in and take a peek. It is a cute store in a tiny historic building, freshly painted and neatly organized. It didn't take long for me to find some unique items to load into the van.

Right inside the door I picked up the yellow book table,

then made a beeline for the little chair in the corner.

I love how the chair had a low back, and the seat was already covered.

Perfect in my daughters room.

I always look for kitchen items too. Mostly I love pyrex dishes with glass lids,

 from the 50's and 60's, in bright colors. Today I found these mini Ball mason jar

salt & pepper shakers, and got a great buy on some stainless.

Rodgers Stainless 32 pieces - $3.95, really $3.95!

Added one little bottle with an orange top, (I love orange), and I was done.

On the way home I drove by a shop that is only open at the owner's whim.
 The door was open so I stopped.

This shop has been around for a long time. It is full, I mean full. Things are crowded into any available floor space and piled on top of other things. You have to look under and behind to find the treasures. She carries all kinds of stuff, lamps, artwork, knick-knacks, books, clothing, china, jewelry, and much of it is genuine antiques. I found three things I couldn't leave without, and she took half off the total.

Must have been my lucky day.

This solid wood 4-panel screen is very sturdy and has nice moulding detail. I am not fond of

the crackle paint finish and the flower art, but my husband is always willing to sand and paint.

I love this chest! It has immaculate cedar on the inside, and the original finish. Even has the original

manufacturers sticker and warranty card on the inside of the lid. The finish is that light danish-modern sixties style. This I am not going to paint. I placed it by my bed for a quick photo, but it has a date

with some steel wool, TSP, and elbow grease to clean it. Then a new clear coat to freshen it up.

Lastly, I took home this globe. Just like the globes we had in school.

I love globes and maps of all kinds. This globe still has Chechoslovakia

and the USSR on it. Funny thing though, I was looking at it with my three youngest kids,

and I asked my 17yr old daughter who was recently accepted to several colleges,

to show the younger kids where Europe was and she didn't know! She has never

taken a geography class, not required. Funny, but a bit sad.



Grand total in shop #2, 3 items - $112

It was a good day.



Master Bedroom Update

You probably can't believe it, but we purchased our first king side bed

 after being married for 30 years!

And repainted our bedroom after 9 years living with the

(once popular) green paint.

Fall = Orange

I'm not sure if it's the Fall season upon us, but I am noticing all things orange. I am loving orange! Such a fresh, happy color. I already have an orange kitchen, now I'm thinking of adding orange to the guest bedroom. Too much?

 My orange kitchen

Orange rug

Orange chest

Orange throw

Orange bedroom

Do you love this !!?

This painted armoire makes me want to go find an armoire to paint! So inspiring. I am helping my (almost) 12yr old daughter redecorate her room and this would so work for her.  Maybe we'll handpaint some cuteness on her existing furniture to compliment her new bed linens.

photo via Better After

Oh, how I wish....

Oh, how I wish my bedroom looked like this -

- ours is currently a (once popular) green paint color with dark wood furniture and a cluttered home office in the retreat area. I am so going to buy some paint this weekend! this month!  And maybe talk my husband into covering our headboard with padding and fabric. Am I crazy? It is supposed to be 102 degrees this weekend. Hold that thought, I'll just shop for fabric, painting can wait til it is cooler.

Audra's Room

My youngest daughter just finished elementary school and will be starting middle school in August. She is dying for new bedroom decor to match her new maturity. Her bedroom has been a very girly pink for the last 5 years. She is wanting a modern floral with a fresh yellow paint color. I've been cruising the web looking for inspiration, and have found some cute ideas.

This is actually a photo of a painted floor , love the color, love the pattern, it would make

 a fabulous accent wall.

 

Whimsical table, handpainted, cute idea for a writing desk re-do.

Silver-leaf end table idea could definitely work for a nightstand.

She loves the look of these collectible shelves and turquoise would be a great accent color.

So, we're off to the fabric store to find the perfect modern floral fabric!

Sunshine Song

I sang this song to my kids

when they were babies, all six of them. Such a sweet little verse. I love it as wall decor.

(I can't recall whose blog I found this photo on, but as soon as I remember I will add a link. If it's yours, let me know!)

Blog Fun!

I read the Better After blog several times a week, and I was so happy to see my little desk on her blog!



(P.S. the paint color is Valspar #3006-48 Pecan Cream)

Spring! Freshen Up

Fresh Flowers

A Spring doormat

My husband found 6 of these chairs and a dropleaf table at a local antique store. Solid oak with beautiful detail.

but the fabric was worn and tired.

We had them recovered in a modern floral for the armchairs and a coordinating stripe on the side chairs. The whole set looks fresh in my breakfast nook.

(sorry for the dark photo, but it shows the fabric color well)

Then I found this fun outdoor fabric marked down from $24/yd to $6/yd! I bought some foam, made a pattern from some left over gift wrap, and whipped up 8 new cushions for my outdoor chairs. They make the inexpensive chairs look almost new.

Here they are nearly finished.

And on the chairs. Nice to add a little color.