Painted Signs

Christina over at Signs of Obsessions (can't get the link to work today, the one under my blog list works though) has the most amazing signs, it has inspired me to try my hand at it.

My first attempt was this little cutie.

I fell in love with the one Christina's had shown on her blog and had to have one of my own.

Next, I have always wanted a "Garden" sign, this is what I was able to do.

Here it is on my shelf in the living room.

And finally, I wanted to make one for my daughter. Jaz loves horses and I am always on the look out for ideas for her room. Last summer inspiration hit while on our yearly trip to Hayward, WI. It seemed everywhere you look there are arrow signs for different attractions. I thought it would be fun to reproduce one that says Riding Stable. This is how it turned out. Cute I think.

I am very pleased with my results, although they are nowhere near Christina's caliber, she has the sign painting touch. If you haven't checked out her blog, go right now. You will be inspired.

Have a great day. Robin

Thrifting Finds

My spray painting has been put on hold due to rain so instead I thought I would show you some goodies I found this weekend at the thrift store.

I almost didn't stop in since I didn't think I had a lot of time to spend. Boy am I glad I went, I kept finding things left and right. It was a good day.

Here are a few of the things I found. A red tin that will look great with a little chalkboard paint on the front. A square bowl and two white plates with interesting edging.

This is going to be painted since it is so scratched up but it is really heavy and nice. Hmm, what color do you think, red or white.

This little cheese holder thingy(not sure of its official name) is going to get a makeover also. I plan to paint the wood part then use the whole thing to hold a few treasures.

When I spotted this beauty I tried to act R E A L casual like, but inside I was doing two types of happy dances at the same time. I love enamelware - - old, new it doesn't matter - I love it all. This is by far the best find of the day. I can't believe it was still in the store. Its nicked up and scratched to perfection. I plan to use it as a planter on my screen porch. Can't wait to fill it with beautiful flowers. I just know I will smile everything I look at it.

I made a few more purchases also but plan to hold off showing you until I have made them over.
Hope your day is going great, see you tomorrow. Robin

My Very Own Spray Paint Party

The temperature is finally above 50 and the wind is calm. What is a girl to do . . .

SPRAY PAINT!!!!!!!!

I have been waiting all winter for this day. Dug out my stash of "to-be-painted" stuff and got to work, assembly line style. I still have a few things that need a couple more coats but I can show you what I have complete so far. (I once again forgot to take before pictures - I was just so excited)

First off was this cute little wicker table my mother-in-law passed on to us a few years back. It was in need of scraping and a paint job, it was so bad every time you touched it an avalanche of paint chips would fall off! After scraping, priming and painting it is once again looking great. I placed in on our screen porch and added my Pepsi crate to hold all hubbies computer cords and such until he needs it.

Next I had a dark brown urn that looked a little goldish. The color just didn't suit my decor, it is now sporting a fresh coat of paint. It looked a little bright when finished so I sanded off some of the paint and added a light stain to tone it down a bit. This picture doesn't do it justice, seems to be very bright white, but it is not in real life. I really like how it turned out. Placed it on the dinning room table and added one of my wheatgrass planters to it. Looking GOOD.

My assembly line is still in working order and I have much more to show you when I am finished.

Spray painting ROCKS!

Dresser Makeover

Last weeks to-do list was large but I was surprised to find I was able to accomplish all but two items. This weeks list is equally large but somehow easier I think. On the top of todays list is laundry and lots of it. So before I start running around the house all crazy-eyed I thought I would show you one of last weeks projects that I am tickled pink about.

I needed to spruce up this dresser since the color is way to dark for my taste. Its very heavy wood and very well made and I love how much it can hold. Many of my blogging friends encouraged me to paint white. Out came the paint and the rollers. (sorry I forgot to take a pictures before I took all the drawers downstairs, and you better believe I was not carrying them all back upstairs for ONE little picture:)
After two days of painting and waiting and repeating the process four times this is how it looks now. Isn't it lovely! I am amazed at how well it turned out. I still need to find some nobs for the top row of drawers. I would have loved to replace the bottom also, but I can't get them off. I think they are GLUED ON! I am thinking about numbering the drawers to fancy it up a bit. What do you think. Would black number on the drawer pulls be too much. I'm on the fence about it so let me know what you think.Here is a better picture of the whole wall that the dresser sits against.
Huh! MUCH BETTER!

I'm Smiling With Delight

Christina from Signs of Obsessions has been kind enought to send me the Attitude of Gratitude Award. What an amazingly sweet thing for her to do. I am so EXCITED ABOUT IT. She is an amazing woman and she has a wonderful gift for making amazing signs, please go check out her blog and get to know her.

The Rules of Accepting and Sharing this Award
1. Put the logo on your blog or post
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs that show an attitude of gratitude
3. Link to your nominees within your post
4. Comment on their blogs to let them know they've received this award
5. Share the love and link to this post and the person who nominated you for the award.Tell us how you've come to have an attitude gratitude.

When starting this blog in January I had no idea what a difference it would make in my life. I had intended it to become a place to record the small things I do around my home to make it cozy for my family. A online journal of sorts.

I was surprised to realize how inspirational and motivating my blog has become to me. Suddenly I am part of a community of like minded people. Meeting amazing people and being inspired to do more. A day doesn't go by that I am not encourage or motivated to try something new.

So in the spirit of encouragement and inspirations I would like to nominate the following blogs who have enriched my life.

Noon to Two

Cottage Lifestyle

Walnuthaven Cottage

Vermont Cottage

Flowerpatch Farmgirl

Comforts of Home

Best Dressed Nest

Mouse Tales

Home Sweet Home Inspiration

Go check them out and once again thanks to Christina at Signs of Obsessions for passing this award to me. Enjoy your day. Robin

Doggie Bed Makeover

Here in Minnesota two and half weeks from now planting time starts and it's crunch time inside my home. All the things I have put off over the winter I now have a desperate need to see completed. This weeks to-do list is an incredible page and a half long. I'm so busy I have barley read any blogs this week and feel so out of touch. The good news however is that items are steadily being checked off the list and that FEELS SO GOOD!

One of yesterday's project was to make over the dog's pillow that sits in our living room. The pillow has moved around the house and finally come to rest under a old sewing table I have placed in an awkward corner. The placement is great since I am no longer tripping over the pillow and Zeb seems to feel safe and comfy. The problem has been that the old pillow case(leftover from my college days) is worn and a little dingy looking not to mention it doesn't fit my color scheme at all. So I set about to change that.

Here is a close up of the before.

A quick little envelope style slipcover and the spot looks much more tailored to the room. This was a super quick project that took less than a half hour. I was supper sneaky by using the salvage edges on my flaps so there was no hem pressing and sewing to do.

One more item crossed off my list. I'm not quite sure but I think Zeb approves! Yeah Me!

My New Best Friend

Met my new friend. . .

It is amazing how well this little machine works. With five kids and a dog running around on a daily basis I think this little beauty will have lots of mini workouts. I wanted something that was easy to use, mobile and clean well. I couldn't be more happy with it, definitely a worthy addition to my cleaning supplies.

Vacation Bliss

I've spent the last five days in vacation bliss.

Hubby and I along with my sister, her husband and our friend Matt headed to VEGAS! It's the perfect place for our vacations. My husbands idea of a vacation is to fill the days with as many activities as possible. Me, I like to relax. I love to spend the day in my comfy clothes reading books and magazines and enjoy the peace and quiet. Vegas fits the bill. I actually spent one WHOLE day in the room, only leaving to pick up a quick meal and bring it back upstairs.

IT. WAS. WONDERFUL. We stayed in a beautiful hotel with a gorgeous room, it was a real treat.

We had a great time and now I am ready to get back into my "real" life, completely refreshed and eager to dive into my list of to-do projects.

Adorable Cake Stand

Picked this little beauty up at Target the other day. I love the distressed color and the chicken wire pedestal... How adorable.
Now that I have it home I'm not sure what to do with it. Any suggestions!

Happy Easter

Have a Happy Easter.

Quick, Cute Little Skirts

It's officially spring here at our house. The girls are already camping out in the backyard.

This morning I was able to work on a fun sewing project. Skirts for my girls. They went together so quick and easy. Instead of a simple hem at the bottom, I added a band with a little lace over the top. I love how it gave the skirts a little more of a finished look.

Have a great weekend.

Quick Project

This morning I was able to finish a quick project which I think turned out great. I have had this wonderful stamp from Ann Griffith for a couple years but never knew what to do with it. Today a idea popped into my head. First I painted and distressed the frames. Next I stamped the two images and colored them in using colored pencils. After that I cut the paper to fit the frame, used my corner rounder, then inked the edges. I am so pleased with how good it turned out. The ribbon I added at the last minute. Not sure if I will keep it, still haven't decided if it makes it too floofy(is that a word?). For the time being both the ribbon and bow attached to the wall with little rolls of masking tape. So far they haven't fell. Here is a close up.
Here is a better view of them hanging in the bathroom.

Garden Dreaming

Planting season in my neck of the woods is still a little more than a month away. Normally come January I am pouring over seed catalogs and digging out my garden journal and inspiration file, dreaming up BIG PLANS only to have to wait four months to put my plans into action. This year I was determined to wait until a couple weeks before planting time in an effort to keep my sanity (and my hubby's) in check.

WELL . . . . . . . . .

After yesterday's mini planting party in my kitchen I CAN'T RESIST ANYMORE! The damp earthy smell of potting soil, the grit under my fingernails, the cute little pots of seeds lined up on the windowsill - - I tell you it was almost painful, my desire to get out into the garden was all consuming! I want to feel the sun on my neck, the breeze in my hair, the sweat rolling down my back as I dig up some more grass (sorry honey, hehe), the excitement of seeing a new shoot of green poking through the soil - - All of it, I wanted it.

With all this running through my mind I found my gardening books and journals this morning and started pouring over them. Here are some pictures of my favorites right now (sorry the quality isn't the greatest, just took quick shots from my inspiration book)

This garden with the white arbor, white roses and white fence are simply wonderful.
Here is a close up of a potted standard, the yellow is amazing and together with the purple under plantings it is breathtaking.
I love the white picket fence here, and the pink roses.
I bet you can guess that I am really like white fences. Here is another one, love all the wonderful green around it and all those neatly trimmed boxwood are drool-worthy. (this photo was on the cover of cottage living)

I really like this garden bed of all flowering shrubs. What could be more easy!

This garden is a little formal for me to make work with my current garden but I love the hydrangea surrounded by boxwood and neatly shaped trees on the deck. Wished my backyard looked like this.

This planting is amazing. I love it's simplicity.With all these lovely images swimming around in my head I have spent most of the morning planning this years gardens. I've read over last years notes, decided on new plants to try, drew out plans for my new garden bed I put in last fall in the front yard and planned my veggie/ cutting garden. I'm well on my way to creating my own version of beauty.

Weekend Antique Shopping

This weekend mom and I headed out to the Gathering of Friends Antique sale in Burnsville, MN. It was our first visit and we had so much fun we plan to make it a yearly event. We spent a couple of hours browsing around and came away with a few new treasures.

Found this wonderful finial. The weathering on it is wonderful can't wait to find a home for it. May add a light white-wash to it to help it ease into my decorating a little better(it's a little to grey for my taste)

Picked up an old flower frog also. They had many styles and sizes and since I have been looking for on I snatched up with mid-sized one. Can't wait to use it.

Found this cute white plate. It is hard to get a good picture of it, but it has a great raised edge and it will go perfectly with my collection.

I spied these cute potholders in red and white and fell in love. Don't know what I am going to do with them but I love them.
I have saved the best for last. Take a look!

The SWEETEST little enamel tea pot in the best color combo ever, red and white.

I. AM. IN. LOVE! I can't believe my good luck.

I also picked up some wheat grass seeds that I spent the morning planting and can't wait to see it sprout. I've checked it at least ten times today hoping to see a speck of green pushing through the dirt. Of course it is WAY to early, I know I'm being silly but a girl can hope right?

Quick Changes

I'm all about quick and easy decorating that really makes an impact. Today I replaced my shower curtain hooks and am amazed about how good it looks.

Previously I had been using the cheap clear plastic rings from Walmart. It was a quick, cheap fix I used when we first moved in EIGHT years ago.

I have thought about replacing them many times over the years but paying up to twenty bucks on them wasn't something I wanted to do. Last weekend I found a set at Goodwill for $1.99. Today I hung them up. What a difference. Why did I wait so long. Have a great weekend.

Starting A New Sewing Project

With the success of my chair slipcover still glowing in my mind I thought I would dive right into a slipcover for my couch. I have had the fabric so almost three months now, it's been sitting in my closet mocking me and today is the day to put all it's taunting to rest.

This is couch that I am working on. It is wonderfully comfy but the colors don't go that great.

Thinking that I would start out slow and easy I started on the bottom cushions first. I was able to insert the zipper, pin and mark all my edges this morning. Here it is along with my little "helper". I am giddy with excitement that it is going so well. When momma sews crazy stuff happens at my house. Today a whole lot of fort building is happening. Below is Exhibit A.

Great Thrifting Finds

This past weekend mom and I went to Goodwill. I found a couple new treasures to share.

First a couple sliver bowls and some shower curtain rings.

Next a picked up a set of these beautiful green on white placemats that I placed on my bedside table.Another placemat for hubby's side of the bed. Just love the extra shot of color.Hope you all have a great day. Robin