Christmas 2013

Some notes:

• no greenery this year.  It's beyond my budget; last year, I lucked out and got a windfall from a neighbor who lost an evergreen to Hurricane Sandy. 
• everything is either from the flea market, Good Will or they are items I previously owned
• the "garland" on the tree is the wire part of some wired ribbon.  I bought a big roll of it at Michael's last year on clearance.  I cut the wired edges off of both sides of the ribbon, cut them into manageable sections and wrapped them around my hand to curl.  I then gently pulled them out - like a Slinky - and draped them on the tree.  They give a delicate sparkle to the tree.

the tree

the mantel

the coffee table

tiny trees in Limoges cups

the piano

I am linking up at:

Mod Vintage Life

Petite Michelle Louise

French Country Cottage

My Romantic Home

I'm A Prepper!

No...no!  Not that kind of prepper.  Although I can get that crazed look in my eyes right about this time of year.

I'm a Christmas prepper.  I am a one-woman show (anyone have a brother/cousin/uncle/dad who likes curvy dames with an attitude?) and I work a full-time job so my Christmas decorating time is a bit limited.  I did it all in one fell swoop last Thanksgiving weekend and I will never do that again.

Another reason I have to "prep" is because I have a small living room and I have to re-arrange the furniture to accommodate my Christmas tree.  No big deal, really (love those coasters for moving furniture!) but I also use this as a cleaning opportunity.  I scrub my hardwood floors thoroughly and then make with the Murphy's Oil Soap.  I clean the woodwork, the fireplace accessories and hearth, and vacuum the undersides of the upholstered furniture.

One thing that has to be moved in the process is an ornate reproduction Victorian birdcage.  A find at Sam's Club years ago, I love it and it looks beautiful in the corner where the Christmas tree takes up temporary residence.  In years past, I've disassembled the birdcage and stored it in a closet.  

This is what I did with it this year.

I put it on my little front entryway.  I filled it with all those odds and ends of faux Christmas greenery that is not exactly nice enough to use in any great amounts inside.  I hung a wreath from HomeGoods ($49.99 down to $10 last year) on it, and stacked a couple of bundles of firewood underneath.

I think it looks so pretty and welcoming out there.

In other news, I scored this from GoodWill for $39.99.  It's missing a small piece of trim (I think I can duplicate it) and it has a wobble (which I can definitely fix).  I'm thinking French linen, Old White and silver leafing.  And stripes.  Definitely stripes.

I'm linking up at:

Mod Vintage Life - Mod Mix Monday
The Dedicated House - Make It Pretty Monday
Savvy Southern Style - Wow Us Wednesdays 
French Country Cottage - Feathered Nest Fridays

When Last We Left Our Blogger

....wow.  It's been 6 months (a bit more) since I wrote here.

A lot has been going on.  I gave my heart to someone, and he stomped that sucker flat.  (Note to self - don't do *that* again)

But I'm back.  And I think I have an incredible opportunity.  An old childhood friend (really - I've known him literally since kindergarten) has been very encouraging about my mad skillz at this stuff I do.  He's asked me to put together a business plan for what it would take for me to get my goods out to a larger audience.  I'm beside myself with verklempt-ness.  I alternate between clueless rapture and utter nausea.

My thoughts are a booth in a local arts/crafts/antique mall, as well as a space at a large flea market near my home.  If anyone has any advice - up to an including "WHAT?!  ARE YOU CRAZY?!  DON'T DO IT!", I would be grateful to listen.

I'm linking up at:

Savvy Southern Style

The $14.97 Monstrosity

In a previous blog post, I lamented my lack of thrift "finds" and poked fun at the fact that everyone else in blog-land seemed to be able to score amazing things at the local Good Army/Salvation Will places.

I think I finally found one of mine own.

I've long wanted a button-tufted ottoman for a coffee table.  I really wanted a round button-tufted ottoman for a coffee table.  But even the basic ones were out of my budget; the "plain" Hayes ottoman at Ballard's starts at $300

Ballard Design's Hayes ottoman

During my weekly visit to Good Will, I found this:

I don't think the manufacturer could have chosen a more repulsive fabric if they had been held at knifepoint and ordered to do so.  Cheap plaid taffeta...really?  But I stopped and looked.  I hiked up the skirt and it was immaculately clean underneath.  I did the sniff test, which must have looked hilarious to the other shoppers.  Passed.  I sat on it - extremely sturdy with no wobbles.  Some of the buttons are missing, but the tufting holes are in place and easily located.

Then I checked the price.  Oh.  $49.97 - not a bad deal, but more than I had to spend.  Maybe next time it will still be the...wait.  What?  Lemme check that tag again.  That's not a 4...that's a 1.  Yep - $14.97.  I snatched that yellow tag off so fast I almost got a paper cut.

I believe in my little romantic heart that I can make this look almost as good as the Ballard number. I have ordered a swatch of this fabric:

It's cotton upholstery fabric and it's only $8 a yard.  If it suits, I'm going to go for it, and I might use it to make drapery panels and pillows for my sofa.

I'll keep you posted on the transformation.

I am linking up at:

Mod Mix Monday @ Mod Vintage Life 

Make It Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm

Tweak It Tuesday @ Cozy Little House 

Wow Us Wednesdays @ Savvy Southern Style

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Based On A Story By...

That's Hollywood-ese for "your first book was made into a hit movie, and we want to milk that franchise for all it's worth but we don't want you actually involved, so here's eleventy billion dollars to go away and we'll give you this lousy credit instead".

Once again, Debbie at Confessions of a Plate Addict has inspired me to do something based on a story by...well, you know what I mean.

I previously made this wreath:

...which was inspired by a post by Debbie.

This week's ripoff tribute was inspired by her lovely Ballard's sale items.  Since I live in Bugtussle, a trip to the Ballard's outlet is a day thing, so I ordered my stuff online.  I got the same delicious wired document ribbon and French script wrapping paper.

Having learned the absolute value of a Michael's "50% off one item" coupon, I put that to good use last night.  So between Michael's and Ballard's, I have a new spring wreath.  I tweaked mine a bit and added some roses made from the wired ribbon.

So thanks once again, Debbie...you're absolutely an inspiration.

Linking up to:

Six Days of Spring Linky Party @ French Country Cottage

Les Petites Choses

This morning, I was an ugly brass picture frame, covered in scratches (which is probably why I was on the uber~junk shelf at HomeGoods)

Now, with the help of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Antibes (green), Duck Egg (blue), Henrietta (the roses) and a wash of  Old White, I am now a miniature verdigris chalkboard that looks as if it belongs in a tiny French garden.

I'm to be a birthday gift for a special young lady.

I am linking up at:

Mod Mix Monday @ Mod Vintage Life 

Make It Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm

Tweak It Tuesday @ Cozy Little House 

Wow Us Wednesdays @ Savvy Southern Style

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Post~Christmas score

No longer available, but they were originally $59 each at Le Barn du Pottery.  I bagged them for $11.99 each.

I won’t be using them for tree toppers.  At 22.5 inches tall, they’ll make great statement pieces for my living room.

“As is”, they are a bit too glittery.  I think an extremely dry brushing of black (very, very faint), followed by a judicious application of ASCP in “Paris Grey” will tone them down perfectly.

Update:  the more I look at them, the more I think I want to make them into lamps.  Must ponder.

I am linking up at:

Mod Mix Monday @ Mod Vintage Life 

Make It Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm

Tweak It Tuesday @ Cozy Little House 

Wow Us Wednesdays @ Savvy Southern Style

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage