Friday, July 29, 2011

New Product Release (and some crazy cool storm photos)

Carina Gardner has another GORGEOUS digi release over at JS.com, called Le Petite Paperie Basile. It is full of vintagey greens, browns and yellows and is simply fabulous. I was thrilled to have a cute pic of Cale from July 4th to scrap. It is SO rare that he lets me to photograph him and I think he only allowed this shot because he had just gotten a new UnderArmour hat. You know what--I'll take it! He is turning 10 next week, which is so hard to believe.



We had a great thunderstorm here in KC last night! For those of you whole don't live where huge storms dramatically roll in, you may think I'm nuts--but I LOVE sitting on my back porch and watching the dark clouds come over the house, listening to the thunder. (And then making a run for it as soon as the first fat raindrops start falling!) Last night's incoming storm was producing some gorgeous lightning that was still far enough away that I felt comfortable trying to take some photos. I used the "active" button on my camera to get those rapid fire shots and literally took 202 photos to end up with a few decent ones. :)




Have a great weekend!



Friday, July 22, 2011

Fun Finds Friday!

Not sure if this will be a weekly series, as the title of this post suggests--I just liked the alliteration this morning (it's the little things!). I had a very successful outing to Savers yesterday and used my filled stamp card to receive 30% off my entire purchase! **squeal!** 

Here's my haul (minus the fun little table which was a $3 find at GW last week):


I simply cannot get enough of those wooden pedestal bowls! (I have a square one for sale in my etsy store here.) This one has a lovely scalloped edge and I think will be painted pink this weekend. The white and blue candlesticks will become bases for some cloches I am working on--can't wait to get those into my little shop!



This potted beauty is a plastic SYROCO piece and will be fabulous painted...just not sure what color yet! I may have to keep that one for my breakfast nook. :)


I am in love with the shape of these Early American-looking sconces. While the piece that holds the candle is metal, the actual sconces themselves are plastic (not HOMCO, but very similar). I think they'll be great in an ivory color. And that wonderful rectangular mirror's frame will be freshened up with some blue or green paint.

I was probably most excited to find these three stunning plates with holes in them! About a week ago, I saw a gal on etsy with a store called "High Tea for Alice" selling beautiful (and very high-end) tiered serving dishes and really wanted to make one (or several!). They would make amazing gifts! So I found the hardware on ebay here, grabbed a free tutorial on how to drill through china/porcelain here...and then set everything aside to wait for my sweet husband to have a free moment to help me. I was not optimistic about the project coming together this year in the next little bit, so I jumped on these ready-to-go lovelies!


Just makes me want to have my besties over for tea and crumpets!

AND, speaking of besties, I finally finshed the KU hat I started for my girlfriend, Suzanne, about 3 months ago! She wanted something fairly simple with a hint of distress and a pop of bling. I'm seeing her for lunch today--hope she likes it!





Have a wonderful weekend!

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Would You Buy It Wednesday (and my fave find this week!)

I am (re)sharing a purchase from back in May for "Would You Buy It Wednesday" over at Junker Newbie. The first weekend of every month, my most favorite shop in the world is open here in KC: Good JuJu! Located in an old store/warehouse it is literally filled floor to ceiling with incredible vintage finds...some have been upcycled; some are waiting patiently to be transformed. My friend, Betsy, and I have a standing date on the first Friday morning of the month at 9am (the moment Good Juju opens!) and have the best time shopping!

In May I purchased one of the uglier pieces I have ever set eyes on; yet, I just knew it had potential to be fabulous! Take a look at this little table: it was a brownish-yellow resin, with bizarre carvings are over the top and base and for $15 I just HAD to have it.



Disclosure: I didn't realize the base was slightly X-rated until I got it in the car!


Now, here we are after a few coats of simple black spray paint:



Love the feet!

I can't really explain it, but I adore this little table! Would you have bought it?


And my favorite find this week is from GW:



This little beauty was $12.99 and will soon be Kendall's new bedside table. We are kind of making do with an old Bombay Co. table at this point, but she is so excited about this because she can store goodies inside. I am thinking of doing the inside of the table pink, with some leftover "Old White" chalk paint on the outside so I don't have to sand, etc. :)

Happy Wednesday!

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

It's That Time Again...Would You Buy It Wednesday?

Junker Newbie is hosting her weekly linky party today and I have a rather fun find from last week to contribute. I was drawn to this little piece at Goodwill because it was only $1.99 and because I am such a sucker for anything wooden. I asked a few shoppers what they thought this was and got everything from a jewelry hanger to a bedside table...and finally figured out that it is an old shoeshine stand! The shoe would fit on the wooden "thingy" over the top of the stand and then the polish and cloths would go inside the box. It used to have a small drawer which is gone at this point.




I would like to paint it and include it in my new upcycled decor booth; however, not sure if it would sell as a shoeshine stand. :) I am considering removing the part that holds the shoe and turning it into a little magazine holder. I would love any thoughts or guidance you might have!

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Fab New JS Release and Some Before & Afters

I am SO loving Carina Gardner's new release over at Jessica Sprague! It's called "Le Petite Paperie Provence" and it is to die for. Very shabby chic, a bit masculine and a lot fabulous! She also has some darling tickets that match the paper kit here. I used this opportunity to create a layout about my sweet nephew, Jackson, and how wonderful it is to be an aunt for the first time!

Isn't he just a sweet angel? **SWOON**

I am so excited that I have been accepted into a local boutique called Trendz! It is a wonderful place--huge with lots of different vendors and goodies. It is busy ALL the time and is only about a mile from my house. YIPPEE! I have been dying to find a place for my upcycled "treasures". Etsy is great, but there are just some things that don't ship well. :) So now I am hitting the thrift stores like a crazy person so I'll have enough inventory when Studio 162 officially opens at Trendz on August 15th. Pinch me!

So, here are some recent makeovers on purchases I made last week:


Painted Valspar's Vintage Blue and shabbied up just a bit!



Fun wooden wine racks painted with my fave spraypaint: Rustoleum Ultra Cover 2X. You literally get full coverage with just 2 coats. Love it.



This yummy little wooden pedestal has been painted Martha's "Milk Pail', distressed, and coated with some poly.



Looks much better in black, doesn't it?



I updated this little condiment holder with a fun bluish-purple Glidden sample I picked up over the weekend.



This sweet chippy keepsake box was updated with a couple coats of Krylon's Blue Ocean Breeze. Love this bright blue!

Lastly--take a peek at this spectacular wall sconce/shelf! It is heavy wood and I picked up two of them this weekend for $8. They are going to receive a chippy off-white finish. Happy Tuesday!



Thursday, July 7, 2011

Tuesday's Treasures

I found out yesterday afternoon that I have been accepted into a local boutique called "Trendz" and I am beyond excited! I will be selling just my upcycled home decor goodies, along with some small furniture starting on August 15th. YIPPEE! Now I can thrift myself crazy without feeling guilty!

Soooo, with that segue, here are some of my finds from Tuesday's lunch shopping spree:

I could not resist the great shape of this metal bowl! Not sure what color I'm going with...perhaps black.

This plastic HOMCO wall shelf is to die for! I have already painted it lavender and it will be adorable in a little girl's room. The wooden box with the brass flower has been painted a light blue and I am going to rough up the flower a bit to let the metal shine through.

I think this wooden taper holder is adorable and may even use the little blue votive with it. The aluminum tray will be getting a chippy paint job and I am in LOVE with the blue glass Bell jar I found! That little beauty will be staying with me!

Here she is up close...I can't get enough of this color!

This little jewelry box/valet has been given a few coats of Valspar's Vintage Blue paint and is almost ready to be shabbied up a bit. The blue glass candlesticks may become pedestals for little blue and white plates I have on hand. They are a fab color and very heavy.

This is my favorite piece from Salvation Army this week--it was only $4.99 and it is on its way to being stunning! With the exception of a few broken pulls, it has great bones and red velvet that is in amazing shape.


Couldn't you just eat up all the little doors and drawers on this piece??

I have a few coats of dover white paint on it so far and will likely be doing a few more before I'm done. Can't wait to show you the "after"!

I have been looking for one of these wooden pedestals for a while and may or may not have literally run across the store when I spotted it.  It has been painted Martha's lovely Milk Pail and I have not decided  whether I can part with it or not.

Gosh, I am such a sucker for anything wooden. I picked up these two wine racks for $2.99 each and have painted one with a black semi-gloss. Not sure about the other one yet.

Isn't this a cutie patootie? It has been painted a wonderful bluish-periwinkle color from Glidden that I am LOVING. Will share more when everything is complete.

Ok--if you have stuck with me this  far, I'd like to share the fun cabinet that I mentioned yesterday. I used the perfect yellow from Martha (can't remember the exact name of the color) and then shabbied it up. I really like the look of the dark wood showing through. I was able to use the old hardware, just giving them a quick spritz of ORB.

Before:



After:




Aren't those little feet adorable?


I am thinking this piece may have been a cabinet in a bathroom. It has hooks on the back for hanging, and is about the right size to store little toiletries. My girlfriend immediately thought "kitchen" when she saw it. Wouldn't it be cute as a little spice cabinet?

Thanks so much for stopping by! Happy Thursday!
Blogger Template by Delicious Design Studio