Happy Weekend

This was what we had on our trees 2 days ago. I had to go out and shake all the snow off the trees so the branches wouldn't break. Pretty, isn't it?

Have a great weekend!

A New Painting, and A Lamp Makeover Using Chicken Wire

"Pink Garden" for sale. Click here to view.

My children are in school this week after Fall Break. It went by so quickly, yet it seemed to last forever!

Even with them being at home, I completed so many projects, including a makeover for my younger daughter's room. I will post pictures soon.

 Anyhow, I have had the above painting for a while now, and I have finally listed it.

I picked up this lamp at the thrift store:

It was bright brass, but I liked the shape. So, I purchased a can of Rustoleum spray paint in Champagne Mist, and spray painted it. I took apart the lamp shade, and used the base to wrap chicken wire around it to make a new "shade". I think I like the new lamp now:

This is my daughter opening presents at her birthday party/sleepover this past weekend. 

I hope you all are having a great Monday!

A Friend's Gallery Wall

I went to a friend's home for a monthly coffee morning. She has 3 gorgeous, talented, and freakishly genius kids. Why not showcase them in her family room? 

(Photo taken with iphone-sorry!)

Have a great Wednesday!

Fireplace Makeover

My Fireplace mantle got a makeover last year. It used to look like this:

I loved the new mantle. However, the rest of that wall looked like this:

It kind of had a split personality with the dark wood moulding at top, and the distressed mantle in the middle. Risking ruining the fireplace crown moulding and built-in bookshelves, and the re-sale value of our house, I went ahead and painted that moulding on top of the brick:

My husband said it was too white compared to the mantle which was aged and distressed. I had to agree, so I went and did a little aging. And, since I can't leave well enough alone, I also went and painted the brick. I never loved it in the first place, I thought when we picked it out, there would be some more variation in the colors. On a whim, I decided to paint. I figured I went this far and there's no going back.....

I'm glad I took the risk and painted the brick and moulding. Next up, the built-in bookcases. Do I dare? I'm still pondering this one. The other end of this room is our kitchen, which is a dark cherry. I would love to paint the bookcases a dark grey, but would I completely ruin them? Would I turn into the dreaded "former homeowner" if we ever sold this house? And, while I'm questioning myself, why did I not tighten those slipcover seats before I took these photos?


If you want to see how I distressed the mantle, click here.


I'm linking with Miss Mustard Seed.


Have a Great Weekend everyone!

Weekend in Vail

We spent this past weekend in the Vail Valley here in Colorado for my oldest child's soccer tournament. The colors were beautiful. I had my big camera with me. Me, with my camera that I take everywhere-FORGOT to take pictures of the scenery! I was so obsessed with the games, I completely spaced out that I should be taking pictures!

It sorta looked like this up there:

A teammate's grandfather took some awesome pictures:

I think I'm going to turn this into a 16x20 poster for her room:

The viewer can imagine what happened next.

The result from the tournament? First place!

A New Painting and Thank You Etsy Treasury

"Figment of My Imagination" 12x16 inch original. Click here to view in shop.

I tried to photograph a room view of this painting with no success. The lighting in my house is difficult to work with. I think I need to set up a more permanent spot for photo shoots. Hmmm.... I have to brainstorm on this.


Also, as always, it is an honor when someone chooses one of my pieces for an Etsy Treasury. Thank you Pure Rox Jewels!

Autumn

Cozy Fall.....

Anthropologie

 Anthropologie

Martha Stewart

Have a wonderful weekend!

Office Chandelier Makeover

Thank you for all your prayers for my mom. Her surgery went well, and they removed her lung and all the cancer. We are so thankful!!!

During the last 2 months, I have kept very busy doing projects around the house. This was mainly to keep my mind off of what was happening with my mom. 

I wrote several posts on my home office makeover. Here's another element of the makeover. My chandelier. This is the after:

Here was the before:

It felt too heavy for what I was going for in here. I didn't want to replace it because I really do like the shape, and I didn't want to spend any money I didn't need to spend. I painted it - because paint solves everything!

First, I used a tinted gray Zinzer brand primer and painted the entire thing. I then mixed a white latex paint to the same primer to lighten it. I went back and forth, adding a little more paint to primer, leaving some of the dark areas. I like using just primer as the main paint, as it leaves a nice chalky finish. 

I spray painted the chandelier sleeves white, as the off white looked odd with the gray/white of the chandelier.

Then, I added the crystals that I already had from a previous project. I did purchase a string of glass beads and strung it on the chain. I also had the chain from a jewelry project. So, out of pocket, this project cost $5. I love the new look!

There will be more before and afters of this office coming soon. Can you see that the wall color is different in this last photo from the before photo?

Meaningful

I painted this "Breathe" painting about 2 years ago. You can read the post here. It has become more and more meaningful. Every time I look at it, it reminds me to breathe, and pray. 

If you all get a chance, please pray for my mom. The doctors say she has lung cancer - the non-smoker's kind. She is having surgery on Monday to get the lung taken out. 
Thank you.

Home Office Closet - Before and In Progress

I am finally posting some before and in-progress pictures of my home office closet. I have been working to reorganize and beautify this entire office. I originally had all my paintings hanging in here awaiting sales. I had more furniture than I needed, and I knew that if I could make better use of the closet, I could keep things more organized and functional. 

Below is the before. What a mess! I took these photos in the middle of back to school supply shopping. 

The sliding closet doors kept me from being able to get into the closet and really keep it functional. I wanted to replace these doors with bi-fold doors, but I couldn't find any that were small enough for the width of this closet. I guess builders usually go in "off-sizes" when they put in closet doors, I'm not sure why. Here is the closet with the doors removed. See what I mean about DISORGANIZED and MESSY?

After removing the doors, I went upstairs and stole my daughter's curtains. She didn't like them anyway. It worked perfectly.

I can now close the curtains and hide the mess. 

I spray painted my husband's and my college filing cabinets the same color, and used a piece of heavy stone that my husband's step mom gave me a year ago. I now have a counter that I can place items on, paperwork, etc. I don't use it as a desk, as there is already a desk in this room.

I also added and extra shelf all by myself - no help from my husband! :) Up until now I was a little scared of power tools. 

I still need to paint in there, but for now I love it. It is so functional!

This past weekend I also painted this room. It's getting a little makeover.