::Making simple things beautiful::

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

New booth pics

Here I am weeks later and I still don't have my computer working yet so I am going to try my best to throw a post together on my husband's computer which is less than blogger friendly.

We had a wonderful Christmas.  It was busy but great.  We spent Christmas Eve with Tim's family and Christmas day with mine.  It all involved lots of presents, wrapping paper strewn everywhere, and some pretty tasty food which I may or may not still be snacking on :)

I took time out today to pay some much needed attention to my booth.  I hadn't really sold anything big over the last couple weeks, but practically every Christmas related item had sold so I needed to do a bit of rearranging and fluffing.

I took in a couple new things that I am really excited about.  First, this white bead board medicine cabinet.  I debated keeping it once I got it done but who the heck am I kidding?  I have zero space to keep anything.  Actually, I think I have reached the point of negative space to keep anything but who's keeping track really?



I also took in this great little tea stand.  The tray on top is removable and the legs fold down so it is a fun little piece that can be used in lots of ways.



It happened to be super busy down at the Antique Mall today so I was rushing to get everything put back together and managed to snap these pics so they are not taken from the greatest angles but you get the idea.
I have had this grey farmhouse dresser stashed in my garage for a few months because I was trying to find the perfect pull to replace the one that is missing but I finally decided today that I would just take it down as is.  I love it even with the pull missing, so I figured there may be another vintage loving soul out there that would too.  This piece is certainly not for the true "antiquers" out there, but us shabby girls fancy this sort of thing : )





I also took down a couple baskets, apothecary jars and a vintage tackle box among other things. On another note,  this is so random but I came across this old picture today as I was deleting some very old pictures off of my camera.  I never thought much of it before, but today I fell in love with it.  This is a shot of me and my sweet boy right after his baby sister was born.  Someone was just about ready to hand her to us to hold for the first time together.  It really was the last time that it was just him and me, before the chaos of the new baby ensued.  Who knew she would turn out so busy and silly and demanding?  I just thought I would share it.



I am not sure when I will be able to post again.  Enjoy the rest of your week and have a happy new year!

{Brittany}

Friday, December 16, 2011

My favorites over the past year

I apologize in advance for this very wordy and picture filled post.

My laptop is on the fritz!  I am so sad about it because without it, blogging is extremely difficult.  Until it is fixed, I won't be able to upload any new pictures, so I am going to seize the opportunity to share some of my favorite projects from the past year.

I used the most expensive fabric that I have purchased to date to make my mom a set of pillows for her birthday.  (In case you are wondering she loves them and guards them with her life.)

I painted this buffet and was totally smitten with how it turned out. If only I could have kept it! 



Isn't it such a darling piece?


This is most certainly my favorite chair makeover of the year.


Love!


My little sister's baby shower was super fun to plan and decorate.  Who doesn't love a reason to buy flowers and a chocolate cake?


Since it was spring time, I went with a birdie theme.  I googled around and found a recipe for these adorable little bird nest candies.  They were as tasty as they were cute :)


I couldn't stop myself from putting a big girl bed in Reese's room despite the fact that she was not even two years old.  I blame my insatiable need to rearrange and redecorate.  As it turns out, that bed has had a lot of use over the past months.  It wasn't such a silly idea after all!  I love when that happens.


AAAh yes...my favorite find so far.  The infamous ladder.  I know that some people who pass through my door think I am waaaay off my rocker for using this as decor in my house but to them I say too dang bad.  I better start saving for an extra long coffin now because this, my friends, is going to be buried with me.


You know those things that you completely regret getting rid of?  Well this little cabinet is that piece for me.  I didn't keep it and now I wish I had.  I loved how it fit just right on top of my little farm desk.  I guess I will be on the hunt for it's twin.


Oh and I think it is worth mentioning that these peonies came from the garden of the Amazing Race duo Bill and Cathy Alden.  We were helping take care of their garden and chickens while they were gallivanting around the world and I may or may not have "trimmed" back a few bushes ; )



This sweet little pink medicine cabinet mirror is another one of my very favorites, and is solely responsible for renewing my love affair with the color pink.


The lockers are the biggest project I have tackled by far.  Again, I love them and wish so badly that I had a place for them so I could keep them.  Someday I will have a mud room!


Then there was my first attempt at decorating my son's room.  It was a bit of a challenge to keep this space from becoming girly, but I think I pulled it off.  It has even changed a bit, including some diy vintage inspired artwork.  I will share that project next year.  Ha, that is just fun to say so I had to do it.



I made the trek over to Idaho to see my niece be born, and while I was there I pilfered around at my sister's and snapped a few pictures of her adorable farm house.  I must say that I am a bit envious.


I drug my feet a little on this project.  I couldn't decide if I should paint this dresser white, or be bold (yes, gray is me being bold!).  Since I couldn't find my "make a decision" tablet (yes I have one and need to use it for making even the most simple of decisions), but obviously I went bold. It ended up selling, so I must have made the right choice.  Or at least that is what I am telling myself.


These pillow covers were the first of many ruffles that I have since sewn.


This fall we set up a candy shop for Reese's 2nd birthday.


It was so much fun to decorate, and the candy was a huge hit with the kiddos.



For Halloween I made Reese a PBK knockoff cupcake costume.  The original version was much cuter, but with a price tag of $65, I am just fine with my $2 version.


For Christmas in my booth I tried my luck at making Miss Mustard Seed's ruffled linen tree skirt.  She did fail to mention in her tutorial how many back breaking hours of work this would be, but it sure turned out  pretty if I do say so myself.


I have done a lot with numbers recently, and this great little stool that I did for one of my besties is no exception.


Recently I have been sewing these ruffled tote bags.


And who could forget about my pink Christmas?  Well in case you did, here is a refresher...


It was fun to look back through all of my pictures and see what I have accomplished over the last year.  Thank you so much for reading and for letting me share my projects with you! 

I have some fun projects coming up for my booth, as well as a few goals for my house over the coming months.  I hope to finally make my bedroom a room that I actually want to spend time in, as well as whip my kitchen in to shape.  The kitchen is going to be a pain in the boot, but I am really hoping I can get it done.  Just in case I don't make it back before Christmas, I hope your holidays are wonderful, and filled with lots and lots of good food ( :

Monday, December 5, 2011

Cottage Pink Scale and Red Licorice

I was blessed enough to get to spend a couple hours today with one of my dear friends and I got a chance to do some antiquing sans kiddos.  It was quite an experience to be able to look at each and every item in my favorite booths rather than the quick scan-pause-Reese don't touch that-Reese get over here-etc. etc. You get the idea.  
Anyway, I was able to find myself a couple of treasures.  I have been collecting enamel basins and randomly they have somehow ended up hanging on my dining room walls.  I found this little cutie to add to my collection.  It is the first one I have in this color.  I really like it, and for $4.95 I couldn't not bring it home with me.

I know that all this great rust is the reason it was so bargain priced, but it is what makes me love it so.  I am not a gal that is into pristine antiques.  I love the rusty chippy stuff : )


And here is my favorite find in a long time, this sweet little cottage pink scale.  I am not even going to say how many scales I currently own, but it should be a crime-seriously.  Put me in the slammer now.


I love it first and foremost because it is pink, and second because it is different from most others I see.


I have been so into Christmas around here lately but this pink scale and lavender are making me want to bust out my spring goodies.



Oh and one side note-We are now into day four with the white slip covered couch and the soiling has already begun.  That dear sweet friend that I spent the day with today brought my kids a bag of red licorice.  Little Reese managed to get red spots on three of the cushions (part from the licorice, the other spots were from pomegranate seeds).  I totally freaked out (and cursed your name Penny)  but wait, there is a point to my story so stay with me.  I sprayed all of the spots with my homemade laundry soap and let it soak for a few minutes before throwing them into the washer.  I am in shock, but every single spot came clean!  That laundry soap is seriously the best I have ever used.  I guess I can relax a bit about the white couch now...now that I know I can get anything out of those white cushions : )

{Brittany}

Saturday, December 3, 2011

I did it!!!!

Tonight I finally did it...

I started my Etsy shop.  I have been dragging my feet a bit because it is hard for me to open myself up to judgement.  What if no one likes my listings, what if my items aren't as good as everyone else's?  I had to put those feelings aside and just go for it.  I have to say that I am happy about doing it : )

These bags have been a hit lately.  I have received several orders for them over the last few days, so I thought it would be the perfect first item for my shop.  Now let's just hope that the lovely Etsy browsers go easy on me ; )



And since I know you are just as excited about it as I am, I just know that you are dying to see it so click here to look and then let me know what you think.

That is my excitement for the night.  Sorry to show you something you have already seen pics of but I just had to share!
{Brittany}

Friday, December 2, 2011

Popcorn and Pink

Months ago I bought a collection of vintage pink ornaments and have since been adding to it.  My plan was to  decorate my space at the antique mall in pink for Christmas, but when the time came, I couldn't actually part with the pink ornaments.  I just fell in love with them and decided to decorate my house in pink this year.

On Black Friday I wasn't one of those crazies out fighting with the masses for bargains.  I was at home just giddy about decorating my pink Christmas.  I got the tree all done and was not totally loving it.  I mean, how could you go wrong with pretty white lights and shiny pink bulbs but there was just a little something missing in the texture department.  My policy for most projects is that I have to find a solution in house.  It forces me to be thrifty and creative.  Light bulb moment...popcorn garlands will do the trick!


I popped white popcorn kernels the old fashioned way on the stove (without oil) and used white crochet thread and a large needle that I had buried in a drawer.  It was a simple albeit messy process.  


Just poke through the popcorn and slide it to the end of the knotted thread.  I made two 8' garlands for my tree and it still could use another one, but that my friends is a project for another day.  Slowly but surely your garlands will fill up and you are left with an adorable little diy garland perfect for any tree: )


Here it is...


Here is one of my sweet little vintage ornaments.  I even found one with a glittered crown and one with glittered polka dots <3


Have I ever shared this vintage changing table before?  I am not sure if I have but I fell in love with it.  Isn't it darling?



I ended up with waaaaaay more pink bulbs than I needed so I filled this white urn with part of my surplus.


And there I am in the bottom right of the picture...hello out there :)



Here is my entryway.  It is simple but wintery.






I hate to say this but my living room has changed even since I took these pictures two days ago.  I finally got the white slip covered couch from my mama yesterday and I sure love it.  I still have to do an alteration to the base of the slip cover but I am making it work for now.  No need to ask...you know I will be sharing pictures of my new goody soon.  I hope you are now good and inspired to tear into holiday decorating...so go pop some corn and get stringing ; )
Nighty Night, 

{Brittany}