Pretty in Pink

For a blog with "Pink" in it's title, I feel like I am well overdo for a Pink Post! 

Well, I was definitely in a pink mood last night when I grabbed my can of Antoinette and put "Pretty in Pink" in the dvd player! 

So, today it's all about pink... 

I love Antoinette the best with a whole lot of dark wax!  It creates the perfect aged, straight out of a dilapedated farm house grungy pink patina that I love!

This is the first suitcase I have ever painted, and I am so excited by how it turned out that I can't wait to do more!  Once again I used Antoinette with a lot of dark wax and the stripes were done in Old White.  Incidentally, I was out of painter's tape and decided to give scotch tape a try to mark off the stripes...and it worked! 

I am always a little sad to prune back my Eden roses...especially when they still look this beautiful. However, it has to happen sometime, and they will bloom again soon, so I thought, why not have fun with this chore and work the clippings into my photo shoot!

Thank you so much for your sweet visit today!  I hope you have a wonderful weekend

Best Wishes and Blessings,

Amanda

Sharing this post with these fun link parties:

Restored it Wednesday at Restore Interiors
Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Party at Shades of Amber
Primp Your Stuff Wednesday at Primp
THT at From My Front Porch to Yours
Creative Things Thursday at The Vintage Farmhouse
Link Party at Redoux Interiors

Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Inspiration Friday at The Pickett Fence

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Home

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense

Furniture Feature Friday at Miss Mustard Seed
Paint Projects at Primitive and Proper

Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound

ASCP Custom Mix - French Blue and a Few Findings

Anyone who shopped Camas Antiques in the last week or so must have surely thought that I was moving out of my space, it was so sparse!  I finally had a chance to finish up a few projects and bring a truck load of new treasures in just last night!

I can't seem to pass up these little French style tiered tables.  They are so unique, delicate and versatile.  I love the scalloped edge on this one!  This pretty blue is a combination of ASCP Paris Grey, Aubusson Blue and Old White...with a lot of dark wax, of course!  I've decided to call it French Blue and had a lot of fun putting together a little Frenchy vignette to combine a handful of recent finds!

I used my French Blue mix to make over these pretty frames in addition to the side table.

These were hard to part with!  I have really become quite obsessed with ornate frames!  Both were dry brushed with old White before they were waxed.  I brushed Old White onto the detailed corners of the one on the left with a small paint brush.

I used that same technique for this lamp, but with Paris Grey and Old White.  This piece had sat and sat in my space with it's original gold-ish patina and although I didn't dislike it as it was, I knew I would like it better made over with ASCP and thought it might improve it's chances of finding a new home as well.  The finished look really reminds me of a Wedgewood vase!  I love how this piece turned out!

Also available in my space at the shop is this large, unique vintage mirror painted in Duck Egg and Old White.  Notice the applique swap out.  The original flourish was fine, but I was recently given this beautiful little floral bouquet and had been looking for a special piece to feature it on.  Two sweet gals from the UK, Celeste and Lizzie have a business called Shabby Finds where they sell their unique, resin appliques to add something special to everything from furniture to frames!  This applique was incredibly easy to apply.  What I found to be really great about the material these gals use to make their appliques is that it can be slightly softened with the heat from a blow dryer and molded onto the piece you are applying it to.  I love how this little change really re-defined the look of the mirror.  The applique worked perfectly with ASCP paint and wax!   

My space at the shop feels a little more full now, but there is still plenty of room for more treasures!

  I am off to work on some more small tables and chairs to add to my display!  Today was all about blue and grey, but I hope to have some pink pretties to share with you later this week!

Best Wishes and Blessings,

Amanda

Sharing this post with these fun link parties:

Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Restored it Wednesday at Restore Interiors
Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Party at Shades of Amber
Primp Your Stuff Wednesday at Primp
THT at From My Front Porch to Yours
Creative Things Thursday at The Vintage Farmhouse
Link Party at Redoux Interiors

Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Inspiration Friday at The Pickett Fence

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Home

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense

Furniture Feature Friday at Miss Mustard Seed

It's a keeper...

Last week I shared the beginnings of a room transformation.  Our former formal living room which was so seldomly used and that had been furnished with a lot of Victorian hand me downs was stripped bare for a fresh start.  Hoping to create a comfortable, less formal sitting room which would also function as my studio, I painted this dresser/credenza last week to hold art and craft supplies.  I wanted to do something new and unique with the paint treatment but decided on the same Paris Grey accented in Old White look that I used for the Pemberley Buffet.  The colors turned out to be perfect for the piece and for the room.

I realize that the before photo doesn't make this piece look as pathetic as most of the pieces I rescue and makeover.  Although this dresser wasn't in bad shape when I picked it up, it was a funny greenish color (not quite cream as it appears in the photo).  It also had a laminate top which wasn't so pretty and was obviously used in a teenage girl's room because it had bits of pink and purple nail polish dried on some of the drawer fronts. 

Two coats of Annie Sloan's Paris Grey and a little dark wax and no one will ever know this once looked like a dated formica counter top!

I love to accent beautiful details on furniture with Old White and dark wax against a bold background.  These details were all but lost with the original finish on this piece.

I didn't do a thing to the hardware.  It was complete and beautiful as is.  Lucky me!

Our new sitting room/studio is coming right along!  I now have a chaise lounge and a storage credenza!  Tomorrow, my husband and father in law are picking up a beautiful 8 ft. long table for me!  I would love to keep going on this room but I think I will stop, for now and focus on a few things for the shop!  Don't worry though, there will be a complete room reveal post before too long!

It felt a bit like a luxury to actually take the time to paint something substantial for our own home.  This piece is definitely a keeper.  I think I am going to enjoy it for a long time!  Until the day I find something I love more!  Hee hee!

It's always fun to have options!

Thank you for your sweet visit!  And thank you for your kind comments and emails!  I feel blessed to have so many wonderful Blog friends!  I hope you are all having a lovely week! 

Best Wishes and Blessings,

Amanda 

Sharing this post with these fun link parties:

Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Restored it Wednesday at Restore Interiors
Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Party at Shades of Amber
THT at From My Front Porch to Yours
Creative Things Thursday at The Vintage Farmhouse
Link Party at Redoux Interiors

Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Inspiration Friday at The Pickett Fence

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Home

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense

Furniture Feature Friday at Miss Mustard Seed

 

Skeleton Keys

My grandpa collected skeleton keys.

He sought them out at estate sales and antique stores, pretty much everywhere he went.

When he passed away earlier this year, my mom asked me if there was anything of his that I would like to have, to remember him by.

I am sure that I could find at least one item in every room of my house to remember my grandpa by.  He was always bringing me little treasures...

His collection of old keys and locks is extra special.  It's something that he treasured.

And now, this treasured collection sits in a pretty bowl on our mantle...

where everyone can enjoy it...

This afternoon I let my boys sit on the floor with the pile of keys and locks.  They had so much fun examining them, pointing out the uniqueness in the different ones, and trying to find the right key to open a lock. 

I was pleasantly surprised when we found a match!  How sweet and appropriate that it was a heart shaped lock.  I hadn't even noticed this one until the boys started digging through the collection today.

Someday this collection will be passed on to my boys.  Maybe they will add to it, maybe they will tuck it away for safe keeping, or maybe they will display it as I have.  Regardless, I am sure that they will treasure a collection that once belonged to their great grandpa.  I know that I will forever think of Grandpa whenever I come across an old skeleton key.

Thank you for your sweet visit.

Best Wishes and Blessings,

Amanda

Sharing this post with these fun link parties:
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
Wow us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
THT at From My Front Porch to Yours

Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Inspiration Friday at The Pickett Fence

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Home

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense

What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants

And the Winner is...

Thank you to everyone who entered my giveaway for the My Memories Digital Scrapbooking software!  The random number generator provided me with number...

8

Congratulations Victoria Lynn of Vintage French Roses!

Soon, you'll be having all kinds of fun with your new creative software program!  Enjoy!

 

For anyone else who was interested in the My Memories Suite, you

 can still purchase your very own copy of the software on the My Memories website and use the following coupon code to receive a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store - $20 value!

Copy and Paste this Coupon Code:

STMMMS30029

Thanks again to everyone who entered the giveaway!

Best Wishes and Blessings,

Amanda

Starting Fresh...The Beginnings of a Room Makeover

After almost 8 years of living with a "formal living room" that I have never really been happy with, I am starting fresh and am excited to work towards creating a comfortable space that our family will enjoy spending time in.  I purchased this beautiful chaise lounge from a friend just a few days ago.  Thank you, Diane!  Ironically, she had just bought the "Pemberley Inspired Buffet" from me for her condo!  If I would have known a couple of weeks ago that I needed her chaise lounge, we could have worked out a trade! 

Everything about this chair reflects the cozy, cottage style I love.

My husband gave me a funny look when I brought it home.  Yes, the soft florals are very feminine, but I don't know why he would be surprised...he knows me well enough!  He didn't say anything though, just helped me carry it into the house and set it in it's place.  Last night I found him lounging here, reading the paper.  "It is pretty comfortable,"  he said.  I consider myself pretty lucky to live with three guys who don't seem to mind living with feminine, romantic decor.

Before:

Last fall I submitted a few photos of the room to Debra at Common Ground and she featured it in a design post where readers could comment with suggestions on how to improve the layout and feel of the room.  I received some great feedback and such wonderful ideas, many of which I am putting to use now!  However, I finally came to the realization that I wasn't going to get the look I wanted for this room with the Victorian furniture we inherited from my parents.  I kept buying furniture to coordinate with these pieces (i.e. the coffee table and secretary) hoping to create a cohesive look.  When I see this photo of the room, it reminds me of a scene from Victorian doll's house!  Cute, but not super inviting.  Thankfully, my mom now has a place for the settee and chairs...so, yesterday we loaded them up in her truck and sent them back to her house!  I am hoping to sell the secretary and coffee table soon to help furnish the new room! 

I am going to try to be patient and wait for the right pieces at good prices to come along to complete the look I am hoping to achieve.  That may mean a few months of a big, nearly empty room with a chaise lounge and few accessories in it, but this chaise is so comfy and inviting that the room will still be enjoyed in the meantime, probably even more so than before.

This large ornate frame was a Craigslist find a couple of weeks ago.  After just one coat of Versailles with a little dry brushing in Old White and a coat of both clear and dark wax, I now have a lovely frame that picks up on the green of the leaves in the pretty floral fabric of the chaise lounge. 

I don't think that the frame will be empty for long.  I have a couple of ideas for it!  I will share an update soon!

I think this is going to be my favorite spot in the house.  Looks like it may be someone else's too!

Thank you for your sweet visit!

Be sure to checkout my Giveaway!  Winner to be announced this Monday, June 11th!

Have a lovely weekend!

Best Wishes and Blessings,

Amanda

Sharing this post with these fun link parties:
Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Link Party at Shades of Amber

Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Inspiration Friday at The Pickett Fence

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Home

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense

Furniture Feature Friday at Miss Mustard Seed

Random Pretties, Charming Accessories and an Upcoming Project

Hello, dear friends!  How is your week going so far?

I am enjoying absolutely every single rosebud in my garden this month!  I am not one to leave them on the bush...maybe just a few but most of them I bring inside to enjoy or share with friends!

We have this funny little alcove above our refrigerator that I have always struggled with filling.  As it turns out, it is a great place to dry roses.  Here I have them hanging from an old, bare lampshade.  Next to it is a wooden crate from an Underwood Typewriter that someone painted a lovely shade of green at one time or another.  I just put my bunnies inside of the crate today and I think they are sweet there...for the time being.

I keep seeing this tiered basket pop up on Pinterest!  Someone has one identical to mine that they have cleverly filled with wooden stamps.  This one floats around our kitchen and though it almost always holds napkins, I have fun adding other little things as well.  It makes for a sweet and very useful accessory.

I had fun putting together a few little accessories for the shop today!  I feel like I have been so focused on furniture lately that my space has been lacking those pretty little odds and ends that add so much charm.

I was so excited to add a pair of these unique, Victorian folding chairs to my space this evening!  I must thank my friend, Jennifer for bringing them to my attention!  They are really pretty and in such good condition for their age!

I just love the delicate carving and pretty little spindles!  The needlepoint seats are beautifully done as well.

Here is a peek at an upcoming painting project awaiting beautification in our garage!  I hope to get started on it soon, but I have a feeling it will be put on the back burner because it is one piece that I am planning to keep for myself.  I have big plans for it as we undergo a major living room redo...more to come on that!

Please be sure to check out my giveaway! 

A lucky winner will be announced on Monday, June 11th!

Thank you for your sweet visit!

Have a wonderful week!

Best Wishes and Blessings,

Amanda

Sharing this post with these fun link parties:
White Wednesday at Faded Charm
Wow us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
THT at From My Front Porch to Yours
Creative Things Thursday at The Vintage Farmhouse

Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Inspiration Friday at The Pickett Fence

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Home

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense