Snowman Chic

 

Good afternoon!  Just a quick post today to share these little wooden snow people I recently painted with ASCP and dressed up in some vintage baubles and lace trim!  I found this set, unfinished at an estate sale and had a lot of fun creating their chic and shabby look.  If I don't find the perfect spot to display them with our Christmas decor, they will make their way to the shop this week.  I am having a hard time parting with them!  The beautiful frame was actually added to my shop space last week.  I just couldn't find an empty wall to hang it!  The snow people were painted in Old White and Paris Grey with a bit of clear and dark wax.  The frame was painted in Paris Grey with Antoinette, Old White and Versailles accents and finished with clear and dark wax.

 

Thank you so much for your sweet visit!

 

Best Wishes and Blessings,

Amanda

Sharing this post with these fun link parties:
 

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
Quite Simply Beautiful Things at Shades of Amber

 

 

Quick and Easy Chalk Paint Washed Pine Cones

Duck Egg Blue and Antoinette Washed Pine cones

 

Search Pinterest for "Painted Pine cones" and you will encounter dozens of beautiful colorful, metallic and sparkly displays.  They are lovely in their natural state of course, but it's fun to put a festive twist on them now and then.  I have been experimenting with a chalk paint "wash" on my pine cone collection this year.  I have my mom and mother in law to thank for the abundance of pine cones I have to work with as they have been gathering them for me in the wooded areas around their homes.

A twiggy basket of freshly gathered pine cones to give you a "before" shot!

 

 

 

I add about a cup of warm water to at least 2 tablespoons of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and give it a good mix to create the "wash."  Add more paint for richer color, less for a more subtle look.  Here, my littlest guy is helping me create some Paris Grey pine cones!  We used an egg separator to dip the pine cones.  This was a fun project for him.  Most of the pine cones I "washed," I actually threw in a gallon sized Ziploc bag with the paint/water mixture.  The dipping method was just more fun for the little guy...somewhat like dying Easter Eggs!

  

 

Once the pine cones soak up the wash, they actually close up until they have completely dried out again.  I found that if I simply layed them out on a drop cloth, it could take a few days for them to fully dry, but placing them on a cookie cooling rack over the heater vent made them dry out and open up much faster.

 

 

Don't they look lovely under glass?  A beautifully simple sign of winter. 

 

 

I especially love the Paris Grey washed cones with a bit of Spanish Moss!

 

 

I created this Topiary with a mixture of Duck Egg and Paris Grey washed pine cones along with Spanish Moss by hot gluing them to a Styrofoam cone.  I am so glad I got a photo of it when I did because someone picked it up just this week.  I am using some of my Chalk Paint washed cones in my own Christmas decor this year.  I hope to share more with you soon!

 

Thank you for your sweet visit today!  Happy Christmas crafting and decorating!

 

Best Wishes and Blessings,

Amanda

 

 

 

Sharing this post with these fun link parties:
 

Wow us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

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
Quite Simply Beautiful Things at Shades of Amber

 

Christmassy Crafting, Painting and Such

 Last weekend was the annual Camas Antiques Holiday Open House.  With a million other things going on, I had to hunker down and work hard to get some Christmassy inventory into my space!  Unfortunately there was just no time to blog amongst all of the crafting, painting, pricing, etc. (not to mention caring for this busy family of 5)!  I did manage to take a few photos to share with you and although I feel like things are not slowing down (tis the season, right?)  I am determined to get a post up today! 

 

 

This fun and fancy tree is made up of Spanish moss (love that stuff!) and Paris Grey and Duck Egg Blue pine cones!  I am working on a chalk painted pine cone tutorial for you!  I have made many things with these pine cones and I am really loving the look, especially the Paris Grey with the Spanish Moss!  Isn't it Frenchy?  I will try to have that tut up for you this week!  It is so easy, and a fun activity to do with kiddos!

 

 

I adore this card I found on Etsy!  I purchased the file so that I could print multiples to use for my Christmas items at the shop...I think I'll use them for gift tags at home too!

 

 

Here is another altered book, painted in Old White and dark waxed before vintage trim and baubles were added to make it special!

 

 

A cute little vintage wooden stand holding more pretties, painted in Old White!

 

 

I made up a couple of these French Christmas signs.  We will be making them at my next Annie Sloan Chalk Paint workshop!  Notice that the background is the old world finish that I used to makeover my Chifforette!

 

 

I painted this arm chair in an Antoinette/Old White mix and then waxed it with a custom French Linen wax!  I was so pleased with the end result.

 

 

 

I ended up using the very same finish on this little vintage chandelier as I did on the chair!

 

 

 My Chifforette made it's debut for at the Holiday Open House!  I wanted it to be the focal point for my display.  I secretly hope it doesn't sell.  It looked so fabulous in my dining room and could just as well hold table linens as it could garments!

 

Thank you for your sweet visit today!  I hope you're having a lovely week!  Do come back next week for that chalk painted pine cone tutorial!

 

Best Wishes and Blessings,

Amanda

 

 

 

Sharing this post with these fun link parties:

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

Furniture Feature Friday at Miss Mustard Seed

Chalk Paint Link Party at Shades of Amber

Inspired Chifforette

 

Something that has stuck with me from Annie Sloan's American Tour Workshop was her stating that her paint was "an artists' paint."  I never really felt like an artist before I painted a piece of furniture with ASCP.  I used to buy a gallon of white paint from our local hardware store and slap coat after coat onto every piece of furniture I could find, and then I would distress it a little here and there.  The end result was good and my furniture usually sold well at the antique store, but I felt so limited in what I could accomplish with that gallon of latex paint.

 

 (source)

 

I keep going back to this image of an old weathered clock on Pinterest!  I love the colors and the texture, and the way it looks as though the paint was rubbed on rather than brushed.  I knew that if this finish could be reproduced, it could be done with chalk paint.

 

 

I will admit that it's not an exact replica of the clock finish, but I think you can see where my inspiration came from.  I used a more muted pallete but aimed for a similar look. 

  

 

I found this dresser on Craigslist a couple of months ago.  According to the label, it is called a "Chifforett."  I had heard of a Chifferobe, bot not a Chifforett.  I am guessing that it is just a smaller version of a Chifferobe which would have had an armoire portion in it for hainging clothes. 

 

I felt like this piece was so unique, and in such good condition that it was worthy of a little something extra, so I splurged and ordered the pretty wreath appliques for the cupboard doors.  They are exact replicas from original antique furniture appliques.

 

The hardware on this piece is so beautiful and I loved the aged patina so well that all I did was clean it up a bit.

 

 

Inside the cupboard doors are two narrow drawers.  I wanted to do something fun with them and I imagined that a Victorian era lady might keep her undergarments in them, so I painted the words "Corsets" and "Pantaloons" on them.  If it was a Chifferobe, the armoire portion might have had lacey crinolines and petticoats hanging in it! 

 

 

I used a combination of Duck Egg Blue with Paris Grey, Paris Grey with Old White and straight Paris Grey followed by clear and dark wax.  In some lights it has a greenish hue and in others it looks more blue/grey.  I was a little frustrated trying to photograph this one as clouds kept moving through the sky, covering the sun and then revealing it again casting such variations of light into the room.  The color of the piece looked so different in each picture.  As it turns out, it looks quite different in person depending on the lighting as well.  I am anxious to hear what you think!  Do you like the variation of colors and the "rubbed on" or is it a "rubbed off" effect?  I am considering teaching this technique in my next workshop.   

 

Thank you for your sweet visit today!  Have a wonderful weekend!

 

Best Wishes and Blessings,

Amanda

 

 

Sharing this post with these fun link parties:

Primp Your Stuff Wednesday at Primp
Creative Things Thursday at The Vintage Farmhouse
Treasure Hunt Thursday 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
Link Party at Redoux
Pearls and Lace Thursday at Faith, Grace and Crafts

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Furniture Feature Friday at Miss Mustard Seed
Potpourri Friday at 2805
Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House

Chalk Paint Link Party at Shades of Amber

Mod Mix Monday at Mod Vintage Life

Romantic Details

I managed to steel away for a few hours this week and visit a few of my favorite thrifts!  Unfortunately I didn't find any fabulous furniture pieces to paint like I had hoped...saw some walking out the door as I was walking in - Bummer!  However, I did pick up a few fun things and finally felt inspired to paint this little old magazine table that had been sitting in the garage for close to a year!

 

I think part of my lack of enthusiasm for this table was the fact that I had painted one just like it once before.  It also has a bit more of an art deco flair than I am usually drawn to.  Nevertheless, small tables sell really well at our store, so I try not to pass them up when the price is right and the condition is decent! 

 

 

I created this light dusty blue (it is really more of a grey blue than the photos show...it is so hard to get a perfect color representation) by mixing Annie Sloan's Paris Grey and Duck Egg Blue.  I used roughly a 50/50 ratio.  I can't tell you how much I love this color!  I wish I could get a really accurate depiction of it for you! 

 

 

 I attempted to give this art deco piece a little bit of a French flair with some stenciling in Paris Grey and Old White.  Add in some romantic accessories and I think it works.

 

 

 One of my thrift store finds this week was this neat wood desk top organizer.  I painted it in a custom mix of Paris Grey and Old White (approx. 50/50).  I like it so well, and I know I will find a place and use for it!  I am trying to justify keeping it...we shall see!

 

 

 Believe it or not, I actually painted a handful of hardback classics in Annie Sloan's Old White and waxed them with both the clear and dark waxes!  I found that it works best to use books with a canvas or matt finish cover and if there is a recessed design in the cover, it makes for a really beautiful effect.  I then added a piece of wide vintage lace, satin rosettes and a vintage earring.  Just for the record, these are not antique books, first editions or anything like that!  This one is a mass produced version of War and Peace...still a classic and now it can not only be read and enjoyed, but set out as a romantic accessory on a coffee table or desk as well.

 

I ordered some beautiful wood appliques last week for a very special furniture piece that is sitting in the garage awaiting transformation!  As soon as they arrive I will get going on the makeover and hopefully have some photos to share with you soon!

 

Thank you so much for your sweet visit today!  Have a wonderful weekend!

 

Best Wishes and Blessings,

Amanda

 

 

 

Sharing this post with these fun link parties:

Primp Your Stuff Wednesday at Primp
Creative Things Thursday at The Vintage Farmhouse
Treasure Hunt Thursday 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
Link Party at Redoux
Pearls and Lace Thursday at Faith, Grace and Crafts

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Furniture Feature Friday at Miss Mustard Seed
Potpourri Friday at 2805
Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House

 Chalk Paint Link Party at Shades of Amber

My Creative Space

 

I've shared a bit here and there about our formal living room and my plans to transform it into a more usable space.   I still have a wish list for this room, and will continue to share updates as things progress, but I am just thrilled to now have a space of my own to collect inspiration and be creative!

 

 

 

It all started with this amazing 8 foot table, built and painted by the husband of the owner of Camas Antiques.  It was in the window display for a couple of weeks and everytime I visited the store, I stared at it, measured it, remeasured and then went home and measured my space, and thought and thought about how perfect it would be.  Finally my mom told me I had better buy it because I would surely never find another like it!  I always listen to my mom's advice.  I ran right back to the store and purchased the giant, beautiful table with ample workspace!  I am so happy I did! 

I then started collecting and painting pieces to store supplies.  Most of these boxes, painted in Antoinette and Old White hold bits of old lace, ribbon and doilies that I use in various projects.

 

 

 

This little desk organizer is filled with pens, scissors, tape and all of those things that are necessary, but not always pretty.

 

 

 

 

 

My tiered wire basket, a thrift store find, holds items I've collected and am in the process of packaging and pricing for my shop space.

 

 

Today I am working on packaging yards of vintage lace for the shop... more on that later!

 

 

 

 

 

I never pass up a metal plate rack.  They are so fun for displaying things other than plates!  This one is quite petite...perfect for miniature mirrors, a pretty coaster and old photos!

 

 

 

Last week I shared my chicken wire inspiration board.  I am enjoying adding pieces to inspire creativity!

 

 

 

Thank you for joining me in my creative space!  When I find a spare moment (usually late at night when the kids are in bed!) I just love sitting here, getting lost in my ideas, sorting through buttons, lace and pretty papers.  It's where I blog, email, Facebook and peruse Pinterest as well!  Speaking of Pinterest, if you want to see more creative spaces, stop by and visit my Pinterest board,

A Room for Creating. 

 I found so much inspiration there as I worked on organizing my own creative studio space!

 

Have a wonderful weekend, my friends!

 

Best Wishes and Blessings,

Amanda

 

 

 

 

Sharing this post with these fun link parties:

Primp Your Stuff Wednesday at Primp
Creative Things Thursday at The Vintage Farmhouse
Treasure Hunt Thursday 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

Furniture Feature Friday at Miss Mustard Seed
Potpourri Friday at 2805
Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound
Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House

Chicken Wire Inspiration Board

 

Some time ago I painted this beautiful frame in Annie Sloan's Versailles and shared the before and after photos here.  It hung empty on the wall for weeks and I stared at it daily waiting for inspiration to strike.  I am not at all opposed to empty frames on the wall, but this one was so large that the vast vacant space was haunting me.

I decided I needed an idea board for my studio space, one where I could collect and display pretty things that would inspire me to create! The frame was perfect. I considered a magnet board and then a fabric ribbon board but had a feeling that either one would compete too much with the detail of the frame. In the garage I found remnants of chicken wire from the French Country Cottage Cupboard. I cut a piece to fit the frame, stapled it to the backside and brushed on some Versailles to hide the shiny silver wire that didn't quite blend with the muted green frame. 

 

I hung my pretty framed inspiration board above my computer and started gathering a few favorite things to display.  Vintage clothespins work perfectly for attaching things to the wire, but old clip on earrings work well too and add some fun glamor! 

 

 

A sweet old photo of three girlfriends.

 

 

A lovely postcard from a dear friend!

 

 

My mother in law just brought me some amazing dahlias from her garden!  I am enjoying a bouquet on the mantle! 

 

My photo tea cards have been selling well at the shop, so I decided to take a few more photos to add to the collection.  Here is a new favorite waiting to be printed and made into a card!

 

Thank you so much for your sweet visit!  Please come back next week for a tour of my formal living room turned craft studio space!  It is almost ready to share!!!

 

Have a wonderful weekend!

 

Best Wishes and Blessings,

Amanda

 

Sharing this post with these fun link parties:

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

Potpourri Friday at 2805