Floral Memories and Wrapped up Paint Projects

 

If you follow me on Facebook, you might recognize these photos I shared not long ago of the bundles of roses I hung to dry on our breakfast nook chandelier.

 

 

My Eden roses don't last long outside because I run out and cut them just when they hit this stage of partially open.  Of course I enjoy them in vases around the house, but this is also the ideal stage in which to dry them.

 

 

Dried roses are especially fun to use in Fall décor!

 

 

Just before my parents left their beautiful property and headed South for a new adventure last week (that might be a post for another day!), I had my last chance to enjoy some flowers from mom's garden.  I cut as many blooms as I could and hung them to dry under a patio umbrella I had set up in our garage (I wish I had taken a photo...it was quite a sight.  I am sure any neighbors who peeked in when the garage door was open thought I was quite eccentric!)

 

 

Some of the flowers dried beautifully, others are marginal.  This bunch of peonies and wisteria are my favorite and I really wish I would have cut more of them!  They will definitely be on my wish list for our garden in the future.  I had no idea they would turn out this lovely!

 

 

I will treasure this piece of my mom's beautiful garden...a wonderful keepsake.

 

 

For those of you who visited me at the Chalk Paint® demo at Camas Antiques last Saturday, here is the completed suitcase that I was working on for the demonstration!  Actually, the chair was another piece that I had started during a demo at a previous event.  I guess this week was one for wrapping up unfinished projects!

 

 

I painted the chair in Old Ochre and finished it off with Clear Wax.  The pad I covered with a piece of drop cloth and a crocheted doily found at an estate sale this last weekend.  I love the monochromatic look here with the mix of texture and details.

 

 

I am headed to the shop tonight with these pretty treasures and a few more!  Now that I've wrapped up those projects that were sitting around taking up space in the garage...I can go out hunting for more!

 

Thank you for your sweet visit!

Best Wishes and Blessings,

Amanda

 

 

 

 

Sharing with:

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Home

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Simple, Stately Buffet Makeover

 

You all know I love a dainty piece of furniture and like to make a fuss over the delicate details with my little brushes and a myriad of paint techniques.  This stately buffet practically begged me not to overdo it's makeover.  Sometimes a piece this large needs to be softened, and simplified...and so I pushed aside any ideas of painting out the accents, and decided to really tone things down this time around. 

 

 

I started with two coats of French Linen, with rough, uneven brush strokes to create a rustic effect.

 

When the second coat of paint had completely dried, I applied a wash in Pure White.

 

 

After some light distressing in areas where natural distressing would occur over time, I applied a coat of Annie Sloan's clear wax.

 

 

This lovely buffet along with the gorgeous lamps you see here are available now in my booth at Camas Antiques.

 

 

One of my very favorite pink roses called Ballerina, is a hybrid shrub rose.  I look forward to it's clusters of sweet pink blooms every year!

 

 

In case you've been wondering how in the world I managed to get that mirror to hang so perfectly in the hedge for this photo...I'll let you in on my secret!

 

 

I had a willing and able (and goofy) photo shoot assistant (Thank you, honey!)

...and a few photo editing tricks up my sleeve!

 

Thank you for your kind visit!

 

Have a fabulous day!

 

Best Wishes and Blessings,

Amanda

 

 

 

 

Sharing With:

Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Home

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Furniture Feature Friday at Miss Mustard Seed

Treasure Hunt Thursday at From My Front Porch To Yours

 Friday's Unfolded at Nancherrow