Lil' Painted French Sign - Before & After

Hello!

We recently took down those ugly 80's Hollywood lights that wrapped around our kitchen above the cupboards...You know them - those nasty fluorescent lights.  With a blank slate I decided I'd like something to hang over the bulkhead. 

I had an interesting piece that sat atop an old dresser which I wasn't using.  I loved the details and the scale was just right. So I went to work on it.  Here is the after

This was how it started out....not bad right?

I first gave it a few coats of "Bon Voyage" (a really pretty blue)

I sanded inbetween, roughed it up and placed packing tape randomly along the entire piece and pulled it off while the paint was still tacky which gave a nice weathered, chippy, peeling effect. 

I decided on "Cafe de Provence" for the lettering since I love anything French :)

I spaced it out on my computer and printed it out.  I did the old trick of penciling out the back and tracing over the letters to transfer it to the wood.  Finished it up by painting the letters with.....

Don't laugh...

A SHARPIE MARKER!  The horror (lol).  There is no way my steadiness, let alone my patience would have allowed me to use a fine brush.

xoxo

Linked up to:

www.funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com

http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/

http://www.shabbynest.blogspot.com/

My Favourite Gifts

This year I received some pretty awesome gifts from my family...thought I would share a few with you...

I was so hoping to get a fragrance lamp from "Lampe Berger Paris".  Me and my Mom were on the same page - I gave her one as a gift and she gave me one.  So many scents to choose from I picked up "Green Apple" it really does work - filled the house with the crisp, clean smell of fresh green apples in a matter of a few minutes.
Do you have a favourite scent?

Another wonderful surprise was the iPad I received from my Husband...too funny because it's what I also got for him.

I had seen Diane Keaton on Ellen DeGeneres a little while back and she was talking about her book "Then Again" it's an autobiography and a story about her Mother and the countless journals she wrote throughout her life.  Great gift from my Daughter Gina...can't wait to get into this book.

A little bit of old school...my Son Frankie hit a homerun with this retro rotary phone knowing I have wanted one for some time.



I have to say as amazing as all the gifts were, my greatest moment of the day was going down the street to my Daughters house in our pajamas - no hair - no makeup before my beautiful grandaughter Madison woke up so we could see her excitement Christmas morning.

xoxo

Hoping everyone had a wonderful Christmas

xoxo

   

 

The Steven and Chris Show

SO EXCITED !!!

My awesome daughter Gina went online a few weeks ago and secretly got 3 tickets to the Steven and Chris Show.  Don't you love these guys?  We are going into Toronto tomorrow morning - Me, my daughter and my Mom - The three of us will have a blast.  I'll be sure to update with some photos and maybe one of Stevens fab DIY projects.

xoxo

 

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Before and After ::: From Worn Church Pew to Best Seat in the House

My ex told me about a bench in a little antique shop in Utica. So on Saturday morning my husband took a ride with me to check it out. I've been wanting a bench for my dining room it seems - forever. When we got there - the one we specifically went to see was all spindles and totally uncomfortable to sit on. Discouraged, we toured the rest of the shop. Then...tucked in a little hallway I saw it. A gorgeous little church pew just waiting to be discovered.

   It was coming home with us.  We lifted it into the Jeep and tied it down.  I couldn't wait to get home and get started!  After digging out the paint, running out for new brushes, hitting a local craft show with my daughter, I lost steam and my husband took over the painting and finished it all (gotta love him). 

I hit the computer and started to search out some appliques.  I found these on Ebay and within the week they were at my front door.  I didn't have any clamps so I glued them on and taped them down to set. 

My daughter came by and said it looked like a pile of cheerios!  I had faith :)

After putting on two coats of paint I stood back and thought - This is the best seat in the house!

Oh yeah...see the white streak on the plum coloured wall to the left?  That's the start of a white wall makeover underway.  Decided to paint the entire house white....YIPPEE!

Updated photo after painting the walls white :)

Linked to...

xoxo

The Inspiration Bug Has Bitten Again

Well where has the time gone???  Last thing I remember, I was getting ready to be a Grandmother and here it is 14 months later!  Lot's has happened in that time, my subway signs are doing fabulous on Etsy and I've been busy with everything EXCEPT my home. 

I recently came across a house for sale - completely by chance.  It was actually a random email from my local Facebook Marketplace. Well I jumped right in the car and headed over to the real estate agents office and within 20 minutes I was walking through the door of who I would later come to find out was blogger "Just Beachy" Chris Kaufmann's perfect lil' abode.

To say it was love at first sight would be an understatement! Here are some photos for you to drool over...

I had no idea that this was her home, I never knew the owner was a blogger it was just a fluke...and so inspiring.  I did go back a second time with my husband and he actually loved it too.  We have debated, listed the pros and the cons and have decided to stay put and transform our home.  After all, Chris's home was a newer build and I think I read on her blog somewhere that "beach living is a state of mind".

So I am back!
I WILL change my space to reflect the cottage charm I have loved for so long and...
I WILL be inspired by all the talented women in blogland.  Looking forward to catching up on all I have missed.

My first project will be to make over an awesome little church pew I recently purchased at an antique store in Utica (pictures coming up).


By the way...here is a picture of my beautiful Granddaughter, Madison...my sunshine and joy.

xoxo