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