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Alicia's Charming Craft Cottage

Last year, I had the wonderful opportunity to work with my lovely friend, Alicia, transforming her craft cottage into a space that is not only functional but a showcase for her fabulous collection of vintage finds, scrapbook materials and supplies.  I've often shared that I have a love for interior design, organizing, and creating beautiful spaces so every so often I take on a huge project that I know will be rewarding in the end!

Let me take you on a little tour of the before and after ~ We have yet to celebrate with a proper photo shoot to show you just how amazing it all turned out but I did snap some shots along the way.  

As you can see, Alicia was like many of us who start buying things we love but inevitably end up not really having a plan of where to put everything.  In hopes of tackling the chaos, we often put up tables, buy shelving and invest in trendy storage solutions but after a while the "stuff" takes over the space and we are left overwhelmed.

Our creativity can be paralyzed by this and we feel lost trying to find that perfect piece of paper or stamp we know we bought last month.  Duplicate buying ensues and we end up not wanting to create in our space at all. 

I'm showing you all these pictures to show that there is hope for even the most avid collectors to have a beautiful place to create in where you have access to all your prized possessions.  It just takes a plan you can live with and keep on top of as you craft and collect. 

Alicia and I met initially and went over all her hopes and dreams for her craft cottage.  She had some lovely furniture pieces and an amazing space so we were well on our way.  She also has a wonderful husband who helped each step of the way. I shared with her my divide and conquer plan, the need for her to be on board, we had a ceremonial handshake over a tape runner and we were on our way!  Here are a couple pictures throughout the process ~

We measured, we moved furniture, we recycled, we sorted, we gave away to charity, we reminisced over lost treasures now found and kept moving forward.  At first, Alicia felt concerned that it would never come together, but as soon as we started I could tell there was hope in her voice.  Just that first day felt good.  We were going to create something fabulous!

Drum roll please. . . Here are the pictures of her finished cottage all set up for a dear friends baby shower.  There was actually enough room for Alicia add in a set of tables so the girls could create pages for a baby album and spend time in her dream world.

I know the pictures don't do it justice but doesn't it just make you smile?  I go right to my happy place when I see these photos and want to head over there for a craft session.  

I thought I would share a couple of my suggestions that I always keep in mind when tackling a new space ~

1. Organization can be beautiful and in keeping with your tastes.  You don't need to put stickers in plastic holders.  Be creative ~ find a vintage piece at a flea market or thrift store that will work with your items. Paint it if you have to breathe new life into it.  We put many of Alicia's supplies into vintage suitcases we purchased at flea markets that added not only to the look of the room but were functional too.  

If there is no way around the plastic storage route, you can always hide them out of site as well.  We organized all of her scrapbook paper and coordinating elements into themes and put them in these cabinets with glass doors.  The plastic organizers don't look quite as unattractive behind doors.

Alicia has a HUGE collection of rubber stamps. We took them all out of their plastic containers and put them in this amazing printer's cabinet she and her husband found. She also has a love for vintage charlottes and doll heads which we put into glass apothecary jars.

2. If you love to collect then show off your treasures and let them become part of your decor. Display items together for a bigger impact.  Even if you just have a handful of anything, arrange them in a pleasing vignette and they will look all the more sweeter such as these porcelain dolls and tins.  Basically, where I'm going is USE everything in your space to make it more beautiful.  It reflects your tastes and what makes you happy. 

3. If you don't have the budget for something new then get creative. Alicia had this really comfortable office chair that she enjoyed crafting in, however, it was a huge eyesore in the room. 

Instead of going out and purchasing her another expensive chair, we had this existing one covered with the perfect shabby fabric we just happened to come across in our sorting phase.  Simple, less costly ideas like this leave you with the funds to use on more special pieces like the printer's cabinet for example.

We also had a large farm table built for Alicia you see in the pictures.  You will find many talented artisans at the flea markets that can make you a piece to your exact specifications.  We had a large piece of acrylic cut for the top as well to preserve the surface.

4. Break your space into sections based on your interests.  I like to call them "stations". This works well if you have a large space or not.  My craftroom is actually quite small but it still is applicable.  Whereas some might have room for a cabinet of jewelry making supplies, I dedicate a few drawers to mine. 

5. Lastly, if you can't afford the help of a professional, bring a friend in to look at your space with a fresh eye.  Think about changing the focal point of the room.  Think about flipping the orientation of furniture for a cleaner look too.  We switched the couch and work desk in Alicia's room so when you walked in the door you saw the comfy sitting area and not a desk that as we all know can tend to get messy.  

Of course, it helps make the time go more quickly if you have the cutest helper ever like Alicia's sweet daughter (snapped this one quickly on my iPhone so it's a bit blurry). Knowing that she has a place to play now and learn to be artistic next to her Momma is just the best feeling!

If you live in the Los Angeles area and have a space that you'd like to tackle, you can email me at kimallistair@aol.com and we can see if we can turn your room into something worthy of a dream too!

 

 

 

Isn't It Romantic. . .

Last year, I had the pleasure of being introduced to Meryl Schoenbaum, the executive editor of Romantic Homes, by my friend, Jenelle.  While Meryl and I didn't have very long to chat, I immediately felt comfortable with her and hoped that our paths would cross again in the future.  SO, you can only imagine my huge smile when she called me and asked if I would like to be featured as one of the magazines "Romantics" in their February issue! Me? Really?

I have been a long time groupie of this magazine since many moons ago ~ long before I was a crafter, long before I hosted events.  I have always had a keen interest in home decor and remember perusing the pages every month in awe. To be featured in this publication is really such an honor for me.  It's one of those items you want to put on your bucket list but hesitate. You know?

I feel so lucky that I could share a bit about myself, why I started hosting events and my passionate feelings about bringing women together to create. Honestly, it's never been about the money to me (shhhh, don't tell my husband) or being "known" or even wanting a piece of "fame" that can be so enticing to some. It's simply about bringing women together to help them form life long friendships that are nuturing. We all need that no matter how famous, no matter how much money we have, and no matter how beautiful we might be. It's the stuff on the inside that matters. We are all imperfect and deserve to be embraced for all that we are.

So I am grateful and blessed to be able to share this with you in such a heartfelt issue of such a beautiful magazine.  Thank you Jenelle for the lovely introduction, Meryl for your interest in me and Tiffany for capturing such lovely pictures of what I love!

 

Begin the New Year Collaging (How To). . .

If your household is anything like mine, you tend to be really tough on high surfaces ~ tabletops, countertops ~ you name it.  Anyplace that is prime real estate to throw a back pack, put a coffee cup, color, use sharpies (ahem), you get the picture.  

For some time now, I've been obsessed with covering these areas when they are beyond help with vintage papers, music paper, scrapbook paper and vintage wallpaper.  It's such an easy fix and actually adds to the decor of your room. Back in 2008, I covered Kate's desk with my favorite Foofala papers and I've been going strong ever since!

Our kitchen island had been sorely in need of a pick me up ~ we don't prepare food on it but use it as a catchall for this popular gathering area.  It's an old Crate and Barrel table we have had for a good 10 years now.  I painted it a few years ago but the top just hasn't done well.  I probably didn't seal it properly so there was fading, cracks and peeling.  What better way to begin the new year than get out that music paper and go for it!

If you've been thinking about covering anything with paper, here's my process.  You will need:

1. Your favorite papers

2. Mod Podge (I use the matte finish)

3. A cheap foam brush

4. A paper plate for your glue

5. A bowl of warm water

6. A roll of paper towels or rag

Clean off the surface you are covering with a damp rag.  I don't sand or do any other prep.  While the surface is drying, you will want to cut your papers.  I like to cut all the empty sides off my music paper or any words. Cut the papers using a trimmer or you could tear them too.  Just make different sizes ~ some wide, some long ~ make rectangles, squares to keep it interesting.  You will want to cut quite a few depending on the size of your surface.  You can always cut more and adjust the sizes along the way as needed.

I start in the top corner and just wing it (that says a lot given I'm a Virgo!). You will want to first put a layer of Mod Podge on the tabletop and then (here's the trick to no wrinkles) dip your paper into the bowl of water before placing it on top of the glue.

I dip both sides of the paper in the water and then shake it a bit getting as much excess water off.  Put in on your surface and you will be able to slide it a bit into position.

I then dab it with a damp paper towel to get most of the layer of pooled water off.  Dab don't drag.  You know ~ lightly dab, dab, dab.  You may get some color from the paper on your towel ~ this is ok, as long as you don't drag the towel and distort the image. Use your fingers to lightly push out from the center of the paper any bubbles or wrinkles.  If you get a particularly unruly piece you can even use your fingernail to carefully pull up the side and put it back in place.  The dampness of the paper will make this flawless.  Keep this process up for the rest of your surface until it is covered.

I keep checking back as I go and check for variations.  You can keep lightly smoothing the papers as they will take some time to completely dry.  You will want to squeeze out your foam brush if it starts getting drippy with a lot of water and glue.  Toss your paper towels when they get too wet too.  The goal is a nice damp surface to work on not a pool of water and glue.

When you get to your last corner you may want to do a little planning for the sizes of your paper to make sure you don't end up with a tiny spot left to cover.  After the whole table is covered, I paint the entire surface with a couple coats of Mod Podge ~ waiting a bit in between coats for them to dry.

It will look shiney like this and you will be able to see the brush strokes.  That is ok ~ it will dry and you won't see a thing.  Magic. . .  I let my table dry over night.  In the morning, I had a little spot that lifted so I just added a little Mod Podge underneath and let it dry.  

Once it was completely dry, I painted two coats of clear satin finish (recommended to me by Karla Nathan ~ the Queen of painting). 

Voila! A beautiful new table for the New Year!!

(Excuse the holiday decor ~ I always lose out to my husband and kids as to the amount of time we keep up our decor. I do believe it would be year round if I didn't remove it when they go back to school!)

A couple other tips ~

If you are using paper with words, make sure to check what they say BEFORE glueing them down.  I used a Sear Roebuck Catalog on our kitchen desk and look at an ad for Herb Laxative Tea daily.

On all of our desk surfaces, I have a sheet of acrylic cut for on top of the collaged papers.  You can still see the beautiful papers but won't ruin them since our desks see a lot of pen and crayon use!

If you are concerned about gluing anything on to your desks, you can simply use double stick tape and then place the acrylic on top.  It will all stay in place and if you ever sell the piece you can just remove the papers.  Or maybe even change them up some day if your tastes change too!

Happy Collaging!!

 

 

 

Happy Holiday Wishes. . .

On this Christmas Eve, I want to wish my dear friends and family all the joy of the holiday season as we celebrate this very special evening. This is when I take a big breath and remind myself that there will always be more to do but the true meaning of the holidays is remembering the blessings of another year together with loved ones, whether near or far.

I am so thankful for so many special people in my life who understand me even in those ugly moments. This has been an incredible year of learning for me ~ ups and downs with my father's health, difficult news about my baby girl, some misunderstandings with friends and business challenges were just a few opportunities to grow and come out with a new and stronger perspective. It isn't always easy but when surrounded by those that love you anything is possible.

Thank you so much for continuing to visit here and inspire me to keep creating and hosting occasions for lovely crafty women to come together. Whether your year has been smooth sailing or met with choppy weather, I want to extend my sincere wishes for all the best that life has to offer in the New Year. I hope 2013 blesses you and your loved ones with health and happiness, that friends embrace you through thick and thin and kindness shines from your heart. . .

 

"I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys."  

                                                                      ~Charles Dickens

Wonderland Swap Magic. . .

One of my favorite parts of every Affaire are the creative swap exchanges. Every time I think the girls have outdone themselves and it couldn't possibly get any more incredible, they prove me wrong EVERY TIME! Since it was the holidays, I stretched myself as thin as you can get and joined in a bunch of the exchanges. SIX total! It was madness! I couldn't stop myself!

Every year I host an ornament exchange for those girls attending our holiday get together. It began when I attended Silver Bella years ago and has continued since then. We come up with some new colors each time but it has always stayed in the muted tones. I actually have a 6' tree that we put up in our family room that holds all these handmade treasures. It is my most favorite tree. The ladies created the most amazing ornaments ~ it makes me sigh with happiness.  I made the sweet birdcage in the center continuing my obesssion with bleaching wee trees.

I also participated in Cheryl Stoneham's The Stockings Were Hung By The Chimney With Care Swap.  We embellished a stocking in the color and theme of our partner and filled it with all things vintage and delicious.  My girlie was Charlene Gray ~ it was such fun to spoil her.  

I packaged all her goodies in an old vintage suitcase ~ you know the wrapping is almost as important as the contents!

Sherry Williams created a stocking for me.  It was spectacular!  She filled it with the most lovely treasures.  My heart was seriously pounding when I opened it.  The beautiful decorations on the front of the stocking are so special from the vintage tree, angel and gorgeous buttons and bling.

Terry Frias hosted a Comforts of Winter Glove and Sock Swap.  Those tall socks you wear with boots are all the rage right now so we stichted and decorated like crazy women.  My partner was Andrea Villarreal. I know she loves everything girlie so I had a vintage pillow case turned into a pouch with her initials to put her goodies in. Mine are in the first picture and hers to me are in the last. Funny, you could interchange what we made and not even know it. Our tastes are very similar!

Denise Hahn hosted a Winter Wonderland Globe Swap.  We each purchased the same globe and decorated it in our own holiday style. We then participated in a lively swap where we picked a number and stole globes from each other. My globe went home with Andrea. I'm madly in love with these sweet Lefton figurines. Innocense and charm all in one. I ended up with the sweetest globe from Roxie that is all red, whites and sugarplum fabulousness.

Susan Shintaku hosted a Winter Wonderland Wreath Exchange.  Tashia Jacques was my partner.  Her favorite colors are blues and browns so I was a bit out of my comfort zone since you know I'm a pinkie girl.  I think she was really happy though.  She wanted bling and sparkle so that was my goal! I received a beautiful wreath from Shawn Street that actually lights up. All creams and natural goodness.

Lastly, I was in Cynthia Flores's I {Heart} Me a Bling Phone Cover Swap. My partner was Cindy Craine. I have to tell you that I have a secret crush on Cindy ~ I dare say I haven't met someone with as big a heart as she has. She is beyond darling ~ the real deal. I know she LOVES kittys and bling so I set about covering her case with everything shiny and fabulous (pictured below right). I packed her cover and a sweet kitty figurine in a vintage lingerie bag. The amazing cover she created for me is pictured on the top right. Could you just gasp? Believe it or not, I've been using it for a couple weeks now and it is still intact.  That girl knows her E6000!

I had two very unexpected surprises involving handmade goodness at Winter Wonderland when Tara Wilson and the fabulous ladies in her A Winter's Snow Ornament Swap gifted me with one of their lovely holiday trees! Each of the 12 ladies made a cream toned ornament which they shipped to Tara. Tara then created these over the top holiday trees. She wired each one in place, made the sweet tree topper, laced each one with vintage beads and rhinstone and wrapped the bases in burlap and lace. They are beyond everything made with love.

Then as if that wasn't exciting enough, Andrea and her sweet Vintage Lace & Button Swap ladies gifted me with a HUGE assortment of laces, trims and buttons. These girls are so talented ~ vintage buttons placed in salt shakers, laces wrapped around cards, Suzette even wrapped her trims around a huge candy cane. It was amazing and I do believe I will be bathing in lacey goodness for years! 

So much loveliness to bring home and place around in special places reminding me of our memorable time together. I am so blessed and grateful. . .

 

 

 

 

 

Winter Wonderland Memories. . .

It's hard to believe but my last Affaire for 2012 came and went in the blink of an eye! I must say though that I can't think of a better way to end the year other than with such a fabulous group of lovely ladies.  

This Affaire was much less structured than those in the past ~ we kept it small and focused on crafting, swapping art, chatting, being together and SHOPPING!  And oh how we shopped ~ through rain and rainbows of sunshine we went to some of my most favorite spots for treasures!  

As always, I had such fun emmersing myself in the details.  Get ready for lots of decor and giftie pictures ~ you know I love to give!  It was all about bottle brush trees, mason jars, glass glitter, burlap, silvers, whites and creams. I am still cleaning glitter off the floors and counters in my home.  Each sweetie received a glass glittered box of laces and trims and the sweetest mason jar with our Affaire darling inside.

Of course, the goodies didn't stop there ~ we had to have fluffy white lap blankets to keep us warm while we looked through gifts from some of my generous sponsors.  I just can't say thank you enough for their endless support.  I know that sponsoring is a great way to get the word out about one's business, however, I believe most of these talented ladies continue to contribute as a thank you too. * See the end of this post for all their glorious links.

A most special shout out though to my friend, Cynthia Vartanian, who makes us the perfect handmade chocolate creation for EVERY Affaire.  I do believe she has a mold for every occassion you can think of and even used edible glitter on her snowflakes! However, we are still working on her for a website or blog but you can reach her at cynthia.vartanian@ubs.com, if you are ever in need of chocolate fabulousness!

Pretty handmade altered pillow case covers adorned each chair. . .

and sweet mason jars filled with bleached bottle brush trees were the centerpieces.

I dressed up Lola once again for the occassion in her fancy crinoline and sparkly flowers.  She greeted ladies and directed them to silver foil trees decorated with table assignment ornaments.

My latest obsession this year has been candy bar buffets.  I just can't get enough of them and neither can the girls it appears.  There will jars filled to the brim with everything wrapped in silver foil, chewy, spicey and sugary.

Such fun was had by all in our Wonderland sanctuary.  Wait until you see the art swaps! They were out of this world.  Stay tuned. . .

Thank you to the loveliest group of sponsors ~

Ancient Queen Designs

Broke Jewels

Colleen Moody Designs

Cynthia Vartanian

Farm Girl Bella

Gilding the Lily

In My Blue Room

Jeanne Oliver Designs

JoDee's Inc

Eloise of Junk Fairy

Karla's Cottage

Lisa Loria Designs

Lulu Max Jewelry

MammabellArte

Moss Hill Studio

Pansy Cottage Garden

The Polka Dot Pixie

Robin Dudley Howes Designs

Simply Me Art 

Sweet Eye Candy Creations

The Tragic Queen

Whatever Lola Wants Lola Gets

 

An Enchanted Affaire

Growing up on her family's farm in Arkansas, Carol Spinski learned the beautiful art of arranging every day elements to enhance her surroundings. A talent for design assembly was forged from those early childhood experiences on the family farm which echoes in the work she does today. Carol’s career path as a Photographer and Editorial Stylist has been a natural progression that has allowed her to share her inspiration with others. She is the Co-owner of Raised In Cotton, a business featuring vintage prop rentals, event production and decor in a century old farmhouse just outside of Kansas City, Missouri. Carol’s signature style is romantically atmospheric, multilayered and textural, flavored with the vintage aesthetic she adores. She and her work have been featured in Artful Blogging, Somerset Life, Romantic Country Magazine, Romantic Homes Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens and 2010 Somerset Life Calendars. Most recently the circa 1865 farmhouse that she and her husband decorated and renovated was featured in the book Romantic Prairie Style. Carol is especially devoted to helping mentor Women that aspire to achieve their own creative dreams. In 2011 she established GoodStella.com a website that is a gathering of kindred spirited creatives who use their collective voices to inspire each other. Her hope for the Good Stella community is that everyone will forever Dream * Create * Shine and in doing so will reach for the stars!

Julie Nutting began drawing fashion figures when she was about nine years old. She grew up in an era of the first really fabulous fashion doll clothes. It was a time when doll clothes were exact replicas of Dior coats and Balenciaga gowns. Zippers were real and buttons were of the tinest proportions. When she couldn't have the clothes she wanted for her dolls. she simply made them from her Mom's pretty pastel hankies or fabric scraps headed for the trash bin. This led to a lifelong love of fashion illustration, design and sewing.

Julie lives in sunny California with her husband and two kids, who happen to be dogs. They have an appetite for travel and gardening. When she's not busy creating, you can find her outside playing in the dirt year round growing an abundance of vegetables, herbs and flowers. Julie's work has been featured in Somerset Studios and Cloth, Paper Scissors magazines. Her book, Collage Couture, has been a best seller in the craft category worldwide. Her second book is due out in 2014 as well as a much anticipated product line in January 2013. She has been teaching for three years and is currently an educator with Prima Marketing. You can learn more about Julie by following her Blog. 

Karla Nathan's art has had major shifts over the years ~ beginning as a water colorist focusing on florals and portraits and then traveling the country as a muralist and painting hotels, day care centers and private homes. However, she was always drawn to a more vintage style and soon she was transferring her painting from walls to old furniture which blossomed into a thriving anitique business in her home. While at auctions buying furniture, she found herself attracted to boxes of crumbled ephemera, soft petals of millinery, tubs of yellowed linens, delicate lace and other vintage lovelies. After hauling scaffolding around for years as a muralist and loading vans full of furniture, it was a joy to have a lightweight passion!

No matter what medium has intrigued Karla throughout her lifetime, she's always had the same aesthetics and "pretty" was her goal. She will always be drawn to the look of flowers and all things pretty. Karla's work has been featured in over 50 publications from Better Homes and Gardens Paint Decor and Romantic Homes to many of the Somerset magazines. She lives in Lawrence, Kansas with her husband and darling yorkie pups in a home surrounded by her trademark style and paintings. She spends much of her time as a doting grandma. You can read more about Karla by following her Blog.

Lesa Dailey was always encouraged to create things from an early age. From clothespin dolls to inventive accessories, imagination seemed to abound in her childhood. A love for all things vintage found her enjoying the thrill of the hunt in flea markets and little out of the way antique shops. There always seems to be something singing with inspiration to her. The need to pull character out of ordinary and everyday things such as a roll of crepe paper or styrofoam lends fuel to the flame for her love of creating.

Lesa has been a designer and photostylist for many years for her friend, Renee Nanneman who she has been creating patterns and new mediums within the world of fiber for her Renee's company, Need'l Love Company. She is also a licensed designer for Bethany Lowe Designs where you can purchase many of her inspirational assemblages featuring crowns and birds. Lesa lives in a little cottage home in the Kansas City area where art thrives. Enjoying her family and meeting new friends always inspires. 

Natalie Hansen is a mixed media artist residing in Lodi, CA. She shares her home with her adorable furr-child, Finn, a sweet wire haired terrier. Her home is filled with colorful, and sometimes quirky art, including a vintage pedal car fire truck, which she keeps on the mantel in honor of her husband, Joe.

From paper arts and painting, to creating jewelry, creativity has been a part of her life since she was a small child. Having spent the last few years dealing with life changing issues, she loves to include inspirational words and sayings in all her art when she can. You can learn more about Natalie on her Website.

Denise Hahn is a mixed media artist and crafter from Long Beach, California. She has always loved creating and gets her creativity from her Mom and Grandmother. They're inspiration included elaborately decorated packages under the Christmas tree along with handmade decorations. They were also avid sewers and made amazing Halloween costumes. Denise was always in awe of what these two women could create and soon started joining them. But somehow she lost sight of creating and for many years let it slip away. Then she was introduced to scrapbooking by a friend and never looked back.

Denise considers herself a crafter of all trades; she does paper crafting, mixed media, altered art and jewelry. She is always looking to learn new things. Currently, Denise spends her time teaching workshops and creating for the Graphic 45 Design Team and Clearsnaps Creative Team. Her work has been featured in Jewelry Affaire and Somerset publications, and coming soon to Romantic Homes. She lives with her husband and their two lovable pit bulls, Juno and Pipi. When she is not crafting, Denise plays roller derby (her Derby name is Crafty of course!), biking and skiing in Colorado.  You can follow her Blog here.

A Bedroom Corner Makeover. . .

Yes, it's true ~ I still have my wonderful Drexel Heritage bedroom furniture from when I was 12 years old!  Of course, I'm not divulging exactly how old I am now but I can tell you that I've held on to these sturdy pieces from my childhood for a VERY long time.  Actually when I think about my age, it's a bit depressing so let's move on shall we?

I've tossed around the idea of purchasing new (well, really really old vintage) pieces for the bedroom but I just haven't been able to let this furniture go.  On the one hand, it is really great quality ~ the kind you don't find anymore and on the other hand, it is from my childhood. Two win wins. So when my friend Karla Nathan offered last December to show me how to refinish it I was in!  We worked late into the evening repainting both of the end tables and this summer I moved on to the Armoire.  It's really the biggest piece in the 5 piece set and it's been looking at me for 7 months now saying "JUST PAINT ME"!

These first pictures are all on Instagram since my iPhone is my go to toy when I'm in the middle of being creative. I'm sort of in love with Instagram ~ it makes everything look cool. I decided to paint the armoire using the same process we did for the end tables ~ Glidden's primer mixed with Martha Stewart's Glass of Milk at Home Depot.  It's such a great way to paint because you eliminate any need for sanding and a base coat of primer.  It's all mixed in!  Unfortuantely, you can only mix in lighter tones which is something to keep in mind if your trying to avoid the primer step.  I also knew that I wanted to decopage the panels with vintage music paper so I didn't waste any time painting those.

I am really pleased with the end result. Such a huge difference and I still get to know inside that these have been in my family for a very long time.

Here were the steps broken down ~ 1. clean your piece of furniture well, 2. apply three coats of paint (I needed a lot to cover the walnut stain) allowing to dry between coats, 3. decopage the panels with music paper, 4. sand edges to give it a distressed feel, 5. apply tinted glaze with a paintbrush and rub in with a damp towel, and 6. seal with a top coat. Karla (aka the Queen of Painting) has TONS of tutorials on her Blog if you're thinking of repainting your own pieces too. My biggest piece of advice would be NOT to wait too long before letting your coats of paint dry if you intend on sanding ~ it is really hard once this primer base is set to sand through it. It can be done but takes a lot of elbow grease.

I wanted to share a close up of a couple spots in my sweet little corner redo ~ one is this picture of my kids taken ages ago. I honestly am not a big fan of staged pictures but at some point all us parents give in to the pressure of dressing our kids up in clothing they will never wear again. My favorite part of this portrait though is the memories it holds ~ I'll never forget Kate running around the shop with this sweet garland in her hair refusing to sit for the picture. I'll never forget how patient Dylan was (completely abnormal for him at that age by the way) and how every time we got her just to almost sit he would immediately perk up for the camera (I'm sure I must have promised him the largest Lego set ever). I'll never forget how stressed it all made me and how ultimately pictures of them rolling around in the snow dirty as could be would be far more valuable to me in the long run.

And then these two sweeties ~ if you know me well, you know I love dollies so very much. The large china doll I found at a flea market and the wee one I made during a class with the fabulous Joanna Pierotti, who I believe may love dolls just a smidge more than me if that's possible. I must say it's so wonderful to have a new happy place. . .

 

 

An Enchanted Affaire

A Little Bit Rustique. . .

Every so often, I love to host a workshop at home. It brings back memories of starting the events here many moons ago. It's where many of our friendships began and always feels so special sharing a bit of my world. Denise has been a dear friend of mine for some time now. I have watched her talent and artistic shine grow and grow for a while now. It seems every aisle of Home Depot, piece of scrappy paper, embellishment and technique is turned into something fabulous under her touch.

I have been loving all the beautiful birdcages lately with sparkly chandeliers inside them so after seeing a birdcage hanging from the ceiling in Andrea's home, Denise and I got to scheming. Under Denise's amazing creativity a class was born ~ Rustique Birdcage. Denise went over the top with the most amazing class kits I've ever seen. Painting wine coolers and then filling them with all the class components was simply ingenious.

If you know me, I love nothing better than a wonderful theme to get my creative juices flowing. I can't seem to not have a workshop, event or affaire without something special to take home so I made each of the girls a necklace to take home. I fell in love with these sweet wire birdcages and porcelain birds from Jessie's Etsy Shop. Add some crystals, rosary chain, pearls, buttons and some fine finagling to get that birdie into her cage, a momento was created.

Along with a sweet mason jar planted with some succulents and the girls were set. Speaking of mason jars ~ I know, I know, they are everywhere but seriously I'm still obsessed. They are such an inexpensive purchase and readily available everywhere in some fun size or shape. My local hardware store even has them!

Even Target is carrying these huge over sized mason jars ~ perfect for sun tea or a centerpiece as I've used it here.

Add some smaller arrangements on each side and you have the perfect set up for a long rectangle table.

It was such a wonderful day of painting, wiring, glittering, rolling flowers, decorating and "lunching". Each of us brought our own style to the project and turned a very clean table into a crafting paradise.

I worked on my birdcage after class adding some vintage music paper to the hanging chandy, buttons along the burlap liner and some more leaves making it a bit more like me.

It was a great day! Thanks to Denise and a wonderful group of ladies. . .