One done!

While trying to find something quickly for a White Wednesday post...I thought I'd show you this:

If you remember in my previous post, I showed all the empty panels waiting to be painted or embellished.

Don't you love that old, chippy, crackled white paint?  It seemed to be calling out for a "Garden Room" touch.

Well...here's ONE down...and many to go. It'll be going in the shop  soon (once it has some friends to go with it and I add the hangers to the back)  All the signs will be different and unique of course.

Sorry my post is so short, but I didn't want to be left out of the "White Wednesday" fun. Thanks Kathleen, for hosting such a beautiful event each week!!!!

Chippy Treasures in the Making

Hello everyone!

I wanted to show you some fabulous old chippy panels that a friend gave me....

These are just right for lettering into a sign.  If you remember...I had three that I had done for the White Tent Event at WCS.

They went like hotcakes...so I'm hoping to do a few more....

 Two of the pieces here are actually from a table...

 But wouldn't they look GORGEOUS on a wall...or a porch...or in a garden? (once I letter them of course)

 Look at the sweet detail on this one

Well...I have a bit of a method to my madness.

I've been wanting to do these for awhile...so I knew if I put them out here in blog land to show you the BEFORE pics...

It would hold me accountable to show you the AFTER pics! 

So.....that being said.... I hope to be able to show you their transformation soon....wish me luck!!

Have a lovely fourth of July weekend everyone!

A Palette of Whites

Been sort of busy so I thought I'd just share some random whites from the shop. Hope you enjoy them. I'm linking up with Kathleen for White Wednesday.

Vintage hat anyone?

Can't wait to jump over to Faded Charm and drool over all the gorgeous whites. See you there!

Dream Houses

A long time between posts...I know.

I've been on a journey of a personal note for awhile now....and when the time is right I will share.  

Well, here I was sitting quietly the other day; contemplating and dreaming about what my perfect house would look like....when lone behold....my son took my pic.  

Don't I look lovely? 

 Well enough of that

 I'm sure you've caught on that this is not really me.........

This is just the woman who actually looks like she'd BELONG in one of my dream homes.... :)

Anyway...here we go.... Come along for my little dream tour...and don't say I didn't warn you....

You're in for a treat!

Isn't this stone cottage fabulous?  The history alone would make me want to move in. Imagine a cup of something hot  while sitting by the fireplace?   Mmmmm

Now this home knocks my socks off. Just look at the roof.... and the grounds are impeccable. This seems to be sitting at the foot of a mountain. Location, Location, Location!!!

I could so imagine myself living in this sweet cottage below.  So feminine and pretty in pink...definitely made my "dream list".

Now, I don't know if this is one large house below or two close together....but that's ok...I'll take both!

Just take in all that architecture for a moment.  I don't think I'd ever go inside...I'd just sit in the tree and stare at it all day!

Another stone cottage which seems to be someplace far away......in my dreams....

Now this...this made my jaw drop and my heart almost stop.  So cozy and comforting at once! Very storybook looking and one of my absolute favorites!

I think Hansel and Gretel may have been prior tenants.

Three beauties on Martha's Vineyard. Nothing like a beautiful beach style home. Sand is welcome!

A little English Cottage...how enchanting. Do you see a theme here?  I'm definitely drawn to the dreamy look.

I could see myself sitting outside tending the gardens and taking long walks on the property. In the evenings I'd sit by candlelight and write my memoir.

Here's another dream house...something about these roofs and flowers give me goose bumps...

Ahhhh...Is it the house I love or the field of flowers?  Pretty sure the house is amazing, but gotta love that property!

Once upon a time, Karen lived in a faraway place in this land of everything sweet and pure. What a place to dream and plan, to live and love. To float down the river on a wee boat.... (and then she woke up)  :)

But....if not there...maybe I could snag this little beauty. Doesn't it beckon you to come right in and stay awhile? The architecture with the stone chimney just takes my breath away.

Yes, this one is different from the rest but to live on the ocean has always been a dream of mine. To breathe in the ocean air and hear the waves rise and fall....perfectly heavenly. To me, the ocean is the most calming place on the planet. 

This house is just sweet enough...something about the color...and again the blooming flowers...sigh!

And lastly, this one made the list, although unusual and different from all the others...

This my friends, has been my home for 20 years. I've raised my children here, made memories, lived, laughed, cried, prayed, and played here. 

Although I'll have to leave here around this time next year, I can honestly say that THIS has been my dream home.

I will always treasure the memories made in this home, and next year even after the last box is packed, the echos and footsteps of my family, of lives well lived, will linger here after we've left.

For now, I will do my best to enjoy this last year in our home.  I will trust that the Lord knows where I'm going and in that I find comfort. 

Whether it's a cottage, a condo, or an apartment....home will be where love is.

The True Meaning of Memorial Day

Let's pause  to remember WHY we celebrate Memorial Day. Thank you to all our soldiers, past, present, & future!

Please turn up the volume when you watch this video from YouTube.  Even though it ends with Happy Veteran's Day...it's most fitting for Memorial Day.

God Bless our armed forces!!!

Thrifty White Wednesday

Just wanted to show off a few of my good deals for White Wednesday...

I snagged this petite wooden chair at a yard sale for $1.00

Yup...just $1.00!  And that's not a crack running down the chair...oh no..that's chippy green paint underneath.

I thought maybe I could use this chair to showcase these treasures I bought on Etsy.

This vintage wicker chair was bought at an estate sale for $30.00.  It's sooo comfy and solid that I just had to keep it for myself.  Did I mention it's quite large?  I put a quilted pillow sham over the cushion purchased at Goodwill for $1.00.

Just look at the arms on this beauty...this side has a built in space for magazines or books

and this one has room for a glass of something cool on a hot summer day.

I can't decide which look to go with. I  put this chiffony like panel over the cushion that was $2.00 and added a couple of my pillows to it. I think this look is way more romantic.  Just not sure how well the scarf will stay put when sat on.

And did I mention, the lovely owner at the estate sale threw in this wicker footstool for free?  It has shells on it which I don't favor, so for now I just draped  some lace over it till I can do something else.

And lone behold...my parents were out yard saling and brought me over this sweet wicker magazine basket that they picked up for me at the hefty price of $2.00.  How did they know that I had just scored all these wicker beauties???

Now this little baby below is really something.  It's too high to be a footstool, so I think it's a little sitting bench. It was handmade many years ago and is very heavy. (I got this for free by the way)

It was ugly brown and bumpy, so my dad stripped it. (It was way too gross to just paint over) 

Then he surprised me by painting it white, and my mom upholstered the seat with a pillow case that I bought at the thrift store for $1.00.

For now I have it in front of my mantel as a little extra place to sit.

And lastly...you may remember this folding wood chair that I had painted white and was going to sell. It was brown, vintage and $8.00 at a yard sale. 

Since it didn't sell at our shop's "At Home with White Event" ...I decided it was a sign that I was supposed to "keep it."  Don't you just love signs like that???

I grabbed a couple pillows I already owned, then I dressed her in a ruffled bed skirt picked up at a second hand shop for $2.99. (I know...I know...I have to iron it)

So for under $50.00, I scored a wooden chair, wicker chair, wicker footstool, magazine basket, a sitting bench, folding wood chair and a sham, chiffon panel, pillowcase, and bed skirt. Thriftiness is so rewarding.

I'm linking up with Kathleen over at Faded Charm Cottage for her 101st White Wednesday. 

 See you all there