~SHABBY FURNITURE MAKEOVER...FROM DRAB TO FAB~

~SIMPLY FABULOUS TRANSFORMATION~

Would you believe it if I told you no one in my immediate family except ME likes to hunt down fabulous old junque?  'Tis true.  Not my daughter.  Not my son.  Not my son-in-love, daughter-in-love and since my Miss K is only nine I don't count her opinion about it one way or the other. :)  I'm not even 100% sure my Mr. AGPMan would love it if it wasn't for the fact his wifey is in the biz of transforming JUNQUE into CASH!  That makes him a willing partner in the scavenger hunt and more than happy when he goes to the bank! :) :) :)

Now my sister in Tennesee...well, she's the junquing queen!  She's my favorite gal to dumpster dive with.  Only problem she's so far away so we don't get together nearly often enough.  Maybe that will change someday!

~LIGHTLY DISTRESSED~

Last Thursday I scored this sweet old maple chest from either the late 50's or early 60's at one of our local thrift stores.  It's not what I'd call an AMAZING FIND, but the piece does have good bones.  The upper knobs were missing (what a pitty), but everything else was in great shape.  Given the price I paid for it deciding to buy it was a no-brainer! :)  

~LOVE THE ORIGINAL PULLS~

After one coat of my favorite primer (Zinsser) I gave it a couple more coats of soft white paint and replaced the missing pulls with wooden knobs.  The edges have been gently distressed and then it was given a couple light coats of sealer.  It's going into my booth space at Edmond Antiques (Edmond, OK) tomorrow.

~NOT SO PRETTY!~

Because so many requests are made from would-be-buyers for furniture that is plain white (without artwork) I've opted to keep this one as you see it!

Here's a tip for you if you are going to paint furniture that is found unpainted and in it's original wood condition...

You may be temped to just begin priming without first sanding on the finish.  I almost always lightly sand the varnish off when possible.  Doing so helps the primer bond directly to the wood and not just the crumbly old sealer.  Then when you distress the edges the paint doesn't come off in chunks.  Instead you have smooth, gentle distressing!

I should make enough money on the chest to pay for my booth space for the month (or more!).  Pretty good, huh?

Blessings for an awesome Saturday!

Love to you...

~THE BLESSING OF A POTTERY BARN SOFA~

~BILLOWS of SOFT WHITE~

Yesterday I shared with you how for the past few months I've been on the lookout for a great deal on a slip-covered sofa.  I've visited our local Pottery Barn store more times than I can tell you just dreaming about owning the natural white sofa displayed on their showroom floor.

I loved that sofa.

I more than loved it.

I would run my fingers across the soft nap of the twill fabric and try to envision what it would look like living inside my La Chaumière de Briarwood.  Once in awhile I'd look at other sofas...a similar one at JCPenney appeared to be a good substitute, but the reviews I read regarding the fabric and cushion performance fell flat and that discouraged me.  Eventually I'd move onto the other things needing attention in my home, but ultimately my heart would always return to that $2,500 sofa and how owning it was probably never going to happen.

Oh...I could have saved for it.  That wasn't the problem.  For me the sofa was just too expensive and that kept me from laying down my hard-earned cash. Being a somewhat older wiser woman I did spend some serious time scanning the classifieds in hopes of finding one, but I always came away empty handed and disappointed.

~ACCENTED WITH FEATHER PILLOWS~

Last Wednesday while chatting with my Mr. AGPMan I happened to click onto Craig's List (which honestly I rarely do!) for a tiny little peek at FURNITURE.  When my hubby needed to put me on HOLD for a minute my fingers (all on their own) :) typed the following into the search bar:

POTTERY BARN SOFA

Incredibly this AD came up:

Beautiful Pottery Barn PB Basic slip-covered sofa 83w x 35d x 35"h. Natural colored 100% cotton brushed canvas slipcovers are machine washable. Hardwood kiln-dried frame. Originally paid $2,500 approx. one year ago. Asking $850/OBO. Taken great care of and maintained well, not exposed to pets or smoke, no stains. Very comfortable and beautiful. Unable to find this type of sofa in Oklahoma unless special ordered, which can take months. Will deliver for additional $50 in OKC metro. Will email more pictures if interested.

Now...I know that some of you will think me totally silly and quite possibly nuts, but I knew right then and there that sofa was meant for me and that we would be bringing it home.  I shared the AD with my guy (probably sounded a wee bit incoherent to him), got off the phone, emailed the seller and then jumped for joy!  I heard back on Thursday afternoon and on Friday night my Mr. AGPMan and I hopped into his Truck and drove out to their house to haul my new-old sofa home.

(The sellers have a beautiful home...very sweet family!)

 ~ADVERTISEMENT PHOTO~

After a quick wash and dry I replaced all the covers back onto the sofa and sat down to rest...  It was then this thought washed over me...

~IN THE LIGHT~

Just as God is faithful to all His children He is also faithful to me.  This morning I'm grateful His faithfulness has never depended on receiving mine in return.  I'm so very human and mess up more times than I can tell you.  I get fixated on unimportant stuff and often fail to remember I serve a God who cares about the little things in my life as well as the big.  For so long I'd prayed a wee little prayer for something material...an earthly possession that in the grand scheme of things was destined to hold no eternal value.  But when I prayed He still listened to me just the same.  And just as He's promised to give me everything I need (Philippians 4:19) I can't help but rejoice because more times than I can count He's also blessed me with things I've wanted.

(Thank you, God, for the sofa!  But mostly...just for caring!)

"Pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks."  (Philippians 4:6) 

~ETTA JAMES~

PS:  Thinking today of Miss Etta James (AT LAST You're In Heaven!)
Jamesetta Hawkins - January 25, 1938 – January 20, 2012)

Love to you...

~~~~~~~A SOFA TO DREAM ABOUT~~~~~~~ Shabby Cottage Chic Furniture Makes Me Swoon

SIMPLE and UNCOMPLICATED

(A Slip-Covered Beauty)

FIRST...WHAT IS UP WITH BLOGGER???  I'VE TRIED TO COMMENT ON TEN DIFFERENT BLOGS ALREADY TODAY AND NONE WILL ACCEPT COMMENTS!  BAH!
ALWAYS SOMETHING!
(I'm sorry if you are having the same problemo here!)

Over the past few months I've been on a QUIET search for a new sofa.  I say quiet because no one knew I was looking for one except my daughter, Adrienne.  When you have what seems like a ba-jillion projects going on, which quite frankly is normal around here, the last thing a girl wants to do is divulge all her secret intents.  I've learned over the years of my happy marriage that my guy just doesn't need unnecessary junk, alotta non-critical information, aka: stuff, bouncing around in his head.

It's one of the reasons my marriage IS happy! :)

~SHHHHHH......~

"Mums the Word!"

Besides...if I told him the sofa I was longing for was $2,500 he would have surely passed over to heaven right then and there.  I'm positive he wouldn't even have taken the time to tell me what I know he was thinking...

"REBECCA!  YOU ARE NUTS!"

Such sweet (and costly) expenditures are not within my Mr. AGPMan's budget or mine I'm afraid.  Besides, he would be right about me being NUTS!
(Gag...did I say that?)...
Spending that kind of money when it's not at your disposal is pure insanity!

I've lived with a berry colored couch for over a decade now.  I purchased it for a song at a Dallas auction and it sat unused for eight of those years in our formal living room.  A couple of years ago that very room was transformed into our formal dining room and the sofa was moved into our den.  The one we were using (which was the black floral one shown in Romantic Homes Magazine in 2006) was sold and I was happy to see it GO!  Because the sofa from the formal living was like new I just couldn't get rid of it.  As much as my tastes were changing I opted to live with it until I felt more comfortable about replacing it!

Well...with the door to our formal dining room being opened up and new wood floors on the horizon I started looking again for a slip-covered sofa that would fit into our new creamy white space...  Well...I think I found one locally and it is spot on!  No kidding!  The very one I've been hoping to find...and for a third of the retail price!  My Mr. AGPMan and I are going to buy it look at it tonight at 6PM!

Right now I'm hoping it all works out.  If it does I'll share pictures tomorrow.  If it doesn't I'll be sad but I'll keep looking!

The icing on the cake for me is that my AdrieGirl wants my berry colored sofa for her home.  I'm happy to pass it along to her as her home has a distinct Tuscan feeling and it will look lovely there.

~FOR SWEET M~

I'm busy with THREE TRAIN CASE MAKEOVERS!  One is done!  The second one is almost done!  The third one is about a third done!  Whew!  I only thought January was going to be slow!

Hope your day is wonderful!  For some reason I'm in the best

YIPPY-SKIPPY MOOD!

Love to you...

~~~~REPAINTING OLD STORE SIGNAGE~~~~ ROMANTIC CHIC INTERIORS - SIGN ME UP

 

 ~TRANSFORMING OLD STORE SIGNAGE~

(Base Painted with Cottage White Behr)

   

Later this evening I'll be uploading the pictures of my A Gathering Place Studio for the WHERE BLOGGERS CREATE III PARTY!

Trust me when I say you are in for a treat when you see the spaces of all the creative women (and probably some men, too!) out there.  You will surely be inspired!

~UNDERCOATING ROSES~

(No One-Brush-Stroke Here)

I hope you'll mosey your little self back over sometime tonight to see the changes made to my own little creative corner in the world (umm...that would be my home)!  It's jammed-packed full with some neat stuff and I can't wait to show you what's new...(or old as the case may be!).

~ADDING HIGHLIGHTS and DETAILS~

(Making the Florals Stand-Out)

In the meantime I thought I'd show you something I've never shared with you before.  Many years ago when I owned a full-on retail store I found a simply amazing vintage sign for my shoppe down in Dallas.

 

~ADDING GREENERY and SHADOWS~

 (Patience Rebecca!  Patience!)

I distinctly remember paying $50 for it and trust me when I say that was big bucks for me almost 20 years ago.  It was yellow, gold and black and if I remember right had some sort of car-dealership insignia on it.  (Sorry no original picture.  No digital cameras in 1994!)

 ~ADDING ROSEBUDS and CURLS~

(I'm NO PICASSO!)

Anyway...not long before opening the store I had my mother repaint the sign for me using my A Gathering Place logo.  The sign was brush painted white and a hunter green frame and black lettering (using the Edwardian Script font) was added.  I loved it and for several years it hung just inside the front window of my little shoppe...

Several years later when I took a break from retail the sign was stored out in my garden shed.  When I went back into business I always planned on repainting it myself, but ALWAYS had other things to do that were a priority.  

 ~YIPPEEE...ALMOST DONE~

(Whew!)

Well...this year I finally gave the tired and worn out sign a much needed makeover.  She's been newly transformed and now hangs proudly in my AGP Studio.  Seeing her every day again reminds me that even though my dreams and goals may have changed a bit over time (or taken a detour), it's possible to take them out, dust them off and make them new and relevant again...

Isn't life grand?

Yes...IT IS!

Somewhere I have a picture of my mother with the sign when she first painted it for me.  If I can find it in the near future I'll include it later on...

 ~ROMANTIC and SIMPLE~

(Slow Transformation...Loving the Results)

~HERE SHE IS AGAIN~

Wanna see more of my studio?  Don't forget to come back later this evening.  My pictures will be up and running before midnight tonight!

BE INSPIRED!  

(Wanna Paint?  Start by taking a Group Class!)

GOT DREAMS?

(Wanna Sew?  Great used machines are sold online everyday!  Easier than ever!)

GET GOING!

(Altered Art Enthusiast?  Free online Tutorials are available!  Help is out there...just ask!)

TIMES'S A WASTIN!

(Yesterday I was 30...today I'm 52...)

Love to you...

~HAPPY THANKSGIVING - Blessed Be~

~HAPPY THANKSGIVING~

Before I step away from my Blog for a few days I want to stop for a moment and wish you all a very BLESSED Thanksgiving Holiday! I pray your day is filled with great food and fun and memories that will forever bind your hearts with those you love. May we all remember that it isn't about what's ON our table that's most important, but the people who surround it.

I'll be back this weekend to show you some pictures of our CHRISTMAS TREE and other things that glitter.

With a grateful heart I wish for you good things. Only good things.

Love and Blessings,

Rebecca (and my Mr. AGPMan)

~RHINESTONES & LACE - DRESS FORMS for the Romantic Cottage Home~

ROMANTIC DRESS FORM
A TJ Maxx DEAL - $24.99

I love to find things for my home that mimic the old without having to pay the sometimes exorbitant vintage prices at estate sales and antique malls! This is why I am a BIG FAN of places like TJ Maxx, Ross, Tuesday Morning, etc. You just never know what you are going to stumble upon... Sometimes they get in the greatest stuff....and then sadly, sometimes they DON'T!

Take this sweet metal Dress Form for instance! I snagged her yesterday for $24.99 and even though I knew I would repaint her, she was WORTH the price I paid! Just perfect for the top of my vintage dresser, she is beautifully graceful and full of charm! Freshly repainted, Emma (Yep! I named her!) looks simply smashing with the shimmery old rhinestone earrings at the top of her bustier (boosty-a) and the old lace ascot is just precious tied around her waist.

~PAINTED WITH KRYLON PAINT~
At "Wal-YOU KNOW WHAT" - $2.89

Newly base painted with Krylon's Ivory Paint, I actually plan on LIGHTLY antiquing her with my favorite GEL STAIN (soon to share this info with you!)! I was just tooo impatient (gee...?) to wait until the spray paint was FULLY cured to snap my pictures...hmmmm! :)

I gently distressed my newest gal-pal, too! Just roughed her up a bit (wow...that doesn't sound nice, does it?)! Now she's stylin'!!!

Boy~ I'm just LOVIN' HER NOW!

~ORIGINAL "BLACK" WAS SWEET~
JUST NOT FOR ME

And...for those of you who want black...well, here you go! I present to you Emma in her original condition. Truly sweet, I just just can't use the black!

Now...after I purchased this little sweetie I also stopped by Hobby Lobby (for those of you in the Mid-West...for those of you who don't, so SAD FOR YOU!) and I saw a few of Emma's sisters and cousins there! Only they were a bit smaller in size and cost about $19.99.

Today I'm off to Estate Sale Shoppe ALONE! It just won't be the same without my Mr. AGPMan. One more day before I see his smiling face and my life returns to normal~

Blessings to you as you turn your thoughts and hearts toward home...Rebecca

MAKE ROOM FOR SHABBY - Re-Purposing A Sweet Kitchen Find

RE-PURPOSED PLATE RACK

Making Room For Shabby

I'm a saver and a keeper and it absolutely kills me to get rid of something that has served me well. All you have to do is take a peek into our storage shed and you'll get the idea. It's packed with lots of wonderful finds...and I have plans for every single thing. And, for those bargains and must have items that languish unused for too terribly long, well...I sell those to people like you so your storage shed can get filled up, too! :)

Earlier this year my Mr. AGPMan began our kitchen remodel. We are still in the very early stages of it and have actually only completed redesigning our breakfast room. When that portion was finished I no longer had a place for the charming Plate Rack you see above. So...it sat and sat and sat. First in our garage and then in the shed.

TRANSFORMED INTO A MAGAZINE RACK
Sweet Place for Vintage VICTORIA MAGS

When I began reworking my office space a few weeks ago I kept thinking about the Plate Rack that had served me well for so many years. I asked my guy to lug the heavy wooden thing upstairs JUST TO SEE :) if it would work for what I had in mind.

REMOVED THE CUP HOOKS
Sweet Place for a Collection

Guess what?

It did!

After bracing it with several anchors (Mags are HEAVY I tell you!), I filled her up with lots of goodies! She now holds my aging Victoria Magazines, a small collection of vintage greeting card boxes and an array of favorite books and vintage reads...

Couldn't resist sharing the transformation with you!

MORE SWEET FINDS SHOWN ON THE TOP

Anything new you want to share with me? I'm listening...

Blessings to you as you seek to re-purpose your loving finds with greater joy...Rebecca

~DON'T FORGET! Where Bloggers Create Is TOMORROW!~

Just a quick note to remind all you DIE-HARD CREATORS that tomorrow is "Where Bloggers Create" Day! I truly can't BELIEVE I'm going to show you the place where I work...

Thank you Karen for hosting this fun event! Aren't you all excited? I'm thinking I should just throw caution to the wind and photograph my entire home for you. I DRAG MY JUNK, er...I'm mean CREATIVE STUFF all over the place! (KIDDING...but that IS what my Mr. AGPMan says!)

Now~with that said...

I've been sick with the flu for the past four days and feel pretty crummy. I sooo wanted to snap some pics today when the sun was beaming through the windows! Too bad I slept through the afternoon! So...I MAY wait until tomorrow afternoon to unveil for you my TINY studio.

Blessings to you all as you wait one more day...Rebecca

ROOM FOR CHANGE...Updated Shabby Cottage Chic Style

GUESTROOM SHOWN 2004-2005
Shades of Sugar Pink

In September 2005 Romantic Homes Magazine came all the way to Oklahoma for a photo shoot of my La Chaumière de Briarwood (The Briarwood Cottage). It was a very exciting time in my life even though I didn't have the first CLUE as to what I was doing. I have to laugh about it today because I would do things so differently now if I had the chance...

I promised to show you some pictures of parts of my home and I thought it would be fun to show you what our little guestroom looked like about five years ago. Back then the walls were painted a soft sugar pink with the furniture a fresh, crisp white. The vintage metal bed was from the 1940's and even though it was charming I longed to find something different.

Now, I love pink! I do! I do! It's my favorite color and always has been. Still, as my taste for cottage style decorating changed I found myself moving towards an even softer, lighter look and feel for the room! By adding a darling vintage 4 poster bed, an old refurbished door, a vintage sewing machine cabinet (that doubles as a table) and a sweet sewing chair the room was easily transformed. I updated the linens, changed the throw pillows, added a gorgeous old chandelier and with the addition of a small metal bench at the foot of the bed the room took on an entirely updated, fresh and clean appearance. More romantic, less whimsy...

GUESTROOM 2009

Shades of Soft Taupe

HALLWAY INTO GUESTROOM

Let it be said that I'm into to changing things! The room has been given a repaint job and now proudly shows off a soft shade of pale taupe. The furniture, all gently distressed, is my favorite cottage white. Although I'm constantly moving things around I must also tell you that I'm into recycling most all the finds I discover. Several times over in fact! Everything shown in the pink room (except the bed) is now being used somewhere else in my home...

Mr. AGPMan's OLD OFFICE 2004

Before we jostled some things around to make better use of the rooms in our home, my Mr. AGPMan's office was upstairs. It was your typical "man room" and sported little style (sorry honey!). About a year ago his designated space :) was moved downstairs and I took over the room and turned it into a pretty retreat. It's been transformed it into a place where I sit and read. Since this picture was taken I've painted the cabinet doors with shabby pink roses and...

TRANSFORMED INTO MY SITTING ROOM

flipped the desk to the other side of the room! I love it much more this way! The vintage Tell City Bench below is now under the window which provides wonderful lighting when I curl up with my favorite weekly read!

SWEET TELL CITY BENCH

You'll notice some of the things in the Sitting Room pictures have been moved into the Guest Room! I told you I move things around!!!

I PROMISE before Summer's End I will show you more pictures of my home! Currently we are working on our space-challenged Master Bedroom! That's the room I gave you a sneak-peak of a few days ago!

Blessings to you as you find the potential in your own beautiful home...Rebecca