~~~~DON'T TOSS OUT YOUR JUNK JUST YET~~~~ Paint It and Gel It

 

~CREAMY WHITES~

(the softer side of Fall)

Today I'm going to give you a super quick mini tutorial on how I transformed some aging decorative Autumn finds for my La Chaumière de Briarwood.  A couple of weeks ago I had my Mr. AGPMan climb into our bulging attic and pull down ALL my Fall decorations from many years past.  There was a bunch of old stuff up there...

 ~Papier-mâché PUMPKINS~

(once bright orange and green)

Some of it I hadn't actually laid my eyes on since 2004.  Not kidding.  Most of it had been packed away since I first began redecorating in shabby cottage chic style (i.e. PINKS) many years ago...

 ~OLD HARD PLASTIC PEARS~

(once a mottled green)

I just wasn't able to successfully mix oranges and browns with all the pastel pinks and fresh whites no matter how hard I tried...  And, decorating with hand painted pink rose pumpkins (even though I loved making them) just didn't do it for me! :(

 ~ANOTHER PEAR STYLE~

(this one was harvest gold) 

Since my early crazy-hazy, shabby-chic lovin' days my cottage decor style has continued to evolve.

 ~CERAMIC PUMPKINS~

(bright orange with kelly green stems)

Lately I've begun to realize how much I've missed embracing what I've always called "Pumpkin Days" on the inside of my home and so I set forth a little plan to welcome them back.

 ~NEW FOR 2011~

(a sweet tea-light candle holder)

The tea light pumpkin candle holder you see above is my only new Fall related purchase for the year.  Everything else you see I've had for at the very least a decade (or more!)...  The thought of tossing it all out to buy more stuff made me sick...

CACHING!

CACHING!

 ~CERAMIC HORN O' PLENTY~

(once dark brown with orange)

I purchased this traditional Horn O' Plenty back in 1992.  It was a dark chocolate brown painted over a bright orange.  Back then those colors were fab for my home...today, well...not-so-much!

 ~METAL LEAVES~

(once dark burgundy)

These charming little tea-light holders were from a shoppe I once managed.  They were originally burgundy and had black and gold flecks...

Believe it or not A LONG TIME AGO my entire house was black, gold, red and cream...very Tuscan(ie).

 ~ALL TOGETHER NOW~

 (apples, pumpkins, pears, grapes)

Want to know how everything was transformed for pennies?  (OK...a few dollars!)

~VALSPAR SPRAY PAINT~

(a new sprayer style is now out)

1.  Get everything out you want to makeover

2.  Clean it all (plastics, metals or brush-finished ceramics

3.Dry completely

4.  Purchase HOTEL CHURCHILL VANILLA spray paint

(see pic above/found at LOWE'S)

5.  Spray all your junk treasures

(if you value your health, wear gloves and a breathing apparatus)

6.  Let dry between coats and re-coat twice or more

7.  Once cured (a couple of days is best) apply gel stain (see below) with a soft cloth and rub around until it's evenly applied

8.  Allow to dry for two days

(if your stuff touches beforehand it can stick!)

9.  PLAY :)

~MINWAX GEL STAIN~

(aged oak color)

Want to know what I passed along to Goodwill?  All the bright, bright greenery that was popular in the 1990's (and beyond)!!!  Have you noticed that even though you can still buy it the higher priced foliage is more of a sagey green color?

I know I've shared this before but you can use this same technique on lamps, chandys, etc.!

So...before YOU TOSS OUT YOUR OLD STUFF and spend big bucks on BUYING MORE NEW STUFF think about what you already have inside your attics, closets and storage sheds!  I'm thinking you probably already have lots of things just waiting for their turn at a makeover!

I saved my Mr. AGPMan a lot of mullah!  I bought four cans of spray paint and only used two!  About $8 to transform everything!  Not too bad!

~GET IT DONE~

About 3 weeks ago I had my yearly Mammogram done.  I'm so happy to say no cancer was found!  October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month...don't forget to celebrate your one and only self by taking care of YOU!  My friend, Judy the Beauty, is FIVE YEARS cancer free (love you, girl!)...

Have fun...cooler temps are coming so you best get busy painting if you're planning on squeezing it in this year!  I'm enjoying my pumpkin days...hope you are, too!

Love to you...

 

~~~~THOUGHTS ON A SUNDAY MORNING~~~~ and Birthday Seventy-Seven

 ~LIFE IS SWEET~

Yesterday my beautiful Mother turned seventy-seven.

I can't believe it!

And neither can she...

~YUMMY CUPCAKES~

We spent a simple evening together celebrating her life.  We dined on Mexican Food and I couldn't resist taking her to a new cupcake shop in town for a sweet treat!  My Momma chose a Carrot-Cake Cupcake and I picked the Strawberry Shortcake one still sitting on the plate.

~CHURCH GOING FAMILY~

About 1963

The picture above is how my Mother will always look to me.  She was about 29 years old when it was taken outside of my childhood church in Hacienda Heights, California.  She was white-glove elegant (she has them on in the picture) and wise beyond her young years...  

If I could share one thing with you about my Mom it would be this...

For all of her amazing talent, her whit, social graces and absolutely gutsy determination, the one thing I will remember forever and ever is how in love she has always been with my Father... 

  ~BEAUTIFUL BRIDE~

1956

Happy Birthday, Mom!  I hope and pray you know how deeply you are loved!

~~*~~

(Thank you, God, for the gift of a loving Mother!)

Blessings as you celebrate with JOY the lives of those you love...

Love to you...

~RESTING EASY WITH COTTAGE WHITES~

~SWEET OLD FIND~

(Loving This Chair)

I'm totally bummed!

Yes  I am!

~SWEET COTTAGE HOME~

(Loving This House)

I found out yesterday the wood flooring we finally decided on has been back ordered and we may not be available until AFTER Christmas!  

~SWEET ALPHABET FABRIC~

(Loving This Material)

WHAT?

To assuage my sorrow :( I ate a half a bag of carmel-pumpkin-flavored popcorn and promptly made myself sick.

~SWEET METAL PUMPKIN~

(Loving This Color)

I decided I'd rather be ill over gorging indulging on a seasonal sugary treat than over missing planks of wood!

Bah!

(Exercise Bike here I come!)

 ~SWEET FLORAL WREATH~

(Loving the Hydrangeas)

Anyway...such is life!  I'm sure living a bit longer with our dated and well-worn, nineteen year old tile won't kill me.

 ~SWEET FALL DECOR~

(Loving Pumpkin Days)

I'm trying to remember my 1970 era home, my sweet La Chaumière de Briarwood with her ripple of romance,is my haven.  Regardless of where I am on any given project it will always be the place I am most comfortable.  I live, work, rest and play here and I hope to never, ever live anyplace else...

 Blessings for a lovely weekend!

Love to you...