~FRESHENING UP THE GUESTROOM~

Did a wee bit of redecorating in one of our guest rooms.  No paint color change or anything super big~no time for that!  Window treatments (simple sheers with French Lace added at the top) stayed in place as well...

Just a little rearranging of furniture and the addition of the vintage iron bed I showed you about a week ago.  I'm loving it and don't miss the four poster bed (that had seen better days) at all!

The biggest difference (aside from the fabulous bed!) can be found behind the headboard.  I saw a picture on Pinterest that showed vintage shutters used on a wall.  They were a bit more primitive than I personally like, but the concept is one I just fell in love with.

And so...I gathered up tons of the old shutters I've collected over the years (clearing OUT our storage shed in the back is my goal!) and freshened them up.  Light dry-brush painting and some gentle sanding was all that was in order.  Wires were attached to the back side and then they were hung in place...kinda like a puzzle.

The most challenging part of the project was the wall above the window.  I wanted the shutters to go across the entire wall and so my Mr. AGPMan finagled two long shutters and refashioned them into six smaller pieces (connecting them with small strips of wood). 

After a quick paint job they came out exactly like the vision I had inside my head!

 Visited one of my favorite Thrift Stores last weekend...found this amazing vintage chandelier for $4.99. :)  The prisms were missing, but that is OK.  I have enough left over from other projects to fill her up.  I'm keeping this one and replacing the fixture in another bedroom once this aging beauty is newly wired!  

Chat more with you soon.  Have a fabulous Thursday!

Love to you...

~ROMANTIC BEDROOM REVEAL - GIVEAWAY, TOO!~

I'm taking a BIG SIGH of relief here because the romantic guestroom makeover I started several months ago, September in fact, is finally finished.  I'm telling you right from the get-go that because of the way this silly room is laid out I had a really hard time finishing it up.  It feels like I moved things around and changed them up a gazillion times before I was finally happy.  I'm sure over the next few months I'll add and subtract different elements but I'm happy to say for now the room is 100% done.  Whew!

You can read more about the transformation

HERE and HERE.

This room was once bustling with activity!  For five years it was our son's bedroom and more teen boys with their video playing expertise wreaked havoc between her suffering walls than I dare say!!!  Today the room is soft and serene but I can't go in there without remembering on occasion the neon lights Brandon had strung across the walls!  Sweet, sweet memories today...back then, um...no so much!

The room has an oddly placed window that makes decorating a challenge.  The full sized vintage bed is a little big for the space but I love it anyway.  Paired with a vintage rocker layered with vintage linens the room's gentle palate is pleasing to the eye.  I purposefully left it void of a lot of unnecessary color.  I'm not a huge blue fan...not at all.  But, the rest of my home is done primarily in neutrals so the color is a nice change.

Here's another shot where you can see more of the elements next to the chair.  I hope to rock grand-babies in this sweet rocker someday!  The wall to the right of the small table has a small closet and a scalloped edged vanity.  I forgot to photograph that one....  See the window treatments?  The lace panel is the one I found earlier in the month in Cali for only a few bucks!  A vintage embroidered square tablecloth has been folded over the top.

What is this?  A pocket pillow of course!  I love how it looks on the bed...  Tucked inside are old love letters and a picture of my precious Momma when she was about four...  A pillow just like it can be found on my A Gathering Place website...

Hope you enjoyed the mini tour!

Now...are you ready for my latest freebie?

I haven't done a giveaway since last December when I had a drawing for one of my vintage Gathering Cases TM (refashioned Train Case).  I figured it was about time to do something fun once again...

See the pink rose apron above?  It was fashioned using a sweet Rachel Ashwell cotton from her Simply Shabby Chic line.  It's a full sized apron and includes a large pocket on the front, wide generous ties and tattered ruffles.

Want a chance to win it?

Here's what you do!

1.  Leave a comment on this post for chance #1.

2.  Visit me on Facebook (link is on my page), leave a comment there and LIKE ME for chance #2.

3.  Blog about my APRON GIVEAWAY and include a picture as well as a LINK BACK to this post for chance #3.

4.  Follow my blog for chance #4.

5.  You can also enter by sending me a direct email if you follow my blog anonymously OR don't do Facebook!  I've had several request for this so I'm trying to make it Easy Peasy for everyone to have a chance!!

6.  Now...you certainly don't have to do this one but I would GREATLY appreciate it if you would blog, share on Facebook or share with all your friends if you are to win!  This helps me and my biz/website get exposure!

Once you have done any or all of the above please let me know!!!

Today I'm linking up with the following blog parties:

Kathleen @Faded Charm for White Wednesday

Patty @Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday

HAPPY ENTERING!  The deadline to enter the drawing will be May 16th at midnight CST.  Drawing will be announced by the following weekend.

Hope your day is wonderful...

Love to you~

~LOVIN' MY WILD SIDE~

I love wildy looking wreaths, do you?

I see so many fabulous ones out there in the blogging world and each one gets my own creative juices flowing!!!  I have wreaths hanging outside my home and inside my home and love the welcoming feeling they give to most any room.  The one at the the top once graced the door to my studio.  It's branchy on the inside and I love the twisty, twirly looking tendrils going every which way.  In the center of this wreath there is actually another wreath.  It's a small heart shaped one with three pink roses at the base.  Love how they look married together! I got tired of knocking the thing off the door so I decided to move it to our pink accented guestroom.  I have it hanging on this metal thingy I snagged at Hobby Lobby a couple of years ago...

 This wreath was fun to make and pretty easy to take on!  It hangs in our second guestroom...the one with the palest blue walls you've ever seen!  Another trip to the world's most favorite craft store (Hobby Lobby) to buy a grapevine heart shaped beauty in it's natural twig color.  I LIGHTLY coated this one with flat white paint on both sides (the cheap stuff from Wal-Mart) and then gently distressed it with sand paper.  Next I took two branchy style twig stems (again from HL) and cut them apart.  No tools needed I just pulled them out from the main stem.  I tucked each wildy looking piece underneath the grapevine wrappings and that was it!  The creamy white roses were salvaged from a vintage millinery hat, but you can find something similar at your neighborhood craft place!  It hangs on the front of a vintage window which is over the bed.

Neither of the wreaths are very original...I'm sure they've been done before.  Just thought I'd give you a little peek at the two rooms I'll be showing you soon.  The blue room is FINALLY completely done and I can't wait to show you the changes.  The beige, soft white and pink room has also been reworked so more pics of that room are coming soon as well!

I'm back working in my studio today...I'll be visiting around later this evening!

Tomorrow begins a brand new giveaway!   

Love to you... 

~BEDSPREAD REVISITED~

~BEDROOM CHANGES~

Today I'm giving you a little peek at my bedroom and my new spread!  Gone is the Matelasse coverlet and in it's place is a medium weight linen weave bedspread in natural white.  It's been years and years since I've had a bedspread on my bed.  I remember when my Mr. AGPMan and I were first married we had a quilted green and yellow floral spread (it was horrible!) and eventually that led to a thick quilt and then to the Matelasse coverlet.  In 2009 I shared a few pictures of our ever evolving bedroom.  You can check that post out here if you'd like...

~SIMPLE  LOVELY~

Because of the weightiness of the fabric it has wonderful form and drapes beautifully over the bed.  I've seen so much bedding I've loved over the past year or so...especially those billowy, gauzy, 2did4 offerings over at Bella Linens.  But...come on here!  A real-live-man sleeps in this bed with me and I need something a bit more practical for my beloved.  I left the crocheted bed-skirt in place and decided to use the coverlet as a blanket for spring and summer.  When fall and winter return I'll put my down comforter back in place.

~UP-CLOSE FABRIC~

We've used this same four-poster bed since 1983.  We purchased it when our son was only a year old and have loved it ever since!  I suspect I will have it until I no longer need a bed! :)  I painted it cottage white (Behr/Home Depot) in 2009 and it was a fabulous change after the cherry-wood finish we lived with for over 25 years...

The spread was fairly simple to make.  I took the measurements of the bed (length/width) and added 6" to the length and a 1" seam allowance all the way around.  I then used strips of fabric equal to 2 1/4 times the sides and width of the bed.  Because my bed has a foot-board I opted for split corners.  Serging the raw edges was a must with this fabric because it has a tendency to unravel.  It's hard to tell in the first picture but I also made one long pillow in matching fabric.  In front of that I have two vintage linen pillows handmade in France with feather inserts and two smaller decorative pillows.

Today I'm linking with:
Le Chateau des Fleurs

White Wednesday

Happy Monday sweet friends!

Love to you...

~REVERIE IN BLUE~ Bedroom Makeover Pictures

Earlier this year when I started to entertain the thought of painting the walls of our guest room a soft, pale blue everyone in my family believed I'd lost my mind.   Still...the more I thought about it the more convinced I was my color choice was right.  The palette of my entire home is one of pale muted shades of blush pink, creams, whites and soft taupes.  Even though I knew I wanted to continue with the cottage white theme on the furniture, I wanted something completely different for the walls.  So...as I told you a couple of weeks ago I picked the color COOL ELEGANCE (Lowe's) and earlier this week finished painting all four walls.

~MY INSPIRATION PICTURE~

("Sweethearts" by Frederick Morgan)

I still have MUCH to do in the room.  I've carried the same romantic look I have throughout my home into this room as well and I'm loving how it is coming out.  The room feels light and the color is refreshing.  I've chosen cottage whites, creams and soft whites for the furniture and bedding (of course I did!) but I haven't as yet decided on how to dress the single window.  Thankfully we have plantation shutters so I'm not pressed to decide right away...I have a little time to plan.  I'm also on the hunt for a fabulous buffet mirror to go above the headboard (you know, those rectangle ones that are sometimes very ornate?) and also a couple of pretty accent fabrics for the bed pillows.  I'm thinking soft brown or a pretty floral).  I want the room to stay simple and uncomplicated but at the same time be completely romantic!

~MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER~

(Age 16 - Lillian Martin)

I know some of you are going to hate me (Carol from FL be nice to me!) but here are a couple of sneak-peek pictures I hope you will enjoy...

Promise...more soon!  In the midst of all my playing and decorating I do have to work! :)  My once FAT piggy bank looks like he's been fasting for far too long!!!

Hope your Saturday is awesome!

Love to you...

 

~ROMANTIC BEDROOM MAKEOVER UNDERWAY~ Painting Begins Today

~INSPIRATION PICTURE~

Sweethearts by Frederick Morgan

I can't believe it but I've actually got my guest room primed and I've carved out a little time this weekend to put the first coat of COOL ELEGANCE paint on the walls!  I keep telling myself that Thanksgiving will be here in not much more than eight weeks and our out of town guests will need a place to stay!  This one simple thought is helping me to pace myself.  

I once LOVED to paint walls.

Now that I'm, umm OLDER---

not so much!

~COOL ELEGANCE WALL PAINT~

Available at Lowe's - Valspar Paint

One thing I love about the paint color chosen for the guest room makeover includes the picture you see above.  I once carried a line of framed goods in my shoppe many years ago and this one has hung somewhere in my home since the mid 90's.  Since pink will not be a part of this room (did I say that?) I know for certain the vintage repro print will look smashing against the soft blue ground!

~RALPH LAUREN DUST RUFFLE~

Scalloped Edge Bed Skirt

The mat-board has been changed out and her once cherry wood frame was long ago painted and lightly distressed.  In the corners there are applied applique motifs (like old carvings).   I think the blue on the sash of Miss Sweetheart will really stand out once the walls are repainted.

 ~ORIGINAL BED SKIRT PRICE~

$175.00 - Are You Kidding Me?

Something else I came across this week as I thought about the bedding for my pretty ALMOST antique bed...

 ~HERE SHE IS AGAIN~

So Pretty Painted

Several years ago I found a queen sized bed skirt by Ralph Lauren at ROSS for $8.99 ( I know...don't faint!).  I didn't need it at the time for my own bed and the other bed in our home already had one.  Still, I don't pass on such finds because at the very least I can use the fabric for pillows or other things.  So, I tucked her away until I rediscovered her a few days ago.

Can you imagine paying $175.00 for a non-custom dust ruffle?  Too rich for my common blood I'll tell you that!  Since my new-old bed is full-sized and the RL bed skirt is queen sized I'm going to have to modify it.  I'm also going to gently tea stain it as I'm going with a natural white and not white-white!  Unlike most bed skirts I'm going to attach this underneath the wood slat runners.

~SIDE OF VINTAGE BED~

That's how the bedding was made when I found the bed at an estate sale a few weeks ago...I loved the look!  This also means I'm going to have to invest in a box spring cover since the sides of the mattress will show...

I've had a busy week working in my studio and last Thursday (our anniversary) my Mr. AGPMan had a class final (one of MANY down!).  So...we've put off our out-of-town getaway celebration until next weekend when we can actually relax and have some fun (we'll be living on Tulsa time!)  I'm hoping I have most of the backdrop of the new guest room finished by the time we back out of our driveway so my mind will be free and clear (???)...

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.  I'll be watching coverage of the ten year anniversary of 9/11~

Praying all goes well for our country as we honor the lives lost once again.

Love and peace to you...

~~~~~SHABBY COTTAGE CHIC LIGHTING~~~~~ Old Light Fixtures Extraordinaire

 

 ~VINTAGE LIGHT FIXTURES~

(Probably from the 1930's or so)

Now that my Mr. AGPMan is face-deep in school I have made it my mission to stay busy finishing up some of the little projects I've wanted to do for sometime now.  In order to help keep our lives flowing smoothly I plan ahead the things I want my guy to work on as that elusive free-time of his becomes available.  I've already gotten really good at making lists and prioritizing the things I hope to get finished on any given day.  Generally the two of us rest on Sunday and other than going to church we don't do a whole lot.  It's truly a no-work-day and we love it!  Our son-in-law, Micah, has graciously taken it upon himself to do our lawn-care and for this we are so grateful!  Additionally, our son, Brandon, has offered to come help his dad install all of our new windows once they all come in!

I'm tellin' you...the men in my life are simply amazing!

~SHABBY COTTAGE CHIC WALL SCONCES~

(Sweet Deal- $5.00 for the Pair)

Anyway...after finishing up several special orders yesterday I decided to scrounge around in our garage in hopes of finding a pair of old wall lamps I planned on making over.  I purchased them last Fall, but totally forgot about them until last Saturday!  I'd tossed them into an old box of spare lamp parts my guy uses for lamp-repair jobs.  Can't you believe they were only $5 for the pair????

SCORE!

 ~PERFECT FOR MY BEDROOM WALL~

Here is the picture of my bedroom I showed you yesterday...  I think the Lights will look fabulous placed on each side of the picture, don't you?

~DRYING IN THE MORNING SUN~

(I'm soooo Impatient!)

After cleaning and priming the old fixtures I used VALSPAR spray paint in Churchill Vanilla for both Sconces.  As soon as they are fully dried/cured I'll distress them for that fabulous shabby cottage chic charm I just can't seem to get away from!  Each Sconce will need new candle covers and I'll be using the flame-style bulbs for gentle lighting!  My Mr. AGPMan is going to rewire them on Saturday and hang them in place!  I'm so excited!  I don't want them hard-wired into the wall and so he'll transform them into the kind that can be plugged into a socket.

 ~LOVE THE SCROLLY LINES~

(Romantic Lighting at it's Best!)

An off/on switch will be added to the side of each light making it possible to turn them on and off while reading, etc.  Isn't that great?  I also have ruched cord covers that match the paint on my walls so the cords won't stick out.  They won't really show anyway because of the pillows, but I still hate seeing white (or brown!) cords all over the place!

Aren't they fabulous?

 ~VALSPAR CHURCHILL VANILLA~

Here's the paint can in case you want to try it out for yourself!  I LOVE IT!

Hope you are having a glorious Tuesday!  

Love to you...

 

~MY ROMANTIC COTTAGE BEDROOM...Lovin' The Lighter Side of Pink~

 ~MY COTTAGE CHIC BOUDOIR~

I had such a wonderful time last week showing you all our TINY Master Bath Makeover and I continue to be OVER THE MOON happy that it is 99% finished!  I feel like I have my life back...no kidding!!!  As soon as the custom shower doors darken the steps outside my front door (and then get installed) I'll show the the final shots of our extremely INTENSE redo project!

~LOTS of CREAMS and a muted SOFT PINKS~

I've promised you for the longest time to show you a few pictures of our space-challenged master bedroom.  I hate to keep harping on the size of what I believe is one of the most important spaces in our entire home, but the fact of the matter is our bedroom and bathroom are very small to be called a 'master of anything!'.  Still, as the years have clicked by I've grown to love the room for what it is and even sometimes do the happy dance because it's not tooo big to clean! :)

~FOREVER IN LOVE WITH OLD LACE~

 ~I'M ALSO IN LOVE WITH THIS BEAUTIFUL PRINT~

 

~TRULY ROMANTIC~

I love the newer, refined Cottage Style and I have to admit that as the trends for chic and shabby decor have changed I find I'm continuing to lean more and more to simpler and less complicated lines.  I still love aging lace, antique hats, old linens and vintage millinery (always will!), but these days I'm less likely to over indulge in accessorizing. 

 ~LOVE VINTAGE STEMWARE and CHINA~

~ROMANTIC PILLOWS and OLD BUTTONS are a MUST!~

 ~FABULOUS FRENCH FURNITURE~

Remember last Summer when I shared with you about snagging this fabulous vintage French Provincial Furniture for $100???  I'm still not over that amazing 'I nearly fell over dead' find!  I'm crazy-in-love with each piece and the price I paid for them all still makes me SWOON!

 ~VINTAGE BRIDES and my Mr. AGPMan and I~

I love old wedding day photos and display them in my bedroom...totally romantic!  I love to see the smiling faces of the brides and their neatly groomed hubbies!  They seem to hold so much faith and promise for their lives...

 ~MY DADDY'S BIG SISTER~

I just recently came across this darling old photo of my Aunt Ethel Laura Elizabeth.  I absolutely adore her dress and I'm in total shock over how truly tiny, tiny, tiny she is!  My Uncle John was incredibly handsome, too.

They are both in heaven now...

 ~MISBEHAVIN' MOLLIE~

And just when you probably FORGOT about me tattling on my Miss Mollie and about her getting on my bed, etc...  

Well...when I left the room to do a couple unrelated things I returned to find that my beloved Yorkie, Mollie, had ONCE AGAIN jumped up on top of my bed pillows!  When I called her name she looked up at me, but never moved!  I'm beginning to think the consequences for her misbehavin' aren't nearly as serious as they need to be!

I only THOUGHT I was the Queen around here!  Not so!

Hope you loved the peek into my private space.  As soon as our crown molding is up and our 2die4 chandelier is installed (it's gonna make your heart skip a beat!) I'll show you even more!

Blessings and love to you...